need to drive in 1 week!!!!!!!!!

ponderer

ok so here goes.

i hold a provisional, never driven before, dont have a car bought. i need to be able to drive within one week.

anyone got any advice?? is this possible?
thanks for any help you can give me

ballooba

It's possible. Ten hours should be more than enough to get you up to a decent standard. You need to book two hours lessons a day. You need to spend the rest of your free time sleeping and you are going to be shattered. Good luck.

tuxy

Out of interest why do you need to drive in one week?

Gillo

Same as Ballooba said, you are going to be shattered.

My advice for your first lesson do a two hour stink (you'll need it just ot get used to navigating around the controls, or at least I did), after that do two seperate hours a day because doing a full two hours in a row a day over five days will have you in bits, you'll actually learn less.

Where are you based?

I did lessons with the ISM on Dorset St, with a guy called brian, he was great only prob is he's very hard to get a booking with- I'd take that as a good sign, if he was crap no one would go to him and you'd end up getting bookings easily.

Guessing you need the lessons because of a job offer???

darkestlord

My advice for you is dont, you should get more than 1 weeks experience befoe you should drive and i assume you wont have a experienced passenger with you.
Theres too many unexperienced learner drivers as it is.

crosstownk

tuxy wrote:

Out of interest why do you need to drive in one week?

Good question.

In any event, you'll need a full license holder with you - so why can't the full license holder do the driving?

dudara

You can definitely learn the mechanics of driving in that timeframe. You just won't have any experience.

peasant

ballooba wrote:

It's possible.

dudara wrote:

You can definitely learn the mechanics of driving in that timeframe

No, it isn't and no you can't. (no-one can)

Not in a way that would be sufficient to let you anywhere near actual traffic without someone with dual controls next to you.

crosstownk

peasant wrote:

Not in a way that would be sufficient to let you anywhere near actual traffic without someone with dual controls next to you.

I totally agree. It's like trying to run a marathon without any training.

Noelie

peasant wrote:

No, it isn't and no you can't. (no-one can)

Not in a way that would be sufficient to let you anywhere near actual traffic without someone with dual controls next to you.

It's very possible, I drove back form Cork to Dublin after only driving for one week.

peasant

The problem with learning how to drive is that first you need to practice the mechanics (accelerator, clutch, brakes, steering, what do all the switches do and when do I need to do what) long enough so that all of it happens more or less automatically ...only then can you start to concentrate on the actual traffic and your driving within it.

It simply can not be done within a week ...it's sensory overload.

peasant

Noelie wrote:

It's very possible, I drove back form Cork to Dublin after only driving for one week.

I have no doubt that you did.

Would you do it again tomorrow if I told you that everybody else you're going to meet during that trip was only driving for one week?

Noelie

Probably not, some crazy fools on the roads these days.
I'm not saying everyone can learn to drive in a week but I have and I bet others will.

peasant

Well ...aren't you quite the little super-hero ?


Trouble is ..there are many more out there who believe exactly the same.

I still maintain it can't be done ...not safely.

commited

Friend of mine passed his test 2 weeks after he started driving. Shocked us all.

Licensing system is a joke.

Vikings

It is possible. Granted you will have no experience once you do get out on the road but it can be done if you have at least some cop on.

I had 5 lessons before I started to drive on my own, those 5 lessons were spread over a 2 week period though I ended up not driving for a further 6 weeks due to a broken wrist.

When I had my insurance and all that sorted out I was brought to an empty car park and got used to the basics without being a danger to others! It took a while doing that before I felt confident enough to actually be out on the roads - and it's mad that I had that choice myself! The whole provisional license needs a major overhaul...

Too late now anyway, all fully licensed up so at least 1 other person is confident in my driving ability.

su_dios

I think the fact that the OP is actually asking this question means he/she should not be driving!!

Yeah in one week you'll be able to drive your car provided there isn't a single soul on the roads!!

Surely it can't be work related as you wouldn't be allowed drive on a provisional?

unkel

peasant wrote:

I still maintain it can't be done ...not safely.

I agree. Especially given the above methods

Having said that, there used to be a driving test "boot camp" in the Netherlands back in the early 90s (dunno if it's still there) where people were prepared for their driving test in 10 days (full time as in 24/7 iirc :eek:). After 10 days there was the driving test. No surprise that the pass rate was very poor, but it wasn't exactly zero either

@OP - you know you are not going to be a safe driver a week from now. Are you sure your opportunity is worth it, given the risk you are going to be posing to yourself and others?

Anan1

Noelie wrote:

I'm not saying everyone can learn to drive in a week but I have and I bet others will.

It depends on your definition of 'drive'. I'm sure you wouldn't claim that your drive from Cork to Dublin was safe.

ballooba

After ten hours qualified instruction the OP would be in a lot better shape and relative to most other learners a lot more responsible. I doubt there are many out their setting off in their cars alone for the first time who have done ten hours. That's the system we have to deal with.

Victor Meldrew

ballooba wrote:

After ten hours qualified instruction the OP would be in a lot better shape and relative to most other learners a lot more responsible. I doubt there are many out their setting off in their cars alone for the first time who have done ten hours.

True, but that's a low bar...

ballooba wrote:

That's the system we have to deal with.

No, it's the system we abuse. there are a lot of people who buy a car and drive without any ability, I saw one spend 10 mins parking a car in the square carpark when it was empty at 8am one morning. It wound have been funny were it not for the fact that she had driven there on public roads.

I don't want to share a road with someone who has to remember which pedal stops the car :eek:

lafors

I'm guessing you have been called for a test in a weeks time and you have been too lazy/busy to do any driving on your provisional.

As most have said, yes you could learn, but hell no you shouldn't be on the roads with other people.

If its a test, then cancel, if its for a job, hard luck, forget about it, and get practicing so you won't have the same problem for the next opportunity.

Noelie

Anan1 wrote:

It depends on your definition of 'drive'. I'm sure you wouldn't claim that your drive from Cork to Dublin was safe.

It was perfectly safe. I'd no near misses nor did I feel at any time did I put myself or my g/f in any danger.

Perhaps I should say I had been driving a motor bike for about 18months before I drove a car, but I believe they are different styles of driving with different skill required. Also I was 27 at the time so maybe ones age can be a factor.

Edit: Also let me add i always had a fully licenced person in the car with me.

Seth Brundle

ponderer wrote:

ok so here goes.

i hold a provisional, never driven before, dont have a car bought. i need to be able to drive within one week.

anyone got any advice?? is this possible?
thanks for any help you can give me

Welcome to Ireland!
The land where driving is a right not a privilege!

rebel.ranter

Noelie wrote:

It was perfectly safe. I'd no near misses nor did I feel at any time did I put myself or my g/f in any danger.

Perhaps I should say I had been driving a motor bike for about 18months before I drove a car, but I believe they are different styles of driving with different skill required. Also I was 27 at the time so maybe ones age can be a factor.

Edit: Also let me add i always had a fully licenced person in the car with me.

How did you manage to get from Cork to Dublin without using the motorways? It must have been a long slow journey. Or did you use the motorways??

Henry Ford III

Noelie wrote:

It was perfectly safe. I'd no near misses nor did I feel at any time did I put myself or my g/f in any danger.

Perhaps I should say I had been driving a motor bike for about 18months before I drove a car, but I believe they are different styles of driving with different skill required. Also I was 27 at the time so maybe ones age can be a factor.

Edit: Also let me add i always had a fully licenced person in the car with me.

That sounds entirely possible then.

A motorbike will give you a good working knowledge of "road craft" and will hone defensive driving skills.

Anan1

Noelie wrote:

It was perfectly safe. I'd no near misses nor did I feel at any time did I put myself or my g/f in any danger.

No it wasn't. The fact that you would even consider your driving to be 'perfectly safe' after a week is, quite frankly, laughable. I would have thought age would be a factor too, insamuch as it affects attitude. Perhaps not.

Noelie

rebel.ranter wrote:

How did you manage to get from Cork to Dublin without using the motorways? It must have been a long slow journey. Or did you use the motorways??

That has nothing to do with this thread, the op is asking can you learn to drive in a week and I'm in the camp that says yes you can.

spurious

I would say definitely for someone who has experience driving a bike - more difficult without that, but not impossible, though certainly not ideal.

