Driving

[bellalou1234]

My dd 18 failed her driving test for the forth time yesterday. Each fail has been something major, yesterday it was emergency stop.
She's had 2 instructors first one wrapped his business in after her first test. She then went to a lady who was very sporadic with lessons unable to give her any for weeks on end, then offering 3 hour lessons.

Unsure what to do next? Whether to find a new instructor or carry on with the second one.

She also is insured in my car shall I get her out or will it confuse her all the different cars?

[bellalou1234]

She gets few minors always under 3

[Uninspirednamewise]

I think gaps of over a week between lessons are not helpful. I would look for a different instructor who can commit to more regular lessons.

[PurpleWithRed]

2 lessons a week with the same instructor - get personal recommendations if possible - and no practice with you unless you have attended some of the lessons and have a clear brief from the instructor on what and how to practice.

[wellhonestly]

Definitely only an instructor who can do regular lessons - at least one a week.

I went out with my DS to practise every flipping night and we basically just went over the routes his instructor had done (rural area) and I only gave advice if absolutely necessary, other than that I praised and reassured. The only thing I didn't practise with him were emergency stops (coward!) but I said he could practise them with his instructor.

[billybagpuss]

Do try and get a reliable instructor, easier said than done unfortunately, my dd had her instructor double book her test!

[swingofthings]

Definitely go with recommendations. We were incredibly lucky as DD was one of the first to do lessons amongst her peers, so ended up just going with my gut feeling from websites. Her instructors turned out to be really good, very reliable, very detailed oriented and they got on great. Unbeknown to be, he happened to live only two streets from us, so it was very convenient to him.

She had weekly lessons except when he or we were on holiday. She passed first time. I recommended him to three different people (and got a discount each time!) and all three have said that he was a fantastic instructor, so yes, would definitely ask for recommendations.

[Oddbutnotodd]

Is she happy to drive with you? My daughter failed several times and after the third test I was the only person to take her out. She has now passed finally in our own car. We kept driving the test routes (she had been on several different ones). She is a much better driver I think than if she had passed first time. Also we did a lot of night driving.
Keep trying and Good Luck!

[TheMogget]

I think practice in your car is really important, at this stage she should be able to 'drive' so it's not like you're teaching her the basics just letting her practice and increase her confidence.

[Giraffesarequitetall]

Yes, as much practice as you can give her will be beneficial, that is as long as you don’t shout at her. DS 17 has just started learning and is having weekly lessons. His instructor can only do weekly lessons but she is great and there are other reasons we have opted for her. He has two hour lessons.

I sat in on the first couple of lessons with his instructor and listened to her teaching him, I am aiming to take him out as much as I can, she thinks it is really important to get as much practice as possible. I will go out with them again in a few weeks for further tips.

No point in paying for the insurance if you not going to use it! Good luck!

[Giraffesarequitetall]

Taking to two different instructors they both said that it was a good thing to use different cars too. DS’s instructor has a different car to us but both are diesels with the same engine size so th engine feel is similar.

[bellalou1234]

Thank you everyone! I've had her out loads and her confidence is growing. Fingers crossed next time!

[kath6144]

We have had the same problems with sporadic lessons, I think the problem was the change in test in Dec, my DDs instructor was, we think, prioritising those with tests before the changeover. Unfortunately her instructor is her friends dad, which in hindsight was a mistake, as she feels awkward changing but we wanted to get her going in June, before a holiday in July, and DS instructor couldn't accomodate her.

We paid for 20 Lessons in June and she hasn't finished that block according to him, although my records says she has! Ok we have had holidays and he has, but she 2 had lessons from mid October to mid December.

She hasn't taken a test yet, failed her first theory in Nov and is now practising hazards but I think it is catch-22, without regular lessons she is not as motivated to do theory, and I think he isn't prioritising her lessons without her passing theory!

We have had her insured on DS car, and she has driven it a lot, but I am not paying for any more insurance until she is having regular lessons and working regularly on her theory.

We are now at point that if no regular slot (she is at college close to test centre and has a no. of early finishes, so no excuse) or any more cancellations without any immediate replacement, that's it.