Things to Know Before Embarking on Driving Instructor Career

Posted on October 26th, 2009 by admin, under Driving Instructor.

We posted earlier about what it takes to become a driving instructor. If you are considering this career you surely have heard how adverts are touting the perspective of being a driving instructor. Be your own boss! Choose your working hours! Enjoy lots of cash in your pocket! Some adverts go as far as naming a driving instructor profession as recession proof…

Many of advantages to being a driving instructor are not necessarily just a sales pitch, but if you have made up your mind to take the plunge, make sure you do so with your eyes open. This post is a must read for those who are serious about embarking on driving instructor career. So here are four things you have to know about your future business.

1. Watch Your Expenses

Throughout your training process you will have to pay for a lot of things. First, you will need to buy all your training materials for theory test. The costs greatly vary depending on what you choose. Then, there is a £90 fee for the Part 1 test. Be aware, if you fail, this fee will be payable again to allow you a second attempt. As you move on to your driving training, your expenses surge with most trainers charging from £25 to £40 per hour. A total will depend on how much training you need. Here comes your Part 2 test and before taking it you will part company with £110 in a fee, payable again if you screw up your first attempt. Your expenses, however, don’t stop when you pass the Part 2. Now you can apply for your PDI licence, costing you about £140. To be fully trained for the Part 3 instructional test, you will have to find a reputable ADI trainer who may charge over £30 per hour. This is the hardest part of the whole training process and you will need a minimum of 60 hours. And again you will be charged a £110 fee for each attempt at Part 3 test. Fresh off your successful ADI exams, you will have to apply to join the register as an ADI and obtain your ADI licence. This will add another £300 on your expenses list.

2. Rigors of Being Self-employed

Be your own boss! Sounds great, doesn’t it? Well, if you can do without your job security and steady income, it does. Compared to employees, the self-employed have no guarantees whatsoever whether they can make money on their own. Your income will entirely depend on how many pupils you can steal from your competitors. Don’t forget being self-employed means dealing with your tax and insurance issues yourself.

3. Throat-cutting competition

Running your own business has never been easy. And with credit crunch gripping the economy, competition has turned into the battle of life. If somebody on the telly tells you there is a shortage of driving instructors and swelling crowd of learners, don’t jump at it. Here is more news for you. According to official statistics, as of 2 September this year, there are 45,371 approved driving instructors and 6,910 trainee licence holders. Some adverts say: “A million of people learn to drive every year”. And now let’s do a simple math. If there are 52,281 ADIs on the market, it makes roughly 19 pupils per each every year.

4. Passing Test Is Not Easy

And now comes the big news. Official data says less than 10 percent of those embarking on ADI training process actually become driving instructors. 50 percent of those quit within the first 18 months. Check below pass rates for ADI qualifying exams in 2006/2007:

The Part 1 Test:  49%

The Part 2 Test: 45%

Test of instructional ability (Part 3): 28%

We didn’t mean to scary you away, but a person who is considering a driving instructor career must know about the realities of his business before taking the plunge. There are no easy ways to earn money these days and being a driving instructor is not an exception.

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Learner Driver Theory Test Revamped

Posted on October 26th, 2009 by admin, under Driving Instructor, Driving Schools, Driving Test.

Learning to Drive programme launched by Driving Standard Agency (DSA) is coming into its new phase with the introduction of changes to learner driver theory test. The Learning to Drive was planned as a long-term programme to overhaul learner driver test practices and regulations with the aim to strengthen the way drivers are trained and tested at driving schools.

From late September this year, learner drivers taking their theory test will face case study questions. As of now only one new question has been added in each theory exam for drivers, motorcyclists and moped riders. Instead of just choosing correct answer out of multiple-choice list, learner drivers will find a case study of driving episode. Candidates will judge by context and answer the case study question in the common way by choosing the right answer from a multiple-choice list using mouse or touch screen. Case studies are not something learners never heard about before as they are being extensively used in education.

DSA announced about the introduction of one new question based on existing multiple-choice questions so learner drivers could adapt to the concept. DSA officials, however, say they plan to include more case studies into exams in future. The reason for revamping the approach to the theory test was that case study can really put candidates into the context and show how well they understand what they have learnt during their theory training.

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What does it take to be an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI)?

Posted on October 15th, 2009 by admin, under Driving Instructor.

Are you considering the career of driving instructor? Well, it’s a good choice because being a driving instructor generates a great deal of advantages. Once qualified, you can become self-employed and be your own boss, deciding on your working hours and making good money. Or you may want to consider the opportunity of becoming a franchised driving instructor. But before you can start learning how to drive, you first should get trained yourself.

Before looking for a driving instructor school, you will need essential requirements to apply successfully. First, you have to have held an unrestricted car driving licence for a minimum of four years. Second, your driving history during that period should be impeccable. And third, you should be ‘fit and proper person’ in the opinion of the DSA. In other words, this relates to convictions not spent under the ‘rehabilitation of offenders’ act.

The training consists of three parts: theory training, in-car driving training and instructional training. So you must pass three qualifying tests accordingly.

