Learning to Drive!

[Chris W]

I had to have some lessons before retaking my test, not so i could learn how to drive, but to learn to get into the habbits you need to pass your test again. When i learnt originally, i had an instructor to teach me to pass my test, and my dad taught me to drive... personally i think this was a good combination!

It also helped that before i passed my test originally i had driven five different cars, i think it is important to learn in more than one car, because once you've finished learning you will never drive your instructors car again so it is good to get experience in as many different cars as possible, then you don't get a shock when you change cars!

[Marge]

Originally Posted by Xaccers

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

Not long after I passed my test I was approaching a pelican crossing, I hadn't seen the light was on red but my b/f did. I was doing between 25-30 merrily singing along to myself when all of a sudden he put the hand brake on cos he knew I wasn't going to stop. 180 degree turn later, me stunned, b/f bawling and shouting and one white faced pedestrian I learnt my lesson about observation

[Charlie_Bubble]

Originally Posted by ZrByte

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



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.




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

I'd go with the 2 or 3 lessons a week idea. An intensive course is all well and good, if you have some driving experience, maybe a lesson or two, but think how much of your time is gonna be blown if you make some kind of mistake on day 1 or 2 and it hits your confidence. Best to do maybe a couple of double lessons a week for a month or two. that way, if you have a bad lesson you'll have forgotten it by the next one, plus your dad will probably be ok about taking you out for the odd hour or two after the first couple of lessons.

[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by Debsy42

Not long after I passed my test I was approaching a pelican crossing, I hadn't seen the light was on red but my b/f did. I was doing between 25-30 merrily singing along to myself when all of a sudden he put the hand brake on cos he knew I wasn't going to stop. 180 degree turn later, me stunned, b/f bawling and shouting and one white faced pedestrian I learnt my lesson about observation

And I trusted you with my car key?

[Marge]

Originally Posted by Xaccers

And I trusted you with my car key?

course you did, I promised not to crash it

[MovedGoalPosts]

Originally Posted by Debsy42

course you did, I promised not to crash it

famous last words

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by Debsy42

course you did, I promised not to crash it

Well it is very hard to crash a set of keys now isnt it

Originally Posted by Charlie_Bubble

I'd go with the 2 or 3 lessons a week idea. An intensive course is all well and good, if you have some driving experience, maybe a lesson or two, but think how much of your time is gonna be blown if you make some kind of mistake on day 1 or 2 and it hits your confidence. Best to do maybe a couple of double lessons a week for a month or two. that way, if you have a bad lesson you'll have forgotten it by the next one, plus your dad will probably be ok about taking you out for the odd hour or two after the first couple of lessons.

Since that makes a hell of a lot of sense to me I think I'll go with that Idea, I wasnt even thinking of accidents and mistakes, plus it will be funny to see the horror on my Dads face when he realises he might actually have to honour his offer to give me some lessons in his car

[Charlie_Bubble]

Originally Posted by ZrByte

Well it is very hard to crash a set of keys now isnt it



Since that makes a hell of a lot of sense to me I think I'll go with that Idea, I wasnt even thinking of accidents and mistakes, plus it will be funny to see the horror on my Dads face when he realises he might actually have to honour his offer to give me some lessons in his car

Good luck with it. Don't be too eager and set yourself an unobtainable date target. Once you've learnt the basics and you're able to drive with no real problems it's just a matter of getting someone to take you out to get as much road practice as you can so it feels second nature.

[Xaccers]

So, no one wants to take my dad then?

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by ZrByte

<snip>
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 ).
<snip>

Wise words from your dad.

Best you get about 5 lessons in with an instructor so they drill in proper technique before your dad tries to teach bad habits.

[snodvan]

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

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.

You shoud just SEE what they have done to the "Holy Doughnut" ie St James' church on the roundabout in Birkenhead. It is not a roundabout any more. The traffic is now 2-way around 2/3 of it with loads of traffic lights. I have been driving since (I think) 1959 (with No licence points etc - boast, boast) and have been around that roundabout many, many times. When I did my test you had to learn the whip signals that horse & cart drivers would give.

[Charlie_Bubble]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

Best you get about 5 lessons in with an instructor so they drill in proper technique before your dad tries to teach bad habits.

Yes, this is very important. Do not alter the way your instructor teaches you to drive, until you have passed. Your instructor will know exactly what they are looking for and what is acceptable for passing the test. (feeding the wheel with both hands, always putting your handbrake on when you stop etc.) As someone already said, you are learning to pass the test first. After that you will learn something every day. When you've been doing it donkey's years you will be able to predict other peoples mistakes and hopefully act accordingly before they take you down with them.

Originally Posted by Xaccers

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.

Well I've already proved several times that I can pass the theory test having done the online versions with near perfect results (and, IIRC, in a couple of instances corrected the questions!)

As to the practical, although I haven't been behind the wheel of a car for (oh my gods) about 17-18 years all I need is a bit of handling practice and I'll be sorted.