Learning to drive!

When I started writing this blog way back in 2011 I intended to document my children's milestones - but I never imagined that I would still be writing it when those milestones became adult ones like learning to drive! 

My son started driving lessons a few weeks ago, and he has already passed his theory test with flying colours. I began learning to drive shortly after the theory test was introduced and I don't remember it being that difficult, but having recently done a few practice ones I can say that now it's not easy at all! In particular I found the newer hazard perception test videos very difficult. I realised that when I'm driving I'm constantly aware of hazards - to the extent that I perceive almost everything to be a potential hazard - so I was clicking away on the videos like mad every time I spotted something that might develop into one!

One important decision to make was whether he should apply for a manual or an automatic licence. While I think that the future of cars is definitely automatic, especially if you intend to drive electric cars, I do think that there is still a need to have a manual licence for the time being. For example he may find himself needing to drive a manual hire car or a work vehicle. Luckily we have an older manual car which he can practice in, and once he has the manual licence he will always have it, even if he never needs to bother with a clutch again!

He's a natural!

We were very lucky to discover that one of his former secondary school teachers is also a driving instructor, and it is really helping him to have a teacher that knows him and that he's comfortable with. He has been progressing really well each week, moving up through the gears, going into reverse, and moving on to some busier streets.

Booking the test is a bit of a worry, because of the well-publicised backlog. It's not such a problem to wait six months for the first test, because it will take most learners longer than that to be test ready. The issue is if you fail it, and then have to wait another six months before you can retake it. I failed my first test but I only had a few weeks to wait for my second, by which time I was much more prepared and passed easily. It really piles on the pressure to pass first time.

However that's not a worry for the time being as we are still early days. It will be a while yet until I even feel brave enough to take him out for a practice in our car!