Learning to Drive - An overview... |
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Matt Coughlan
May 27, 2009
Learning to drive can be a very rewarding experience, all the time knowing that the many hours of lessons will eventually translate into your very own Driving License, forever providing you with unprecedented freedom to go where you want, when you want. Within reason!
The journey begins when you hit 17 and you receive your provisional driving license through the post, and you immediately want to get on the phone to book your first lesson. I personally went through 3 driving instructors before I found the right one, but this was mainly because I was the oldest in my year at school I couldn’t just ask my friends who they had used. However, I finally found an instructor who seemed much more knowledgeable than the others, and he inspired a higher level of confidence in me. Lessons don’t come cheap so it really is worth doing as much research as possible. When finding an instructor, note that fancy adverts and higher prices mean very little, whilst word of mouth means a lot.
Once you have started learning to drive with an instructor, it can be a good idea to get in some practise with a family member or friend in between lessons. The only rules are that the main driver must be over the age of 21, and have been driving for a minimum of 3 years. However, it is also important to note that you should use this as a tool to keep things your instructor has taught you fresh in your mind. It is generally a bad idea to take tips and advice from someone who has had a license for 3 years due to the number of bad habits they will have picked up. These bad habits might make things easier, but they won’t impress your instructor or an examiner!
Once the big day comes around you will be a bag of nerves, but the only advice one can give is to try and relax. Your instructor will only put you in for the practical test when he knows you are ready, so keep that in mind.
Passing your test is a fabulous experience, and your first solo drive will be a landmark event in your life. However, take heed of the fact that the first 2 years after passing the driving test are lethal, with over a thousand young lives lost each year on UK roads. Leave sooner, drive slower, live longer.
There are some great websites around full of useful resources for the learner driver. One of the best I have found is 2pass , which has everything from mock Theory Test questions to a directory of Driving Schools
Source: Amazines.com