Learning to drive with family or friends
Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009
Professional driving instructors or family tuition?
Learning to drive from family or friends is inevitably less costly than going to a professional driving tutor. But does it adequately prepare you for life on the road?
When they start learning to drive, a great number of learner drivers opt to combine tuition from friends and family and full-time driving tuition.
That is because it ensures you get as much experience driving as possible - which is valuable if you want to increase your confidence in the car. However, if you rely solely on tutoring from friends and relatives at the cost of paid driving lessons, you could miss out on a lot.
Anyone over 21 years old, who has held a full driving licence for three years or more, can give driving lessons. But in the abscence of formal training given to driving teachers, they could easily pass on any bad manners they have developed since learning to drive.
Also, driving instructors will be able to give you crucial help that you may not get from loved ones.
For example, an experienced instructor can help you study for the theory and hazard perception tests. This element of the test was first introduced in 2002, so any loved ones who are experienced behind the wheel may not have gone through it.
An experienced driving instructor will also know of the likely test routes and the most suitable parts of town to practise in between lessons.
A professional is also more likely to have the skill required to get people through their test, highlight areas of driving that need improvement and build up confidence when driving.
Still, it is down to you to find the type of driving instruction that suits you most, be it professional teaching, informal teaching parents, or both. There is no right or wrong way in learning to drive so consider the options and get behind the wheel.