I need some help with me driving. I'm 16, 17 in july and I want to start practicing as soon as I can. My mum said today that if I want, I can drive her car around Norton Airodrome sometime next week.

I've never been on Norton Airodrome before, am I gonna be alright doing that without insurance or a license as its private land isnt it. I'm not going to crash it, I'm going to take it relatively slow because my mum will kill me if i crash her car :P

Also, how does the provisional license work? do I need to get one before I start practicing on the roads, or is that just if I want to practice before I turn 17. My parents learn to drive ages ago and everythings changed so they can't tell me :(

Don't think you can apply for a provisional till you are 17

you can apply before you are 17, but it only becomes valid from your 17th birthday. You DO need one before you can go out on the roads, you also need valid insurance cover on whatever you are driving. Obviously driving school cars are covered but if you want to drive your parents' car you need insurance if you are using it on public roads.

you can apply before you are 17, but it only becomes valid from your 17th birthday. You DO need one before you can go out on the roads, you also need valid insurance cover on whatever you are driving. Obviously driving school cars are covered but if you want to drive your parents' car you need insurance if you are using it on public roads.

But will I be alright on private land or Norton Airodrome?

I guess it depends on if you have permission to drive on the land and whether or not (and how) you are insured. There are driving schools that will give you fully legit lessons on private land at the age of 16. I don't know of any locally, but I had lessons that way when I grew up down south.

without a licence? yes i guess you would, don't know what permissions you need from landowners but i guess if the aerodrome is often used for that kinda thing i'm sure it would be fine. However, if you squish your mums car I don't know what position you'd be in insurance-wise!

hi
i went to norton aerodrome when i was learning, and it wasn't very good - huge potholes, no road markings to practice on and quite a few idiots in off-road bikes causing chaos- be careful!

They could sue your bottom off is the position. Stay legal if at all poss!

Any suggestions of other private land I could drive on? basically I'm after somewhere where I can drive by myself (mum in passenger seat), not dangerously, just for a while to get the hang of driving safely.

I've never been on Norton Airodrome before, am I gonna be alright doing that without insurance or a license as its private land isnt it. I'm not going to crash it, I'm going to take it relatively slow because my mum will kill me if i crash her car :P

If I was your mum I wouldn't be worried about your driving, but the driving of others. I took my sister there once to practice, whilst her driving wasn't bad, it was the other people taking side swipes at your car that I was worried about.

:suspect: I'd really like suggestions of other places now.

ooo, I intend to go durring the day too, so if there are any kids there with off road bikes, they will be truenting. I'm hoping if I go durring the day it will be a bit quieter.

You can apply for your provisional licence up to 3 months before you turn 17, but it does not come into effect until you ARE 17.

Norton is full of potholes but that is the only option open to you at the moment. I think it costs around £5 to go on there. We used to run under 17 lessons up there but the state iof the roads led us to stop.

You do not need insurance to go on there, in fact your insurance will be invalid anyway because

a0 you're not 17
b) it is on private property - it is highly unlikely that it would cover you for driving off-road, which is what Norton is classed as.

Hope this helps

hmm, it looks like I'll probably go on norton, but durring the day in week, so I'm hoping it will be quiet. I'm not going to be driving crazy, but I'll be carefull looking out for other drivers and stay out their way. Unless I can get one of my mates with private land to let me drive on their land, but most will be in college or uni :|

Right, you can't use a provisional til you're 17... I went upto Norton with my mum once, that was enough! To be honest, it's handy to get a feel for the car without having to take into consideration the road markings etc. I'd find a quiet spot if possible and start there because you do have to be careful of the other people learning to drive.
You don't need insurance or a license to practice there and it costs £5.

I don't know if it's possible but if you're really worried you could ask at BSM if you can use their simulator car before you've got your provisional. I had three (expensive) lessons on that before I started lessons and it really helped me get used to braking and clutch etc. etc.

Just a suggestion.

anyone own a carpark? :D

thanks lotti :) i'll give that some thought.

hi
i went to norton aerodrome when i was learning, and it wasn't very good - huge potholes, no road markings to practice on and quite a few idiots in off-road bikes causing chaos- be careful!

Just like real roads then...!:hihi:

Nortons crap. The road surfaces are shocking, and its full of chavs on mini motos. I did the first half of my CBT there, and couldnt wait to get off it and go on the real roads.

Yeah, i taught (well, showed the basics) to a lass i used to work with on norton, the car was a banger anyway, really didn't help with all the bloody potholes and ditches, plus all the divvy's on motorbikes and quads.

Bobbins, get yasen a moped or summat.. much safer, cheap tax/insurance, at least til you're 18 anyway. :thumbsup:

(oh, and you can beat that rush hour traffic too! straight weaving in 'n' out) :hihi:

I want a car, lol :( mopeds are like hair dryers and crap when you live on a steap hill :D come on 17, come on :hihi: