I keep getting phone calls and emails asking whether I do intensive driving courses so I thought I'd better explain my reasons for not doing them.
Intensive courses are very hit and miss - people learn in drastically different ways and at very different speeds. Most people simply cannot concentrate on one thing for more than around 3 hours a day, which means that to meet the average amount of lessons (45 according to the DSA), a customer will need around 3 weeks of training, with two 90 minute lessons each day.
For any normal instructor, fitting all of these lessons into their diary would be impossible unless they were very quiet - and if they're that quiet - why?!
A good instructor will be able to reduce the amount of lessons you may need, and by taking more than 1 lesson a week you will be able to reduce the amount of time it takes to get to test standard quite rapidly. Take slightly longer lessons (90 minutes I find is the most productive - more than this and the concentration starts to slide), and take maybe 2 or 3 per week.
The single most important thing in learning to drive is your own attitude - if you are determined to learn as much as possible from every situation then you will learn more quickly - but if you sit back expecting to be "taught" to drive - you will get no-where.
When booking driving lessons, try to plan in advance. Plan on the average of 45 hours, booking 90 minute lessons, and try to do 2 per week. Don't go for an intensive unless you really have to.
If you do decide on an intensive course - or are forced down that route - then go with an instructor who specialises in them. Book your course - but before you go on it, try to get as many driving lessons as you can. Remember that before your course you will have to pass your theory test, so get started as soon as possible.
Hope that makes sense - good luck.
