To what extent can you self-study to drive without paying for instructors?

simmed

UPDATE: Bought insurance for £80. Have only had insurance for a week and have around 14 hours logged, at this rate will have 50+ hours in the car for £80 insurance + petrol costs + time cost for the other person. But that figure is absolutely miniscule compared to what that amount of time would have cost with an instructor (£1000+). May be too early to say but would highly recommend this route for other learners Of course it has it's disadvantages, and it is probably best to always buy some instructor lessons to get a trained opinion on your driving.

[SMUG AND PATRONISING ALERT, BUT I COULDN'T RESIST] Oh, just as a side thought, I notice some people (aimed at !!!!!!, forgotmyname, maninthestreet, loanranger, mojisola) don't seem to undertstand the meaning of competent, which is simply: "Having the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to do something successfully." The above seem to have misunderstood my use of "competent" and seem to think it is equivalent of "perfect", "experienced", "well-versed", etc. Dictionaries, people.

Loanranger

Come back and let us know when the examiner assesses your driving as competent.
Anything else is premature.
Anyone else is irrelevant.

simmed

Loanranger wrote: »

Come back and let us know when the examiner assesses your driving as competent.
Anything else is premature.
Anyone else is irrelevant.

You still seem to fail to grasp that "competence" is a broad concept.
It is said that your driving test is the safest you will ever drive. Driving examiners' tests exceed competence. After a driving examination, your standard will probably fall. But you are still competent. You continue to confuse "competence" with "perfection".

Oh dear, am I feeding the troll? Toodle pip, all!

londonTiger

my gf is a farmers daughter and she was driving technically illegally from age 13 or so. she passed at 17 without ever getting instruction from a driving instructor, it can be done, but be prepared for the consequences if you mess up and ideally practice on your own land.

worried_jim

Hintza wrote: »

Lots of road time over and above any formal instruction is important in my view and if you are generally competent at driving, then the bits you need to practice with an instructor should come easily.

Many moons ago (70's) when I passed my test I had a couple of early lessons then drove around with friends (normally just passed their test 5 minutes before) and family culminating in about 2-3 two hour lessons over the test route.

However if you are a nervous driver then I think it best to take more lessons. I remember I took my sister for a lesson it was horrific and was never repeated she wasn't nervous as such but ............ just a nightmare.

I remember giving my younger sister a go in my car in a car park and she just revved the bollox off it a slipped the clutch- never again!

Trebor16

art_for_arts_sake wrote: »

Can I just recommend Roadcraft: The Police Driver's Handbook which is written for the police but improves road awareness way beyond what theory and the Highway Code teaches you. I learnt to ride motorbike initially using the police motorcyclist's equivalent, it really was a lifesaver and the skills, transferred to driving when I took my driving test months later, were invaluable.

A very good book for when you have passed your test. It is not designed for learners.

Mojisola

simmed wrote: »

[SMUG AND PATRONISING ALERT, BUT I COULDN'T RESIST][/I] Oh, just as a side thought, I notice some people (aimed at !!!!!!, forgotmyname, maninthestreet, loanranger, mojisola) don't seem to undertstand the meaning of competent, which is simply: "Having the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to do something successfully."

The above seem to have misunderstood my use of "competent" and seem to think it is equivalent of "perfect", "experienced", "well-versed", etc. Dictionaries, people.

Or maybe you're confusing "not had an accident yet" with being competent as a driver.

mikey72

simmed wrote: »

UPDATE: Bought insurance for £80. Have only had insurance for a week and have around 14 hours logged, at this rate will have 50+ hours in the car for £80 insurance + petrol costs + time cost for the other person. But that figure is absolutely miniscule compared to what that amount of time would have cost with an instructor (£1000+). May be too early to say but would highly recommend this route for other learners Of course it has it's disadvantages, and it is probably best to always buy some instructor lessons to get a trained opinion on your driving.

[SMUG AND PATRONISING ALERT, BUT I COULDN'T RESIST] Oh, just as a side thought, I notice some people (aimed at !!!!!!, forgotmyname, maninthestreet, loanranger, mojisola) don't seem to undertstand the meaning of competent, which is simply: "Having the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to do something successfully." The above seem to have misunderstood my use of "competent" and seem to think it is equivalent of "perfect", "experienced", "well-versed", etc. Dictionaries, people.

My daughter did the same.

First time out was midnight on her 17th birthday in her car wth me.

I must have been out every evening, and every weekend with her afterwards.

It's still worth paying for a few lessons, as they'll teach you how to pass, not just how to drive, and what the examiner is looking for, and more importantly how to make sure you show it them.

Good luck.

oldtoolie

Check your public library for driver's ed DVDs.

Tobster86

Competant to drive and competant to teach someone how to drive are two different things, however I also think that lots of driving and lots of confidence are the best way to pass the test. I only had weekly driving lessons 8 years ago (parents were too lazy to supervise, which I've never forgiven them for) and passed 3rd time just down to sheer lack of regular practise and the confidence it provides.

If you're not going for lessons, the most important things to remember are:
-Don't touch the kerb.
-Don't manoeuvre without checking your mirrors (and make a big stupid visible point of looking in the mirror).

The rest is common sense and following simple rules. Assuming not much has changed in the past 8 years!