[Closed] Haven't driven for years, need lessons. Can an instructor 'report me'?

I don't believe that anyone can make you resit your test based on simply observing your driving behaviour.

Pretty sure once you have a passed the test and own a license, you are then licensed to drive - no matter if you have a driving hiatus.

(If you don't have the full license, you will probably need to pass again to get one though)

No. None whatsoever. The fact that you see yourself as needing lessons already makes you one of the better drivers on the road.

Very well done you the responsible think to do

Ok that's good news. Current plan is to do some quiet/town driving with Mrs Poppa before getting a few lessons to get motorway/major A-road experience.

I wonder if it's like riding a bike, you never forget the basics - but it takes a lot of effort to be McAskill good.

Good idea to have some lessons - even if you just do the old pass plus typre lessons as a refresher.

The fact that you see yourself as needing lessons already makes you one of the better drivers on the road.

Get a grip.

My friend did exactly this. Passed her test and then didn't get behind the wheel for 11 years.

There was no issue legally with her having lessons, she just explained her situation to the instructor. The sensible thing to do in this scenario imho.

I did what you're proposing, only took one lesson to get back to a good standard, i.e. to a point where in the hours lesson I didn't do anythig that would be considdered a fault on a test.

The fact that you see yourself as needing lessons already makes you one of the better drivers on the road.

Get a grip.

What? Get a grip? What ARE you drivelling on about? I'd agree with the senitment of the statement entirely. Have YOU ever taken any extra training, or are you just perfect?

I think a retest should be done every 10 years. It would get rid of a lot of traffic!

What? Get a grip? What ARE you drivelling on about?

Then I thought about it - it doesn't make them a better driver at all. All it does is mean they realise they need more training and good on the OP for realising that. No doubt that self-awareness *should* make them a more considerate driver when they ARE a better driver.

What? Get a grip? What ARE you drivelling on about? I'd agree with the senitment of the statement entirely. Have YOU ever taken any extra training, or are you just perfect?

It was a completely illogical statement, but its the kind of trite nonsense that goes down a storm on here.

Being worried about getting into the car until you have had a lesson does not make you one of the better drivers on the road, it makes you one of the worst.

Shandy - I think there was a certain 'spirit' attached to the statement rather than it being meant as an absolute. Of course, he/she won't be one of the better drivers but will IMO be adopting a responsible attitude. No need to dismount from that high horse though - you carry on...

Being worried about getting into the car until you have had a lesson does not make you one of the better drivers on the road, it makes you one of the worst.

So, what does make you a better driver then, if it's not responsibility and extra training?

He is quite clearly a terrible driver, currently, which is why the statement saying he was one of the better drivers on the road is complete drivel.

Fortunately driving is incredibly easy for anybody with half a brain, so he will probably find it very easy to learn.

A BIGGER car, probably...

and decent ventilated leather driving gloves.

^^ Nice trolling 🙂

If I go to an instructor, is there any means/liklihood that I could be reported in some fashion as needing to re-sit my driving test?

NO!

Being worried about getting into the car until you have had a lesson does not make you one of the better drivers on the road, it makes you one of the worst

I think a retest should be done every 10 years. It would get rid of a lot of traffic!

I don't know if this would help. I reckon we all pick up bad habits along the line, but under 'exam' conditions most people would know what to do to pass the test, after which you just revert back to the way you've always driven. Not sure it'll do anything except create more jobs of examiners.

SAve the country by re testing every 10 years! More Jobs (testers/ instructors), Less accidents, cheaper car insurance, more money coming in from test fees etc, Les crap motorists would mean less cars so less pollution! more money spent on decent public transport and cycling!

Respect to Poppa for not taking the "I have a pink card and there fore am a driving god" attitude of most people, I'm always amazed at how sloppy my driving gets when it is re-assessed every year, and I'm supposed to be an advanced driver (and i've got an LGV license!). Everybody could do with sharpening their skills IMO!

So the best driver would be someone with no concern about the quality of their driving who jumps into a car singing?

What has that got to do with anything?

So, what does make you a better driver then, if it's not responsibility and extra training?

Patience
Consideration for others
Confidence but not so much that it leads to recklessness

more money spent on decent public transport and cycling!

