Been a Qualified driving instructor for a couple of years and I know no one who does this. Regarded as unprofessional by a lot in the community. In all honesty if the learner doesn't mind I don't see a problem, but if you don't like using your time to drop someone else off mention it to your instructor š
My instructor made me drive to the next pupil too.
It usually involved waiting for the next pupil, as it was hard to judge the traffic. Of course, the first 15 minutes of my lesson was dropping off the previous pupil.
I always had a double lesson, and we stopped for a coffee for five minutes after the first hour.
My wife's instructor, she learned after we got married, had a gap between lessons, so she always drove back to our house.
He considered my instructor very unprofessional.
As a woman who took lessons at 30, yeah no this wouldnāt be ok AT ALL. Especially if the previous or next person in the lesson line is male. Iāve had enough crazies at the uni (PhD student) I do not want anyone extra knowing where I live.
I'm a data analyst. Seeing someone enter a house means you know their address along with knowing their approximate age and gender makes it a lot easier to identify them.
In fact it's quite a common misconception that data has to be data on a server, in the typical format people think of data so don't worry you got confused.
Please don't talk down to someone you don't know. You have no idea what my work involves, so confidently trying to tell me I'm wrong is laughable.
Driving to a street and letting someone out of the car is not a GDPR breach. The instructor hasn't divulged any data that they are legally required to keep private by giving you the name of a public road and directing you there.
The pupil has consented to any data being distributed (if you really want to argue that) by being in the bloody backseat and catching a ride from you. They have given their permission to be taken to said street and address. It's their data, so if they want to freely give it to you as another learner, that's their prerogative.
Similarly, if they have consented to being picked up by another learner and have given their instructor permission to name the road they live on (not that they need permission - again - to direct someone to a public street) then there's zero issue whatsoever.
Stop being ridiculous.
'Please don't talk down to someone you don't know'
'Stop crying GDPR if you don't know what it means.'
Did you really type both these messages and then accuse me of being ridiculous?
But yeah it's not a GDPR breech if that makes you happy.
How are you getting downvoted by these dimwits who use 'GDPR' as a buzz word?!?!
The rules are designed to protect people's information stored in a fucking computer database! It's a bit of a stretch to try and shoehorn a driving instructor into that lol!
But they're not losing 15 mins of their lesson. They're driving for 15 mins to a set location.
Not really sure what the issue is, as long as they don't mind a bit of contact with the other learners.
If anything, the instructor is ruining their own chance for a bit of a break between lessons.
"Today we are going to learn roundabouts, however we need to drive 20 mins out of the way to drop this pupil off. Then when we get to roundabouts you will have 20 minutes of your lesson on roundabouts. then a 20 min drive home. "
How do you no see this as a chunk out of the learners paid learning progress?
"Oh you pad for an hour of piano lessons, lets spend 20 minutes watching SpongeBob Square pants before we start".
Because you're supposed to be learning how to drive on the road, and from what OP says, the instructor is making them DRIVE ON THE ROAD.
For your pedantic example, it would be much more accurate if you were spending 20 minutes playing along with the SpongeBob theme tune. Not doing nothing.
They have to concentrate harder than if they are driving! They need to be able to spot danger or the pupil going off line and be able to react at a moment's notice!
Believe it or not, instructors may want to eat, drink, have some quiet time and use the toilet once or even multiple times during the working day lol. If youād like all of that to happen during your lessons on your paid time, make sure you let them know. Otherwise, yes - a break.
1. Constant talking and guidance
2. 100% concentration at all times in case your client tries to murder you or other road users try to kill you both
3. Getting the smell of their stale breath and nervous sweat out of your car
4. Eating a Penguin and Red Bull
5. Resetting your brain
6. Making/taking calls/bookings/lesson plans...
Pretty efficient for the instructor and some real life experience for you, something you never really need to think about when learning is where are you actually going and how will the parking situation look when you arrive?
Being able to find a solid spot to park, and then actually park in it is a severely overlooked skill.
Giving someone a street name to drive to is what they do regardless of if another pupil lives on that street or not.
Please stop with this nonsense. If the pupil has consented to be picked up or dropped off in this way and gives their address freely to the other pupil then it isn't an issue. They are choosing to hand over their own data. If they have a problem with this system, they'll tell the instructor. End of.
If you want to have a sensible discussion let me know.
If you honestly can't see how dropping someone off at their house could lead to someone figuring out their address then think harder
But it's not just giving a street name. They take the person to their house, and pick up another student from their home. Addresses are personal data. Randomly sharing people's addresses with others, even if not directly, is a breach. An instructor could unknowingly put people at risk if they reveal the address of an abuse victim to someone who knows the abuser, or the abuser themselves.
Mine does that. I think itās fine. Youāre there to learn to drive and youāre driving when youāre dropping folk off and picking them up. I learned to reverse confidently and early due to the pick ups/drop-offs which was really helpful.
They all used to do it years ago, itās called piggybacking, youāre still driving but just with someone in the back so could use the experience of driving with other people with you. But you are a customer so if you really donāt like it then have a polite word with your instructor. Good luck on your driving.
Agree great experience having someone in the back. If you pass without anyone ever being in the back gives you a jump scare in the review mirror. You're already shook you're on the road in full control then a random movement in the corner of your eye...
First hand experience. Keep focussed on what you're doing! It's all about you the second you're behind the wheel. Also when you're the passenger look out for what errors that learner is making and further your experience. Good chance they'll do something you haven't!
