Driving lessons, is this really bad progress?

It all depends on your teacher. One lady I had dragged it out so much and I hadn't gone past third gear on my 15th lesson (and I'm a competent driver.)

I switched to a different teacher and he took me on the 70mph dual carriageway on my first lesson and I took my test 3 weeks after that.

However, some of my friends just do an hour a week and it took them like 6 months, whereas I did 2/3 lessons a week to get it done quicker.

Don't worry, you'll be there soon you shouldn't rush it anyway, it can be dangerous!

And you must have had a similar amount of lessons, around 20 something, how did you it?? I need tips lol Oh and how much did you pay per hour if you don't mind me asking. Thanks!

Basically, I need to know If I'm making slow progress, well I know I am, but I just want some opinions and advice on a few things. Firstly, I've had around 20 hours of lesson and so far I've learnt the cockpit drill, mirror signal manouver, parallel parking, turning right and left, mini roundabouts, creeping forward, reverse, changing gears (1st, 2nd, 3rd). At first, I spent so many hours on a really quiet road doing left turns, then right, all on first gear. I've heard of people going straight into busy roads after like 2 lessons? I understand the reason of this, I needed to master the basics but I can't help feeling I'm a really crap driver. From your experiences, is this really slow progress? Cos I'm unsure whether or not to change my instructor because he is really nice and calm and goes through everything nice and clearly, but I just think maybe I should experience someone new? And also how many lessons did you take to pass and how many more lessons do you think it would take me to learn everything else? Because before I was hoping It'd take me 40-45 lessons but this is looking unrealistic due to my slow progress : (

wow.. yes..! how fast are you going on these quiet roads in third?!?!? jeez... if it's a diesel then makes more sense but still... you should be going on normal roads by now! unless youre ****/very dangerous, which is unlikely, talk to your teacher and ask why. then maybe try and find another teacher because i've heard of people being ripped off in this way. how much are you paying?

i passed my in 5 months that was around 35ish hours i think that's normal?

I'd say a get a new teacher as you're being ripped off and go for a smaller driving school, not the AA or BSm as these tend to be more expensive and they draw it out. I was on a dual carriageway on my second lesson so yes your progress is slow! But it's probably not your fault! You need to get into 4 th gear it's no different to any other gear with regards to the changing gears so once you can go from 1st to 2nd then 3rd 4th and 4th 5th isn't a problem

Chin up and keep driving!

I did a crash course because i'm currently in year 13 so i cannot fit time in around exams. In total i had about 20 hour's practice, i mainly learnt during half term. And i passed my test within 3 weeks of my driving lessons. Because you have had over 20 hours of practice i would recommend you to have a crash course of around 5 hours and then straight after do your test. Its a lot of money now for driving lessons (£24 for 1 hour!!). I think your instructor is trying to get money out of you. On average people have around 24 hours practice.
Hope this helps

Mirror signal manouver? What is that exactly? :-/ And doing turns in first gear? How slow are you going? That sounds mental tbh.

I actually failed my first test because I went over a bridge too fast LOL! I think to be honest I learnt to be a more independant driver when my parents took me out rather than my instructor, because your in full control, there's no one to press the break if you don't do it.

However, you have to have provisional insurance to do this, mine was like 150 a month I think. If you can't afford it you can do it just for a week for like 30? If you do, i recommend it so much because it was sooo useful. At first my mum was terrified i'd crash her car and she didn't believe that I was competant on 70mph roads so we just drove around quite residential places at 1am and stuff so that if i stalled or whatever it wasn't like there was anyone behind me!! so if you could beg your parents to do that it will really speed you up

also well my mum is a single parent and my brother wants driving e v e r y w h e r e so because she was so desperate for me to drive I think mine were around £35 for an hours lesson. The first lady I had was like £25 but like i said before she dragged it out soooo much. Whereas £35 was expensive but I needed way less lessons.

Have you ever thought of doing like those intensive driving courses?

That's more than I did in my first 20 lessons! Ha.
But my instructor just didn't give a crap (not that I realised then). But he didn't push me to do better because he wanted to drag out the lessons. Since having a new instructor I can tell that with an actual good teacher you do a lot more.