Driving

[rcluke]

I'm 17 in january and was wondering,

how many driving lessons do i need to have legally by a qualified instructor ?

i'm not on about how many i should have or anything, i am just wanting to know the minimum legal amount.

cheers

[rcracer]

Originally Posted by rcluke

I'm 17 in january and was wondering,

how many driving lessons do i need to have legally by a qualified instructor ?

i'm not on about how many i should have or anything, i am just wanting to know the minimum legal amount.

cheers

you mean so you can accompany a driver on a provisional licence ?
you need to be 21 and held a full driving licence for 3 years

[rcluke]

no i mean, can my dad teach me to drive,

then me take my test without having any lessons from an instructor ?

[ben]

Sir paul worsley was telling me how he didnt have one lesson and passed his test first time That was probably like 40 or 50 years ago though

[rcluke]

didnt driving licences come free with packets of cornflakes 50/60 years ago ??

[rcracer]

Originally Posted by rcluke

no i mean, can my dad teach me to drive,

then me take my test without having any lessons from an instructor ?

sorry misread your post, your dad can teach you but i know of people who have done the same and when they went for there test the examiners were a even more strict due to fact they hadnt been tought by a qualified instructor and sadly they seem to fail them and they all ended up going through a instructor, its a sad fact i know but the tests are getting harder all the time, i myself looked into been a instructor but the cost was out of this world .

[Doomanic]

Unless the law has changed since I took my test (possible, I am old) you are not required by law to take any lessons at all.
However, taking lessons from a proper driving instructor will get you to the required standard to pass the driving test and teach you the test routes.

Don't assume you will pass your driving test just because you possess the ability to drive. I started driving at 11 on army bases and my friend's farm but I still needed lessons to pass my test.

[rcluke]

thanks for the replies

i am planning on getting my dad to teach me to drive, then get an instructor to 'refine my skills' - so to speak

[quincey]

learn to drive with an instuctor not your dad as you will only learn all his bad habits(not saying he has some of course)+ if you crash your dads car he's off the road too.
plus insurance for learner drivers is costly

[rcluke]

quincey,

only thing with instructors mate, they are bloody expensive

i'm gonna use my mams car

insurance is more for qualified drivers than for learners

[Spencer Mulcahy]

I did a weeks intensive course started driving on the monday and passed on the friday that was nearly 20 years ago so I dont know how much it is now or if it is still done. There could be arguments if your Dad teaches you.

[rcracer]

Originally Posted by rcluke

quincey,

only thing with instructors mate, they are bloody expensive

i'm gonna use my mams car


insurance is more for qualified drivers than for learners

agreed its expensive but the instructors will teach you what the examiners are looking for . it will pay in the long run.

[DCM]

take your initial lessons with an instructor, then when you feel competent, let your folks drive their car for experience. As it is, the instructor will teach you how to pass your test, not actual real world driving.

[markwilliamson2001]

Best thing to do...
get a banger and go to a local farmer. See if you can 'borrow' his field/land for the day/weekend to learn how to drive the car. Once you have mastered clutch control and changing gear, then get on the road. It is the easiest way tbh.

HTH
Mark

[Southwell]

I had about 7 or so and passed first time

[PaulUpton]

i wouldnt advice learning with parents, all my mates did this they failed at least once, i did mine with instructer, and passed first time!

Plus for your test i beleive you have to provide a car with dual controls!

Paul

[Mike Hudson]

The car you do your test in must have dual controls... I do think instuctors are much better, they teach you to understand all the laws, regs manouvers etc properly and are up to date with everything and give you a much better understanding and depth of everything and take you round all the roads where you could be told to go to drive round or do manouvers in your final test which is very helpful. My instructor has been excellent i've only had 7 lessons and am confident with everything and just doing 2 or 3 mock tests to find if there are an weaknesses in my driving refining those then doing my test after christmas

[James]

My friend of mine passed his driving test on his 17th birthday in a standard Rav4 - no dual controls. He didnt have any lessons, his dad has a Toyota dealership so he just used to drive round the yard.. The story was even in our local paper

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by Mike Hudson

The car you do your test in must have dual controls...

This isnt true. The car just needs L plates and an extra rear view mirror.

[ashleyb4]

I need to start thinking baout learning to drive but im a little unsure at the moment.

A