Recently qualified as a Psychiatric Nurse and loving it!!! All the effort was well worth it!!! Plan ...
Recently qualified as a Psychiatric Nurse and loving it!!! All the effort was well worth it!!! Plan to start the ops flowing soon...
Member since:24.08.2001
Reviews:27
Members who trust:14
BACKGROUND BUMPH!
I put off learning to drive for as long as I could manage because of nightmare experiences as a youngster. I crashed a quad bike injuring myself, and the course tyre wall and was banned and put on the “Worse Driver Ever” list at a local go-kart track.
However I reached the point where I was desperate for independence and thought been free to go wherever I wanted whenever I wanted was the key. I dragged out the Yellow Pages and searched through the driving schools in my area. A few of my friends had been with independent schools and had more than a few horror stories to tell about their experience and none of them had passed first time…so I decided to give one the national driving schools a try.
THE AA AS AN ORGANISATION...
The main reason I chose the AA over BSM was the price. At full price both schools charge £18 in my area, but if you book a slot of 12 lessons with the AA, then the price is cut to £16 a
lesson. If you’re a student BSM offer a discount making each lesson £16.40.
The AA telephone operators were both polite and reasonably helpful. However, there were a few items that let their service down. Some people prefer and feel more comfortable been taught by a female instructor whilst others prefer a male one. The AA does not offer you a choice of instructor gender and the instructor you get will depend on your postcode. There was also some slight pressure put on me to take my lessons on a Saturday, which is impossible for me due to work commitments. I had to be firm and insistent that Friday was the only day suitable for myself.
The AA sends a starter pack to all their customers, which consists of information about the AA, a year’s free membership to their breakdown service and a £100 holiday voucher. I received the pack within the promised 28 days and was particularly pleased with the holiday voucher and am using it off next years trip to Grand Canaria. However I feel my years free AA membership has been pointless and wasted. Like most learner drivers I do not yet own my own car and will not until I pass my test. The free year starts from the day they send it out. Personally I think a voucher that you send back when ready to claim your free years AA membership would be a much better idea and would ensure that everybody can make full use of the “generous” offer.
THE INSTRUCTOR AND THE LESSONS (PLUS MORE ABOUT THE AA)...
My actual instructor is female and I have to say that so far I cannot say a bad word about her. She is patient, explains things well, does not get angry at my mistakes and gives me lots of positive encouragement. As a result I feel relaxed and confident when driving, exactly how it should be.
The AA asks what driving experience you’ve had and how confident you feel. As I was a complete novice my instructor started right at the begining and for the first few lessons I only drove on quiet country roads where other traffic was minimal. I did not progress onto busier roads until my instructor felt I was ready. This was good because it allowed my confidence to build up and meant I felt in control of and familiar with the cars controls before the daunting task of dealing with other vehicles.
The AA’s policy is to provide its pupils with a syllabus that starts with the basics, such as setting off and stopping, and gradually progress to more advance techniques such as town driving and reversing. At the end of each lesson my instructor talks thru where I am on the syllabus and what we’ll be doing in the next lesson. This is very beneficial because it means as a learner you are kept up-to-date with your progress and can judge how well you are doing. My instructor also often uses the DSA Driving Manual to explain certain things, for example clutch control. This made certain things more clear although sometimes I felt it wasted valuable driving time.
Another good thing about the AA and other larger driving schools is that they can afford to renew their cars every few month, meaning you never a drive an unreliable old “rust bucket”. I have had two cars since starting to drive, and the only thing that was different about them was the colour. The make, model and engine size are always kept the same but because the pedal sensitivity in every car varies you have to get re-used to the clutch and brake.
I wasn’t pressured, although my instructor did suggest I buy the AA Theory Handbook. I paid half the normal price for the previous years, which is practically the same as the current one, and found it very useful when revising for my theory. However most theory books are similar and answer the same purpose.
I have now been driving for 5 month and am due to take my test in a few weeks. The AA don’t seem to rush putting their pupils in for their test, preferring instead to ensure they are ready and likely to pass first time. My instructor has not encouraged me to take more lessons than I need to and now I am ready for my test has reduced my lesson from two hours a week to two hours every two week.
AND FINALLY...
All in all I have been reasonably pleased with the quality of service I have received from the AA. I have enjoyed learning to drive and look forward to my lessons, however this is more to do with my actual instructor than the AA themselves. This suggests that providing you are happy and comfortable with your instructor the company you choose, national or independent, is a minor detail.
~~~~~~UPDATE~~~~~~
The AA have switched from using a 1.2 Ford Fiesta Ghia, to using a 1.6 Ford Focus. These are large, powerful cars and manouvering them is a nightmare. I found it difficult despite been at test standard, therefore unless your a fan of bigger cars I would no longer recommend the AA, at least until they change to a car more suited to learners.
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when i was bought my driving lessons for my 17th birthday my mum shopped around and decided to go with aa over BSM because she had hear a lot of bad things about them. Well what can i say the aa was just as bad i booked my first lesson with them for about 2 weeks after my birthday and they said that the lady who would be takeing me out would phone me i am still waiting fo rthat call. we phoned aa a couple of times to gat the lady to phone me but they were no help what so ever and it took my mum 2 months to get her money back and that is after she threated them with court action good review and i am glad that you had a good time with them but unfortunatly i wont recommend them
JADELOUISESILVA 28.02.2003 11:44
i think its good in a way that you dont learn in excellent cars 'cus for many of us, when we have passed we can only afford a banger anyway!
Jade x
Advantages: Well I passed! Instructors very helpful with loads of patience - what every learner needs Disadvantages: Using a Ford Focus to teach lessons.
scruff 09.10.2001 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of AA Driving School
Advantages: I passed! Learn in brand new Ford Focus, well trained Instructor, free AA membership for 12 months Disadvantages: cost - you pay for the good service you receive
surfchik27 02.06.2005 (02.06.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of AA Driving School
Advantages: Well I passed! Instructors very helpful with loads of patience - what every learner needs Disadvantages: Using a Ford Focus to teach lessons.
scruff 09.10.2001 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of AA Driving School
Advantages: modern car with ABS, power steering etc; experienced instructor; friendly call centre staff; phone call after 1st lesson Disadvantages: none so far
pragmatik 29.07.2005 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of BSM
Aug 29th, 2001
(Sep 21st, 2001)
very helpful by (97%):
helpful by (3%):
