evening all,

I'm curious as to what you guys and girls will think of this so really looking for HONEST opinions please! no beating around the bush just tell me what you think

I know someone whose been learning to drive for approximately 4 months now and has had 15 lessons so far including some 2 hour. Initially he started off with one school for a few lessons and then switched to another one.

In all of the 15 lessons to date he hasn't yet been presented with traffic lights, roundabouts, reversing but he has driven on a few local roads and turned left/right.

On his last lesson he was allowed to go into 3rd gear(for the very first time). Previously including the other driving school they only let him go in 1st or 2nd. He's not been particularly good in 1st or 2nd and has stalled the car most lessons, hit a wing mirror as well as mounting the curb while doing a left turn.

Since learning to drive (4 months to date) he's also been practicing theory test questions which seems alot easier to revise for compared to when I did it, as you know can buy dvd' with interactive questions as well as some websites hosting this also.

I've seen him practicing the mock theory tests quite substantially and I know for a fact he has done the mock tests at least a dozen times, yet so far he has never passed it. His scores are between 25-37 usually.

My questions is, is this unusual? or should he perhaps switch to learning driving on an automatic rather than a manual?

At his current trend do you think 15 lessons is "early days" to judge whether he will pass or even be safe on the road?

thanks

Sounds like a real duffer I distinctly remember being allowed to use 4th gear on my first driving lesson, and as traffic lights only had three colours, I was happy to take them on as well.

The amount of time learning to drive will vary massively depending on what previous experience a person has. For someone who has never ever driven a car before their first driving lesson, i.e learning completely from scratch, it may take them a lot of lessons to get up to test standard. It's also going to depend on the instructors and how good they are at adapting their teaching style depending on how well their pupil picks up what is being taught, but if the pupil is a slow learner or not particularly confident, then naturally it will take longer to learn the skills.

Is your friend practising what is being taught in the lessons, by the driving instructor, in their own car with a friend or relative?

A few years ago, I taught my girlfriend to drive from scratch in my own car, starting off with the absolute basics, starting, stopping, gears etc. This helped her a lot as it meant that by the time she started lessons with a driving school, she could already "work" a car so was able to learn all the manouvers and things necessary for driving without having to concentrate too hard on actually making the car go. Then between lessons, whenever we went out anywhere, I'd let her drive so that she could practice what she was learning.

At the end of the day, everyone is different and will learn things at different rates. Personally, I was very lucky as I've grown up around motorsport and as such often got to drive cars around airfields from a young age, I also used to cycle a lot so I was already familiar with road signage and markings etc. I also had my own car to learn and practice in so by the time I started having professional lessons with an instructor, I was up to test standard after just a few lessons.

For someone completely new to driving, 4 months/15 lessons is very early days. My advice is to stick with it and practice, practice, practice. Also, stick with the manual gears as if they pass in an automatic, they will only be licenced to drive automatic cars and will have to take another test later on if they wish to start driving manual cars.

Hope this helps.

I gonna side with MoggyTech on this one. I passed within two months and in less lesson than matey-boy, but then I am great and great driver to boot

In all seriousness I would have suggested changing driving schools but it appears he has done that already. Do you think its a confidence problem? Or, maybe he just doesn't care whether he passes or not and therefore not putting his all into it...

I was given an A road and allowed to use 5th gear on my first lesson. Wasn't presented with any traffic lights though. From the sounds of it I'd have thought somewhere like a disused airfield would be a better starting point for the learner in question so they can just play around without having to avoid hitting anything. My Dad took me to an old airfield at the age of 16 and let me drive there for a bit. Took a little while to get the hang of doing so much stuff all at the same time but I got there fairly quickly. Not having to think about other road users or obstacles was a great help as I could just concentrate on getting used to the controls.

I think he should ask for a push bike for Christmas.

The amount of time learning to drive will vary massively depending on what previous experience a person has. For someone who has never ever driven a car before their first driving lesson, i.e learning completely from scratch, it may take them a lot of lessons to get up to test standard. It's also going to depend on the instructors and how good they are at adapting their teaching style depending on how well their pupil picks up what is being taught, but if the pupil is a slow learner or not particularly confident, then naturally it will take longer to learn the skills.

Is your friend practising what is being taught in the lessons, by the driving instructor, in their own car with a friend or relative?

