Automatic driving lessons in Cantley

Why Cantley traffic suits an automatic

The McAuley Catholic High School on Cantley Lane draws pupils from well beyond Cantley, and a long list of school bus services runs to it. At the start and end of the school day, that means queues, buses pulling in and out and pupils on the pavements. In an automatic you can creep along with the queue using just the brake, which leaves your attention free for the hazards.

The same goes for the school runs near Hawthorn Primary on Elmham Road and Hatchell Wood Primary Academy on Plumpton Park Road, and for the shops on Everingham Road and Goodison Boulevard. Stop-start driving like this is where automatic learners often make their quickest progress.

Creep and the brake pedal

Using creep

Take your foot off the brake in drive and the car edges forward by itself. That gentle movement, called creep, is how you control the car at walking pace. We practise it on quiet streets such as Birch Road and Sycamore Grove, edging towards a give way line or into a parking space with your right foot covering the brake.

Holding still

When you stop for longer, such as at a red light or a long queue on Bawtry Road, you will learn when to apply the parking brake and when to move the selector out of drive. Getting into good habits now makes your driving smoother on test day.

Moving on to faster roads

Once creep and braking feel natural, lessons move to Cantley Lane and then the A638. Joining Bawtry Road at Cantley Bridge, where it becomes a dual carriageway, is much simpler without gears to think about, so you can concentrate on your mirrors and the gap. From there the Racecourse Roundabout and Leger Way give you multi-lane roundabouts and the kind of junctions found near the test centre.

If you pass in an automatic, your licence lets you drive automatic cars only. Hybrid and electric models are automatic, and more cars are sold that way these days, but read our manual or automatic licence guide if you are unsure.

Manoeuvres without a clutch

Reversing exercises feel different in an automatic. Creep does most of the work, so parallel parking behind a car on a quiet road such as Pine Road comes down to slow steering and good all-round observation. Bay parking can be practised in a quiet car park, such as the one at Cantley Park outside its busy times.

Pulling up on the right and reversing about two car lengths is the exercise many learners find strangest, because you cross to the wrong side of the road on purpose. In an automatic you can keep the speed to a crawl with the brake alone, which makes the judgement much easier to learn.

An emergency stop is simpler too. There is no clutch to push, so you brake firmly with your right foot and keep both hands on the wheel until the car has stopped.

Your automatic instructor

Diana teaches only in automatic cars and is known for fitting lessons around busy family timetables. Alecsandru, an approved driving instructor and former college teacher, also teaches automatic. You can choose a female instructor or a male instructor.

Read more on our main automatic driving lessons page or return to the Cantley driving lessons page. Living closer to the Armthorpe side? See automatic driving lessons in Armthorpe. Many automatic learners also take nervous driver lessons in Cantley to build confidence.

Automatic driving lessons in Cantley: your questions

Will learning in an automatic save me lessons?

Often it does, because you are not spending time on clutch control and gear changes. How many hours you need still depends on how quickly your observation and judgement develop, which is the same in either car.

Is the automatic test easier?

The test is identical in every way apart from the car, with the same manoeuvres and the same marking. Many people find it less stressful because there is no risk of stalling at a busy junction.

Can you pick me up from Hatchell Wood or Hawthorn after the school run?

Yes, if it suits you. Many parents in Cantley fit lessons around school hours. Diana, one of our automatic instructors, is particularly good at working around family timetables, so let us know your free hours when you book.

Can I switch from manual to automatic part way through?

Yes. Plenty of learners start in a manual and switch. Your roundabout skills and observation carry over, and many people find their progress speeds up once the clutch is out of the picture.