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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

60 hours to learn to drive?

62 replies

mamaandthegirls · 06/08/2018 22:21

I'm on my second driving instructor right now as I didn't get on with my first one and she seemed very money grabbing!
With my second driving instructor I have only had 5 lessons with him, today he told me that I will most likely be in it for the long haul and that I'm not a "natural driver" I asked him how long he thinks it'll take me to learn and he said about 60 hours of 1 hour lessons every week, which obviously works out a year or so.
I was absolutely gutted! I am 32 weeks pregnant at the moment, which he is aware of and knows I won't be straight in the drivers seat after birthing out a human! But I know the birth recovery etc may hold me back even longer!

I have had a few weeks with him where I have felt very confident and he has complimented me on my driving, but today he seemed stressed with me and told me that I'm not a natural driver and that it'll take me a while to learn. I am learning in an automatic due to co-ordination difficulties, so couldn't grasp a manual when I tried.
I'm wondering does this sound about right? Or have I found another money grabbing instructor?
I must admit, I do struggle with steering and with several things going on at once, so I'm not exactly Lewis Hamilton! I'm just feeling really down and put off by the comments today, it's making me wonder if driving just isn't for me I have always wanted to drive since have my first child, and now having a second it does make me want to try even more, but the fact that the length of time is so long, I am really unsure and feel like 'what's the point?'

OP posts:

Noqont · 06/08/2018 22:25

Can you get anyone else to take you out in their car for practice? My first instructor was terrible, but I got friends to take me out in their cars and got another instructor. I only had about 3 lessons with him before passing, and the first one wouldn't even let me change the gears by myself. So it is possible to progress quickly with the right help. I wouldn't be impressed with someone saying I'm in for the long haul. How about doing an intensive driving course for a week? That might be all you need.

PUGaLUGS · 06/08/2018 22:27

But driving is all about coordination and awareness, to be fair you would worry me being on the road.

Fucksgiven · 06/08/2018 22:33

So are you better at driving than your instructor says you are? If not then gear up for the long haul. Maybe increase frequency of lessons if possible,

adaline · 06/08/2018 22:35

I barely progressed at all at one hour a week.

You need more lessons and more time behind the wheel. Can you afford two hours a week and to go on someone's insurance?

I made the most progress when I had a two hour lesson each week, and went out in DP's car 2-3 times a week on top of that. Everywhere we went (except motorways) I drove. It barely cost anything to add me to his insurance either, as I'd had my provisional for years.

One hour a week with no practise means it will take about a year or so to get the hang of things properly. Driving is all about practise!

ShesABelter · 06/08/2018 22:36

60 hours in an automatic is ridiculous and doesn't say much about him as an instructor. Think id move again and hope its 3rd time lucky.

BrokenWing · 06/08/2018 22:38

60 hours doesn't sound excessive, if you look at the DVSA average it is 45 hrs of lessons and 22 hrs of practice. Some pass much quicker, others take longer. You will take as long as you need to. It took me 3 tests and 20 months to pass.

If you don't feel comfortable with your instructor change him, but telling you that you will take the average time to pass if you are not a natural isn't money grabbing. It might be realistic.

EightdaysaweekIloveu · 06/08/2018 22:38

Try and get friends to take you out, even an empty caroark atnight. One hour a week will take you forever to learn.

adaline · 06/08/2018 22:39

I don't think 60 hours at one hour a week is ridiculous @ShesABelter. If it was two hours plus practise outside of lessons it would be different.

SmilingButClueless · 06/08/2018 22:41

The number of hours doesn’t sound completely wrong if you aren’t a natural driver and are starting pretty much from scratch. I think it took me about that many hours to learn, but in 2 hour lessons, which I think helped as I could actually drive a fair amount in that time. Admittedly I learnt in a manual but I think the things I had difficulty with would have been the same in an automatic.

ShowOfHands · 06/08/2018 22:42

I did 2 x 2hrs a week for 7 weeks which was enough to pass first time with no errors. It was pretty exhausting but worth it.

crazycatgal · 06/08/2018 22:44

If you're struggling then I can imagine that he is probably right. One hour a week isn't a lot of practice.

Kardashianlove · 06/08/2018 22:48

I do struggle with steering and with several things going on at once plus co-ordination difficulties (even an automatic requires lots of co-ordination). If this is the case then 60 hours could be realistic.
Can you do a 2 hour lesson instead of have a couple of lessons a week?

bellsbuss · 06/08/2018 22:49

I think it does require a lot more lessons these days, OH and I were shocked when eldest DD was learning 3 years ago that the instructor didn't even let her drive away from our home until her 5th lesson as we both did this on our second lessons. It cost an eye watering amount of money in 2 hour lessons for 5 months until she took her test. I had 12 lessons before I took my test 25 years ago and OH had 6 lessons 32 years ago.

