Driving instructors! GGRRRRRRR

[cassiewoofer]

Anyone know a driving school that'll get you through quick without taking the pess and getting as many £20 notes out of you as possible?

 

I've been driving on and off for ages now and mates reckon on 5-10 lessons but the instructor i've got waste's loads of time! second lesson today and we went to a car park again:mad: for first 10 minutes! I know they're teaching you to pass the test but for christ sake!

I wan someone to teach me to drive the car not stop and give long lectures about 'imagine a old man's crossing the road'

drove all round the main roads in traffic later in lesson feeling well confident then 1/2 mile to go back to my house she made me get in the passenger seat and she drove back! I mean is that sad or what!!! :mad:

Then finnished by saying i'll need 20 lessons!

[Furry Ginger One]

Although you were driving "confidently", were you driving "safely"????

I have to admit that for an instructor to have you sitting in the passenger seat they must either think you are dangerous or they would like to get home before your lesson ends, ie were you driving too slow....

[cassiewoofer]

Nope driving very safely and at 5mph under or at the speed limit. I've already bought a car and got around 50hrs driving in on a roads in traffic. She said i did very well but i still think she's out for the money! The first ten minutes she nattered on about her hobbies, i'm gonna have to say something but she comes across as one of those 80's 'teacher types' who'se gonna get really offended!

nope I'm changing instructors.....i need a bloke!

[abbe89]

don't feel too bad...one of my friends is on her 8th lesson and the instructor still won't let her on the road!!

 

even though she drives on teh road with her mum, and ive been in a car with her and she's more than capable.

[Marky G]

i was in the same position and in the end i got rid of the bloke that was teachin me (private) and went with BSM had about 8-9 hours and took my test. i specifically asked for an experienced instructor and told them i had been drivin for a while. by the time a passed it was 18 months after the first lesson with the crap guy.

 

hope you get on with ur new dude.

 

M

[Badger]

It's a very long time since I did lessons, but I seem to remember having cheap lessons with two companies, but feling that I was making little progress after a long time. I then changed to BSM, and the difference was considerable, better instruction and the car was new. After about 8-9 lessons, I was ready for my test, and I passed first time.

 

It doesn't seem to save to go to a cheaper company in the long run.

 

Steve.

[buggy nut]

I went with a self employed bloke from the area. Never driven a car before and he got me through first time after 19 hours driving..... plus he only charged £14 for an hour and a half lesson (he didnt charge for the time sat explaining things)

 

Worth looking at the lil guys aswell

[AphexTwin]

I told the instructor that I had that I did not want any help with theory, as they tryed to fob me off with this at first. Turns out the bloke who gave me lessons was sound and got me through. I think you should try being frank with the instructor when you have your first lesson after all you are paying a lot of money for a service.

[jack blood]

i had an instructor that got me passed in 2 months, he was great, only problem is that its a local company:(

[the_lone_wolf]

no offence intended but passing the test isn't the end of learning to drive, it's the beginning, perhaps one day you'll remember the instructor saying about an old man walking between parked cars and slow down, enabling you to brake in time when it happens and not end up with a count of "causing death by dangerous driving" added to your licence and having to live with the knowledge that you killed someone?

[Tone]

/me gets popcorn and bottle of coke...

 

let the games begin!

[gigglefairy]

When I learnt it took an awful lot of lessons as I'd practically never sat in a manual car (my dad has to drive an automatic) and wasn't able to practice inbetween lessons.

 

Having said that, I used to get very annoyed at my instructor picking me up 5 minutes late and then dropping me home 5 mins early ("I've got my next lesson at XXXX in 10 minutes). You'd have thought if I was paying him sooooo much an hour I might actually get the whole hour. And he used to make me pull over so he could answer phone calls from other students. rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

Thank you for providing me a place to vend

[Hopewell]

I had 14 lessons over the space of 5 months and passed, all 2 hours long tho!

 

28 * £23 an hour and 2 tests (yes I failed the first one, long story)

 

If you want to pass quickly, take an intense course! Cheaper in the long run too I believe!

[phunkymunky]

everyone is different...some pass in 10 lessons some take 40+. Ask your friends/other people who are taking or have recently taken lessons, try to find out who is popular and well regarded (remember cheap isnt always best if they make you have 30 lessons when you only need 10). I personally had about 15 lessons (i think, it was a long time ago cost £8/hr at the time HA! ) and i never had access to a car outside of lessons and passed first time.

 

Remember you are the consumer, if you are not happy or comfortable with the instructor then change them, you will progress better if you get on with the instructor and they teach well. Places like BSM are good since they are a larger organisation so they have better complaints systems and can always offer alternative instructors if you dont like the one they provide.

 

Lastly if you can once you have passed your test take a Motorway lesson (if practical), I totally Sh@t myself the first time I had to go onto a motorway (joining is the scariest!!! ) I passed my test in a place where the nearest Motorway was 100 miles away!?