Part 1. Theory and Hazard Perception Tests

These are much like learner’s tests, but as a driving instructor you are going to be tested at a higher level. The theory test is 100 multiple choice questions with 90 minutes to complete them all. During Hazard Perception Test you will be shown 14 videos of developing hazards and you will need to demonstrate an adequate reaction.

Part 2. Driving Test

If you have chosen to teach others to drive, you should be brilliant at driving. No wonder the pass mark for driving instructors is greatly different from that of learner’s. Within the test, you must not have made more than six minor driving faults.

Part 3. Practical Test of Teaching Skills

This is the most challenging and the most important part of entire training process. You can be a great driver but it takes a whole new mix of skills to become a good teacher. So this test shows your instructional abilities. Supervising Examiner will role-play a leaner driver, doing it all wrong. You would need to display your core competencies as a driving instructor, identifying, analysing and rectifying the faults.

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No Driving Instructors In the Back Seat On L-Tests

Posted on October 15th, 2009 by admin, under Driving Instructor, Driving Test.

Driving Standards Agency (DSA) initiative to force an observer into the back seat of learner car during driving test has been reversed earlier in the week. That mandatory requirement was dropped, though candidates may still ask their driving instructor or a parent who learnt them to drive to be present in the car on their practical driving test.

DSA planned to revise driving test regulations last May when officials announced their intention to make it mandatory for the candidates to take an observer on-board during their practical test. The idea behind new rule was that an observer could be valuable during the learning process, which in turn would bring road safety benefits.

Driving Instructor Association (DIA) representatives and other stakeholders, however, saw it as the initiative could do exactly the opposite of what DSA officials were trying to achieve. The revamp of driving test regulations generated hot debates. There was even an E-petition from candidates to stop DSA from introducing the rule. The final round of debate was the meeting of DSA and DIA representatives late in September, just weeks before the rule was scheduled for introduction.

Finally, Transport Secretary Lord Adonis announced DSA put a hold on the revamp to avoid unnecessary regulation. But the choice whether to have observer sitting in during L-test still remains with candidates. In his statement, Adonis insists that having someone sitting in will enhance learning experience and, in turn, improve road safety.

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Relaxation techniques for Driving Instructors

Posted on April 17th, 2009 by admin, under Driving Instructor, Driving Tips.

Most driving instructors will agree that they spend far too long sat down while instructing learner drivers. Exercise is almost unheard of but unfortunately driving instructors are just as likely to suffer from coronary disease, thrombosis, back problems and stress to name but a few hazards associated with the driving instruction profession.

In most cases, some exercise is better than none at all. The driving instructor needs to incorporate some physical activity during the day. You can reduce your stress by walking to the door where your learner driver lives instead of waiting in the car for your pupil to appear. You could also go for at least a 30 minute walk while your pupil is on their driving test: or parking your driving school car a few doors away from your pupils house and walking that extra 20 yards.

Practice relaxation techniques

While you’re teaching pupils, take a few deep breaths. With your arms bent at the elbow, tightly squeeze your hands into fists (taking care to ensure that your learner driver doesn’t think you’re scared!), curl your hands up so that your arm muscles become tense. Remeber to keep breathing and hold this position for 5 seconds. Slowly release the tension and notice how it feels.

Try straightening out your legs and point your toes so that your calf and thigh muscles are tensed. Hold this for 5 seconds and slowly release. Notice how your legs feel as the tension is released.

As a final step, take a few minutes to become aware of your breathing. Focus your attention on your breath as it goes in and out. Breathe deeply and naturally. Do this exercise naturally until you feel relaxed.

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Road safety

Posted on March 3rd, 2009 by admin, under Driving Instructor, Driving Test, Driving Tips.

All Driving Instructors have a responsibility to ensure that we drive safely and maintain our driving school vehicles in a roadworthy condition and to make every effort to promote road safety and that of others for the benefit of the environment.

How well can your learner driver see?

The driver of a motor vehicle is the most important component. The driver decides which way to turn, when to use the accelerator and when to use the brakes. Learner drivers need to see and react to changing conditions very quickly.

How much you see depends on how well you can see.

Legal requirements.

The learner driver must be able to read in good daylight, with glasses or contact lenses if necessary, a stationary number plate from a minimum distance of 20.5 metres (67 feet). From September 2001, a learner driver must be able to read a new style number plate from a distance of 20 metres (66 feet). Passing this test does not imply perfect vision.

Watching your speed

1. Driving too fast for road and traffic conditions and misjudging speed and distance are the two most common causes of crashes.
2. The learner driver should always drive at a speed that will allow the pupil to stop well within the distance they can see clear.
3. The pupil must also leave enough space between the driving school vehicle and the vehicle in front so that its possible to pull up safely if it slows down or stops suddenly.

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Restoring a pupils confidence

Posted on January 8th, 2009 by admin, under Driving Instructor, Driving Test, Driving Tips.

