Where did you learn how to drive?

jester77

Learned in Frankfurt. A lot more sane there than Ireland, only ever allowed in a car with an instructor. You have to go to driving school, pass exams, pass first-aid course and an eye exam. Driving involves a minimum number of hours in the city, suburbs, motorway, countryside and at night before you can take the driving test itself. Took about 2 months for me from once I registered to complete everything and pass the test. Cost about €2k back then so probably more now.

davo2001

jester77 wrote: »

Learned in Frankfurt. A lot more sane there than Ireland, only ever allowed in a car with an instructor. You have to go to driving school, pass exams, pass first-aid course and an eye exam. Driving involves a minimum number of hours in the city, suburbs, motorway, countryside and at night before you can take the driving test itself. Took about 2 months for me from once I registered to complete everything and pass the test. Cost about €2k back then so probably more now.

It's the same now with EDT lessons for new drivers.

Boom_Bap

OP, my advice is to use an instructor. Use an instructor in the area where you will be doing your driving test. They will know the possible routes where you will be doing your test.
They will also teach how to drive properly. I'm sure when you've been in a car you will have heard the driver shout 'where did you learn to drive' or 'where did you get yer licence, in a box of corn flakes'. There is a reason why people say this while driving.
Also, having a friend teach you will not point out everything you are doing wrong.....i know you want to learn the mechanics of driving, but you can learn really bad habits easily that are much harder to shake.


Or just go to a field and rally the f*ck out of your car.

Valetta

Azalea wrote: »

Learned some bits of driving on a golf course also. My dad was able to access handy places for teaching us driving, but not sure how great a driving instructor he was. :pac:

I find you're better off starting with a 1 iron, then progress to driving.

jimgoose

1983, back-roads of east Limerick, black Mk. I Granada 2.0 Pinto. Good times. :cool:

Graces7

Travelling back in time to 1965..... In the UK...With me? Took lessons first with a small local driving school. That ended when the instructor made me park on a very deserted road and.....I think you get it! Then changed, having failed a test or two to BMS then a kind friend realised that all I needed was practice so let me drive here and her kids around. We had some lovely trips and passed the next test no problem.. Interesting part was meeting my former BSM tutor in a shop car park and being warned by him I would get caught ie he thought I was driving licenceless!) Enjoyed disillusioning him! practice is the vital thing; gives confidence and ease.... OK back to 2016!

Sh1tbag OToole

davo2001 wrote: »

We still have a 94 carina, great car in fairness, trading it in for a 161 next week, going to miss it

No recession for some

Boom_Bap

Boom_Bap wrote: »

OP, my advice is to use an instructor. Use an instructor in the area where you will be doing your driving test. They will know the possible routes where you will be doing your test.

You're not allowed anywhere near the test until you've had a certain number of lessons with an instructor these days

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

I learned on the roads around town bit that was 1964 and the roads were almost empty and you didn't need a qualified driver with you. I passed first time 3 months on.

As you now have to complete a number of official lessons, forget about the mate until after getting professional lessons.

The Highwayman

Bettystown beach. In a Fiat Ritmo

selous

Bought a Renault 5 off a neighbour for £80 and took it to the fields in Carrickmines where the M50 and luas line and housing estates are now, first hill start was the Devils elbow in Glencullen, my Dad stopped his car half way up, got out and said there you go, no pressure, (It's beyond steep) but I done it, (sold the Renault later for £120, woohoo)

endacl

I learned here:

Edit: (Semi) Serious answer would be on my uncle's farm in Kilkenny. My 14yo cousin showed 12yo me how to move a 2.5l, 3 cylinder Perkins engine. Anybody care to guess the vehicle, make and model?

Diabhal Beag

Used to get brought by the father to the road the Poitín man lives on back Cheathrú Rua. Sunday mornings at 8 when nobody was around during the Summer after Leaving Cert. Got taught how to drive in an awful 98 Civic.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

The Backwards Man

endacl wrote: »

I learned here:

All I learned from that is that is how to pull a joystick.

Oh

Vowel Movement

I learned to drive in a polo around the local mart building which was mostly gravel with mahoosive potholes.

endacl

Vowel Movement wrote: »

I learned to drive in a polo around the local mart building which was mostly gravel with mahoosive potholes.

You should have claimed for damage to the suspension. You'd have made a mint!

