Learning to Drive!

[Scrubbs]

I'll just put in my tuppenceworth

when my brats passed their test I rang up an insurance company and asked what was the best/cheapest car to buy and they said, under 1000cc and british is the cheapest to insure.so I got a fiesta

The other thing about taking lessons, don't be afraid to sit in your parents car pretending to drive, (with the engine switched off of course)
And get someone to tell you left turn, traffic lights etc it is good practice

making the engine noise is optional

[SMHarman]

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'd certainly struggle, the accelerating to 95 in 3rd to pull on to the A10 would probably be a good start.

Mrs H had to take her test when she moved over from the states, she had been driving here on her US licence for 2 years (the maximum) before hand. Seemed a little ironic to me that when she took her first test, she drove to the test centre, put L plates on toook a test, failed, took them off and drove home again.

She failed as her driving was too aggressive, she decided to accelerate out of a dangerous situation on a roundabout (in a 175bhp Saab 93) rather than stand on the brakes and end up at a standstill on a busy roundabout. In her opionion the instructor, an retired instructor 65+, wearing a 3 piece suit and bow tie, brought back due to a lack of instructors was looking to fail her from the moment he heard her accent and saw her american licence.

Originally Posted by Scrubbs

I'll just put in my tuppenceworth

when my brats passed their test I rang up an insurance company and asked what was the best/cheapest car to buy and they said, under 1000cc and british is the cheapest to insure.so I got a fiesta

The other thing about taking lessons, don't be afraid to sit in your parents car pretending to drive, (with the engine switched off of course)
And get someone to tell you left turn, traffic lights etc it is good practice

making the engine noise is optional

Remember British can often mean what is percieved to be foreign. Nissan, Toyota etc all make lots of cars over here. The current Fiesta is made in Spain, the Focus in Germany.

As has already been said, newer cars can be cheaper to insure, but often need insuring fully comp. Have a look at the policy excess you pay for a own fault claim. See how far you are willing to ramp that up and the change in premium. Often taking it to about £350 will knock about 20% off the premium, after that it seems diminishing returns kick in. For me to up it to £500 would have meant a £3 reduction in my premium. Not worthwhile IMHO.

Modern cars have better safety features so are less likely to be involved in accidents ABS, etc. Are usually cheaper to repair and more reliable, useful if you need it for work.

Also think of the whole life cost. Buying a 6 yr old car may seem a saving, but when you are hit with the cost of 4 new tyres, an exhaust system, and higher servicing bills it may not look such a bargain. Citroen with their free insurance and 17.5% off list price are good value at the mo.

Most of the cost of insurance is for the 3rd party liability. A car insurer could pay our £Millio ns if you maim someone, in or outside your car and they require care for life. The average dent and scrape repairs are peanuts to them.

Originally Posted by Xaccers

D'oh! Meant 5mph under the limit

and get failed for hesitation.

Originally Posted by ZrByte

Ok im finally starting to take my driving lessons, and im wondering if any of you fine people have any advice, online resources and experiences you can share to help me through.

I wont be starting my lessons until payday (Last week in January I think) so I have plenty of time to prepare for my First lesson. Ive bought the DSA Theory test practice software to help me get my highway code upto standard and I have been riding a motorbike (Scooter if you prefer, automatic) so I have some raod sense. however more help if you have it would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance people

What part of the Wirral are you from? I'm curious whether you're going to be learning on any of the old favourite instructor's routes that I used to drive on!

[Chris W]

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 have just repassed my test

I had my license revoked because i was caught speeding twice last summer. It gave me 6 points on my license, and under the new drivers act 6points in your first to years and you have to retake your test. So annoying because it was like two months until the 2 years were up and i had driven for 22months and never been done for speeding, then was done twice in 4 days!

Anyway... i had to retake my theory test and then practical. The hazard perception in the theory is stupid... but i think the new vehicle checks on the practical are a good idea they ask you things like how do you check the oil? where do you fill up the windscreen washer? etc.

When i oringally took my test it took me two attempts in SE london because i made a silly mistake on the first one, but i think failing made me a better river, because it meant i was less c0cky. When i did pass i got 6minors. When i retook my test a few weeks ago i did it in Swansea and got 5minors... so i guess my driving has improved one of the minors was for speeding though some people never learn

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by towny

What part of the Wirral are you from? I'm curious whether you're going to be learning on any of the old favourite instructor's routes that I used to drive on!

