Click this line for advice on your Theory Training

Your Driving Instructor

All Driving Instructors who charge for tuition must - by law - be either a qualified ADI [Approved Driving Instructor] and display a green octagonal certificate in the car windscreen, or be a Licensed Trainee Instructor. Licensed Trainees have passed two out of the three examination tests and should display a pink, triangular certificate.

The tests which Instructors must pass to qualify are very demanding and all ADI's are periodically checked by specially-trained Examiners.

A Large School or a "One-Man Operation"?

Instructors working for or under franchise with a large driving school are no better qualified nor able than those from smaller schools or self-employed Instructors.
In fact, it could be argued that self-employed Instructors take greater financial risks and are more reliant on customers not just for their livelihood but additionally to cover their overheads. They therefore must be competent and reliable themselves as their income depends entirely on satisfying their customers.

Beware of cheap driving lessons - the Instructors may not be qualified or may not value themselves very highly. A large part of the lesson fee goes on running the vehicle, which costs much more to maintain than the small family car, driven by only one or two drivers, for a few hours per week.

Nobody will pretend that learning to drive is cheap, but compare the price with taxi fares, car hire, driving tests and other specialist services and you'll see that it is a reasonable expense.
Remember - good training is for the rest of your life, and yours and your family's lives will depend upon it.

Most ADI's probably offer value for money.
More important than price, though, is surely the quality and effectiveness of tuition.
This is dependent upon the skills of the Instructor, how well you both get on, your confidence in his or her abilities and how well organised he or she is.
A good Instructor plans lessons, records your progress and - above all - involves you in this planning.

You should expect your Instructor to use a Progress Card along the lines of this one :    Click here for an example

Your Driving Lessons

Try to stick to your arrangement and be on time for your lesson. Your Instructor may have incurred cost and spent time to pick you up.

Your Instructor will generally be on time but, remember, there are factors outside his or her control - such as traffic hold-ups.
Also, if a previous pupil is late, or a pupil or parent wishes to discuss progress after the lesson, this time can't be made up easily.

Before your lesson, try to relax for a few minutes. Have a drink [but no alcohol!] or read "The Highway Code" to get into a frame of mind for driving. If nervous before lessons, relaxation exercises can be effective, or keep yourself occupied - though not too busy. Don't rush about as this will probably spill over into your driving style and you'll make mistakes. Don't take drugs, except those recommended by your Doctor. If you're under medication, check with your Doctor that it will not affect your driving.

You'll obviously not drive well or get the most from your lesson if you're tired or unwell.

If you have to wear glasses or lenses to meet the eyesight requirement [to read a car number plate at 67 feet or 20·5 metres - the new-style number plate font is a tad smaller, so 20m is the distance(!)] you must wear them every time you drive. You should have your eyes tested professionally periodically and it's a good idea to have an eye test before you first start driving lessons.

Wear comfortable clothing, which should not be too tight, heavy or restrictive in any way. Wear flat shoes with a covered heel [not open­backed or with a loose strap] and non-slip soles. Avoid thick soles that limit the sensitivity needed for operating the foot controls - "trainers"/"tennis shoes" etc. are not the best choice for the initial lessons.

Arranging Lessons

• Different people learn in different ways and may need to learn over longer or shorter periods. Intensive courses will not suit everyone but neither will a one-hour lesson per week. You may not be able to maintain concentration for more than an hour or two; on the other hand, you may progress much better if lessons are frequent.

• Instructors can often arrange the length and frequency of tuition to suit your needs so do ask, and don't assume that the only choice is between one hour per week or one full week's intensive course!

• Longer lesson periods may be more beneficial as you progress and gain confidence, particularly if you need to travel some distance to a town or other location to meet the conditions for your level of progress.

• You should expect to take some longer sessions nearer your actual test in order to accommodate some practice tests.
  The Driving Test itself is now some 45/50 minutes long, including the de-brief etc. and so with a drive to the centre and back, plus a follow-up de-brief, a few longer sessions will be necessary.

• Expect to pay for tuition in advance. Some Instructors may offer discounts for block bookings, otherwise one lesson in advance is normal. There is usually no financial advantage to the Instructor to take block payment in advance.

• Give adequate notice if you cannot meet your appointment and your Instructor will frequently be able to re-schedule your lesson without loss or inconvenience.

• Be guided by your Instructor as to adverse weather. Obviously, it can be dangerous to drive in excessively thick fog or snow; however, if conditions are not too serious, it's better to drive in these conditions under qualified tuition and to learn to cope, with confidence.

• Ensure you arrange a few lessons at night so that you drive in the dark, even if you have to arrange a lesson after passing your Test - if all your learning was in the brighter daylight of mid­Summer.

• Expect to take a few hours' tuition after passing your test to cover motorway driving and adapting to different roads and conditions. This will improve your overall confidence and enjoyment for the rest of your career as a qualified driver.

• You may wish to develop your skills further, after passing your first Driving Test, to an advanced level or to have an occasional informal assessment from time to time to ensure you are still driving safely. Remember, you can arrange a refresher course with your ADI after passing your Test, but state clearly what your objectives are. You can more than recoup the cost of a few sessions with your ADI against a possible insurance claim and/or loss of a 'no claims bonus'.
  Your Instructor can easily advise you on any or all of this advanced tuition.

• Those who take a pride in their driving recognise that they continue to learn [good and bad habits!] and develop their driving skills, and so undergo refresher courses or tests. Every driver could benefit from such attitudes.

Practice

• Most Instructors encourage private practice if this is feasible. However, whether this is a help or a hindrance depends very much on your supervisor [accompanying driver], your relationship with him/her and the extent to which you are able to adapt to different vehicles.

• A supervising driver must be over 21 and have held for three years [and still hold] a full licence for the category of vehicle being driven.

• Practising previously-learnt skills is often beneficial. However, avoid trying to learn new skills or being in situations that place too many demands upon you, as this will inhibit learning and may place you and others in danger.

• Allow your ADI to teach new skills, and to develop your driving progressively in more demanding situations. Ask your supervisor not to confuse you by teaching different methods or techniques from those taught by your ADI.

• A supervisor should be patient and calm and give clear directions in good time. Supervisors should be encouraged to liaise with your ADI.

• Remember, a good driver is not necessarily a good teacher ­ and not all drivers are good drivers!

Progress

Remember, you should choose an Instructor who uses a Progress Chart along the lines of this one :
Click here for an example

When developing a new skill, we all learn at our own pace. Some aspects of driving will seem more natural to you than others, which may take longer to learn. Some stages require a lot of practice to perfect and deal with, without help from your Instructor. Be prepared for this varying rate of progress, which is both natural and to be expected.

Studying between practical driving lessons will assist your learning and make lessons more effective for the following reasons :

• It can reduce the length of in-car explanations.

• It can reinforce what you have learnt in the car.

• It will considerably increase your knowledge and understanding.
  

• It will increase your confidence to drive and add sense to the theory learning!

• It will maintain your interest and learning between lessons.

Follow any advice from your Instructor about studying and testing your progress and develop your driving into a life-time skill.

Get the most from your driving lessons and get the most from your future motoring by becoming a safer, more confident driver.