Private Driving

I always tell my pupils that they are much better off and more likely to pass first time if they can get some extra time behind the wheel with the help of Mum and/or Dad.

The Driving Standards Authority (DSA - regulator of all things driving test and tuition), states that a pupil passes with 45 hours of lessons from a qualified instructor and 50% more privately with Mum or Dad. This means the average pupil gets around 67 hours of driving before the test!

There are issues that driving another car causes...

1. Suitability of car - maybe Dad drives a van and Mum drives and Automatic Micra. If you are taking your manual driving test, neither car is really suitable.
2. Insurance - the only car available is a 2 litre sports version. That's going to really hit the wallet when it comes to insurance for a non-qualified 17-year-old! And don't even think about driving uninsured!
3. OK, so you have a car and it is insured - where is Mum or Dad when you need them? Working or off down the golf course or shopping! Not very useful. Maybe you could get up early & take Mum shopping or Dad to golf?
4. Do you get on with your folks? If you tend to argue with them, it is almost certain you will come to blows over your driving sooner or later. Try to keep calm if something goes wrong - they are only trying to help!
5. Understand that Mum and/or Dad are trying to help you. The reason they are so jumpy whenever a car comes towards you is that they have probably not taught anyone else before. They don't have pedals in the passenger foot well, so all they have is their persuasive powers, the handbrake and the ability to get hold of the steering wheel to prevent them facing 'certain death'!
6. Have you actually looked at your Mum or Dad's driving before? They may think it is OK to go down that 30mph road at 45, 'cause no-one else comes this way!' They may not also be so alert to telling you to check mirrors or blind spots as often as your instructor does. And how about Pull-and-Push steering or block Vs step changing gears... ?
7. Does your car have power steering? Most instructor's cars are relatively new, so they will have power steering, but the car that's available to you may not. It is still drivable but worth considering.
8. Where's the Biting Point? Every car has a different Biting Point - even the same car of the same model in the same year, so your first attempts at getting your car off the driveway may not be too successful!

For more information, go to http://www.gtdrivingschool.net/ or call 07906 302910