Britannia Driving School - Consumer Right Exist?

mollycat

Lily, not sure what the effort put into this thread is, if youre intending giving up??!!

Post #50 has hit the nail on the head for me.

Maybe as a young person your recent exposure to what you feel is unfairness and inflexibility from your someone older, (your instructor) hs disheartened you, but a huge lesson in life to be learned is dealing with this. Life wont be 100% straightforward.

As jimjames says, dont extrapolate the unsatisfactory relationship with the instructor to a general beef with everyone connected with the test.

Again I say; no more energy wasted in overthinking about parking in bays, indicating at T junctions and so forth...find a new instructor and pass your test!!

This whole thread will be redundant once you do, and believe me you will pass if you persevere and follow, instruction, (from someone compatible).

Brittania have your money, dont let them own your thoughts...move on.

Nicfaz92

Hi Lily

I don't have much to offer in terms of how Brittania have treated you however I am currently 20+ lessons into my second lot of driving lessons. I'm going to be looking at booking my test in the next couple of weeks and my BIGGEST regret so far in life is not completing my driving the first time round.

A couple of years ago I had around 25 lessons and was completing mock tests in my lessons in preparation for my practical test. Life decisions got the better of me and I never got around to attempting my test that time.

As I said I have now had to learn everything all over again, and put in the time and effort again. Now having a child I am desperate to drive! Had I not given up the first time I would not only have my licence now but also a couple of years driving experience under my belt too (which would be preferable as I will have my son in the car with me after I, fingers crossed, pass)

Please don't let a bad experience put you off and waste the opportunities you could have when you do pass.. as I said I regret it MASSIVELY

As Mollycat said previously, you're first test wasn't exactly a disaster, you don't sound like a massively poor driver. You sound like your close enough to passing if you find the right instructor (mine is wonderful this time round, the first I now actually realise wasn't as great)

Good luck

Manxman_in_exile

OP - My experience is: I started to learn to drive in the Isle of Man aged 17. I didn't particularly want to but that's what everybody did. I had a good instructor but I was rubbish. I had two tests and they were disasters. On one, where we had to do parallel parking (I don't think that was required in the UK at the time) I collided with a wall! I decided I'd had enough and gave up.


25 years later in the UK, I got a new job and it was a requirement that I learn to drive. A young colleague who knew about this told me that her mum was a driving instructor and that she was good with "older nervous learners(!)". And she was!


It did take about 50 hours (I think I was putting off taking the test!) but I passed first time aged 42 (if you don't count the first two tests when I was 17). The only issue I had on the test was when I was driving at about 35mph in a 50 and the examiner leant over to look at the speedometer. I took the hint and speeded up!


That was 18 years ago and since then I've always regretted not learning when I was younger. I was put off by bad experiences and my own lack of confidence.

Lily_W

jimjames wrote: »

I'm sorry but it's one thing questioning the driving instructor. To then blame the DVSA examiner as well just indicates to me that you aren't ready to pass a test and won't accept anyone telling you how you should be driving properly.

and

mollycat wrote: »

As jimjames says, dont extrapolate the unsatisfactory relationship with the instructor to a general beef with everyone connected with the test.

No, I didn't blame the DVSA examiner. In fact the examiners were very kind and professional.
I'm sorry if you understood in a different way.

I said: 'For those who questioned I couldn't drive or shouldn't drive, I think it is also a question towards to the DVSA examiner's judgement. My test results on 16th Jan was 4 faults + 1 dangerous fault, remember technically you're allowed to have 15 faults, but no serious or dangerous faults.'

I mean: Although I failed my test, but the result was 4 faults out of 15 faults allowrence, this result wasn't too bad. For people who think I couldn't drive or shouldn't drive, it seems to say the DVSA examiner's judgement was wrong. If I really couldn't drive, the examiner should mark me probable more than 15 faults.

On the other way round: I scored 4 out 15, if you trust DVSA examiner's judgement I therefore as a learner driver wasn't too bad.

lister

Lily_W wrote: »

I would like to know what your opinion is over this following training episode. Do you think I should do what my instructor has instructed? If I do I won't fail my test?

Originally Posted by Lily W View Post
...
The forward bay parking manoeuvre, we normally choose a bay where the neighbouring bays were empty. When I drove into the bay then packed the car, at that position he will ask me to turn the wheel (mean reverse and drive out the bay).

I said I could not do this, if I do I will fail my test. You have to straight reverse back about three quarters of the bay then turn into the direction you want. (In the real time if you are a full licensed driver you may choose to go across white lines when the neighbouring bays are empty, but the learner drivers are obliged to follow the correct procedural.)

As Car 54 points out (although I think he quotes the DT1 (the examiners operating procedures document - available online, although now in a less than helpful format compared with the old PDF) for reverse bay park not forwards), you are not correct about this. All you have to do is make sure that you reverse safely. If adjacent bays are empty, fill your boots...

Indeed in several car parks I have seen used for forwards bay park on test it wouldn't be possible to complete the reverse in one move if you did reverse straight for 3/4 of a car length. That wouldn't be a problem, but nor would crossing adjacent empty bays.

Silvertabby

I had two tests and they were disasters. On one, where we had to do parallel parking (I don't think that was required in the UK at the time) I collided with a wall! Posted by Manxman

I'll probably get slated for saying this, but I didn't have to parallel park either - and I still don't /won't do it! Unless there are 2 spaces together, meaning I can drive straight in, I just drive past and find somewhere else.

On the other hand, my driving lessons (in Germany) had to include at least 2 sessions on the autobahn, which I maintain is a better idea than letting someone rip on the UK motorway system as soon as they have passed their test.

Manxman_in_exile

Silvertabby wrote: »

I'll probably get slated for saying this, but I didn't have to parallel park either - and I still don't /won't do it! Unless there are 2 spaces together, meaning I can drive straight in, I just drive past and find somewhere else.

On the other hand, my driving lessons (in Germany) had to include at least 2 sessions on the autobahn, which I maintain is a better idea than letting someone rip on the UK motorway system as soon as they have passed their test.

Very true. But where I live the nearest motorway is 60 to 90 minutes away.

Silvertabby

Manxman_in_exile wrote: »

Very true. But where I live the nearest motorway is 60 to 90 minutes away.

Not so easy in your case, then. You must live somewhere really remote.

cajef

Silvertabby wrote: »

You must live somewhere really remote.

Not necessarily I live in Cornwall which I would not call really remote but the nearest motorway the M5 is 100 miles away, previously I lived in East Anglia and the nearest motorway there was about 60 miles away.

Manxman_in_exile

Silvertabby wrote: »

Not so easy in your case, then. You must live somewhere really remote.

I live in one of the places mentioned by Cajef. Or I could live in Ullapool which is a very nice place.