Noelie

Anan1 I would appricate you not commenting on my safety as a diver considering you have never been in a car with me. I know a lot of people say this but everyone wo has been in a car with me was shocked why i would say i'd been only driving a few weeks/months depending on the length of time.

You seem to think someone has to be driving a long time to become safe I would disagree it fall to their attitude in a car.

Seth Brundle

Noelie wrote:

That has nothing to do with this thread, the op is asking can you learn to drive in a week and I'm in the camp that says yes you can.

You could learn to drive within a week. You could learn how to change gears, brake smoothly, etc.
You will not however, learn to be a good driver as the experience is not there. A good driver who can anticipate things, drive safely but confidently, drive courtesly, etc. pretty much comes with experience.

Stark

Noelie wrote:

It was perfectly safe. I'd no near misses nor did I feel at any time did I put myself or my g/f in any danger.

That sounds as dumb as "I snorted glue and I was fine after it, therefore it's perfectly safe".

Anan1

I don't know where people get the idea that experience on a bike = experience in a car. There are certain similarities, but there are also many differences. Would experience in a car make you a safe HGV driver after a week?

Anan1

Noelie wrote:

Anan1 I would appricate you not commenting on my safety as a diver considering you have never been in a car with me. I know a lot of people say this but everyone wo has been in a car with me was shocked why i would say i'd been only driving a few weeks/months depending on the length of time.

My comments are not specific to you. Nobody is 'perfectly safe' after a week of driving. Anyone who thinks they are is even less safe.

Noelie wrote:

You seem to think someone has to be driving a long time to become safe I would disagree it fall to their attitude in a car.

This is, quite frankly, rubbish. There is no substitute for experience.

peasant

Anan1 wrote:

I don't know where people get the idea that experience on a bike = experience in a car. There are certain similarities, but there are also many differences. Would experience in a car make you a safe HGV driver after a week?

Well ...if you had experience in moving traffic, reading the road and other people's behaviour, it would certainly make things easier and make more of your attention and concentration available for focussing on the "new" things like differnt mechanics and vehicle size.

You still wouldn't be a safe driver ...but a lot safer than someone who never experienced the road other than as a pedestrian/cyclist.

greine

Noelie wrote:

It's very possible, I drove back form Cork to Dublin after only driving for one week.

How irresponsible and inconsiderate of you, Noelie! Nothing to be proud of really. OP learn to drive responsibly and take whatever time you need to gain sufficient experience before taking to the open road alone, obviously there are enough thoughtless eejits on the road! Good luck with it.

spurious

No, but experience on a bike means you watch everything all the time as you will come off worst in any incident. People who have never driven a bike do not have that urgency of paying attention to EVERYTHING
Those little metal crates seem quite safe in comparison.

Anan1

peasant wrote:

Well ...if you had experience in moving traffic, reading the road and other people's behaviour, it would certainly make things easier and make more of your attention and concentration available for focussing on the "new" things like differnt mechanics and vehicle size.

You still wouldn't be a safe driver ...but a lot safer than someone who never experienced the road other than as a pedestrian/cyclist.

That's not really disagreeing with my post though, is it?;)

eth0_

Noelie wrote:

It was perfectly safe. I'd no near misses nor did I feel at any time did I put myself or my g/f in any danger.

Perhaps I should say I had been driving a motor bike for about 18months before I drove a car, but I believe they are different styles of driving with different skill required. Also I was 27 at the time so maybe ones age can be a factor.

Edit: Also let me add i always had a fully licenced person in the car with me.

Jesus...would you not just do your fscking test already?!

Henry Ford III

kbannon wrote:

You could learn to drive within a week. You could learn how to change gears, brake smoothly, etc.
You will not however, learn to be a good driver as the experience is not there. A good driver who can anticipate things, drive safely but confidently, drive courtesly, etc. pretty much comes with experience.

He had some road experience on a motorbike.

Anan1

Henry Ford III wrote:

He had some road experience on a motorbike.

That's not going to make up for no experience in a car.

Henry Ford III

I think it's a great benefit actually. Much more care is needed to drive a motorbike safely than is needed in a car. Braking distances are higher for example. Lane discipline is critical.

