As someone who took more lessons than average to pass my driving test, I’ve gained some useful insights that can help others. Learning to drive is a big commitment, but with the right approach it can be an enjoyable and rewarding journey.
Based on my experiences, I wanted to share my top pieces of advice for learner drivers, using the power of hindsight. Follow these tips and you can become a capable, safe driver while avoiding some of the common frustrations I faced.
Finding the Right Instructor is Crucial
One of the most important decisions you’ll make is selecting the right driving instructor. Don’t automatically go with the cheapest deal or first instructor you find. Finding someone you’re comfortable with and whose teaching style suits you individually is vital.
I made the mistake early on of choosing an instructor based mainly on price and availability. But I didn’t feel we clicked well and something about their teaching manner didn’t work for me. I struggled to ask questions and didn’t look forward to lessons.
After a few months I decided to try a new instructor recommended by a friend. What a difference! I immediately found their teaching style much clearer and the atmosphere in the car more relaxed. I could instantly ask questions whenever anything confused me without feeling embarrassed.
Having that rapport where you can communicate easily makes such a big difference. You want driving lessons to be an enjoyable experience where you look forward to learning. It gives you confidence behind the wheel.
To find the right instructor I suggest:
- Asking friends and family for recommendations of good local instructors they used. Word of mouth is very valuable.
- Checking out instructors’ reviews and pass rates online or on the noticeboard at your local test center. This helps identify effective teachers.
- Doing a one-off taster lesson first before committing to an instructor. Testing that initial rapport and way of explaining concepts is invaluable.
- Trusting your instincts and how you personally respond to their teaching approach. The right instructor-learner relationship makes the process so much better.
Don’t feel awkward about trying a different instructor if the rapport isn’t there after a few lessons. Terminate early and upgrade instructors as your skills progress. Paying a little more for quality instruction can save both time and money in the long run.
Be Realistic With Expectations
When I first started taking lessons, I had very high expectations of how quickly I could pass my test. I figured that because I picked most things up quickly at school, driving would be no different. How wrong I was!
I put a lot of pressure on myself by setting unrealistic targets, then felt very disappointed and disheartened when I didn’t achieve them. Learning to drive takes time and patience – usually more than you might think as a beginner.
Everyone learns at their own pace based on aptitude, experience and how often you practice. Try not to fixate too much on national averages for how long it takes to pass your test. They are just broad benchmarks.
Focus instead on mastering skills one step at a time and listening to your instructor’s judgement on when you are properly ready for your test. Rushing into it before you are prepared leads to failure and dented confidence. Be patient with yourself.
Having regular lessons is also key to progress which leads me to my next tip…
Regular Lessons Are Essential
During the first few months after I passed my theory test, I didn’t have a regular set time slot for driving lessons each week. My work schedule back then meant I just booked ad-hoc lessons whenever I could make time around other commitments.
This start-stop approach was far from ideal. Having large gaps between lessons meant I often felt like I was going back to square one on each lesson. My skills and confidence regressed as driving time was so sporadic.
Thankfully I eventually got a new job with set hours that allowed me to schedule lessons on specific regular days. Having 2 lessons every Tuesday and Thursday was transformational!
The continuity of regular lessons meant I could quickly build on what I had covered in previous sessions. Things started to click much faster as I had time to embed skills properly. I wasn’t constantly having to re-learn things I’d forgotten.
My advice is to prioritise scheduling lessons close together – 2 or 3 lessons per week is ideal if you can manage it. Treat driving lessons like any other fixed appointment and make time for them.
Having that set slot focusing on your driving learning is invaluable. It develops muscle memory and knowledge much more efficiently than cramming bulk lessons right before your test.
Invest in Quality Tuition From the Start
Don’t prolong bad habits by sticking with an unsuitable instructor for too long. I realised too late that my original instructor’s teaching style just wasn’t right for my learning needs. I persevered for several months, assuming the slow progress was my own fault.
In hindsight, changing instructors sooner would have accelerated my learning curve dramatically. The moment you don’t look forward to lessons, or regularly leave them lacking in confidence, consider mixing things up.
Ask fellow learners for recommendations of instructors they clicked well with. Sit in for a trial lesson with a few others to test the waters. It will give you a sense of fresh teaching styles and how they explain concepts.
Don’t worry about “wasting” money paid upfront for lesson bundles either. It will be an investment if a new instructor can quickly get you on track. Pass rates, qualifications and specialist skills like handling nerves are all worth considering too.
Paying more for quality lessons tailored to your needs can save both time and money overall on your journey to passing.
Supplement Lessons with Private Practice
While professional lessons are essential, you can also supplement these with independent practice to reinforce skills between lessons.
There were some basic vehicle controls and cockpit drills that I could have kept sharpening in my own time rather than solely waiting for instructor input.
