i've been putting off driving for many years because i cant afford to buy a car. but i really have to get it done at some point and later on in the year i will start learning.

now i know my dad will shout and criticise everything i do, and i will shout at my mum....but if you cant afford proper lessons do you think its a wise decision to learn with your parents to get familiar with the basics before you take lessons to get you ready to pass your test?

im sure every1 has horror stories about learning with there parents.

what ya think?

Instruction has changed far too much since your parents learned. Get lessons :thumbsup:

I accompanied my sister for practices, but only after she was confident(ish) and I didn't 'instruct' her

PS - I had left home and moved to a different town to my parents before I learned, so I can't vote in your poll :(

Your not supposed to as you start to pick up their bad habits, i however wouldn't feel confident enough to go out with a drivin instructor unless I knew the basics, so I learn with my step dad who is less likely to shout at me :D

I went with an instructor who taught me the basics and as I got better, me parents trusted me to drive their car under their supervision.

Strangely enough, they are worse passengers now (almost 4 years after passing) than they were when I was learning (and crap!)

:loopy:

I started with an instructor but went out with my dad as well from day 1.

There's the do as I say not as I do thing, so you shouldn't pick up too many bad habits.

You should get professional tuition from day 1 (yes I know I'm biased;) ), certainly to get over the basics. For one thing we've got dual controls if things go pear-shaped!!

There is certainly a place for going out with a parent (indeed the Driving Standards Agency recommends at least 45 hours of professional tuition PLUS about 22 hours of private practice), but care MUST be taken to ensure that the parent or other accompanying driver does nothing to change the way you have been taught by your instructor. Things have moved on since many of your parents were taught to drive. One good idea is to get the book called The Official Guide to Accompanying Learner Drivers (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/011552178X/ref=pd_sim_b_dp_3/202-9044052-7365461), available online here from Amazon or from any good book shop.

Originally posted by nslack
Your not supposed to as you start to pick up their bad habits, i however wouldn't feel confident enough to go out with a drivin instructor unless I knew the basics, so I learn with my step dad who is less likely to shout at me

I can't believe your instructor shouts at you. If he/she does, then they want reporting and you should get another one. No instructor worth their salt will shout at you.

Don't go with family.

My instructor could tell immediately when I had been out between lessons with my mum. She's a safe and confident driver but obviously no instructor.

My sessions with her always ended in tears because I took her criticism to heart in a way tha I wouldn't have done with an instructor. I also answered back and argued with her.

My advice is go with the pros (even if they are licenced to rob you :D )

I started with lessons from my instructor.

Once I was confident enough on the road I got my L plates and went out with my Dad, VERY nervous!

After about 6 hours I decided that it wasn't too beneficial and the insurance cost just as much as the lessons with my instructor so I decided to stick with him.

Worked in the end :thumbsup:

Neither of my parents had a civillian driving license, so I never had the opportunity. My father knew, I believe, how to park tanks and drive staff cars, and my mum used to deliver fire engines, but these were not exactly the vehicles of choice in teh 1970s....:)

I also learned late - I was in my twenties when I started and passed when I was 28.

Anyway.....I took lessons from the start with an instructor and then did practice driving with my wife, but only after I'd got quite a lot of tuition under my belt. Basically, by that time I think we both agreed that she was there to keep me legal rather than offer any guidance, but it was such a confidence booster!

Joe

Under no circumstanses should anyone start having lessons with a parent. Your start should be with a Professional instructor, and when you are confident then possibly practice in a parent's car, but under no circumstances should you consider these sessions as lessons, they are just practice.

I have always believed this, but have recently been involved with someone's lessons, practice and test, and the parent thing was just making matters worse, and more stressed and less likely to pass. The parent was constantly telling the novice driver to do things which were wrong, and asking me to back up this wrong advice.

When I passed my driving tests, {car and motorcycle} I was half my current age, therefore while experienced, I am out of touch and in no way fit to offer advice as to how to pass a test.

