What to expect on your first driving lesson
Sometimes people can be unsure of what to expect on their first driving lesson so here is a brief guide to what to expect.
Checking provisional licence and eyesight test
At the start of the first driving lesson, you will be asked to read a number plate of a car which is approximately 20 metres away. This eyesight test will also be carried out by your driving examiner on the day of your test. Your driving instructor will also ask to see your provisional driving licence to ensure that it’s valid and in-date. This is an essential part of the first driving lesson as you would not be able to drive without a valid provisional.
Q&A
It’s important for your driving instructor to find out about any previous driving experience that you may have had. This could perhaps have been with a family member or with another driving instructor – we would take that into consideration and try and build on what you have previously learned. Knowing this information will allow your driving instructor to provide the correct level of driving instruction to you on your first lesson.
Driving to an appropriate location for your first lesson
If you have never driven before then it’s important to go to an area of Edinburgh that’s quiet and free from too many other cars. To make full use of the time within your driving lesson, your driving instructor will explain things on the drive to the location. If you are anxious about your first driving lesson then there’s no need to worry – you won’t be dropped in at the ‘deep end’!
Controls
All the controls within the car will be clearly explained to you on your first driving lesson. This will include how to steer, how to set up your mirrors and how to use each pedal so that you are familiar with everything before you drive off. The clutch is a pedal that can cause some confusion with people when they first start driving so this will be clearly explained on your first driving lesson.
Moving off and stopping- Prepare, Observe, Move
You will be given a briefing on how to move off safely, how to change gear when driving and how to pull up safely on the left.
As you would be driving in a quiet location in Edinburgh, you will often be able to drive the car quite a distance, allowing practice of changing up the gears to second or even third gear.
Driving back to you home or work
The aim is to get students to drive to and from their house as soon as possible but if you haven’t driven a car before then, in the interests of road safety, your driving instructor will usually drive you back home. The drive home is an opportunity to have a chat with your driving instructor and let him know how you felt about driving for the first time. Feedback from your driving instructor will also be given.
