Learning to drive with parent as well as instructor?
Discussion
Hi folks at the moment I have had 23 driving lessons, now my instructor recons around another 5-6 lessons and I will be ready for my test, Once I pass my test I intend buying a car pretty much straight away, so I was thinking should I buy one now and go out with my dad every night after work to get extra practice in before my test and get one of those temporary 4 week learner car insurance for about £75. Will this help me or is it likely for me to pick up bad habits and bad technique and get used to my car too much rather than the instructors.Anyone who has recently learned to drive or knows/helped someone who did, do you have any advice thanks. My problem seems to be at junctions by the way I can do the steering, clutch, brakes,etc, just either too hesitate at junctions or pull out so its "dangerous". Any advice or opinions much appreciated 
I think it'll help you. More than anything you just need time behind the wheel, that's what helps you to get better. So since you'll still be having lessons at the same time your dad doesn't necessarily have to teach you anything, just supervise and let you practice what the instructor has taught you.
EDIT: I thought you meant bad techniques as in being taught in conflicting ways by two people. Just forget I said anything
EDIT: I thought you meant bad techniques as in being taught in conflicting ways by two people. Just forget I said anything
Edited by Mercury00 on Monday 30th June 20:01
I passed after 9 lessons by going out with my dad every night for 8 weeks.
The only thing I would say is be careful that you don't get any bad habits off your parents, treat it as experience of car control, only listen to their advice about how to behave in certain situations if you're absolutely certain that you would trust them to pass a driving test
My little nugget of advice is this - if you do something stupid, don't go to pieces, just shrug it off and treat the rest of the test as a chance for some learning without an instructor.
I took this advice, and drove over a kerb within 5 minutes of starting my test. I was convinced that meant I'd failed so just carried on like I was on a pleasure drive. I passed, despite doing it again later and also pulling out on a roundabout with such a short gap that I nearly red-lined my instructor's Micra getting out the way of the oncoming car... The examiner said he could have failed me but it was such a confident drive that he passed me anyway.
The only thing I would say is be careful that you don't get any bad habits off your parents, treat it as experience of car control, only listen to their advice about how to behave in certain situations if you're absolutely certain that you would trust them to pass a driving test
My little nugget of advice is this - if you do something stupid, don't go to pieces, just shrug it off and treat the rest of the test as a chance for some learning without an instructor.
I took this advice, and drove over a kerb within 5 minutes of starting my test. I was convinced that meant I'd failed so just carried on like I was on a pleasure drive. I passed, despite doing it again later and also pulling out on a roundabout with such a short gap that I nearly red-lined my instructor's Micra getting out the way of the oncoming car... The examiner said he could have failed me but it was such a confident drive that he passed me anyway.
Cheers folks thinking of getting a 1.0 corsa c as it seems cheapest on insurance, and yeah I will still be continuing with my lessons just thinking even though I have had a good amount of lessons its still relatively little compared to if I had my own car and was driving it everyday.
I'd do it, just be firm about sticking to what your instructor has taught you, as he is the one who is tailoring your driving to pass the test.
I learnt with an instructor and a bit of time driving with my then-girlfriend's dad in his company car. He was ok with me just getting on with it and not interfering too much. It proved to be beneficial, the more time spent in the driving seat, the more relaxed you'll be on test day.
I learnt with an instructor and a bit of time driving with my then-girlfriend's dad in his company car. He was ok with me just getting on with it and not interfering too much. It proved to be beneficial, the more time spent in the driving seat, the more relaxed you'll be on test day.
I have to disagree with the previous posters. Going out with your Dad may not improve your driving. Your instructor is teaching you to pass your test. Whilst your dad may be a good driver he
A) may not be the best at explaining things to you.
B) he may well drive in a very different way to how you drive to pass a test.
A) may not be the best at explaining things to you.
B) he may well drive in a very different way to how you drive to pass a test.
I bought my first car a month before I turned 17. I had 20 hours of lessons and much more with both my Mum and my Dad. My instructor taught me how to pass my test, my Mum taught me the routes, my Dad taught me how to drive and understand what my actions were doing mechanically.
It helped that my instructor was pretty relaxed and confident in my ability, that my Mum got through it without killing me and that my Dad is an excellent driver but also an excellent teacher.
It helped that my instructor was pretty relaxed and confident in my ability, that my Mum got through it without killing me and that my Dad is an excellent driver but also an excellent teacher.