Im from Birkenhead, apparently the instructor I will be learning with is very fond of new brighton front (as are a lot of instructors around here )

Originally Posted by ZrByte

Im from Birkenhead, apparently the instructor I will be learning with is very fond of new brighton front (as are a lot of instructors around here )

Aha, I did my test in Birkenhead

Some of the evillest roundabouts on planet Earth, IMHO, especially the one at Hoylake Road/Laird Street with six exits and a church in the middle of it

There are some nasty unmarked crossroads nearby in Birkenhead North as well, but have they not moved the test centre now? You may escape having to do your test there.

I drove some lessons up and down New Brighton prom, but my first ever (legal) go behind the wheel was on the prom at Meols, which is even quieter.

Best advice I can give is, if you're going to get some unofficial tuition in a family car or with a friend, go for a very long drive rather than just an hour, or 30 minutes. It'll help get you into driving as a habit rather than having to think about everything all the time. My brother used to go for afternoons up the A55 round the North Wales coast. That's about as close as you'll get to being on a M-way without actually going on one, so once your confidence and technical skills have increased a little, I'd recommend it. It'll really help your road awareness.

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by towny

Aha, I did my test in Birkenhead

Some of the evillest roundabouts on planet Earth, IMHO, especially the one at Hoylake Road/Laird Street with six exits and a church in the middle of it

Confused the hell outta me the first time I went on that one, forgot wich exist I was meant to leave on

There are some nasty unmarked crossroads nearby in Birkenhead North as well, but have they not moved the test centre now? You may escape having to do your test there.

I think the test center has been moved, however I dont know if it is just because of habbit or not but most friends of mine who have done thier test in the last year have done it in bidston via Birkenhead North.

I drove some lessons up and down New Brighton prom, but my first ever (legal) go behind the wheel was on the prom at Meols, which is even quieter.

Best advice I can give is, if you're going to get some unofficial tuition in a family car or with a friend, go for a very long drive rather than just an hour, or 30 minutes. It'll help get you into driving as a habit rather than having to think about everything all the time. My brother used to go for afternoons up the A55 round the North Wales coast. That's about as close as you'll get to being on a M-way without actually going on one, so once your confidence and technical skills have increased a little, I'd recommend it. It'll really help your road awareness.

Thanks, i'll remember that one. Only problem is my Dad wont even let me in the driving seat of his car until I have had at least one lesson. Since I am supposed to be doing an intensive course, by the time ive had my first lesson/day I wont really have time to have a drive in his car (even a short drive ).
Allthough I have been talking with my Dad and we where thinking of normal lessons. When I enquired about intensive lessons I found out that the waiting list is 8 weeks to take the test and you dont do a single lesson until the week before the test is due.
My dad seems to think that if I do more lessons than most (say about 3 lessons a week rather than just 1 like most people I know) I could well be ready to do my test by then anyway, this would also work out about £100 cheaper.

Anybody agree/disagree with that?? I really need a second opinion before I go book either intensive or normal lessons

Originally Posted by ZrByte

My dad seems to think that if I do more lessons than most (say about 3 lessons a week rather than just 1 like most people I know) I could well be ready to do my test by then anyway, this would also work out about £100 cheaper.

Anybody agree/disagree with that?? I really need a second opinion before I go book either intensive or normal lessons

There is no substitute for the kind of road sense that comes with experience. You can learn how to make a car do what you want it to very easily, but learning how to anticipate problems is not something you can pick up in a week. If you get the technical skills sorted in a week, then sit your test and are very lucky with the road conditions (nobody braking suddenly, cutting you up, failing to indicate, etc etc) you might pass your test. But will you be as 'good' a driver as someone who learned for three months and then passed their test? Personally, I doubt it.

I once heard someone say the formula is a lesson for each year of your life. I learned while I was 17/18 and had about that many paid-for lessons, plus loads of extra practice with my dad. I can't blame yours for not wanting you near his car until you know, mechanically, how to drive the thing, but I really do think it's worth you getting a couple of lessons, learning the basics, and then spending a lot of time just driving and learning what it's actually like out there on the roads.

EDIT

And what's the hurry anyway? You've waited 20 years, a couple more weeks won't do any harm ...

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by towny

There is no substitute for the kind of road sense that comes with experience. You can learn how to make a car do what you want it to very easily, but learning how to anticipate problems is not something you can pick up in a week. If you get the technical skills sorted in a week, then sit your test and are very lucky with the road conditions (nobody braking suddenly, cutting you up, failing to indicate, etc etc) you might pass your test. But will you be as 'good' a driver as someone who learned for three months and then passed their test? Personally, I doubt it.