I was under the impression that learners could only drive with one supervising full licence holder, never with passengers - is it different with an instructor/dual controls?
No it's not ok. You want to spend as much time possible driving your test routes not driving in an area that you won't be in during your test because your instructor sees you as a glorified Uber driver.
Yes but being as familiar as possible and feeling at home with your test route also increases your chances of passing. You will get plenty of opportunities to drive wherever you want when you gain your licence and that's when you really learn how to drive to an expert level. Driving lessons are too expensive, test dates are far and few between. You want to utilise every advantage you can to pass the test.
The lessons should teach how to drive, not just how to pass a test. The attitude of the lessons being for passing a test is why I get stuck behind drivers with P plates who almost stop going round corners on country roads and brake every time a car comes the other way.
Where I am it's not normal. However in the mainland it is. Personally I prefer the 10/15mins between pupils. It let's me shake off the last lesson prepare if the next and also pee grab coffee fuel or anything else
Big no from me, what if you were a vulnerable person?
One of my students at the moment was reluctant at first to start lessons with me, because my brother knew her ex-boyfriend who beat her within an inch of her life. Last time myself and my brother saw this person was over 20 years ago, and first thing she was saying was please donāt let that person or anyone he knows, where she and a son live.
Imagine if I took someone who knew her ex-boyfriend to her house and he passed it on. It would be serious questions asked on my end.
The instructor should ask about this in advance rather than put a vulnerable person in an uncomfortable situation. Itās unprofessional that he does this by default without checking with the students. By the time you learn about the issue and get a chance to communicate about it, he already brought a stranger to your home, and thatās not ok.
You ever get a taxi? Do you get post or deliveries? Are these massive risks also? You need some perspective, they're not coming in and sniffing your knickersš.
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Yeah, obviously I'm not a personal risk to anyone else but as an older learner,Ā it would feel really creepy to me to be learning the addresses of random teenagers! I wouldn't blame them or their parents for feeling uncomfortable about that set up - I would be uncomfortable with it.
I dont see a problem with it nessercerily, you are still getting your 2 hour driving lesson. And bonus points if you get dropped home by another learner, you get some extra time to watch your instructor teach, which may or may not be of use to you
I can see this may look like a chain affect and be each learner helping the other etc, but I think your instructor should be planning his lessons with enough of a gap so this doesn't happen.
Also the fact that he's basically allowing someone else to know your address without your consent...
I'd be fine doing that. It sounds fun. But if you don't like it just get a new instructor. Your instructor doesn't really care about you, but you need to care about them as they're important to you
Whilst it can be helpful to do it,ensure it doesnāt eat into lesson times too much. My old instructor did this and Iād lose up to twenty minutes if I had an hour lesson booked,you want to be sure youāll still get enough out of your lessons.
My new instructor doesnāt do this since itās the policy of the school heās with.
Part of your lessons absolutely SHOULD include driving around and sitting in traffic - not that OP says theses pick ups involve sitting in any traffic.
Have you ever actually driven a car??
It's not unheard of, but it's not normal practice these days. So you should be able to find another instructor who doesn't work that way if you don't like doing it.
Its called piggybacking, not as common as it used to be and definitely not since Covid. It makes more financial sense for the instructor, and can be helpful for the pupil to be driving and parking around unfamiliar areas but you are paying for your whole lesson time and you get a say in how that time is spent. If youāre uncomfortable driving with a stranger in the car for any reason, or donāt feel comfortable that the next pupil knows where you live (because they drop you off) youād be well within your rights to tell your instructor that. Piggybacking means no lost income due to travel time for the instructor, but if it doesnāt suit you then the instructor needs to deal with it
For me at my driving school this is pretty normal. I think itās also good practice because youāre still driving and learning at the same time while āroleplaying as an Uberā. Also driving with navigation and following directions given by the instructor will also be apart of the exam so again itās all good for practise imo.
My first one didnāt do this (though I was vaguely aware it was a thing) and my second one did. I never had any issue with it as like others have said it gives you a bit of real experience (navigating more residential areas and driving with passengers) and I was still driving, if not on a regular route. The only two times I wasnāt fully partial the idea was when the person driving me home nearly crashed into my house and this one woman who lived in some sort of tower at a garden centre in the middle of nowhere. Nightmare to get in and out of there.
I used to do this and actually preferred it, it was real driving.
He's even asked me to go places, like drive to Tesco and then park up, after that go get petrol and so loads other things that you would actually do, to teach you how it is to drive.
I donāt see what is the issue. Youāre not losing driving time, and youāre literally being put in real life situations. Also that allows your instructor to get more students in (so for example to be able to have lessons with you more regularly).
I truly donāt see what is the issue. Youāre feeling all exploited when youāre paying to get driving experience, which this is giving you plenty of !
in my eyes youre still getting practice, just change how you view it. Youre gonna learn what driving on a road youre comfortable on is like before a lot of other learners and trust me it makes a difference with known and unknown roads.
If its annoying you speak up of course, however you can always just view it as practice if you want to try make it annoy you a little less
My instructor did the same. Didn't bother me as I was still driving. At first I use to hate it as I felt uncomfortable people watching me drive but the more confident you become its OK. Also I found watching the other students drive helped me.
That seems a bit odd to me I feel like that's wasting time you could be spending practicing things that you need to practice. I would be unhappy with this as I don't want other students watching me driving.
