What To Expect From Your First Driving Lesson

As youngsters, most of us have thought about eventually driving and owning a car. We imagine that it would give us mobility and freedom. Some of us even imagine precisely what our first car would look like.

However, to get to the point of driving and owning a car, we’d need to get past a few driving lessons. The actual number of hourly lessons can vary between individuals. Should some of us find the prospect of driving lessons in any way daunting, here are a few tips on what one can expect from The First Driving Lesson.

Before you start taking lessons, you’ll need to hold a valid provisional licence for the United Kingdom. You can apply for a provisional licence up to 3 months before your 17^th birthday, but the earliest you can take your first driving lesson is on your 17^th birthday.

Make sure the car you’re about to drive is safe, fully insured, and taxed. You must display an ‘L’ plate (‘L’ or ‘D’ in Wales) in full view. This will not be a concern if you use a reputable driving school, as they will oversee these preliminary requirements.

You’ll need to be able read a number plate from a specific distance. You may need to wear spectacles or contact lenses for this. If you are unable to read a number plate from this distance, your instructor will not go ahead with the lesson. You will have lost your fee for that particular lesson.

You’ll receive an introduction to the theory of driving and how a car functions. You’ll learn the routine of putting on your seat belt, checking the rear view mirror and blind spots. Also, you’ll learn about clutch control, steering, handbrake, moving off, changing gears up to third gear, stopping, and possibly doing left and right turns. Relax, your instructor has full control of all pedals.

Depending on your instructor, you may do a little light driving around a quiet estate. Some students have been known to stay on the same road for the entire first lesson. It depends on your instructor.

Don’t expect to remember everything from each lesson. Your instructor will remind you every time, and it’ll eventually sink in.

Of course, this varies from person to person, but expect to stall - a lot.

All instructors work differently. Some may teach you more per lesson, but it’ll take you longer to absorb the lessons. Others may teach you less per lesson, but each lesson will be easier to take in and understand.

Remember that your driving instructor will have been trained to deal with nervous student drivers. However trivial you think they are, don’t be afraid to voice your concerns, so he/she can reassure you.

Trust your instincts. If you really don’t click with your instructor, change them. Phone the driving school and explain the reasons why you’d like a different instructor. If you stay calm and polite your concerns will be taken more seriously.

Driving is a skill for life, so do not burden yourself with worry if you seem to take longer than your friends. We all learn at a different pace, and the fastest learner is not necessarily the best driver.

The idea is to be able to drive without a single driving offence to your name. This would require careful and confident driving while you are still learning. If it takes you longer to gain this confidence, so be it.

Finally, enjoy your driving lessons the best you can. Consider each mistake a learning experience and you may learn faster. Once you pass your test and you’re driving around town, you’ll look back on your learner days with fond memories.