Driving practice

[rov1200]

I have a relative who is learning to drive. The driving lessons are in excess of �20/per hour which are taken regularly. In spite of this many,many lessons will be required. A family vehicle is available to give extra lessons. What are the best areas to go to for extra tuition and are they widely publicised as towns and busy roads are out of the question.

[kchunter86]

Im not completely sure i understand your question tbh but ill have a stab at answering anyway, i take it you mean somewhere you can take your relative yourself so you can give the relative extra experience on the road without having to pay this �20 per hour......... When i was learning to drive my Granny used to take me to the nearest industrial estate later on in the day after we knew nobody would be about but still light enough for me to see what i was doing, we would then go through the basic motions... reversing round corners, parking and so... this was fine enough for me to begin with then we went on to letting me go a little further, drive us to the nearest town then onto driving home..... back then you only had to do a compulsory 7 lessons with a qualified instructor before you could sit your test, not sure what it is now though. I dont see why busier roads and towns are out of the question as long as the relative holds there provisional licence, is fully insured on their own policy or on another family members policy and has sufficent enough knowledge of the highway code and manouveres etc...
Hope i helped a little.... and good luck!! :)))) x

[Ethel]

Trading estates are not as friendly towards learner drivers as they once were - they are, after all, privately owned. All the trading estates in my locality have security cameras, some have manned entrances.
If you are not on the public highway you are on private land. You know your own locality better than anyone here - it shouldn't be too difficult to work out a quiet route for early Sunday mornings. 6am on Sundays is a good time for a learner, in the summer.

[gsr600]

so if this person has had some lessons already, surely they must use roads in the area which are normally used by other learner drivers, it is normally near to the test centre to get them used to all the surrounding roads,
(provided you have a local test centre)
as ethel suggests, you know the area, so choose a quieter road until your nerves will stand the busier roads & towns,
enjoy !

[rov1200]

I never really considered industrial estates but if used outside business hours and do not have restrictions it could provide an option. In the past people used disused airfields. Also I have been searching the local road maps for those with no through road or exit which should be quieter.

She is not my child but this 17 year old did not drive the car to the training area but the instructor drove her both there and back before allowing her to take the wheel. Is this normal considering the price of the lessons? I also had my doubts about employing a one-person driving school as they seem more worried about the car damage.

As she owns her own car and insured to drive it are there restrictions if the parents drove her car to a safer area and be covered by their own insurance if 3rd party or do they have to be comprehensive?

[buildersmate]

Surely this business about going to quiet, non-highway areas only lasts for the first lesson? - to enable the learner to get the feel of the controls. After that, they should be driving on quiet roads.
If not, change the instructor.

[paraffin]

Hi rov:

Sounds like there's a bit of a predicament here regarding this young lady's confidence or competence or both?

I obviously don't know why she appears not to be getting on too well, however, assuming that the car(s) she has been driving is/are manual, has she considered driving an automatic? I'm guessing here as to what her main problem is, but an auto is easier to drive than a manual, and you can get a licence for automatic only.

The reluctance over towns and busy roads would obviously have to be addressed at some point otherwise she clearly won't ever gain experience, which is of course of paramount importance.

All I'd say is be careful about taking her onto private property without permission because it's wrought with danger if anything goes wrong.

Best of luck. Sounds like you and she will need it.

[rov1200]

Paraffin as she has been given her own manual car I suppose she has to stick with it. We're just hoping its initial nerves that will be ironed out.

I notice that when learner scooter riders start they need a licence to even get on the road and have off road training. For learner car drivers there is no such facility and they have to venture out to get practical experience. As I've said a disused airfield or designated area would be useful.