Advice for parents giving driving lessons to their children

Supporting your child on their driving first driving lessons may be a great experience for both of you, but it can also be a stressful and anxious time. It is well worth giving this proper thought, not only to avoid stress and arguments, but also to get the best out of this driving practice.

When driving, keep the following in mind:

  • You are a supervisor, not a passenger. Be vigilant and keep an eye on the learner’s actions. Remain composed and offer constructive criticism.
  • Remember to pause for a conversation, a drink or a snack. It will help to relax both of you. It goes without saying, however, that you should avoid eating and drinking during the driving lesson.
  • Put your phones away, as this will avoid unnecessary distractions
  • Make sure your insurance covers you before giving any driving lessons. Most insurance companies do not cover for this scenario by default, and driving without insurance cover is the last thing you want.
  • Be encouraging and try to focus on positive feedback

Taking driving lessons from your parents is very helpful practice, but there is not substitute for the input of a professional driving instructor. Ideally, you will want to do a bit of both. Driving Lessons Edinburgh has very affordable rates. Call our Edinburgh office today to discuss your first driving lesson!

Driving lessons in Edinburgh: Stopping Distances

One of the first thing that we teach here at Driving Lessons Edinburgh is to understand and response stopping distances.

To pass both your driving test and your driving theory test, you must be aware of stopping distances.

The quicker you drive and the wetter the road, the greater the stopping distance. Additionally, it takes some time to comprehend the situation before braking. Bad weather conditions also have an influence on this, so it is best to give it a bit more when the road is wet of visibility is reduced – something we experience very often here in Edinburgh.

You can pass your driving test and stay safe on the roads long after by calculating stopping distances – so it is vital to learn how to calculate them as soon as you start taking driving lessons.

Starting with 20mph, multiply the speed intervals by 2 to give the safe stopping distance in feet. For each additional 10mph, increase the multiplication by 0.5 to provide the appropriate stopping distance:

• 20 mph x 2 = 40 feet (12 metres)
• 30 mph x 2.5 = 75 feet (23 metres)
• 40 mph x 3 = 118 feet (36 metres)
• 50 mph x 3.5 = 175 feet (53 metres)
• 60 mph x 4 = 240 feet (73 metres)
• 70 mph x 4.5 = 315 feet (96 metres)

A lot of pupils fail their driving test because they fail to respect the correct distances. So it is well worth making sure you make it second nature to judge the correct distance. And of course understanding the above is not just to pass your driving test: it is vital for being able to drive safely and avoid accidents.

Expect to learn more during your first driving lesson with Driving Lessons Edinburgh!

I have lost my theory test pass certificate – what now?

It’s crucial to understand that you will not get another physical certificate if you loose your theoretical test certificate. Rather, a letter will be issued by the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency). This letter is required when you show up for your practical test and will have the same function as the actual certificate.

Verifying your theoretical test certificate number online is one of the first things you should do. You can easily obtain this important piece of information by going to the Gov.uk website and use their “find-theory-test-pass-number” function.

To access your certificate number, you have to enter your first name, last name and valid driver’s license number. Applying for the replacement letter from the DVSA is quite a simple process when you have all that in place.

All of the above requires time and effort and for this reason you should make sure that you store your theory pass certificate in a safe place to avoid having to go through the procedure above.

Colin at Driving Lessons Edinburgh will be able to assist further, get in touch for a chat. We are always happy to help.

The Official DVSA Theory Test Kit

So you are taking driving lessons in Edinburgh: are there any useful app to help you complement your driving lessons?

The Official DVSA Theory Test Kit includes all the information required to pass the 2025 vehicle theory test. As the official DVSA app, it provides a wide range of content, such as the most recent DVSA-licensed multiple-choice questions and hazard perception videos, to make sure your knowledge is fully assessed.

Accessible for both iOS and Android, this is the most favored method for studying while on the move. It comprises practice case studies, simulated exams and more than 20 engaging hazard perception videos. It is available for download on the App Store or Google Play Store. Installing it is very simple and does not require any specific technical knowledge.

It will help you staying on track, linking your progress with your driving instructor as well as friends and family. Timed mocked tests and test readiness measurements are also very useful features.

It is well worth considering for all our students taking driving lessons with Driving Lessons Edinburgh. If you need any help with the app we are always happy to spend a few minutes with you in order to get you going.

Having said that,  if you prefer physical study materials (i.e. printed, hard-copy), you can buy the Official Theory Test Book, the Highway Code and Traffic Sign flashcards by going to the TSO Shop at www.tsoshop.co.uk.

At what age will you have to re-take your driving test?

