Teaching someone the basics

dcouponzzzz

Hey guys, so my OH wants to learn to drive and has (finally) received her provisional license.

I'd love to be able to show the basics before booking an instructor, and I have no problem taking her on a private road/car park to get started.

One Issue... I've only been driving since Apr 2014 (approx 2 years). What (if any) is the penalty for supervising a learner in your own car on private land without the relevant experience and without learner insurance? Except a trashed car of course.

Anyone know the logic behind it being based on how long I've been driving instead of distance covered? In those 2 years I've covered 30-40k, likely more than my mum has in 20 years...

Final question sorry, but does anyone have a link to (or can explain) what constitutes private land? There's an abandoned retail park not far from me with a large empty car park, but I suspect it's public as the entrance isn't blocked.

Thanks in advance to any helpful answers. To the rest, you know who you are :money:

bigjl

Of its on private land there is no penalty.

There are places where you can pay a fee and drive on.

One is CarDrome in Hornchurch.

£15 for the day.

And no the car park you are talking about isn't private property, imho.

It is a simple case of experience and maturity.

When I passed my test I was sitting with learners that night.

A car full of young inexperienced drivers is not a recipe for a safe journey.

Car_54

dcouponzzzz wrote: »

Anyone know the logic behind it being based on how long I've been driving instead of distance covered? In those 2 years I've covered 30-40k, likely more than my mum has in 20 years...

Final question sorry, but does anyone have a link to (or can explain) what constitutes private land? There's an abandoned retail park not far from me with a large empty car park, but I suspect it's public as the entrance isn't blocked.

It's based on "how long" rather than "how far" because the former can be easily checked. How would you prove how much driving you'd done?

The insurance requirements in the Road Traffic Act apply to "a road or any other public place". A car park with no barrier is clearly a public place, so you need insurance.

The licensing part of the act applies "to a highway and any other road to which the public has access". I guess you could argue that a car park isn't a road. Others may know whether there's any case law.

agrinnall

I don't think either time or distance are a good measure of whether you are a good person to teach someone else to drive, rather it's your temperament and your ability to do the task. I've had a full licence since 1977 and while I don't have a record of how many miles I've driven in total I know I've done around 170,000 since 2006, but I know that I'd be a rubbish driving instructor, particularly so with someone that I'm close to,

SailorSam

I don't know how things have changed since i learnt to drive. We lived on a Council estate next to an Industrial estate, so once all the factories closed down about 5/6pm the estate was quiet. The only cars were all learners, and most of us were taught by family. I've always said i think getting my motorbike at 16 helped when i started to learn to drive the car at 17. I'd had hours and hours of practise on the roads.

dcouponzzzz

I'm with Agrinnall here, I'm surprised they let anyone out as an amateur instructor without further testing. I guess time is the only factor they can keep record of...

Could anyone confirm/deny Car54's suggestion that a car park wouldn't qualify as a road?

molerat

A car park that the public have access to is not "private land" for RTA purposes. You need to be somewhere like a closed off factory car park etc.

Get your head round this lot http://www.1itl.com/news/284/

Car_54

molerat wrote: »

A car park that the public have access to is not "private land" for RTA purposes. You need to be somewhere like a closed off factory car park etc.

Get your head round this lot http://www.1itl.com/news/284/

That link quotes case law establishing that a car park is NOT a road. If that's the case the lack of supervision shouldn't be an issue However, insurance is still needed as it's a public place.

The OP should consider that his OH will probably pick up "the basics" in one or two professional lessons, so is the saving worth the hassle? Indeed, she might need extra lessons to "unlearn" the amateur lessons!:(

Marvel1

Dont take this the wrong way but you asked why it's how long and not distance and yet asking what the penalty is if caught.

molerat

Car_54 wrote: »

That link quotes case law establishing that a car park is NOT a road.

But it is a "public place" so covered by RTA offences.

robbies_gal

i wouldnt risk it just incase she'll quickly pick it up it wont save her any lessons