It’s hard to believe that my youngest son James is 17 today; where have the years 
flown by?
Like his elder brother, we have bought him some driving lessons. It’s a very nerve wracking experience teaching your son to drive in your car which you treasure. A number of times David wouldn’t speak to me after I yanked up the handbrake in a moment of panic, and I dread re-living those anxious moments with James.
Naturally, like everything else, the cost of driving lessons has continued to rise. They are usually sold in 2 hour slots and from memory I believe we spent £300 on a package of half a dozen lessons for David which included the cost of his theory driving test. That same amount of money now pays for just the lessons and the two tests are excluded. Lessons cost an exorbitant £25.75 per hour, but I regard them as a necessity, as another qualification they need to get under their belt before they leave home for university. As soon as his provisional licence comes through, it will be time to get those magnetic number plates stuck on the bonnet.
Poor James had an unfortunate start to his day with a Business Studies AS exam to sit at 9am. But I’m sure the rest of the day will soon improve.
Your son is very lucky to have parents who can afford to start them off with lessons.
I am not sure it is a necessity, more of a luxury, they have to be able to afford to run a car … !!
I do hope that h is day improved after his exam.. 🙂 🙂
He is indeed a lucky boy. But I wonder, Ellee, why you find it so urgent and necesarrry to get them in charge of a moving vehicle on the road?
Indeed they are both very lucky. I assure you we don’t normally spend anything like this on their presents, it’s a one-off to get them started on the road. The boys pay the rest of the lessons with work money or savings.
Pip, we live out in the country and half my life is spent chauffeuring. It’s a huge blessing to have David’s help with this if James needs driving anywhere. David is also applying to firms for a year’s work placement as part of his degree course and he has an interview with a car hire company who need him to be able to drive. A perk for him is that he gets a company car. Besides the huge costs involved, my big worry is boy racers, and I’m always letting them know this.
It’s gr8!!! to here that James is going for driving. Driving is a must now a days, even if you dont have a car, it benefits you all the way. At least in urgency you can use ur friends or uncles vehicle for your use.
living out in the countryside myself, i think driving is a must and definitely not a luxury, my son used all his savings and all his childbond money so he could learn to drive and infact is now always totally broke BUT if he had not learnt to drive he would have no job, and as you know he did cycle 25 miles a day for a year to have that job in the first place, although as soon as he passed his test they gave him a full time job.:-)
I just wish the car insurance was not so high for boys as they are not all boy racers.
My other son wants to start driving but i dont encourage it as I cannot afford to help 2 boys runs cars and at least Andrew can run Matthew about. Once andrew is more established and needs less help then it will be matthew turn.
of course driving is a need these days,i`m sick of buss and other vehicles
Ah, thanks, Ellee. Public transport in rural areas is indeed dire and I think could generally do with improvement. It’s not just that it mostly isn’t there but if you travel late at night there is no conductor. I’ve tried life without a car and as a woman on my own with small children just felt safer in my car. Best wishes for the desired result in your sons interview.
That is a lovely present which he will appreciate very much 🙂
When I remember how much my lessons cost, that price really scares me!
Not being a driver, I couldn’t live in Cambridgeshire if I wasn’t within reach of a good bus service. I know people in parts of this county for whom it is impossible to get to Cambridge unless they can justify spending a whole day there, because they’re only served by two buses a day. Fair play to your son!
I took some driving lessons once before I decided I didn’t like it…they were £10ph!
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I think you should get your husband to give him the lessons and save yourself the stress.
WW, yes, I agree, only they don’t!
I can’t afford a car,I know how is like going with the bus daily,a car is something I dream of every day.
Its a truth that the cost of owning a license is bit high & its going beyond limits for some class of people to afford it
I agree with Anne. Congrats to James.
I personally went to a driving school back in the days to save everyone´s nerves. And I´m doing the same with my kids.
Winchester Whisperer: I think she should buy the driving lessons and save her husband the stress!
Spoken as a father who also has a 17 year old (but who shows no interest in driving!)
Same with me here, Ellie. When I was seventeen, my dad sent me to a driving school. I spent several hours on the road just to finish my lessons. Later, my dad required me to write an essay to test me if I was really learning.
Indeed they are both very lucky. I assure you we don’t normally spend anything like this on their presents, it’s a one-off to get them started on the road. The boys pay the rest of the lessons with work money or savings.
Pip, we live out in the country and half my life is spent chauffeuring. It’s a huge blessing to have David’s help with this if James needs driving anywhere. David is also applying to firms for a year’s work placement as part of his degree course and he has an interview with a car hire company who need him to be able to drive. A perk for him is that he gets a company car. Besides the huge costs involved, my big worry is boy racers, and I’m always letting them know this.
🙂