Driving Instructor Training
The quick and easy way to become a Driving Instructor. How, when, where?
Hazard Perception
Posted on August 28th, 2008 by admin, under Driving Test, Driving Tips.
Hazard Perception is the drivers ability to recognise a situation on the road which is either dangerous, or has the potential to develop into a dangerous situation in which some driver action will be required. Good hazard perception requires good visual scanning and anticipation, and a good understanding of how driving situations can develop.
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Hazard Perception Test Video
Why the need for Hazard Perception
- Over confidence
Young drivers rate their own performance as above average. They are more likely to equate “good” driving with the ability to master the controls of the car at higher speeds. However, vehicle control is only part of being a good, safe driver. - Under-estimation of risk
Young drivers take longer to develop the risk assessment skills required to safely interact with other road users. They detect and assess hazards more slowly, and they also under-estimate the risk of a hazard resulting in a crash and over-estimate their ability to deal with hazards. - Age
Young and novice drivers have a higher crash rate because they are inexperienced, their cognitive and perceptual skills are not fully developed and they take more risks. They also pick up bad habits quickly. - Lack of driving experience
Teenage drivers have less training and experience, which leads to more traffic violations. - Poor attitudes
The fact that violations, rather than errors or lapses, are associated with crashes suggests that they are caused by a poor attitude to road safety, rather than a lack of skill on the part of the drivers. While it is necessary to train drivers to a basic level skill, it is also necessary to persuade or constrain drivers not to violate. Therefore road safety efforts should be focussed on attitude change as well as initial skill training.
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Basic route planning for Driving Instructors
Posted on August 11th, 2008 by admin, under Driving Instructor, Driving Tips.
This is an essential element of driving lesson preparation. It requires a thorough
knowledge of local geography and traffic conditions. When planning routes you must
take into consideration any specific driving skill or procedure, which is still to
be practised. Any unsympathetic route can have disatrous consequences when learner
drivers are unnecessarily exposed to conditions with which they are unable to cope.
In extreme cases, and with particularly nervous leaner drivers, it may even make
them give up the idea of learning to drive at all.
A fairly wide selection of planned routes containing various types of traffic
hazards and conditions will be required. Flexibility is an impotant consideration
when planning a route because it allows for changes to be made midway through a
driving lesson. This may become necessary to allow more time to be spent on an area
of driving which may be proving unexpectedly troublesome, and yet still allow the
driving lesson to be completed on time for your next appointment or driving test.
Try not to repeat the same route excessively, this can lead to reducesd interest
from the learner driver, and this can lead to boredom and slow progress. Repetition
can be useful when it is carried out deliberately for a specific purpose relevant to
the driving lesson. An example could be practising control skills on the approach to
uphill junctions.
Training routes and areas fall into three main categories:
- Nursery routes
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Nursery routes - require various kinds of roads. try to avoid busy roads and
initially, in the very early stages, roads with parked vehicles. These routes should
not include pedestrian crossings, traffic lights or roundabouts.
Intermediate routes - These routes should, wherever possible, be planned to avoid
dual carriageways, multi-laned roads and one way streets. Junctions which do not
conform to basic rules should also be excluded. Right turns on to very busy main
roads, and any other particularly difficult situation, should not normally be
incorporated into these routes where they can be avoided.
Advanced routes - These routes will incorporate most of the intermediate routes.
They should be progressively extended to include many variations to the basic rules
as possible.
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Dealing with difficult learner drivers
Posted on August 11th, 2008 by admin, under Driving Instructor, Driving Tips.
Driving Instructors who don’t learn how to work well with difficult learner drivers
will lose their confidence as well as the learner driver (the customer).
The nature of driving instruction requires that driving instructors work with
customers who may drive you up the wall (not literally!). regardless of whether your
customer is offhand, rude, frustrated, confused or irate, most minor problems do not
have to escalate into bad feelings.
The six steps in helping a customer are:
- Let the pupil have their say
- Avoid getting trapped with their negative feelings
- Express empathy with the pupil
- Begin to solve problems actively
- Agree on solutions
- Continue to check they are satisfied with progress so far.
When a learner driver is upset, they want two things: First, they want to let you
know how they feel, and then they want you to help them. It’s that simple. Some
driving instructors view learners becoming tense and frustrated as an indication of
the pupils inability to understand basic facts. However trying to resolve a
situation without listening to your pupils thoughts and feelings never works. Only
after the pupil has let you know their thoughts can they begin to hear what you have
to say.
Try it and see!
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Understanding the role of an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI)
Posted on July 30th, 2008 by admin, under Driving Instructor, Driving Tips.
Approved Driving Instructors are professionally qualified to give advice and have the correct knowledge regarding driving procedures and driving test requirements. They have received Driving Instructor training in order to teach driving skills to learner drivers and have received tuition relating to the driving test. When you become a Driving Instructor you will be trained to teach driving skills in a structured manner to suit differing abilities.
