Driving lessons after driving for 20yrs?

ripplyuk

I live in a very rural area and am perfectly happy driving locally but I’m really anxious about driving to the city. I’m scared of motorways (mainly the slip road on to it!), multiple lanes and spiral roundabouts. None of these things were part of my driving test so I never experienced them. It’s rare that I need to go to the city or anywhere that I’m not confident driving to but I’d like to be able to go there myself if I need to, rather than asking for a lift. I was thinking of booking some driving lessons for this purpose. Is that something a driving instructor would do or are they only about getting people through their test? I don’t want to waste my money if they are only going to teach the basics. I spoke to my friend about it and she said it could put my license, and my own insurance, at risk if I made a mistake during a driving lesson. Is that true? 

Mercdriver

It's a sensible idea.  Just making a mistake under supervision won't be much of a risk to license or insurance - though if you had an accident, you'd have to declare it.  With dual controls it should be less of a risk

waamo

Here you go advanced driving https://www.iamroadsmart.com/

onlyfoolsandparking

ripplyuk said:

I live in a very rural area and am perfectly happy driving locally but I’m really anxious about driving to the city. I’m scared of motorways (mainly the slip road on to it!), multiple lanes and spiral roundabouts. None of these things were part of my driving test so I never experienced them. It’s rare that I need to go to the city or anywhere that I’m not confident driving to but I’d like to be able to go there myself if I need to, rather than asking for a lift. I was thinking of booking some driving lessons for this purpose. Is that something a driving instructor would do or are they only about getting people through their test? I don’t want to waste my money if they are only going to teach the basics. I spoke to my friend about it and she said it could put my license, and my own insurance, at risk if I made a mistake during a driving lesson. Is that true? 

I would think any decent driving instructor will be able to help you with your confidence issues and I'm sure that they are able to teach more than the basics, some do instructing specifically on motorway driving etc. You can safely ignore what your friend is implying, It's just nonsense.

AdrianC

Absolutely, a driving instructor can help. Phone them, and have a good chat. See how you click. See how they react to your situation...

Your friend is an idiot.

Scrapit

Er, the friend is actually spot on. Same as driving on a provisional you can still be done for any mistakes, but those mistakes would need to be criminal, not slightly off road positioning but stuff that would get you a ticket regardless, like speeding. You are not immune from prosecution just because you are under instruction.
However, it is a bit of scare mongering cos I am willing to bet you didn't get any motoring offences against your licence the first time you learnt, you most likely won't again. And a crash in your vehicle, or an instructors will need to be declared, but again that's same as always.

Grumpy_chap

My wife had to stop driving for 10 years because of a medical condition.  When she restarted, she took a refresher course of 3 lessons with AA driving school.  It was a standard product package they included and covered night and motorway driving.

sweetsand

ripplyuk said:

I live in a very rural area and am perfectly happy driving locally but I’m really anxious about driving to the city. I’m scared of motorways (mainly the slip road on to it!), multiple lanes and spiral roundabouts. None of these things were part of my driving test so I never experienced them. It’s rare that I need to go to the city or anywhere that I’m not confident driving to but I’d like to be able to go there myself if I need to, rather than asking for a lift. I was thinking of booking some driving lessons for this purpose. Is that something a driving instructor would do or are they only about getting people through their test? I don’t want to waste my money if they are only going to teach the basics. I spoke to my friend about it and she said it could put my license, and my own insurance, at risk if I made a mistake during a driving lesson. Is that true? 

Hi OP
Very sensible move by you having considered this way around your lack of expereince in built up areas and the new laws, speed cams and other cams etc.

Indeed most good DI's will be willing to take you on and I guess they will assess your ability in their dual controlled car.
Tell them like you explained to me and the others over the phone and ask them what you could expect.
Then after the first lesson where the DI gets to know you, ask for detailed feedback and any scenarious you really want confidence building on

Check the driving theory test site and whatever it is you worry about possibly yellow box junctions, roundabouts, bus lane times/restrictions, buses/taxi only routes and could be at certain times.
Btw, if you know someone with a car that is willing to take you to a city you are thinking of going to go in their car and ask them questions why they postioned their car etc as they did when they took a roundabout etc -
NB: When its the right time the first time you go to a place you worry about in your car, do it in daylight and good weather

Let us know how you got on

x

Grumpy_chap

Just to give some extra assurance to the OP regarding the concern " I don’t want to waste my money if they are only going to teach the basics”.  When my wife had her refresher sessions, the instructor quickly assessed her current standard and built from there.

AdrianC

Scrapit said:

Er, the friend is actually spot on.

No, they are not.

How will "a mistake" the OP makes on a refresher lesson put their licence and insurance "at risk"?

We aren't talking about crashing or being nicked. We're talking about "a mistake". Isn't it better to make that mistake under instruction - ultimately, with dual controls - than on their own?

Scrapit

AdrianC said:

Scrapit said:

Er, the friend is actually spot on.

No, they are not.

How will "a mistake" the OP makes on a refresher lesson put their licence and insurance "at risk"?

We aren't talking about crashing or being nicked. We're talking about "a mistake". Isn't it better to make that mistake under instruction - ultimately, with dual controls - than on their own?

Same as any point at driving, your licence is "at risk" when you are driving. Get caught speeding as a learner, goes on your licence. Get caught driving dangeroulsy, all on you as the driver. Its never any different. Now some one who has a licence is less likely to do any of these things that lead to trouble and you would think that would be almost impossible with an instructor as well but still could happen. Its the drivers responsibility. I suspect that's what the "friend" was trying to convey, and they would be entierly correct in saying that.