Learning to drive can be a daunting prospect, but it’s a skill that will stay with you for life – so, provided you pass your test, it’s never going to be an investment you’ll regret. But where do you actually begin getting started with your driving lessons?
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Step 1 – Make it happen
The first barrier to starting your driving lessons is the temptation to put them off. You have a busy life, so it might seem a tall order to regularly take an hour, or maybe two, out of your day to learn to drive. But, remember, this is a short-term time investment that’s going to leave you with a life-long skill!
So the first step is to make the effort to regularly make the time to take your lessons. It can be easier than you think to schedule them with your life – for example, your instructor can pick you up or drop you off wherever is convenient, i.e school, college, or work. So before you begin anything else, resolve to actually make your driving lessons happen.
Step 2 – Getting prepared
Learning to drive means you’re going to have a lot of new information to learn, so the next step is for you to take advantage of the multiple learning resources available to help you learn the highway code and prepare for your theory test.
There are many resources available, across multiple different media – there are phone apps, websites with interactive tests, DVDs and, of course, good old fashioned books.
This means you can fit learning the essential elements of the highway code around your life.
Step 3 – Securing private lessons
Most people don’t learn to drive just through professional driving lessons, they have a friend or relative take them out as well.
It’s estimated that of the 46 hours of lessons the average learner has, up to half of them are private. So make sure you get someone who is willing to take you out for private lessons alongside your professional lessons.
They must be at least twenty-one years old and have been driving for at least three years, as well as be fully insured.
It’s also important that you remember to always display “L” plates clearly on any vehicle you’re learning to drive in.
Step 4 – Finding an instructor
Now, with the groundwork done, you can find the professional who is going to help you learn to drive.
There will likely be many instructors in your area, so don’t feel you need to pick the first one you contact. If you don’t happen to connect with a driving instructor, or don’t respond to their teaching style, your lessons will drag on and you might not even pass your test at the end of it.
Many instructors offer “sample” lessons, which allows you to go on a single lesson and establish whether or not you connect with the instructor and their teaching style. Try various instructors until you feel as comfortable as possible behind the wheel.
Step 5 – Keep the ball rolling
Once you begin your driving lessons, it’s essential you continue them regularly until you pass your test. If you let too long pass in between lessons, you’ll begin to forget the things you’ve been learning, ultimately meaning it will take much longer for you to pass your test.
If you’re going to be successful in passing your test, you need to be ready to commit to your driving lessons for as long as it takes for your instructor to think you’re ready.
It will be hard sometimes to juggle with the rest of your life, but it’s a commitment that is very much worth it in the end.
Keep these five tips in mind