Formal tuition can only be given by a trainee Instructor, or a qualified Driving Standards Agency, Approved Driving Instructor (DSA ADI), who can also help structure the private practice.
Many learner drivers only have driving lessons for one or two hours per week and their driving experience is limited to driving at the same time of day and over the same roads. Accompanying a learner driver is a good way of helping your friends or relatives become safe drivers. It’s a team effort involving you, the learner driver and the Driving Instructor.
Working together is the best way of ensuring everyone’s aim of safe driving for life.
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How Surepass Instructor Training will improve road safety
Posted on July 9th, 2008 by admin, under Driving Instructor, Driving Tips.
There are lots of reasons and excuses why an accident occurs. The end result is that the driver is usually responsible in some way. However if drivers have good concentration, observe and anticipate the actions of other road users then this will help them to stay alert and they will have more time to deal with hazards. By giving themselves “time” they will also be allowing for “other peoples errors”.
Surepass Driving Instructor Training Courses deal with the novice driver through to the more advanced. Our trainers are aware that chances are a novice driver will be involved in a road accident within their first year of passing the test, especially during the first six months. The courses are designed, not only to enable a provisional Instructor to qualify but also:
- Understand the legal requirements and responsibilities of supervising the learner driver
- Understand the role of the Driving Instructor
- Understand the role of the Driving Standards Agency and its examiners
- Know how to effectively encourage and support the “L” driver
- Gain experience in hazard awareness and perception to an advanced level
The above skills coupled with our bespoke Driver Training will undoubtedly contribute to the reduction in the 38,800 road user injuries each year which involve at least one driver with less than two years post-test experience.
Training to be a Surepass Driving Instructor is not just about the cheapest course, the job at the end, the earning potential, its also about learning to help young drivers (and old) understand the risks and responsibilities they are undertaking everytime they get behind the wheel of the car. Surepass Instructor Trainers are passionate about providing professional instruction in the most effective way to help reduce the number of fatalities on our roads. If its your concern too then let Surepass train you to become the type of Instructor the DSA require.
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Do you like driving? Would you like to earn money teaching people to drive?
Posted on June 30th, 2008 by admin, under Driving Schools, Driving Tips.
“The roads would be much safer if everyone drove how they were taught.”
Surepass Driving School offers Driving Instructor Training Courses, once you have qualified as a Driving Instructor, you can take out a franchise and start your own business.
If somebody wants to learn to drive safely it is important they learn from a highly trained driving instructor, someone who is teaching people to drive on a daily basis and is used to seeing all the mistakes a pupil can make. As a driving instructor you give the pupil confidence by being patient when mistakes are being made. Over a period of time the pupil will stop relying on you telling them what to do and start to drive with less and less instruction.
When the pupil can drive for 30 minutes without any help from you - they are ready for the driving test. Some people say driving instructors are happy when a pupil fails the driving test, because pupil will have to pay more money for more driving lessons and as a result it is more money for the driving instructor. This is Nonsense! The driving instructor builds a bond with a pupil and they are just as upset as the pupil. Most driving instructors feel if the pupil fails - then they have failed also. The joy a driving instructor feels when the pupil passes is very rewarding and stays with him for a long time afterwards.
Passing the driving test is a life changing experience for most pupils, everyone remembers their driving instructor. Many pupils still remain in contact with their instructor long after passing the test.
So if you become a driving instructor, you will not only have a well-paid rewarding job, but your circle of friends will increase. Think about it!!!
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Make sure your Driving Instructor is legal!
Posted on June 25th, 2008 by admin, under Driving Instructor, Driving Test, Driving Tips.
When choosing a UK Driving Instructor you should make sure they are registered with the Driving Standards Agency.
Many people think being a Driving Instructor is an easy job, all they do is sit in the car giving directions all day. Teaching somebody to pass the driving test takes a great deal of patience and a lot of awareness. When you have finished for the day – you are not physically tired, but mentally tired.
It is illegal to take money from pupils for the giving of driving instruction unless the driving instructor is registered with the DSA.
To become registered your driving instructor must first have passed a police check. They have then to pass a Theory and Hazard Perception Test followed by an Advanced Driving Test.
Once they have passed the Advanced driving test they can choose to take 40 hours training and go on to a Trainee Licence. This allows them to gain experience for the Final Exam.
Your driving instructor must display his license to instruct in the window of the driving school vehicle. If the license is green – then the driving instructor is fully qualified. If the license is pink - then the instructor is a Trainee. You should check the license in the window, make sure it has not expired and the photograph matches that of your driving instructor.
If you pay somebody to teach you to drive that is not a registered driving instructor - you are not insured to drive the vehicle. It is only registered driving instructors that can get insurance to teach people to drive.
Don’t worry if your driving instructor is on a trainee licence – they will have undergone a lot of training to get the licence and as a result they will be more up to date than perhaps an instructor that has been teaching for 20 years.
