Driving lessons VII: Instinct > formula
jasonleow • 20 Oct 2025 •
I’m closing in on my final driving test now. But looking back, the learning experience had been disappointing. I wanted to learn a skill, but the school’s coaching was focused on hacks and tricks.
Another story: Last weekend I learned out to reverse and parallel park. Lots of sighting points yet again that’s unique only to the practice circuit, like the mangoes.
I get it. It makes what beginners lack in instinct to something tangible and methodical to pick up.
But when I was able to get it somewhat instinctively and self-correct as I go, they kick me out of it into just doing it as a drill. “No, let’s try again and do it right.” Who cares.
What matters in the real world of driving is I develop the feel of the car, and able to see when it turned too soon or too late, and can do quick corrections on the spot, all the while completing the manoeuvre on time (yes, it’s timed during the test). But they don’t nurture that instinct, but go back to the comfort of a step-by-step formula.
What’s worse: Every instructor has their own spin on the formula. Their own sighting points. Their own hacks. So you get more confused. That’s the worst.
The formula is a means, the hack.
The feel is the end result, the skill.
What a waste.
Instinct > formula
Comments
I wonder why driving schools prioritize parallel parking. It’s a rarity for me.
What’s best for learning != the easy thing to teach
@Winkletter Well said! And to extend that, what’s best for learning != profitable. In fact, it’s often the opposite. And the school is 100% incentivized for profit.
@therealbrandonwilson Yeah we keep practising circus tricks on the circuit to ‘pass’, but most of the circuit roads don’t ever exist in real roads (like super narrow S course, and Z shaped courses). Super dumb.
What’s best for learning != the easy thing to teach. This reminds me of my epiphany after watching a video called “50 Tips for Writing Better Dialogue”. This isn’t going to make me a better writer. It’s just going to overwhelm me.