On your first driving lesson, your instructor will collect you from the agreed pick-up address, and you’ll drive to a quiet residential area. Somewhere with wide roads, and, ideally, little traffic.
You’ll need to bring your Provisional Licence, and you’ll be asked to read a car licence plate from a distance of 20.5 metres. If you need glasses or contact lenses to see objects at a distance, you’ll need to wear them for driving.
After a short chat, you’ll be given a brief explanation of the controls of the car. This is something you can read up on before your lesson and, as is mentioned elsewhere on this site, by taking responsibility and putting a little bit of effort in beforehand, your driving lessons will be far more interesting. The car controls are split into three groups:
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Cockpit drill (door checks, seat position, steering wheel checks, seat-belts, mirrors – DSSSM should help you remember)
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Foot controls (from left to right – clutch / brake / accelerator or gas)
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Hand controls (gears, handbrake, signals, windows, de-misters, lights, etc)
Moving The Car
After a brief chat to find out what level of knowledge you have about the car controls, you’ll be given an explanation of how to get the car moving, and how to then park safely on the left. Again, do your research beforehand to make this easier on the day. It’s not tricky, but it can be a lot of new information if you’re not adequately prepared:
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Turn the engine on
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Prepare the car:
- Clutch down
- Select first gear
- Set the gas
- Bring the clutch halfway up to the biting point
- Keep your feet still
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Check that it’s safe to move off:
- Start over your left shoulder (blind spot)
- Check left mirror, main mirror, right mirror
- Finish looking over your right shoulder (blind spot)
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If it’s safe, look back to the direction you’ll be driving and move the car:
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Release the handbrake
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Slowly bring the clutch all the way up
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Slowly apply a little more gas
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Steer into a normal driving position or as directed by your Instructor
This system is sometimes called POM, which stands for PREPARE – OBSERVE – MOVE.
Parking The Car
After a short drive, you’ll be asked to pull in to the left-hand side of the road and park.
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Check your main mirror and left mirror
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If there’s someone who could benefit from it, signal left
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Steer from your normal driving position into the left-hand side, or a parked position
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Right foot off the gas and use it to cover the brake
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Clutch all the way down
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Brake gently and progressively until you stop – try not to come to a jolting stop.
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Apply the handbrake
Client Journals
Clients who commit to block bookings in advance will be provided with their own Caledonian Client Journals. This is your own personal action plan and reflective log that will ensure you get the absolute most value for money from your driving lessons. Use it as directed by your Instructor.
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Contracting – set your goals. When do you want to pass your test by? Why do you want to learn to drive? How many hours per week are you going to commit to?
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Choose what subjects to cover next – read the syllabus. Take responsibility.
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Complete the exercises, either in advance or as revision.
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Reflect on your lessons. Write down what went well, what didn’t go so well, and how you’re going to improve.
Passive learners take longer to pass their driving tests and spend more money on driving lessons. Become an active learner with Caledonian LDT.
