Twelve driving lessons of your training are required by law \u2013 and of all things, they are the ones that many people respect the most: country roads, motorways, darkness. Time for an honest demystification: what really happens during special driving lessons, why they are the most educational hours of training and what rules (and myths) surround them.<\/p>\n
Special drives (officcially \u201especial training drives\u201c, Appendix 4 of the Driving Student Training Regulations) are the only legally required driving lessons<\/strong> for category B \u2013 all remaining training sessions depend on your ability. The law aims to ensure that every novice driver has experienced the three most challenging environments under supervision before driving alone: country roads, motorways and darkness. Each special drive lasts 45 minutes; in practice, they are almost always combined into double or triple sessions.<\/p>\n The 12 special journeys apply unchanged also for the Accompanied Driving (BF17)<\/strong> \u2013 and they take place at the end of the training, once your level of training makes them appropriate.<\/p>\n The country road seems harmless \u2013 but statistically it is the environment with the most severe accidents in later driving life. Exactly why most mandatory lessons take place here. You learn: constant driving at up to 100 km\/h<\/strong>, proper behaviour in bends (adjusting speed BEFORE the bend), Overtake<\/strong> with realistic gap estimation \u2013 and the patience not to do it when there is oncoming traffic \u2013 right-of-way situations at rural junctions, tractors, cyclists and wildlife crossing areas. Many learner drivers find rural drives to be the most relaxing hours: finally driving instead of constantly stopping \u2013 with a real learning effect for anticipating traffic.<\/p>\n Hardly any special lesson is so dreaded \u2013 and hardly any settles down so quickly: on the motorway there is no oncoming traffic, no traffic lights, no junctions. How it works: your driving instructor will choose a route with slips roads that are easy to see. You practice what really matters: accelerate decisively and merge<\/strong> (the most common beginner\u2019s mistake is approaching too tentatively at 70 km\/h \u2013 not too fast), Keep your distance<\/strong> (rule of thumb \u201ehalf the speedometer reading\u201c), lane changing with the mirror and blind spot check routine, the surroundings of lorries including slipstream, driving through roadworks and exiting with timely deceleration. Empirical value from thousands of driving lessons: after about ten minutes the pulse returns to normal \u2013 and after the fourth motorway drive, the motorway is one of the favourite environments for most people.<\/p>\n At dusk and in the dark you learn a completely separate discipline: Using lighting correctly<\/strong> (when to use high beam, when to dip), with glare<\/strong> Avoid oncoming traffic (keep an eye on the right-hand side of the road), spot pedestrians and cyclists who aren\u2019t wearing reflective clothing early on, and adjust your speed to suit the visibility \u2013 you must only drive fast enough to be able to stop within a manageable distance. A practical planning tip: In winter, night driving is possible as early as the early evening.<\/strong> \u2013 anyone who schedules their training during the dark winter months completes it without late appointments.<\/p>\n Special lessons cost an extra fee compared to normal driving lessons at most driving schools \u2013 the specific amounts are transparently listed on our Pricing page<\/a>, the overall bill in the guide Driving licence costs<\/a>.<\/p>\n Yes \u2013 that is even the norm: cross-country driving lessons practically never consist of a single 45-minute session, but rather of double or triple appointments. Four to five appointments are usually enough for all twelve lessons.<\/p>\n No \u2013 the 12 special lessons also apply in full to the driving licence at 17.<\/p>\nThe overview: 5 \u2013 4 \u2013 3<\/h2>\n
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\n Special journey<\/strong><\/th>\n Number<\/strong><\/th>\n Core learning objectives<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n \n Cross-country journeys<\/td>\n 5 \u00d7 45 mins.<\/td>\n rural road speed limits, overtaking, cornering, right of way outside built-up areas<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Motorway driving<\/td>\n 4 \u00d7 45 mins.<\/td>\n Merging and joining, following distance, changing lanes at high speed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Night drives<\/td>\n 3 \u00d7 45 mins.<\/td>\n Driving at dawn\/dusk, lights, glare<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n The cross-country drives: underestimated and most important<\/h2>\n
Motorway driving: the arch-nemesis that isn't one<\/h2>\n
Night driving: seeing and being seen<\/h2>\n
Rules and myths surrounding special journeys<\/h2>\n
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How to prepare for any special journey<\/h2>\n
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Frequently asked questions about the special journeys<\/h2>\n
How much do special journeys cost?<\/h3>\n
Can I do multiple special trips in a row?<\/h3>\n
Are there fewer special journeys for the BF17?<\/h3>\n
Are there special driving lessons for the BE trailer licence too?<\/h3>\n