Amount of lessons for 17 year old?

Lucie_2

My nephew turned 17 on new years eve & passed his test on valentines day, so thats.......about 6 weeks. He too had been driving with his Dad on private land previously & had already bought himself a car (birthday money savings since 13 & saturday job earnings). He's now also passed the "pass plus" test. He's always been a "car boy", but certainly isn't a reckless driver.
I had never even shown a remote interest in how a car worked until I turned 17 & had 13 lessons before passing first time.
I think it's a lot to do with confidence & learning ability - does he normally pick things up fast?

flossy_splodge

So sorry to the poster whose experiences have left them with such a biased view of instructors. When my younger daughter learned with a small private instructor he was VERY particular about driving habits, courtesy on the road etc and in consequence she is a super driver and I have no hesitation in letting her drive me. Sorry your experience has been different.:rolleyes: And aliasojo my apologies. You're quite right, I did assume what you were getting at and I'm glad I was wrong. Was having a grumpy day. Forgive.:o

tickman

plane_boy2000 wrote:

I think that you are a little niave. Driving instructors are there to get you through a test - very few will actualy teach you how to drive, just how to pass a test.

Some instructors will do this. some will also continue to teach people who will never pass as they pay the mortgage.
do not judge when to take your son out by when the instructor lets them drive away from the house as when i was teaching people always on their second lesson at the latest lesson they drove from the house. it is such a boost that they did it they can then achieve loads more.

main point book 2 hour lessons not 1 hour as far more beneficial.
if you are sitting in next to someone learning the fastest way to stop the car is to shout STOP.
a good instructor can control the car with speach! i used to go through about 3 litres of water a day because i never shut up.
lastly be realistic, if you can take them out do it at quiet times at first, possibly starting in a car park to get your confidance up not theirs! and instructor should let them go for test when they feel safe but it depends on the instructor!!
T.

samanthaknd

Rikki wrote:

Luckily my son isn't a cocky 17 year old but he is 17 and having driving lessons. The instructor told him he should be looking at about 40 lessons in total..

Looking at and actually having less or more lessons is a matter of opinion I was told this when i started my lessons 2 years ago (ok I stopped for 6 months when i broke my leg last year) BUT.... my driving instructor i feel is taking the pi*s as i KNOW i am ready but he doesn't want me to take my test. I have until may 16th 2007 to pass or I'll need to sit my theory again. so if he doesn't let me do it Im just gonna look for another instructor.

samanthaknd

aliasojo wrote:

Thank you TK.



He often picks up on other people's poor driving when we are out in my car...i.e. people overtaking at bad points in the road or not indicating or being in the wrong lane etc, so I am hopeful that he will be responsible at the least.

funnily enough I do that too when Im in car with OH, Luckily your son had the confidence to start with, with me I was a bundle of nerves for at least 7 lessons. But I did pass my theory test first time with full marks, But as my other post said My instructor says "wait a while longer the test centre is full just now" well maybe next week I will phone myself and make him get his finger out hos a*se

samanthaknd

tickman wrote:

Some instructors will do this. some will also continue to teach people who will never pass as they pay the mortgage.
do not judge when to take your son out by when the instructor lets them drive away from the house as when i was teaching people always on their second lesson at the latest lesson they drove from the house. it is such a boost that they did it they can then achieve loads more.

main point book 2 hour lessons not 1 hour as far more beneficial.
if you are sitting in next to someone learning the fastest way to stop the car is to shout STOP.
a good instructor can control the car with speach! i used to go through about 3 litres of water a day because i never shut up.
lastly be realistic, if you can take them out do it at quiet times at first, possibly starting in a car park to get your confidance up not theirs! and instructor should let them go for test when they feel safe but it depends on the instructor!!
T.

as for the 2 lessons. all 3 or my instructors said it wasn't very good as it tires you out more, my very first instuctor Dave (excellent until he retired ) said he wouldn't take my money as it would probably cause more muck ups as you get more tired as a learner, (and I did take a 2 hour lesson with 2nd instuctor, and from experience I found I was trying my damn hardest to please that i made more mistakes than I would in a normal lesson.)

savvy

aliasojo wrote:

All through the lesson, I had a wee

Now that doesn't suprise me! :D

I've never heard of the 'twice your age' for lessons before...........that means I should have had around 44 lessons, I had 9 and passed first time

One of my 17 year old students has had 30 and apparently suggests he has another 10 before he puts him in for his test...............call me cynical, but I couldn't help wondering if his driving instructor was ripping him off there a bit

leanne06

watch with bsm they use trainee driving instructors and charge you the same, if they have a green badge they are fully qualified but if they have a pink badge they are still in training..

iceman_2

Totally agree plane boy - instructors teach you how to pass a test. Natural aptitude combined with experience gained afterwards make people good drivers.

I had 12 lessons, and could probably have been described as a 'know it all' and cocky 17 year old back then.

tkblueyonder

leanne06 wrote:

watch with bsm they use trainee driving instructors and charge you the same, if they have a green badge they are fully qualified but if they have a pink badge they are still in training..

someone told me BSM stands for "Bring Some Money"....allegedly lol:D