MissClareRemembers · 06/08/2018 22:54

I’m intrigued by this ‘natural driver’ thing? What exactly IS a natural driver? To me, driving if a combination of confidence, awareness, quick reactions, patience and calm. I’m amazed a driving instructor can judge all of that after 5 lessons.

Hamiltoes · 06/08/2018 23:03

I’m amazed a driving instructor can judge all of that after 5 lessons.

Well by ops own admission she is still having difficulties with steering, I'd imagine a "natural driver" is someone who can at least manage that straight away (or after 5hrs!) and needs to work on the actual mechanics like changing gears etc. Steering an auto is pretty straightforward it's the rules of the road, perception, judgement and awareness that take the time. And some people are better at that than others.

ChipmunksAreMissing · 06/08/2018 23:19

My brother did a 'learn to drive in a week' thing. Could you do something like that?

danni0509 · 06/08/2018 23:25

I've had over this, wouldn't like to add the hours up I've stopped and started for years! but knuckled down & I've done 1 hour a week consistently for 9 months, my test was this week but they've cancelled it and changed it for another date. Which I'm secretly pleased about as I'm shitting myself.

I'm also in an automatic, Its taken me a long time to grasp driving, I'm not the sharpest knife in the draw and I'm not ashamed to admit it! but I think I'm just about there with driving now (ish)

LemonysSnicket · 06/08/2018 23:26

I did a year with a teacher and failed 3 times. 6 lessons with a different one 2 years later and I passed with 2 minors.
All in the teacher I think

BlitheringIdiots · 06/08/2018 23:28

Blimey. I had 16 times one hour long lessons back in the day

Kardashianlove · 06/08/2018 23:30

What exactly IS a natural driver? natural drivers would be able to judge space, distance, gaps easily without really thinking about it. They would know instinctively how much to turn the wheel to park, able to judge how fast they are going easily, able to judge the speed of other cars, able to co-ordinate steering the car and looking in the mirrors without a lot of effort, etc etc. All things that can be learned but to a natural driver they will come easily without a lot of effort, almost instinctively.

Just like some people have a natural aptitude to cooking for example, or anything really.

I think 5 lessons is pleanty for someone (especially someone who does this as their profession every day) to see if someone has this ability or not. The OP would have told the instructor she has had other lessons too and if she still is struggling to steer the car then I think it’s fair for the instructor to say that driving does not come naturally to her. That’s not to say OP can’t learn and go on the be a competent driver, it will just take more work.

LadyLance · 06/08/2018 23:35

One hour a week isn't much when you're learning a skill- you will make progress but it won't be quick. There's also more wasted time in two one hour lessons than one two hour lesson.

I do think two hour lessons plus practice with other drivers is the way to go. The more you do, the better you will get!

I don't think 60 hours is over the top if you're having one hour a week and no other practice. I also don't think that instructors are so short of custom they try to insist on people not booking their tests and keeping them longer. I'd assume that he knows what he's talking about and accept this may be a long haul (and if you don't trust him, then you should probably find another instructor!).

FASH84 · 06/08/2018 23:44

OP steering is one of the easiest bits of driving, if you struggle with that he's probably being honest

aintnothinbutagstring · 06/08/2018 23:55

I'm not sure how many hours I did in the end, but I took about 7 months, passed second time. If you're trying to pass pretty soon, you need to be doing more than an hour a week. I often did 3 hours a week, more in a test week, always did minimum 90min lessons. I wasn't (still not) a natural driver but my instructor never told me that, he never alluded to how many lessons I would need either, always kept pushing me towards the test and was really quite tough on me! To me, thats the sign of a good instructor, they want you to pass and in good time, not to keep dragging things out and taking your money.

DC2018 · 06/08/2018 23:56

Tbh It took me around 14 months of pretty much weekly lessons to pass my test (on my 4th test) now I am comfortable driving on any road, any conditions etc
It's a skill you need to practice and some people simply take longer than others. I wasn't great at all and it certainly never came naturally but with lots of experience and practice I can do it well now. Dont be disheartened you can do it! Even ask to do two lessons a week perhaps?x

aintnothinbutagstring · 07/08/2018 00:00

And dont give up, just see if you can learn a bit more intensively, explain that you'd like to pass in less than a year (point to baby bump!).

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