Driving lessons - crash course/private?

Rain Man · 20 Sep 2006 at 12:30

After seeing the thread about the 1year learning suggestions and reading the other thread im now in two minds what to do.

I get my provisional back next week and have the money to do either because of my student loan so money isnt an issue

has anyone got experience of doing a crash course? learning to drive in 1 week is so appealing. I do realise i wont have nearly as much road experience as over a period of time but i really dont want to learn for 5months and then legislation passes and i have to wait for another 7 months.

really not sure what to do

MuvverRussia · 20 Sep 2006 at 12:35

seriously don't think a crash course is the right way to go about it. Often when learning you'll need time to think stuff over- plus its helpful to be able to drive in varying conditions, something you might not get doing a crash course.

cheets64 · 20 Sep 2006 at 12:35

A friend of mine booked his crash course somthing lik £500 and he didnt read the info properly and he needed 20 hours of driving under his belt,

They do different course depending on how many lessons you have driving for a complete novice it was about £800

Rain Man · 20 Sep 2006 at 12:41

cheets64 said:
A friend of mine booked his crash course somthing lik £500 and he didnt read the info properly and he needed 20 hours of driving under his belt,

They do different course depending on how many lessons you have driving for a complete novice it was about £800

that could be an idea tbh. Do my 20hrs, then get the borin bit dont in a course

SaBBz · 20 Sep 2006 at 14:56

Rain Man said:
that could be an idea tbh. Do my 20hrs, then get the borin bit dont in a course

You should be close to taking your test after 20 hour anyway I'd have thought.

Rich1988 · 20 Sep 2006 at 15:30

SaBBz said:
You should be close to taking your test after 20 hour anyway I'd have thought.

50 hours is the average learning hours, depends if he can drive outside of lesson/any previous xp

Confused · 20 Sep 2006 at 15:34

Rich1988 said:
50 hours is the average learning hours, depends if he can drive outside of lesson/any previous xp

Probably stats coming from the large chains, who persuade people they need more lessons than they would probably otherwise need.

I went with an independant, and I had 15 hours tuition in total - including the 2 hours on the day of my test. I did 4 lessons in 5 days, too, which REALLY helped - I got lots of driving done in a short period of time, which IMO really helped.

After I passed, another friend went with the same instructer, after being with a large chain for many months and about 20 lessons - about 5 lessons later and he was ready to do his test - after he'd been taught everything he'd already learnt again, but properly. Compare this to the 20-odd that the large chain recommended he still needed!

Rich1988 · 20 Sep 2006 at 15:58

ConfusedTA said:
Probably stats coming from the large chains, who persuade people they need more lessons than they would probably otherwise need.

I went with an independant, and I had 15 hours tuition in total - including the 2 hours on the day of my test. I did 4 lessons in 5 days, too, which REALLY helped - I got lots of driving done in a short period of time, which IMO really helped.

After I passed, another friend went with the same instructer, after being with a large chain for many months and about 20 lessons - about 5 lessons later and he was ready to do his test - after he'd been taught everything he'd already learnt again, but properly. Compare this to the 20-odd that the large chain recommended he still needed!

Did you have any previous driving experience before?

mc_bob · 20 Sep 2006 at 16:06

50 Hours! Even my sister took about 20

Confused · 20 Sep 2006 at 16:08

I'd driven my mum's car around the private car park at my house and parked it.

Twice.

Other than that - nothing.

Of course everyone learns at a different rate, but my main point was that it's going with an independant who requires good recommendations rather than a large chain who will just get students no matter how good/bad an individual instructor is.

My friend had about 20 lessons with a chain, then had about 5 with an independant and was at a level to take his test - a full 15 lessons (and approx £300) earlier than the chain said he'd be ready.

rG-tom · 20 Sep 2006 at 16:53

i passed with 2 minors after 14 hours of tuition over 3-4 weeks, 50 hours is a ridiculous figure for the average joe :s

Fr0dders · 20 Sep 2006 at 16:59

sorry but dont agree with the "crash course" idea

its just gonna get you on a hiding to nothing

learning to drive, and passing your test are very different things. Just because you passed your test, doesnt mean thats all there is too learn.

Dont take the shortcut, get a proper instructor and do it the right way.

rG-tom · 20 Sep 2006 at 17:30

MrLOL said:
sorry but dont agree with the "crash course" idea

its just gonna get you on a hiding to nothing

learning to drive, and passing your test are very different things. Just because you passed your test, doesnt mean thats all there is too learn.

Dont take the shortcut, get a proper instructor and do it the right way.

i dont see how the crash course is any different to learning over a few months.

Same amount of time on the road....therefore same experience o_O Someone who has been driving for 4 months, one hour a week has less experience than someone who has done a one week 20 hour crash course.

Entai · 20 Sep 2006 at 17:33

MrLOL said:
sorry but dont agree with the "crash course" idea

its just gonna get you on a hiding to nothing

learning to drive, and passing your test are very different things. Just because you passed your test, doesnt mean thats all there is too learn.

Dont take the shortcut, get a proper instructor and do it the right way.

Here here, I totally agree, wether it is four hours or forty, all they teach you is how to pass the test, certainly if you go with a large chain.

If you go with some independents, usually they have a bit more keeness on actually teaching you to drive as opposed to just passing the test.

However what you must understand is that the vast majority of what you are taught when learning to pass the test, you must immediately forget when you have passed and are then starting to learn to drive properly.

My brother went to a large national chain and was taught to pass the test by them, because he did not get on with my dads style of teaching, (I was taught by my dad see here ).
Once my brother passed (at the fourth attempt by the way), every time he drove my dad anywhere my dad would fume at all the bad habits my brother had been taught. It got to the stage my brother refused to have my dad in the car. Even I cringe when I am in a car with my brother because he still drives the way he was taught to.

So in conclusion, all I can really suggest, is to do what you feel is best for you, but really you should be looking at passing the test then doing as much advanced training as possible, with as many different people as well, so that you can gain experience and knowledge from many diffrent sources.