If you have booked in for your first driving lesson, it’s understandable that you may be feeling a little nervous or apprehensive. Knowing what to expect in your first driving lesson will help to calm your nerve and ensure that you are prepared and ready to get behind the wheel; read on for Nayland Driving School top tips on what to expect from your first driving lesson!
Where will we meet and what do I need to bring?
On the day of your first driving lesson, your driving instructor will pick you up from your home or agreed pickup location.
You will need to bring your provisional driving licence with you, and if you wear glasses then please ensure that they are with you on the day of your lesson. Your driving instructor will need to check the photo card licence, and will ask you to read a number plate at 20 metres as part of an eyesight test. We would also recommend that you wear appropriate and comfortable footwear.
What to expect from your first driving lesson
What you can expect from your first driving lesson could vary, depending on your experience behind the wheel. For a new driver, your driving instructor will normally take you to a quiet location, and where possible with a straight section of road, so that you can start with the basics of moving and stopping safely, and getting used to using the gears and learning about clutch control. If you have a few hours of driving experience under your belt, they may spend a short amount of time in a quiet residential area before taking you out onto the busier roads. Even if you live in a quiet area, your instructor may take you away from the house to make you feel more comfortable. Most students won’t want family or friends watching them out the window.
Learning the controls
Once you get to a quiet location, the driving instructor will give you a lesson on how to use the controls, including;
• Pedals
• Handbrake
• Indicator
• Gears
You will also learn how to correctly adjust your seat and mirrors, and depending on the weather, the lights and wipers might also be included in the lesson. This section will be completed with you whilst you are sitting in the driver seat.
Once you are familiar with the controls of the vehicle, your instructor will normally move on to moving off and stopping. The next stage of this lesson will depend on your ability, location and how confident you are feeling. How you are feeling will play a large part in your first driving lesson, and so your driving instructor will move at a pace that suits you.
Moving off and stopping
The aim of this is to learn how to start and stop the car successfully by focusing on control and observation.
When learning moving off and stopping, most instructors will use the P-O-M routine (prepare, observe, move) or M-S-P-S-L (mirror, signal, position, speed, look) – different instructors use different techniques. Often instructors will have many different ways, but will tailor the lesson to your individual needs.
What if I already have driving experience?
If you have previous driving experience, your first driving lesson might look a bit different. At the start, your driving instructor will ask you about your experience, how confident you are feeling and if there are any particular areas you would like to work on.
Even with experience, your driving instructor will often take you to a quiet location to give you a chance to get used to the different vehicle and so the instructor can assess your driving from the start. Your driving instructor will then work through the various subjects to help identify any areas that need improvement.
At the end of your first lesson
Once the lesson has ended, your driving instructor will drop you back off at your desired location. They will ask you how you felt the lesson went and what you might like to work on next time. Where possible, your instructor will also book you in for your next lesson and make some notes to help you progress in your future driving lessons.