Better driver qualifications? Owning a 335d or V8 Defender will make you a simply awesome driver... 😉

Or since you have a licence already, you could try the Institute of Advanced Motoring. Instruction is free and you will eventually achieve quite a high standard of driving. That you are back at novice level presently, should not be a problem.

no pint posting that, the (less than) awesome one has long since going....

So the best driver would be someone with no concern about the quality of their driving who jumps into a car singing?
What has that got to do with anything?

So can I become a good driver simply by not worrying? Or is that BY worrying? I am getting lost now.

Fortunately driving is incredibly easy for anybody with half a brain

Wrong. If you think that you need to buck your ideas up.

He is quite clearly a terrible driver, currently, which is why the statement saying he was one of the better drivers on the road is complete drivel.

Rubbish. He's neither a bad or good driver, becasue HE'S NOT CURRENTLY DRIVING A CAR!!!

I said I agreed with the sentiment of the comment (Go on, check) which is that he realises he's not up to scratch and is willing to do something about it, hence showing responsibility and consideration before he's even got into a car.

Patience
Consideration for others
Confidence but not so much that it leads to recklessness

Consideration vs Responisbility? That's splitting hairs.

And it can be learned, if you're willing to accept it.

And you'll never be confident if you don't know what you're doing, will you? It's a lot easier to be overconfident and think you're OK, than lack confidence and do something about it, too.

What has that got to do with anything?

You tell us, you seem to be the expert.

If I go to an instructor, is there any means/liklihood that I could be reported in some fashion as needing to re-sit my driving test?

NO!

Though maybe they should be able to!

Surely the first step towards improving is identifying there's a problem. *that*, I believe to the BBZ's sentiment.

Conflating awareness with skill is causing an STW stylee rumpus.

[T]here are known knowns; there are things we know we know.
We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know.
But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know.

The unknown unknowns are the worst drivers. Those that dont know they're shit.

That applies to arguments about political economic theory as much as it does driving btw 🙂

Fortunately driving is incredibly easy for anybody with half a brain, so he will probably find it very easy to learn.

I know plenty of people with significantly more than half a brain that make it look incredibly difficult!

He really is a poor driver. There are millions out there and even the ones that passed their test last week are probably better than him.

If it was difficult there would be loads of crashes, but there isn't. Its really easy. There are systems to avoid crashing into each other and everything.

I don't believe that anyone can make you resit your test based on simply observing your driving behaviour.

The police?

when you feel confident enough to drive on your own why not put P plates on the car for a while then others may be a little more sympathetic/wary if you take a while to manoeuvre. the missus had the same problem ..passed her test 10 yrs ago and never driven since. Don't know whether it's legal but I just put L plates on when re training her and as mentioned now have P plates on permanently ...makes her feel better!

others may be a little more sympathetic/wary if you take a while to manoeuvre

😆 😆 😆

Is that a flying pig?

Having been in that situation about a year ago I can tell you they do bugger all! I used my mum's car for a while after I passed my test, on the condition I put the plates on. The idea being it would make drivers more sympathetic so I wouldn't panic if things started to go wrong and I started holding someone up. On several occasions I forgot to put them on, I notice NO change in attitude from other drivers. Hell even when I had the plates on there were people honking horns and flashing lights at me because I was doing the speed limit and they wanted to go faster. 👿 Ok, I'm not the best driver in the world, but I do have consideration for others, don't break the speed limits (even if they're silly) and always drive to the conditions.

If they make your Mrs feel more confident then fair enough, but they don't make any real difference to how others treat you.

I vaguely remember a TV programme called "Britain's Worst Driver". AFAIK no one on that show had to resit their test and they demonstrated some of the worst driving I've ever seen.

Reckon you're safe, an instructor who reports people who recognise a weakness and wish to improve should have no position teaching anyone.

The single most important factor in being a good driver is that realisation that you need to take responsibility for your actions. Very very few people do this hence my original comment.

Driving on the public roads is not a competition about who has the best car skills or who can get there quicker. Until people realise that every driver makes mistakes now and then and that when they do make a mistake that it is not meant as a personal death threat they can only be considered a poor driver.

