Two tips to follow if you’ve signed up for driving lessons

Here are two tips to follow if you've signed up for some driving lessons.

Ask your driving instructor to focus on improving your driving-related weak spots

When you take your first couple of lessons, you will probably struggle with every aspect of driving; this is normal. However, as you take more lessons, you and your instructor will start to notice which aspects of driving come very easily to you and which ones you find harder. You might, for example, have worked out how to parallel park in just two driving lessons but may still find it difficult to remember to switch gears after accelerating or decelerating, without being reminded by the instructor, after ten lessons.

If you notice a weak spot, you should ask the instructor to devote perhaps two or three lessons solely to this issue, until you feel you have overcome it. Doing this, instead of, for example, spending 10 minutes of each of the next ten lessons on this weak spot will ensure that this challenging task doesn't interfere with your ability to learn about the many other important aspects of driving.

For example, if you get flustered and lose your focus every time you forget to switch gears and this results in you then making other mistakes throughout the lesson that you would not have, had you not been thrown off-kilter by this issue, then you should find that after you spend a couple of lessons tackling this challenge on its own, the rest of your driving lessons go more smoothly.

Don't automatically arrange your driving test after taking the standard minimum number of lessons

Most people who have driving lessons are eager to book their tests after taking the minimum number of lessons their instructors recommend. However, even if you're hoping to get your driving license as soon as you can, it's important not to book yourself in for your test after taking, for example, 55 lessons, just because this is the number that most new drivers in your area take before booking their tests.

Instead, you should have a discussion with your instructor about what they think about your current driving skills, and then take some time by yourself to consider how comfortable you are with every part of the learning process you've undergone. Only when you decide that every part of driving is beginning to feel effortless and automatic, and when your driving instructor tells you that they are confident in your driving skills and feel you're ready for the test, should you book it. Waiting to reach this stage will reduce your chances of failing the test and having to take more lessons before repeating it.

For more information on driving lessons, contact a professional near you.


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