Learning to drive and
getting ready for full driving lessons, is a big investment, both in time and in money
over a number of months. So it is important to choose right driving school and driving instructor to make sure you’re getting :
·
Good value from your driving lessons and
·
Making progress, towards driving safely and
·
Pass your driving test in the quickest time .
·
Learning to drive should also be enjoyable, so you should be looking
forward to your lessons and not dreading it.
Listed below are 5 areas of driving that you should be getting from your lessons,
regardless of who you are learning with or where you are in the country.
Driving Seat, and
Paper Resources
Learning to drive is a practical skill, so you should be spending most of your
lesson time driving.
There are of course times when you need to look at the theory side of
driving – it can be easier to explain a manoeuvre or the correct route to take
across the lanes of a roundabout when you can see it charted on paper, and you
need to make sure you’re up to speed on things like the Highway Code – but
learning to drive requires hands on the
steering wheel and gear stick, to gain experience
From your very first lesson, you
should have the opportunity to learn and practice new skills from the driving
seat.
Progress Reports
Learning to drive is a process – from the first time you get behind the
wheel until you walk out of the test centre with a big grin on your face. There
is of course a logical order to mastering the skills you need; you can not be reverse parking before you’ve learned how
to find reverse gear.
Your instructor should be keeping a record of your progress and giving
you feedback at each stage. This not only shows how far you have come, and also
gives you record of where you are up to
and what you need to focus on next.
You should also be able to have an input on the direction your lessons
take – if your instructor thinks you’ve mastered a manoeuvre but it still just
doesn’t feel 100% to you, you should be able to ask for more practice on it.
Remember the end goal is not just getting through your driving test, but
to be a safe driver for life, and able to drive independently and safely. So
it’s important that you finish your driving lessons feeling comfortable dealing
with any scenarios that may come your way.
Feedback
Your instructor
should always be willing to give you an honest assessment of how things are
going – in a constructive and encouraging way!
Your instructor’s honesty should also extend to when you aren’t quite
ready to sit your test – putting you forward to take it before you are likely
to pass is a complete waste of your time and money.
Instructor with a
positive attitude
Your driving instructor should instill confidence in you and offer reassurance
and encouragement, rather than a stressful learning environment. Your instructor should be on your side and not
looking for any opportunity to knock you down.
Your driving lessons should be enjoyable, yes sometimes hard work, but
ultimately focused on you and your needs.
Value for your
Money
Learning to drive is a big financial commitment, when you take into
account the cost of learning plus getting a car and keeping it on the road.
When you’re using your hard-earned money to finance the process, it’s important
to know you are getting good value.
It’s not just about getting lessons cheaper, rather it’s about what
you’re actually getting for your money and how you are treated.
Your lessons should not be finishing early, despite taking full payment,
having set mileage limits to save fuel.
Some of the stories we have heard of other driving schools and
instructors include not getting refunds on unused lessons when you’ve passed
your driving test, the instructor turning up late or finishing lessons early,
despite taking full payment.
