New driver, what do I need to know?
Discussion
TypeR junior is 17 in July and naturally wants to start driving.
It's been a very long time since I started, so I'm not at all up to speed on Provisional licenses etc.
Does she have to wait til her birthday before applying? Are parents still allowed to go out as instructors with L plates. Can she get out on the road before she turns 17?
Cheers, Simon.
https://www.gov.uk/apply-first-provisional-driving...
To get your first provisional driving licence online for a moped, motorbike or car you must:
be at least 15 years and 9 months old
be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away
provide an identity document unless you have a valid UK biometric passport
provide addresses where you’ve lived over the last 3 years
pay £34 by MasterCard, Visa, Electron, Maestro or Delta debit or credit card
have your National Insurance number if known
HTH
Paul
To get your first provisional driving licence online for a moped, motorbike or car you must:
be at least 15 years and 9 months old
be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away
provide an identity document unless you have a valid UK biometric passport
provide addresses where you’ve lived over the last 3 years
pay £34 by MasterCard, Visa, Electron, Maestro or Delta debit or credit card
have your National Insurance number if known
HTH
Paul
She can get the provisional license orderedbefore her 17th birthday, and start practising at home for the theory test with a copy of the Highway Code (order one copy for each loo in the house 
), some example question books and DVDs, and online mock tests. Test her on some random stuff at the breakfast table each day until it's all 100%. That'll save time and money on a theory test resit. She can sit the theory test as soon as she's 17.
She can't drive on the public highway before 17, but you can get her on private land for a basic intro to clutch control and finding reverse. It'll save a fortune in lessons if the instructor doesn't have to spend weeks on that. Again repetition is key.
Also, just talking her through the rules of the road whenever you're driving will help, but stick to the basics (naming every sign, spotting road markings, reading direction boards etc), because you'll probably teach her bad habits if you try to teach her any manoeuvres.
), some example question books and DVDs, and online mock tests. Test her on some random stuff at the breakfast table each day until it's all 100%. That'll save time and money on a theory test resit. She can sit the theory test as soon as she's 17. She can't drive on the public highway before 17, but you can get her on private land for a basic intro to clutch control and finding reverse. It'll save a fortune in lessons if the instructor doesn't have to spend weeks on that. Again repetition is key.
Also, just talking her through the rules of the road whenever you're driving will help, but stick to the basics (naming every sign, spotting road markings, reading direction boards etc), because you'll probably teach her bad habits if you try to teach her any manoeuvres.
My eldest is 17 end of May so in a similar boat.
Purchased a £500 206 for her a few weeks ago as both our cars are auto so needed a cheap manual for her to practice in and use when she passes.
She has saved enough for provisional and 10 lessons.
I'm planning on taking her on some private land over the next month or so just to let her get the feel of the car. Clutch, accelerator etc...
Insurance isn't to bad TBH, doubles when she passes her test (£440 to £850).
Looking forward to not being taxi to her and her friends at a weekend.
Purchased a £500 206 for her a few weeks ago as both our cars are auto so needed a cheap manual for her to practice in and use when she passes.
She has saved enough for provisional and 10 lessons.
I'm planning on taking her on some private land over the next month or so just to let her get the feel of the car. Clutch, accelerator etc...
Insurance isn't to bad TBH, doubles when she passes her test (£440 to £850).
Looking forward to not being taxi to her and her friends at a weekend.
scorcher said:
Try not to teach them any of your own bad habits or feed them wrong info that you believe to be correct. My missus would rather teach someone that hasn't been "taught" by a well doing parent who has taught their kids a load of wrong stuff.
Reminds me of my driving instructor telling me that the easiest people to teach were the ones off a particularly notorious estate in the town near where I grew up as they'd been driving for years already and he just needed to iron out any issues! :-p Out of curiousity, 'cos I'm well past the age of having 17 year old daughters, how many of them (and sons) want to learn to drive at that age? I know a few pre-20 year olds who aren't the least bit interested and wondered how widespread that was though. As soon as I was old enough, I couldn't wait to get behind the wheel.
GreatGranny said:
My eldest is 17 end of May so in a similar boat.
Purchased a £500 206 for her a few weeks ago as both our cars are auto so needed a cheap manual for her to practice in and use when she passes.
She has saved enough for provisional and 10 lessons.
I'm planning on taking her on some private land over the next month or so just to let her get the feel of the car. Clutch, accelerator etc...
Insurance isn't to bad TBH, doubles when she passes her test (£440 to £850).
Looking forward to not being taxi to her and her friends at a weekend.
Sounds cheap to me!Purchased a £500 206 for her a few weeks ago as both our cars are auto so needed a cheap manual for her to practice in and use when she passes.
She has saved enough for provisional and 10 lessons.
I'm planning on taking her on some private land over the next month or so just to let her get the feel of the car. Clutch, accelerator etc...
Insurance isn't to bad TBH, doubles when she passes her test (£440 to £850).
Looking forward to not being taxi to her and her friends at a weekend.
Riley Blue said:
Out of curiousity, 'cos I'm well past the age of having 17 year old daughters, how many of them (and sons) want to learn to drive at that age? I know a few pre-20 year olds who aren't the least bit interested and wondered how widespread that was though. As soon as I was old enough, I couldn't wait to get behind the wheel.
I was also desperate to pass my test Though I can understand why people wouldn't.
TartanPaint said:
Also, just talking her through the rules of the road whenever you're driving will help, but stick to the basics (naming every sign, spotting road markings, reading direction boards etc), because you'll probably teach her bad habits if you try to teach her any manoeuvres.
That's a good idea. Examiners during my advanced tests asked 'What was the last sign we passed?'It may help her heed signs and to think what information they're tying to convey.
Thanks for the replies. PH is full of knowledge as usual.
Today we had our 2nd go around a large private carpark. We tried lots of starts/stops and some reversing.we didn't have enough room to get into 2nd gear, but that's OK for now.
Ideally I'd like to find an old airfield or similar so we would have to go round in circles and figure of 8's.
She's going online to apply for her provisional, and we'll get some more practice in too.
Here's little Miss TypeR, almost 17 years ago, sizing up her old man's ride!
Today we had our 2nd go around a large private carpark. We tried lots of starts/stops and some reversing.we didn't have enough room to get into 2nd gear, but that's OK for now.
Ideally I'd like to find an old airfield or similar so we would have to go round in circles and figure of 8's.
She's going online to apply for her provisional, and we'll get some more practice in too.
Here's little Miss TypeR, almost 17 years ago, sizing up her old man's ride!
Advice given to me by dad many years ago, "Best to be a live coward than a dead hero". In other words, if idiot is not about to give way and decides to cause conflict give way. Lot easier than trying to defend being smashed into /mirror damage when some person decides to get through a gap that is too small.
Second bit of advice given to me by uncle- "Assume every person you meet is an idiot" ( Uncle was a tank driver in WW2, IN THE DESERT).
Second bit of advice given to me by uncle- "Assume every person you meet is an idiot" ( Uncle was a tank driver in WW2, IN THE DESERT).
Riley Blue said:
Out of curiousity, 'cos I'm well past the age of having 17 year old daughters, how many of them (and sons) want to learn to drive at that age? I know a few pre-20 year olds who aren't the least bit interested and wondered how widespread that was though. As soon as I was old enough, I couldn't wait to get behind the wheel.
A few young people I know have no interest whatsoever in bothering to drive. They all have their provisional licences though, they use them for ID in the pubs!Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff