Don't drive yourself mad (Driving Courses in general)

Member Name: liz3yy

Product:	Driving Courses in general
Date:	07/06/09 (60 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Freedom when you pass

Disadvantages: Not easy to find a good instructor

Learning to drive is on those rites of passage that the majority of young people aspire to get through at some point in their lives. It passed me however until my mid 20's as I simply wasn't interested. I lived in a large town with excellent transport links and didn't have the need for a car at any point. No-one in my immediate family had a car either so I had no encouragement to learn.

I moved out of my parents place when I was 23 and shortly afterwards started to realise that actually being mobile and having my own means of getting around as and when I wanted would be a huge benefit, which driving instructor or school should I choose though? I made the mistake at the time of calling the first number I saw in the phone book and making an appointment with a local chap. He was nice enough and had a modern clean, easy to drive car but I feel he held me back, after 30 lessons I still wasn't ready for the test and was rapidly running out of money. Sadly I had to stop as I could no longer afford it.

Fast forward 2 years and I was now living in Dorset with my partner. Of course living I definitely needed a car and after becoming quite upset one day at my frustration at not being able to get about by myself I once again searched around for an instructor. Being desperate to get my license I rather stupidly signed up for an intensive course thinking it would be easy, it wasn't. My teacher was a bully and shouted at me several times for the most stupid little things. After 3 days we had both had enough and cancelled the rest of the course. I was no closer to getting my license and had lost almost of my confidence.

My partner didn't want me to give up and encouraged me to re-consider taking up lessons again, to be honest I had no choice as I couldn't rely on others for ever to get me around and to work and every day and back. One day on the way home from work I spotted a car on a lesson that I had seen several times that week before. I was intrigued and wondered if this chap would be a good instructor for me? That evening I plucked up the courage to call him and had a very pleasant conversation, he (Tim) was softly spoken and sounded very kind. He was appalled at my previous experience and said I just needed to get out there and try again.

I had a lesson with Tim that weekend, a hour around town, and was initially very nervous. However I was very impressed as Tim didn't raise his voice once or belittle me as my previous instructor had, I made a couple of mistakes which in reaction to them he asked me to pull over then calmly asked me why I had just done what I had. We discussed everything calmly and even in just that one hour I felt as if I learned a great deal.

I was encouraged by Tim to book my test straight away which surprised me, he was surprised at that as he thought my standard of driving was good but just needed a little fine tuning. Something I had never been told before.

I finally passed my test at the 4th attempt two months after some rather daft mistakes during previous tests including missing 3rd gear and also hitting the kerb but I think nerves played a big part in that.

I really appreciate my freedom now and feel incredibly lucky to have found an instructor who was so patient and friendly, we even had chats about our private lives during my lessons with me learning that he was getting divorced!

The big lesson I've learnt from my experience is never pick the first person you see (and another one actually, don't assume intensive courses will work for you) it's vital to shop around to find someone who's style of teaching suits you.

Summary: Something everyone should consider