Intensive driving courses - a close look
Whilst the Driving Standards Agency recommends 45 hours of driving instruction supplemented by private practice, the practicalities (not to mention expense) of this path can prove prohibitive. If you take into account stoppages such as illness, holidays and so forth, it`s feasible to take over a year to pass your test. For some learner drivers, not having a specific date to aim for can be disillusioning and many opt to give up through lack of money or motivation.
Therefore, some driving schools offer intensive courses of lessons designed to get you to pass your test as quickly as possible. In fact, we specialise in these sorts of courses and can get you sufficiently proficient to pass in as quickly as five days - saving potentially a lot of time and money.
What`s included in an intensive driving course?
An intensive course will provide similar instruction to a more spread-out course, with the key difference coming in the duration of the lessons and the lack of waiting between them - there`s much less chance of you forgetting what you`ve learned due to better continuity. Intensive courses usually come with a test booked at the end of the course, so you will have a date to aim for and plenty of incentive to pass first time.
The driving test itself requires the motorist to conduct and follow a course specified by the examiner, operating within a fixed degree of errors over a course of around forty minutes. You will also be asked to perform a series of manoeuvres, which may include any or all of; a three point turn (also referred to as `turn in a road`), a reverse around a corner, parallel parking and possibly an emergency stop. Therefore, you`re driving instructor will take you through these manoeuvres and make sure you`re adept in performing them.
The pass rates for intensive courses tend to be favourable, with some schools boasting figures of around 75 per cent of first-timers bidding farewell to their `L` plates. According to Driving Standards Agency, the pass rate for first-timers who have conducted a normal learning process is around 43 per cent.
Whilst an intensive course will get you to pass your test quicker, you might want to consider enrolling on the DSA`s Pass Plus course after passing your test in order to be better prepared for some of the more challenging aspects of driving that you may encounter. It could also save you money on your car insurance and you may be able to get assistance with paying for it from your local council.
When on your intensive course, you could consider additional practice in the evenings. For this, you will require somebody who is happy to accompany you in their car and a learner drivers car insurance policy, plus `L` plates (or `D` in Wales). To find a competitive deal, it`s a good idea to begin your search using a comparison website, which will allow you to check the prices and policies from many different insurance providers.