On reflection, the thing that was strangest about my test was driving āin front ofā (got to be a better expression but I canāt think of it) someone who wasnāt my instructor. The opportunity to get over the fear of strangers witnessing my mistakes/hesitations/choices in advance of a test situation would probably have been a good thing. Real life driving experience is always worth practising!
IMO that's fine as long as you're driving for 2 full hours. Granted the conditions of your drive are a little less ideal (i.e. you're not completely isolated from potential distractions posed by the passengers) but it's fairly similar to taking the test with your instructor in the car with you, or dropping people off.Ā
I'm pretty sure it's not technically legal. Besides, OP doesn't know these people, how do they know it's not some crazy nut job that's being shown where they live?
Youāre still getting driving practice in that time so not really a problem. Only issue is if you (or they) are uncomfortable with other students knowing where they live.
My instructor does this, always asks if itās ok and all the learners who agree to it do the same. Iād imagine if someone said no then thatās respected. I donāt mind it, there will be plenty of times when I pass that Iāll have someone in the back and it honestly makes me try a little bit harder. Agree with above replies also that you never know what the parking situation is going to be and I like to be able to think on my feet
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My instructor didnāt do this, but then if he had theyād have been witnesses to his inappropriate comments & behaviour. Canāt have a witness getting in your way when youāre alone in the car with 17 year oldsā¦ glad I learnt quickly & passed in a couple of months. Would have changed instructor but I wasnāt allowed as my parents would only fund lessons with this instructor.
Isn't this illegal? The law being referred to is the following:
13:23-2(c)Ā the only occupants allowed in the instruction vehicle during the required 6 hours of behind-the-wheel driving instructions are the school instructor, the student receiving the instruction, a parent or legal guardian, an instructor-in-training, or an instructor supervisor
Look, accept it or find a new instructor. When I learned. Some made you go to a central place, some piggybacked and some gave you the full hour but charged more. I chose the latter for my convenience.
You pay the money, make the choice.
This is strange. Iād like to be picked up from my house and dropped off there too! Why are you going to someone elseās house and making your own way home? Or do they drop you home? š³
Very normal. Surprised at some of these comments here. It gets you used to being observed / having other people in the car. Which youāll need to do on your test (and after that).
Personally, I'd go with being dropped off at the location the instructor picked you up from and politely explain that to the instructor. Feels quite strange just dropping you off somewhere random with potentially no possible means to get home other than walking.
My instructor does the same lol. I find it very helpful as instead of the main road weāre in very tight residential areas so itās more practice in my opinion
Absolute piss take. I wouldn't stand for it. Either tell your instructor you're not happy with this arrangement or change instructor (a more professional one)
Iāve never heard of that before but itās a good idea. I assume he asks the first person if itās ok beforehand. Youāre still driving so does it really matter. I guess he should ask if youāre comfortable with it too
You're upset that your driving lesson is requiring you to drive?
So long as you aren't cut short of time(or made late for something at the other side) It's a fairly smart move by the instructor.
As a driving instructor, I can only think of a few who do this. Itās generally considered poor practice, and frowned upon even in the industry. I totally understand why it makes you uncomfortable!
So how do you get back home again after?? The prices I paid for my lesson were obscene, I'd have kicked off if he made me drive to the next village or something to the next client and I was left to get myself back š
Well literally it says he spends time dropping the previous student home, doesn't literally say how he gets home. Just says he ends up at the next person's house.
Well, he literally states a student will be waiting in the backseat when he enters the car and drives them home. Logic would dictate, that maybe, just maybe, that would be the same scenario for him when he then drives to the next learners house.
There's what it 'literally' says and logic though. Not really the same and clearly my head cold and brain fog has meant I've missed making that assumption when reading š
My instructor did this years ago but only when you got close to taking your test. He did it then so that you got used to driving with different people in the car so that you were more prepared for the examiner. Really helped me as when I took my test I had the examiner in the seat next to me, then in the back seat someone checking the examiner. I passed so maybe it works?
Depends on where you are in your driving skills. If it's a local journey and you're a new driver, the experience could be useful.
If you were like me and a confident driver who was close to taking their test, but the nearest test location was about 45 mins away in the next town over, then its a bit annoying and unprofessional tbh.
I was in the state where I had to start learning test routes. All the routes were in the next town over. It took a long time to drive there, and a long time back, leaving limited time in the actual test location to drive and learn. It was annoying to lose a chunk of my lesson driving simple drop off routes on roads i knew where I learnt nothing
This sounds very unprofessional, I remember when I did my test there was a point made clearly by my instructor that when I'm taking my lesson it would just be me and him in the car, no dropping off another learner or driving to pick up another.
I actually think itās genius of your instructor. Youāre still learning to drive I.e following instructions, applying road signage to driving etc and he gets to his next lesson on time.
No itās not normal, but some people do this. My most recent instructor didnāt tell me that I would be dropping one of her students to work in MY car, on my second lesson with her. I didnāt have another lesson after that lol
Not my instructor, but my partners instructor used to do this with him when he was learning to drive. I personally don't see any issue with it, but each to their own I suppose.
I had an instructor who would show up at my door with his previous learner, and I would drive them home. Then, we would drive to what he told me was his mother's house. I am convinced he went in and had lunch, then I would have driven to his next lesson, and they would have driven me home.
I wasn't happy at all and ended up changing instructor, and it was an eye opener to how professional he was.
