Took me awhile to get up the nerve to face driving, more time to get up the nerve to actually learn, more time to get up the nerve to take the test and thanks to a very charitable tester, passed on the first try. This was a number of years ago.
Over here across the pond, we have a new wrinkle. It is the flashing left turn yellow which means that if you can find a gap (or no traffic) in the ONCOMING TRAFFIC, you may make a left turn. Many drivers have it down to a science as to how small a gap is needed and still can make it across -- safely.
I often err on the side of caution. So I get that HONK when I obviously (of the opinion of the person behind me) I should have gone.