Am I being too ambitious?

heffo500

Hi

I've starting learning to drive about 5 weeks ago and I'm slowly getting there, I've bought a car and I'm now insured so I plan to practice every day if possible. I haven't done any pre tests yet. Ive booked my test for 11 December, Is that to ambitious?

Thanks

punisher5112

Have you completed minimum amount of lessons.

You can't drive un supervised.

meath4sam

heffo500 wrote: »

Hi

I've starting learning to drive about 5 weeks ago and I'm slowly getting there, I've bought a car and I'm now insured so I plan to practice every day if possible. I haven't done any pre tests yet. Ive booked my test for 11 December, Is that to ambitious?

Thanks

I don't think so. Imo the longer you leave the worse you get picking up bad habits.

heffo500

punisher5112 wrote: »

Have you completed minimum amount of lessons.

You can't drive un supervised.

I got my provisional before the deadline so EDT isn't applicable in my case.

Yeah I don't planned to drive unsupervised

heffo500

meath4sam wrote: »

I don't think so. Imo the longer you leave the worse you get picking up bad habits.

Yeah I'm hopeful I'm doing 4 hours of lessons a week plus my family are bringing me out everyday I'm not have lessons

punisher5112

Well then go for it op. Good luck

MascotDec85

It's not impossible, I passed 2.5 months after starting. Work very hard at your weak points

I know I'll be cut down fairly serious here - but my advice to you would be to go out on your own (6am, 7am) and drive around when there's nothing on the roads. I found this was the most helpful thing to me.

I did lessons with my instructor, and also got 'lessons' off a friend, and off my brother. The instructor ones were the only ones that were any good (the others were more a source of frustration, as after my first proper lesson, i clearly knew more than my brother and friend about how a clutch works!).

So my approach was to do a lesson and work on something I was bad at (accelerated take-offs, hill starts, reverse around corner, etc.) and then I'd go out at night, late (1am, 2am) or early the next morning (5-8am) and use the empty roads to practice on (without the distraction of other people in the passenger seat moaning). Although I did go out a few times with another friend that was learning to drive and found it helpful (he did the same thing as me, going out late/early - we both passed our tests on the first time).


Like I say, i know it's a whole can of worms approach, but that was what I did and I felt driving on my own was the most helpful experience (that, and several pre-tests - The most important pre-test, in my opinion, was done an hour before the actual test. I did 3 pre-tests in total and learned from each).

ProudDUB

Deleted User wrote: »

I know I'll be cut down fairly serious here - but my advice to you would be to go out on your own (6am, 7am) and drive around when there's nothing on the roads. I found this was the most helpful thing to me.

Great advice altogether. :rolleyes:

Isn't there a rule on here about telling people to break the law?

3hn2givr7mx1sc

heffo500 wrote: »

I got my provisional before the deadline so EDT isn't applicable in my case.

Yeah I don't planned to drive unsupervised

I had my provisional years before the mandatory lessons came in, but still had to do them. I'd double check that if I were you.

DareGod

Get lots and lots and lots of driving practice.

As an aside, I didn't know you could get insurance on your own car when you don't have your full drivers licence.

ProudDUB

DareGod wrote: »

As an aside, I didn't know you could get insurance on your own car when you don't have your full drivers licence.

You can. It will just costs you an arm and a leg, as you are in the highest risk bracket. Some insurance companies won't insure learners on their own policy (as opposed to being a named driver on someone elses policy) as they are just not worth the trouble, but a lot of them will, as long as you have deep pockets.

coffeepls

When I was learning to drive my driving instructor told me that it takes 2 lessons to learn how to drive, after that it's all about practice and getting it right. You're not being too ambitious booking your test for December. You will need to do loads of driving though, get to know the feel of going up & down the gears naturally etc

Yes you must be accompanied - but let your qualified driver companion be a friend rather than a tutor. A decent friend will go out with you for a drive so you can get that practice in. I would happily accompany any friend of mine who was practicing their driving, and have done so. It's a payback. You'll do it for a learner in the future too.

evlgmaojr27ypu

heffo500 wrote: »

Hi

I've starting learning to drive about 5 weeks ago and I'm slowly getting there, I've bought a car and I'm now insured so I plan to practice every day if possible. I haven't done any pre tests yet. Ive booked my test for 11 December, Is that to ambitious?

Thanks

Nah, I think it is possible, but practise is the key. I ended up passing my test in 2 months on my first attempt (with just 3 grade 2 ). But in that very short period I clocked nearly 2000 km just driving around the testing area.

Delira

baz2009 wrote: »

I had my provisional years before the mandatory lessons came in, but still had to do them. I'd double check that if I were you.

Did your provisional expire in the meantime though?

I also got my original provisional a couple of years before the EDT rule came in. I renewed it last year and didn't have to do the mandatory lessons because I was within 5 years of expiry.

RSA

If your first learner permit for a car is dated on or after 4th April 2011(look at the date in the column headed ό/from), you must complete EDT

MascotDec85

coffeepls wrote: »

When I was learning to drive my driving instructor told me that it takes 2 lessons to learn how to drive, after that it's all about practice and getting it right. You're not being too ambitious booking your test for December. You will need to do loads of driving though, get to know the feel of going up & down the gears naturally etc

Yes you must be accompanied - but let your qualified driver companion be a friend rather than a tutor. A decent friend will go out with you for a drive so you can get that practice in. I would happily accompany any friend of mine who was practicing their driving, and have done so. It's a payback. You'll do it for a learner in the future too.

It might take 2 lessons to learn how to move a car correctly from A to B but that's not all that's involved. I think that's a pretty silly thing for an instructor to say tbh

coffeepls

MascotDec85 wrote: »

It might take 2 lessons to learn how to move a car correctly from A to B but that's not all that's involved. I think that's a pretty silly thing for an instructor to say tbh

Well that's what he said. It encouraged me to practice rather than think I was incapable. That worked for me.

mopi

I think you have plenty of time. I went from riding the odd moped on holidays to an unrestricted A motorcycle licence in 5 days with a qualified instructor, I had about 12 hours of 1-to-2 tuition and another 18 hours of 1-to-1. Without the instructor I doubt I'd have passed the road test in the time frame, we spend about 6 hours riding likely routes and did several mock tests.
I found the instant correction if I made an error [driving too cautiously] very helpful so I'm happy to praise and recommend a good instructor.

heffo500

Hi Guys

Thought I'd update so far.

I got a new instructor after my first one said he wouldn't bring me near finglas yet. He also told me to get a dinner plate out to practice my steering and to look up youtube to see how to steer correctly. I thought I was paying the instructor to teach me not youtube.

The new instructor is far superior and from day one we have been doing all my lessons in finglas. I'm doing 2 two hours lesson a week and am making progress.

heffo500

I passed First Time in Finglas on Tuesday got 7 Grade 2s and 1 Grade 1

Tasden

Delighted for you, well done! You must be so proud of yourself!

meath4sam

Well done

evlgmaojr27ypu

heffo500 wrote: »

I passed First Time in Finglas on Tuesday got 7 Grade 2s and 1 Grade 1

So to answer your initial question - " Am I being too ambitious? "

I don't think so, as you have proven it yourself

Safe Driving