How long did it take?

HOS 1997

How long did it take you to learn how to drive to a reasonable standard?

Doing loads of lessons now and want to get an idea on average how long it takes most people before they can drive comfortably.

Captain Havoc

Depends on the number of hours you put in, I used to go for savage drives with my mates and parents, down to Cork and stuff for no particular reason, I also got quite a few leasons, once a week, then twice once I got my test date and then three times before the tests. I was one year from applying for my provisional license to passing my test, I passed on the third test, I was confident in the first after about seven months.

Faith+1

Captain Havoc wrote: »

Depends on the number of hours you put in, I used to go for savage drives with my mates and parents, down to Cork and stuff for no particular reason, I also got quite a few leasons, once a week, then twice once I got my test date and then three times before the tests. I was one year from applying for my provisional license to passing my test, I passed on the third test, I was confident in the first after about seven months.

Can't beat a savage drive Captain! Lol

ADIDriving

Good advice from Captain Havoc. Some people sit into a car and do everyything perfectly as soon as they are told ( not always popular for people in my profession ) others take years. The only aspect that you can control is the ammount of effort you put in. Good Luck.

macroman

It's a skill, like playing the guitar. Some people take to it much quicker, some people need to get to grips with doing so much simultaneously. But you get out of it what you put into it, the more you drive the more confidence you'll gain, as the mandatory lessons are only a minimum requirement!

starlit

To be honest it took me more than three years but that's 'cause I was taking breaks now and again, I was so frustrated with the driving, I felt I wasn't going anywhere or learning anything else. Not making much progress with my driving. I stopped driving for a couple of months. Once my confidence gradually came back and was ready to go back driving I did and haven't given up so far! I've kept at it since I have got this far!

In reality to get to the standard of driving I am at now, well it took me the best part of 4-6 months from the time I started back doing lessons until now completing pre-test lessons (doing lessons aprox 7 months now so it be another few more months until I could do the test, have to get my grade 2 faults down to a minimum).

So basically preparing for the test...yet no going to book until I am ready as I have not reached test standard yet despite reaching a standard of being able to drive to a reasonable standard and to drive properly I guess! Just need to practise and correct a few things then I be on the way to completing the test.

Learning to drive is a skill that takes time to learn, you either pick it up quickly or your don't and have to work hard at it and practise regularly for things to start clicking once things start to click and what you have learnt and practised come together for you, you won't know yourself! Keep at it. You be delighted with yourself despite the rough times when learning. Its a great achievement once you have learnt regardless if you pass the test or not. Not everyone passes first time. Its even a greater achievement to pass of course.
Hard work will pay off in the end if you put in the time, effort, patience and practise to getting things right and proper and clicking for you.

Its important to be a safe driver too and put all what you learn into practise aswell. Continuous practising is what will get you there in the end.

It's different for everyone, some people learn to drive taking only a few lessons others need a good number before reaching a certain standard. Sometimes driving comes more naturally to others you cannot control that.
If you learn from scratch and properly and with a good instructor as well as getting professional lessons and practising in between with your accompany driver that will bring your standard up a bit quicker maybe. Putting in the hours as other's said is important too.

From what others have said too me some learn after only a few lessons like 3-5 max or as high as 10-14 lessons. Its different for everyone. If I told you how many I have had, your jaw will drop. The general lessons I've done with my instructor is about roughly 12-15 and after than started the pre-test lessons so have done about 17 in total with my current instructor so far. While having completed 10 professional lessons with two other instructors (3,7). So in reality about 27 lessons over the past four years!

I cannot help that it's taking me this long, I am a quick learner just to keep what I've learn intact and practised constantly can wear a bit thin sometimes. Just that I have to keep on at it until I get something right. I can pick it up quickly but could take a few attempts to get it right completely. I can do most things at this stage except the reversing on a fall of ground and parallel parking are my weakest manoeuvres at the moment so have to sort them out.

