In-Tuition Driver Training - Blog page

In-Tuition Driver Training

Good News (fingers crossed)

12/3/2021

The Prime minister Boris Johnson has revealed his road map out of lockdown with a staged recovery back to a normal way of life which means (as i write this) we can get back to teaching again on April 12th with driving tests resuming in late April.
I have started preparations to get my business ready for the return by having the car serviced and giving it a good clean and sanitising the interior, something which I will be continuing regularly when lessons resume.
I have had my first vaccination but I'm still very much aware of the chance of transmissibility within the close confines of the car so I will continue to wear a face covering during lessons and will ask my pupils to do the same unless they are exempt.
Back in January I raised my hourly lesson rate to £28 because of rising costs of fuel, servicing and a general increase in the cost of living. It's the first such rise since 2017 and brings my charge in line with the excepted industry standard. I aim to keep this rate for the foreseeable future while giving my pupils a high standard of service in a safe environment.
To say I am excited to be going back out teaching and seeing my customers again would be an understatement and I think we all have a great (but very different) future ahead post lockdown. I'm looking forward the the challenges of the new normal in 2021.
Now, where did I put those car keys?

Uncertain Times

21/1/2021

So, here we are into our second year with 'Covid 19' and as I type this we are under government lockdown No3 with no end in sight.
None of us could have foreseen at this time last year just what an unprecedented impact this virus would have on all our lives. I know many of my students are frustrated because time and time again their tests have been cancelled or moved and now the latest estimates are predicting a return to 'normal' by around May. We wait and will see what the uncertain future will bring us but our main focus must always be on keeping each other safe and preventing more deaths.
Once we are able to return to teaching and testing the in-car hygiene standards we have put into place will be maintained until everyone eligible has been vaccinated and there is some certainty about the reduction in transmissibility. Until then lets all do our best to reduce further infection by maintaining the government guidelines of hands, face and space and remember that we are not observers in this pandemic, we are participants and no matter what the government advises, it us and us alone that will defeat Covid.
Stay safe everybody!

2020 Vision

11/6/2020

So when you were singing Auld Lang Syne on New Years Eve, could you possibly have imagined what 2020 had in store for you? Me neither. In fact none of us could have foreseen what was about to happen to our lives and the world in general. Like most of you I have been staying indoors and obeying the governments Civid 19 guidelines, because one thing is for sure, we are not observers in this pandemic, we are all participants and we can all make a difference as to when things get back to normal.
'Back to normal' is a phrase that is heard in just about every conversation at the moment. Whether it's on the phone, in the street, on Zoom or Skype, we all want things to get back to normal. But we all know that normal is never going to be the same again post Covid, so we need to find a new way of making things as near normal as possible. Like all driving instructors, I am wanting to get back to work as soon as is possible, but there is much work and preparation still to do to make the environment in the car as safe as possible for both myself and my customers. Undoubtably we will, at first anyway, need to wear some form of PPE (personal protection equipment) and the car interior will need cleaning down between lessons to ensure it is safe for use. Lesson times will need to be changed and the time between lessons will need to be longer to allow for that cleaning process. At the time of writing this, the DVSA have still not announced when testing will resume in the UK and under what circumstances etc. Anyway, rest assured, if you are one of my customers or are thinking about learning to drive with me I will make sure every effort is made to make the post Covid experience a pleasant and safe one for us both.
The government seems to be hinting that a return to work in July will be possible so I'm planning on getting the roof sign back on then and getting back out there. I just hope i remember how to teach!
Stay safe and remember, the outcome of this pandemic is in our hands only.

Post Test Blues

26/6/2019

It's always been the same, a student takes lessons, passes their test and disappears into the world to become (we hope) a good and safe driver.
The reality these days with rising fuel and insurance costs is that many newly passed drivers can't afford a car straight away or maybe they are going off to university etc so don't need to drive. Months or sometimes years can pass before they finally get back behind the wheel in a car of their own and consequently their ability levels and confidence have suffered in that time. A recent study found that 26% of drivers under 30 had spent 6 months or longer without driving after passing their test and over a quarter of them said they believed that time 'away' had contributed to them having an accident when re-starting driving. This makes sense, but what can be done to help the situation?
As a driving instructor most of my business is helping beginners to start driving and eventually pass their test, but I'm also here when people need help to get back behind the wheel and regain their confidence after a long period away. Refresher lessons are always available and are a great way to get that confidence back and improve the drivers skill levels either in their own car or a dual controlled car and of course motorway tuition or a Pass Plus course can also help.
The mantra 'Safe Driving For Life' is still as strong today as its always been and as instructors. we are always happy to help coach someone back up to full speed. Excuse the pun!

30 Years and still going strong.

10/5/2019

I think its fair to say, a lot of things have changed since I started teaching back in back in 1989.
The cars have changed an awful lot, the roads have changed and the drivers that use them have most certainly changed, not always for the better. The technology that we have in our pockets and in the cars that we drive have changed so much too.
Its good to know that even with all these 'advancements' some things are still as great to use today as they were back in the day. My little 'Dinky' tuition car has served me well for almost all of my teaching career and is still in my car glovebox today ready to show my learners which way to steer to achieve that perfect parallel park. And the 'illustrator' model that I bought back in 1990 is there as a back up to talk people through the mechanics of parking as well. A picture may speak a thousand words but my little toy car steering successfully into a pretend space still brings a smile to my customers faces even today.
It's all part of the modern learning experience, helped along it's way with a little bit of nostalgia and a toy car to make my learners safer drivers. You're never too old for toys!

