Annoyed with my driving instructor ...anyone feel the same ?

J G

There are a lot of similar posts on here every day: It occurs to me that people are progressing slowly with lessons because thay aren't practising between lessons with their instructor.
Learning to drive is the same as learning anything - If you don't practice in between lessons, it'll take a hell of a lot longer to learn.
You need to be out every day with friends or family to get used to driving - otherwise half of your weekly one - hour lesson is taken up by getting used to being behind the wheel again.
On another point, driving lessons aren't cheap - If she's 10 minutes short, you pay 10 minutes less, or keep adding up the odd late starts or early finishes & save them up for a free hour some time.
The problem here is that driving instructors have a vested interest in keeping you learning - If they teach you quickly, they earn less - seems pretty open to abuse to me.
Ask your instructor EXACTLY what things you need to be able to do to pass your test, make a list & tick them off as you're confident to do them. You should be able to get to grips with a couple of manoeuvres per hourly lesson, then practise them for free in between times - either in your own car if you have one, or your parents', or ask a friend to insure their car for you if you pay the extra - It'll still be cheaper than paying hourly!

SeaEff

If you don't like the instructor, change.

Peter R

I remember having similar feelings about a driving instructor about 35 years ago! For me, it was a question of "wrong instructor, wrong car". I found a different instructor, with a different attitude, and passed at first attempt.

QOSBen

For the first few lessons it is better to spread it over a week, it means when you come back to finding the biting clutch and throttle spot you will build up a more solid foundation for when you actually get out there and properly drive.

That's strange that she arrived ten mins late and didn't give you it, my instructor always used to put it on to next lesson or discount it.

Goodluck in your lessons though!

blackfirebeetle

she sounds awful ! get rid. plenty more out there .

Dave J

No that is bad - I wonder how she has ANY customers at all!!

I always try to be on time - but sometimes it is unavoidable but i ALWAYS add the time on at the end of the lesson. And the fact that you have pre paid your lessons and she isn't fitting you in to her diary is terrible. There are too many poor instructors out there providing a shoddy service - I would definately change instructors (make sure you get your lessons you have paid for though first!)

Go with someone your friends have had a good experience with and don't go for anyone offering "guaranteed pass" or "first 6 lessons just Â£5 each" You get what you pay for - trust me!!

Note to Snodders:

As I'm sure you're aware, the roads have changed considerabley in the past 40 years, and so has the test! I would also be very interested to see your research that suggests that "the attitude of the instructors that only they can sit with a learner" because I for one would never discourage private practice - even though private practice is quite often more detrimental than beneficial to the learner's progress depending on the person supervising them.

How HIPs are connected to this question is more than a mystery to me, and I can only think that you are currently trying to sell your house and needed to vent some anger off?!

Finally, regarding putting a learner on the family car insurance, I would agree with you that the more time you spend behind the wheel the better. But how much does it cost to put your 17 year old son or daughter on the insurance of your average family car? If you are on a tight budget surely the money you would spend on insurance would be better spent on a fully trained instructor who knows all the up to date information, and won't teach them 40 year old driving techniques?!

Just a thought :)

Bardic

Stacey, you're the customer and you're entitled to an instructor who gives you their full time and attention. It may just be a hiccup so I'd see how it goes over the next couple of lessons. If you're still not happy, simply select another instructor. Good luck.

BSMGUY

Firstly, I totally agree with dave-j.

If you are not happy about your instructor then change them. If you had a faulty toaster, hoover, you would go and change it!

I took on a pupil who was being taught by her husband. She had been driving for about 8 months with him and as her test was near she decided to go for a couple of lessons.

I gave her an assessment drive and from the test centre we drove up to a dual carriageway. I was going to take her for about 5 miles along it to see her handling the car at motorway speeds. As we approached she started to panic. Telling me what am I doing. A learner is not allowed onto a dual carriageway!!!!. As I corrected her, the dreaded words that most d.i.'s dont like " but my husband said, that a learner is not allowed to go over 45 miles an hour and not on a dual carriageway. This part of town has a dual carriageway to the left and a single carriageway to the right. When we managed to pull her over and talk to her about it. She was adamant her husband was right "he's been driving for 20 years, why would he lie to me".
We then did some manoeuvres, emergency stop was OK, but she turned the engine off and seat belt off after the handbrake was applied, asking her why. "My husband said that when you do an emergency stop, you must stop the engine and get out too see what damage has been done".
Her questions show and tell, totally threw her. Never heard about them....
Her left reverse was fine up to the point where I was told to get out and direct traffic!, he husband again.
Reverse parking was better, but after questioning her about the manoeuvre, I was told she only did "skips", safer.
Finally the turn in the road. Perfect. No problems.

Afterwards I did tell her how many lessons she would need to get her to test standard. Test day, she passed.

I did meet her husband and he was embarrassed about the dual carriageway, but they have now split up.

SnoddersB

Do you not have another car to practise on. When I learnt in the 60's i had 7 lessons and then drove the family car for a month before having another 7 lessons. I would say that the attitude of the instructors that only they can sit with a learner is wrong and is probably backed by a government that has foisted HIPs on home owners that they know is unnecessary and expensive and completely unfit for purpose. I would say that the more driving the more confident you become in handling the car, so if the family have a car then have the insurance changed to allow you to drive and go from there, it will be cheaper in the long run and you will be able to practise all the new manoeuvres.

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