British lad saved £1,000 learning to drive on YouTube and passed test first time
You can learn all sorts online these days - including how to drive a car, according to this young lad.
Ollie Bird has told how he ditched the traditional route in favour of binge-watching YouTube clips, which explained how to safely navigate the roads.
The 17-year-old claims he has saved more than £1,000 as a result - while dually becoming something of a trend-setter for other cash-strapped teenagers.
The cost of paying a driving instructor for tuition has shot right up in recent years, with Ollie explaining a single lesson set him back £40.
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After being informed he would likely need up to 30 hours of lessons before being test-ready, he did the maths and almost keeled over when he realised what that would cost him.
"I was hearing horror stories from my friends about all the money people were spending on driving lessons," the thrifty teen from Scotby, Cumbria, said. "I didn’t want to be getting into all of that.
"The instructor estimated that I would need 25-30 hours of tuition, if not more if I failed the first time round. That's at least £1,200, which is a lot of money."
So, he decided to scour the internet in search of a cheaper alternative, before stumbling across a series of YouTube tutorials.
Loads of driving instructors moonlight as content creators these days and often share their tips on social media to help budding motorists understand the rules of the roads.
Ollie decided to take full advantage of this and ended up watching 30 hours worth of footage to swot up on how to operate a motor vehicle.
As well as this, he used a computer driving simulator to put his steering and braking skills into practice.
The keen go kart rider admitted that his experience of whizzing around tracks also came in handy as he prepared to take his test on 6 June.
He had passed his theory with flying colours a few weeks earlier, so all that was left to do was to learn the 'ins and out of how to drive' via various YouTube videos.
"I do a lot of things my own way, so I told my mum and dad that I wanted to research on YouTube instead of cramming in lessons," Ollie explained.
Taking the road less travelled ended up paying off for the savvy teenager, as he passed his driving test first time last month, allowing him to ditch his L-plates just three weeks after his 17th birthday.
Reflecting on his unorthodox route to getting on the roads, Ollie said: "I've took part in go-kart racing for a couple of months last year and I also have my simulator - they both helped.
"YouTube, along with all of the indirect driving experience, were definitely useful in my eventual success."
He revealed that he also drove around the area near his home ahead of his test while accompanied by his parents, to allow him to become familiar with road signs as well as perfecting his parking and reversing.
Speaking of the attitude he adopted before his test, Ollie said: "I wasn't going to go into it and just stress out and mess up - I had nothing to lose."
Although most people are a nervous wreck while trying to impress an examiner during their driving test, Ollie said he actually found his experience 'really enjoyable'.
The teenager added: "Me and the examiner had really good conversations about school and random stuff, it was quite relaxed.
"When the instructor ended the test and I found out I had passed, I was shocked more than anything.
"It was also really satisfying as a couple of people, including my parents, didn't think I was going to.
"I felt very lucky after hearing how hard to process can be from friends and family. I'm super chuffed I passed and in the way I did was just great."
Just to make it clear - deciding you have graduated from the YouTube school of driving does not mean you can just hop behind the wheel whenever you fancy.
People in the UK must obtain a provisional driving license before learning how to drive, under supervision of either a driving instructor or a motorist who is over 21, qualified to drive the type of vehicle your whipping about in. Oh, and they also must have been in possession of their full driving licence for at least 3 years.
Then get your theory test sorted, book your practical one and Bob's your uncle.
Olivia Burke