Learning to drive.Any tips?

I'm sure computer games do help with developing driving skills. I find that I can reverse into tighter parking spaces than others (last weekend I found a parking spot that a Corsa gave up on and reversed in in my Mondeo - admittedly was a young-ish woman so that's probably why!) and I credit this skill entirely to GTA3/Vice City :p

Advice? Take it slowly and try not to do everything at once! I think someone also mentioned assume everyone is an idiot - this is always a good thing to do. Assume that all other drivers are blind old bats who can pull out or cause a hazard at any time, and keep on your toes for any signs of a developing hazard.
 
You sound like you've got your head fairly well screwed on, the driving test isn't actually especially hard, its just to filter out complete idiots (and even then doesn't catch em all) so just relax and get it done!

Extra practice is a good idea, should be able to get yourself temporarily added to a friend/family members insurance as a named driver as a learner for not a lot of money (you have to be supervised so the risk is relatively low) and just get some extra hours under your belt, just go over the stuff your instructor was teaching you last then when you next get a lesson you should be able to progress faster.
 
If you make a mistake and your instructor makes a fuss, accept it, move on and don't let it affect the rest of your driving. When I was 18 I had a few lessons before I ended up stopping for uni and I'd let my nerves and frustration at making a mistake get the better of me.

Started learning again at 23 (december last year) and passed in feb with 2 minors. A calm head helps.
 
I've been teaching my girlfriend to drive for the past few months - hopefully not for much longer! She's just had some professional lessons to tidy things up a bit.

You need to get to the stage where you can operate the car - clutch, brakes, gears almost without thinking about it. This is really the easy bit - it's just a machine at the end of the day. Once you get towards this stage, you can really focus on learning to drive which is more about anticipation and planning than physically operating the controls.

Starting the manoeuvres early is good because these will really improve you clutch control which is essential for just about everything in a car. I left these until she'd been driving a while and once we started them it helped with car control in general driving as well.

The biggest tip I would give you is learn to pan your vision out to the distance and back closer to the car - the higher the speed, the further you should be looking ahead. Look through bends - this helps your steering be smoother.

Remember to check the rear view mirrors every time you change speed and also doors mirrors before you change direction.

Remember driving instructors are inclined to teach you how to pass the test and not necessarily how to be a good driver. On the test routes near me there are no dual carriageways or challenging NSL country lanes - so the instructor said he doesn't bother with them! He said he also doesn't generally teach overtaking. For me these are essential skills that every driver should learn.
 
BarBrawllin said:
Hi guys,im learning to drive and had 3 lessons already and the guy said im doing better than he expected for somebody who never drove before and that im doing better than the majority of people that learn to drive lol(i dont know if he's bull****ing but maybe the computer
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For the theory test, pick up one of the many DVDs that recreates the hazard perception segment.

It's quite easy when you understand the scoring system.

There's a definite knack to it.

Also bear in mind people are extra obnoxious when you have L plates on. It's not quite that aggressive on the road normally.
 
If you can get insured on a parents car that would give you the extra practice.

Also when it comes to your test. Whilst doing manoeuvres you need to be mirror checking mad. Like literally every yard you move checking all 3 mirrors and looking out all the windows.

Majority of examiners can get really picky if you don't look at your mirrors or out the window enough.
 
DBT85 said:
On the assumption that eventually you pass the test.

1) Welcome, you are now learning to drive
2) there is no "fast lane"
3) keep left where possible
4) learn to read the big blue signs that tell you when you can and cannot use bus lanes.
5) Everyone is an idiot until they prove otherwise
6) Use your indicators. Please. Don't become one of the many who bought a car without them
7) Fog lights are for fog, not to look cool

Good luck :)
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This is my favourite response so far, as it covers a lot of the points I'd say are important.

For me, I really learned to drive after passing. Before was getting to a good enough standard to pass the test and be allowed out on my own.
Please use indicators and don't use fog lights unless you need to.
Other than that have fun!
 
Pestilence said:
That first part is a bit :/

What exactly do you mean drove the car back to the house "by yourself"?

Three point turns are probably THE easiest maneuver, btw.
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I'll stop worrying about the 3 point turns then :D

NathWraith said:
I would imagine he means, he drove home with no assistance from the instructor who was present.
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Yes this is what i meant,i still had the instructor beside me incase anything went wrong ,id never drive by myself without a licence thats just mental plus i dont have my own car so even if i was mental i still couldnt do that lol:eek:
 
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BarBrawllin said:
Yes this is what i meant,i still had the instructor beside me incase anything went wrong ,id never drive by myself without a licence thats just mental plus i dont have my own car so even if i was mental i still couldnt do that lol:eek:
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Thought so :)

I remember doing my first drive home like that, was fairly intimidating.
 
Osprey said:
Remember, you're not learning to drive. You're learning to pass the test.
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I'd disagree strongly.

Depending on your instructor, they may just be teaching you to pass a test. If you have a good instructor, they WILL be teaching you how to drive - the skills of anticipating the actions of other cars, leaving room, and general good defensive driving tecnhique.

Of course you will continue to learn after you pass the test, and continue to get better at driving as you get older, but my instructor always said to me:

"On your test you'll be expected to do it like this, for x reason, but in the real world....."
 
timbob said:
I'd disagree strongly.

Depending on your instructor, they may just be teaching you to pass a test. If you have a good instructor, they WILL be teaching you how to drive - the skills of anticipating the actions of other cars, leaving room, and general good defensive driving tecnhique.

Of course you will continue to learn after you pass the test, and continue to get better at driving as you get older, but my instructor always said to me:

"On your test you'll be expected to do it like this, for x reason, but in the real world....."
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same, my instructor taught me real world driving and 'test' driving. I basically spent 14 lessons just driving and using the car, one lesson to get ready for the test and passed.
 
Jamsames said:
dont do what i did on the actual test.

instead of slamming your brakes on, drive straight into the lorry pulling out.

i failed because i stopped instead of hitting a lorry.

passed now though
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There was a notorious examiner when I was doing my tests. Among other things he had a habit of passing boys from the grammar school, and passing pretty girls.

Right round the corner from the test centre he worked at was a set of lights with a filter for turning right. The filter bulb in the traffic lights was broken for a number of months. He would take people to that set of lights, and they would sit there patiently waiting for the filter light to come on. After a couple of cycles without the filter light coming on, he would tell them to ignore the light and would instruct them on when to turn right in a gap in the oncoming traffic, and would then fail them for having had to give them verbal instruction.

So, jump a light or wait and fail?

After a while, there were enough complaints made against him and he lost his job.
 
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