How long did it take you to learn to drive ???

[nutcracker]

Can it be done in a year, only having one lesson a week ???

I really need to learn to drive before going to uni in sept/oct 2005.

I have no driving experience at all so would be starting from scratch, gears and everything.

Hi Nutcraker - I am with the AA and it cost £20 a hour. My instructor is great. Do you have access to a car? I think that if you take one lesson a week, but also go out in a car with somebody, a year is fine. Get as much practice in as you can.

Try not to put to much pressure on yourself to pass quickly though - because you will try and hurry and perhaps get frustrated if you dont pick something up quickly. A year is bags of time, stay focused on it and practice, practice, practice! You will do fine. Good luck

My driving insructor, many moons ago, said you needed one lesson for every year of your life. I had 8 lessons (thought I knew it all and put in for a cancellation), passed first time and am an absolutely crap driver. I am told I still drive (20 years on) like I have just passed my test. I have never driven on a motorway in UK (oh once, a nasty moment when I found myself on the A2 by mistake) and am not confident. I think a year sounds a long time, but I did have a lot of practice outside of lessons and Dad made me navigate round Hanger Lane before I sat my test..still makes me feel sick to think of it!

A year is proberbly pleanty of time for a "normal" person to learn.
I took about 9 years
I took lessons off and on, from when I was 17, but kept chickening out of taking my test.Then about 10 years ago I finally, took it and passed first time.
I'm still a crap driver though !!!

I had my first lesson - 6 July 1988 - my 17th birthday.

My parents (divorced) both bought me a block of 10 lessons each - a joint birthday/Christmas present that year.

Had a total of 24 lessons (had an extra 4 added on as I failed my first test) and passed just before Christmas 1988 on my 2nd attempt!

Oh yes, forgot to add that my step-mum used to take me out in her car at weekends for practice.

Refused point-blank to get anywhere in a car with my dad - still hate driving with him now - likes to "remind" me to brake approaching junctions/roundabouts etc etc.

DH has said that I'm the only woman driver that he feels comfortable in the car with!

I started on my 17th birthday and passed (2nd time) 10 months later with one lesson per week.
My sister took ages, mostly because she asked our Dad to teach her (always a bad idea). One day I was following them while they were having a lesson. Suddenly the car stopped and my sister got out, slammed the door and walked off...it made me laugh anyway....

Slinky - I had my first lesson on my 17th birthday too, we all did as we lived in the sticks.
Took about 5 months, about 20 lessons and practice with the parents in between. I was determined to pass first time as a) I paid for alternate lessons (Mum paid the rest) and at £5 each, it was a lot out of my Saturday job money, and b) I was fed up of having to get my dad to pick me up from nights out in town (SOOOO uncool, but sweet of him to do it )
Nutcracker, it really helps if you can get practice in between lessons IMHO

Nutty, do check it out with BSM, as when I looked into learning with them I was told that a lesson is £x per hour, but that the lessons last 2 hours. It worked out at around £40 a week, which I couldn't afford. Just thought I'd mention it.

I passed, 2nd time, after about 4 years learning on and off, and 5 different instructors.

Why is it that so many people have such an issue with driving???

I passed last June, and I hated every moment of learning. I really enjoy driving now, I became so much more confident after passing my test.

I can't imagine being without my car now. I can now go where I want when I want, it's great.

I am learning to drive at the moment. I am 25 and only got round to starting last september. I passed my theory test in november, and was ready to book my test (takes about 3 months waiting list) in december. Have now finally got round to booking it for May. I have a lesson a week, but have missed a few because of snow, and have also had a bit of practice between lessons.

It took me 5 years and 4 tests. And a load of money but am v. good driver now

I passed my test at 17 after about 8 months of lessons (passed first time). I had one lesson a week with an independant driving instructor who was recommended to me and usually managed once a week practice with my Dad.

I started learning at 17, but after an unfortunate incident while driving my brother's minivan - through a gate on a private road as someone else unexpectedly came the other way (!!!) - I gave up until nearly 21; then had a lesson a week for about 3 months, plus driving parents' car in between, failed first test, but passed second a month later.

Less traffic then though (1972).

Like Tanzie, I was told a lesson for every year of your life. It took me around about that but I did get practice with my parents in between, not sure if that was always a help...

