any experience of intensive driving lessons?

[winnie]

I am sick of not being able to drive... but I've started to learn on several occassions in the past 17 years and everytime something happens in my life and the lessons are abandoned. I have been thinking of doing a weeks intensive course but can't help but think that it is impossible to go from being a beginner to having passed a test in a week. Does anyone have any experience of this?

Sort of, except that I went from never having driven to failing my test in a week! After a few more lessons and practice I passed. I would give the week's worth of lessons a big thumbs up if you have time/childcare/money. It's the only way I would have got around to it. Also put some time first into the highway code and pass the pratical tests. Btw, I didn't actually like the week when I was in the middle of it, I found it scary learning to drive, but I still give it the thumbs up, well worth the stress.

Lastly, I know lots of people think I'm wrong about this but I'll mention it anyway: unless you already have a car and it's a manual, I would go for lessons in an automatic. You'll get better at driving much quicker. I know it has disadvantages but I'll stop for now in case it's not an option for you.

Thanks Lio. I don't have a car at the moment but haven't really thought about the automatic option. It is interesting that you don't regret the intensive bit even though you didn't pass at the end of it. I am very scared of driving and wonder if doing it intensively would force me to get over that in a way one/two hours a week wouldn't. I have a theory that doing it once or twice a week I will have to go through the scared beyond belief stage every time week in and week out.

I didn't do an intensive course but i did 2 or 3 lessions a week and found it was better to do at least the 3. The instructor agreed that late learners benefit from lessons more often. And that once a week is never enough, he was very flexabile and would fit me in if I could scrap together an other £15.

i do 4 hours a week. and its hard going, but its better than having a week long gap between lessons. i had my lessons booked months in advnace so can sort out babysitters etc, tho now have to factor in pre-school/school pick ups as well as there is a bit of an overlap some days.

Spot on Winnie, better for a scaredy-cat like me to be forced into getting over the hump, as it were.

Hi there
I too was scared of driving. Had a one week intensive course years ago but then left it again (no test).

Then regular lessons with an instructor and some driving with DH - NOT recommended! Failed test twice.

Then I had an intensive course with an instructor recommend by a friend who needed to learn to drive quickly - had a guaranteed test date at the end. He was much better and reckoned my driving was Ok although I was nervous. Then he did a moct test and I went to pieces! so he recommend beta blockers! Went to my GP who agreed and gave me a few - I thought they were samples as I didn't get a prescription and he just gave them to me from his briefcase. Passed test. Of course now I reckon they were sugar pills! Whatever - they helped!

Anyway - I then moved overseas for 6 years and didn't drive but then had to start to move here. I now drive everywhere but have found that I LOVE driving an automatic so that's what I have. I find it much easier not to have to worry about the car and changing gear etc. I can just concentrate on what is going on around me. Has def made a diff for me. But I would recommend learning and doing your test in a manual as otherwise you would have to re-sit your test if you ever wanted to drive a manual.

But when you pass your test (and you will - if i did you can!!) - get an automatic if poss.

Sorry this ended up being so waffly!

one thing i found that helps is bachs rescue remedy. put about 5 drops under your tongue, and 15mins later your calm as can be.

Winnie, it was the only thing that worked for me and got me over a 20-year driving phobia.

Lessons needed to be very frequent - I think I had about 10 in a fortnight. Most importantly, they had to be two hours, not one. At the end of one hour I was reaching the peak of anxiety: if I stopped then it was much harder to go back. If I carried on, the anxiety levels had nowhere to go but down.

It took a long time for me to start to enjoy driving, but I just couldn't have managed my life without it any longer. And it's brilliant for dd, she would be very restricted if I couldn't drive.

Sorry, meant to say, changing to an automatic helped enormously as well. It just removed one whole problem and let me concentrate on the traffic. Also, for me, having a female instructor made a big difference.

I thought i would always have problems with gears and would always drive an automatic. However I don't even think about changing gears now it is just automatic!

Thanks everyone for your comments they are all so positive and encouraging. There is hope for me yet.

I need to learn to drive as quick as possible for a variety of reasons.

I have never seen myself as a driver but suddenly (from necessity?) I am which seems like the first hurdle over.

winnie, i have had to learn quickly, despite having lessons two years ago, it was only in June this year i have really put the effort in, because i have to. i find the thought of driving on my ojn with the kids terrifying, but with things the way there are and dh wont be able to drive till god knows when, then its all up to me.

best of luck

Thats how I feel about my situation 'it's all up to me' but it is great motivation despite the fear.