Intensive Driving courses

[Little-Miss]

Has anyone ever done one?

 

I need to learn to drive, buses are a joke.

 

I've had hundreds of lessons but for one reason or another (probably lack of confidence) ive stopped doing them. So i can drive, i just need practise and a bit of paper at the end of it!

 

I need to learn its one of those things in my life i havent achieved and its annoying.

 

Im thinking of booking it for over the summer hols...

[Arcath]

you will need to re-take your theory test if you took it more than 2 year ago (id get that done before you start anything so you can book your practical when ever without having to worry about it)

 

Private practice was the main thing for me, i went from having never driven before at christmas to passing my test at the end of march with 4 hours of lessons a week + private practice most days.

 

My instructor said that the examiners dis-like the intesive courses because people get sold the idea of "do this course for a week and you'll pass" which sadly isnt the case. If you can already drive then it should be okay as your not trying to go from "what does this peddle do" to passing in a week.

 

Id reccomend a local instructor that knows the examiners and the test routes, mine knew the way the test centre worked so well that he was able to give me practice in the same place i did my maneuvers in the test.

[Little-Miss]

Yes my Theory is an issue. Its more a pain then anything having to resit it.

 

i was just looking at one websites "intensive courses" and its all in one packaage. Interesting what your Driving instructer said though. But like you said maybe as im not a first time driver i'll be ok.

[Sarconia]

I'm not sure how you'll get confidence from a one week intensive course... in actual fact, it sounds like it must be quite a stressful course as you've got so much to cram in rather than just sitting back and learning from any mistakes you made throughout the week.

 

I'll give another vote for private practice as well. It sounds like you can drive fairly well so I'd go for it, what my parents did was, when I had got to the stage of "I'm ok at driving" I then got insured on their big old estate, it was a huge car! but as they said to me "if you can drive this and park it, you can drive anything else without any issues". Get a friend or an actual driving instructor with a big car and go for it!

[TwoZeroAlpha]

+1 for private experience. It's the best way. I had probably 3-4x more hours private driving than I did tuition. To be honest only two of my friends from 6th form did intensive courses, and compared to the conventional route were less proficient drivers. Then again they went from zero - pass in the week.

[Flakes]

vote for normal driving lessons over 1 week intensive course. The Intensive course is just a stressfull and cost an awful lot without guarantee of a pass(no matter what they advertise) i just passed my driving test last week, and did a similar thing to you. i originally started driving at 17 and went in for a test just before i went to uni, i made a silly mistake and didnt pass, for the next 4 years i didnt take any lessons all my money going towards university activities(read pub). Took them up again about 6 weeks ago and passed with one minor(used a private instructor that came from BSM, he was excellent). just put a deposit down on a 1.2 Corsa 2002 Comfort last night, i pick it up on Sat

[sippo]

This thread reminded me of this:

 

 

Quality.

[apeo]

Suppose the attraction to intensive courses is that you would be driving everyday and for longer periods, where as having odd lessons here and there means there a gap between each sessions. Guess only you know how you learn.

[Little-Miss]

good point Sarconia. My confidence issues i think were also down to depression, so im kinda hoping im past that. But good point.

 

My OH drives, but his car deaded.... apart from him i dont know anyone else who's willing to let me drive their car. :S

[Little-Miss]

Suppose the attraction to intensive courses is that you would be driving everyday and for longer periods, where as having odd lessons here and there means there a gap between each sessions. Guess only you know how you learn.

 

I feel i need to just throw myself into it so i have no excuses or put off like i have for the last 10 years! 10 YEARS! Dear god! Im dissapointed in myself!

[K.C.Leblanc]

My OH drives, but his car deaded....

 

Get him to put a plug on it, and then you'll be able to mend it.

 

I'd agree with the trying to get some private practice, it helped me.

[sippo]

What you need is regular lessons at a regular time. I did two hours every friday and I flew through it all. This was about 14 Years ago mind.

[SteveBentley]

Yes my Theory is an issue. Its more a pain then anything having to resit it.

 

I had to resit my theory because it ran out and yes, it was a pain (and an expense), but it was amusing to get a higher score on the hazard perception than my instructor who did a check test a week or two before, and only just scraped a pass (although at a higher pass mark)!