When I took my motorbike test it took me around 15 lessons but I was nearly 30.

Dh rode a motorbike from being 8 but didn't start learning to drive a car until he was 33. He booked a stack of lessons with BSM all within a week but not an 'intensive' course, so he did around 2-3 hours a day and passed his test the following week.

Obviously he had already had road sense and I took him out prior to that to sort out clutch control etc as almost everything you use your feet for on a bike you do with your hands in a car & vice versa.

I think it depends how practical you are, and how quickly you learn new sequences of actions without concentrating on them; you need to know that if soemthing went badly wrong you would instinctively react well.

I might be in a minority of 1 here but do believe that being allowed to drive is not a 'right' and there are people in the world that really shouldn't be allowed out in a car - we have a saying in our family

'did you find your licence free in a Cornflakes packet'.

It shouldn't be funny to joke about being unable to park for example.

To get back to the point, I think it depends how practical you are, and how quickly you learn new sequences of events without concentrating on them; you need to know that if something went badly wrong you would instinctively react as best you could.

Fifty lessons. Loadsamoney

Passed first time but don't drive now.

nutty, you are under 30, aren't you? One lesson per year of age sounds like a good rule of thumb so unless you find you are petrified behind the wheel, one lesson a week for a year should be plenty.

Lots of luck to you!

Why don't you drive now, marthamoo? I passed my test about 3 years ago. I can't remember how many lessons I had, maybe 30-40, but I am just totally lacking in confidence. Can't "do" the bypass, can't park, rubbish all round and haven't driven for about 18 months. I very rarely need to, is one problem. I just find it immensely reassuring to know that not everyone can drive confidently, sad eh?

Janh - I am 25

There you go then - 6 months should do it!

Pretty much the same, tamum. I passed in '91, but was unemployed at the time (living at home after graduating) and (a) couldn't afford a car (b) had no reason to drive. I did drive my Mum's car a handful of times but never felt at all confident.

When I started work, I could use public transport to get to work , as could dh so we didn't have a car as he couldn't drive and I didn't want to. He finally learned to drive when I was pregnant with ds2, and we got a car less than 2 years ago. Although, technically, I could drive it (I am actually named as Main Driver on the insurance as it was cheaper with me having held a licence for more than 10 years) I can't believe I ever will. The thought of driving with the kids in the car frightens me half to death.

Maybe if I had HAD to drive after I passed my test it would be a different story but, tbh, the thought of getting in a car and driving sends me into a bit of a blind panic. I'm just totally lacking in any faith in my ability as a driver.

Bet you're sorry you asked now, aren't you ?

Nooooo! It's a very similar story to mine, and v.v.reassuring. I think if I had learned before I had children and had driven regularly then I might be alright now, but the only possible reason I would want to drive would be to take them somewhere and it's just too scary. I'm perfectly happy walking and taking the bus really. I just feel obscurely guilty about it all the time though

I think I took about a year back in 1991 and upped the lessons towards the end, I stopped driving for 7 years until recently, my nerves were shot to pieces all the way home! Have been on a couple of jaunts since.

Look on the bright side, my instructor was a part time stand up comedian working in Gt Yarmouth during the summer - it was hell!

I'm sure the AA has lots of great driving instructors, but mine was a dirty old man who sexually harassed me. Started sliding his hand up my thigh while I was driving and couldn't do anything about it. Then offered me free lessons if I took him upstairs to my flat while my boyfriend was out. So shocked I didn't hit him, which would have been the sensible thing to do. Didn't report him either as thought he'd just deny it. By coincidence later found out he'd done it to someone else so is presumably still out there getting his rocks off on frightening teenage girls... and no, I haven't passed my test yet.

I have my first lesson on Monday, and i am petrified!!!!!!!!
Wish me luck!

I had 10 lessons when I was 17, with an independent instructor, & passed first time (no theory test then ). Had loads of practice with my parents though. And I did take my test in a nearby town with only 1 roundabout... But a pass is a pass. I only drove in the holidays when I was at university & for a couple of years later, but then dp gave gave me a knackered old car he was getting rid of & I haven't looked back since. It's so liberating, being able to drive, & makes doing nice stuff with ds so much easier.

Good luck nutty.

and good luck saintshar too