 

And remember cyclists are valid road users so treat them as you would any other vehicle (yes i cycle to work eveyday)

 

Good luck.

[Skud_Mark]

bit of a trek but if you can get to hull try the Kiting Driving Instructor... At worst you have a common interest!

[cassiewoofer]

Thanks for the replies......gonna try BSM after those recommendations........sometimes maybe the big guns are the best? I know i'm good but took me years to stop being coy.....don't look at me I'M SHHHHYYYYY!!!!!

[Sparkie]

Don't be afraid to ask what grade your instructor is....

1-6 ( 6 being the best..)

A good driver is someone who can make quick and correct decisions.

The better drivers can assess a situation and react before it becomes a problem..

Driving 5mph under the speed limit isn't always the safest thing to do.

Always drive according to road and traffic situations...( at the speed limits when its safe.)

[Tim186]

Make sure that when you look for a driving school and a driving instructor that you ask for an approved driving instructor and not a Trainee. also run a search for some reviews on the driving schools in your area. and also make sure you get the full hour or 2.

 

I have failed my test twice now:( o well third time lucky

[SkintMonkey]

I had ten 1 hour lessons with a guy from the AA.Ten minute chat at the beggining about how the clutch works...then started driving.

 

Dont take 10 hours as an average time tho. The test has got harder and some people take longer then others to pick up things up. I may have had 10 hours with the AA but i had at least 30 nerve racking hours in my parents cars:p:D

 

I found the best way was to dictate the lesson to them and not the other way round. Tell them what YOU want to do. After all they are providing a service which you are paying for. You are the customer:)

 

You shouldnt be in car parks for lesson after lesson...i didnt think i went in one other then to practice my revese into a bay parking.

 

Theory is good and well worth knowing but you can do that in your own time. Practical Practise is what an instructor is for imo:)

 

If you think you can do better you probably can....so speak to them...if they fob you off with lame reasons for not progressing...change instructor. Easy enough. If you with a company like the AA ring them up and have a chat about your worries....wont do any harm:D

 

My sisters just started learning (Clear the road folks:eek:) and her instructor talked to her for an hour and a half before taking her out on the road....and even then she wasnt using the clutch brake etc. or even the steering wheel. Basically she didnt learn a thing and got driven arround for a few hours at her cost. She thought something was up.....it dented her self confidence majorly. Shes now with my old instructor and doing all right apparently:D good girl:)

 

I found www.2pass.co.uk quite useful for somethings. The forums on there have loads of instructors who know their stuff;)

 

Dont give up!

 

Regards

Adam

[Lisa1599968699]

Failed two driving tests last year in the city of Canterbury. Got perfect manouveres both tests...no marks...emergy stop in horrendous rain..no probs...but roundabouts...I hate them!!!!

 

Both times they made me do at least 10 of them in each test! Surely 2-3 is enough??!

 

I think they are a womans worst enemy...do I go? Is that car going?Wooow should have stopped!!! Decisions!!

 

I have to say I asked for male instructors both times...simply because they are more decisive and confident(or stupid!!) on the road...as much as I hate to admit it!!!

[wakeupandfly]

if the examiner picks up that you are weak on something they will make you do it again to see if it was just a slip up. if you are weak on something, especially as common as roundabouts then im sorry but you deserve to fail. hesitation can be as dangerous if not more than speeding

[raptor]

if your having lessons and driving on the road then you should pickup the driving reasonably quickly. If your driving indtructor is not "pushing you" to where you want to be then go with someone else. youy pay for the time in the driving seat, sitting in car parks is not part of the test and doesn't realy teach you to park a car. As for the instructor driving you home i find that totally amazing. Change your instructor now if you want to pass. Go with another and explain your situation, if they are good enough they will see your faults and address them quickly so you can learn at the rate that suits you.

[little john]

It's a very long time since I did lessons, but I seem to remember having cheap lessons with two companies, but feling that I was making little progress after a long time. I then changed to BSM, and the difference was considerable, better instruction and the car was new. After about 8-9 lessons, I was ready for my test, and I passed first time.

 

It doesn't seem to save to go to a cheaper company in the long run.

 

Steve.

 

Sorry got to be said but BSM ripped me off and are cr@p took me for about 10 2hour lessons and said i wasn't ready for a test i booked a test regardless and passed they said i would need a further 10 to 20 hours lessons:eek:

[martincooke]

Did you know you cant ever fail a test! you just dont reach the required standard. I was an Driving Instructor in the Army its not an easy job but it got me all my licences:D

[Cahliss]

If you think you're good, get him to give you a dummy test where you drive the course as if it were for real. Did this for the wife as she was holding a forign driving licence but had been driving on and off for nine years.(She still failed the test twice before she passed). From this you will then learn where your weakness and strengths are. The you can concentrate and improving your skills. And as said above get out on a big A road, similar to a motorway. Nothing like tootling along when some pratt tries to ram his Merc up your Jacksie.