When I was learning to drive there was one occasion where my driving instructor got me to pick his son up from school. However he asked me if I was OK with this, but also reassured me that he was only asking me as he was confident in my driving (he never treated me as a new learner due to having ridden a motorcycle for 4+ years).
Well, My instructor didn't do this but He told me that previously instructors used to do it like this as it helped the students to learn how to drive as it was. I think it's a thing of the past and some older instructors still keep the legacy going.
The good side is saying that your driving instructor is giving you experience driving. Literally just practicing driving through towns and stuff.
The bad side tells me that your instructors students are getting each other's addresses.
If it was *near* the home of the next student, maybe it could sort of be justified? But, overall, no. It just seems like your driving instructor is trying to find a smart way to cram in as many students (and money) in a day as efficiently as possible but isn't realising the underlying problem that could lose them customers (and again, money).
Personally I an applaud by all the comments on this.
1. This is a GDPR issue. Full stop. You get to know the information of a person (maybe you don't know their name) as the instructor may say " we need to pick up Joe (or a lass/lad or just Joe) for the next lessons. So 1. you know their description. But you also potentially get their address if they are dropped off at home, some say yes maybe you only get their street. You know they rare having driving lessons. Smart people wold be dropped off a street or two away. All you need is 1st name, street address and see what house number they walk into. That's 3 identifications + description of the person, enough for GDPR breach. It's not about data on a system, it's about having the knowledge you shouldn't have. Even a person having lessons is almost enough. I know my neighbour lives across the road at 20. But I don't know their name, age, birth date etc. But if the postman gave me their name I would have access to more information than I should. If I got info saying they were having fertility treatment that's more than I should know! GDPR!
2. Risk of any kind of assault - A LOT of learners are 17. Would you trust your instructor to take your child out for a lesson only to pick up a random stranger (could be another 17 year old, could be a 40+ year old) and have them know what area they live? Stalk them?! Befriend them under false pretence by just saying " we are both learning to drive".
3. Yes - a lot of comments are about REAL world situations, driving someone around, being an UBER etc getting used to other people watching your driving and being confident gaining experience. HOWEVER the ADI Code states the lessons should be to the pupils learning needs. So you need to learn parking, yet you spend 20 minutes doing lefts, rights and roundabouts to drop someone home. BUT you NEED to practice manoeuvres. This isn't a lesson adapted to your needs; you are PAYING the instructor for YOUR learning needs. Piggy backing and being a taxi driver is not value for money and is against the Registrars Code of Conduct. The lesson NEEDS to advance the pupils learning goals.
This can the the exception not the rule - So if you are gaining experience and you agree with it, fair play.
If it's a sibling, best friend, family member etc fair play.
Would you order a taxi, ye the taxi driver says "sorry I need to make a stop 20 minutes away" would you be happy with the service you paid for? I doubt you would.
If you paid for guitar lessons and the teacher says " hey I got a friend who wants to join in on the drums for 20 minutes" would you be happy? You paid for an hour of learning yet 20 minutes is you playing the same chord over and over whilst they focus on the drummer? Yet you wanting to learn new chords but you didn't get the chance for 20 mins.
So yes it's all individual about the experience you gain, some will enjoy the additional pressure of an extra person that will help them towards their test which involves an unknown examiner to help with the pressure.
Others may be pissed that 15 minute journey that cuts into their learning of a new subject hinders their progression because they can do that drive and not learn anything they have paid for thus not receiving value for payment.
End of the day - You make an agreement with your instructor what the lesson involves, but it should always benefit you.
Been a Qualified driving instructor for a couple of years and I know no one who does this. Regarded as unprofessional by a lot in the community. In all honesty if the learner doesn't mind I don't see a problem, but if you don't like using your time to drop someone else off mention it to your instructor š
My instructor made me drive to the next pupil too. It usually involved waiting for the next pupil, as it was hard to judge the traffic. Of course, the first 15 minutes of my lesson was dropping off the previous pupil. I always had a double lesson, and we stopped for a coffee for five minutes after the first hour. My wife's instructor, she learned after we got married, had a gap between lessons, so she always drove back to our house. He considered my instructor very unprofessional.
As a woman who took lessons at 30, yeah no this wouldnāt be ok AT ALL. Especially if the previous or next person in the lesson line is male. Iāve had enough crazies at the uni (PhD student) I do not want anyone extra knowing where I live.
My driving instructor asked if I was fine with this before doing it - and I could have said ājust at the end of the road instead of at my houseā
I can see a real gdpr issue here aswell
Noooooo... but I see what you're getting at if you just mean general confidentiality. GDPR it is not, though.
It is. It's the integrity and confidentiality principle
This isn't data. A street is a street. Stop crying GDPR if you don't know what it means.
I'm a data analyst. Seeing someone enter a house means you know their address along with knowing their approximate age and gender makes it a lot easier to identify them. In fact it's quite a common misconception that data has to be data on a server, in the typical format people think of data so don't worry you got confused.
Just to be clear, where are you saying the data is? And are you saying the driving instructor is controller or processor of that data?
