Learning To Drive in Glasgow

Learning to drive is an exciting milestone for anybody. It takes you from being dependent on public transport or other drivers, to a feeling of freedom and independence. The whole process can be divided pretty neatly into three parts: theory, car control, and road-craft.

The theory part includes knowing about road markings and signs, and the rules about using the road. For example how to overtake a cyclist, when to use your hazard lights and so on. You can start learning driving theory before you first sit in the driving seat, and you probably already have some knowledge from using the road as a passenger, pedestrian or cyclist. Reading and digesting The Highway Code is the best way to check your knowledge and learn driving theory.

Car Control will be covered in your first lessons. It’s about handling the car itself, putting a whole new range of skills and reflexes together to start and stop the car, and to manoeuvre it. To begin with this will require a lot of concentration as you use hand-eye co-ordination to put the physical processes of steering, changing gear and using the pedals together with looking through the windows and mirrors. After some practice driving in quiet roads this multi-tasking becomes second nature. It’s a bit like when you first got on a cycle – pedalling, balance and steering all at once was really tricky, but it doesn’t take long for you to get it together.

Road-craft is about dealing with everything else on the road. You’ll learn about how to deal with other vehicles, varied weather conditions and levels of light, with roundabouts, signals, pedestrians and other hazards. Once you’ve mastered the basic control of the car, most of the rest of your lessons will be focusing on building experience and skill in road-craft.

As you can see, there’s quite a lot involved in becoming a driver, but you can and will be able to do it. The best person to teach you to drive is a qualified driving instructor. They have a thorough understanding of driving theory, car control and road-craft, and lots of experience in teaching people to drive safely. They also know how driving tests work, and are able to judge when you are ready to take and pass the test.

There is no minimum or maximum number of lessons, everybody learns at different rates. You may choose to do all your driving practice with your instructor, or you may practice with a patient friend or family member between lessons, as long as the car insurance includes you as a learner driver, the car is displaying L-plates when you are driving, and the person supervising you is over 21 and has had a full driving licence for at least three years.

There are two parts to the driving test, and your instructor will be able to advise you when you are ready for each one. The first is the Theory Test. You need a provisional licence to do the Theory Test, and you must pass it before you can book a practical driving test. It includes driving theory and hazard recognition, and is done on a computer at a test centre. The practical driving test will involve about forty minutes on the road with an examiner, who will be looking at driving theory, car control and road-craft. At the end of the forty minutes you will be told the result of your driving test. If you pass, you’ve done it! You’re now a qualified driver. Learning to drive doesn’t end there though, you’ll be continually building up your experience, and should look again at the Highway Code periodically.

Contact us now if you are interested in finding out about learning to drive in Glasgow.