I once heard someone say the formula is a lesson for each year of your life. I learned while I was 17/18 and had about that many paid-for lessons, plus loads of extra practice with my dad. I can't blame yours for not wanting you near his car until you know, mechanically, how to drive the thing, but I really do think it's worth you getting a couple of lessons, learning the basics, and then spending a lot of time just driving and learning what it's actually like out there on the roads.

EDIT

And what's the hurry anyway? You've waited 20 years, a couple more weeks won't do any harm ...

I have 1 years road experience thanks to my bike, I'd like to think I have pretty good road sense now (my instructor may think otherwise, wich I am glad of if I am wrong, I would rather know than live in ignorance )
So in theory all I really need to learn is the mechanical side of driving a car, and obviously some fine tuning of my current knowledge (e.g. a car is 3x thicker than my bike, could be handy to know when trying to park )
My Dad has offered to spend quite a bit of time with me once I have had at least one lesson thanks to my sister nearly totaling his car in the car park outside where I used to work.

hehe, a lot of people have asked me what the hurry is, so I'll explain
I fell off my bike about a month or so ago as you may or may not remember.
I now really want to get rid of my bike and move onto a car, in a perfect world I would like to keep both but cant afford to right now, once my insurance on the car comes down a bit in a few years I will be able to go back to the bike again but not until then.
The problem is my insurance is due up for renewal in a few weeks and I really want to be rid of my bike by then, the second problem is I need to keep my bike until I get my car as I need transport to get to work and public transport is becoming far too expensive.

so in short - I need to learn to drive before my insurance on my bike expires so I dont end up paying out more than I need to

Originally Posted by towny

I once heard someone say the formula is a lesson for each year of your life.

Err, excuse me?!

So if (as I'm thinking of) I decide to take my test again, I need *thirty nine* lessons???

[paulyoung666]

Originally Posted by Graham

Err, excuse me?!

So if (as I'm thinking of) I decide to take my test again, I need *thirty nine* lessons???

who is to say you dont , i am fairly certain i would not pass the test after driving for 19 years

Originally Posted by paulyoung666

who is to say you dont , i am fairly certain i would not pass the test after driving for 19 years

So you are saying your driving is so bad that you need (at the minimum) 37 lessons to bring your driving up to the standard it *should* be?? (Read the next paragraph before you jump on this...! )

No, of course you're not saying anything of the sort, but I'm sure both you and I have a lot more "road experience" than an 18 year old who's just taken their test for the first time, haven't we? And that is, when it comes down to it, what a driving test *really* needs to teach.

Originally Posted by monkeybreath

I have just repassed my test

.........[Snippity snipped]

Congratulations Monkeybreath Really happy for you.......but then it could be the codeine i took about an hour ago

I know this is off topic but....... i only took a closer look at this thread because i thought it was about 'Learning to drivel' and wondering what this forum was coming to but it was my eyes that were at fault obviously

Sorry

[paulyoung666]

Originally Posted by Graham

So you are saying your driving is so bad that you need (at the minimum) 37 lessons to bring your driving up to the standard it *should* be?? (Read the next paragraph before you jump on this...! )

No, of course you're not saying anything of the sort, but I'm sure both you and I have a lot more "road experience" than an 18 year old who's just taken their test for the first time, haven't we? And that is, when it comes down to it, what a driving test *really* needs to teach.

yeah you are right it was a bit of ' tongue in cheek ' stuff , it wouldnt surprise me if it did take a few lessons though , especially as the test will have changed so much in that length of time

[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by Graham

So you are saying your driving is so bad that you need (at the minimum) 37 lessons to bring your driving up to the standard it *should* be?? (Read the next paragraph before you jump on this...! )

No, of course you're not saying anything of the sort, but I'm sure both you and I have a lot more "road experience" than an 18 year old who's just taken their test for the first time, haven't we? And that is, when it comes down to it, what a driving test *really* needs to teach.

And that road experience is probably what will make you fail the test (daft as that sounds)
Take my dad (please, someone, I beg you, take him off our hands!) he's got about 40 years driving experience but there is no way in hell that he'd be able to pass the practical test let alone the theory test.

Driving lessons serve one purpose, to get you to pass the test. Once you've done that, that's when you start to drive.