If you are considering taking your first driving lessons, you will want to make sure that you are prepared for what is to come. By putting in some careful thought and effort at an early stage, you can help to guarantee that you will progress towards your end goal - a full driver's licence. Below is a guide of things for you to keep in mind as you begin your journey from being a complete novice to a new driver.

Learn driving theory and the highway code

When you take your test, you won't just be expected to be able to drive a car. You will also need to demonstrate that you have a good understanding of driving theory and the laws and rules contained in the highway code. You should dedicate a bit of time before or after each lesson to revising and learning these subjects.

Aim for slow and steady progress

Getting behind the wheel can be very exciting. This excitement may tempt you to rush through your lessons, as you will always want to move on to a new skill or manoeuvre. However, rushing ahead like this can actually have a negative impact. While in the short-term, a learner who rushes might appear to be making great progress, in the long-term, they are likely to fail their driving test as they will not have spent enough time mastering each skill required to drive a car safely. A good driving instructor will not rush you and will only move on to teaching the next skill when they are confident you have mastered the last. If you are worried about the cost of driving lessons, this is no excuse to rush. Most driving schools will be happy for you to take a break so you can save up the money required to continue. You will not forget any skills you have already learnt so you will be able to carry on where you left off.

Practice outside of your lessons

If you have a family member who owns a car and who is willing to take you out in it, you should try and practice what you have learnt in your professional driving lessons. While exercises such as this will never replace the expert guidance which is given by a qualified driving instructor, it will provide you with extra hours behind the wheel which you can use to sharpen up your skills and to practice tricky manoeuvres. 

If you would like further advice, you should contact a driving school today.