Preparing for your first solo drive

So you now have your hard earned driving licence, after all those driving lessons. Taking your first solo drive is an exciting milestone. It marks the beginning of your journey as an independent driver. However, it’s normal to feel nervous about hitting the road alone. Being well-prepared can ease those jitters and make the experience enjoyable.

There are many thinkg that can make this experience easier:

– Get to know your car well
– Plan your route well so that you don’t have to worry about navigation.
– Prior to your drive, check the weather and traffic conditions.
– Try to unwind by, for example, listening to soothing music.
– Begin with a short drive

Get in touch with Driving Lessons Edinburgh for more tips and advice.

Manual vs automatic

When considering getting your driving licence, and starting to take your driving lessons, do you envisage using a manual or automatic vehicle?

Manual transmission is the most popular option in the UK. Only about 40,000 of the 720,000 driving exams that students in the UK take are taken using automatic cars. Despite this, data from 2012 to 2017 shows that the nation’s sales of automated vehicles appear to have increased.

Let’s weigh the benefits and drawbacks of manual transmission.

Pros:

– Manual cars are generally less expensive than automatic ones.
– You can drive both manual and automatic vehicles after passing your manual driving test.
– You have total control over engine speed while using manual gear shifts.

Cons:

– might get tiring when stuck in city traffic. if you have a stop-start commute every day.
– some people with knee conditions find it problematic

But what are the advantages of driving an automatic car?

– Automatics, in general are far easier to drive.
– It’s important to remember that automatic vehicles can be much better for those with any limited mobility or disability as they are easier to control and easier to learn in.
– Drivers have less to worry about, thinking of what to do with the feet and hands, which allows them to concentrate on the road instead.

If you call Driving Lessons Edinburgh for a chat, we can surely expland on the above and answer any questions you may have.

How long does it take to learn how to drive?

How much time does it take to become a driver? Learning to drive is a lifelong skill that should not be hurriedly acquired.

This could be a rather rapid process because some people take intense driving lessons. However, you may not be able to take driving lessons on a regular basis due to work and other obligations. And this can slow things down quite a bit.

Being consistent is essential, and you will learn to drive more quickly if you practice with your driving instructor as much as you can. You can also practice driving with friends or family. Naturally, the availability of driving tests may not coincide with your ideal timetable, so you will need to continue honing your driving techniques until a test that is appropriately scheduled becomes available.

But there are other things to think about. Statistics show that you will learn those critical driving abilities faster if you are younger. Also if you already are familiar with the highway code before you start taking driving lessons, this will make things much faster.

Call Driving Lessons Edinburgh for a chat, and we will be able to discuss your specific requirements and advice on the best schedule for your driving lessons.

Why take refresher driving lessons

Why should you take refresher driving lessons in Edinburgh?

Drivers choose to enrol in refresher driving lessons for a variety of reasons, such as:

Increase your confidence when driving
A refresher driving lesson can help you regain your driving skills, increase your confidence and make sure you’re driving safely again if you haven’t driven in a long time.
Lack of confidence can be risky if you haven’t driven in a while. After a break, don’t you feel comfortable driving again? It sounds like you would benefit from a refresher driving lesson.

Change bad habits
While some bad driving habits are only trivial, others are more serious, so you run the risk of facing fines and legal issues if you’re not careful. Refresher driving lessons will be able to pinpoint the issues in your driving to show where you might be going wrong on the road.​

Familiarise themselves with new traffic laws
Over time, traffic laws for a certain area may change. If you aren’t aware of the alterations, then you might be violating these laws without even realising.

Taking refresher driving lessons will give you a chance to learn these new laws. This can be especially beneficial if you’ve moved to Edinburgh from abroad, where things may be different than here.

 

Night time driving lessons

Night time driving has a distinct set of difficulties, particularly for novice drivers. Even well-known routes can seem strange as the sun sets because of how the roads feel. Drivers must be especially careful and vigilant at night due to the reduced visibility and heavy traffic. For anyone unfamiliar with navigating Edinburgh’s streets after dark, these elements can frequently induce anxiety.

Practice in the real world is crucial for gaining expertise and confidence. With a knowledgeable driving instructor by your side, you may experience actual traffic situations and become more equipped to handle any situation that may come up after dark. Driving lessons at night give you the opportunity to confront difficulties head-on, think back on them later, and methodically absorb each lesson.

New drivers have plenty of opportunity to hone their abilities by taking driving lessons at night, which increases their confidence and comfort level.

Give Driving Lessons Edinburgh a ring to discuss evening driving lessons in Edinburgh. Our experienced driving instructors will help you overcome the difficulties of driving at night and equip you with the knowledge and abilities necessary for pleasurable and safe night time travel.

How Do You Choose the Best Driving Instructor?

How Do You Choose the Best Driving Instructor?

Are you looking for a driving instructor in Edinburgh? What should you look out for?

Experience: there are two sides to experience. While more seasoned driving instructors have refined their teaching techniques over time and have a greater understanding with local test routes, new driving instructors frequently offer new energy and modern teaching techniques. Think about what is more important to you: a strong track record of success or enthusiasm and innovative methods.

Instructor bios and reviews: finding a driving instructor in Edinburgh who meets your needs can be aided by reading testimonials left by other students. Seek out traits that appeal to you, such as patience, composure, or a methodical, solid approach. Typing “driving instructors in Edinburgh” in Google will make a good start.

You will find it that at Driving Lessons Edinburgh we have great reviews due to the fact our driving instructors are very experienced, but still enthusiastic about teaching. Get in touch for more information by calling our Edinburgh office.

What do you need to bring to your first Driving Lesson?

What do you need to bring to your first driving lesson?

The answer is not very much….

1. Provisional licence – the most important thing is to remember to bring your provisional licence (if you haven’t got one see our blog on how to apply for your Provisional Driving Licence). You instructor must see this before he/she is allowed to give you any lessons.

2. Glasses/contact lenses – if you need them, please remember to bring them. Your instructor will ask you to read a number plate from:-

• 20 metres for cars with the new-style number plates (2 letters followed by 2 Numbers KP34 CCA; or
• 20.5 metres for the old style number plates.

If you are unable to read the number plate unfortunately, your instructor wont be able to take you out unless you are able to collect your glasses before the lesson starts. If you were unable to read a number plate on the day of the test, the examiner wouldn’t be able to continue any further with the Driving Test.

3. Shoes – it may sound silly but please wear comfortable shoes (trainers or flat shoes are best)

Driving Test Changes

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has recently announced changes to the Driving Test that all learner drivers should be aware of. The changes place more emphasis on safe, independent driving as well as the use of Sat Nav technology, and represent some of the most significant changes to the test format in many years.

These driving test changes will come into effect from the 4th of December 2017 – so if you plan on taking your test after that date you will need to familiarise yourself with the new requirements. Your Driving Lessons Edinburgh instructor will obviously explain the new test format to you in more detail, but here is an introductory video to give you a quick overview: