Driving lessons these days

[Crackle]

What's the score?

My eldest, 18, is taking some and I chose a local independent instructor. He was a bit coy about how long it would take and I'm given to understand that 30 or 40 lessons are the norm these days, whereas it took me 22 lessons, x years ago but there's more to the test these days, I'm told.

Is this all correct? 5 lessons in and he still doesn't drive from the house but gets taken somewhere and starts from there. Not got on to anything other than driving a quiet course. It all seems a bit slow and cautious to me.

 

[pplpilot]

Taking you for a 'ride' i reckon. My niece passed in 18 this year... not sure if the criteria has changed much since I did mine, I had 8 and passed. I finished my pilots licence in 43, he wants upto 40 for driving! naaaa, doesn't stack up.

 

[Saluki]

I started to learn with an independent instructor, supposedly on the 'fast track' course but he said that it wasn't suitable for me, even before I got into the car. After 3 weeks of sitting in the passenger seat (mostly) with theory and only being allowed to drive in an empty industrial estate to get clutch control I went with BSM, had 20 lessons, passed first time. With BSM, we had a 15 minute chat in the car (not paid for lesson time but a bit of a 'where are you with your driving' thing) and then straight in the drivers seat and away. I lived in a quiet-ish area and did more driving in that first lesson with BSM than I had done with the useless independent chap.
This was in 2000, so not a gazillion years ago, like Hubster - he passed way back in the early 80's.

 

[Markymark]

4 lessons and I passed my test first go... that was 1989 (I didn't need to drive until I was 22).

Very useful info for the ops request.

That's an awful lot of lessons. Shop around.

 

[jefmcg]

In my home state in Australia, you have to log 120 hours behind the wheel (all recording in a log, so it could be faked) before you are allowed to get your licence. Just saying. I definitely had a lot less than that, btw.

 

[midlife]

Have you got a car he can drive around in with L plates. Then they can practice all they like with the basics before the expensive lessons. I think our eldest had about 15 lessons. Failed his theory though........

Shaun

 

[Crackle]

Taking you for a 'ride' i reckon. My niece passed in 18 this year... not sure if the criteria has changed much since I did mine, I had 8 and passed. I finished my pilots licence in 43, he wants upto 40 for driving! naaaa, doesn't stack up.

Who was that with?

I didn't get that figure from him but from doing some research. I also looked at pass rates and some of the bigger driving schools have fairly appalling pass rates.

 

[screenman]

40 seems about the average now, or 20 hours as most lessons I think are 30 minutes.

3 lessons fo me then pass in 1973, I was 17 and had been able to drive for 4 years at that time. My job also allowed me to drive huge lorries and in tight area's so I am sure this helped.

 

[pplpilot]

Who was that with?

I didn't get that figure from him but from doing some research. I also looked at pass rates and some of the bigger driving schools have fairly appalling pass rates.

No idea, I do know it was a one man outfit that lives in her village.

 

[Milkfloat]

Blimey - lesson and insurance costs must keep so many young people off the road. I must admit, when I passed my test (2 weeks after 17th Birthday) I did not know how to drive properly. After 40 lessons these youngsters must be experts.

 

[Over The Hill]

My daughter passed first time last Friday and I think she was on about 28 lessons. I would say she was ready at about 25 but there is a backlog at test centre and she also was delayed by a further week as the testers went on strike!
But that is 25 x 1 hour lessons plus 25x 1 hour at least per week with me or wifey taking her round. So she has had at least 60 hours behind the wheel.

 

[Crackle]

Blimey - lesson and insurance costs must keep so many young people off the road. I must admit, when I passed my test (2 weeks after 17th Birthday) I did not know how to drive properly. After 40 lessons these youngsters must be experts.

40 hours won't make you an expert though, it's just a start.

I just wanted some opinions. I don't currently have a car he can learn in, just the family wagon so it's lessons only. I spoke to a few instructors to gain an impression which is all you can do. I did trend towards someone local, older and who said the right things on my mental checklist. Ultimately it'll take him as long as it takes him but I just wanted some comparators.

 

[jefmcg]

While we are on the subject, why to some UK new drivers use P-Plates. I see it's actually mentioned here https://www.gov.uk/driving-lessons-learning-to-drive/using-l-and-p-plates but I don't understand why you would want to use them if they aren't required.

 

[rich p]

4 lessons and I passed my test first go... that was 1989 (I didn't need to drive until I was 22).

Really?
I'm surprised it took you that long.

 

[screenman]

Blimey - lesson and insurance costs must keep so many young people off the road. I must admit, when I passed my test (2 weeks after 17th Birthday) I did not know how to drive properly. After 40 lessons these youngsters must be experts.

We would hope so.