Noelie

eth0_ wrote:

Jesus...would you not just do your fscking test already?!

I have and passed, I was just waiting on the test. I passed eight months after starting driving and it was only eight month because that's how long the waiting time is.

I don't know why I'm getting attached here.

Like Henry I'd say riding a bike makes you more aware of what's around you, From the day I sat in a car I used all mirror for turns/overtaking and always check my blind spots, something my dad and g/f regularly forget to do. both of whom have been driving longer than I have.

Also it's not like I sat into a car and said, great I'm in a car now and I can drive. I've been a passenger in a car for years. I've observed how manoeuvres are done and what observation is required. I then implemented this into my driving. I'd say I learned a lot form just being a passenger watching how others drive. Much like other things in life I've learned from watching other people.

Noelie

Anan1 wrote:

My comments are not specific to you. Nobody is 'perfectly safe' after a week of driving. Anyone who thinks they are is even less safe.

Ok maybe I should not have said perfectly safe. I considered myself to be safe, I didn't and still don't put myself or others at risk.

kbannon wrote:

You could learn to drive within a week. You could learn how to change gears, brake smoothly, etc.
You will not however, learn to be a good driver as the experience is not there. A good driver who can anticipate things, drive safely but confidently, drive courtesly, etc. pretty much comes with experience.

Maybe so and perhaps I carried those qualities form my bike experience.

greine wrote:

How irresponsible and inconsiderate of you, Noelie! Nothing to be proud of really. OP learn to drive responsibly and take whatever time you need to gain sufficient experience before taking to the open road alone, obviously there are enough thoughtless eejits on the road! Good luck with it.

I do not see how it is either irresponsible or inconsiderate. I drove down with my g/f, she done the driving. On the way home I felt satisfied with how my driving was progressing to drive back to Dublin. the drive back also gave me a large block of driving experience which would of help improve my driving.

Gregor Samsa

Noelie wrote:

Much like other things in life I've learned from watching other people.

That's given me a horrible mental image :eek:

ballooba

Victor Meldrew wrote:

No, it's the system we abuse. there are a lot of people who buy a car and drive without any ability, I saw one spend 10 mins parking a car in the square carpark when it was empty at 8am one morning. It wound have been funny were it not for the fact that she had driven there on public roads.

Unfortunately it's the system we do have to deal with. I'm not abusing anything because I have my full licence. I was only pointing out that with 10 hours instruction the OP would be more qualified than most. That is the system we have to deal with because otherwise those people wouldn't be on the road an 10 hours would be well below standard.

Blazer

Henry Ford III wrote:

I think it's a great benefit actually. Much more care is needed to drive a motorbike safely than is needed in a car. Braking distances are higher for example. Lane discipline is critical.

As long as you remember that you're driving a car and not a motrrbike when pulling out infront of oncoming traffic.
This had happened a few times where long term bike drives switch to cars and aren't used to the decrease in acceleration. They just forget for a sec and slip up.Easy thing to do

Victor Meldrew

ballooba wrote:

I was only pointing out that with 10 hours instruction the OP would be more qualified than most.

........which is thoroughly depressing and frightening. :rolleyes:


I'd put "qualified" in inverted commas, the instructor standard is appalling here.

ballooba

Victor Meldrew wrote:

........which is thoroughly depressing and frightening. :rolleyes:

I couldn't agree more. That's the cráppy little system we have unfortunately. It's the same way I would have no problem telling someone how to jump the queue for the driving test. If the abuses are widespread enough then they become the system.

Stark

I did 10 lessons to start myself off and I was still a woeful driver. In those months that followed, I gave my dad many near heart attacks while in the car. I was fine on the local N-roads where my dad would take me to relax (as my pre-test instructor said, "it doesn't take much to drive in a straight line"), but venturing into the city centre was always a hairy experience.

Granted, I might have been a slower learner than most, but it's scary to think that people would attempt driving full time after only a week of practice.

optiplexgx270

Will be no problem, first time i drove a car on a public road was from Dublin to Newry. Was no bother at all. Had done a little driving round car parks in ucd about 3 months before that.