AIBU to ask about intensive driving lessons?

[ButchyRestingFace]

Obviously very unreasonable to ask this question, but here goes:

I'm learning to drive having had lessons some years ago but never sat test. I'm learning in an automatic (disability) and there are few automatic instructors in my area. I also want to learn in a hurry.

I've managed to find an automatic instructor but she has announced she'll be retiring soon.

I indicated that I would continue with my one a week lesson until she retires and then look into going for a week long intensive course.

She proceeded to tell me every horror story under the sun about intensive courses, and how they're just a con, and no-body every passes that way, etc etc.

Has anyone ever passed their driving test after taking an intensive course? And if so, any recommendations for a good driving school? I'm in Scotland but could travel.

I passed after an intensive course. I went and stayed in a cottage the driving instructor used, it was filled with DVDs about driving, theory etc (in the days before a theory test).

It was miles away from where I lived, I took my test in Bangor and stayed on Anglesey.

I tried it but with no previous experience and with an instructor who hadn't done an intensive course before. I did not even get as far as sitting my test. Still can't drive.

I've been wondering exactly this, also learning automatic. I've had about 12 lessons and have a car but struggle to find the motivation to practise with DH since I stopped going to my previous instructor who was absolutely fine till he went ballistic one day, still not sure why, end made me sob.

I bought a cheap run around and was really pleased with all the progress I'd been making, automatic is soooo much easier and I was enjoying driving for the first time.

DH is incredibly patient and lovely but I know he doesn't want to push me so I'm not making any progress and am back to finding it stressful, boring and resenting the whole thing.

I have this bloody car I've already paid for and life will be so much easier for both of us when I have my license but, no pun intended, the whole thing seems to have stalled and I'm tempted to throw some time and money at an intensive course.

I've already got my theory. Why is it less worth doing if you've got it?

I'm worried because I've become a nervous driver again and I'm so pissed off at my old instructor who had transformed me till he went mad! I'm sort of tempted to start having him again as there are so few auto instructors around here, but I don't want to pay to be yelled at.

Whoever said that an intensive driving course involved spending most of the time in the classroom is talking out of their backside

I did a four day course. Three days of 7 hrs driving each day and then a morning practice test on the fourth day followed by the real thing. Passed with no faults.

I had an advantage in that I could ride a motorbike and therefore was used to being on the road. But then again I did an intensive course for my motorbike license too and had never been on the road before that. Passed first time on that too. Def the best way of doing it IMO.

I think they're fine if you already have some driving experience, but not as a complete beginner.

I think it's actually quite dangerous that people can go from not driving AT ALL to driving on a motorway within a week. I recently passed my test and I've been driving around on my own since, but I've at least had practise in a variety of conditions - I've been out in driving rain, floods, ice, high winds, dark and fog, or often a combination of the above!

You don't really learn to drive properly until you pass your test, but at least if you take lessons once/twice a week over a period of months, you get to experience various weather conditions and road conditions, you drive before/after work, often when you're a bit under the weather or whatever - and you get a bit more experience than five days of lessons followed by a test.

I don't really get those who are saying you don't get the experience from an intensive course.
I drove all types of roads including those which may as well have been motorways. Drove in rain and sunshine but not when it was dark.
If I'd been under the weather I would have cancelled my driving lesson.
etc.
And was full of confidence from having spent so much time behind the wheel.

^^Just a more intense way of working with abnormal driving instructor.

In what way was he "abnormal"? And do you think it helped? grin^

Haha I meant a normal driving lesson! I would definitely recommend learning semi-intensely (in my case that was 2-3 3hour lessons a week until I passed)

I am looking to learn relatively quickly, but instead of an intensive course, I’m hoping to instead do 6-10 hours per week. Is that something you could fit into the schedule?

I’ve heard learning an auto does not take as long, so you might not need that many hours. A friend of mine did it in 20.

A friend who is a driving instructor always says these are called 'crash courses' for a reason!

