Driving lessons--really necessary?

I'm asking this question on behalf of my husband...he's preparing to take the driving test in a couple of weeks and has just taken his first driving lesson.  His instructor said that he needs 5 or 6 more lessons in order to be at the point where he would pass the test.  He pointed out a bunch of things that my husband is doing wrong and said they would work on them (too-wide turning radius, not putting parking brake on at red lights, etc.).

We're wondering, though, if all these lessons are really necessary, especially since this is so expensive.  I assume the driving instructors are out to make as much money off you as they can.  I mean, now that he knows what to do/not to do, is it really necessary to take so many more lessons?  He's been driving in the US for more than 15 years, and here in the UK for about 7 months, so it's not like he's new to driving.

Has anyone taken the driving test without lessons, or with very minimal lessons?  Did you pass?  Are there any books that my husband might be able to read that would help him pass (he's already passed all the written parts of the test)?  I have friends who took lots of lessons, but they were all in different situations (one had never driven manual and had to learn, one was from a big city and had very little experience driving at all, etc.).  I just think it can't be right that it would take so many lessons to get my husband to tighten his turning radius or learn to put on the parking brake.  Also the instructor offered (for 55 pounds) to accompany my husband to the test, for what I'm not sure.

For what it's worth, the instructor is one recommended by a friend of ours who took lessons from him.

Any advice would be much-appreciated!

Thanks,

Jade

Of course, everyone is different and needs a different number of lessons to be able to pass the test, but to be honest, I would recommend taking the lessons - even if he only has a couple more before the test. There are quite a few minor details that you have to pay attention to during the test (i.e. being obvious about checking your mirrors, making sure you always keep 2 hands on the wheel, being precise during the required manoeuvres etc.) and a couple more lessons may be a benefit in making sure that your husband does everything smoothly and correctly.

The UK driving test is known for being fairly difficult to pass and the examiners can sometimes fail you for things that you didn't think you were doing wrong. Your husband may be able to pass the test first time with no lessons, or it could take him 3 attempts to pass - you never really know what will happen.

In the grand scheme of things, 5 or 6 lessons is a pretty small number of lessons - most new teenage drivers in the UK will have on average 40 or so lessons before being ready to pass the driving test (I had more than 50 lessons when I learned to drive at 17 and it still took me 3 attempts to pass - it cost me a bomb to learn to drive and the lessons ate up almost all my monthly allowance for a year plus most of my earnings from my part-time job ).

I'm not sure about the instructor offering to accompany him to the test. My instructor did, but then I was taking the test in her car, so there was no question about it. I think it's pretty standard for drivers to have one final lesson in the hour before the test in order to make sure they are completely ready, so perhaps that's what the £55 would cover.

I'd like to refer you to this particular thread.

Here's a snipet of one of my posts regarding getting your British license:

My advice is:

1. Don't listen to advice from friends and family who haven't passed their test recently. They will probably tell you things you must do for the test which are purely fictional, and it'll just be more for you to worry about. (I.E. Pulling up the hand break at red lights.)

2. Drive around your local area. If there's road works and you have to use a detour, use it and get your bearings. It'll give you a bit of confidence when you're on familiar ground.

3. I used an independent instructor and felt I got better results. I found the independent ones to be more competitive for your business, and they had more to lose reputation-wise if they had many students to fail.

4. I purchased software from WH Smith for the Theory test, "Driving Test Success". It was almost exactly like the real test, and it helped me immensely.

The test is a national one, not a regional one. If you live in a small village, you're still going to be asked questions about various exotic pedestrian crossings in London, even if you're never going to drive in London. The test isn't particulary difficult, but the information contains obstacles you may not encounter when driving locally.

5. If you ask the driving examiner's permission, you can have your instructor to join you while you're taking your driving test. If you fail, your instructor should be able to tell you why, and prepare you better for your next test.

I passed after taking the test for the first time, and after taking 7 lessons.

I took two lessons, and then drove for a long time without any. After I felt ready to book my test, I called my instructor and took three more lessons. On test day, I took a lesson to warm up, then there was the hour in the instructors car to take the actual test.

My instructor didn't charge more than an extra lesson to accompany me to the test, so I don't know if extra money is in fashion right now.

Personally, I don't find that driving in the US for eons helps one prepare for driving over here. If you originate from a US city with hardly any cyclists, your observation has to really pick up once you're in the UK. Also if you're not used to roundabouts and double roundabouts, that's another aspect he may need to practice on.

A news report came out recently stating the government is thinking of forcing driving license applicants to take psychological tests in addition to all the other exams. With ILR fees increasing drastically and who knows the cost of what else increasing, I think a few extra driving lessons would be a better investment than rebooking the driving exam.

But if your husband can pass with few lessons, then that's a fabulous thing.

I think 5 or 6 more lessons is a reasonable amount. There are many little habits that you need to get used to in order to pass the test. I know how frustrating it is to feel like you have to pay and start over to do something you have done for years; but unfortunately I do believe it is a necessary evil and the lessons will be well worth it in the long run.

Decide if the cost of taking the test over again plus a few lessons to firm up skills is worth the risk of just going for it with just one lesson.

It is possible he could pass with just 1 lesson or he could fail with an additional 10.

It is an investment in time and money.

I think 5 or 6 more lessons is a reasonable amount. There are many little habits that you need to get used to in order to pass the test. I know how frustrating it is to feel like you have to pay and start over to do something you have done for years; but unfortunately I do believe it is a necessary evil and the lessons will be well worth it in the long run.

