DRIVING LESSONS

So you have your provisional licence and you now want to start learning how to drive.

You have two main options as to how to go about learning:

•  You could take lessons with a Driving Standards Agency Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) or Potential Driving Instructor (PDI).
  
  ADIs are all trained and tested to rigorous standards and are better equipped than anyone to teach you the relevant skills needed to pass your driving test and, more importantly, to become a safe driver for life.
  
  In order to qualify as an ADI, driving instructors need to pass three separate exams. An ADI will display a green octagonal badge in the windscreen of their tuition vehicle.  Some trainee instructors elect to obtain a short-term trainee licence in order to gain experience before they pass the third exam.  These instructors are known as PDIs and display a red triangular badge in the windscreen of their tuition vehicle.  It is important to note that a PDI has not yet passed the third exam which is a test of their instructional ability and that the pass rate for this exam is only 25%.  They will effectively be using you to practise on. Many large driving schools make extensive use of PDIs. Unfortunately, some of these schools do not volunteer this information to potential pupils and certainly do not offer any reduction in price for lessons with a PDI. You are entitled to know whether your instructor is an ADI or a PDI, so it is worth asking this in advance.
  
  If you are paying someone to teach you to drive, they must be approved and registered with the Driving Standards Agency (DSA). Only a PDI or ADI are allowed to offer driving instruction for money.
  
  The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) check the standards of all ADIs on a regular basis and awards grades (from 1 (the lowest) to 6 (the highest) according to the standard of tuition they provide.  Most instructors are grade 4.
  
  Advantages
  
  1.You can have confidence that your instructor is up-to-date on all aspects of driving.
  
  2.Your instructor will tailor their tuition to suit you as an individual.
  
  3.Your instructor will use a dual-controlled car so that he/she can help you if you get into difficulties.
  
  4.Most tuition vehicles (including those operated by Go School of Motoring) are modern, well-maintained and equipped with numerous safety features.
  
  5.You can be sure that the tuition vehicle is suitably insured.
  
  6.Your instructor will be able to advise you what training aids to use, when you are ready to take your theory and practical tests and how best to practice with a suitable accompanying driver if this is possible.
  
  Disadvantages
  
  1.Learning with an ADI or PDI will cost you more money than the other option.  However, this is offset by the increased likelihood of you becoming a safer driver and passing your test sooner.
  
  2.Learning with a PDI could leave you needing to change instructor if they do not pass their final exam before their short-term red licence expires. They cannot then carry on teaching.

How Many Lessons Will I Need?

This is a familiar question for driving instructors but it is among the most difficult to answer as it can vary greatly from pupil to pupil.  According to the Driving Standards Agency on average it requires 67 hours of practice to pass the driving test, though this can include private practice in addition to lessons with an instructor.  However, in practice, I usually find my pupils require considerably fewer lessons than this. 

Certainly though, the days of starting from scratch and passing your test after ten lessons are long gone.  The driving test is considerably more difficult than it was twenty or thirty years ago -the test itself is longer and is more taxing with higher standards of driving required.  Additionally, there is a hugely increased volume of traffic on the roads and more complex and difficult road layouts. 

A number of factors affect how quickly you learn :

NATURAL APPTITUDE - Some people take more readily to driving than others - though with perseverance anyone can succeed.

AGE - It is possible to learn to drive at any age, though generally the earlier you start the fewer lessons you will need.

SEX - Personally, I have noticed no difference in driving ability between the sexes - the idea that men are better drivers than women is pure myth.  Statistically, women make safer drivers than men which is why they pay less for car insurance.

ATTITUDE - Is an often overlooked factor.  If you approach your lessons with a positive attitude and are eager to learn then it will speed up the learning process.  If your instructor has provided you with lesson recaps - read them!  The information you gain from these might mean you require fewer lessons.

CAR - It is easier to learn in a modern, well equipped and maintained car.

INSTRUCTOR - You will learn more quickly with a reliable and supportive instructor.

The biggest reason for pupils failing the driving test is that they sit the test before they are fully prepared.  To this end, we will only advise you to apply for the test when we feel you are ready for it.

For details of our courses click here.

For prices of our lessons click here.