First lesson in the morning, what to expect?

JokerD

Hey, I've my first lesson in the morning, what should I be expecting? will it be a case of just stopping and starting? or do you think I could be on the roads at all? Not sure the routine and expectations for a first lesson. Thanks for any replies:D

Alanstrainor

JokerD wrote: »

Hey, I've my first lesson in the morning, what should I be expecting? will it be a case of just stopping and starting? or do you think I could be on the roads at all? Not sure the routine and expectations for a first lesson. Thanks for any replies:D

It all depends on the instructor and your confidence. It could be just stopping and starting. Or it could be like my first lesson which took me stright out onto the roads. It was a great way to learn. The car was dual controlled so there was no real worries in that respect. Most important thing is to stay calm, know you're in safe hands and listen to your instructor. Dont be worried if you "don't get it" after your first lesson (no one does;)). Let us know how you get on!

2qk4u

Are you a complete beginner or have you tried to drive with friends/family ?

JokerD

Alanstrainor wrote: »

It all depends on the instructor and your confidence. It could be just stopping and starting. Or it could be like my first lesson which took me stright out onto the roads. It was a great way to learn. The car was dual controlled so there was no real worries in that respect. Most important thing is to stay calm, know you're in safe hands and listen to your instructor. Dont be worried if you "don't get it" after your first lesson (no one does;)). Let us know how you get on!

Thanks, I will let you know no probs, its at 9.00 so the roads might be v.busy or v.quiet but I expect him to bring me to an isolated spot to get me started

Random

I had a 2 hour lesson my first time. I spent about 30 mins - 1 hour practicing stop / start and 1st / 2nd gear in a quiet side road. Then I drove around a little and drove home.

Depends on your confidence and how quickly you pick things up. Some people pick it up faster than others, some people take longer and make better drivers, etc.

JokerD

2qk4u wrote: »

Are you a complete beginner or have you tried to drive with friends/family ?

I've done very little with anyone, so I think I'll be telling the instructer that I'm a total beginner just so I can start fresh incase I've picked up any bad habits

Sunjammer

My 1st lesson was 1.5 hours which involved starting & stopping and by the end of it we were well into doing a roundabout and a turn in the road (U-turn not 3 point) driving through a village with a roundabout on one end and U turn on the other, got to do 1st 2nd & 3rd gear, up shifting and down shifting. After 4 x 1.5 hours we have hit the city suburbs and he plans an "Assault" on the city centre on the 5th! Instructor is excellent, very calm and hasn't had to use his dual controls once yet

Enjoy your lessons and good luck

JokerD

Well I'm just back and everything went well. I started off going around housing estates and then onto the roads. I got up to 4th gear, the instructer said he really wanted me up to 4th in the first lesson.Done a lot of junction work and some roundabouts. However I must say there are a lot of tense people out there. I arrived at a stop sign in a housing estate and was careful to move out, so obviously a bit slow but the look I got from the person behind him and I didn't do anything wrong. The instructer said that the mentality of a lot of drivers these days is awful. I hope there aren't many people with such impatience. But overall the instructor said I done excellent so happy days and who cares if the Mother gets her child to school 6 secs later, I guess she'll just have to get up 6 secs earlier in the morning:p

Thumpette

Well done Joker! Good to get the first out of the way! On my first one someone beeped me for not taking a chance getting onto a roundabout. My instructor turned round in the seat and give the guy the finger!

They say the 2nd lesson is the worst, you feel more confident and it can be dissapointing when you dont make as much progress as you did in the first. Stick with it though- just keep going back and you'll be flying in no time!

JokerD

Thumpette wrote: »

Well done Joker! Good to get the first out of the way! On my first one someone beeped me for not taking a chance getting onto a roundabout. My instructor turned round in the seat and give the guy the finger!

They say the 2nd lesson is the worst, you feel more confident and it can be dissapointing when you dont make as much progress as you did in the first. Stick with it though- just keep going back and you'll be flying in no time!

Thanks for the advice, your instructor sounnds fun:D

Shane190

Thumpette wrote: »

Well done Joker! Good to get the first out of the way! On my first one someone beeped me for not taking a chance getting onto a roundabout. My instructor turned round in the seat and give the guy the finger!

They say the 2nd lesson is the worst, you feel more confident and it can be dissapointing when you dont make as much progress as you did in the first. Stick with it though- just keep going back and you'll be flying in no time!

I have my second lesson this evening, my instructor says that we are goin through the town:eek::eek:

Little worried about all the starting / stopping involved

JokerD

Shane190 wrote: »

I have my second lesson this evening, my instructor says that we are goin through the town:eek::eek:

Little worried about all the starting / stopping involved

You'll be as happy as Larry after it, is it Drogheda, Dundalk or somewhere else?

Sunjammer

Shane190 wrote: »

I have my second lesson this evening, my instructor says that we are goin through the town:eek::eek:

Little worried about all the starting / stopping involved

Don't worry about it-it will be fun .. My second lesson we ran into 2 funerals in two adjacent villages, one had cars parked on top of the grass in the centre of the roundabout and on the hatch markings of the roundabout and not a cop in sight, so the instructor said drive on to the next big town "it will be quiet" school traffic time n traffic lights down hill for half mile in traffic starting n stopping every 2 or 3 car lengths but it was brilliant for clutch control practice and braking so was glad it turned out the way it did!

Shane190

JokerD wrote: »

You'll be as happy as Larry after it, is it Drogheda, Dundalk or somewhere else?

Dundalk. The lesson went grand:D it was a lot quieter than i thought it would be so that helped. Some one way streets with two lanes were a bit awkward as I struggled to keep in my lane and prevented some cars from passing up on my outside:(

Overall all i'm happy with the lesson and looking forward to the next one:)

Fiona500

JokerD wrote: »

However I must say there are a lot of tense people out there. I arrived at a stop sign in a housing estate and was careful to move out, so obviously a bit slow but the look I got from the person behind him and I didn't do anything wrong. The instructer said that the mentality of a lot of drivers these days is awful. I hope there aren't many people with such impatience.

There are an awful lot of people like that, road rage is becoming a serious problem in Ireland. Don't let them bully you into taking a risk, it's not their car and bones that will end up broken, just ignore them and make sure your doors are locked!