Learning to Drive

victor2

Billy-no-Money wrote: »

Finally - get your head down and study for your theory test. It's common for pupils to take longer than they need to pass their driving test because they've delayed doing the theory. You can't take your theory until you're 17 (with a few exceptions) but there's nothing to stop you studying and booking the test three months in advance!

I'll second that. A good few years ago, DD was learning and had booked her theory test. I'd got her the DVD with sample tests etc. The night before the test, she decided to spend the time with her boyfriend - saying that she knew what was required and would be fine. She failed, rebooked, and used the DVD. Passed with 100% the second time!

photome

Billy-no-Money wrote: »

Finally - get your head down and study for your theory test. It's common for pupils to take longer than they need to pass their driving test because they've delayed doing the theory. You can't take your theory until you're 17 (with a few exceptions) but there's nothing to stop you studying and booking the test three months in advance!

Thanks for that my son is having lessons at moment (had 8) I hadnt thought of booking the theory, have just done so and earliest date I could get (on a saturday) was 7th july so all sorted. He has been practising online other than a highway code is there any other literature I should get him

Kaybenson

Very difficult to judge instuctors.

My first introductory lesson was good. Learnt a lot.

I then booked one hour, it was like i threw away money. I was stucked with biting point. he told me to watch out for the sound. i hear nothing.

Still at cross road!

waynedance

loads of good advice above, just remember cheaper is not always the best.

Al the people I know have used the same chap and all from word of mouth.

[Deleted User]

An instructor running an advanced driver course I took earlier this year said to avoid those 'week intensive' courses as they offered very little knowledge to the learner. Also, a little known fact is that driving instructors are graded 1-6 based on their teaching and skills, so choose an instructor with a grade 4 or higher. If they don't advertise their grade then ask, and if they question why you're asking...hang up!

Billy-no-Money

Note that grades 1-3 are regarded as unacceptable; an ADI has to teach at a level equivalent to at least grade 4 in order to become qualified. They are then periodically graded in a 'check test'; an ADI may therefore improve their grade over time, and a minority may be struck off if they repeatedly fail to make grade 4 in a check test.

Only about 5% of ADIs achieve Grade 6, well over half are at Grade 4 which is 'competent'. Grade 4 is an achievement in itself, qualifying as an ADI is not a walk in the park!

photome

I did ask earlier in thread maybe it has been overlooked

My son has booked his theory test but has only been practicing online (and passing each time)

I want to get hoim the highway code, is there any other puplication I should be getting (or a CD)

Billy-no-Money

There's an official DSA Theory Test pack, but one of the popular independent ones is the 'Driving Test Success' package - both are available from Amazon.

A word of warning - you MUST use a 2012 edition as questions change regularly.

More important - prior to 2012 ALL questions were published, and available in practice DVDs, but now only 'practice' questions are published and the theory test itself can ask questions which are NOT in ANY practice software or online. This is intended to stop pupils learning by rote.

The theory questions aren't hard, but there's no substitute for study combined with supervised practice on the road.

thegirlintheattic

Ultrasonic wrote: »

I have a vague recollection of an insurance company I was with making a distinction between the number of years that a licence has been held, and the number of years the person has actually been driving. This was relevant for me as I had gone a year or two without driving. This might be uncommon or I might be mis-remembering though.

Whether insurance is cheaper or not, I'm still not convinced it would be in the new driver's best interests. As I alluded to above, I drove very little after passing my test. I was at university at the time and initially drove my parents' car during holidays, but then stopped doing even this as it wasn't worth the insurance cost for occasional use. My driving did though definitely suffer as a result. I thankfully didn't have an accident when I started driving again, but I was defintiely low on confidence for a while, and consequently not as safe as I could have been. In hindsight I'd wished I'd delayed learning to drive until just before I left university.

Better to get it out the way in an area they know whilst bank of mum and dad is paying. Then if they get offered a job that requires driving straight out of uni - no panic to pass (currently have two friends in mid-20s that have only just passed and this has held them back from jobs).

And no matter the safety involved - insurers generally ask for number of years license held - longer = cheaper.

DaveF327

LandyAndy wrote: »

Not much choice when it is a 25 minute drive each way to/from the city where the test centre is.:)

A good instructor shouldn't be dragging you all that way and back every lesson just to memorise test routes by rote. Driving is all about planning and reading the road ahead as you see it. A good instructor should be able to teach you in your local area, then travel further out to explore and mix up various situations to consolidate learning. There is no need to visit the city with the test centre until almost the day of the test. Even then, if taught correctly and properly, the learner shouldn't have any difficulty "sight-reading" any unorthodox roads / junctions that present themselves.

Billy-no-Money wrote: »

Grade 4 is an achievement in itself, qualifying as an ADI is not a walk in the park!

That's true, but unfortunately a lot of instructors - like drivers - throw away the rule book once qualified and rest on their laurels, giving grade 2 lessons daily, and only fudging a 4 on a biannual check test by taking their wife / relative or other full licence holder along for a carefully "rehearsed" lesson. The best instructors out there are the ones who continually develop themselves, gain new CPD qualifications from time to time without being asked, usually come away from check tests with at least a grade 5 each time with a real challenge of a pupil, and always maintain an enviably high and consistent pass rate.