Choosing the Best Driving Lessons in Bradford
Learning to drive can be fun – if you choose a great instructor. Choosing the best driving lessons in Bradford takes a little time. Getting it right can dramatically improve your chances of passing your test on the first try. So how do you choose a great driving instructor and make the most of your lessons?
There are a few steps to take before settling on the driving lessons in Bradford that are best for you. This blog takes you through the essentials. We’ve even included a few tips to help your driving lessons prepare you faster for your test. Read on to find out how — and where —you can find the best driving lessons in Bradford.
Where to look for the best driving instructors
The internet is a great place to start looking for driving lessons in Bradford. But it’s not the only place and shouldn’t be your only search. The internet can only tell you so much. The best driving instructor is one who is experienced, patient and explains things in a way you understand. You should get along and respect your driving instructor’s directions and advice.
When looking for Bradford driving lessons on the internet, check out the reviews previous students have given schools and instructors. If you have friends or family members who’ve recently passed their licence test, chat with them about their experience too. Ask them what they liked or didn’t like about their driving lessons in Bradford. It can help to also find out if they’d recommend the instructors they worked with. If not, it’s probably best you steer clear too.
After you’ve found a few driving schools you’d like to try, give them a call. Ask about their rates per lesson, how much they charge for sets of lessons and any other questions you have about learning to drive in Bradford. Make notes. If you think a driving instructor or school is a good fit for you, book an introductory lesson. Avoid booking a set of lessons before you’ve driven with the instructor at least once.
Once you’ve had a few introductory lessons, you’ll know what you like about the driving instructor’s style of teaching. And what you don’t like. With this knowledge, you can confidently book the best driving lessons in Bradford for you.
Preparing for driving lessons in Bradford
Driving lessons aren’t just about the practicalities of operating a car. It is the main theme, but you’ll also need to understand road rules, traffic hazards and how driving licences work too. The best way to do this is by reading up on the UK Highway Code and safety rules for drivers.
There’s no need to try memorising everything. Just read it through and note any questions you have as you go. You can take these to your driving lessons and discuss them with your instructor.
Getting the most from your driving lessons
Even the best driving instructor can only teach you so much in each lesson you have. It’s up to you to wring each drop of help from your driving lessons. There are a few tried and true tactics that will help you do this.
Set small goals
If you know what you want to achieve, it’s much easier to achieve it. Chat with your driving instructor about what you want to accomplish with each lesson. Work with them to set small goals. Doing this will help you stay focused, let your instructor design lessons around you and you’ll be able to see the progress you’re making. That builds confidence and motivation.
Practice outside of driving lessons
Making time to practice outside of your structured lessons is one of the best things you can do to improve your driving skill. If you’ve just nailed a new skill like changing gears in your lesson, practice it with a trusted family member or friend. Practice helps turn newly developed skills into muscle memory. That means you have less to think about and more energy to focus on nailing the next technique.
Ask about car care
It may seem unimportant, but car care is part of safety. Just because you’re learning to drive in someone else’s car doesn’t mean you don’t need to know how to look after it — you do! Knowing where to top up windscreen wiper fluids, check the oil and how to operate the rear demister are all questions that could pop up in the ‘show me, tell me’ part of your driving test.
In most cases, you’ll take your driving test in your driving instructor’s car. Ask them to take you through the basic car maintenance checks so you can ace the ‘show me, tell me’ part of your test.
After you complete a set of driving lessons
Everyone learns things at different rates. And some skills take longer to master than others. It’s exactly the same with driving lessons. Just because you purchase three months of lessons doesn’t mean you’ll be ready to pass your driving test at the end. It may take longer, and it may take a little less.
On average, it takes new drivers 45 hours of lessons and 20 hours of practice to be ‘test ready’. As you improve over the course of your driving lessons, chat with your instructor about test readiness. They’ll be able to give you honest feedback on your skill and how well-equipped you are for passing your driving test.
It’s also a good idea to keep up with the preparation for the theory part of your driving test too. Revise the highway code, learn about the different road signs and take practice theory tests with friends and family members whenever you get a chance.
Finding the best driving lessons in Bradford takes a little time and effort. Making the most of those lessons means being prepared, setting small goals and practising what you learn as you go. Driving lessons in Bradford can be fun. And if they’re fun, you’ll learn faster and be on the road in no time. Good luck!
