Ask an ex-driving instructor anything you want
Discussion
For my sins just shy of 20 years, taught across a wide range of tests/syllabus.
If something irks you about the teaching process, the testing regime or examiners ask away. I hopefully can explain why things are the way they are even if you think the answer has elements that are poor.
If you would like to know about becoming a driving instructor or what the job is like again ask away.
If something irks you about the teaching process, the testing regime or examiners ask away. I hopefully can explain why things are the way they are even if you think the answer has elements that are poor.
If you would like to know about becoming a driving instructor or what the job is like again ask away.
Niche, once only, generally people respected me and my car.
Occasionally youngsters with no experience thinking a few miles an hour over was ok, easy to deal with, a couple of times a learner really trying to take the piss with inappropriate speed at the wrong place. One of them I braked them to a standstill and asked them to get out and walk home or do as they were asked, the other I made to get out and stand close to the road as I drove the car past them bang on 30mph. That person didn't speed with me again, I believe they would have been reckless the moment they passed but I didn't set the testing regime. So to answer your question, 3 bad un's in two decades, that's life.
The other picture, never like that with me, for sure it does happen but very rare, all my friends joked with me about it when I became a driving instructor. It was my business, livelihood and marriage and was not going to mess that up for 5 minutes. I know some people who have.
Occasionally youngsters with no experience thinking a few miles an hour over was ok, easy to deal with, a couple of times a learner really trying to take the piss with inappropriate speed at the wrong place. One of them I braked them to a standstill and asked them to get out and walk home or do as they were asked, the other I made to get out and stand close to the road as I drove the car past them bang on 30mph. That person didn't speed with me again, I believe they would have been reckless the moment they passed but I didn't set the testing regime. So to answer your question, 3 bad un's in two decades, that's life.
The other picture, never like that with me, for sure it does happen but very rare, all my friends joked with me about it when I became a driving instructor. It was my business, livelihood and marriage and was not going to mess that up for 5 minutes. I know some people who have.
My daughter has her test next week, I’m not holding my breath as I think if I was the examiner I would fail her but it’s so long since I learned that I can’t really remember what my standard of driving was like when I passed.
I know the test doesn’t work like this, but at a general observational level, if a completely competent driver is a 10/10 and Maureen from driving school was a 1/10, what’s a “typical” pass standard of learner?
I’d say my daughter is about 6/10 on that scale, what are her chances
I know the test doesn’t work like this, but at a general observational level, if a completely competent driver is a 10/10 and Maureen from driving school was a 1/10, what’s a “typical” pass standard of learner?
I’d say my daughter is about 6/10 on that scale, what are her chances
Did you ever have to tell someone that driving just wasn't for them?
When I was learning, I really struggled with the clutch and gears at first, my instructor suggested I try automatic. I persevered and passed first time in a manual. I know I shouldn't admit that as a driving god PHer.
Imagine if I'd done that, how my mates would have laughed at me. None of them know that conversation took place, I was just very stalley.
When I was learning, I really struggled with the clutch and gears at first, my instructor suggested I try automatic. I persevered and passed first time in a manual. I know I shouldn't admit that as a driving god PHer.
Imagine if I'd done that, how my mates would have laughed at me. None of them know that conversation took place, I was just very stalley.
I think the (albeit small) majority of instructors do teach people to drive rather than pass the test. Most instructors do actually care about road safety. The test is incredibly prescriptive, mix this with having to deal with the lowest common denominator of the general population and sometimes the only way is teach to the test.
People are probably on PH as they have an interest in cars so this does not mix with the realism to teach to test for some people so the instructors work can be misunderstood maybe leading to a generalised comment "instructors teach to test" TLDR the majority of the time they don't teach to test sometimes they do.
People are probably on PH as they have an interest in cars so this does not mix with the realism to teach to test for some people so the instructors work can be misunderstood maybe leading to a generalised comment "instructors teach to test" TLDR the majority of the time they don't teach to test sometimes they do.
I’ve just taken my 16 year old son out to have a drive around a private area near me. It was fine but it’s incredible how much you have to think about how your drive a car when most of us do it by instinct.
It was fine, but certainly not a job for me.
And a question, how do you cope with the poor behaviour shown to learners by other drivers ?
It was fine, but certainly not a job for me.
And a question, how do you cope with the poor behaviour shown to learners by other drivers ?
Welshrich - sorry it's hard to frame my answer to your question, please let me have a go.
A 10/10 competent driver could easily fail a test, a 1/10 is going to fail a test 999 times out of a thousand. To help your daughter if she shows that she has seen a hazard early, mirrors, slows right down before the hazard, keeps rolling at until she needs to stop, stop if need be and goes confidently when safe using the gas peddle she will pass if she does her manouvre by the book. That's it, it is really simple. The biggest problem is always nerves.
A 10/10 competent driver could easily fail a test, a 1/10 is going to fail a test 999 times out of a thousand. To help your daughter if she shows that she has seen a hazard early, mirrors, slows right down before the hazard, keeps rolling at until she needs to stop, stop if need be and goes confidently when safe using the gas peddle she will pass if she does her manouvre by the book. That's it, it is really simple. The biggest problem is always nerves.
BrickCounter, the biggest problem you might find helping your son is that you will see problems developing way before he will as an experienced driver. A learner is worried about the physical control of the car and does not have the experience bank to know what is going to happen. Your job is top highlight problems really early so that you son is aware of them and has time to control the car and the situation with his limited hours of using the car.
Other impatient drivers, I would put aside my feelings to keep myself sane.I would come in on the peddles or steering wheel about once a week to stop a small accident caused by an impatient driver breaking the highway code/sensibilities.
Other impatient drivers, I would put aside my feelings to keep myself sane.I would come in on the peddles or steering wheel about once a week to stop a small accident caused by an impatient driver breaking the highway code/sensibilities.
Jaska, only one nickname "nasty nick" who shouldn't have been let near any other human being let alone nervous vunerable young adults.
For sure you did see different examiners having pet traits of things they like and didn't like. That was reducing before I left the industry as exam outcomes became ever more prescriptive to book and examiners had less interpretation, I do not comment whether that is a good or bad thing.
For sure you did see different examiners having pet traits of things they like and didn't like. That was reducing before I left the industry as exam outcomes became ever more prescriptive to book and examiners had less interpretation, I do not comment whether that is a good or bad thing.
WelshRich said:
My daughter has her test next week, I’m not holding my breath as I think if I was the examiner I would fail her but it’s so long since I learned that I can’t really remember what my standard of driving was like when I passed.
I know the test doesn’t work like this, but at a general observational level, if a completely competent driver is a 10/10 and Maureen from driving school was a 1/10, what’s a “typical” pass standard of learner?
I’d say my daughter is about 6/10 on that scale, what are her chances
About 60% ? I know the test doesn’t work like this, but at a general observational level, if a completely competent driver is a 10/10 and Maureen from driving school was a 1/10, what’s a “typical” pass standard of learner?
I’d say my daughter is about 6/10 on that scale, what are her chances
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