Automatic driving lessons in Carcroft

Stop-start Carcroft and the automatic gearbox

A lot of driving in Carcroft is slow and fiddly. Cars are parked along Chestnut Avenue, buses stop on High Street and shoppers turn in and out of Asda and the DFS outlet. In a manual you would be working the clutch the whole time. In an automatic there are just two pedals, so your attention can go on your mirrors and the gaps in traffic.

That is why many learners need fewer hours in an automatic, although it still depends on the person. The catch is the licence: pass in an automatic and you can drive automatic cars only. Our manual or automatic licence guide explains the choice in more detail.

Creep and brake control

The first skill is creep. Select drive, release the parking brake and the car moves forward slowly with no gas at all. On the streets near Langdale Road you use creep and gentle braking to edge past parked cars and hold your position for oncoming traffic.

Your right foot does everything, so the habit to build is covering the brake whenever a hazard appears. The left foot stays flat on the floor. At a junction you hold the car on the footbrake, and for a longer wait you apply the parking brake as your instructor shows you.

• Drive (D) for moving forward, with creep at walking pace
• Reverse (R) for manoeuvres, controlled with the brake
• Park (P) when you have stopped and secured the car
• Neutral (N) only when your instructor asks for it

The school run on Owston Road

Carcroft Primary School is on Owston Road. At drop-off and home time the road fills with parked cars and parents crossing, and children may step out between vehicles. An automatic lets you keep the speed right down and stop smoothly as often as the road demands.

Diana is one of our female instructors. She teaches automatic only and is good at fitting lessons around family timetables, so parents can book a slot after the morning drop-off. You can ask for a female instructor or a male instructor when you book.

Busier roads without the clutch

Station Road, the B1220, is where you build speed and practise smooth acceleration and progressive braking. The gearbox picks the gear for you, so you can concentrate on the road ahead and on keeping a safe gap from the vans heading for Carcroft Enterprise Park.

The A638 from the Highwayman Roundabout towards Doncaster brings larger roundabouts and the retail traffic around the Centurion Retail Park on York Road. After passing, some drivers book motorway lessons, and the A1(M) at Red House, junction 38, is only a few miles from Carcroft.

Test day in an automatic

The practical test is identical in an automatic car. You still have the eyesight check and the show me tell me questions, about 20 minutes of independent driving following a sat nav or road signs, and one reversing exercise. Examiners look just as closely at observation and speed. A mock driving test in Carcroft is a good rehearsal beforehand.

For more on how the course works, see our main automatic driving lessons page. If you live on the other side of the village boundary, try automatic driving lessons in Skellow, or go back to driving lessons in Carcroft for local pick-ups.

Automatic driving lessons in Carcroft: your questions

Is an automatic licence enough if I mostly drive locally?

For most people who drive around Carcroft and into Doncaster, yes. Automatic cars are common, and electric cars are automatic too. The only limit is that you cannot drive a manual car on that licence. If a job might need a manual van, think about learning manual instead.

Do you have automatic cars available in Carcroft?

Yes. Alma has dual controlled automatic cars and instructors who teach in them, and we pick up across Carcroft, including from home, Asda on High Street or your workplace on Station Road. Mention that you want automatic lessons when you call 07402 034084 so we match you with the right car.

Can I fit lessons around the school run?

Yes. Many parents in Carcroft book a lesson just after drop-off at Carcroft Primary on Owston Road or before collection. Tell us the hours you have free and we will look for an automatic instructor with matching slots. Lessons can start and finish at the school gates if that helps.

Will automatic lessons get me through the test sooner?

Often, because there is no clutch to learn, but it still depends on how often you drive and how quickly your judgement develops. You also need the theory test passed before you can book. Ask your instructor for an honest estimate after your first few lessons.