flash Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 god i hate mine. the only mode he seems to speak in is sarcastic. so annoying. if i make a mistake at the beginning of the lesson, it all seems to go down hill from there. whats all ur experiances with bad driving instructors.(hotshot is excluded) cheers flash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNAKEBITE Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 Mine was a "gulf war1" wannabe. Still I passed in 3 weeks so he could not have been that bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 i liked mine, he was a bit odd, but i passed in a couple of months quicker than anyone else i know seeing as i couldnt drive at all to start with. Flash if you dont like him stop your lessons, your paying him, dont waste your money on an instructor you dont like, you wont progress quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dusk2dawn Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 god i hate mine.the only mode he seems to speak in is sarcastic. so annoying. if i make a mistake at the beginning of the lesson, it all seems to go down hill from there. whats all ur experiances with bad driving instructors.(hotshot is excluded) cheers flash Flash, Change your instructor and you will actually start looking forward to your lessons, its expensive enough without having to endure an attitude, give him his marching orders pronto and get someone on your wavelength, a good instructor will teach you far more than the basic requirements to pass the test. Do the "Pass Plus" when you have the test under your belt it will save you far more than what it costs in insurance discount and prepare you for all sorts of situations. D2D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 god i hate mine. the only mode he seems to speak in is sarcastic. so annoying. if i make a mistake at the beginning of the lesson, it all seems to go down hill from there. whats all ur experiances with bad driving instructors.(hotshot is excluded) cheers flash Flash, Change your instructor and you will actually start looking forward to your lessons, its expensive enough without having to endure an attitude, give him his marching orders pronto and get someone on your wavelength, a good instructor will teach you far more than the basic requirements to pass the test. Do the "Pass Plus" when you have the test under your belt it will save you far more than what it costs in insurance discount and prepare you for all sorts of situations. D2D pass plus is a waste of time in my opinion, i looked into it as my instructor offered it, however i worked out how much it cost (not alot) and then what it saved me, well for a start about 50% of insurance companies dont care if you took it or not, you tick the box and there was no price difference, also many dont even give you the option online to do it, meaning you need to phone up which looses you your 10% online discount. I figured i might save £20 over the first 3 years, after which the insurance comes down alot, and things like pass plus have little or no effect on it, 3 years NCB has a much higher effect. Only thing worth considering in my mind is doing 1 or 2 lessons on the motorway, you will be supprised how much of your confidence in driving at the moment lies in your instructor being there. The second you get in a car on your own your constantly second guessing yourself, getting on a motorway slip road for the first time in rush hour is hell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNAKEBITE Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 pass plus is a waste of time in my opinion, Anything that can cut out deaths of young inexperienced drivers in not a waste of time. There is far more benefit that just the financial side of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 pass plus is a waste of time in my opinion, Anything that can cut out deaths of young inexperienced drivers in not a waste of time. There is far more benefit that just the financial side of it. you try telling that to a young driver and i did say i recomened having a few lessons on motorway driving my instructor actually detailed the course with me durring my normal lessons, part of why i decided not to bother, as it is mainly : night driving (they wont do in summer) motorway driving, it is formed of 6 lessons and in my honest opinion is not worth the money. Take a couple of lessons with your instructor on the motorway, its the biggest jump for a new driver, as its something you will never have been on before. At the end of the day most experianced drivers have learnt from mistakes, and there is no reason why it will be any different these days, the pass plus scheme is in my honest opinion nothing more than a money making scheme. but then i like to be controversial, makes life more interesting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 to me if the driving instructor and the test was right there would be no need for pass plus. You do learn by your mistakes and though the statistics are bad short of giving no male under the age of 25 a driving licence you're not going to improve them with more lessons IMHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pin Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 Lets not confuse "learning to drive" with passing a test, the two things are completely different. Nobody who passes a test has learned to drive, they have learned to pass a test. First time out on your own you start learning to drive. Anything which reduces deaths of young drivers has to be a good thing, unless it costs me more money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dusk2dawn Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 pass plus is a waste of time in my opinion, Anything that can cut out deaths of young inexperienced drivers in not a waste of time. There is far more benefit that just the financial side of it. I couldnt agree more, the reason I mentioned pass plus was that when my daughter did it she not only gained further advanced tuition including night driving, which for the life of me I dont understand why its not part of the test together with motorway driving, but actually had an appreciable discount on her insurance, she also had motorway lessons after passing. D2D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 After many years of driving tractors and landrovers round the farms, I took driving lessons with my Mothers cousin, who had a one car driving school called ExTu (catchy ). He had an excellent manner and was a good teacher. There was a waiting list for tests at the time and so he put me straight in for a test. They called me forward due to a cancellation, when I had only had four lessons. I passed first time.................and have been learning how to drive ever since, that pedal on the far left still gives me problems. I agree with the people who say that if you don't like the teacher, you won't like the lesson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkBoy Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 I think the UK has the highest standard of driving anywhere due to the difficulty of the test. I remember (cue nostalgic music ) my instructor driving me home after I passed my test and telling me that "now you'll start learning to drive" - Never a truer word spoken. Happy days - trundling around in his Ford Escort, the windows open no matter what the weather so that his pipe smoke escaped more quickly and his calm voice saying "steady at 50 boy - we ain't in no race".... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr W Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 My only advice is buy a beat up banger when you first pass as you'll add plenty of your own bumps and scratches to it so no point doing it to a nice shiney car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNAKEBITE Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 but then i like to be controversial, makes life more interesting Maybe in a past life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 My only advice is buy a beat up banger when you first pass as you'll add plenty of your own bumps and scratches to it so no point doing it to a nice shiney car. this is the catch: young drivers get massive insurance premiums, so in an effort to get cheap insurance they go 3rd party on a cheap car, however this means if they are in an accident or put into a position to be, the car they are driving probably wont have ABS (they all learnt on ABS so have no idea how to avoid locking up), the cars are often not road worthy, and have very low crash ratings, The result, the odds of having an accident are significantly higher than people driving good cars, the odds of them being injured in an accident are also much higher. I'm just glad im lucky enough to have a family willing to sponser me driving a half decent car. I am convinced that my accident i had recently (yes snake' you have been waiting for that one ) would have been significantly worse and possibly resulting in me being seriously injured, had my car not had ABS and had it not have been a high crash rating car. (accident wasnt my fault i might add, a van driver pulled across me without looking around the corner) Its a very difficult for a young driver to start, ive got friends not as lucky as me driving complete bangers, yes they dont care what happens to their cars as the tyres on them are worth more than the car itself, however i hope none of them encounter what i did as i fear they could get seriously hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Country_est Posted June 9, 2007 Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 Just started to teach my son to drive (hes 14), with the Under 17 car club. Have to use your own car, but its all in a safe environment, starts as early as 12 uptill 15 is the oldest joining age. Can Drive at venus such as MOD Bicester, Castle Combe, TRL Crowthore & a few more. On the circuit the roads are all marked out with junctions and rounderbouts with areas to practice reversing ect ect. You then do theory tests and gradings to allow you to go do other things such as solo driving and skid pans ect ect. Next year will start the youngest who will be 12 and then by the time they come to be let loose on the roads they should have a lot more experience. Terv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naddan28 Posted June 9, 2007 Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 Passplus isn't a waste of time I am affraid nick. My insurance dropped down by £1k and I was a far better driver after passplus. I learnt to drive in a town and had no exp on motorways or country lanes or even adverse weather conditions. After learning to drive the country lanes (and nearly spinning the car on some wet road) I also learnt to drive motorways! Now I have been driving for over nearly a year, I am so glad I learnt to do passplus, it has helped me so many times and also my gf who decided passplus was pointless has had more accidents than me and also spun the car 3 times in the snow, nearly resulting in her being in the middle of a main road! She also didn't learnt to drop down a gear when overtaking on a country lane, something that pass plus would have taught her! Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted June 9, 2007 Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 Passplus isn't a waste of time I am affraid nick. My insurance dropped down by £1k and I was a far better driver after passplus. I learnt to drive in a town and had no exp on motorways or country lanes or even adverse weather conditions. After learning to drive the country lanes (and nearly spinning the car on some wet road) I also learnt to drive motorways! Now I have been driving for over nearly a year, I am so glad I learnt to do passplus, it has helped me so many times and also my gf who decided passplus was pointless has had more accidents than me and also spun the car 3 times in the snow, nearly resulting in her being in the middle of a main road! She also didn't learnt to drop down a gear when overtaking on a country lane, something that pass plus would have taught her! Dan sorry dan, pass plus dosent teach common sense, which is what a significant number of those issues are. If you dont have an intrest in driving often you wont understand things like what to do in snow, even before i had set foot in the driving seat i knew what to do in a good number of those types of situations. If you got your insurance down by 1K fair play, but every single quote i got didnt even come near that number, more like £150-200 in the first year. either way, i maintain that the pass plus is a gimik and that if anything the content of the course should be (as was me) taught at least in theory as standard. If its such a life saving course how can people put a value on it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tosspot Posted June 9, 2007 Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 Nick tell us again about the time you run your mate over Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naddan28 Posted June 9, 2007 Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 Learning how to handle a car and what do in theory is no subsitute for practical exp nick, just look at this sport of ours! We have all read books and know how it should be done but doing it is a different thing, same with golf. It is also meant to be incoporated as part of the driving test soon, I am lead to believe, so that would be a clear indication to its value as a life saving course. I enjoy driving and knew how to handle the car, hence when the backend went out I controlled it myself and didn't need any assitance BUT what if I couldn't handle it myself?? Then a qualified driving instructor was their to correct the situation and prevent an accident, possibly endangering others. How many idiot young drivers do you see with their cars "parked" in hedgerows around country lanes? If they had done passplus they may have learnt how to drive these lanes properly and not make the most common mistake, which is slamming the breaks causing the tires to lock, the car understeer and "park" in the hedge/tree/car/pedestrian. Anything that can stop that alone is worth while IMO. My view anyway, Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 Nick tell us again about the time you run your mate over **** shut it you trying to win an argument here he deserved it anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 Learning how to handle a car and what do in theory is no subsitute for practical exp nick, just look at this sport of ours! We have all read books and know how it should be done but doing it is a different thing, same with golf. It is also meant to be incoporated as part of the driving test soon, I am lead to believe, so that would be a clear indication to its value as a life saving course. I enjoy driving and knew how to handle the car, hence when the backend went out I controlled it myself and didn't need any assitance BUT what if I couldn't handle it myself?? Then a qualified driving instructor was their to correct the situation and prevent an accident, possibly endangering others. How many idiot young drivers do you see with their cars "parked" in hedgerows around country lanes? If they had done passplus they may have learnt how to drive these lanes properly and not make the most common mistake, which is slamming the breaks causing the tires to lock, the car understeer and "park" in the hedge/tree/car/pedestrian. Anything that can stop that alone is worth while IMO. My view anyway, Dan your example is exactly my point, there is a difference between learning to do this and doing it in practice, trust me when your presented with an obstacle which you cant get around or stop before (firstly you should really be in this position...... my bad, but it will happen one day) then i bet you anything this goes straight out the window. Im just glad i drive a car with ABS because i sure as hell wouldnt have had the time to even pump hte brake pedal once in my accident. One thing i do believe is that all test cars should have their ABS deactivated for the test, as ABS allows people with no experiance to drive no ABS cars. (which i refuse to believe is covered in more than in theory in pas plus as im yet to find a instructors car without ABS) Still dont see it being worth while imho, but if it was made a standard part of the driving test (and tested) then i think it couldnt hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naddan28 Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 I agree nick, its not worth you doing it now as it will be teaching you to suck eggs. However, when you had just passed your licence you would have found it worthwhile I reckon. I just think its a good idea to get people as much exp in different situations (motorways, inclemental weather, etc) while they are sitting with a driving instructor. That way they are much more prepared to deal with these situations when alone and no the correct procedure and don't make silly mistakes. Driving in the snow was a prime example, I was never taught in my test to drive in a low gear etc in the snow but it was gone over in pass plus (already knew it, but not everyone will have) my gf who didn't have pass plus as I said drove in the snow and spun the car majorily (she wonders why she's not on my insurance?!?) pass plus could of and would of helped. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 I agree nick, its not worth you doing it now as it will be teaching you to suck eggs. However, when you had just passed your licence you would have found it worthwhile I reckon. I just think its a good idea to get people as much exp in different situations (motorways, inclemental weather, etc) while they are sitting with a driving instructor. That way they are much more prepared to deal with these situations when alone and no the correct procedure and don't make silly mistakes. Driving in the snow was a prime example, I was never taught in my test to drive in a low gear etc in the snow but it was gone over in pass plus (already knew it, but not everyone will have) my gf who didn't have pass plus as I said drove in the snow and spun the car majorily (she wonders why she's not on my insurance?!?) pass plus could of and would of helped. Dan i suppose these are just situations where i felt (apart from motorway) that i had the understanding to deal with them, and so far apart from my one mishap (thankyou mr silver van driver) ive had an event free 10months of driving, through snow and all sorts. I do think that motorway driving is worth a few lessons though, I had the unfortunate situation of a baptism of fire, trying to escape orpington and getting utterly lost i took the first sign post for sevenoaks and god only knows where i ended up, but it was my first motorway drive (just ask tosspot or LB about my sense of direction) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Fox Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 Well Flash, i agree with everyone else on this, i would change schools asap if you are finding his attitude poor!, plenty more of us out there, and i would be concerned that this will hinder your progress. Pass Plus is about road safety, the first time on a Motorway can be quite a scary proposition for some new drivers, the insurance discounts (and some insurance firms will give very healthy discounts!) are in place as an incentive to young drivers, its quite sad that some only look for the discounts and dont really appreciate the extra skills involved! When people learn to drive now, its exactly that, it used to be a case of just driving the test routes and passing a test, thats why the standard of driving in the UK is so poor at the moment! Many of my students are better drivers than the taxi drivers i ride with, or even friends and family, i dont belive the theory that after a test you start to learn, i believe totally the opposite, i think things go down hill, and the figures of road deaths is sound evidence of that! Anyway Flash, change if you aint a happy bunny!, i can still suggest a couple of old pals who work in your area! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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