I was somewhat surprised that they both found other drivers very inconsiderate to learners. I passed my driving test two years ago, in my mid-30s, and found that other drivers were always courteous and considerate to me as a learner.

Indeed, now I do a considerable amount of driving around the country and rarely come across the incidents which Andy Thomas and Cindy Gibbs record. I was surprised that Andy Thomas found the time during one of his lessons to record all of these incidents.

With regard to my own experience of learning to drive, I had more difficulty finding the right instructor who had the patience and determination to teach me to drive, rather than the problems that both Andy Thomas and Cindy Gibbs have described by other drivers, on the road.

Fortunately, my fourth instructor was patient, calm, professional, efficient and excellent. I passed first time with this instructor in a manual car.

With regard to the stretch of road where Andy Thomas cites that he nearly had eight crashes, I live around the corner from that road and regularly use that stretch of road. Quite often during the day there are at least two learner cars parked on the road or practising using the controls. Two of the junctions on that road are often used several times during the day, by driving instructors, for learner drivers to practise reversing around the corner.

I know that several of the residents often get infuriated by the number of learner drivers using that particular stretch of the road. I am sure that there must be other places in and around Leamington that driving instructors could use.

My advice to Andy Thomas and Cindy Gibbs is not to go out looking for problems with other drivers and accept that everyone makes mistakes. - Jo Carter (email address supplied).


Too many learners in the same place
IN response to Cindy Gibbs (Postbag, last week) and the previous piece by Andy Thomas on learner drivers, have driving instructors never stopped to consider how annoying it is to be confronted by learner drivers every time you leave your house?

The Guys Cliffe Avenue area of Leamington has become a mecca for driving schools. It is not unusual for there to be five or six learner drivers doing three-point turns or reversing round corners in all the surrounding roads. It has become necessary to allow extra time when going out in order to reach one's destination on time.

Everyone knows that learner drivers have to practise on the roads, and no-one minds a short delay, but it has become more than a joke in this area. Surely there must be other parts of the town where they could be taken? Could driving instructors not drive off somewhere else when they see one or two learners already in the area, out of consideration for the residents?

I am sure that if this were the case, driving instructors would encounter less 'inconsiderate behaviour' from other drivers. - Anne-Marie Insley (email address supplied).