After all the classes and anxiety, the day you pass your driving test is exciting because you can finally hold your driver’s license. However, what is the duration of your license?

Driving Lessons Edinburgh can confirm the following:

Unlike other European countries, when a driver becomes 70, they do not need to repeat their driving test in the UK. Rather, their license must be renewed every three years after it expires at age 70. You can renew online or by mail for free – so it either case it will not cost your anything at all.

In order to renew, drivers must affirm that they are in good health and that their vision satisfies the requirements for driving. However there may be other reasons why you are unable to drive, such as having to retake the test if you have a medical condition that prevents you from meeting the requirements or if you have been disqualified for a driving offence.

The online form – or its hard-copy version if you opt for sending it back by mail – will ask a number of questions to assess your ability to drive.

The most important thing is that you are confident and competent in your ability to drive, so that you do not put yourself and others at risk while you do so.

If you need further advice about this, please do not hesitate to contact Colin and Driving Lessons Edinburgh and we will be happy to advise further.

Driving lesson gift vouchers

Do you want to encourage someone to take driving lessons? Have you considered giving them a driving lesson gift voucher?

A lot of people need encouragement to eventually pick up the phone and book their first driving lesson. A gift voucher may be ideal to get them past this first step, and eventually start taking driving lessons. It is also pretty good for people who have a licence but have not been driving for a while, and may want to take some refresher driving lessons.

Please have a look at this page in our website: https://www.drivinglessonsedinburgh.co.uk/gift-vouchers/

You can buy Driving Lessons Edinburgh gift vouchers for any amount, for as little as a single hour driving lesson up to a block booking of 10 or more hours.

So if you are looking for ideas for a Christmas, birthday or graduation present – or any other special occasion – this may be just the ticket!

How will I do on my first driving lesson?

How will I do on my first driving lesson? This is a frequently asked question.

Don’t worry, your driving instructor won’t expect you to start walking down the high street right away. Your first driving lesson will be away from traffic in an appropriate place for you to become familiar with the controls, and you will be escorted through the procedure at a pace that suits you. Rest assured that your driving instructor is well aware of what you may be going through during your first driving lessons.

During your first lesson, you will learn how to move off and stop, as well as the cockpit drill, which goes over everything you need to do every time you get in the car before starting the engine. It’s thrilling to drive for the first time! But as all exciting things – it can be at the same time quite daunting.

You will undoubtedly stall when you first start driving, most likely frequently. But don’t worry, even after years of driving, it still occurs to the best of us. Additionally, keep in mind that your driving instructor has dual controls, so in the event that something goes wrong and they need to take over, they will have control of the vehicle.

Call our long running Edinburgh driving school to discuss your first driving lesson today. Rest assured that we are very good at making pupils comfortable during their first driving lessons. Being nervous can’t be helped, but there really is nothing to worry about.

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 things that can make this experience easier:

– Get to know your car well. Don’t overlook how important this is.
– Plan your route well so that you don’t have to worry about navigation.
– Prior to your drive, check the weather and traffic conditions. Avoid taking your first solo drive in bad weather or heavy traffic.
– Try to unwind by, for example, listening to soothing music.
– Begin with a short drive, don’t over do it

Don’t loose sight of the fact that once you start driving by yourself it will quickly become second nature.

Get in touch with Driving Lessons Edinburgh for more tips and advice. Colin has a lot of experience dealing with nervous drivers and will take great care of you.

How to calm your nerves before your driving lesson

How do you calm your nerves before your driving lesson? This is an important question and it is well worth giving it good thought.

You can feel more relaxed before a driving lesson doing breathing exercises. Inhale deeply and slowly through your nose, holding it for a short while, and then gently releasing it through your mouth. You might feel more centered by using this technique to calm your mind and lower your pulse rate.

Additionally, mindfulness practices can be quite helpful in lowering driving lesson anxiety. Concentrate on the here and now. You can increase your confidence by substituting positive pictures for negative ones when you visualise a good driving lesson.

Anxiety can be further reduced by listening to soothing music. Select a playlist with calming music or listen to a podcast that helps you forget about your nervous thoughts.

Before your driving lesson, try these quick soothing techniques:

– Breathing exercises: spend a few minutes breathing deeply. You can search Youtube and in there you will find a lot of good breathing excercises. Don’t underestimate how helpful good breathing is – as it is extremely effective.

– Mindfulness:  let go of worries and concentrate on the here and now.

– Music and positive affirmations: play calming music or say encouraging words aloud. Don’t feel silly about the latter, it is very helpful. Try it.

You can reduce anxiety for your driving lesson by implementing these strategies into your preparation routine.

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.