Intensive driving lessons

[foxfanazer]

At the tender age of 30 I'm finally learning to drive. I've always put it off one lame reason or another but I feel like it's time to get it done. 

 

Having looked at the expense of learning I've decided that and intensive course or 'crash course' (terrible name) as its more commonly known is probably my best option. 

 

Does anybody have any experience of these or any pearls of wisdom? 

 

Thanks in advance

[Babylon]

No tip for them, but learning in general I found the best thing I ever did was buy a car before my test and get out on the Road WITHOUT the backup of the driving instructor. It was that which gave me the confidence in the test. 

 

I literally got pulled over on my first trip out without them by the police. I'd forgotten to turn my lights on (I'd turned them on, but then turned them off again as I waited for the mrs to get in the car). 

[foxfanazer]

4 minutes ago, Babylon said:

No tip for them, but learning in general I found the best thing I ever did was buy a car before my test and get out on the Road WITHOUT the backup of the driving instructor. It was that which gave me the confidence in the test. 

 

I literally got pulled over on my first trip out without them by the police. I'd forgotten to turn my lights on (I'd turned them on, but then turned them off again as I waited for the mrs to get in the car). 

Cheers for that. I'm guessing you need learner insurance for that? 

[Babylon]

Just now, foxfanazer said:

Cheers for that. I'm guessing you need learner insurance for that? 

When I filled it out, I think it just gives the option of whether your driving license is full or provisional. Wasn't a special type of insurance. Only cost £400 once I put the mrs on it as well, that seemed to bring it down in price. 

[Babylon]

Just now, Babylon said:

When I filled it out, I think it just gives the option of whether your driving license is full or provisional. Wasn't a special type of insurance. Only cost £400 once I put the mrs on it as well, that seemed to bring it down in price. 

I was 35, so obviously being old helps with the price as well. 

[filbertway]

What Babs says, either get yourself a car or get on your partner, family or friends insurance who won't mind going out with you at least a few times a week. It's incredibly daunting at first but as you go out more and more you start losing the nerves and everything becomes natural.

 

I suppose this is the equivalent of intensive lessons. Never had them myself, but when learning, I was out almost every night so was driving 10-20 hours a week

 

You'll want someone who makes sure you keep up good habits though, if you start developing bad habits like not checking all your mirrors and blind spots correctly then you'll be in for a bad time when it comes to the test haha.

[Babylon]

You could insure yourself on someone else's car if they were willing. 

[foxfanazer]

2 minutes ago, Babylon said:

You could insure yourself on someone else's car if they were willing. 

My girlfriend is willing but it's a 1.9 Diesel so might be a bit pricey

[Babylon]

Just now, filbertway said:

It's incredibly daunting at first but as you go out more and more you start losing the nerves and everything becomes natural.

 

I suppose this is the equivalent of intensive lessons. Never had them myself, but when learning, I was out almost every night so was driving 10-20 hours a week

Yeah spot on... once or twice a week was never enough for me. I found I was so focused on what I was doing in the car, gears, clutch etc I wasn't taking in everything on the road. Going out all the time meant my focus stopped being in the car and started being what's going on in front of me, as it started to become more natural. 

[Babylon]

Just now, foxfanazer said:

My girlfriend is willing but it's a 1.9 Diesel so might be a bit pricey

Probably also not great if you make a mistake with the old accelerator... you'll be off in a flash. 

[foxfanazer]

Just now, Babylon said:

Yeah spot on... once or twice a week was never enough for me. I found I was so focused on what I was doing in the car, gears, clutch etc I wasn't taking in everything on the road. Going out all the time meant my focus stopped being in the car and started being what's going on in front of me, as it started to become more natural. 

Yeah I don't feel like a lesson a week would be beneficial at all

[Babylon]

Just now, foxfanazer said:

Yeah I don't feel like a lesson a week would be beneficial at all

You done no driving at all before?

[Rusko187]

Driving is a doddle pal, in time you could do it with your eyes closed... just need to remember a few things to help you:

 

Number 1: If in doubt, flat out! (This is especially true if you're unsure whether it's the police are following you with lights on... it could be someone else, best to play it safe)

Number 2: If anyone cuts you up, ram them off the road

Number 3: Pedal arrangements are C, B, A (Clutch, Brake and Accelerator) unless it's an auto, I like to remember the pedal arrangements by Can't Be A***d

Number 4: In test you hold the steering wheel at 10 to 2, when you pass your test, you then wedge the steering wheel in between your knees, beer in 1 hand and phone in the other.

Number 5: Finally, and this one is critical.... Remember your mirrors!

 

 I think that should have you covered, but if you need anymore I'll be happy to give you more pointers.

[filbertway]

I passed 10 years ago, then went straight to uni.

 

November I got my first car and basically had to re-learn how to drive again.

 

I spent a week driving on local industrial estates in the evening to just used to the mechanics of driving, without the pressure of traffic around me. 

As that became more natural I'd go out late at night on the roads when there would be minimal traffic.

 

A week later I picked somewhere to drive to around 10-15 miles away, so I was actually driving somewhere with a purpose. That helped massively. A month or two later I'm just getting ready to tackle motorways  

[foxfanazer]

1 minute ago, Babylon said:

You done no driving at all before?

I have been out with the girlfriend a few times (including today) just don't secluded roads. I feel like I'm the sort of person that will pick it up but it's tye expense more than anything that I find daunting

[Babylon]

1 minute ago, foxfanazer said:

I have been out with the girlfriend a few times (including today) just don't secluded roads. I feel like I'm the sort of person that will pick it up but it's tye expense more than anything that I find daunting

Just keep doing that, could be an Asda car park. But the more you're in the car before you start paying, the quicker and cheaper it will be.

[yorkie1999]

6 minutes ago, Rusko187 said:

Driving is a doddle pal, in time you could do it with your eyes closed... just need to remember a few things to help you:

 

Number 1: If in doubt, flat out! (This is especially true if you're unsure whether it's the police are following you with lights on... it could be someone else, best to play it safe)

Number 2: If anyone cuts you up, ram them off the road

Number 3: Pedal arrangements are C, B, A (Clutch, Brake and Accelerator) unless it's an auto, I like to remember the pedal arrangements by Can't Be A***d

Number 4: In test you hold the steering wheel at 10 to 2, when you pass your test, you then wedge the steering wheel in between your knees, beer in 1 hand and phone in the other.

Number 5: Finally, and this one is critical.... Remember your mirrors!

 

 I think that should have you covered, but if you need anymore I'll be happy to give you more pointers.

Driving with your eyes open also helps. Got stopped by the police for speeding after they chased me fo 3 miles on the M69, lights flashing, sirens going and everything , pulled over eventually, copper comes up and says "I'm at the end of my shift so If you can give me one good reason to let you off, you can be on your way" so i replies "Five years ago my wife ran off with a copper, and i thought you were bringing her back"

[Trav Le Bleu]

32 minutes ago, filbertway said:

I passed 10 years ago, then went straight to uni.

 

November I got my first car and basically had to re-learn how to drive again.

 

I spent a week driving on local industrial estates in the evening to just used to the mechanics of driving, without the pressure of traffic around me. 

As that became more natural I'd go out late at night on the roads when there would be minimal traffic.

 

A week later I picked somewhere to drive to around 10-15 miles away, so I was actually driving somewhere with a purpose. That helped massively. A month or two later I'm just getting ready to tackle motorways  

Is that your excuse for being spotted cruising round Highfields?

[filbertway]

1 hour ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Is that your excuse for being spotted cruising round Highfields?

Can't have been me, I would have been around Beacon Hill Car Park 

[E.Rose]

I'm the same as everyone else it seems, the lessons were fine, taught me what I needed to know but it wasn't until I drove my mum's car before my test that I really became confident. I'd failed my first test but the extra time being able to drive my own routes in my own time made a big difference. 

 

I'm sure a lot of companies now are beginning to do car insurance for daily cover which could be worth a look at if going on the policy full time is too costly?

 

 

[LiberalFox]

Yeah it's like everything really, a skill and to be proficient you need to put the hours in. 

[DennisNedry]

 

[Nalis]

5 hours ago, filbertway said:

I passed 10 years ago, then went straight to uni.

 

November I got my first car and basically had to re-learn how to drive again.

 

I spent a week driving on local industrial estates in the evening to just used to the mechanics of driving, without the pressure of traffic around me. 

As that became more natural I'd go out late at night on the roads when there would be minimal traffic.

 

A week later I picked somewhere to drive to around 10-15 miles away, so I was actually driving somewhere with a purpose. That helped massively. A month or two later I'm just getting ready to tackle motorways  

I'm in a similar boat but prob wont have to drive for another year at least so its reassuring to know the above.

[grobyfox1990]

7 hours ago, foxfanazer said:

My girlfriend is willing but it's a 1.9 Diesel so might be a bit pricey

Haha, you probably don't want to get to grips with driving for the first time in a jet! 

[foxfanazer]

10 minutes ago, grobyfox1990 said:

Haha, you probably don't want to get to grips with driving for the first time in a jet! 

I've driven it today. About shit myself in 1st