When planning where to go for driving lessons, Swindon may not have been the first place you thought of, but with great transport links to the centre of the town it is definitely worth considering. Located in south west England the town is approximately forty miles from Bristol, forty miles from Reading, and eighty miles from London. Having had a railway station since 1842, Swindon’s rail links are highly developed. In fact, the regularity of trains on the Great Western main line means that increasingly people are moving to Swindon in order to commute to Bristol or London. London Paddington is just an hour away by train and Bristol is less than half that journey time from Swindon.

Putting aside the convenience of Swindon’s location, we must remember that the most important factor when choosing where to learn to drive is safety, both of the learner driver and other road users. The large number of driving schools in and around Swindon mean that other road users are increasingly used to (and considerate of) learner drivers. Even once the practical test has been passed, however, it does not automatically mean that the student has become a good driver – many people decide to take further driving lessons. Swindon is an excellent place to do this as well, with many instructors experienced in teaching Pass Plus. The Pass Plus course improves the ability of inexperienced drivers and can reduce insurance premiums by up to 30%. During the course students gain experience of driving in different weather conditions, at night, and on motorways. All this combines to make the recently qualified driver safer and more confident on the road.

Swindon offers a large enough range of different driving situations to challenge novice drivers, whilst at the same time also having quiet streets and car parks where basic skills can be learned away from the pressure and bustle found in many town centres. In addition to this, learning to drive in Swindon will allow the novice driver to experience buses and bicycles and other traffic which they might not otherwise come across.

Furthermore, it is a truth almost universally acknowledged that learner drivers are often unsure how to proceed at roundabouts. This won’t be the case if you’re taking driving lessons in Swindon. The best way to tackle the issue of roundabouts is with practice… and then more practice. This develops the learner driver’s hazard perception and their judgement of the intentions of other road users. When it comes to roundabouts, Swindon is famous for them. This is true even to the extent that a calendar is manufactured each year with a different Swindon roundabout as the picture for each month. There are, of course, many other reasons to visit Swindon than roundabouts. The town has a wealth of gardens, parks, music festivals, museums, and other attractions too numerous to name to engage your attention when you are not behind the wheel.

Every individual’s needs are different when it comes to driving lessons. Swindon, however, can cater for them all. It is possible to learn in either a manual car or in an automatic and learner drivers can choose to learn with either a male or a female driving instructor. Many instructors also offer advice on how to pass the theory test and how to practice for the hazard perception element of it. If you are a first-time driver and nervous, or, if you are looking to improve and have already had driving lessons, Swindon has an instructor for you.