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Learning Process

How we teach automatic driving (step by step)

8 min readFormer Examiner
How we teach automatic driving (step by step)

Learning to drive automatic is different. With no clutch to worry about, you can focus entirely on road awareness and decision-making. Here's exactly how we teach you, step by step.

Vehicle setup & smooth control (automatic)

Start calm, stay in control

• Correct seat, steering & mirrors

• Understanding automatic gears (P, R, N, D)

• Smooth acceleration & braking

• Safe moving off and stopping

With no clutch, you focus fully on the road.

Observation & hazard awareness

Learn to think ahead, not react late

• Mirror routines explained clearly

• Scanning the road early

• Spotting hazards in good time

• Making safe decisions

This is the foundation of confident driving.

Moving off & pulling up safely

Simple routines that work every time

• Safe moving-off checks

• Pulling up on the left

• Pulling up on the right

• Parking safely and legally

Junctions explained properly

No guessing, no rushing

• Open junctions

• Closed junctions

• When to wait, when to go

• Judging safe gaps

• Dealing with busy traffic

You'll always know who has priority and why.

Roundabouts – taught the simple way

Roundabouts are taught step by step, starting small and building confidence.

**First exit (usually left)**

What we teach you to do:

• Check mirrors early

• Signal left before entering

• Position the car in the left lane

• Approach slowly and give way to the right

• Enter when safe

• Stay in lane and exit safely

Simple, calm, and controlled.

**Second exit (straight ahead)**

What we teach you to do:

• Check mirrors

• No signal on approach

• Stay in the left lane unless road signs say otherwise

• Give way to traffic from the right

• Enter smoothly

• Signal left after passing the first exit

• Exit safely

Timing and lane discipline made easy.

**Third exit / right turn**

What we teach you to do:

• Check mirrors early

• Signal right on approach

• Position in the right lane (if available)

• Give way correctly

• Keep signalling right until passing the second exit

• Signal left to exit

• Stay calm and maintain lane control

This is taught slowly until confidence builds.

**Multi-lane & busy roundabouts**

Advanced confidence training:

• Reading road signs early

• Choosing the correct lane

• Spiral roundabouts

• Handling heavy traffic

• Staying calm under pressure

Roundabouts stop being scary — they start making sense.

Road positioning & lane discipline

Drive smoothly and predictably

• Correct road positioning

• Lane changes

• Reading road markings

• Dealing with traffic flow

Speed control & planning

Safe, examiner-friendly driving

• Understanding speed limits

• Adjusting speed for conditions

• Smooth braking in an automatic

• Avoiding hesitation or rushing

Pedestrians & vulnerable road users

Safety always comes first

• Pedestrian crossings

• Cyclists & motorbikes

• School zones

• Giving space and priority

Manoeuvres (stress-free)

Clear reference points, calm practice

• Parallel parking

• Bay parking (forward & reverse)

• Pull up on the right & reverse

• Full observation throughout

Independent driving

Real-world confidence

• Sat-nav driving

• Following road signs

• Making your own decisions

• Driving without prompts

Dual carriageways

Confidence at higher speeds

• Joining safely

• Lane discipline

• Overtaking correctly

• Managing faster traffic

Emergency stop

Controlled and confident

• When it's used

• How to stop safely

• Maintaining full control

Mock tests & final preparation

Pass with confidence

• Real test routes

• Examiner-style marking

• Honest feedback

• Final readiness check

We only take you to test when you're ready.

Why automatic learners choose Ulearn

• Automatic-only specialist

• Calm, patient teaching style

• Structured lessons = faster progress

• No unnecessary lessons

• Confidence-focused learning

• Learn to drive properly, not just pass

Ready to put this into practice?

Book a lesson with a former examiner who'll teach you these techniques properly