To practice driving on on own?

[Fanfeckintastic]

This is just a thought so I'm fully prepared to be told it's unreasonable.

I'm a learner driver in Ireland, I've done my 12 edt (essential driving training) lessons plus about ten practice ones with instructor and a few with my dad.

Would I be totally unreasonable to practice on my own at really quiet times like very early weekend mornings or very late evenings? I really feel I need practice more than anything else and it's just not always feasible to be accompanied by a fully licensed driver.

Did any of you practice on your own? A lot of my learner driver friends drive unaccompanied daily but it is illegal and I'm not usually a mad stickler for each and every rule, I just feel a bit differently about driving but I don't know how else I'll get the experience to pass my test.

Yabvvu
I couldn't practise with anyone other than my instructor. So I didn't - I took one lesson a week for two years. Would never have contemplated driving alone.

YABU. Part of the purpose of a driving test is to check that in a real life situation, you're capable of spotting hazards (such as a child running into the road) and are able to react accordingly. You obviously don't know that you're good at this or you wouldn't feel the need to practice.

Okay that answers that.

Some responses were totally uncalled for though, as I said it was just a thought.

Clearly a huge difference between the attitude in the UK and Ireland though! It doesn't void your insurance here either I actually only asked about that last week.

Will stick to being accompanied until I pass.

DH thinks this is a wind up. Exact comment: 'having you all on. Nobody is that dense'. Sorry OP, but seriously . You would really, honestly think this a reasonable idea? Really?

I'm in Ireland. It's illegal here too. Doesn't stop everybloodybody doing it, or bitching about how inconvenient it all is not to be allowed to do it.

OP, YANU. It's not safe and it could have catastrophic consequences. And I just passed my test a few weeks ago so I know how you feel.

It's not worth the risk.

Fucking hell...

Here;s an idea - If you're ready to drive alone why not take your test!?

Congratulations on passing ChristmasPuddin! Hopefully that'll be me soon! Yes everybloodybody does do it so clearly there's many Irish that are in face "that dense" wittank

Will wait it out anyway!

So every single person in Ireland drives alone before they pass their test - Bollocks!

Where on earth did you get that assumption from Loxy?

If you're ready to drive on your own, then you're ready to take the test. If you think you'd fail the test, then you're not ready to drive on your own.

It really is that simple.

Fuck, I AM Irish, my family is Irish, my friends are Irish. I know not one that did this. Not one. So clearly not everyone does it. And yes, it is immensely dense to drive around with no license and little experience. Lose someone in a car accident and you might think differently. Sorry if I sound harsh, but fucking hell, cars require a license to drive for a reason. Just because everyone does it, doesn't make it okay.

You said:

Yes everybloodybody does do it so clearly there's many Irish that are in face "that dense"

YABU to even ask.

Fanfeck I learned to drive in Ireland 20 years ago. I failed my first driving test, I had never done a single formal lesson through 5 years of driving, 2 years of which was unaccompanied after I bought my own car. I did 3 lessons and passed the test a couple of months later. It was totally mad when you think of it. It is illegal now though and it is a much better system.I would just book the test as soon as possible and get it over with.

I suspect the police in the UK are a lot stricter than the Irish police with regard to traffic offences. Our roads are a lot busier for a start.

Oh yes and I drove home completely legally unaccompanied after failing the test.

Another from Ireland saying that we don't all do it (unless things have changed drastically since I left).

Either take your test if you think you're ready or chuck the learners license in the bin now because you'll not be needing it if you're caught.

Why even consider it?

Sorry OP, you really do need to stick by the rules in this case. I've just recently learnt to drive and had no access to a car/licensed driver to come with me in between lessons, so it probably took me longer to pass my test than somebody who was able to practise. But practising on your own is not something you should even be considering. I'm afraid you just have to accept the fact that the process will take a little longer for you.

Even after passing my test I needed someone with me the first few times I went driving. Driving is scary for a newbie!

anothernumberone a number of my friends have been driving for years on a provisional. Only one has been pulled over but when she showed her edt lesson booklet was full they let her go.

They're clamping down now and probably for the best but passing a test does not make someone a safe driver the rest of the time. I'm shocked at the difference in attitude though.

Everybloodybody is a figure of speech for goodness sake.

Thanks corkybolleaux congratulations on passing!

No need to be nasty to the OP. The answer may seem obvious but it clearly isn't to the OP or she wouldn't need to ask.

OP - it's illegal for a reason but I'd be interested to see whether you'd get different answers in other parts of the world

Thank you ProudAS I'm honestly not just saying this but I asked the same question on a Facebook group of women and genuinely every reply was to do it. I've also gotten two private mails on here from this thread.

I'm really surprised how differently it's seen here but have taken it all on board.