I had a few goes with my parents before I had lessons, just to practise the clutch control and getting used to changing gears on a piece of waste land. I then had lessons from an instructor and when I got to about my 6th I started going out with my parents on the roads. I had another 6 lessons and passed first time.

I felt that the extra time gave more confidence ( plus you really do learn your mistakes as no braking for the parents!) though it was the instructor that got me through the test. One thing I did find hard though was the change of cars.....even now when I get a new car to drive it takes me a good week to feel comfortable.

I also did have a good few arguements with my parents and i don't think it is an experiance my parents would like to have to repeat!

Driving instructor let me down, so my Dad took over, he was brill. Yes things have changed since he passed his test, but he can pass on all his years experience of driving, anyone can steer a car, which you learn with instructor, the hard bit is driving, judging speeds of other cars, learning to drive with respect for other users, and reversing into parking spots, when everyone looking at you, I think you learn most when you have passed your test and drive on your own. Scary!!!

I had about 2 sessions on lightwood with my Dad when I was 15. This was enough to get me interested in driving so I started lessons a few days after my 17th birthday. I had about 40 hours with an instructor and passed first time... Mum and Dad didn't interfere at all.... Then after passing my test and getting my car, I went to Dad's School of Motoring and passed after 1 week of tuition and white knuckle rides lol!

I'd avoid learning to drive with your parents. I think people need to learn from someone who's always going to be calm and in control (theoretically, anyway!) and who you're happy taking instruction from - I think family relationships don't always lend themselves to this! :D

And as someone mentioned further up, chances are they'll have picked up bad habits over the years, and will pass these on to you.

My sister had her first driving lesson from our Dad - and then refused to get back behind the wheel with him in the car ever again! He's a lovely man, but has VERY little patience, and apparently was shouting at and criticizing her most of the time! :(

Funnily enough, he'd tried to teach Mum how to drive when they were young, but she was so bad HE refused to let HER behind the wheel again, and she still can't drive! :P

StarSparkle

Originally posted by muddycoffee
Under no circumstanses should anyone start having lessons with a parent....
Unless your Mum's a driving instructor. :banana:
And then you pass your test 1 month after your 17th birthday :clap:

For free.... :D

Aren't Mums great.... :thumbsup:

My mum's a good driver, but when she was in the passenger seat with me it was all -
"Watch out for that car!" What, the one about a mile in front?
"You did nearly 50 round that bend!" Well, the speed limit's 60...
"The lights are red!" Hence I was planning on stopping before then ;)

Originally posted by SilentStatic
My mum's a good driver, but when she was in the passenger seat with me it was all -
"Watch out for that car!" What, the one about a mile in front?
"You did nearly 50 round that bend!" Well, the speed limit's 60...
"The lights are red!" Hence I was planning on stopping before then ;)

My mum is exactly the same

She still says those things, even though I've passed... :(

I think it probably depends on the parent (based on what people are saying here).

I had some time in a car park with my dad to practice the clutch control and steering. Then started lessons and simulatenously got to practice with dad.
Tried once with my Mum and we both agreed that it wasn't going to work.

My Dad isn't impatient nor argumentative, the only thing he ever advised that the instructor had taught differently was to use engine braking. But he didn't mind when I said that it wasn't done that way anymore.

I passed after 16 hrs instruction and probably at least equal that practising under my dads supervision.

I can't believe your instructor shouts at you. If he/she does, then they want reporting and you should get another one. No instructor worth their salt will shout at you.

Sorry Saxon, made that a little confusing, I meant to say he shouts at me less than my regular parents, not even got an instructor yet

Hi MTheo -

Scrub learning with parents idea. Save up now, and learn with an instructor. When you've mastered the basics, get in extra practice with parent's car.

You are then less likely to crunch the gears and make other basic mistakes, and thus less likely to have a major fall out with your parents (it is their car you're practising in after all!).

Good luck!

Red