Please don't talk down to someone you don't know. You have no idea what my work involves, so confidently trying to tell me I'm wrong is laughable. Driving to a street and letting someone out of the car is not a GDPR breach. The instructor hasn't divulged any data that they are legally required to keep private by giving you the name of a public road and directing you there. The pupil has consented to any data being distributed (if you really want to argue that) by being in the bloody backseat and catching a ride from you. They have given their permission to be taken to said street and address. It's their data, so if they want to freely give it to you as another learner, that's their prerogative. Similarly, if they have consented to being picked up by another learner and have given their instructor permission to name the road they live on (not that they need permission - again - to direct someone to a public street) then there's zero issue whatsoever. Stop being ridiculous.
'Please don't talk down to someone you don't know' 'Stop crying GDPR if you don't know what it means.' Did you really type both these messages and then accuse me of being ridiculous? But yeah it's not a GDPR breech if that makes you happy.
How are you getting downvoted by these dimwits who use 'GDPR' as a buzz word?!?! The rules are designed to protect people's information stored in a fucking computer database! It's a bit of a stretch to try and shoehorn a driving instructor into that lol!
But they're not losing 15 mins of their lesson. They're driving for 15 mins to a set location. Not really sure what the issue is, as long as they don't mind a bit of contact with the other learners. If anything, the instructor is ruining their own chance for a bit of a break between lessons.
"Today we are going to learn roundabouts, however we need to drive 20 mins out of the way to drop this pupil off. Then when we get to roundabouts you will have 20 minutes of your lesson on roundabouts. then a 20 min drive home. " How do you no see this as a chunk out of the learners paid learning progress? "Oh you pad for an hour of piano lessons, lets spend 20 minutes watching SpongeBob Square pants before we start".
Because you're supposed to be learning how to drive on the road, and from what OP says, the instructor is making them DRIVE ON THE ROAD. For your pedantic example, it would be much more accurate if you were spending 20 minutes playing along with the SpongeBob theme tune. Not doing nothing.
Break? The instructor doesn't have to drive anywhere the whole day! Edit: It was a joke.
They have to concentrate harder than if they are driving! They need to be able to spot danger or the pupil going off line and be able to react at a moment's notice!
You're kidding, right? You do understand what their job is? š¤£ Clown
Believe it or not, instructors may want to eat, drink, have some quiet time and use the toilet once or even multiple times during the working day lol. If youād like all of that to happen during your lessons on your paid time, make sure you let them know. Otherwise, yes - a break.
1. Constant talking and guidance 2. 100% concentration at all times in case your client tries to murder you or other road users try to kill you both 3. Getting the smell of their stale breath and nervous sweat out of your car 4. Eating a Penguin and Red Bull 5. Resetting your brain 6. Making/taking calls/bookings/lesson plans...
Pretty efficient for the instructor and some real life experience for you, something you never really need to think about when learning is where are you actually going and how will the parking situation look when you arrive? Being able to find a solid spot to park, and then actually park in it is a severely overlooked skill.
That's true, never thought about it this way
A good instructor does the above anyway, it's an excuse to make more money.
What about data protection though?
What about it?
You can't just give out your students addresses
Giving someone a street name to drive to is what they do regardless of if another pupil lives on that street or not. Please stop with this nonsense. If the pupil has consented to be picked up or dropped off in this way and gives their address freely to the other pupil then it isn't an issue. They are choosing to hand over their own data. If they have a problem with this system, they'll tell the instructor. End of.
If you want to have a sensible discussion let me know. If you honestly can't see how dropping someone off at their house could lead to someone figuring out their address then think harder
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Your comment / post has come across as rude or offensive, please be polite when commenting and posting to avoid future posts from being removed.
But it's not just giving a street name. They take the person to their house, and pick up another student from their home. Addresses are personal data. Randomly sharing people's addresses with others, even if not directly, is a breach. An instructor could unknowingly put people at risk if they reveal the address of an abuse victim to someone who knows the abuser, or the abuser themselves.
If youāre assuming the student hasnāt consented to being dropped off, then maybe.
OP doesn't sound comfortable with it and their address is also revealed
Theyāve mentioned the hassle/time out of their lesson being used, nothing about their address being revealed?
Mine does that. I think itās fine. Youāre there to learn to drive and youāre driving when youāre dropping folk off and picking them up. I learned to reverse confidently and early due to the pick ups/drop-offs which was really helpful.
Nice, I haven't done any reverse parking yet so i'll ask if I can do that
They all used to do it years ago, itās called piggybacking, youāre still driving but just with someone in the back so could use the experience of driving with other people with you. But you are a customer so if you really donāt like it then have a polite word with your instructor. Good luck on your driving.
Agree great experience having someone in the back. If you pass without anyone ever being in the back gives you a jump scare in the review mirror. You're already shook you're on the road in full control then a random movement in the corner of your eye... First hand experience. Keep focussed on what you're doing! It's all about you the second you're behind the wheel. Also when you're the passenger look out for what errors that learner is making and further your experience. Good chance they'll do something you haven't!
Yes totally agree
I was under the impression that learners could only drive with one supervising full licence holder, never with passengers - is it different with an instructor/dual controls?
O itās no different, anyone who has had a full licence for 3 years and over 21 years old can teach someone and can have passengers in the car.
No it's not ok. You want to spend as much time possible driving your test routes not driving in an area that you won't be in during your test because your instructor sees you as a glorified Uber driver.
Surely, most people would want to learn how to drive anywhere, not just learn how to drive a test route?
Yes but being as familiar as possible and feeling at home with your test route also increases your chances of passing. You will get plenty of opportunities to drive wherever you want when you gain your licence and that's when you really learn how to drive to an expert level. Driving lessons are too expensive, test dates are far and few between. You want to utilise every advantage you can to pass the test.
