Refresher driving lessons in Askern

Why drivers come back for refreshers

• You passed years ago and have hardly driven since.
• You have moved to Askern from a town where you never needed a car.
• A near miss or a minor bump has knocked your confidence.
• You have changed to an automatic or an electric car and want to get used to it.
• You have a new job or college place that the bus timetable does not suit.

You already hold a full licence, so nothing has to be passed at the end. The sessions are about what you want to be able to do. For more on the format, see our main refresher driving lessons page.

What has changed on the A19

If you last drove around Askern a few years ago, the A19 may not be quite as you remember it. Doncaster Council's safety works on the road continue until March 2027. New traffic lights are going in at the junction with the B1220 Askern Road, and the junction known as Dario's, where the A19 Doncaster Road meets Sutton Road and Rockley Lane, is being signalised too.

Several speed limits along the A19 have changed as part of the same scheme, with more changes planned. Your instructor will help you read the signs early and settle at the right speed. The level crossing on Selby Road just north of the town is another spot where returning drivers like a bit of practice.

Building sessions around your own trips

The fastest way to feel confident is to practise the drives you actually need. That might be the run to Campsmount Academy on Ryecroft Road in Norton, a trip to Askern Leisure Centre, or the full A19 into Doncaster. Your instructor can also cover parking, from bay parking in the car park at Askern Boating Lake to parallel parking on a residential street.

If you have bought an automatic after years in a manual, a session spent on creep control and the parking brake in a quiet car park will make the new car feel familiar much faster.

Level crossings, twice over

Askern has two level crossings close together, the Askern crossing on Station Road and the one on Selby Road. The line mainly carries freight, along with Grand Central passenger trains that pass through without stopping, so you may wait while a long train goes by. Returning drivers often find the rules hazy. You stop when the amber light shows and the alarm sounds, unless you are so close that stopping would be unsafe. If the red lights keep flashing after a train has passed, keep waiting, because another may be coming.

Faster roads and the motorway

North of Askern, the A19 continues past Norton to the M62 at Junction 34 by Whitley Bridge. To the south west, the A1(M) at Red House can be reached through Carcroft. Your instructor can take you on either in a dual controlled car, starting with joining from the slip road and moving on to lane changes and leaving at the right junction. Read more on our motorway lessons and Pass Plus page.

Other options

If you live closer to Skellow, see refresher driving lessons in Skellow. When nerves are the real barrier, nervous driver lessons in Askern start more gently. Every lesson type we offer locally is listed on driving lessons in Askern.

Refresher driving lessons in Askern: your questions

How many refresher sessions do people in Askern usually need?

There is no set number. Someone who just wants to try the new A19 junctions might need one or two sessions, while a driver who has not been behind the wheel for many years may want several. Your instructor will suggest a plan after the first drive.

Can we start somewhere quiet before the A19?

Of course. Most refreshers start on quieter streets such as those around Rushy Moor Lane, then move to Moss Road and High Street. You only join the faster stretch of the A19 towards Owston when you feel ready for it.

Will you help me drive to Doncaster on my own?

Yes. Many returning drivers want to manage the A19 into Doncaster, including the busier roads through Bentley and the city centre. Your instructor can take you along that route several times until you are confident doing it alone.

Do refresher lessons include motorway driving?

They can. Once you are comfortable on the A19, your instructor can take you onto the M62 or the A1(M) in a dual controlled car. Motorway lessons cover joining, lane discipline, overtaking and leaving safely.