Agricola

It's a bit like dogs and swimming for me. I can't remember a time when I couldn't drive.

failinis

My brother (tried) teaching me a few lessons in an industrial estate in Derry, and then on my first test the instructor took me out into the city centre so it was all a bit of a head first type thing.

calanus

For reasons related mostly to laziness I never really learned to drive until quite late and in another country (Canada). So far I've actually not yet driven on the left hand side of the road....

RayM

On public roads, with a really good driving instructor. Passed first time. I can always tell by the way someone drives (lane discipline, indicating on roundabouts, using mirrors, etc), whether they were taught by a qualified instructor or by their parents.

ChippingSodbury

On one of these 6718 drawing hay when I was around 10. Earned my first pay packet that day, £2.60 in change: I was king of the world!

sesswhat

RayM wrote: »

On public roads, with a really good driving instructor. Passed first time. I can always tell make a smug judgement by the way someone drives (lane discipline, indicating on roundabouts, using mirrors, etc), whether they were taught by a qualified instructor or by their parents.

jimgoose

RayM wrote: »

On public roads, with a really good driving instructor. Passed first time. I can always tell by the way someone drives (lane discipline, indicating on roundabouts, using mirrors, etc), whether they were taught by a qualified instructor or by their parents.

Always, eh? I doubt it.

Ogogo

In a Zetor tractor in a field when I was 5 or 6. I was small enough that I had to get down off the seat to stand on the clutch pedal to make it stop. Not much consideration for health and safety back then I guess. I had progressed onto trucks as soon as I mastered tractors, no problem manoeuvring a truck and trailer as a 10 year old.

murpho999

Asmooh wrote: »

Official driving school in The Netherlands.. the way you should learn to drive the correct way if you ask me.

Passed Theory and Practical test the first time, and believe me those tests are soo much more difficult compare to here.

Very Similar story for me.

I learnt first from my Dad, in car parks, industrial estates etc.

Then drove for years on the Provisional licence. When it expired, did test, failed and then just drove home and carried on. Ridiculous system.

Moved to Holland in 1998. No such thing as a Provisional/Learner licence.
Compulsory lessons with registered driving schools and dual controlled cars.

So my first lesson was more a demo of my driving with the instructor and I thought I would just need one or two lessons to get me past the test, like it was in Ireland.

How wrong was I. It actually turned out that whilst I could get a car to move , and could park etc, I did everything wrong.
Mirror use, lane discipline, speed.

I had simply picked up all my father’s bad habits as he thought me, despite never passing a test as he made use of the ridiculous amnesty in the 70s.


So I had about 14 lessons in The Netherlands, passed a theory test and then a proper driving test and I am glad I did it.

My driving is a lot better and safer.

Irish driving test is a joke, despite changes as it does not bring people on motorways at all.

Back living in Ireland and the driving standards are appalling and it is very evident on motorways. People thinking there are ‘fast’ and ‘slow’ lanes instead of just ‘driving’ and ‘overtaking’ lanes. People driving the whole M50 in the middle lane. Entering motorways at 50kmh whilst traffic is going at 120km. Then they drive at about 60kmph and slow down traffic. Exiting at last moment instead of being in exit lane at the start.
People also stopping on hard shoulders, for pee/chat/phone calls or food. A big no no.

It really has to change and the idea of letting untrained drivers on the road to learn is crazy is there is very little enforcement of the laws.

Also, driving instructors in Holland have to meet strict standards and are tested every year unlike here.

DanielODonnell

Cookstown, Co.Tyrone a hole which is full of traffic lights and traffic congestion.

However I had a steering wheel and pedals for my Playstation in 2000 which I used for Driver 2 and Colin McCrea rally.

Hammer89

So, my first driving lesson was something of a baptism of fire, to the point where I don't actually want to start driving. It's all quite hard, isn't it? I wish I could say I was unperturbed, champing at the bit for the next lesson, but I'm rather apathetic now.

When I think of 80-year-old grannies driving around in their Nissan Micras, it restores my confidence that I can master this driving lark however. I'm no dunse. I'm quite intelligent and if I slug it out, I'll be on the road in no time at all.

That 45-minute session with my mate has given me a newfound appreciation for people like my auntie, who I used to regard as being a terrible driver, but now I look at her as being Damon Hill or somebody.

Sam Kade

Vowel Movement wrote: »

I learned to drive in a polo around the local mart building which was mostly gravel with mahoosive potholes.

Are they bigger than massive potholes?

josip

Hammer89 wrote: »

... I'm no dunse...