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Original poster

Driving lessons - is this normal?

41 replies

panoramallama · 03/01/2019 20:37

I'm a bit perplexed and don't know whether instructor is pushing too much too soon or not. Family member had a driving lesson earlier on, and the instructor took them on a very busy dual carriageway for over 10 miles, in the rush hour and in the dark. First time for night driving, and for driving in the rush hour. Got up to nearly 70 mph apparently.

After how many lessons would you expect a learner to be ready for that? (No other practice apart from actual lessons with instructor).

OP posts:
Toughtips · 03/01/2019 20:47

I assume the driving instructor has the ability to assess someone's skill. They're not going to put themselves or a student in a dangerous situation. It would be very costly to do so.

If the student didn't feel comfortable then a bit of communication will solve it.

Driving instructors are there to help and guide so there's everyone's going to be ready at different times.

Original poster
panoramallama · 03/01/2019 20:52

Both student and instructor happy, but only had about a dozen lessons so far. That's not normal is it?

OP posts:
LoisLittsLover · 03/01/2019 20:55

12? Definitely fine. Some have passed their test by then

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Driving & parking
Witchend · 03/01/2019 21:00

My first instructor had be doing that (plus overtaking a tractor on a winding country road, no I couldn't see ahead) on the first lesson.
I wouldn't rate him as an instructor though.

GhostSauce · 03/01/2019 21:01

Sounds perfectly normal after 12 lessons!

Fattymcfaterson · 03/01/2019 21:01

A dozen lessons?? I thought you were going to say 3!
I only had 20 before I passed!

Nenic · 03/01/2019 21:02

12 is more than enough for that

Disfordarkchocolate · 03/01/2019 21:03

It's fine, I had to go on the worse junction near me on my first lesson. I was on a busy duel carriageway in the first month.

Tropicana1 · 03/01/2019 21:05

Agree with others, when I learned to drive I only had one lesson per week with no practice outside of lessons and took my test after 3 months which is the 12 weeks your family member is at. To be honest I would have expected dual carriage way driving long before 12!

WinkyisbackontheButterBeer · 03/01/2019 21:06

I used to ferry my instructors wife and kids around from my third lesson. I am sure that the instructor wouldn’t push it if they didn’t feel that it was safe.

Clutterfreeintraining · 03/01/2019 21:10

My first three lessons were on an industrial estate. Last 15 mins of my third lesson were on a dual carriageway to get home. Shock

Stupomax · 03/01/2019 21:12

After 10 lessons I passed my test.

FVFrog · 03/01/2019 21:13

Very normal! Both mine (fairly recently) were taken on dual carriageway on second lesson going up to 70mph, don’t forget instructor has duel controls and presumably no desire to be killed by a pupil!

SarahAndQuack · 03/01/2019 21:16

Sounds very normal.

I learned almost entirely in the dark as it was that time of year. My dad had taken me out a couple of times previously, and my first lesson my instructor took me out onto the dual carriageway in the dark - where I lived, it was the only way to get anywhere. Remember an instructor will have dual control - they can always take over. I would definitely think that 12 lessons in they should be doing this.

Toughtips · 03/01/2019 21:17

I don't get why you're asking this when the students happy?

Original poster
panoramallama · 03/01/2019 21:18

Oh the dual carriageway already happened on about lesson 4 I think.

Today it was just the first time driving at night, and it wasn't any old dual carriageway - it was the A1, and a very crowded and dodgy stretch. I know how busy that section is and I was a bit Shock that's all.

Motorway next week apparently.

OP posts:
oakthorn · 03/01/2019 21:19

I passed my test after 5 lessons and was free to drive on motorways. Seems a sensible thing to me. Roads are fast and dual carriageways are everywhere.

potatoscone · 03/01/2019 21:21

Totally normal.

PinkAvocado · 03/01/2019 21:25

Don’t you have to have passed your test to do the motorway?

thesnapandfartisinfallible · 03/01/2019 21:27

Pretty normal for most learners. Dual carriageways aren't difficult to drive on and it builds confidence quickly.

bonzo77 · 03/01/2019 21:29

I was out on a dual carriage way doing 50 at night in my first lesson. In the rain. In fact I had nearly all my lessons in the dark and rush hour as I learnt to drive in winter and lessons were after school. So pretty normal.

Original poster
panoramallama · 03/01/2019 21:30

Totally normal Good, I don't have to worry about my precious firstborn then.

Can't help wondering... Where all the people who normally pop up on MN driving lesson threads and who say things like "I had 53 lessons and failed my test 7 times"? Grin

OP posts:
potatoscone · 03/01/2019 21:32

Sounds like you are not happy that your PFB is making progress. I hope you haven't passed the worry on to them.

Original poster
panoramallama · 03/01/2019 21:33

Dual carriageways aren't difficult to drive on Some are. When was the last time you drove round the Black Cat roundabout on the A1 in the rush hour?

OP posts:
Nonibaloni · 03/01/2019 21:35

I leaned in the dark and 3 rd lesson was 2 junctions on the bypass. Instructor openly said it was so 30 didn’t feel so fast after driving at 70.

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