[Little-Miss]

I had to resit my theory because it ran out and yes, it was a pain (and an expense), but it was amusing to get a higher score on the hazard perception than my instructor who did a check test a week or two before, and only just scraped a pass (although at a higher pass mark)!

 

Ha! Brilliant! I was in that exact situation with my last driving instructor!

[Arcath]

Suppose the attraction to intensive courses is that you would be driving everyday and for longer periods, where as having odd lessons here and there means there a gap between each sessions. Guess only you know how you learn.

 

thats not really true, my instructor said that they tend to go out all day with 2-3 people in the car so you dont actually do all the driving all day. Plus if you where stoping/starting and doing manouvers all day your feet would get tired.

[Little-Miss]

on these intensive things you share a car?

[mac_shinobi]

My OH drives, but his car deaded.... apart from him i dont know anyone else who's willing to let me drive their car. :S

 

In a joking voice and being sarcastic here before anyone has a go at me lol - but maybe you could flutter your eyes at Simon @ CPLTD LOL

[witch]

If you really think that last time your problems were down to depression, then you will probably be fine this time. I started at 17 and failed to even get as far as my test. Took it up again 5 years later, with NO car to practice in, had 24 lessons and passed first time.

What it comes down to is the quality of the instructor - if I were you I would try a few until you find one that you really feel 'gets' the way you are.

My problem, all those years ago, was confidence so I found an instructor who would tell me exactly when to change gear (even though I knew really, I just didnt believe myself!) each and every time until I was confident enough to tell him to be quiet!

I hated the instructor who kept telling me to just go with it and do what I thought I should do - coz I was never sure what I should do!!

My younger son passed with no car to practice in - it is not ideal, I know, but it can be done with the right instructor.

An intensive course may leave you with a licence but still no confidence

[GrumbleDook]

I did mine as an intensive course whilst in the army. It was a civvi instructor and it took me 6 1/2 days to pass. I shared the car with someone else and we took it in turns driving. Initially for 30 mins at a time, but then an hour, then 1 1/2 hours. Having the breaks was very helpful because you got to listen to the instructor as they talked someone else through some of the same mistake I was making.

 

My problem was that I hate cars. They are just big metal accidents waiting to happen, and are offensive weapons! Once I got over the fact that I can be in control then it went a lot better.

[Jamman960]

I went for a semi-intensive course a few years back which worked out to 3hrs a day for 2 weeks(excluding weekends), I found that about right - 3hrs was tiring as a learner so I could imagine the additional 2 hours or so per day on a fully intensive course wouldn't be quite as productive.

 

If you've already had a fair few lessons it may be worth booking a few long lessons with an instructor, a full course may be overkill.

[Brpilot99]

Hi .. I'm a part time techie and part time driving instructor ... Over the years Ive found the best is a 1 hour lesson with me and then private practice on what was covered in the lesson. This does'nt suit everybody of course as not everyone has a car and another licenced person to do the practice in..... If a car isnt available then a 2 hour lesson once or twice a week with me is the next best thing. I have had people come to me after having done an intensive course saying that its just to much to take in over the week ...

 

Tip1 ... checkout youtube ...do a search on BSM theres lots of videos covering all aspects of driving including a video of a test ....

Tip2 ... try to have a mock test before the actual test ... it gets you used to the pressure and proceedure of the real thing ... also if there are any weaknesses they will tend to show up. You can then have more practice in the weak areas, if any.

 

Above all drive drive drive as much as you can ........... Practice makes perfect !!!!

Hope this helps

Cheers

Brian Rumsey

ICT Tech and ADI

[AyatollahPies]

I had 4 or 5 private lessons but realised it wasn't working for me. Booked a weeks residential and it worked a treat. I recommend it.

 

It's probably the equivalent of 20 (1 hour) driving lessons, but condensed, so you keep practising.

 

What works for some won't necessarily work for others though.

[gibbo_ap]

i 24 and dont drive, i had lessons but then stopped when i was in a crash (ok i crashed...badly) back on the lessons now, its scary i drive better now ive had two years off lol.

 

i just want to go on a track day with the missus and her dad lol + he is getting a ferrari in the summer ago of that will be fun