Intensive driving courses

duggan1

Has anyone any experience of 'residential' intensive driving courses? There are a few who advertise based in Blackpool, and some others. Not too many who offer the courses locally (Northern Ireland) and those that do haven't filled me with a lot of confidence when I've been talking to them.

The normal mode of learning hasn't really been working for me, primarily due to work commitments and being unable to make/honour appointments so I think this might be the best method to at least get a lot of hours in.

forgotmyname

Opinions vary but generally they dont suit everyone. Been mentioned that they teach you to pass the test on the set routes and you may suffer when out on your own in the real world.

What state will you be in doing 6 - 8 hours a day behind the wheel?

Book a local instructor for a whole day?

captainawsome

I had my licence revoked a few years back and had to start again from scratch inc applying for provisional, theory and practical tests. I needed my licence back ASAP for work and as test slots had long waiting times I booked a block 'crash' course with a company on Blackpool (not for the training, mainly for their prebooked/reserved test slots).

One thing to take note of is you are NOT guaranteed to pass in a week or whatever, infact, if your a total new driver or really new you are not even guaranteed to TAKE A TEST! If they don't think you are upto standard they won't let you take the test. A girl on my course just couldn't grasp things but wanted to take her test for feedback and to see how she got on, but they refused her and refunded the test fee. Something to be aware of. Also your test may not be in Blackpool, they will send you all over the north west, mine was in a place called failsworth in manchester but have been known to go right into the lakes and beyond basically wherever a test slot is. The down side is your taking your test in a totally new area that the instructors arnt really familiar with themselves to advise you on which may be a problem.

The accommodation was a typical Blackpool b&b. communal bathroom and shower, I looked at it more like an additional punishment for having my licence revoked as it was really quite horrible, but each to their own. As my course was in summer the weather was great which made life easier. They also offered coaching for your theory test of a night which was a handy refresher. And finally you will share a car with another student, normally do 2 hours each in the morning and the same in the afternoon if I remeber rightly.

End result I passed with no minors, but had been driving for 3 years as a fully qualified driver.....my opinon, probably a bit of a rip off but do work for some people

[Deleted User]

I thought about these Blackpool residential courses when I was learning to drive as I was desperate to pass. But like what captainawsome says, the grotty Blackpool B&Bs kind of put me off.

In the end I was having 2 x 2hour lessons a week with a good local instructor and was passed in less than 6 months from first starting out.

I suppose the residential courses might be OK if you already have driving experience e.g. revoked licence, but as a beginner it sounds like too much stress.