I did an intensive course with 5Day and booked before reading any reviews (a bit silly!) and hearing a few negative things I was worried but to be honest it was a great experience.

It's only 4 hours a day of actual 1:1 driving then theory based in the afternoon. But that worked for me, as I have a little girl and wanted to get the practical and theory done in one go. I'd never driven before, my instructor pushed me and I learnt so much. They said I could take the test at the end of the week (if they feel you are unsafe they won't allow you to use their car) but I didn't feel quite ready. I made a private arrangement with my instructor and did 4 hours on top, took a test and failed (think I was actually a bit unlucky - no minors 1 major) I then took one lesson with a different instructor as I felt mine was a bit negative about my driving although overall he was good. New instructor boosted my confidence and I passed in my own car within a few weeks. In total I think I passed within 2 months of doing intensive course and only took that long because my examiner called in sick on test day and had to wait a month to get another appointment. Course was around £1000 with the practical and theory included and I paid for 5x1.5 hour lessons on top (£150) and another practical test (£70?)

They teach you to pass the test and that's it. You'll be a better and more confident driver if you do it properly. I did an intensive motorbike course, but I had years of sriving experience so only needed motorbike handling experience rather than road craft.

If you do do it and pass I'd then do pass plus to fill in the gaps. The test is the bare minimum and in my opinion is too easy judging on the standards I witness daily.

I did 10 hours over a week with the same instructor - not a course per se. I did the theory myself so didn’t need to sit in a classroom. Passed first time! I’m always amazed when people do an hour a week over months and years, it costs a fortune!

Both my sons did intensive courses. They both passed the tests first time.

I have no idea why people think you're a better driver if you take longer to learn. The test is the same. Pass it or not, you are all at the same standard.

I think that being a good driver takes years and years. Many still haven't managed it from what I see every day. Suggesting you're a better driver because your lessons are spread out seems like nonsense to me.

Pass it or not, you are all at the same standard

That’s not really true. Someone who has been driving on/off for years but never got around to taking their test will have much more experience than someone whose only ever driven with an instructor for five days.

I’ve been driving on and off for about ten years. I’ve covered all kinds of conditions, driven several different cars (auto, manual, diesel and petrol) and a transit van. I’ve driven in towns, on windy single-lane roads and through villages.

Driving lessons teach you how to drive to test standard. They don’t teach you how to drive out on your own or how to deal with genuine hazards (as opposed to computer simulated ones). That comes with experience and time behind the wheel. Instructors can’t teach you that.

My DDs four hours a day were all on the road. She had already passed her theory.

Driving lessons teach you how to drive to test standard. They don’t teach you how to drive out on your own or how to deal with genuine hazards (as opposed to computer simulated ones). That comes with experience and time behind the wheel. Instructors can’t teach you that.

My intensive course involved zero computer simulations. I learnt my theory in the evenings. I did windy lanes, town driving, effectively motorways.
You can't drive out on your own until you've passed the test. Besides which, I had no-one who could accompany me.

I think I've done pretty well in the 30 years since. Just one minor parking scrape in that time when I trusted the parking sensors and shouldn't have

Well, the theory test nowadays involves computer simulated hazard perception, which obviously didn’t exist 30 years ago.

But I fail to see how a week of lessons is enough to really learn to drive. It might teach you to pass your test but I don’t think it gives you much opportunity to learn how to deal with different conditions which is pretty essential.

Personally, I’m glad I drove for the first time in the dark/in the pouring rain/in fog etc with an instructor, not out on my own in the middle of nowhere!

But it’s all opinion. People who’ve done them would recommend them, people who didn’t do it probably wouldn’t. That’s to be expected.

People who've done them perhaps have a better idea of whether they work or not.

My dc's driving instructor doesn't do lessons after dark either.

Most sensible people will make sure they take on new driving experiences such as motorways (if they haven't had any equivalent experience whilst learning) or driving in the dark with an experienced passenger.

I'd still argue that for those with no access to driving practice outside of lessons, intensive courses are the way to go.