by Nardobd » Tue Jul 28, 2015 7:02 pm
Back in April I booked an intensive driving course for this week (40 hours plus test). To give me a head-start I also wanted to do lessons leading up to the course, but the instructor that I had booked the intensive course with wasn't available on Saturdays and I work during the week. I therefore took approximately 10 lessons with another instructor ("Jeff"). Driving with Jeff, I went from a complete non-driver to "basic driving at a novice standard, although needing improvement" (Jeff's words).
I started with the intensive instructor on Saturday and then again yesterday and today. These were long sessions (4 hours Saturday and 6 hours each yesterday and today) and I get the feeling that this instructor doesn't want to let me drive. Whenever I go to press the brake to slow down for a junction or roundabout, there's no pedal because the instructor has already depressed it. When I go to clutch for gear-change it's already been depressed by the instructor. This makes me panic because I think my feet are missing the pedal and I therefore am thinking more about that than preparing for the junction etc. I asked about this and he says that I "don't brake early enough" so he does it. However, he never says to brake before I try to do so.
There's been several other incidents - he told me to overtake a van with the engine running and brake lights on. Although I had misgivings I did as I was told and almost drove into another learner - the van-driver had courteously stopped to give the learner time to do a manoeuvre.
I was told to overtake a bus at a bus-stop on a bend and did so, only to find oncoming traffic. I just squeaked through by gunning the engine.
Jeff had taught me to drive approximately a metre away from the kerb. When I do this my intensive instructor calls me a "kerb-hugger" and wants me to drive almost at the centre-line of the road.
Driving through an estate I have been criticised for slowing down to less than 10 miles an hour. When I explained that this was because there was a dog not on a leash, the instructor just said "Oh, well pick up the speed now then".
I was pulling out of a 20 mph zone into a main route with a 40mph limit and there was an oncoming car. I wasn't sure that I could not only get into the road but up to speed before hindering the driver of the oncoming car, making him slow down, so I braked. The instructor shouted at me that I had "plenty of time to get round". I therefore turned the corner and sure enough the oncoming driver was right up my backside before I had time to get up to speed. He was understandably impatient with me.
I have a test booked for Friday but this instructor says that I'm not ready....well I have another 20+ hours of tuition yet. He's telling me at this stage that he won't let me use the car for the test.
I've asked whether he works with any other instructors (he doesn't). I have tried to broach the subject politely but he just keeps slapping me down and telling me that he's the instructor and he has 34 years experience. HELP!!!