Learner-Drivers driving at peak-times

kerry4sam

It's been so long since I've had a lesson that I've forgotton. Could someone tell me Please:

Do learner drivers be taken onto the roads at peak-times?
or
Would learner drivers only be taken onto the roads at peak-times if more 'experienced' and not completely starting out?

I only ask as this morning I was 2-cars behind a learner at traffic-lights. They would've had to use their hand-brake at the top of the queue at the red-lights.

Anywhoo, the lights went green to their car stalled. They froze and then almost went through the red-lights. The lady driving immediately behind them; in-front of me threw her hands in the air. I don't yet know how to cut down the time nor edit-out car-reg from my dashcam footage so won't upload video.

Lights turn green again and they were extremely slow moving off. Time being 8:45am. Slow in progress after the light to the point where the lady directly behind them over-took and just, just about got back in before a taxi drove toward her. She was obviously frustrated at the learner and it almost resulted in a collision.

Is it fair for learners to be put in this environment if starting out or is it only the more 'experienced' learners are given these time slots as they would have more confidence.

Just curious.
Many Thanks,
kerry4sam

Squidgy Black

All depends on the area and where the learner lives and what time they're available etc.

I know I did my first couple of lessons in a quiet enough area and then moved onto driving in traffic, I can't imagine someone doing less than 3 or 4 lessons being stuck out on a busy road at peak time by an instructor, surely they'll just be a danger to themselves and other road users.

Also were they instructor cars with the signage etc all over them or was it just cars with L plates up?

kerry4sam

_Tyrrell_ wrote: »

All depends on the area and where the learner lives and what time they're available etc.

I know I did my first couple of lessons in a quiet enough area and then moved onto driving in traffic, I can't imagine someone doing less than 3 or 4 lessons being stuck out on a busy road at peak time by an instructor, surely they'll just be a danger to themselves and other road users.

Also were they instructor cars with the signage etc all over them or was it just cars with L plates up?

Yeah it's nice if starting off to practice in a quiet-enough area alright.

The learner car was lit up like a Christmas Tree. No mistaking this anyways ; no hidden l-plate anywhere ; it was as clear as day. I do think it was the dual-controls that stopped them running the red though and they appear to have stopped right on the pedestrian-crossing.

Just seems wrong having a learner out in this environment, especially if just starting off and trying to build confidence.

Thanks for your reply,
kerry4sam

Tony Beetroot

What city was this?

kerry4sam

Tony Beetroot wrote: »

What city was this?

Twas down in Kerry. Clip also shows a cyclist run the red crossing the light at pedestrian crossing and would've been hit if someone on her side ran the red-light; also cycled on the foot-path <- a grown adult cycling now, not a child going to school.

Redser87

I regularly took lessons at 5 or 6 (Dublin) and my instructor kept me to places that weren't as affected by rush hour until I was well able to handle the pressure of people behind me, lights etc. I have been that soldier dropping people into work in the city centre for 8.30/ 9 (and leaving the car parked there obv.!) but that was the two weeks before my test, when I was already proficient (part of my drive was the Quays, and James' Gate at the Guinness storehouse - massive hill start!). I have been stuck behind learners in their own cars at rush hour, coming home now rather than in the morning, and you just have to grit your teeth and put up with it. I can't imagine it was good for that learner to be in that position and I remember starting out that someone beeping behind me wouldn't speed things up at all, just the opposite, as I would get so stressed about the beep-er that I would cut out again!

Emsloe

It's years ago for me now but the vast majority of my lessons were outside of rush hours. Nothing conscious, just the times suited me and the instructor. My first test was then during rush hour on a weekday :pac:

My mum is learning at the moment and hers are usually around 3pm, again because it suits her and the instructor.

ProudDUB

kerry4sam wrote: »

Yeah it's nice if starting off to practice in a quiet-enough area alright.

The learner car was lit up like a Christmas Tree. No mistaking this anyways ; no hidden l-plate anywhere ; it was as clear as day. I do think it was the dual-controls that stopped them running the red though and they appear to have stopped right on the pedestrian-crossing.

Just seems wrong having a learner out in this environment, especially if just starting off and trying to build confidence.

Teaching someone how to drive in a busy area, at rush hour, isn't ideal. But that may be the only time of day that the pupil or the instructor was free to do a lesson. Or the pupil may live around the corner from a congested area & when they get picked up for the lesson, they can't avoid driving through the busy part of town to get to the quieter part, where they will do the bulk of the lesson.

Also, instructors/driving school are a business. It's hardly fair to tell them that they should shut up shop from 7am-9am or from 5pm-7pm, just because the students may encounter rush hour traffic. That may well be the most lucrative parts of their day, as people are eager to get a lesson in just before they go to work, or just after they get off work.

kerry4sam

Thanks for your replies guys,
kerry4sam