Driving lessons in Basingstoke

Learn to Drive

Most people look for a driving instructor because they want to to learn to drive and pass their test. In Basingstoke there is a wide choice of driving instructors, so why come to RWS Driving?

I am a fully qualified driving instructor, usually referred to as an ADI (Approved Driving Instructor). That means that I have successfully completed all of the training required by the DSA who will regularly check on my competence to teach.

I work in and around Basingstoke as an independent driving instructor, but I am a member of the DIA and MSA. Both organisations provide ADI's with support and help to keep me up to date with relevant changes in driving instruction.

At RWS Driving you will get a personal and friendly service. All lessons are conducted on a one to one basis and you will get your time in full (and probably a bit extra). I do not shout or swear, I don't even tell you off when you crunch the gears (although I will point out the damage you can do to your own car).

In Basingstoke, the driving test pass rate for cars was 44.36% in 2006-2007 and 47.85% in 2007-2008. In 2007 and 2008 my pass rate has been around 70% with many people passing on their first attempt.

You can pick a suitable duration for each lesson. Most of my pupils tend to do 1½ hours at a time whilst others prefer to do 1 hour. You can of course do 2 hours or more, but many people find it tiring and then there is the weekly cost to consider.

Pass Plus

When you have passed your driving test you can get into a car on your own and drive all over Basingstoke, in fact you can drive anywhere in the UK. A daunting prospect for many.

Unfortunately 1 in 5 new drivers have an accident within the first few months of their driving career. You are therefore at risk and need to do everything possible to to stay safe. Of course, following everything you have just learnt is essential, but there is evidence to show that getting more experience of driving with an experienced driver by your side can go a long way to help reduce your chances of having an accident.

Pass Plus is designed to give you that additional experience. You must drive for another 6 hours after passing your test and you will cover:

Town driving
All Weather driving
Night driving
Rural roads
Dual carriageways
Motorways

By the time you come to take your test you will have covered most, if not all of these subjects, except for Motorways. However, on Pass Plus you will normally drive for longer periods and go to areas that you have not driven in before. I normally try to take you to places that you are actually likely to drive to again on your own.

On succesful completion you will receive a certificate from the DSA, which can be shown to an insurance company, who may give a discount off your car insurance. Don't assume you will get a discount, check with the company first.

The hourly cost of Pass Plus is usually a little higher as we tend to travel further and there is additional paperwork to deal with.

Refresher courses

Experts believe it takes about two years to become an "experienced driver." That assumes that you are covering an average mileage of at least 10,000 miles a year. Whilst learning to drive you are unlikely to cover more than 700 - 800 miles. It follows that if you do very little driving after having passed your test it will probably take a lot longer to become a competent driver.

There could be many reasons why you gain little experience in the first few years after having passed your test, for example you may :

go to university
not have access to a car
only drive very short distances

Situations change and you may find that you now need to drive more regularly or in different driving conditions. This is where a refresher course can prove useful. How much time you put into it will depend on your own needs and we can discuss your particular requirements after a short assessment drive.

If you are a parent intending to supervise a learner you may find it helpful to take a short refresher course to ensure that your own driving skills meet the standard required to pass a test today. (Please bear in mind that driving standards have changed over the past 10 - 20 years, a lot more is required today of learners presenting themselves for a test).

Prices

	Normal Rate	Student
1 Hour	£23	£22
6 Hours (p/h) Paid in advance	£132 (£22)	£126 (£21)
Pass Plus - 6 Hours	£138 (£23)	£132 (£22)

Terms of payment

Lessons must be paid for at the start of each lesson.
If you wish to take advantage of the reduced rates for 6 hours you must pay the appropriate sum prior to the first hour of that block of lessons.
Student rates are intended to assist people who are in full time education and who do not have a regular income. Students at BCOT, QMC, Alton, Farnborough or Peter Symonds will normally qualify. If you are studying elsewhere you should contact me to discuss your situation. You must also produce a valid student card.

How many lessons will I need?

There are a lot of different figures banded about. The most reliable are those that come from the DSA who say that on average, those who pass their test have had about 45 hours of professional training combined with 22 hours of private practice.

It is reasonable to believe that if you are not getting any private practice you may need more professional lessons. However, no-one can say just how many lessons you will need, as it depends entirely on how quickly you pick up the necessary skills.

If you have driving lessons with RWS Driving I will take you through the key skills specified by the DSA. When I deem that you are approaching test standard you will do at least one mock test before we decide if you are ready for the practical test.

I will not insist on conducting more lessons than is necessary to reach test standard, but do bear in mind that there is no substitute for experience and it is a lot harder to pass a test today than it was 10 - 20 years ago.

Area

Most of my clients live or work within Basingstoke so this is where I spend most of my time. However, I am also happy to pick you up from and drop you off at any of the following:

Bramley, Sherfield on Lodden, Hartley Wintney, Hook, Odiham, Alton, Dummer, North Waltham, Overton, Oakley, and of course every area within this circle.

The map below helps to show the general area that I normally cover. If you live outside this area please complete the contact form on the contacts page to find out if I am available for your area.

Click on image for a larger view and more information

Terms and Conditions

As an Approved Driving Instructor, I will:

provide driving tuition to the standard set by the Driving Standards Agency
arrive at the agreed meeting place on time and if I am delayed by more than 10 minutes try to contact you
provide extra time, in the event that I am late for a lesson, at a mutually agreed time
provide at least 48 hours notice where possible, if it is necessary for me to cancel a lesson. (The most likely reasons for cancelling a lesson will be: a problem with the car, the weather conditions make it unsuitable for you to drive, I become ill. In which case 48 hours notice may not be possible).
cancel the lesson without notice if you appear unfit to drive. On the grounds of safety
reserve the right to refuse the use of my car for the purpose of a practical driving test if you do not successfully pass a mock test

As a client of RWS Driving you will need agree to:

pay the agreed amount for each lesson at the start of, or prior to, the lesson
provide at least 48 hours notice if you wish to cancel a lesson
pay the full cost of a cancelled lesson when less than 48 hours notice is given
pay the full cost of a lesson if you are late for an appointment and accept that the lesson will finish at the pre-arranged time
ensure that you are fit to drive when you arrive for a lesson and agree to make full payment for the lesson should the instructor deem you unfit to drive

Please understand that I only make money, and cover my costs, when people turn up for their lesson (which they usually do). When you make an appointment you make a commitment to pay for that time. If you do not turn up it is lost time. Therefore if you do need to change or cancel a lesson let me know as soon as possible to avoid unneccessary costs.

RWS Driving

A Basingstoke Driving School