So keep the chin up, the more time and often you practise the more confident you get the more you will improve. Takes time not something you learn over night but if you are willing to give it the time and patience and attention it deserves you'll learn in no time!

Sometimes often or not, you might have got loads of lessons but ask yourself this question: "are you learning from your instructor?" I mean proper learning are you actually getting what they are saying to you, are you doing exactly how they guide you are you taking on their advice and learnt what they taught you into practise or have they not got through to you? Have you made sufficient progress outside the lessons with your accompany driver, that be your answer to the question I have asked you! If not practise practise practise if nothing is coming together for you and you feel your instructor isn't helping you learn then best to change instructor. Sometimes their method of teaching might not be much help to your learning when learning to drive to best to change instructor maybe. Otherwise if you think practising and practising in your own time with your accompany driver help you learn what your instructor is teaching you then keep at it. You get there in the end!

Good luck OP!

hattoncracker

Are you learning through the EDT or the old system?

HOS 1997

I'm learning following the old system.

I doing about three lessons a week and have been for the last few weeks. I see improvements but not sure would I be able to drive without the instructor at this stage.

This is my second attempt learning. I tried a few years ago, bought a car and the second day I was out driving in it an another car crashed into me. At the time I decided that driving wasn't for me and gave up. That was a mistake and I am regretting it now.

I determined this time to do it but get down at the thoughts of spending months taking lessons.

hattoncracker

HOS 1997 wrote: »

I'm learning following the old system.

I doing about three lessons a week and have been for the last few weeks. I see improvements but not sure would I be able to drive without the instructor at this stage.

This is my second attempt learning. I tried a few years ago, bought a car and the second day I was out driving in it an another car crashed into me. At the time I decided that driving wasn't for me and gave up. That was a mistake and I am regretting it now.

I determined this time to do it but get down at the thoughts of spending months taking lessons.

Im learning via the new system.. Done 14 lessons, have only passed 6 edts and am going to try driving by myself tomorrow maybe. Im not that confident either. I had no car up until before xmas, and I have no sponsor or licenced driver to go with me, so I'm finding it tough.

My point is you'll find it way easier with more practice. If you can get someone to go with you, go wherever. You'll get better with practice, and have confidence!

HOS 1997

Yeah I know practice is the key. I feel stressed when I have someone I know too well in the car with me (family member or friend). I need to get over this.

jimgoose

Um, I dunno - I'm still learning. ;o)

HOS 1997

We're in the same boat then so

Sunflower94536

I am a qualified ADI. I have a check test next Monday morning 20th in Rathgar. I am giving a free EDT lesson as part of my check test. So if you are learning to drive and are interested in a free lesson, let me know.

MangoLime

Technically speaking it took me about 3 years to learn to drive. I started off grand with 5/6 lessons just to get the basics and then let my Dad take me out. One day I got stuck in the middle of the road and for some reason it really frightened the life out of me (granted, there were no cars around as it was really early on a Sunday morning, but still!) and I stopped driving.

Last September though, fed up of bumming lifts off my friends all the time I decided to just grab the bull by the horns and get back to driving. I got proper lessons from great instructor and passed my test the first week in January! So about 4 months.

Don't beat yourself up though-everyone learns at their own pace. Best of luck!

HOS 1997

I am attempting my first long drive on my own tomorrow (will have a full licence holder in the car with me though) Very nervous and hoping it will go OK and help improve my confidence.

Aim to drive every day from now on.

hattoncracker

HOS 1997 wrote: »

I am attempting my first long drive on my own tomorrow (will have a full licence holder in the car with me though) Very nervous and hoping it will go OK and help improve my confidence.

Aim to drive every day from now on.

Good luck dude!! Let us know how you get on... Im sure you'll be fine!

HOS 1997

Cheers, I really should have done this years ago and wouldn't be feeling as nervous as I now do. Hoping tomorrow goes OK and I make a good start.