In the world today, driving is one of the most important technical skills in life. In addition to the fact that it’s interesting, knowing how to drive can add a considerable level of convenience and comfort into your lifestyle, not forgetting that it can get you employed as well. But the harsh truth is that you need to not only be a licensed driver to be legally on the road, but also to perfect your driving skills to ensure your safety and that of other road users as well as pedestrians.
These are some of the primary reasons why there are many different types of driving courses you can choose from depending on your specific needs. And thanks to the internet, you don’t always have to physically visit a driving school to find out the kinds of driving courses they offer. A professional driving school will have all the information you need on their website, alongside resources for learner drivers as well as those who intend to sharpen their skills on the road further. You just have to pick the right course for you depending on your level of expertise, what you intend to do with your driving skills, and so forth. Nonetheless, picking the right course can be a bit of a daunting task, which makes it important to first familiarize with the various driving classes.
On this note, here are some of the major types of driving courses alongside a few tips on how to determine the right driving course for you.
Standard Driving Classes
Also known as learner or beginner driver classes, these are basically classes that offer lessons to first-time learners who are completely green in driving. You can call it the fundamentals of driving and each and every bit of the lessons should be taken seriously. After all, you can’t learn the hard stuff without going through the driving basics first. Although it’s not often a requirement by law, pass plus driving classes may also fall into this category, where especially after passing their standard driving test, new drivers may require to attend additional classes to perfect their driving skills and confidence on the road. The pass plus course earns you a pass plus certificate.
Driving Theory
Just like any other course, driving also involves theory lessons. Driving theory lessons mostly serve to prepare you for your theory driving test as well as complement the practical driving classes you’ll be taking before facing your driving test. In most cases, they are part of the standard driving courses, but who says you can’t attend theory classes ahead of a driving test for preparation purposes?
Intensive Driving Classes
Time is always a limiting factor for many people who want to learn driving and actually perfect their skills. Some are limited by their budgets and financial obligations. Intensive driving classes are specifically ideal for those who want to learn to drive within the shortest time possible, perhaps during a vacation from work or study. With classes of 2-5 hours a day, the whole course could be condensed to take one or two weeks. Your lessons could also be spread over to meet your specific needs. However, it may require you to pass your driving theory test first before commencing your intensive driving classes since it’s a primary requirement when booking a practical test with the DVSA. If your schedule is tighter and can’t allow you to comfortably attend intensive driving classes to completion, you may also consider a semi-intensive driving course, whose classes are often less intense.
Defensive Driving
You might be the best new driver in town, but this doesn’t absolve you from the possibility of being involved in an accident. There are many types of drivers on the road at any one particular time, and some of them could be distracted, aggressive, or even under-qualified, all of which are safety hazards. This means that as long as you’re on the road, you’re always subject to a considerable level of safety risks. However, these risks can be significantly lower depending on how good you are at identifying hazards, anticipating them, and reacting to various situations on the road. It’s more about how well you manage to make informed decisions in various road scenarios. It’s all about improving safety on the road and reducing risks.
Driving Instructor Course
This is more of a course whose classes focus on your skills as a tutor in driving. It can be ideal for those who are passionate about teaching and training prospective drivers in literally all aspects of driving. You may also learn how to teach other driving instructors or trainers in the advanced stages of the course.
Job-Related Driving Classes
Some occupations require you to take specific, work-related driving courses for you to secure employment or progress your career. If you intend to work as a driver in the passenger service industry, for instance, you’ll definitely need extra training even if you hold an ordinary driver’s license. When seeking employment at a firm that deals with transporting heavy loads or cargo, you’ll have to take a specialized heavy goods vehicle test and pass it to get a certification in this area. Operating heavy machinery and vehicles such as forklifts, bulldozers, and tractors is a heavy responsibility that also requires a different set of skills, which you’ll need to take classes to be considered a potential candidate for the job.
Other Driving Classes
The list of driving classes you can take is literally endless. To add to the list above, drivers also take refresher driving lessons to improve their vehicle maintenance skills, confidence on the road, and safety while driving. In the UK, familiarization driving classes to improve driver competence are also available, through which drivers learn the basic rules and regulations applicable in the country, including those that cover highway codes, road signs, traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, and a wide range of other issues.
As you can already tell, the best driving classes or course for you will be determined by your specific needs, notably in terms of your skill level, purpose, budget, time, and availability. It will also be largely dependent on what the driving school you choose offers and the experience level of their tutors. With the above pointers in mind, choosing the appropriate driving lessons will hopefully no longer be a challenge to you as it is for many people.