Generally speaking, a learner driver doesn’t deliberately set out to make a mistake on purpose nor do they enjoy making errors. However errors are essential for anyone setting out to learn to drive. It is from errors that we learn to make the necessary adjustments in order to become a safe driver and pass the driving test. Errors will always occur no matter how exceptional a driving instructor you are. But if you use errors as a primary teaching base when giving instruction to learner drivers, this will be counter-productive. Allowing your pupil to to make continual driving mistakes is destructive and will damage the relationship between the driving instructor and the learner driver.

When an error has occurred, the best way to restore confidence is to repeat the action without the learner driver repeating the error. To guarantee success, the driving instructor must take full responsibility – even if you are on the way to the driving test centre when the error occurs!. All the driving instructor has to do is “tell” the learner driver when the error is about to occur – which is usually long enough for the confidence to be restored.

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Positive thoughts for a Driving Instructor

Posted on November 27th, 2008 by admin, under Driving Instructor.

Every day the news we hear suggests that the future for Driving Instructors is truly bleak. Lack of driving lessons, fewer learner drivers, driving lessons being canceled. One thing is certain, if you do believe it, the future for Driving Instructors will be bleak.

There is an alternative. If you change your thoughts, you can change your beliefs to see that there are opportunities to create more driving lesson enquiries and potential pupils, even in the bleakest times. You will discover what only the best leaders have discovered – that being positive opens you up to possibilities and can improve your outcomes.

Difficult times are when your business acumen skill is truly tested and your ability to maintain a positive attitude towards your driving lessons and learner drivers and use all your creative and caring qualities can make a real difference.

If you take these 9 actions today and repeat them every day, you’ll begin to see things differently.

1. Only think positive thoughts
2. Maintain an attitude towards your customers that exudes enthusiasm
3. Know your financial numbers and be realistic about cash, lesson prices (do you need to reduce the cost of your lessons?)
4. Do everything you know to book more lessons: contact pupils you’ve not heard from in a while, contact any pupils who owe you money, reduce some of your work areas and distances you might go for a new learner driver, reduce your lesson prices, make a special offer to your pupils.
5. Hold on to current pupils by adding value to your driving lessons – how long is it since you really looked at your teaching methods, are they up to date ?
6. Watch other driving instructors in your area, listen to what they tell you, work out their failings and ensure you are unique in your teachings and approach.
7. Take the opportunity to improve your teaching skills, when was the last time you read a driving book, or joined a course to help with your teaching skills
8. Are there any creative ideas that can get you noticed? Is your car branded? Do you have a web site?
9. Join a local Driving Instructor group that could bring some external wisdom to your challenges, visit on-line forums to exchange ideas.

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The discipline of a good Driving School business

Posted on November 5th, 2008 by admin, under Driving Instructor, Driving Schools.

Having clearly established the purpose of setting up a driving school business you then need to be clear about the “shape” of the business and set a market leading strategy. There are three basic principles for establishing a good strategy:

- Teaching excellence
- Exceptional value
- Complete customer satisfaction

Driving Instructors must aim to be an expert in at least one of the above fields – just one, but you need to be at least “industry average” in all three. If you are not then you are likely to have weakness that undermines your strengths in other areas. But first let’s discuss numbers.

What information do you need to get started in setting up your driving school.

• Start with what’s important – Profit (assuming you’re interested in making money)
• Keep a strict diary of what’s happening in your business, how many pupils you have and where they came from
• Keep a balance sheet so you can see at first hand how much is in the bank and how much is in your pocket!

The above information shown on a month by month basis should you give you a good idea what is going on in your driving school business. Next, you need to look at the big picture. This is more important with financial information than probably any other area in the business. Whether you are comparing year on year, or just checking a few months at a time, I would recommend you draw up a simple driving instructor profit and loss account.

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How a Driving Instructor can reduce stress

Posted on October 1st, 2008 by admin, under Driving Instructor.

There are literally dozens of techniques available for reducing stress in the work place but none that deal direct with Driving Instructors. While it would be impossible to cover all of them in detail, here are just a small sample that a Driving Instructor can utilise immediately :

- Don’t worry about a learner drivers progress; be concerned.
- Manage your diary more effectively.
- Improve your physical work environment

Don’t worry, be concerned

This technique for preventing stress is to learn how to convert worries into concerns. Many Driving Instructors spend a lot of time worrying about things connected with learner drivers, for example – When will I receive another pupil? What will happen if I have insufficient money to pay for my car and other expenses?

Did you know that:

- 40% of worries never actually happen.
- 58% will turn out better that you expected.
- 2% are actually worth worrying about.

A worry is something that you cannot do anything about; no action you take can resolve it. For example, suppose you are worried that you don’t have many driving lessons booked in your diary for next week. Ask yourself what can you do to attract more pupils. Have you telephoned pupils you haven’t heard from recently? Can you encourage any pupils to have an extra lesson? Do you park your driving school vehicle in a prominent position when taking breaks between driving lessons?

Concerns, on the other hand, are things that you can do something about; you can take action, no matter how small, to help resolve the situation. For example, if you are concerned that you are running late to collect a pupil for his/her driving lesson, then you can call and let the pupil know you are running a few minutes behind.

If you are worried about something that you can do nothing about, let it go. If you are worried about something that you can do something about, learn to turn the worry into a concern by taking some action.

More information to follow.

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