Fahrstunden

Practical Driving Lessons Explained Simply

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Practical driving lessons are an important part of your driver training. Here, you will learn step by step how to handle a vehicle safely and how to behave correctly in road traffic. During your training, you and your driving instructor will prepare together for the practical driving test. However, the goal is not only to pass the test, but above all to be able to drive independently and safely afterwards.

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Theory and Practice in Parallel

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In general, theory lessons and practical driving lessons should take place as closely in parallel as possible. This means that while you are learning the theoretical content, you are already putting it into practice in the vehicle at the same time. This helps theory and practice to be better connected. In reality, however, this is not always possible immediately. Many driving schools have a large number of students while at the same time having only a limited number of driving instructors and vehicles. Nevertheless, driving schools generally try to integrate theory and practice as closely as possible so that you can learn in a meaningful and structured way.

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How Do the First Driving Lessons Begin?

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How Do the First Driving Lessons Begin? The first driving lessons often take place on quieter roads or in industrial areas. At the beginning, you will mainly learn the basics:

• Moving off

• Steering

• Changing gears

• Braking

• Using mirrors

• Proper observation

Many learner drivers feel nervous or uncertain before their first driving lessons. This is completely normal.

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Driving Anxiety and Nervousness

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Many learner drivers feel anxious or uncomfortable about getting into a vehicle even before they begin their training — whether it is a car, truck, or bus. A good relationship with your driving instructor can help reduce this uncertainty step by step. Sometimes, however, driving anxiety develops early during training or becomes stronger over time. It is important to take these feelings seriously. You can find further information and support on the topic of driving anxiety at: www.GoMovi.de

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Practice Driving Lessons

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The number of regular practice driving lessons is not legally fixed. Everyone learns at a different pace. Therefore, the number of driving lessons always depends on your current level of training and individual learning progress. Some learner drivers require fewer lessons, while others need a few more. This is completely normal. The important thing is not to finish as quickly as possible, but to be able to operate a vehicle safely and responsibly.

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Special Driving Lessons

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In addition to regular driving lessons, there are legally required special driving lessons. These are often referred to as compulsory lessons. The special driving lessons include:

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• Rural road driving

• Motorway driving

• Driving in darkness and low-light conditions

 

Many people simply refer to these lessons as 'night driving lessons'. Strictly speaking, however, the purpose is not to drive in the middle of the night, but to learn how to safely handle vehicle lighting and reduced visibility during darkness or twilight. In winter, these lessons can often take place in the afternoon because it gets dark earlier. In summer, they may need to be scheduled in the late evening or early morning hours.

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Special Driving Lessons by Licence Category

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Category B (Car)

• 5 rural road lessons

• 4 motorway lessons

• 3 driving in darkness and low-light conditions

lessons = a total of 12 special driving lessons

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Category A (Motorcycle)

Special driving lessons are also part of motorcycle training. Different legal requirements apply depending on the licence category and any licences already held.

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Category C / CE (Truck)

Special driving lessons are also mandatory for truck licences.

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Category D / DE (Bus)

The exact number of special driving lessons depends on your licence category and any driving licences you may already hold.

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Class                          |   Überlandfahrten      | Autobahnfahrten      |   Beleuchtungsfahrten       
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Klasse B                                              5                           4                                            3                         
Klasse BE                                            3                            1                                              1                         
Klasse C                                             5                           2                                             3                         
Klasse C1                                            3                            1                                              1                         
Klasse D                                             5                           2                                             3                         
 

Class                           |   Überlandfahrten    | Autobahnfahrten      |      Beleuchtungsfahrten 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C1 & C1E                                           Solo:  1                   Solo: 1                           Solo: 0 
(gleichzeitige Ausbildung)         Zug: 3                     Zug: 1                          Zug: 2  
Insgesamt:                                         4                             2                                    2 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C & CE |                                           Solo: 3                     Solo: 1                         Solo: 0  
(gleichzeitige Ausbildung)         Zug: 5                    Zug: 2                          Zug: 3 
Insgesamt:                                        8                              3                                    3 
 

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Scheduling Driving Lessons

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Scheduling Driving Lessons Depending on the size of the driving school, it is often not possible to schedule driving lessons far in advance. When learner drivers cancel, arrive late, or lessons have to be cancelled, the driving instructor’s entire daily schedule often changes.

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As a result, it may happen that:

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• Driving lessons are offered at short notice

• Appointments need to be rescheduled

• Driving lessons are cancelled unexpectedly

 

This can sometimes be difficult for learner drivers to understand, but it is often part of everyday life in larger driving schools. If you have not been informed about any new driving lessons recently, it usually does not mean that you have been forgotten — it simply means that no free appointments are currently available.

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Training Schedule and Waiting Times 

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Even if there are sometimes longer breaks between lessons, driving sessions, or tests, no learner driver is forgotten. Larger driving schools and training providers in particular have to coordinate many learner drivers, instructors, vehicles, and tests at the same time. Especially for learner drivers whose training is funded through an education voucher, a longer training period is often planned from the outset. Of course, most learner drivers would like to complete their training as quickly as possible. However, larger gaps between lessons and driving sessions can sometimes occur. For the organisational planning of larger driving schools, these waiting periods are often necessary.

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Working with Your Driving Instructor

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A good relationship of trust between a learner driver and a driving instructor is very important. In general, the driving school usually decides which instructor is best suited to a particular licence category and stage of training. Of course, you can always speak to the driving school if you do not feel comfortable with an instructor over a longer period of time or if the cooperation is not working well for personal reasons. It is also important to remember that driving instructors are people just like learner drivers. Everyone can have a stressful or difficult day from time to time. In the end, the shared goal of both the driving instructor and the learner driver is always the same:

To help you learn to drive safely and pass your driving test.

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Training Based on a Structured Curriculum

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Practical driving lessons follow a structured training programme. This means that specific skills and driving situations are introduced and practised step by step, helping you become a safe and independent driver. These include, among other things:

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• Observation and mirror use

• Right-of-way rules

• Lane changing

• Parking

• Hazard situations

• Anticipatory driving and much more

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Test Routes and Real-World Driving

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Many learner drivers would like to drive as often as possible in the so-called test area shortly before their driving test. Of course, it can be helpful to review difficult intersections or complicated locations together before the test. However, driver training is not about memorising specific roads. After all, a driving licence means that you should be able to drive safely anywhere in the future — not just within a particular test area. For this reason, many driving instructors place great importance on practising a wide variety of situations and routes.

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Mistakes Are Part of the Learning Process

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Many learner drivers are afraid of making mistakes. However, making mistakes is a completely normal part of driver training. Driving instructors generally try to allow their students to learn as independently as possible. After all, safe driving is learned primarily through personal experience. For this reason, small mistakes during training are normal and an important part of the learning process.

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Instructor Intervention

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Sometimes the driving instructor must intervene for safety reasons, for example:

 

• by applying the brakes

• by taking control of the steering wheel

• or by giving clear instructions

 

Even though this may feel uncomfortable, it should not be taken personally. During training, the driving instructor carries a great deal of responsibility for the safety of everyone involved in road traffic. Learner drivers who already hold a foreign driving licence sometimes perceive such interventions as criticism of their previous driving style. However, these interventions are made only when they are necessary for overall safety.