how long would it take to pass my driving test and start driving?

wapow

Jackieboy wrote: »

Could you explain why you think that - I know several people, beside me, who've done this successfully, whether or not they went on to take their manual test at a later stage.

a. I know a few instructors. They have told me about how individuals who pass in automatics eventually end up in manuals with their test taken. This can easily happen and is very tempting because people think "I already have a licence it will be okay".


b. The OP doesn't have an issue with the manual or pedals, they are struggling with manoeuvres. So regardless of automatic or manual, they wont be able to gauge their manoeuvrability.

wapow

Rain_Shadow wrote: »

Do not attempt this while actually driving.

There is nothing wrong with the statement you put in bold. I make notes in my head all the time.


Road bumpy here
Slow down here
Watch out for trucks here
She was fit

Rain_Shadow

wapow wrote: »

There is nothing wrong with the statement you put in bold. I make notes in my head all the time.


Road bumpy here
Slow down here
Watch out for trucks here
She was fit

Quite right.............yawn.

knightstyle

I think the most important thing when looking at driving instruction is practice, so get behind the wheel and drive as much as possible. Can you buy a car and get friends to sit with you on top of lessons?
This is what I did, I drove for at least an hour every day for three weeks and then passed first time.
Having a lesson once a week is, in my view, not enough.
Intensive courses are good but how much time is spent in the classroom and how much on public roads? This is what you need to look at when choosing.

fitnessguy1

Jackieboy wrote: »

Learn to drive in an automatic and take your automatic test. Much easier and you can take your manual test later when you're more experienced.

isn't an automatic car more expensive and harder to find? i won't have much money for a car, and honestly just want a little reliable, cheap runaround for the time being until i can afford something better, so that's why manual would be better.

Jackieboy

wapow wrote: »

a. I know a few instructors. They have told me about how individuals who pass in automatics eventually end up in manuals with their test taken. This can easily happen and is very tempting because people think "I already have a licence it will be okay".


b. The OP doesn't have an issue with the manual or pedals, they are struggling with manoeuvres. So regardless of automatic or manual, they wont be able to gauge their manoeuvrability.

a.How would instructors know what people get up to after they stop teaching them to drive?

b. Manoeuvres are much easier if you don't have to worry about using the clutch when changing from reverse to drive or stalling the car.

wapow

Rain_Shadow wrote: »

Quite right.............yawn.

There you go OP, you can discard his comment and move on.

wapow

a.) Keeping in touch with your students.


b.) To you, that may be the case. But not everyone struggles with their feet. For some its their coordination of their hands and eyes. Mirror checks. The rest of it.


I don't deny that an automatic is easier. I drive one and I should know. But I also know that in my lessons, it wasn't my feet I was worried about, it was my steering and mirror work which was problematic.

Jackieboy wrote: »

a.How would instructors know what people get up to after they stop teaching them to drive?

b. Manoeuvres are much easier if you don't have to worry about using the clutch when changing from reverse to drive or stalling the car.

barbiedoll

I heard somewhere that it takes approximately one hour of lessons for each year of age, so if you're 29, you should need (at least) 29 hours of lessons.

I passed at 46 years old and as my husband had a car, I was lucky enough to be able to practice a few times a week. Actually, he was quite pushy, I didn't have much confidence in my skills so he would make me drive to the shops..a two mile trip on busy roads with several roundabouts. He would point out a small parking space and get out so that he could guide me while I reversed into it, and he would take me round to the local car parks and industrial estates at weekends or evenings so that I could practice my manoevures.

Despite that, I didn't get the hang of reversing round a corner even by the time that I took my test. I failed the first one as an Audi driver (obviously) came round a roundabout without indicating and I went to pull out in front of him. I passed the second time with 3 minors, luckily, I wasn't asked to reverse round a corner (something which I now do almost every day without thinking!)

If you have any mates with a car, ask them if they will take you to an empty car park at night so that you can practice reversing, parking and using your mirrors.

They're quite right when they say that you only really learn to drive when you have passed your test. I drive in London to work every day and I sometimes wonder how I coped in those early days just after passing. But I did cope, despite the occasional stalling at the lights (too nervous to put my handbrake on but shaking leg meant that I stalled anyway!) and my terrible parking at least 2 feet away from the kerb, and my trembling hesitancy at scary roundabouts. I've popped tyres on kerbs when parking (badly) and I once had my driver's window fall down suddenly when driving through a busy shopping centre (in winter when it was raining..I posted on here about it! :rotfl:) It all gets easier with practice, practice, practice.

Do take your theory test first. Passing that is a real confidence booster and puts you in the mindset of being a "driver".

fitnessguy1

the driving school i wanted to do the intensive course with apparently have the very high instructers, and there are only around 5% of instructors in the uk who have the rating these instructors do, which is why their pass rate for the intensive courses are good.

of course it's down to the individual and how fast the person can absorb it all, but i would much prefer to be in the hands of very good instructors. i have been with instructors before who i thought were just after my money.

i will have a look a bit more into it all and then decide, but i do believe the intensive is best suited for me. thanks for all your advice guys, really appreciate it.