How to prepare for your first driving lesson
This is a blog looking at how to prepare for your first driving lesson.
Having your first driving lesson with a good reputable driving instructor is a major milestone in your life, so here at Kevin Graham Driver Training we want you to feel prepared in the hope that you have the best and most positive driving experience
In this article you will find my top tips that will really help you on the day, so buckle up for safety and off we go!
The Preparation:
We recommend that you wear a comfortable pair of shoes, avoid such things as flip flops or high heels
On the night before try to get a good night’s sleep
On the morning of your lesson, grab a good breakfast
Remember to bring your provisional licence
If you wear glasses or contact lenses go grab them now
Bring a bottle of water, especially if you plan on doing two hourly lessons
So now you are ready and hopefully waiting to meet your driving instructor for the first time. After an initial meet and greet your driving instructor will check your provisional licence and ask you to read a registration plate 20 metres away. After that you are good to go!
Don’t worry, you won’t be expected to drive straight away. Your driving Instructor will drive you somewhere near that is quiet and safe so you have time to get to know the car at your own pace
Finally it’s your turn to jump into the driver’s seat and get to know the basic car controls. Your driving instructor will talk you through the Cockpit Drill so you can customise the car to your taste.
The cockpit drill:
- Doors – are they closed properly?
- Seat – are you sitting comfortably?
- Seatbelt – have you popped your seatbelt on?
- Steering – can you reach without stretching?
- Mirrors – adjust them to gain the best rear view
- DSSSM 😉
The car controls:
Your driving instructor will want you to feel happy and comfortable with the foot controls such as:
- The clutch
- The brakes
- The accelerator / gas
He or she will then give you a quick tour of the important hand controls also such as:
- The steering wheel
- The indicators
- The handbrake
Heads up, one key factor that’s a must is to make sure you have the correct set up for your mirrors too but your driving instructor will guide you through this also
Give yourself time to understand the basics and if at any point you are not sure, please feel free to ask your driving instructor as many questions as you like!
So now it’s pedal to the metal ( well not quite fast and furious just yet )
You have waited all your life to do this but you are finally going to have a go at using your recently acquired knowledge and move the vehicle away. You will probably be guided to use a memorable system that you can use time and time again:
- Prepare
- Observe
- Go
Don’t worry, if you forget anything at this stage, it’s ok to make mistakes and learn from them.
And just like that, your first driving lesson is over, your instructor is taking you home and helping you plan goals for the next time by the use of a reflective log.
And finally, even after lesson one it’s a good idea to help yourself get to know the rules by grabbing a copy of the new Highway Code. Here you will develop a better understanding of all the different road signs. You might even feel inspired to book your theory test ( please see link at the end of this blog )