Ways to keep learning when you are unable to have driving lessons
Lockdown two has resulted in driving lessons, theory tests and practical driving tests being suspended again from 5th November until 3rd December.
* All tests between these dates are now cancelled and the DVSA will contact individuals affected with an alternative date and time.
* Driving and theory tests booked for 3rd December and later are not currently affected.
* This time, due to the short time frame, there are no keyworker driving lessons and tests.
Driving tests were cancelled for several months in the first lockdown and resumed on 22nd July 2020 creating a backlog of those who had driving tests cancelled and a waiting list for those yet to book. Driving lessons resumed for most in England on 4th July however new COVID regulations changed the way driving instructors work resulting in waiting lists for lessons as well as disruption to lessons and tests depending on the infection rate in your area. This means your driving goals are likely to need to be more flexible in 2020 and beyond.
So how can you keep learning and feel prepared for your driving lessons and test when your driving instructor can't give your driving lessons? Here are our top tips on how to keep learning.
Driving lesson advice during Covid-19 lockdown
Driving tests were suspended and anyone who had their test cancelled will be automatically contacted to book a new date for their test by the DVSA. Keep checking your emails, including your junk/spam folder.
Current guidance as of 5th November is that family members are only able to supervise private driving lesson practice on essential journeys that would have taken place anyway, such as driving to/from supermarket, place of work, place of education. We strongly advise that you seek guidance from your insurance provider to ensure your insurance is valid before supervising driving practice. See our article on parents giving driving lessons for our tips and advice for a stress-free experience.
Choose one or both of our FREE tools to help you become a more confident driver
Start planning for your
driving test
Download our driving test coaching wheel and put a plan in place to pass your driving test!
10 days to beat
driving test nerves
Try our FREE driving test nerves course with videos, exercises and advice to help you overcome driving test nerves!
YES I NEED THAT!If you have a driving test coming up soon you might find our Ultimate Guide to Driving Test Nerves useful.
Theory Test training
Theory tests have also been cancelled. This will cause problems for those of you whose theory test runs out shortly as you will have to take it again if it runs out before you can pass your practical driving test. For those of you who have not taken your theory test yet as it will delay you passing your driving test. We recommend using this time to practise your theory test training to ensure you the best chance of passing your theory and keeping your driving goals on track. If you have already passed your theory then revisiting the training and practise is still a useful way of maintaining your driving skills between driving lessons. Go Theory offers a limited resource that you can get started on for free.
Ask our advice
Join in one of our Friday morning drop-in virtual coffee mornings on zoom - AKA a Zooffee!
Kev and Tracey will be online waiting to chat with you about any driving nerves or confidence issues that you have. We are hoping to offer some help and advice to help you plan the best way to use the break from driving lessons to work on your driving confidence ready for when lessons resume.
Find the links to join us on our Facebook page
Complete a reflective log
Catch up with reflection and planning ready to restart driving lessons If your driving instructor uses a reflective log in your lessons catch up with a reflection on your last driving lesson and set some goals for when driving lessons resume. Confident Drivers subscribers can download an in-depth learning log to reflect on future lessons and how to prepare to achieve your future driving goals. Learn more about what else is included in a subscription for learner drivers.
Best books to read while driving lessons have stopped
We know how frustrating it is now that driving lessons have stopped. But learning does not need to. Why not use the time before restarting your lessons to prepare and learn more about the rules of the road. It will keep your current knowledge refreshed and you will feel ready to get back behind the wheel for lessons and pass your driving test.
Learn to drive Apps to try
We haven't trialled these ourselves but certainly the Official DVSA apps would be a good investment while you wait for driving lessons to restart
The Official DVSA Theory Test & Hazard Perception
£6.99 for the two apps in the bundle saving you 99p on the individual cost
Learn to Drive: Roundabouts
Cost £3.99
We know that roundabouts are a source of anxiety for many learners so why not learn the theory of roundabouts using this app while waiting for lessons to resume.
Learn to Drive
Learn driving with 3D animations. Free taster with In-App purchases
SimDrive
Cost £4.99
Driving Test simulation app for London test centres
Use the Confident Drivers Coaching wheel
We normally suggest the coaching wheel as a tool to help you manage driving test nerves. Instead, you can use the coaching wheel to help you identify which areas of driving you would like to learn more about before restarting driving lessons. You can then use this as a study plan while learning about roadcraft, observing other people's driving or watching your driving instructors YouTube videos on manoeuvres. See the request box earlier in this article.
