Medical students need to be able to drive. Read below for more information on why it may be important to learn to drive as a medical student.
Part of learning to drive in the UK is about learning show-me-tell-me questions – these are questions designed to test your understanding of the basic theory behind certain car safety checks.
Here is a quick tool I built that could help you learn some key pieces of information to pass this section of your driving exam.
You can practice in the window below!
Why Driving is Important for Medical Students
Driving may not be crucial in the early years of medical school, however, it could still make things easier, especially if your campus is spread across a large city.
For clinical years, it is usually easier if you do but it isn’t essential. There are lots of reasons why students don’t have cars/don’t drive – cost, parking, medical conditions etc.
However, if you do wish to learn, it can be a massive help during rotations, especially in region with hospitals scattered across potentially 10-15 + miles. Many placements do provide accommodation, some are commutable and sometimes other students will drive and can take you with them – so either way, you should be fine.
There’s no obligation to hold a driver’s license but equally the medical school aren’t obligated to accommodate you during your placements.
If you end up with a rural placement or in a hospital miles away that isn’t easily accessible with public transport then you’re gonna have a rougher time.
Medical schools are usually considerate with allocations and ease of access depending on individual student situations, however, there are only so many attachments available so some non-drivers may be left with tricky commuter situations.
That’s why if you do wish to learn to drive, the sooner you start practising, the better!
Alternatives to learning to drive
Of course the ideal situation is you learn to drive. Hoever for some students, that isn’t necessary.
- You may be living at home – you can therefore borrow a parents car or get a lift – added benefits of savings
- You may live in a city that has great public transport – A massive bonus!
- You may just decide to get a taxi – This can add up
- You can get a ride!
If you’re getting lifts, please remember not to take advantage even subconsciously of the driver. There is some etiquette here!
- Remember, they’re not your chauffeur
- Give them some petrol money
- Work around their schedule and don’t dictate when they should arrive and show up
Keep in mind that eventually you maydecide to learn to drive anyways, so you might aswell get it over with sooner!
Most commutes will be brutal and expensive and sometimes impossible otherwise.
Some specialities (such as GP) also require you to have a car and license, and specialities without Non-resident on call expect you to be able to get to the hospital in a set number of minutes any time of day, which may be impossible without driving.
Now is the best time to learn!
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