Driving lessons, do we need them?

jozi

Rather than throw a thread off-topic I'll start a new one.

With regards to driving lessons, how many lessons do people generally feel you should be required to take?

I know in this country there are lots of people who drive their parents car after a lesson or two and then a few before the test, and thats it.

Take for example Holland, I'm not sure what the number is but your required to have had a number of lessons before you can sit your driving test.

Just as an example why I think a certain number of lessons benefits everyone on the road.

Girl I used to work with got her self a car, 2 weeks before her theory test, she got her provisional licence and had one driving lesson and let her self on the road. I got a left to/from work a few times and I was scared, her car control was appalling, she wasn't aware of a lot of things on the road and generally just drove to fast for the given situation/road/conditions etc.

So in short, driving lesson, do we need them.

EDIT: Just for the record, I myself had quite a few lessons before sitting my test, mainly because my parents wouldn't let me get insured on their car until I had my full licence (off course this wasn't the case with my brother or sister but thats a different story :P) I'm not going to say I'm a perfect driver but I do feel I was a much more competent driver thanks to the lessons.

peasant

Yes, definetly ...but first we need driving instructors that actually know what they are doing.

TwoShedsJackson

Some people will obviously learn quicker then others, and some will never learn properly at all, but I would see no problem with an agreed minimum number of hours with a registered instructor being required before taking your test.

Something like 10-12 hours should suffice for an average person to become familiar with all the controls and get familiar with many of the situations they may encounter day to day.

ninty9er

Most people just learn city driving and probably 10-12 hours is enough for this, but 25-30 and a more comprehensive curriculum is what is really going to save lives as opposed to all of this "slow down" sh1t.

Rowley Birkin QC

Lessons on how to actually drive and behave in real world conditions....Yes.

Lessons on how to pass a test...No.

gorrrr72

I lived in Germany where the standard of driving is very high.

Over there you have to sign up to do a whole course and at the end of it if you are up to standard then you are allowed to take your test.
The course includes a minimum amount of hours in various driving conditions, city, country, in the dark, on motorways etc. And they have skid pans to simulate emergency stopping in inclement weather.
You can't just ask them for a couple of lessons here or there.
You have to make a commitment to a course, just like studying any other subject. If you opt out halfway through you have to sign up for another one if you want to take your test. There are no provisional licences. You either sign up, do your course and then pass your test or you are not allowed on the road full stop. And even if your instructor thinks you are not ready to take your test then he won't volunteer you for it as he is rated on his students pass rates.

I would like to see a similar system here, especially when it comes to motorway driving lessons.
I was driving on the N7 with 3 other guys in the car and they were asking me why I was changing lanes, why didn't I stay in 1 or the other.
I said you can't drive in the overtaking lane unless you are overtaking. Once your around you should get back in. They just didn't get it. Their theory is if you are driving at the speed limit you can drive in whichever lane you like. The biggest problem on Irish roads is an ignorance of the basic rules and attitude to other drivers imo.

lau1247

I definitely suggest getting lessons..
They focus you on the important theory stuff..

I took like 14-15 lessons and pass the test without any road experience at the time apart from the lessons..
So they do help alot!


They should have a course like what they have in finland (Seen it in top gear) where they teach you how to control in situation like skidding on extremely slippery road and different challenging environment..

Simon Jester

Who is going to pay for the lessons though. I certainly couldn't afford 30 lessons at 30 euro a pop.

ednwireland

Simon Jester wrote: »

Who is going to pay for the lessons though. I certainly couldn't afford 30 lessons at 30 euro a pop.

tough I learnt in the uk and took 30 lessons my lessons were my 18th birthday pressie seen as an investment in the future. do you go out how much does that cost. standard of driving here is atrociuos got a lift with someone this week and she stopped every time a car came the other way it was dark the road was wide enough - line down the middle very scary

Zube

Simon Jester wrote: »

I certainly couldn't afford 30 lessons at 30 euro a pop.

Since you can't afford a car and insurance, no prob.

mikemac

Simon Jester wrote: »

Who is going to pay for the lessons though. I certainly couldn't afford 30 lessons at 30 euro a pop.

If you can afford a car and insurance you can afford lessons. Think of it like an investment
I don't know the going rates for lessons but if you booked 30 you'd be haggling for a savage discount.

One thing that could be done is maybe do some sort of course in Transition year students if they were 17.
Maybe the school could get some sort of funding and hire an instructor to come in for a few days.
The students would pay a portion too.

It's not a new idea but pretty simple

enviro

gorrrr72 wrote: »

I lived in Germany where the standard of driving is very high.

Over there you have to sign up to do a whole course and at the end of it if you are up to standard then you are allowed to take your test.
The course includes a minimum amount of hours in various driving conditions, city, country, in the dark, on motorways etc. And they have skid pans to simulate emergency stopping in inclement weather.
You can't just ask them for a couple of lessons here or there.
You have to make a commitment to a course, just like studying any other subject. If you opt out halfway through you have to sign up for another one if you want to take your test. There are no provisional licences. You either sign up, do your course and then pass your test or you are not allowed on the road full stop. And even if your instructor thinks you are not ready to take your test then he won't volunteer you for it as he is rated on his students pass rates.

I would like to see a similar system here, especially when it comes to motorway driving lessons.
I was driving on the N7 with 3 other guys in the car and they were asking me why I was changing lanes, why didn't I stay in 1 or the other.
I said you can't drive in the overtaking lane unless you are overtaking. Once your around you should get back in. They just didn't get it. Their theory is if you are driving at the speed limit you can drive in whichever lane you like. The biggest problem on Irish roads is an ignorance of the basic rules and attitude to other drivers imo.

