Best way to get on the road?

I practiced in my brothers car a couple of times after getting a few lessons. I never got put on the insurance or anything, and didn't venture onto the main roads (stayed in an empty retail park) but even though I was getting lessons and spending an hour or two in my brothers car two or three times a week, I don't think I really noticed any real improvement in my driving until I got my own car.

My instructor was good at showing and teaching me things, but as I wasn't really able to practice as much as I'd have liked outside of my lessons, a lot of it was lost and I'd end up having to learn the same thing repeatedly.

Having my own car meant I could go out when I pleased and practice without anyone getting annoyed at me or such (also, because it was my own car, I didn't feel as bad about cutting out, stalling, etc. and knew that if I damaged it by hitting into anything, it'd be my own car I'm ruining and not someone else's).


I should point out though that I'm one of those people who thinks the 'must have an accompanied driver' law is utter tripe and I never really acknowledged it. L plates I agree with, but a mandatory passenger is a waste and only hinders the learning experience, in my opinion.

So I drove around my town a lot (mostly at night time when it's pretty much empty). Got used to the size of the car, handling, clutch, etc. (and actually moved onto my second car about 2-3 months later).

I then got more lessons and because I could do a lesson and then spend an unlimited amount of time in my own car, my lessons start to stick a bit better.

Ultimately all in all I ended up passing the test on my first go (more to do with my instructor than me though, admittedly) but I don't think I'd ever have been confident enough to go for it had I not been driving on my own beforehand, though. It was of massive benefit to me, I think (I also have a friend who is a learner, and we would often take little spins around the place together, and practice some of the test stuff together (turnabout, reverse around corner, etc.) which was helpful, too.


That said, much as I find the accompanied driver law to be nonsense, I was never under the illusion that I wasn't breaking it. If stopped by the Gardaí and done for it I'd hold my hands up and say 'you got me'. No point in fighting it: If you're going to do it then you have to be willing to take the consequence.