They will teach you how to operate the car, including how to change gear, use the indicator and check your mirrors. They will also help you to learn how to control your clutch and drive safely. It is normal to feel nervous about your first lesson, but your instructor will be able to put you at ease and make sure you have the best possible chance of success.
Most instructors will collect you from your home or somewhere else close by. After a short meet and greet and introduction, they will then drive you to a quiet road or parking lot for your first lesson. Your instructor will then swap seats with you and introduce you to the basic controls of the car. This is known as the cockpit drill and will include checking that all doors are closed, that the seat and steering wheel are in a comfortable position and that you can see everything clearly through your mirrors. This is an important part of the lesson because it is the first thing you need to do before starting the engine!
Once you are confident in your knowledge of the basics, your instructor will move you onto the road and start to teach you how to drive. They will help you to find the biting point of your clutch, and demonstrate how to move forwards and backwards safely. They will also help you to develop your understanding of the road and traffic signals, indicating when it is safe to move off and stop. They will also teach you about the basic controls of the car, from turning on the wipers to how to switch on the heater and how to read the dashboard.
After you have learned how to navigate the basics, your instructor will move you onto a quiet road or car park where you can practice a few more things before you take on your first Driving lesson test. They will most likely ask you to drive around a quiet street or industrial estate, and they may even teach you how to reverse park. However, you should not expect to be doing any kind of city driving on your first lesson, as instructors are aware of how nerve-wracking it can be to take on the streets for a new driver!
If you have any questions at all about anything you are being taught, don’t be afraid to ask. It is better to have a clear understanding than to try and guess what your instructor means, and asking questions will also help you build a positive relationship with them. They are highly trained professionals who want you to succeed, so they will be happy to explain anything that you don’t understand