Reflections

9/4/2019

2019 is well and truly underway and that means I'm into my 30th year of teaching and things have changed so much in that time.
I started my business with an old second hand Ford Fiesta that didn't have any dual controls. Imagine that! I soon added some after a few scary moments and have used them ever since. The driving test was still only 20 minutes with some theory questions and signs at the end. It all seems a world away from the current 40 minute test with its 20 minutes of independent driving with SatNav etc.
The theory test came along in 1996 and the hazard perception test was added in 2002 to make sure students were aware of the potential hazards on the roads. In 2003 the 'Show Me, Tell Me' questions were added to the practical test with moving questions added in 2017. The manoeuvre's in the test have changed too with the old turn in the road (three point turn) and the dreaded left hand reverse being removed back in December 2017 and replaced with forward bay parking and offside parking with its seemingly silly two car length reverse. I'll be honest and say I still question the value of such a manoeuvre and tell my students that it's still best practice to park on your own side of the road where safe.
So, a great many things have changed in my 30 years as an instructor, not always for the good, but one thing has stayed the same, and that's the pride get when one of my students passes their test, gets their full licence and takes to the roads on their own. Knowing that I have helped them achieve that is still the best feeling in the world and what got me into this job in the first place. When that feeling is no longer there then I know it will be time to hand in my ADI licence, but for now its a case of bring on the future, whatever it holds. Safe driving!

Motorway coming 2018

13/8/2017

So, its finally happened! The DVSA yesterday (12/8/17) announced that learner drivers will be allowed to drive on motorway's from next year. The date is to be confirmed but it means that provisional licence holders will finally be allowed to get proper training on how to drive on and deal with motorways before passing their driving test. The new rule applies only to car divers, motorcycles won't be allowed, and the tuition must be with an approved driving instructor and in a dual controlled car. There will be no change to the driving test to include motorways, so this extra training would be on a voluntary basis for those interested in gaining the valuable experience of motorway driving with their instructor. Mile for mile motorways are the UK's safest roads, but a great many newly qualified drivers say that they find the thought of motorway driving scary and some would even avoid driving on them at all. So this new rule at least opens the door for leaners to try the experience while under the watchful eye of their instructor in a dual controlled vehicle. I for one am looking forward to taking my first learner for a run down the M1 and M62 next year.

New driving test from 4th December.

15/4/2017

It's been announced today (14th April 2017) that the car driving test will change on 4th December this year to 'make sure new drivers have the skills they’ll need to help them through a lifetime of safe driving'.
There are 4 main changes to the test...
1. The independent part of the test will increase from 10 minutes to 20 minutes.
2. The candidate will have to follow directions from a Sat Nav which will provided and programmed by the driving examiner.
3. The reverse manouevre's will be changed and will now include parallel park at the side of the road, park in a bay - either driving in and reversing out, or reversing in and driving out (the examiner will tell you which you have to do) or pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for 2 car lengths and rejoin the traffic.
4. The Show and Tell safety questions will be split in two with the 'tell me' question done while stationary at the test centre and the 'show me' question done whilst driving.
The new test will still last for approx 40 minutes and the marking system will remain un-changed with up to 15 driver faults allowed but one serious fault meaning a fail.
I have been testing and using Sat Nav for a while now, see my previous post, so will be introducing it and the new changes to my customers over the coming months so they are fully prepared for the new format.
Watch the official video about the new test below.

What do points make?

1/3/2017

As from today, 1st March 2017 you will get 6 points on your licence and a £200 fine if you're caught using your mobile phone while driving. If you get caught twice for the same offence you will be required to attend court where you could be fined up to £1000. This new ruling has serious ramifications for new drivers who have held their licence for less than 2 years as being caught just once will mean they have to forfeit their licence and re-take both the theory and practical tests again. Road safety website 'Think" has all the details of the new rules at www.think.direct.gov.uk
To be clear the new rules apply to not only making phone calls but also following maps, taking or making texts and engaging in social media while behind the wheel. You CAN still use a mobile phone if you are safely parked or to call 999 in an emergency when its unsafe or impractical to stop. Using 'hands free' is not illegal but if it distracts you and affects your ability to drive safely then you can still be prosecuted by the police. The advice being given today is to put your phone away when you get in the car and make your glovebox your phone box!
It's hoped that these new rules will prevent accidents caused by drivers being distracted by their mobile devices and so save lives.

One strike and you're out?

17/9/2016

In a world where we are becoming increasingly dependent on our mobile devices for 'staying in touch' it should come as no surprise that using a mobile phone while driving is becoming more and more the excepted 'norm', especially among young inexperienced drivers who know that it's illegal but are prepared to take the risk of getting caught. Currently being caught using a mobile in the car has a £100 fine and 3 points on the licence, but under new proposals the government is looking to increase that to 6 points and a £200 fine. This would mean that a driver holding a full licence for less than 2 years would automatically get a ban and be made to re-take both the theory and practical driving tests again. It's hoped that this new system will make all drivers but especially newly qualified ones think twice before using a mobile phone on the move.
Do I agree with this new harder line? Absolutely. Most new drivers suffer from the over confidence thing and always assume it won't happen to them. We've all been there. But the distraction of a mobile device in a car is something that needs to be tackled head on before it results in a head on collision. Will it prove an effective deterrent to todays mobile addicted drivers, only time will tell. The new rules should come into force in 2017.