Is my driving instructor keeping me going for more money??

**Bazeye** · 08-Oct-11, 16:02

Apart from myself, is there anyone else who cant drive and have no intentions of learning?

**catran** · 08-Oct-11, 16:21

I passed my test after 6 lessons

**annemarie482** · 08-Oct-11, 17:18

please bear in mind the test is a lot more thorough than in the past, many long time drivers believe they'd struggle to pass it nowadays!
so some of the folk passing in a few lessons, just wouldnt have been so quick nowadays.
i think there is a minimum hours spent with instructor you have to have now also.
and the test is only going to get worse as the years go on!

**teddybear1873** · 08-Oct-11, 17:48

I think it's better in the long run if learners get about 10-15 lessons under their belt driving with their parents........Easier in the pocket, but harder on the parents nerves lol.

**bigk** · 08-Oct-11, 18:59

i got my license from the armed forces where i just had to drive a land rover a few miles and buy my instructor a macdonalds( but i will add that i have now been driving for well over twenty years and never had an accident )....but that was a few years ago now lol.....what i would do in your case would do is to have one lesson with another instructor and ask his opinion....if he thinks your instructor is takin the piss then you have rights to report your instructor and possibly claim back moneys....

**bigk** · 08-Oct-11, 19:09

Originally Posted by annemarie482

please bear in mind the test is a lot more thorough than in the past, many long time drivers believe they'd struggle to pass it nowadays!
so some of the folk passing in a few lessons, just wouldnt have been so quick nowadays.
i think there is a minimum hours spent with instructor you have to have now also.
and the test is only going to get worse as the years go on!

i for one will admit that if i had to sit the up to date driving test i would probably fail.....over the years you learn so many habits that would be a fail...i didnt say bad habits cos they arent all bad habits....we all have our own unique things some of which are good while driving some not so but we are all human.....possibly thats why i am so easy when it comes to someone making a mistake say at a junction ' they stall '....i have done that as we all have...i always think of the person behind the wheel before takin the piss out of them!!!

**EDDIE** · 08-Oct-11, 20:58

If I was learning to drive again I would do a a intensive 1 week course rather than messing about with a lesson here and there.

**oldmarine** · 08-Oct-11, 22:37

Originally Posted by bigk

i got my license from the armed forces where i just had to drive a land rover a few miles and buy my instructor a macdonalds( but i will add that i have now been driving for well over twenty years and never had an accident )....but that was a few years ago now lol.....what i would do in your case would do is to have one lesson with another instructor and ask his opinion....if he thinks your instructor is takin the piss then you have rights to report your instructor and possibly claim back moneys....

I likewise got my 1st license from the armed forces while overseas during WW2. Never had drivers training. Took a written test upon returning home from overseas, but never had to take a drivers test.

**Torvaig** · 08-Oct-11, 23:37

Originally Posted by oldmarine

I likewise got my 1st license from the armed forces while overseas during WW2. Never had drivers training. Took a written test upon returning home from overseas, but never had to take a drivers test.

That is the same as my father who was in the Royal Air Force; never had to take a test either. Mind you he didn't have a car for many years after leaving RAF; he preferred his 1930's Ariel!

Before my younger brothers were born my sister and I used to travel with our parents on the motorbike to visit relations on a Sunday.

Older sister on the tank, Father driving, then me tucked in between him and my mother; I was the cosy one!

When my brothers were born obviously six was too many for the bike; had to borrow our Auntie's car or walk! We walked a lot in those days!

**Dadie** · 08-Oct-11, 23:40

I dont think an intensive driving course would have really helped me as I was a nervous driver and needed the time for the lessons to sink in to begin with.
ou know the saying different strokes for different people it goes with driving too...there is only so much info that can be taken on board at one time and there is only so much fustration a person can take if they cannot get the biting point right on a hill start without going and having time to think about it without having to keep going until they are at their wits end or throwing in the towel!
Same with any other manouver you find tricky sometimes its better to forget about it and try something different and come back to it with a clear head!
I would hate to think what the first time pass rate is for the intensive driving courses are with a total novice with absolutely no experience behind the wheel is!

**EDDIE** · 09-Oct-11, 08:02

Originally Posted by Dadie

I dont think an intensive driving course would have really helped me as I was a nervous driver and needed the time for the lessons to sink in to begin with.
ou know the saying different strokes for different people it goes with driving too...there is only so much info that can be taken on board at one time and there is only so much fustration a person can take if they cannot get the biting point right on a hill start without going and having time to think about it without having to keep going until they are at their wits end or throwing in the towel!
Same with any other manouver you find tricky sometimes its better to forget about it and try something different and come back to it with a clear head!
I would hate to think what the first time pass rate is for the intensive driving courses are with a total novice with absolutely no experience behind the wheel is!

When sat my motorbike licence i did an intensive course over 4 days and when i started i didnt think i would do in that time but its a weird thing in day 3 thats when everthing came together and the confidence and abilty to ride the bike but up until that point i was a danger to my self.I think thats the same with all intensive course there comes a point were every thing slides into place.
As far as nerves go i remember my instructor saying to me he had seen loads of big guys body builders and the minute you mentioned the word test they went to pieces but i think thats a natural thing when your sitting a test.When i sat my motorbike test i struggled to get the earpiece in my ear with nerves in my hands shaking but once i got going i was ok.
Thats why i was trying to encourage mo2 to book the test and go for it because there is no time really u will be 100 %ready because nerves can can get the better of anyone at test

**Pepsix** · 09-Oct-11, 11:42

my son was desperate to learn to drive, he had 8 lessons over 3 months and I took him out every night. He drove to Inverness and Elgin and in my opinion was pretty good. His instructor said he was not ready yet but to put in for his test. He got a test date for 14 weeks later, which was the earliest date. I went on every day and got him a cancellation the following week. His instructor was not too happy and refused to let him use his car as he said he is 'measured' on pass rate. My son went for his test in his own car and past. I had the opinion that even if he failed it was worth the risk than the 12 weeks he would have been paying lesson waiting for his test. Go for it!

**Bobinovich** · 09-Oct-11, 12:37

Originally Posted by EDDIE

If I was learning to drive again I would do a a intensive 1 week course rather than messing about with a lesson here and there.

I agree - many moons ago I booked an instructor for a morning and an afternoon appointment for 5 days running the idea being that I wouldn't have time to forget anything, or have to go over what was learned the previous week, as I would if I'd been doing one lesson a week. I took a week off work for it and at end of those 10 lessons he said to put in for my test. Thankfully we didn't have to wait so long, so took one lesson a week and was delighted to pass first time. Will recommend something along the same lines (either locally or intensive residential) for my kids when they're ready.

**Koi** · 09-Oct-11, 23:17

Originally Posted by teddybear1873

I think it's better in the long run if learners get about 10-15 lessons under their belt driving with their parents........Easier in the pocket, but harder on the parents nerves lol.

I'll get back to you on that one in 15 years. Don't think i could every teach my son how to drive!