Totally agree SBZ, your original statement that the OP was probably a better driver for realising his own limitations is also spot on.

The single most important factor in being a good driver is that realisation that you need to take responsibility for your actions

Or are you suggesting that somebody who's never driven before but has the right attitude is the best driver in the world?

The single most important factor in being a good driver is that realisation that you need to take responsibility for your actions

Provided you have the basic skills to go with it. If you don't have the basic skills then no amount of "correct attitude" is going to help.
Or are you suggesting that somebody who's never driven before but has the right attitude is the best driver in the world?

What he said sounds fair enough to me. 🙄

I think a 10yr retest would be good, I doubt most people on here could go into a driving test and pass without at least a couple of refresher lessons to fix the bad habits you slip into within weeks of passing.

To Poppa, you'd probably be best looking for an instructor that does pass plus, this includes motorway driving and I believe driving after dark. Its still designed for those with little experience, I did mine with the same examiner that I passed with, but was given a lot more information on just driving safely rather than how to drive to pass your test compared to normal lessons. Also a normal instructor who doesn't do pass plus will never teach on motorways.

Let's not split hairs.

He meant that the op was POTENTIALLY the best driver.

Thanks for the replies, some useful stuff there. Glad to have promoted a healthy discourse on the subject 🙂

I love how defensive people get at even the merest hint that their driving may not be perfect. Reminds me of many days at work when I had to let people into the secret that their status as a driving god was a figment of their imagination and they were indeed dangerous.

Fortunately driving is incredibly easy for anybody with half a brain, so he will probably find it very easy to learn.

either most people on the roads are halfwits or this is just not true.

only an ignorant person believes they have nothing to learn.

I'd go with most people on the roads being halfwits to be honest. That's maybe being generous though.

buzz-lightyear - Member
Or since you have a licence already, you could try the Institute of Advanced Motoring. Instruction is free and you will eventually achieve quite a high standard of driving. That you are back at novice level presently, should not be a problem.

Agree entirely with SBZ, being a good driver is 90% attitude, 10% skill.

The IAM would be pleased to have you. Cost is £139 (incl Book) and membership. As many hours free advice on the road as you need to help build your confidence and improve your driving. No obligation to take the test at the end if you don't want to. (Although passing will qualify you for preferential insurance terms).

http://www.iam.org.uk/vmchk/car_driver_membership_programmes/car_skill_for_life_for_drivers/flypage.tpl.html

SBZ sanctimonious drivel.

Muddy_bum - clean your arse will you.

Its not hard folks, my Granda is an excellent driver and he can hardly walk without his rollater.

being a good driver is 90% attitude, 10% skill.

Meanwhile attitude isn't just about knowing your limitations. Driving within your ability. Not getting angry at other drivers. Not being aggressive. None of which are related to knowing that you need training - I mean some of those people don't actually desperately need any training at all to be good, safe drivers. Being self-aware does actually also allow you to be correct when you think you're doing things right. Hence why Trolling's first post is BS.

Cant let the driving instructor be correct about driving now can we. Trouble with driving is that everyone thinks they're an expert after a tiny wee bit of basic training.

So can I check I've got this right, you're an expert on every aspect of driving, Trolling? No point anybody else even contributing to a thread about driving - when you've said your piece the thread is over?

Correct.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

aracer - Member

being a good driver is 90% attitude, 10% skill.

So a driver with a 10% worse attitude is better than one with half the skill level? Rubbish. Observing properly is a skill. Anticipating is a skill. Being able to select an appropriate speed is a skill. Being able to handle a car under emergency braking is a skill. All directly related to driving well and safely - skill isn't just about being able to drive fast around corners.

Meanwhile attitude isn't just about knowing your limitations. Driving within your ability. Not getting angry at other drivers. Not being aggressive. None of which are related to knowing that you need training - I mean some of those people don't actually desperately need any training at all to be good, safe drivers. Being self-aware does actually also allow you to be correct when you think you're doing things right. Hence why Trolling's first post is BS.

Attitude = State of mind. All those things you've listed (obs, anticipation, speed etc) as 'skills' start with state of mind (attitude)

Read this (And Shandy):

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