Using observations to practice
While nothing replaces experience from a driving lesson you can also begin learning or consolidate what you already know through observations. Observations and demonstrations are one of the key factors known to help build confidence. You can read more about other factors in our blog about driving confidence and Bandura's Theory of Self Efficacy. Does your driving instructor provide driving videos that you can watch on YouTube? Do any other local instructors? Can you learn by observing while you are a passenger? Alternatively, why not try this animated online driving lessons simulator to fill in the gaps while your driving lessons have stopped.
Review your driving instructor
Your driving instructor is going through a really tough time right now as a self-employed person who can no longer run their business and has zero income. To help ensure your driving instructor is able to return to giving driving lessons in the future and help you achieve your driving goal please take a few moments to leave them a positive review. If they have their business listed on Google this will be the best place to review them, if not then leave a review on their social media pages. It will give you both a positive happy feeling!
Practice with a household member
Social distancing suggests that you should avoid being within 2 metres of other people outside of your household. This makes lessons with your driving instructor difficult so maybe you could consider practising your driving with household members instead (Please note this does not apply during lockdown when only essential trips are allowed). Before you start private driving practice read our advice for parents giving driving lessons first. MyFirstUK are offering £100 off learner driver insurance using the code CONFIDENT DRIVERS which sounds like a great way to retain your driving skills between driving lessons.
Please help us by sharing this guide with others. There is a good chance that if you found it useful, so will they.
What others are saying
Read more of our reviews from happy learner drivers who have used our stress management techniques to help them on Trustpilot
It's great to have a website offering fantastic techniques to assist with the challenges of driving. The website recognises the fact that learning to drive can be stressful and there are strategies to help with this. The website's name, 'CONFIDENT Drivers' is what a learner is aspiring to be, so it's very positive. The techniques also apply to building general confidence in all walks of life, so useful again. Thank you!
I was so pleased when my instructor signed me up for Confident Driver. I loved the hypnosis sessions & I recently passed first time with one fault. Recommend 100%
Confident drivers has been a really useful tool in changing my attitude to the driving test. I hadn't recognised just how much my negative thoughts about my ability rather than my actual driving ability have been holding me back and putting me off. I particularly liked the quick fix section that gives you strategies to calm down just before the test!
Stress Management Subscription For Learner Drivers
If you would like some additional help and stress management resources to help you tackle your driving test nerves or improve driving confidence then our subscriptions are created by leading industry experts especially for you.
What is included:
Four relaxation audios
Three ways to use imagery techniques
A range of breathing exercises and a breathing audio
Positive self-talk tools and techniques to manage negative thinking
Four TFT Meridian tapping videos for different emotions and feelings
A range of Coaching tools and techniques to help plan ahead and change your driving mindset
Two hypnotherapy audios specifically tailored for Driving Confidence and Driving Test Nerves.
You will also get a SIX Week Introduction to Mindfulness course - learning skills you can use in stressful situations throughout your life.
These plans are created specifically for individual drivers, you can find out more details on our learner drivers page. We also have a range of group plans created for driving instructors, you can find more details on our ADI page.
One Month
£10
- 8 Stress Management Techniques
- Online Courses
- Created by industry experts
- Renew or Upgrade anytime
Annual
£25
- 8 Stress Management Techniques
- Online Courses
- Created by industry experts
- Great value 12 months access
1 to 1 Call
£30
- Personal Approach
- Answer questions in advance
- Focussed on your situation
- Video or Audio Zoom calls
Articles, Help and Advice for Learner Drivers
Take a browse around our blog for articles written to help learner drivers and driving instructors recognise the most common reasons for experiencing driving nerves and confidence issues. Each article offers strategies and suggestions that may help you.
Things to do when you can't have driving lessons
Your driving goals are likely to need to be more flexible this year. So how can you keep learning and feel prepared for your driving lessons and test
Build your driving confidence
Increasing your belief in your capability to drive will, in turn, increase your driving confidence. So how do we do that? Self-efficacy theory suggests that self-confidence or belief in your abilities is dependent on several key factors...
Have you considered hypnotherapy for driving nerves?
If you struggle with driving anxiety or driving test nerves you may well have wondered if hypnotherapy can help
Are your driving lesson nerves caused by your thoughts?
Learn ways of developing more helpful thinking styles which will help you reduce the signs and symptoms of your nerves and begin to feel more confident.