Driving in the UK

How much are the lessons?

Shop around.  My DH just passed his test and paid £18 per lesson (he could have got cheaper lessons but he didn't want to go for the block booking) but other schools in the same area were quoting anything from £20 - £27 per lesson!

I was paying £28 per hour and I was having double lessons within the week.

Mine are £11.50/hour- and she gave a free 2 hour lesson for the first go around to assess me and also so that I could see if she would be a good instructor for me.  She's so patient with me- and she needs to be, because I really suck at driving, I've determined- even though I've been driving for 12 years and haven't had a claim in 10 years.
It drives me crazy that I struggle with some manuvers, because I can drive around just fine and I don't have any issues in the real world- but trying to pass the test is stressing me out to no end. 

ok thanks. How about finding an instructor? Did most of you go on referral like one of the members recommended or just off a phonebook/internet search?

Mine are £11.50/hour- and she gave a free 2 hour lesson for the first go around to assess me

That's an excellent price! 

ok thanks. How about finding an instructor? Did most of you go on referral like one of the members recommended or just off a phonebook/internet search?

I just looked in the phone book because I needed an instructor with an automatic car - and there weren't many to choose from.

I got recommendations and was so glad I did.  I've known people who got ripped off, but my instructor prepared me well and didn't push me to do more than I needed.

you know roundabouts are a great idea! I hate when I am stopped at a red light at the intersection and say there is NO traffic coming, and you still have to sit there and wait! So they would come in handy then. However during rush hour it seems you just sit there and wait and wait.... never getting your turn because the cars keep coming round. UGH! That's when you wish there were actual traffic lights, so that way you get your turn.

That's where the Massachusetts solution comes in handy:

Mass General Laws state that the vehicle already in the rotary/roundabout has the right of way
MGL also state that rotaries/roundabouts are in every way considered like any other intersection
MGL also state that the vehicle furthest to the right has the right of way
The vehicle on the right in a rotary/roundabout will almost always be the car entering

Ergo, both vehicles have the right of way!

Sounds about right!   

Originally in the U.K. there was no specific priority rule for roundabouts.  They were just treated like any other unmarked intersection where it was up to everybody to exercise due caution and merge with each other as appropriate.

When traffic started to get heavier, local councils in some areas where roundabouts were getting busier put up signs asking drivers approaching the roundabout to yield right-of-way to vehicles already in it, although the signs had no real official status.   It wasn't until 1966 that this requirement was eventually written into legislation.

How much do the driving lessons cost?  Hubby (people keep using DH, and I am not sure what it means.... my first idea was not the nicest one, so incidentally, if someone has time to just square that up, that would be great! I assume "Dear Husband"?  New to this stuff... lol)  SO, anyway, Hubby is the ever-confident man who believes he can teach me, as the last time he was here in Dallas, he drove the whole week with no problems. 

But certain things over there scare me a bit: 

*the narrow, winding roads with hedges on each side (I collided with one when a double-decker passed by as I was terrified there wasn't enough room for us both... Hubby screams "MY ALLOYS!" Not a good scene...) it took me all week to gain the courage to try it, and i was way too nervous after this incident to try again...

*and the village center, where you just sort of politely take turns since there isn't enough room for people on both sides to go, as everyone is parked on the curb since there are no car parks there)  is there any order in this?  or is everyone just that polite??

The car is so different, I feel like the dashboard is higher, and I am short, so I feel uncomfortable like it is hard to see over it or something... guess i need a pillow!   

So, I think I should try to talk him into driving lessons for me, as he stressed me out a bit.  But just wondering how much they generally are, so I can prepare for that in my speech! 

Hi julia-mel, I think further up this thread is some costs- mine are £11.50/hour. 
I hear you on the windy roads, before I moved to the UK I drove in Ireland and I caused 200-300 euros worth of damage and I was terrified of driving here.  But I quickly got used to the narrow, windy roads and I don't think much of it now.  So you will too! 
I would recommend that hubby can drive with you if you're feeling brave and can handle critism from a significant other well, but really, a driving instructor knows which test routes they will take you on, knows the examiners so can give you absolute advice, and they have nice brakes on their side of the car (for when you screw up like me!!!)

Holy crap dude! Mine were £25 to pass this stooopid test! That's damn nearly $50 all American dollars