I agree.  The rules of driving here are a LOT different than in the US.

Good luck!

I feel that the DI profession, in the UK, is a racket as is the annual car inspection.
I learned to drive in the UK. I got my first license in New Jersey.
I have driven in the US 100,000 miles in a year, year after year. I drove for GREYHOUND for 4 years. So guess who would most likely fail the test in the UK?
A good question is has any of you who are driving with a US license in the UK had an accident?
There are two extremes in the UK. one is a person who comes from a different environment in the US (maybe the back hills of Kentucky) can leave the arriving airport in the UK and avoid having an accident while driving on the left side of the road??? Now that is scary.
The other extreme is the driving test. Think about it are all those items on the test necessary to drive safely? I think not.

Thanks for all your input, everyone.  We certainly realize that there are many differences between driving in the UK and the US, and that it's necessary to master them in order to pass the test.  I was really just wondering how necessary it was to learn about these differences from an instructor who must be sitting beside you at all times and watching you--or if it might be possible to familiarize yourself with UK driving on your own (through books, DVDs, etc.).  I realize that many instructors "teach to the test" and will point out specific things that testers will be looking for, but I also realize that an instructor who charges 27.50 an hour wants to get in as many hours of instruction as possible and may perhaps be tempted to advise more lessons than are actually necessary.  I couldn't believe the poster who said it took 40 lessons as a teenager to learn to drive--how on earth does ANYONE ever afford that?!  In the US my lessons were through my school and were free.  Yikes.

I suppose this is a difficult question to answer, since none of you have ridden in a car with my husband and thus have no idea whether he's a good driver or not  .  So far he has 4 lessons scheduled before his test (in addition to the one he just took).  We hope that this will be enough.

One note...someone said that it's "purely fictional" that you have to put the handbrake up at red lights--but this is something that my husband's instructor told him only yesterday that he would need to do.  Do you or don't you do this (we have an automatic, by the way, which my husband is using for his lessons and will be using for the test)?

Thanks again,

Jade

One note...someone said that it's "purely fictional" that you have to put the handbrake up at red lights--but this is something that my husband's instructor told him only yesterday that he would need to do.  Do you or don't you do this (we have an automatic, by the way, which my husband is using for his lessons and will be using for the test)?

I took lessons (and the test) in an automatic, and my instructor told me to use the handbrake at red lights. I did it in the test and passed. I have no idea if I'd have failed if I hadn't done it, but why take the chance?

using a handbrake in an automatic was one of the most annoyingly persistent mistake i kept making.  i had to use my handbrake (in an automatic) at red lights, during the 3-point turn, emergency stop (after we had come to a complete stop), etc.

something that i had to keep reminding myself was that i wasn't learning to drive... i was learning how to pass the test.  the UK test has small annoying details that you must learn.  obessively checking mirrors, (mirror, signal, manauevoer anyone?), not crossing your hands on the wheel, reverse around a corner (does anyone actually do this is real life?).  

personally, i'd take a few (under 5 lessons).  spread out.  drive A LOT by yourself, forcing yourself to drive "proper".

One note...someone said that it's "purely fictional" that you have to put the handbrake up at red lights--but this is something that my husband's instructor told him only yesterday that he would need to do.  Do you or don't you do this (we have an automatic, by the way, which my husband is using for his lessons and will be using for the test)?

My instructor and I went around and around the handbrake thing, but it's recommended for automatics in most practical books and my examiner was on the lookout for it (I caught him looking a couple of times).

No good instructor is going to try and force you to take more lessons than you feel that you need. I took 10 hours because I wasn't comfortable with my manoeuvres and my observation technique and I failed my 1st test last month. If he thinks that he can do all the proper manoeuvres to the standard that the examiners are looking for (and I failed on observations - my head wasn't noticeably swiveling around enough for them), then there's no need to do more hours than what he has planned. As meggles said, it's learning to pass the test, not learning how to drive.

Also keep in mind that once your husband takes and passes his test in a automatic.. Then he is only liscensed to drive automatics.. He is not allowed by law to drive a manual. Just another thing to think about.. In case no one has mentioned that to you..
If you take and pass the test in a manual then you are allowed to drive both manual and automatic transmission cars.

Thanks again, everyone.

Yes, we went around and around over the manual/automatic thing.  We both drive manual (and my husband has since he began driving), but we couldn't quite wrap our minds around shifting with the left hand .  I doubt DH will ever be driving anything but our car, so we figured it wasn't worth it to deal with the extra hassle of learning to drive a manual on the other side on the off chance that one day he might need to do this.

The whole process does seem rather unnecessarily complicated, though.  I can't really say that UK drivers have impressed me as being any "better" than US drivers, and at what a cost.  Sigh.

Jade

My husband passed the test (automatic) first try without any type of lessons at all. He did buy a DVD that went over the different rules and everything and that was enough for him to pass. So, it can be done, but I think everyone would suggest a few lessons would be helpful!

One note...someone said that it's "purely fictional" that you have to put the handbrake up at red lights--but this is something that my husband's instructor told him only yesterday that he would need to do.  Do you or don't you do this (we have an automatic, by the way, which my husband is using for his lessons and will be using for the test)?

Thanks again,

Jade

My instructor told me it wasn't a requirement and shouldn't worry about it. I do it anyway, as it's a habit now, but at the time it wasn't necessary.

This was with a manual.