I was insured on my Dad's car at 17 for one month - I forced him to go out every day, sometimes multiple times per day (the poor chap!). When he had to drive somewhere, I'd drive instead. We were very clear that this was to become comfortable with a car so when I did start driving lessons I could concentrate on how to do things according to the test, rather than worrying about how the clutch worked or being comfortable with the steering.
This approach seemed to work for me - I'm sure it would work just as well doing both alongside one another.
One thing we agreed on was that in the car, Dad was boss: he says do X, you do X (ie like a real driving teacher). I followed this philosophy as all I wanted to do was to get a test pass, my sister seemed determined to argue (like a teenage daughter!) and they ended up covering probably 1/20th the miles. A vehicle is no time to continue a teenager / parent feud!
My mother was apparently the same - at times determined not to be told what to do or that she was wrong!
This approach seemed to work for me - I'm sure it would work just as well doing both alongside one another.
One thing we agreed on was that in the car, Dad was boss: he says do X, you do X (ie like a real driving teacher). I followed this philosophy as all I wanted to do was to get a test pass, my sister seemed determined to argue (like a teenage daughter!) and they ended up covering probably 1/20th the miles. A vehicle is no time to continue a teenager / parent feud!
My mother was apparently the same - at times determined not to be told what to do or that she was wrong!
Edited by 0a on Monday 30th June 20:28
I think you need a lot of time behind the wheel to become comfortable and to allow the barebones of driving to become a subconcious activity.
When first learning, there is so so much going on, you have to think about everything you do, look in the mirror, change gear, indicate, speed limit, what lane etc.
After a while all this just happens without thinking.
Of course it's important to learn the right way to drive, but i think as much time behind the wheel as possible has to be beneficial.
When first learning, there is so so much going on, you have to think about everything you do, look in the mirror, change gear, indicate, speed limit, what lane etc.
After a while all this just happens without thinking.
Of course it's important to learn the right way to drive, but i think as much time behind the wheel as possible has to be beneficial.
Drumroll said:
I have to disagree with the previous posters. Going out with your Dad may not improve your driving. Your instructor is teaching you to pass your test. Whilst your dad may be a good driver he
A) may not be the best at explaining things to you.
B) he may well drive in a very different way to how you drive to pass a test.
I agree with you...A) may not be the best at explaining things to you.
B) he may well drive in a very different way to how you drive to pass a test.
Although practice is best and the more actual driving you do the better, you may at this early stage of driving find it weird to swap between two different cars.. clutch, brakes, visibility etc will all be different. Obviously once you can drive, you can drive anything, but for the test you want everything to be muscle memory, and if you are driving two different cars this may complicate this.
Also, parents can be a nightmare, they will have learned a different way and have passed a different test, you will probably find that no matter how hands off your dad might try to be he has a vested interest in you not crashing and will no doubt say something at some point that will be described differently by an instructor.
my two cents...
Definitely do it. I'm just helping my oldest daughter by supplementing her pro lessons with road time. I focus on road craft - speed, anticipation, etc and let the instructor teach her the detail of driving. My view is experience counts so the more time behind the wheel the better. Good luck!
When I learned to drive my old man took me out most nights for 15-20 minutes maximum.
When I taught my son to drive I did the same quick 15 minutes route that ended at home , I reckon it works better in small bursts than sitting behind the wheel for an hour plus.
Just my 2p worth, nothing factual to,prove it mind.
When I taught my son to drive I did the same quick 15 minutes route that ended at home , I reckon it works better in small bursts than sitting behind the wheel for an hour plus.
Just my 2p worth, nothing factual to,prove it mind.
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Because of how my parents taught their 3 kids, (I was the youngest) to drive, I choose to do the same with my kids.
We insured them on my wife's car, at a cost of £250 per 3 months, and they had practise every day with either my wife or me, between lessons. Son had 15 lessons before his first test and 3 more including his second test, and daughter had 20 lessons, which I thought was way too many, as she was ready at 12 lessons.
Because of how my parents taught their 3 kids, (I was the youngest) to drive, I choose to do the same with my kids.
We insured them on my wife's car, at a cost of £250 per 3 months, and they had practise every day with either my wife or me, between lessons. Son had 15 lessons before his first test and 3 more including his second test, and daughter had 20 lessons, which I thought was way too many, as she was ready at 12 lessons.
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