Intensive driving courses....

[BertrandRussell]

Has anyone done one and did it work? It would make life soooo much easier if ds could drive this summer and he’s only ever had a couple of lessons.

My daughter had only had a few lessons when she did an intense course & passed 1st time in a couple of weeks. I think it cost something like £1200 (we are not far from London).

Haven't done one, but I wouldn't be keen when ds(15) is ready. Weekly lessons with extra practice sessions over a few months in builds road experience before being let loose.

A friend of mine did one and failed, she hated it.
Passed first time with a decent instructor.

Also, I really think you need the road experience and to put in the hours.
I'm not convinced an intensive course would make for a safe driver.

Didn't do one - had weekly lessons with a great instructor.

He told me he had to teach someone who had passed their test by doing an intensive course. She told him that although technically she'd passed her test, she didn't feel like she had a clue how to drive and no confidence and could he teach her!

It's not worth it imo, but mind you no first hand experience here.

If they are driving for 4-5 hrs going from nothing, could you do it? I would be shattered.

We looked into it for DS but in the end he had 2hr lessons twice a week. He felt that this was good as he could digest the lesson properly without being too tired. He passed first time.

Yeah- that was my worry. The “making things easier” would really just be driving on quiet roads (we live very rurally) so he can get himself to work. So he would be eased into it gently. But yes, I’m a bit twitchy about it too.....

I just don't think it's a safe way to learn how to drive.

My best friend tried one and hated it, felt pressured and didn’t have the right experience or confidence when it came to his test. He went for weekly lessons after that with a local instructor and passed his test after three months.

From that experience alone I wouldn’t do one. If you want to pass by summer (August?) you could try 4 hours of lessons a week and it could be doable.

DS (nervous driver) did it over two weeks from being a complete never driver. He had a good instructor who he got on well with which I think is important. He passed first time and was a little nervous driving at first but never looked back and is much more confident now.