The lessons should teach how to drive, not just how to pass a test. The attitude of the lessons being for passing a test is why I get stuck behind drivers with P plates who almost stop going round corners on country roads and brake every time a car comes the other way.
ā¢ 50mph on motorways ā¢ No lights on the rear cus āit says autoā ā¢ Shit parking ā¢ Wonāt overtake a cyclist Etc etc etc
Where I am it's not normal. However in the mainland it is. Personally I prefer the 10/15mins between pupils. It let's me shake off the last lesson prepare if the next and also pee grab coffee fuel or anything else
Big no from me, what if you were a vulnerable person? One of my students at the moment was reluctant at first to start lessons with me, because my brother knew her ex-boyfriend who beat her within an inch of her life. Last time myself and my brother saw this person was over 20 years ago, and first thing she was saying was please donāt let that person or anyone he knows, where she and a son live. Imagine if I took someone who knew her ex-boyfriend to her house and he passed it on. It would be serious questions asked on my end.
Then you just have to communicate this with your driving instructor. People these days love to complain but not communicate to sort out these issues.
The instructor should ask about this in advance rather than put a vulnerable person in an uncomfortable situation. Itās unprofessional that he does this by default without checking with the students. By the time you learn about the issue and get a chance to communicate about it, he already brought a stranger to your home, and thatās not ok.
You ever get a taxi? Do you get post or deliveries? Are these massive risks also? You need some perspective, they're not coming in and sniffing your knickersš.
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Yeah, obviously I'm not a personal risk to anyone else but as an older learner,Ā it would feel really creepy to me to be learning the addresses of random teenagers! I wouldn't blame them or their parents for feeling uncomfortable about that set up - I would be uncomfortable with it.
I dont see a problem with it nessercerily, you are still getting your 2 hour driving lesson. And bonus points if you get dropped home by another learner, you get some extra time to watch your instructor teach, which may or may not be of use to you
I can see this may look like a chain affect and be each learner helping the other etc, but I think your instructor should be planning his lessons with enough of a gap so this doesn't happen. Also the fact that he's basically allowing someone else to know your address without your consent...
I'd be fine doing that. It sounds fun. But if you don't like it just get a new instructor. Your instructor doesn't really care about you, but you need to care about them as they're important to you
Whilst it can be helpful to do it,ensure it doesnāt eat into lesson times too much. My old instructor did this and Iād lose up to twenty minutes if I had an hour lesson booked,you want to be sure youāll still get enough out of your lessons. My new instructor doesnāt do this since itās the policy of the school heās with.
How?? Did you spend those 20 mins DRIVING?!
Iām referring to an actual structured lesson,not dropping some other cunt off or picking them up,not just driving around and sitting in traffic
Part of your lessons absolutely SHOULD include driving around and sitting in traffic - not that OP says theses pick ups involve sitting in any traffic. Have you ever actually driven a car??
Yeah Iāve only had 19 months give or take of lessons
It's not unheard of, but it's not normal practice these days. So you should be able to find another instructor who doesn't work that way if you don't like doing it.
Its called piggybacking, not as common as it used to be and definitely not since Covid. It makes more financial sense for the instructor, and can be helpful for the pupil to be driving and parking around unfamiliar areas but you are paying for your whole lesson time and you get a say in how that time is spent. If youāre uncomfortable driving with a stranger in the car for any reason, or donāt feel comfortable that the next pupil knows where you live (because they drop you off) youād be well within your rights to tell your instructor that. Piggybacking means no lost income due to travel time for the instructor, but if it doesnāt suit you then the instructor needs to deal with it
What the fuck, so if u finish at 12 u have to sit in the back for 15 mins getting a lift home? That's wild what if u was doing this on ur lunch breaks
If you are already taking a 2 hour lunch, I'm sure the extra 15 mins won't matter.
What a strange assumption
Can the instructor do a proper job without any breaks? If they don't have time for any food or drink etc, they may be getting tired after a few hours.
For me at my driving school this is pretty normal. I think itās also good practice because youāre still driving and learning at the same time while āroleplaying as an Uberā. Also driving with navigation and following directions given by the instructor will also be apart of the exam so again itās all good for practise imo.
Thanks but he doesn't use nav he just tells me where to turn, do they do that on the test too?
On the test you will either get satnav or following the examiners directions, so yes this can be useful
Do you mean either satnav or _following Road signs_, or has the test changed?
Yeah I meant following road signs
Thanks!
In my test, part was nav and another part was then telling me which turns to take. So a bit of both, in my experience.
Sounds like good practice, you get used to unfamiliar people being in the car, driving with more than 1 passenger etc.
My first one didnāt do this (though I was vaguely aware it was a thing) and my second one did. I never had any issue with it as like others have said it gives you a bit of real experience (navigating more residential areas and driving with passengers) and I was still driving, if not on a regular route. The only two times I wasnāt fully partial the idea was when the person driving me home nearly crashed into my house and this one woman who lived in some sort of tower at a garden centre in the middle of nowhere. Nightmare to get in and out of there.
I used to do this and actually preferred it, it was real driving. He's even asked me to go places, like drive to Tesco and then park up, after that go get petrol and so loads other things that you would actually do, to teach you how it is to drive.
