Tag Archive for: refresher driving lessons

Driving lesson gift vouchers

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

A lot of people need encouragement to eventually pick up the phone and make their first booking. 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 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 tuition 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 lessons.

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. Being nervous can’t be helped, but there really is nothing to worry about.

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 centred by using this technique to calm your mind and lower your pulse rate.

Additionally, mindfulness practices can be quite helpful in lowering 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 exercises. 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.

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.

Overall, there isn’t a simple answer to this question. It all depends on a variety of factors and we are all different. With the help of your instructor – as well as some practice with family and friends – it won’t take long before you become a good, confident driver.

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? Good question! Drivers choose to enrol in refresher tuition 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.

If you know anyone who has not been driving for a while and have lost their confidence in doing so – please consider purchasing on of our gift vouchers for them. It may be what is needed to get back into it.

 

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.

Once you have become familiar with driving at night, it will become second nature.

One last thing to remember is that if you wear glasses it is very important to take regular tests. It is much more difficult to see well in low light conditions, therefore making sure your glasses are adequate can make a big difference. The NHS gives you free eye testing every two years and we recommend you take full advantage of this.

Give us 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.

Asking family and friends: nothing is better than direct experience. Ask family and friends if they can recommend anyone. Are you on social media? Why not post something on Facebook of the like to ask for direct recommendations?

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.

Learning how to drive with Driving Lessons Edinburgh

When and how do you apply for your provisional licence?

1. When can you apply?

You can apply 3 months before your 17th birthday. However, you can only start taking lessons from your 17th birthday unless you are in receipt of the enhanced rate of the personal independence payment (PIP). If so, you can learn to drive from the age of 16.

You will also need your provisional licence before you can book your theory, hazard perception or practical driving test.

2. Where do you apply?

Either:

• If you have a UK passport, which is no more than 5 years old you can apply online here . All you need is your passport number. They will use the photo on your passport for the photo on your new licence. This is the quickest and easiest way to apply; or

• You can obtain a form known as the D1 at the post office from one of their car tax issuing branches . In Edinburgh, you can pick one up at Waverley Mall, Elm Row, Frederick Street, St Mary’s Street, Tollcross, Stockbridge, Newington and a few others. The post office has some helpful guidance on their site . You will need to send with your application to the DVLA (DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AD) with a passport sized photograph and appropriate identification. If you don’t have a UK passport you can send in your original biometric residence permit, UK certificate of naturalisation, or EU or EAA national identity card. Full details can be found the governments website

Provisional Driving Licence

3. Eyesight and health

Before applying you need to check that you are able to read a number plate from 20m away (with glasses/contact lenses if required).

You must also tell the DVLA if you have certain medical conditions.

4. How long does it take?

Online – about 1 week

Paper – between 2 and 3 weeks.

5. How much does it cost?

• Online £34
• Post £43

6. Where can I drive when I have my licence?

Provided you are with your driving instructor (or another driver who has held a full driving licence for over 3 years and over 21) you can drive on any road in the UK bar private roads and motorways.

7. What happens when you pass?

Once you pass your practical test your licenced will be upgraded to a full licence for no further cost.

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.

Updated maneuvers: “Reverse around a corner” and “turn in the road” were eliminated. Rather, candidates were put through one of three exercises: driving into a parking bay and reversing out, reversing into a parking bay, or pulling up on the right side of the road and reversing.

Candidates now respond to a “show me” question while driving and a “tell me” question prior to driving. The Edinburgh Driving Lessons website has a dedicated page to this. Please visit https://www.drivinglessonsedinburgh.co.uk/show-me-tell-me/ – you will find it very useful.

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.

The DVLA website will have all the information you need, please make sure you visit the site and read all the relevant information.

Your Driving Lessons Edinburgh instructor will obviously explain the new test format to you in more detail.