Traditional or intensive driving lessons – which is right for you?
Learning to drive is such an exciting experience, since you’re developing the skills necessary
to earn an entirely new level of independence. But with this newfound freedom comes a
huge responsibility – playing your part in protecting yourself and other drivers on the road.
When it comes to the type of lessons you can take, there are several options available to
learners. There’s no right or wrong approach, though one framework may be better suited to
certain drivers. In this post, we’ll explore some of the key differences between traditional and
intensive driving lessons, highlighting some of the benefits of each, to help you decide which
option may suit you best.
What are the differences?
On average, learner drivers need around 45 hours’ worth of lessons to be ready for their
practical test. On top of that, it’s often recommended that learners do at least 20 hours of
private practice. While these are only ballpark figures, and you shouldn’t hold yourself
precisely to these standards, they act as a good guide for understanding the traditional
approach to learning how to drive.
On the other hand, intensive courses take place over a much shorter period of time –
typically just one to two weeks, with learners on the road for up to five hours a day. When
learning through the traditional lesson structure, learners will generally book their test after a
set amount of lessons, or when the instructor feels they’re prepared. With an intensive
course, it’s more common to work backwards and book your test date first, before
scheduling your lessons in the build-up. With drivers sometimes waiting several months for a
slot, it makes sense to start your block of lessons only once you have a test date confirmed.
Which will suit you better?
● To save time – intensive Course. One of the most obvious benefits of an intensive driving
course is the opportunity to learn how to drive in a much shorter time frame. If you’re
only doing one lesson a week, it can take the best part of a year to be test-ready in
the traditional framework. Whereas once you’ve found a slot for your practical test,
the learning process will be accelerated and the timeframe will be determined more
by waiting times for a test date.
● To boost confidence – intensive. If you’re only having one or two hours’ worth of
time behind the wheel each week, it can feel like a big gap between lessons and it
might be harder to build on the skills you learned in the previous session. With an
intensive course, the information will be more fresh in your mind, giving you greater
confidence taking to the road.
● If you’ve never had experience driving before – traditional. Intensive courses can
be incredibly overwhelming for anyone who’s never sat behind the wheel of a car
before. That’s why a traditional course will typically be more suitable for new drivers,
since they can take a more structured approach to their learning and development. If
you’ve driven in the past and just want to sharpen up your skills, an intensive course
may be more appropriate.
● If you struggle to focus for long periods of time – traditional. Spending up to five
hours on the road in a single day is extremely tiring for anyone, whether you’re an
experienced driver or a learner. If you know that you’re someone who struggles with
maintaining focus over such a long period of time, you might benefit more from
shorter traditional lessons that typically last one or two hours.
Learn at your own speed
Both traditional and intensive courses offer their own benefits to learner drivers. If you feel
like a middle ground may better suit your preferences, many companies also offer semi-
intensive courses. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you feel comfortable and confident
every time you get behind the wheel, and you’ll set yourself up for a lifetime of driving
experience.
