On hour 20 of learning to drive and haven't done 'anything'?!

I don't mean anything anything, but it feels like nothing!

We just spend the lesson driving around; I've been on a duel carriage way and into 5th gear, junctions and touched on roundabouts (but it's been a sort of, learn as I go with them). No maneuvers, reversing, emergency stops - nothing else but just driving around and around my area for the whole time I've been learning.

All the people at college say they pass in 15 or 16 hours; they all think 20 hours is loads and I should be taking my test soon so I feel really ridiculous saying to someone the amount of hours I've done.

I've asked my instructor if we can do something else and he just says 'we'll see' or 'when you're ready'. I used to be incredibly nervous which reflected in my driving but I feel that I've improved loads since I began. I know there're stories about how instructors spin out the lessons to make more money but he knows that i'm paying for them out of my own pocket and we get on really well - call me naive but I don't think he'd do that.

Is 20 hours really a long time to learn to drive? I don't see how it logically can be but all I hear are stories about how little it took my friends to pass. And what's 'normal' to learn/do by hour 20? More than what I've done? I must either be a worse driver then I thought or he's spinning out the lessons, right?

Thanks

All depends on the person, I'm sure DSA said about 45 hours with an instructor in 20 with parents, but with my dad being in the police I only took 7 two hour lessons and then plenty with him.... I wouldn't worry too much, I know people with 100hrs plus that are nowhere near ready for their test.

The DSA average is like 67 hours all together and I have to say even I have had just about that much. It is extremely annoying when people say "oh your taking far too long" - That's not the case, it generally takes some people longer and that is not a bad thing.

Regards to manouvers, I did my first manouver at something like 18 hours ...some instructors use the term " no point driving backwards if you can't drive properly forwards"

By 20 lessons, I hadn't that much either..i would say just go at the pace that feels comfortable to you and since your paying for your own lessons, just tell your friends that you want to get lots of professional experience as a learner rather than crashing the first week after you pass!

Good luck and if you have more questions, don't forget to ask

That was really reassuring actually - thank you It's just that after asking around, everyone's telling me that they've passed really crazily quickly (or that's what they say!) and it's had me kind of worried that I'm either absolutely appalling at driving or I'm being conned a bit. Thanks again

I don't mean anything anything, but it feels like nothing!

We just spend the lesson driving around; I've been on a duel carriage way and into 5th gear, junctions and touched on roundabouts (but it's been a sort of, learn as I go with them). No maneuvers, reversing, emergency stops - nothing else but just driving around and around my area for the whole time I've been learning.

All the people at college say they pass in 15 or 16 hours; they all think 20 hours is loads and I should be taking my test soon so I feel really ridiculous saying to someone the amount of hours I've done.

I've asked my instructor if we can do something else and he just says 'we'll see' or 'when you're ready'. I used to be incredibly nervous which reflected in my driving but I feel that I've improved loads since I began. I know there're stories about how instructors spin out the lessons to make more money but he knows that i'm paying for them out of my own pocket and we get on really well - call me naive but I don't think he'd do that.

Is 20 hours really a long time to learn to drive? I don't see how it logically can be but all I hear are stories about how little it took my friends to pass. And what's 'normal' to learn/do by hour 20? More than what I've done? I must either be a worse driver then I thought or he's spinning out the lessons, right?

Thanks

I don't mean anything anything, but it feels like nothing!

We just spend the lesson driving around; I've been on a duel carriage way and into 5th gear, junctions and touched on roundabouts (but it's been a sort of, learn as I go with them). No maneuvers, reversing, emergency stops - nothing else but just driving around and around my area for the whole time I've been learning.

All the people at college say they pass in 15 or 16 hours; they all think 20 hours is loads and I should be taking my test soon so I feel really ridiculous saying to someone the amount of hours I've done.

I've asked my instructor if we can do something else and he just says 'we'll see' or 'when you're ready'. I used to be incredibly nervous which reflected in my driving but I feel that I've improved loads since I began. I know there're stories about how instructors spin out the lessons to make more money but he knows that i'm paying for them out of my own pocket and we get on really well - call me naive but I don't think he'd do that.

Is 20 hours really a long time to learn to drive? I don't see how it logically can be but all I hear are stories about how little it took my friends to pass. And what's 'normal' to learn/do by hour 20? More than what I've done? I must either be a worse driver then I thought or he's spinning out the lessons, right?

Thanks

I don't mean anything anything, but it feels like nothing!

We just spend the lesson driving around; I've been on a duel carriage way and into 5th gear, junctions and touched on roundabouts (but it's been a sort of, learn as I go with them). No maneuvers, reversing, emergency stops - nothing else but just driving around and around my area for the whole time I've been learning.

All the people at college say they pass in 15 or 16 hours; they all think 20 hours is loads and I should be taking my test soon so I feel really ridiculous saying to someone the amount of hours I've done.

I've asked my instructor if we can do something else and he just says 'we'll see' or 'when you're ready'. I used to be incredibly nervous which reflected in my driving but I feel that I've improved loads since I began. I know there're stories about how instructors spin out the lessons to make more money but he knows that i'm paying for them out of my own pocket and we get on really well - call me naive but I don't think he'd do that.

Is 20 hours really a long time to learn to drive? I don't see how it logically can be but all I hear are stories about how little it took my friends to pass. And what's 'normal' to learn/do by hour 20? More than what I've done? I must either be a worse driver then I thought or he's spinning out the lessons, right?

Thanks

I've had 20 hours so far, my instructor thinks it'll be roughly another 20 before I'm ready. I don't do any driving outside of my lessons with parents etc (which most people do) so it's probably going to take me longer than most. Why waste money on tests you're not ready for when you could put it towards more lessons to gain confidence? I have a feeling a few people are twisting the truth a bit!

Maybe have a chat with your instructor, see how long he thinks it'll take for you to pass? Obviously only a rough estimate, but it's good to know you're both on the same page. Perhaps also discuss when he thinks you'll be ready for different manouvres; different instructors have different styles of teaching, for the manouvres really good clutch control is needed (I'm still struggling with this one!) so maybe he's getting that sorted with normal driving first before introducing new things. Best person to ask is your instructor, his response (or perhaps lack of) will be a pretty good indicator as to whether he is 'stringing you along' or whether that's just his teaching style

Nice to find someone on about hour 20 too! Have you done any/ when did you start maneuvers? Cheers for your response... it's reassuring to know that there are other people who haven't taken their test and passed with flying colors at hour 10 or something!

I've done turn in the road+parallel park (well, I attempted :P). I did turn in the road at about hour 13 and parallel park at hour 20. Turn in the road still leaves a lot to be desired, there seems to be so much to remember for it!

All the people at college say they pass in 15 or 16 hours; they all think 20 hours is loads and I should be taking my test soon so I feel really ridiculous saying to someone the amount of hours I've done.

I've asked my instructor if we can do something else and he just says 'we'll see' or 'when you're ready'. I used to be incredibly nervous which reflected in my driving but I feel that I've improved loads since I began. I know there're stories about how instructors spin out the lessons to make more money but he knows that i'm paying for them out of my own pocket and we get on really well - call me naive but I don't think he'd do that.

Is 20 hours really a long time to learn to drive? I don't see how it logically can be but all I hear are stories about how little it took my friends to pass. And what's 'normal' to learn/do by hour 20? More than what I've done? I must either be a worse driver then I thought or he's spinning out the lessons, right?

Thanks

The DSA average is like 67 hours all together and I have to say even I have had just about that much. It is extremely annoying when people say "oh your taking far too long" - That's not the case, it generally takes some people longer and that is not a bad thing.