We’re the provider of driving lessons Clacton learners recommend – and it’s incredible how much learning to drive has changed over the years! Here’s how lessons differ now:
Changing gears
To kick things off, here’s one thing that is set to ignite a debate between older and younger drivers: changing gears! Did you know that many older drivers still believe that you need to change gears gradually, even though it’s perfectly fine to skip a gear in the right circumstances?
Older drivers would have been taught in their driving lessons that they had to change down through the gears 1-by-1, but now we are taught to block change, when it comes to selecting the right gear for the job.
Photo ID
When you book your driving lesson, you will be told to bring your provisional driving licence with you. This is so your driving instructor can double check that you are legally allowed to drive—and that you are not trying to pass off someone’s provisional driving licence as your own. However, it didn’t always used to be this way! It wasn’t until 1997 that photographic ID was required to take your practical and theory tests, making it much harder for instructors and examiners alike to verify their pupil’s identity.
A compulsory driving test
What if you didn’t have to take a driving test? Well, for a while that was the case! Up until 1935, you didn’t have to take a test to get behind the wheel. As you can imagine, road safety wasn’t quite what it is now back then, and soon a driving test was introduced so that everyone was at a certain level before they took to the road. So just think: some people in your family tree may not have taken driving lessons at all before they started to drive!
Use of technology
One thing that has really changed in recent years is the use of technology during driving lessons. Showing that you can use a sat-nav is now part of the practical driving test, so your instructor will make sure that you can work with one comfortably before you book your test. You may also learn how to park with the aid of sensors. While you’ll need to know how to do things the old-fashioned way too, there’s no harm in making the most of the technology that makes driving easier!
Revision materials
When you learn to drive with our driving school, you will have access to some first-class revision tools. Since the introduction of the theory test in 1996 and the hazard perception test in 2002, learner drivers have had to demonstrate their knowledge before they have to book a practical test. Luckily for you, we have a range of study materials that you can access for free – and you will be able to take full advantage of your instructor’s expertise.
Covid measures
It goes without saying that driving lessons have had to change a lot since early 2020. There are a number of safety measures now in place to protect both the instructor and the learner driver from the spread of COVID-19. These include increased ventilation in the car, frequent sanitising of the controls, and an emphasis on hand washing. Learner drivers will also be asked about their travel history, if they have been ‘pinged’ by the NHS app, or if they are showing any COVID-19 symptoms.
Get in touch today
As you can see, driving lessons really have changed a lot over the years. If you want to access the best and most up-to-date tuition in your area, call the provider of driving lessons Clacton learners recommend today.