That sounds like a system that could really benefit the Irish setup, if applied here. But I won't hold my breath.

OP, I believe lessons are a must. Rules are too relaxed here in my opinion.

Del2005

I thought they where bringing that in already. First they've registered all the instructors with the RSA. Once they've all the instructors registered and up to par you'll need you instructor to sign off your test application. Or was that all pie in the sky stuff?

I know they are bringing in CBT for motorbikes now for a voluntary period, before making it compulsory. They should do it for cars also.

seanybiker

Del2005 wrote: »

I know they are bringing in CBT for motorbikes now for a voluntary period, before making it compulsory. They should do it for cars also.

How is it possible for CBT to be voluntary. Lol.

Eric Cartman

men - 6-8 1 hour lessons
women - 40-infinite :pac:

/sexist moment

if you cant get driving in 10 lessons & some road experience you have a few issues and need to work harder

Del2005

seanybiker wrote: »

How is it possible for CBT to be voluntary. Lol.

I assume it means you can do it if you want, but in a few months you'll have to have a CBT cert before you can get a permit. Don't forget this is the country where you can legally drive most vehicles without any lessons and untill recently no supervision was required.

S.I.R

peasant wrote: »

Yes, definetly ...but first we need driving instructors that actually know what they are doing.

its like the kettle calling the pot black, the leaner is just as bad as the instructor if not worse...


imho: try 2-4 different instructors and see which is best suited to You.


different strokes for different folks it seems as not everyone has the same problems when driving ( i.e some have issues with stopping distance but perfect at everything else )

if anything: get as much theory of every aspect of driving nailed first time before you hit the big wide road....

Mycroft H

Yes definitly, we need a system like the one germany as described above, i was there and there pretty comprehensive drivers.

A dread been a passenger with one of my friends at the wheel, he has no concept of a clutch and a manual gearbox, and he failed his test three times.....

jozi

With respect to not being able to afford 30 lessons, as mentioned it's an investment. You don't just go out and buy a car (maybe some can), most people save for their car. Why not save for your lessons? It will beneft you for ever, could be cheaper than an insurance claim against you...

I'm glad to read some see it as an investment, plenty of people I talk to can't even see the benefit of taking lessons when daddy can teach them.

mumblin deaf ro

My father-in-law took me for about 10 lessons to get me used to the car; then i took two lessons with an instructor and four pre-tests. I passed first time but put a huge no of hours practice in during the weeks before the test (practiced every second day for about three weeks).


Some people here have said that they got the test after one or two lessons. Either way, your aim should be to achieve excellence in driving, so you should try to develop your driving over time, through practice and learning from your mistakes. As soon as i passed the test (first time - go me) I bought a copy of Roadcraft and have tried to apply what I've learned in that. In a year or two I'd like to do the advanced driving test, both as a challenge for myself and to reduce my insurance costs.

One of the main things though is your mental attitude to driving: are you a calm, alert and 'in-control' driver or are you a emotional, fault-finding, 'up yours' driver? There are plenty of people who have probably got great skill in driving but whose attitude is all wrong.

GreeBo

Eric Cartman wrote: »

if you cant get driving in 10 lessons & some road experience you have a few issues and need to work harder

I think the point of this thread is not to "get driving" but rather to get driving properly. Today you can get onto the road far too easily.

You have the potential to drive at your best when gear changes, stopping & starting, basic car control are done subconsciously as this leaves you with more brain power to do other things (like be aware of your surroundings, anticipate others, etc)

Too many instructors teach you how to move a car but not to drive. Its the same as learning off an essay response for an English exam. Pointless in the real world.

The problem in Ireland is that people are on the road on their own before they are fully competent and "automatic" with their driving skills or the are using this extra brain power for non driving tasks (talking on phone, reading, makeup etc)

JimmyCrackCorn!

gorrrr72 wrote: »

I lived in Germany where the standard of driving is very high.

Over there you have to sign up to do a whole course and at the end of it if you are up to standard then you are allowed to take your test.
The course includes a minimum amount of hours in various driving conditions, city, country, in the dark, on motorways etc. And they have skid pans to simulate emergency stopping in inclement weather.
You can't just ask them for a couple of lessons here or there.
You have to make a commitment to a course, just like studying any other subject. If you opt out halfway through you have to sign up for another one if you want to take your test. There are no provisional licences. You either sign up, do your course and then pass your test or you are not allowed on the road full stop. And even if your instructor thinks you are not ready to take your test then he won't volunteer you for it as he is rated on his students pass rates.

I would like to see a similar system here, especially when it comes to motorway driving lessons.
I was driving on the N7 with 3 other guys in the car and they were asking me why I was changing lanes, why didn't I stay in 1 or the other.
I said you can't drive in the overtaking lane unless you are overtaking. Once your around you should get back in. They just didn't get it. Their theory is if you are driving at the speed limit you can drive in whichever lane you like. The biggest problem on Irish roads is an ignorance of the basic rules and attitude to other drivers imo.

Spot on and i blame it for the road deaths two.

SteQ

I taught people to drive in Germany the Uk and Ireland. Germany the test is very tough with a min amount of hours Examiner sits in the back of the car instructor sits in the front good scheme at least the instructor can see what happens to a pupil on test and not blame the examiner. Uk pupils are taught on the principle of 1 and a half hours for every year of there age eg 20 year old student requires 30 hours minimum. Ireland has a little way to go as yet but we are getting there.:)