Learning to Drive!

[Theodoric]

Well, to be cynical about it, what you are actually learning to do is to pass the driving test. So, ignore any short cuts that friends and relatives give you and pay attention to what your instructor tells you. Pass the wheel through your hands when turning a corner; make sure you use the mirror in a conspicious fashion; flashing a motorist to tell him you are giving way is not a legally acceptable action. When you've passed the test you can start developing all the bad habits that the rest of us have.

[Sociable]

OK Hands up all who like me are sure they would probably struggle to re-pass the test now given all the bad habits picked up over the years.

[Nugget]

Originally Posted by Sociable

OK Hands up all who like me are sure they would probably struggle to re-pass the test now given all the bad habits picked up over the years.

I've got to be honest - as I said, I only passed my test two and a half years ago, and I'd definitely have a bit of trouble (mind you, I hit the kerb during my test and still passed ).
Do you think that swearing and gesticulating wildly at the person who just cut you up would be alright?

[Sociable]

Originally Posted by Nugget

Do you think that swearing and gesticulating wildly at the person who just cut you up would be alright?

Better not could be the examiner's wife or husband.

[Steve H]

Originally Posted by paulyoung666

a very difficult question to answer , change up to early and the car will struggle , change down when you are going to fast and the pistons might pop out and say hello , along with the oil , seriously your instructor will keep you right on that one

LOL rofl:

I started driving about 5-6 monthes ago.. your instructor'l take you through everything.. gears will come natuarally after your 2nd or so lesson (if your a lad, not a lass ).. And as xaccers said.. you just need to tottaly impress your instructor.. give him a smooth drive, make him happy My tests next saturday.. cant wait

Found it good to read www.2pass.co.uk , got loads of useful information about things, such as how to do hill starts, etc etc (Think gearings on there as well).. Also gives you useful info on the day of your test as well

[ZrByte]

update: well due to some money problems over the last few months I havent had a single lesson.
After falling off my bike a couple of weeks ago I have decided to look back into driving lessons.
My Mum and Dad have offered to pay for an intensive course for me for my 21st Birthday (Even though my birthday isnt until september I will be able to have these lessons as soon as possible).

Just wondering really if anybody else has been on one of these intensive courses?? and what they have to say on them??
ive had them reccomended to me due to spending the last year riding my bike I have road sense, meaning in theory I should be able to pass quicker than your average learner (Emphasis on in theory).

The reason I will be doing an intensive course rather than normal lessons is because I am planning to sell my bike but I still need transport for work so speed is of the essence (My insurance is due up for my bike so I want to get rid of it very soon)
I would really rather keep my bike aswel as the car but I deffinatley cant afford both so ive decided the bike has got to go (I may get another in a few years time but getting a car has become a priority for now).


Also could anybody reccomend a good cheap car to start off with once I pass??

[paulyoung666]

depending on what you can afford , it may be worth looking at a new car , for one good reason , quite often you will get a years free insurance with it


reg vardy for example

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by paulyoung666

depending on what you can afford , it may be worth looking at a new car , for one good reason , quite often you will get a years free insurance with it

Yeah someone else reccomended that to me aswel, only problem is Ive been told that the insurance will be quite steep for me for my seccond year due to me beeing a new driver and due to the car still beeing so new (If thats not true though it may well be worth me looking into )

[Silent Wings]

Firstly I would find out what the waiting time is like for tests, in this area it's about 3 months. It would be a shame to pay out for a week of intensive lessons only to find you have months to wait for a test.

[paulyoung666]

insurance is always going to be expensive at your tender age , you may well find a new cars insurance not as bad as you think , as with it being new it will be safer and harder to steal than an old one

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by Silent Wings

Firstly I would find out what the waiting time is like for tests, in this area it's about 3 months. It would be a shame to pay out for a week of intensive lessons only to find you have months to wait for a test.

BSM are the only ones who do intensives around here and apparently they book your test for you during the week of your intensive course, so all of that should be sorted for me. so allthough I may have to wait a couple of months to do the intensive at least my test will be straight after it

insurance is always going to be expensive at your tender age , you may well find a new cars insurance not as bad as you think , as with it being new it will be safer and harder to steal than an old one

thats a good point and deffinatley worth looking into. There is also a vauxhalls directly over the road from my house so I shouldnt even have to walk far to find out

[Jerrek]

Pray tell what exactly is intensive lessons?

[paulyoung666]

Originally Posted by Jerrek

Pray tell what exactly is intensive lessons?

a weeks course where you cram all the learning into that time , i am not sure if they are a good or bad idea tbh

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by paulyoung666

a weeks course where you cram all the learning into that time , i am not sure if they are a good or bad idea tbh

Probably a bad idea for most, however anybody with road experience like myself I think will find they are pretty good (will be able to tell you if im right when I pass/fail mine ).
Basicly I know most of what I need to know about the road, all I need is some fine tuning my knowledge and to learn how to actually drive the car itself.

[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by Dave Stones

eh? does that mean get there 5 minutes later than you would, by 5 minutes (angle measurement on the speedo, difficult if its a digital readout) or what?

D'oh! Meant 5mph under the limit