I’d recommend regularly sitting in a stationary car in your driveway or quiet car park and going through the motions of:
- Perfecting your seating position – adjusting the seat, mirrors and steering wheel appropriately. Knowing the exact optimal position for you helps build muscle memory faster on the road.
- Familiarising yourself with the location of pedals and gear stick until their use becomes second nature. Being able to find them instinctively without looking down is important.
- Going through the motions of clutch control, biting point and gear changes until they flow smoothly. This can embed coordination faster.
- Practicing observational head movements and scanning for hazards to develop that vital spatial awareness and rear vision.
You can also use driving apps, videos and study guides to reinforce your theoretical knowledge. Testing yourself on road signs, line markings, traffic laws and theory principles between lessons keeps them fresh.
Any practice to internalise key skills like clutch control, observance, parking and manoeuvres away from the pressures of real driving is invaluable experience. It accelerates you along the learning curve so lessons themselves can focus on more advanced skills.
Develop Your Concentration and Focus
One of the biggest challenges I faced as a new driver was keeping my concentration laser focused for extended periods. Driving requires so much cognitive processing and observation that it can be mentally tiring.
My mind has a tendency to wander when doing repetitive tasks. During long drives I would often lose focus thinking about work, family stuff or just daydreaming in general.
Obviously this lack of concentration led to errors as I’d be slower to react to emerging hazards and other road users that my instructor had already spotted. It was completely down to mentalfocus rather than not knowing what to look out for.
Here are some exercises and techniques I used to help strengthen my powers of concentration:
- Listening to driving podcasts or audio driving lessons while doing mundane visual tasks like cleaning the house. This helps practice dividing your attention between what you see and hear.
- Using memory games and recall exercises to improve your visual retention of details. The more you can accurately store and process visually, the better for hazard perception.
- Trying meditation or focused breathing before lessons to clear your mind of unnecessary distractions. Even 5 minutes makes a difference.
- Alternating during your day between reading, listening and movement based activities. This engages your brain in different ways to boost overall focus stamina.
- Minimising phone use and potential distractions during lessons. Give driving your full attention rather than multi-tasking.
With regular focus exercises, you can strengthen your concentration like a muscle over time. This pays big dividends for safe driving.
Be Kind, Not Critical, When You Make Mistakes
One bad habit of mine was beating myself up harshly over every single mistake I made during lessons. Stalling at a junction, taking a wrong turn or crunching the gears would really frustrate me and dent my confidence.
Of course, all new drivers make minor mistakes – they are inevitable and part of the learning process. But my perfectionist nature meant I couldn’t let them go and obsessively criticised myself after each fault.
My instructor was great at restoring perspective after I got flustered. He reminded me not to dwell on errors but acknowledge them briefly then move on. Also focus more on all the progress made during a lesson rather than just the few mistakes.
Everyone learns at their own pace. Be constructive but kind with self-talk, as anger just breeds more errors. Stay positive and learn from mistakes in a healthy way and you will develop faster. Celebrate each achievement along the way, however small.
Invest Time in Theory Knowledge
Having a rock solid grasp of the theory behind driving is just as important as lessons themselves for success. areas like road signs, line markings, traffic laws and safety principles form the crucial foundations.
While my instructor covered many theory topics on the move, I found investing time myself reading wider resources helped consolidate everything.
Online mock theory tests are useful to identify areas of weakness to focus on. I created handy visual aids, notes and mnemonics which made recalling facts much easier compared to just re-reading the same sections over and over.
The Highway Code features so much vital information but the language can seem quite dry and dense. I found YouTube tutorial videos explaining the sections in more engaging ways supplemented my self-study nicely.
Theory and practice go hand in hand. Don’t view them separately. Great practical lessons will be reinforcing the theory throughout. But studying academic resources yourself accelerates the learning process.
Adopt a Long-Term Mindset
One final tip is to avoid obsessing over passing your test in a short timeframe or comparing yourself to other learner drivers. Every journey is different.
During the long months of lessons, it’s easy to get discouraged and frustrated if progress feels slower than you hoped for. Remind yourself regularly that:
- Learning to drive takes time and patience. Trust the process.
- Skills develop gradually in stages, not overnight. Small milestones build over time.
- Let techniques properly sink in rather than pushing yourself too hard trying to rush things unprepared.
- Build experience driving in different road types, conditions and traffic levels.
- Everyone learns at a different pace based on aptitude, attitude and application.
Stay positive for the long haul, don’t compare yourself negatively, and your skills will all come together in time. Keep smiling and believe in your ability!
By adopting this constructive mindset along with the other tips covered, driving lessons become an enjoyable journey rather than a chore. Patience, practice and the right instructor are key for success.
Local experts like Quails Driving School in Chester have decades of experience training learners to their full driving potential using positive techniques. Their specialist instructors will get you on the road safely.
Stay focused on your own development rather than duration. With this approach, you will become a skilled driver for life and pass your test when the time is right. You’ve got this!