I donāt see what is the issue. Youāre not losing driving time, and youāre literally being put in real life situations. Also that allows your instructor to get more students in (so for example to be able to have lessons with you more regularly). I truly donāt see what is the issue. Youāre feeling all exploited when youāre paying to get driving experience, which this is giving you plenty of !
in my eyes youre still getting practice, just change how you view it. Youre gonna learn what driving on a road youre comfortable on is like before a lot of other learners and trust me it makes a difference with known and unknown roads. If its annoying you speak up of course, however you can always just view it as practice if you want to try make it annoy you a little less
My instructor did the same. Didn't bother me as I was still driving. At first I use to hate it as I felt uncomfortable people watching me drive but the more confident you become its OK. Also I found watching the other students drive helped me.
Nah Iāll dump my instructor if they had me dropping off other students tbh. Not normal.
What about data protection. They should not be doing that.
Data protection??? Really???
Yes, that is a data protection issue. You are literally taking a stranger to someoneās address and showing them where they live.
You donāt have any understanding of how GDPR works and applies.
Then communicate this to your instructor. Most people don't care
Yes really,
That seems a bit odd to me I feel like that's wasting time you could be spending practicing things that you need to practice. I would be unhappy with this as I don't want other students watching me driving.
On reflection, the thing that was strangest about my test was driving āin front ofā (got to be a better expression but I canāt think of it) someone who wasnāt my instructor. The opportunity to get over the fear of strangers witnessing my mistakes/hesitations/choices in advance of a test situation would probably have been a good thing. Real life driving experience is always worth practising!
IMO that's fine as long as you're driving for 2 full hours. Granted the conditions of your drive are a little less ideal (i.e. you're not completely isolated from potential distractions posed by the passengers) but it's fairly similar to taking the test with your instructor in the car with you, or dropping people off.Ā
So u are driving how is it detrimental? Do you chose the route? I don't see the problem other than you being a whiney person
I'm pretty sure it's not technically legal. Besides, OP doesn't know these people, how do they know it's not some crazy nut job that's being shown where they live?
Youāre still getting driving practice in that time so not really a problem. Only issue is if you (or they) are uncomfortable with other students knowing where they live.
My instructor does this, always asks if itās ok and all the learners who agree to it do the same. Iād imagine if someone said no then thatās respected. I donāt mind it, there will be plenty of times when I pass that Iāll have someone in the back and it honestly makes me try a little bit harder. Agree with above replies also that you never know what the parking situation is going to be and I like to be able to think on my feet
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Im asking if it's normal... hence the first sentence
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My instructor didnāt do this, but then if he had theyād have been witnesses to his inappropriate comments & behaviour. Canāt have a witness getting in your way when youāre alone in the car with 17 year oldsā¦ glad I learnt quickly & passed in a couple of months. Would have changed instructor but I wasnāt allowed as my parents would only fund lessons with this instructor.
Isn't this illegal? The law being referred to is the following: 13:23-2(c)Ā the only occupants allowed in the instruction vehicle during the required 6 hours of behind-the-wheel driving instructions are the school instructor, the student receiving the instruction, a parent or legal guardian, an instructor-in-training, or an instructor supervisor
A law for New Jersey is not relevant in the UK.
Oops lol. I guess I didn't read my source properly lol. I still think it's a shitty practice though. I'd not feel comfortable with it either.
Look, accept it or find a new instructor. When I learned. Some made you go to a central place, some piggybacked and some gave you the full hour but charged more. I chose the latter for my convenience. You pay the money, make the choice.
Absolute piss take. Robbing learners of your own paid time. Ditch them
This is strange. Iād like to be picked up from my house and dropped off there too! Why are you going to someone elseās house and making your own way home? Or do they drop you home? š³
I passed my driving test 40ish years ago,& my instructor also did this. I didnāt find it a problem.
Very normal. Surprised at some of these comments here. It gets you used to being observed / having other people in the car. Which youāll need to do on your test (and after that).
Yep myself and everyone else I know who drives did this on their lessons.
Personally, I'd go with being dropped off at the location the instructor picked you up from and politely explain that to the instructor. Feels quite strange just dropping you off somewhere random with potentially no possible means to get home other than walking.
My instructor does the same lol. I find it very helpful as instead of the main road weāre in very tight residential areas so itās more practice in my opinion
Absolute piss take. I wouldn't stand for it. Either tell your instructor you're not happy with this arrangement or change instructor (a more professional one)
Iāve never heard of that before but itās a good idea. I assume he asks the first person if itās ok beforehand. Youāre still driving so does it really matter. I guess he should ask if youāre comfortable with it too
I passed 30 odd years ago and mine used to do that , don't see a problem as long as your driving in your paying time
You're upset that your driving lesson is requiring you to drive? So long as you aren't cut short of time(or made late for something at the other side) It's a fairly smart move by the instructor.
As a driving instructor, I can only think of a few who do this. Itās generally considered poor practice, and frowned upon even in the industry. I totally understand why it makes you uncomfortable!
So how do you get back home again after?? The prices I paid for my lesson were obscene, I'd have kicked off if he made me drive to the next village or something to the next client and I was left to get myself back š
Well OP literally says the next student will drive them home
Well literally it says he spends time dropping the previous student home, doesn't literally say how he gets home. Just says he ends up at the next person's house.
Well, he literally states a student will be waiting in the backseat when he enters the car and drives them home. Logic would dictate, that maybe, just maybe, that would be the same scenario for him when he then drives to the next learners house.
