Taking 17 year olds out for driving practice

[Sparklingbrook]

Anyone else doing this? just wanted to compare notes.

[griffinsss]

Yes. It's bloody terrifying.

[BratFarrarsPony]

not a chance.

[griffinsss]

DSS is very competent and confident, compared to how I was at his age in the car, but it still feels so wrong to be sat in the passenger seat with him driving! He doesn't stall when pulling away at junctions, only when pulling in/stopping at the side of the road - no idea why he does this but apparently his official instructor is helping. I have to do my breathing excises for about an hour after but also feel a bit proud.

[Sparklingbrook]

How long have you been doing it? It's about 2 months for me.

I am very calm on the outside but have been doing a bit of carpet squeezing.

Today's main problem was tailgaters. He was going 30mph in a 30 and someone right up his backside. They turned off to replaced by another.

[Sparklingbrook]

And YY to feeling weird sat in the passenger seat of your own car. I feel like I am in the gutter a lot.

[Violetcharlotte]

Not done this, but I've said I will after Xmas when he's had a few more lessons. Feeling quite nervous about it so I too am interested in hearing how others are getting on!

[TondelayaDellaVentamiglia]

I have been out with all of my three, I am the favouritest.

dh is a terrible passenger.

I have found other drivers to be generally courteous and kind when I have been out, but I am dying for someone to not be so I can leap out and cause a scene ;)
I do have a spare L plate ready in my lap to brandish at offenders, but I have never had to.

It's very odd to be a passenger to your child!

[pollypomegranate]

Not a chance as I find this so dangerous and really think it should be illegal for learners to be on the road without a qualified instructor with dual controls. I would not want the responsibility of taking my child out on the roads in our car - it's not just our safety to think about but other road users' too. Give them lessons for Christmas instead!

[Mirandawest]

I haven't yet as my DS is only 13 but I had weekly lessons and my mum took me out nearly every day. Even after I nearly drove into a telegraph pole .

My DH didn't go out with his DS at all and he passed first time. I don't think I would have done without extra practice.

[BratFarrarsPony]

I showed my son how to start a car and how to change gears, on a very quiet road in the middle of nowhere...
and he repaid me by robbing every car I had....

[PrettySophisticated]

I am still traumatised from the experience of my Dad teaching me to drive and then (even worse) combining giving me a lift with giving my sister a driving lesson. That was truly terrifying.

No idea what he answer is other than I think DH will have to do it.

[Sparklingbrook]

DS has a two lessons a week with an instructor who has said getting some practice in between is really good.

So DS is doing every journey where I would usually be chauffeuring him about.

[WeAllHaveWings]

I went out with my dsis when she had first passed her test age 35. Never again.

[Sparklingbrook]

I do wish other road users would think a bit more when they see a learner. I give them a really wide berth. They could roll back at the traffic lights or brake suddenly-anything could happen.

The first time he went out in my car with DH he stalled it briefly and the bloke behind tooted.

[poisonedbypen]

Surely everyone needs to practice outside lessons? It is terrifying though!

[Windanddrizzle]

After 1 outing with my dyslexic and dyspraxic DD, I quickly decided that her DF should take responsibility for this activity. He enjoyed andenalin rush activities in his younger days, but admitted to being absolutely terrified by her driving on several occasions

[HemanOrSheRa]

Aw. My DS is 11 so driving lessons here yet. I also managed to dodge giving DSD's lessons. It has reminded of my parents giving me extra lessons though. My lovely Dad, in an effort to be cool and laid back, used to pretend to settle down and go to sleep . It was utterly terrifying! My Mum spent many, many hours on a Sunday morning sat in the car whilst I drove around empty supermarket car parks!

[Sparklingbrook]

Yes we started off on industrial estates at 6am on a Sunday, then gradually got braver.

I think it;s hard not to 'teach'. It's just practice so I try to say very little.

[P1nkP0ppy]

No way.
I'd end up in the boot with a blanket over my head and a bottle of gin.
Luckily DH happily went out with our DCs.

[HemanOrSheRa]

I had the interesting experience of taking DP out for extra driving practice. I spent a lot of time shrieking 'YOU ARE TOO CLOSE TO THE PARKED CARS'. It was around this time that I developed travel (specifically in the car) sickness and can now only sit in the back, behind the driver's seat. Funny that .

[kilmuir]

Gets better, but my bum is permanently clenched for the whole journey

[Sparklingbrook]

Yes it is getting better. I do love to get home though.

[Sparklingbrook]

Heman we had a bit of the parked car thing. I did have to speak then.

[Helsinkimorning]

I hated it. Wouldn't ever get in a car with a learner again unless it had dual controls.

[lexatin]

I made my youngest drive all the time before she took her test, she passed first time with only one minor fault. She had lots of prior experience off road though and a proper lesson almost every week for nearly three months 😮