Trident Driver Training

08/10/2026

If you feel like you are taking longer than the national average, it usually comes down to practical everyday factors, not your ability behind the wheel.

The last of 4 Real Reasons that affect how long it takes you to learn to drive.

3. Confidence and Anxiety Levels

Driving a heavy piece of metal surrounded by traffic is genuinely stressful.

We are seeing more students than ever managing driving anxiety, and very low confidence levels in general. Trying to rush through that fear and constantly comparing yourself to more confident people, only causes mistakes and ultimately has the opposite effect of making you less confident and more anxious. Taking a gradual, step-by-step approach to build real confidence is a strength, not a weakness. You will be a much safer driver as a result.

Look out for the other three reasons over the next few days. Or head over to our blog to read it all in one go. https://api.ripl.com/s/lyhj3x

07/10/2026

If you feel like you are taking longer than the “national average”, it usually comes down to practical everyday factors, not your ability behind the wheel.

The third of 4 Real Reasons that affect how long it takes you to learn to drive.

3. The Quality of Private Practice

Private practice with parents or family is great—unless you spend two hours driving around reinforcing bad habits or getting into a screaming match. To make extra practice actually work for you, set specific goals with your instructor so your accompanying driver knows exactly what skills you are supposed to be working on.
At Trident Driver Training we use progress books and charts so that you have a clear idea what to practice. We encourage accompanying drivers to sit in on lessons so they can see what you need to practice.

Practice areas are also key to your progress. Any practice is useful practice but if you always drive the same roads and never stretch your skills to the areas you need to develop you are going to take longer to learn.

Look out for the other three reasons over the next few days. Or head over to our blog to read it all in one go. https://api.ripl.com/s/d6n3hm

06/10/2026

If you feel like you are taking longer than the “national average”, it usually comes down to practical everyday factors, not necessarily your ability behind the wheel.

The second of 4 Real Reasons that affect how long it takes you to learn to drive.

2. Your Personal Learning Style

Learning to drive requires two completely different skill sets: the mental theory and the physical coordination. Everyone balances these differently. You might find steering and car control a breeze but struggle to get your head around test theory. Or, you might pass your theory test with a perfect score but need way more repetition to build up your physical confidence. Both paths are 100% normal so don’t compare yourself to others - they have their own difficulties but they may not tell you about them.

Others may already have learned skills that are relevant for driving like riding a bike, tractor, moped. Even things like playing musical instruments will affect how you learn to drive. Drummers usually learn quickly because they are used to doing different things with each arm/leg and can co-ordinate pedals and steering easily.

Your age will affect your learning style. Unfortunately that’s a fact of life. Those younger students who are already in a learning environment will be more tuned into soaking up new information. That’s Science not skill.

Look out for the other three reasons over the next few days. Or head over to our blog to read it all in one go. https://api.ripl.com/s/8wz91x

05/10/2026

If you feel like you are taking longer than the national average, it usually comes down to practical everyday factors, not your ability behind the wheel.

The first of 4 Real Reasons that affect how long it takes you to learn to drive.

1. Where You Live (The Commute Factor)

Geography is a massive variable. If you live right in the middle of Exeter, you have minimal travel time and can start practicing city centre routes / dual carriageways / large roundabouts and test areas from an early stage (whether you like it or not)

But if you live in Exmouth, it takes a minimum of 15/20 minutes just to drive out to the high-speed roads and complex junctions, and another 15/20 minutes to get back. That is 30/40 minutes of your lesson spent just commuting to the training ground.

Learning in a quiet, simple environment requires fewer hours than navigating complex, heavy-traffic, or highly congested areas. So students who learn in Cornwall will learn a lot quicker than students in Exeter.

That isn’t a reflection of your driving skills; it’s just a map issue!

Look out for the other three reasons over the next few days. Or head over to our blog to read it all in one go. https://api.ripl.com/s/er0e4o

03/10/2026

Congratulations to Sophie on passing her driving rest first time and with only one driver fault. " A really lovely drive", said her smiling examiner!
A great and well deserved pass after putting lots of work in. Well done from Mark and the team at Trident Driver Training team. Enjoy your independence.
😎🚗

22/09/2026

It sure what happens in test day ?
- Read the DVSA advice below.
- talk to your instructor , trust us they will have observed more tests than you’ve had hot dinners and will have far more accurate information than your mates.
- ask us for a Full Mock Test. We can arrange for it to be with a different instructor so that you get the full experience of being in the car with a stranger. Test day is far more about controlling nerves than it is about your driving ability (assuming that you have prepared properly and your driving skills are up to test standard. )

Curious about what happens during a driving test? Here's what to expect on test day.

An eyesight check 👀
You'll read a number plate from 20 metres away or 20.5 metres if it's an old-style plate.

'Show me, tell me' vehicle safety questions 💭
You'll answer 2 questions about vehicle safety. The 'tell me' question comes before you start driving and the 'show me' question while you're on the move.

General driving ability ✅
You'll drive on a variety of roads, but not on motorways, including 20 to 35 minutes of independent driving, following either a sat nav, traffic signs, or both.

Reversing your vehicle 🚗
You'll be asked to do one of the following: parallel park, park in a bay, or pull up on the right and reverse 2 car lengths. Your examiner will let you know which one.

Knowing what's coming can make test day feel a lot less daunting.

Familiarise yourself with the test: https://ow.ly/p52350ZP1l7

19/09/2026

Thank goodness this isn’t on the driving test 😁

16/09/2026

Congratulations to Rowan on passing his practical driving test at the first attempt!
A nice drive in ideal conditions.
Rowan heads back to university this weekend so won’t need to drive there but will share the family car when back for the holidays in Devon.
Well done from instructor Mike & all at Trident Driver Training . Enjoy your independence.
😎🚗

10/09/2026

Just for fun ….

Two elderly men have been given a stern telling-off after racing their new mobility scooters down through Redruth town.

The trouble began when 72-year-old Teddy Trembath challenged his friend Rodney Hall to a race through the town, which sits on the side of a large hill. They agreed that the loser would buy them both a pint at Rumons Social Club, at the bottom of the town.

Witnesses heard the pair bickering over who had the better scooter before setting off side by side from the top of town. However, after travelling at full speed downhill for nearly a quarter of a mile, neither man appeared able or willing to slow down.

One could be heard shouting, “Get out of the way!” as they swerved around a group of young men near Iceland.

“They flew past us with their shopping baskets rattling,” said one witness. “It was like Fast & Furious Mobility Scooter Drift.”

By the time they reached the bottom of town, both men were reportedly “white as ghosts.” A group of elderly Community Speedwatch volunteers clocked them travelling at 19mph before watching them shoot across the traffic lights and continue uphill towards West End.

The scooters eventually ground to a halt near the fairfield, where the volunteers caught up and gave both racers a stern telling-off.

Teddy insists he won by half a wheel, while Rodney claims the tin of beans in his pocket gave Teddy an unfair weight advantage.

Rodney has refused to buy the pint and is demanding a rematch. Since word of the race spread, locals have started calling Teddy “Vin Denzel.”

03/09/2026

A great drive from Adam today in Exeter resulting in a 1 minor pass. That’s a fantastic achievement.
Super pleased for you , well done from Nigel and all the team at Trident Driver Training .