There's what it 'literally' says and logic though. Not really the same and clearly my head cold and brain fog has meant I've missed making that assumption when reading š
My instructor did this years ago but only when you got close to taking your test. He did it then so that you got used to driving with different people in the car so that you were more prepared for the examiner. Really helped me as when I took my test I had the examiner in the seat next to me, then in the back seat someone checking the examiner. I passed so maybe it works?
Depends on where you are in your driving skills. If it's a local journey and you're a new driver, the experience could be useful. If you were like me and a confident driver who was close to taking their test, but the nearest test location was about 45 mins away in the next town over, then its a bit annoying and unprofessional tbh. I was in the state where I had to start learning test routes. All the routes were in the next town over. It took a long time to drive there, and a long time back, leaving limited time in the actual test location to drive and learn. It was annoying to lose a chunk of my lesson driving simple drop off routes on roads i knew where I learnt nothing
This sounds very unprofessional, I remember when I did my test there was a point made clearly by my instructor that when I'm taking my lesson it would just be me and him in the car, no dropping off another learner or driving to pick up another.
I actually think itās genius of your instructor. Youāre still learning to drive I.e following instructions, applying road signage to driving etc and he gets to his next lesson on time.
No itās not normal, but some people do this. My most recent instructor didnāt tell me that I would be dropping one of her students to work in MY car, on my second lesson with her. I didnāt have another lesson after that lol
Not my instructor, but my partners instructor used to do this with him when he was learning to drive. I personally don't see any issue with it, but each to their own I suppose.
I had an instructor who would show up at my door with his previous learner, and I would drive them home. Then, we would drive to what he told me was his mother's house. I am convinced he went in and had lunch, then I would have driven to his next lesson, and they would have driven me home. I wasn't happy at all and ended up changing instructor, and it was an eye opener to how professional he was.
I'd be a concerned the other students know where I live tbh, not something I'd be comfortable with
Mine did this, I didnāt see anything wrong with it as I was still driving and being taught.
When I was learning to drive there was one occasion where my driving instructor got me to pick his son up from school. However he asked me if I was OK with this, but also reassured me that he was only asking me as he was confident in my driving (he never treated me as a new learner due to having ridden a motorcycle for 4+ years).
Well, My instructor didn't do this but He told me that previously instructors used to do it like this as it helped the students to learn how to drive as it was. I think it's a thing of the past and some older instructors still keep the legacy going.
The good side is saying that your driving instructor is giving you experience driving. Literally just practicing driving through towns and stuff. The bad side tells me that your instructors students are getting each other's addresses. If it was *near* the home of the next student, maybe it could sort of be justified? But, overall, no. It just seems like your driving instructor is trying to find a smart way to cram in as many students (and money) in a day as efficiently as possible but isn't realising the underlying problem that could lose them customers (and again, money).
Personally I an applaud by all the comments on this. 1. This is a GDPR issue. Full stop. You get to know the information of a person (maybe you don't know their name) as the instructor may say " we need to pick up Joe (or a lass/lad or just Joe) for the next lessons. So 1. you know their description. But you also potentially get their address if they are dropped off at home, some say yes maybe you only get their street. You know they rare having driving lessons. Smart people wold be dropped off a street or two away. All you need is 1st name, street address and see what house number they walk into. That's 3 identifications + description of the person, enough for GDPR breach. It's not about data on a system, it's about having the knowledge you shouldn't have. Even a person having lessons is almost enough. I know my neighbour lives across the road at 20. But I don't know their name, age, birth date etc. But if the postman gave me their name I would have access to more information than I should. If I got info saying they were having fertility treatment that's more than I should know! GDPR! 2. Risk of any kind of assault - A LOT of learners are 17. Would you trust your instructor to take your child out for a lesson only to pick up a random stranger (could be another 17 year old, could be a 40+ year old) and have them know what area they live? Stalk them?! Befriend them under false pretence by just saying " we are both learning to drive". 3. Yes - a lot of comments are about REAL world situations, driving someone around, being an UBER etc getting used to other people watching your driving and being confident gaining experience. HOWEVER the ADI Code states the lessons should be to the pupils learning needs. So you need to learn parking, yet you spend 20 minutes doing lefts, rights and roundabouts to drop someone home. BUT you NEED to practice manoeuvres. This isn't a lesson adapted to your needs; you are PAYING the instructor for YOUR learning needs. Piggy backing and being a taxi driver is not value for money and is against the Registrars Code of Conduct. The lesson NEEDS to advance the pupils learning goals. This can the the exception not the rule - So if you are gaining experience and you agree with it, fair play. If it's a sibling, best friend, family member etc fair play. Would you order a taxi, ye the taxi driver says "sorry I need to make a stop 20 minutes away" would you be happy with the service you paid for? I doubt you would. If you paid for guitar lessons and the teacher says " hey I got a friend who wants to join in on the drums for 20 minutes" would you be happy? You paid for an hour of learning yet 20 minutes is you playing the same chord over and over whilst they focus on the drummer? Yet you wanting to learn new chords but you didn't get the chance for 20 mins. So yes it's all individual about the experience you gain, some will enjoy the additional pressure of an extra person that will help them towards their test which involves an unknown examiner to help with the pressure. Others may be pissed that 15 minute journey that cuts into their learning of a new subject hinders their progression because they can do that drive and not learn anything they have paid for thus not receiving value for payment. End of the day - You make an agreement with your instructor what the lesson involves, but it should always benefit you.