A few years ago, I taught my girlfriend to drive from scratch in my own car, starting off with the absolute basics, starting, stopping, gears etc. This helped her a lot as it meant that by the time she started lessons with a driving school, she could already "work" a car so was able to learn all the manouvers and things necessary for driving without having to concentrate too hard on actually making the car go. Then between lessons, whenever we went out anywhere, I'd let her drive so that she could practice what she was learning.

At the end of the day, everyone is different and will learn things at different rates. Personally, I was very lucky as I've grown up around motorsport and as such often got to drive cars around airfields from a young age, I also used to cycle a lot so I was already familiar with road signage and markings etc. I also had my own car to learn and practice in so by the time I started having professional lessons with an instructor, I was up to test standard after just a few lessons.

For someone completely new to driving, 4 months/15 lessons is very early days. My advice is to stick with it and practice, practice, practice. Also, stick with the manual gears as if they pass in an automatic, they will only be licenced to drive automatic cars and will have to take another test later on if they wish to start driving manual cars.

Hope this helps.

Hi,

No he's not practicing outside of the lessons he's receiving and his only viable option probably would have been his dad but he refused citing it's not dual control so too much of a risk. It's strange as he did quite alot of cycling as a teen whereas myself...I hardly did any but passed first time within a few months.

The whole theory test thing is a bit weird tho...I mean most of it is common sense from what I've seen and multiple choice does help.

But anyway as you say people can take varying times to pass or even be up to test standard and there's other factors involved.

thanks

I think he should ask for a push bike for Christmas.

lol! it might be safer and at least it'd help in our time of recession

In all seriousness I would have suggested changing driving schools but it appears he has done that already. Do you think its a confidence problem? Or, maybe he just doesn't care whether he passes or not and therefore not putting his all into it...

It could be a confidence thing...very hard to say as i personally have not witnessed his driving.I do know he's got several dvds and spends a considerable amount of time doing those mock exams so you'd think he was determined.

I hated driving when I was learning, so much so I even skipped lessons, pretending to be ill!! LOL!!! I never hit anything, always went to slow, but got there first time with the test. There was no theory as it is now when I passed, just a flip chart of symbols. A couple of emergency stops, reverse parking etc and it was done. I didn't drive for a year after, lack of cash for a car, and the want to drive wasn't there! Jeez, I can't believe I didn't WANT to drive, now it's all I want to do!! LOL!!!!!

I need to learn how to drive an auto.

Back when I had been driving for maybe up to a year tried driving my cousins auto Golf (mk2) and it wasnt a smooth drive!!!

Need to get used to one as I can borrow my mechanics Beemer (yep an auto!) when I go visit a lady friend down south later in the month

How easy was it for me......

Erm I passed my test first time but lost count of lessons as I had them on/off over the course of approx 18 months.

Spent one day with my Dad pottling around an industrial estate in 2nd, just getting used to the car as it was my first time behind the wheel. On the sunday he took me out on the road and I was up to 40 to 50mph, 4th gear, and it kind of went on from there really.

Spent 6 months ensuring I got it right though, before going for my test.

Is it just me that booked my test for 3 months after my birthday and learned with a family member in my own car? Definitely better to practice basic skills off road IMO, it should be made compulsory.

If your friend has confidence issues then there are places out there that have mock-up roads and junctions etc to learn on. However if the driving school are holding him back, find a no-nonsense self employed instructor IMO.

My dad used to let me steer his old Peugeot 504 around the top deck of a multi-story while he did the pedals when I was 4. Later on, I used to drive my mum and dad's cars around fields and on Black Rock sands beach. In my early teens I drove them on a couple of quiet lanes near home too to be honest. I loved playing racing sims on the PC as well, Indycar, Viper Racing, etc. So by the time I was officially old enough to drive, I guess I already had the basics down.

I didn't rush to drive and do my test as soon as I was 17 for some reason. I saved up for and bought a Golf when I was 18, got it insured by my mum with me on the policy and got my Dad and other people to sit in the passenger seat for a few months while I found any excuse to drive somewhere. Then I booked a test and a couple of lessons beforehand to catch any bad habits and passed with a couple of minors. Found it so easy. For what it's worth, I think the test should be much broader and harder.

I'd get your mate down at a kart track, airfield, hell, even Forza on the Xbox (preferably with the steering wheel ). Just get him more comfortable and interested about cars and driving I think.

