Driving lessons: how many?
12 December 2008, 11:15 AM
#1
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Driving lessons: how many?
My friend has been told by his son's instructor 50 hours is about the average now! I had 4 (long) lessons then passed. We both think it's a complete scam. Is this the way the industry has gone or is it some lone chancer? There are a lot of driving school franchise ads on TV these days... all seems a bit dodgy.
12 December 2008, 11:22 AM
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30 is average for everyone I know who learned to drive from scratch with no previous experience with driving mum and dads car etc. My misses passed after 4 lessons but I did learn her myself before she just had a couple of lessons to touch up on anything I missed. But he put her straight in for the test after her first lesson (must be the good trainer 
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12 December 2008, 11:49 AM
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Just incase this turns into a contest I want to be the first to say I had NO lessons, just got in a car and passed straight away and became a touring car camp the next day.
Seriously though I had about 20.
Seriously though I had about 20.
12 December 2008, 11:50 AM
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20 hours for me, but I lived 20 minutes drive from the town where the test would be, so I needed 10x2 hour lessons. I booked my test for exactly a fortnight after my 17th birthday and had a lesson each night after school to prepare for two weeks. This was 1990 though, so no theory and a simple 30 min test route. My instructor correctly predicted which route I would go on too, so I had practiced on it for two evenings prior to my test. I passed first time......
12 December 2008, 12:04 PM
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3 x 45min lessons and a few hours out with my brother (who was only 17 at the time) job done.
I've had much more training since as a company car driver - defensive driving, skid pan etc etc.
Nik
I've had much more training since as a company car driver - defensive driving, skid pan etc etc.
Nik
12 December 2008, 12:09 PM
#13
I had 12 IIRC, plus practice, but when I trained as an instructor 5 years ago the average was about 32. The test is harder than it was, on more crowded roads, with more impatient drivers, so it's bound to go up.
50 seems on the high side though. At BSM rates that's over a grand!
50 seems on the high side though. At BSM rates that's over a grand!
12 December 2008, 12:32 PM
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Is it with a independant instructor or one of the schools like BSM or AA.
A friend of mine went with bsm, she had a number of lessons before she even got in a car. She had to go to some centre & learn the basics in a simulator. Then they only booked her in for 1, 1 hour lesson a fortnight.
I had about 30 lessons, but half way between them i spent a couple of month in Italy so had quite a long gap.
Passed on my 1st attempt.
A friend of mine went with bsm, she had a number of lessons before she even got in a car. She had to go to some centre & learn the basics in a simulator. Then they only booked her in for 1, 1 hour lesson a fortnight.
I had about 30 lessons, but half way between them i spent a couple of month in Italy so had quite a long gap.
Passed on my 1st attempt.
12 December 2008, 12:43 PM
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12 December 2008, 12:52 PM
#21
Two Months of lessons: one or two lessons a week, one hour each.
Which racked up between 10 to 15hours of lesson time. Passed first time.
Because I didn't have a car at the time and wasn't insured on the 'rents cars I didn't drive or practice inbetween lessons.
Which racked up between 10 to 15hours of lesson time. Passed first time.
Because I didn't have a car at the time and wasn't insured on the 'rents cars I didn't drive or practice inbetween lessons.
12 December 2008, 12:56 PM
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Fifty hours seems a bit much. I'm sure it does take some people that long, but if you are reasonably adept then ten should be the limit.
I had two lessons, then a cancellation came up and I took the test and passed. I did used to go out with my Dad on a Sunday afternoon around the industrial estate though ...
Steve
I had two lessons, then a cancellation came up and I took the test and passed. I did used to go out with my Dad on a Sunday afternoon around the industrial estate though ...
Steve
12 December 2008, 01:01 PM
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Can't quite remember how many I had, but it certainly wasn't 50 
Instructor wrote out my application at the end of my 3rd lesson. Must have had about 15-20 after that before my test. Passed first time
Dad took me out a few times in the Cossie as well
Instructor wrote out my application at the end of my 3rd lesson. Must have had about 15-20 after that before my test. Passed first time
Dad took me out a few times in the Cossie as well
12 December 2008, 01:01 PM
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I think I had about 14/15 before my first test.. mullered that.
Then about 6 more, so yeah about 20 I think. Seemed about right for me but as someone else said I lived about 20 minutes from the Town so 40 minutes of my hour lessons were spent just getting to and from home.
The thing is, this year is when they bring in the 18 rule isn't it? Didn't see it mentioned when scanning through. So anyone born after the something of March can only take a test at 18 but can learn up until then.
Then about 6 more, so yeah about 20 I think. Seemed about right for me but as someone else said I lived about 20 minutes from the Town so 40 minutes of my hour lessons were spent just getting to and from home.
The thing is, this year is when they bring in the 18 rule isn't it? Didn't see it mentioned when scanning through. So anyone born after the something of March can only take a test at 18 but can learn up until then.
12 December 2008, 01:04 PM
#26
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I had 11 lessons, my dad took me out just about every night between as well (big help), cost about £9/10 a lesson back then (18 years ago). Passed 1st time with no major/minor faults.
Took the wife out last year between lessons and helped her no end to pass 1st time too
(18 years ago). Passed 1st time with no major/minor faults.Took the wife out last year between lessons and helped her no end to pass 1st time too
12 December 2008, 01:05 PM
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I did it in 10 hours, along with practising in my mums car. Amoungst all my friends without access to another car - 20 hours seemed the norm
12 December 2008, 01:07 PM
#28
...may make some feel better though.What annoys me is people that pars first time due to a technicality, don't know if it still happens but several people have told me in the past how they passed after spending most there time in traffic etc...may have just been stories though.
Oh and I didn't have a car etc at the time I was learning so I was quite chuffed with 30 lessons, think it was an hour a week going to two per week near test time.
12 December 2008, 01:09 PM
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5:30am I woke him up.
Without that I'd have failed. Took me ages to drive properly due to nerves.
12 December 2008, 01:10 PM
#30
Don't need to make myself feel better as know it was just the nerves, bloomin stupid really, my instructor wasn't happy with me ...may make some feel better though.
What annoys me is people that pars first time due to a technicality, don't know if it still happens but several people have told me in the past how they passed after spending most there time in traffic etc...may have just been stories though.
Oh and I didn't have a car etc at the time I was learning so I was quite chuffed with 30 lessons, think it was an hour a week going to two per week near test time.
...may make some feel better though.What annoys me is people that pars first time due to a technicality, don't know if it still happens but several people have told me in the past how they passed after spending most there time in traffic etc...may have just been stories though.
Oh and I didn't have a car etc at the time I was learning so I was quite chuffed with 30 lessons, think it was an hour a week going to two per week near test time.