learner driver question

johnabacus

As a Driving Instructor of 20 years this is the advice I would give. Let a Driving Instructor teach the basics. It's difficult to "unlearn" something when it's become a habit. Much easier for the Learner to get it right from the start. When the Learner has got the basic skills and just needs more hours on the road to get experience then consider putting them on the insurance.

If adding them as a named driver is prohibitive look at the options mentioned by Starlights. I recommend my Learners to use "Collingwood Learners" or "Marmalade". (Sorry I can't put link in but just Google) Both of these offer a short term insurance policy specifically for Learners to drive a friend or parents car. If any accident arises the claim is made from the Learners policy and does not affect the owners insurance no claims bonus.

The initial policy is usually in the region of £100 for the first month and can then be renewed at a lower rate (if a driving instructor has recommended you).

UsernameAlreadyExists

johnabacus wrote: »

As a Driving Instructor of 20 years this is the advice I would give. Let a Driving Instructor teach the basics.

Just to play devil's advocate
Some instructors don't teach that well. Things like bits of tape on the steering wheel, and markers on the rear windows for alignment when parallel parking are all well and good for that particular car, but no good in a different one that doesn't have them and/or has a different turning point
So learning with no guides causes you to get a "feel" and an understanding of certain things.


and ...


https://www.collingwoodlearners.co.uk/


http://www.wearemarmalade.co.uk/

Johnmcl7

Another option to consider if available is a learner hire car - Arnold Clark were offering dual control corsas for £9 an hour which included insurance and 10 miles fuel then an additional small fee for mileage after that. You obviously have the advantage of dual controls plus the car has learner livery on it as well so it stands out a bit more, I assume other companies offer similar packages. I agree it's not a substitute for driving lessons but I think it's a good compliment as some aspects like clutch control get better with practice and being able to get a few more hours in (vs the cost of a single hour with an instructor) can be worthwhile.

johnabacus

UsernameAlreadyExists makes a valid point. There are no stickers, bits of tape etc on my car and never has been, for the reasons stated. I do know that lots of Instructors do have them and I often get new pupils who can't do the manoeuvre because their previous instructor had markers in their car.

As with all professions some are better than others. Some drivers have good skills in driving but can't put them over to a Learner. Some drivers have incorrect or outdated methods they were taught years ago and if these are passed on to a new Learner they actually do a disservice as it makes it more difficult to undo.

Some Instructors won't advise the option I outlined of taking one of these specialist Insurance policies as they see it as losing business. I prefer to do the best I can for my clients as your reputation grows and in the long term you benefit from more recommendations.

DirectDebacle

topdaddy wrote: »

You dont need qualifications to teach people to drive:eek:

Yes you do.

johnabacus

DirectDebacle wrote: »

Yes you do.

Only if you are taking payment. Otherwise you only have to have held a Full Licence Holder for 3 years and be at least 21 years of age.

I think some of the specialist policies may require you to be over 25 to be a supervising driver.

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

I learned to drive on the classic 9 lessons and pass with a bit of driving with my dad.

My children both learned over a much longer period. I am very happy sitting in a car with them.

Until you have sat with a real beginner, you don't know how difficult it is to be in a car with someone who really cannot connect the words "Stop" with an appropriate action.

My biggest mistake was assuming that I could keep control through instructing them to do things.

Examples of incidents include:

- realising we weren't really controlling speed for a sharp turn off asked daughter to slow, she didn't; asked again; she didn't; told her to stop; she didn't. Ended up on verge on the wrong side of the road. No harm done but...

- So parked up, discussed stopping. Drove at about 10mph asked her to stop - didn't happen for 30 seconds. Another talking to - "Put me through the windscreen, stall, but if I say stop, I want the car stopped." Finally got the message through.

- Driving round in circles practising control. Miss parked car by an inch after hand on steering wheel. Very stressed so decided to go on a long drive on quiet open roads at speed. Confidence gained on all parts, stress relieved.

Do not under-estimate the difficulty of sitting with a novice driver and the likelihood of some incident.

I would get the professional instructor to teach the basics - they'll do that in a small number of lessons. You can then donate the time behind the wheel that they need.

If you passed your test 20 years ago I can guarantee you will not be aware enough of how new drivers are expected to behave on the road and you will not be able to get across the basics that a new driver needs to both be safe and pass. In all circumstances defer to the advice of the instructor, and if you find yourself challenging what your pupil is doing and they say that they were told to do it, head straight for the Highway Code and do not assume that you know better. Simple things like not entering a junction at traffic lights if there are more than 2 cars turning right and you are turning right to avoid getting trapped on red lights - you'd do it yourself but a learner will not.

DirectDebacle

johnabacus wrote: »

Only if you are taking payment. Otherwise you only have to have held a Full Licence Holder for 3 years and be at least 21 years of age.

Glad you agree with me. Surprised to read that someone thinks an instructor doesn't need to be qualified to drive the vehicle they are giving the instruction in, whether or not payment is involved.

BeenThroughItAll

johnabacus wrote: »

Otherwise you only have to have held a Full Licence Holder for 3 years and be at least 21 years of age.

Pretty sure that counts as a 'qualification' if you care to check its definition.

Yorkie1

IanMSpencer wrote: »

If you passed your test 20 years ago I can guarantee you will not be aware enough of how new drivers are expected to behave on the road and you will not be able to get across the basics that a new driver needs to both be safe and pass. In all circumstances defer to the advice of the instructor, and if you find yourself challenging what your pupil is doing and they say that they were told to do it, head straight for the Highway Code and do not assume that you know better. Simple things like not entering a junction at traffic lights if there are more than 2 cars turning right and you are turning right to avoid getting trapped on red lights - you'd do it yourself but a learner will not.

I agree with this. I was chatting to the daughter of one of my friends; the daughter is learning to drive at the moment and was describing what sort of things she is being taught. Some things are different to how I was taught 25 years ago e.g. rolling starts at junctions rather than handbrake on etc. Also braking without using the engine.