Edited 6 November, 200916 yr by wega3k

I had 14 lessons before I took my test, passed first time, bought my own car in the June on 17th birthday, did alot of practice in my own time and by December I had passed.

People take to things quicker than others but it seems as though the instructor isn't exactly pushing him to the next stage, more money for him I guess;)

He may lack confidence or he might just not be that good at driving, can't be good at everything!

As said, a bicycle for xmas would be safer....................with the stabilisers on to begin with:rofl:

Stan

I passed after 11 lessons... but to be honest could have sat the test after 5. First lesson was 10 minutes explaining how to set mirrors up, clutch control etc. 10 minutes driving round an industial estate. 40 minutes driving on public roads with plenty round abouts and traffic lights (stalling at everyone!) and a duel carrage way inwhich he made me do 70. My instructor believed in chucking you in at the deep end and to be honest I have to agree.

My questions is, is this unusual? or should he perhaps switch to learning driving on an automatic rather than a manual? No he should take the bus!

At his current trend do you think 15 lessons is "early days" to judge whether he will pass or even be safe on the road? 15+ hours, its not frigging rocket science

thanks

IMHO, this person should not be on the road, the uk driving standard is a disgrace at the best of times. (hope they aint close to you)

I found the test easy after years of motorcycle riding

I passed my test after just 12 lessons, and was using all gears from day one. I remember being told to slow down on first lesson as I was doing 40 in a 30. On my second lesson, I was trying out all the moves required for the test including reversing, roundabouts and so on. By about the 10th or so lesson, my instructor let me go where I wanted rather than him dicate the lesson, that way I got the feel of independance whilst having someone sat next to me.

Everyone is different.

I didn't find it that hard. first lesson I was up to 5th gear 50-60mph, also driving through town. The only thing I didn't do was go onto the local dual carriageway.

I'd been out with my Dad a few times before that because "I'm not paying for you to learn to stop and start", so I didn't have to go through the stalling phase on a lesson.

I applied for my test after 9 lessons and had had 14 when I passed. This was lower than average for my group of friends but I started driving my Dad round his insurance collection route for practice. On average my mate were about 15 lessons if they were out with parents and about 25 if they only had lessons.

BUT I did have a few mates who took one lesson then sat and passed the test and another who had over 100 lessons and 5 tests before they passed.

Some instructors do stretch things out a bit and other are keen to put people to test early. Depends on their marketing strategy.

Also this was about 15 years ago and the guy in front with the red flag kept you right:P

How old is this person? As a general guide it's reckoned that the average person needs about one hour's tuition for each year of their age.

I didn't have any real problems, except i always used to watch my feet when changing gears.

According to my driving instructor that was a bad thing, and it took ages for me to get out of that habit, so i could go for the test!

Took me 8 lessons, 8 weeks, passed 1st time. But I'd have been a bit pi**ed if I'd not, I'd been driving a crane, jcb and forklift trucks since I was 14.

I think in your friend's case, he's just not very good to start with, more practice needed than other people, but what the hell. He'll get the hang of it eventually, nothing to worry about.

It took me 3 weeks. Did my theory on my birthday which i hadn't revised for, passed then had my test scheduled for 3 weeks after..

Passed first time, albeit with 13 minors, but still a pass

Also passed the ARDS (race licence) test first time even though the first time i'd driven a car on track was for the ARDS test

Maybe luck more than anything though, who knows..

Kev

I just passed my test in may 09 after trying for a while, cant tell you how much i spent in driving lessons with different instructors but the one thing that I did find with them was that I would get to a certain level of learning with them i.e driving round town normally reversing gear change etc but with my last instructor i already knew the basics and I showed her that i could drive but she wouldnt let me progress ny further and after 5 lessons or just driving round I started to learn the required manouvers i.e reversing round the corner etc but after doing this with her for a few lessons I felt that I was getting nowhere near being ready for my test and felt that she was holding me back, anyway i stopped having lessons with her and my husband started to teach me and in his opinion (i was useless and what the instructors had aught me was rubbish, he couldnt understand their teaching methods). Happy to say that he taught me from scratch on his furby which is now my furby and after teaching me for a six months with me driving everywhere we went I passed my test. with regard to the theroy test all i can say is that i practised the test on the internet on, link: DSA Practice Theory Test • Home. and when i went to do the test for real some of the questions i was asked were identical to the ones I had practised on the internet. so i short my advice to you would be stop lessons with the instructor and get a family member to teach him.