Driving lessons...

jetplane

I took lessons as soon as I was old enough and hated it. I gave up. A few years later when my brother passed I used his instructor and passed. I had forgotton everything I had learned.

How old in your son? We bought our daughter a provisional, lessons and test for her 17th birthday after that she had to pay for her own, but she felt it was too early for her and waited a year before she started learning. However I told her she had to keep going, it didn't matter how many times she failed a theory or practical, she would have to put straight back in until she passed as it will only get harder, and she did.

My concern would be yes it's harder than he thought but that he is also bored, why has he not took his theory alongside these 19 lessons? It could take him a few goes to pass and he could go on forever, at the moment there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

I think the theory is down to revision, knowledge and luck, there is not much room for error. In the office where I worked we all took the theory and we all failed.:eek:

Is his instructor in it for the money as he stands to make a lot if your son waits until he is ready for his practical before taking his theory. My friends children have all taken the theory after a few lessons and had it under their belt ready for their practical test.

Maybe his theory might give him a boost and one less hurdle might spur him on.

euronorris

laurel7172 wrote: »

Oh...with regard to the "extortionate" price of lessons, to insure my (small) car for my learner daughter would cost about the same as five driving lessons per month, before taking fuel, my time, frazzled nerves or the risk to my no-claims discount into account.

Seems like a bargain to me!

When talking about value for money, it is a very good price.

When talking about affordability to anyone, especially teenagers, it is bank breaking.

For example, I had 24 hours. So for example, let's say they were 22 per hour (I can't remember exactly now, but I think they were a little more, but I also benefitted from block booking) 24*22 = 528, plus cost of theory test, plus cost of practical test. For students, that's crippling!

euronorris

For the theory, and anyone who's interested, I would highly recommend the interactive CD-rom/DVD, with book. And, I also used this site to do mock tests: http://www.2pass.co.uk/

The interactive CD-rom/DVD is fantastic for learning about the hazard perception part. That, I believe, is now the hardest part of the test as it isn't very clear what they're after, when you should click, but don't click too much etc. You can practice the test on a computer, over and over until you feel confident with it.

ETA: Something like this is what I had - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Driving-Test-Success-Tests-2012/dp/B005CTY9Y2 Though I think mine was by the AA.

jetplane

LiiinnngggY wrote: »

I started taking driving lessons when I was 18 and gave up after 8 lessons because the instructor made me believe that I couldn't do it. After a long break, I started taking lessons again for a year and I passed my driving test yesterday

Well done it's life changing.

Dunroamin

victory wrote: »

His lessons are outside 6th form and his works, his instructor makes them around the hours that he is free so he has no wage loss.

I know at one stage he was concerned he could not pay his hol and his lessons but that is not it now as he has practically paid for his hol so he has no outstanding financial restraints/debts.

If he's coming up to A levels, perhaps he feels he can do without the hassle and the stress of the driving as well?

WestonDave

I did a number of lessons when I was 17, but never really got on with it - driving instructor was quite old and we didn't really get on, so after a while I gave up. I also didn't see much chance of me owning a car any time soon as I was heading off to Uni and there was little enough money in the family, let alone having money for another car. So I guess there was little incentive to learn.

At 21 I then did a weeks intensive course where I was at Uni and took a test because it was part of the package but in reality had I passed I'd probably have been dangerous! I then carried that on with an instructor once I got home and started work (I was going to need to be able to drive for work in due course). Retook the test and was probably generally ready to pass but failed on a skidded emergency stop in foul weather. Retook it and passed 3rd attempt.

I probably retained nothing apart from the basic head theory about how the clutch worked from the first set of lessons, but the few weeks break from the intensive course in June to restarting in September didn't do me any harm despite swapping cars in the process. It has to be said that even having passed I wasn't that keen on driving, and it was only being railroaded into buying a car by my boss, and getting a girlfriend on the other side of town that got me into regular driving and in turn built my skills and confidence up to a decent level. Passing the test is one thing but if you don't have the chance to develop afterwards it might be a bit pointless!

dizziblonde

Spendless wrote: »

My mum had driving lessons before I was born, failed 2 tests and packed them in. When I was a teenager and she 'needed' them for a job she started them up again, again she failed twice but kept trying and passed on 3rd attempt, so yes some people do try and succeed later on in life.

Took my mum 9 tests and 20 odd years to pass her test - final motivating factor was being able to go to Asda!

I got driving lessons given as my 17th birthday present - hated them, hated the idea that I'd not been given any choice over what to have for a birthday gift that year - funnily enough changed my mind very very sharpish once I'd passed my test, got put on the family car insurance and zipped off to everywhere I wanted to go to! (Before the theory test came in - think I squeaked through the month before they put it in in the end)

red_devil

my son dosent drive he has never expressed an interest. I doubt he could afford to run a car anyway but he has not learnt yet.

sukysue

:T:beer::j

LiiinnngggY wrote: »

I started taking driving lessons when I was 18 and gave up after 8 lessons because the instructor made me believe that I couldn't do it. After a long break, I started taking lessons again for a year and I passed my driving test yesterday

congratulations!:D