Learners on Motorways??

DVSA guide to learners on motorways

Satnavs in driving lessons, Banbury and Daventry

Sat Nav's are a part of every day driving and therefore i teach my pupils how to use them safely, on their lessons in Banbury and Daventry. There is also talk of them being introduced as part of the practical test, don't panic just yet as it will be over 18 months if anything is to change. But it is being trialed now.

I here instructors moaning and groaning about the change (nothing new there then lol), but change is good if it benefits the pupils and therefore makes them a safer driver for life.

During my lessons i get my pupils to drive from one side of town to the other using the satnav. Easy i here you all say, well i hate to be the barer of bad news but 99% of them have an issue or two.

Think of it this way we give them directions a set way, "at the end of the road", "take the next road", not to dissimilar to how the Examiner does it. A sat nav on the other had, may say "in a quarter of a mile", "in 1000 feet"! It may also not warn you of a slight junction and just tell you to follow the road to the left (what if is a give way)! the pupil now thinks it's bear left!

So before you think there is no point try it and see how they react. For those of you learning but your instructor does not think it's worthwhile, insist on it, of if you my way, give me a call

A safe little box.

Do we as drivers once we have past our test decide to ignore the rules taught to us? I believe this may to true to an extent. I witness this on every day whilst carrying out my job as a DVSA Driving Coach. Speed limits tend to be the biggest offence followed closely is inpatients.

This year alone there have been 4/5 serious accidents between Banbury and Daventry, an 18 mile stretch of road. Two of witch on the same corner, one sadly fatal!

So where is the safe little box? When we are in our car most of us feeling safe, and some feel as if they cannot be hurt, true to an extent, we are safe from the elements, and our surroundings. When we are safe we gain confidence and then here is where it turns into a problem. We are also so busy in modern life that we race around and make not extra time, then again we can speed.  If this is you then the percentages say that at some point you will be involved in an accident.

For some they seem to feel they are right and the speed limits are only there for show, or the rules of the road are only for learners, this type of driver I feel is the most dangerous of all, and sadly the one I see the most of daily!

All I would say is that in the end the speed will get you or someone close, please slow down and enjoy life.

It is true to say that there is not enough enforcement of traffic laws, i.e. police officers, speed camera’s etc., to slow people down.

My Standards Check

Well after missing three check tests for whatever reason I finally sat the new DVSA Standards Check. I found the Examiner very approachable and helpful, I had heard so much hearsay at test centres from other ADI’s over the last couple of years that I thought I was sure to fail because of nerves. From “he downgraded me for wearing sunglasses” to “He didn't like me from the start so I only got a 4”.   All of their comments could not have been farther from the truth as to my own experience.

In February I decided to complete my BTEC3 in driver development, this gave me some new skills that I am sure helped me achieve my GRADE A on my standards check. I now am now putting into place what the examiner said after, by doing this I hope to again achieve an A but without dropping 5 points as I did last time.

All i did was deliver a normal lesson for my pupil, making sure i was client centred and managed any risks. I do this every day. I would also recommend people to not to listen to the hearsay and find out for themselves, whether or not they are client centred. It is not, all about just asking questions (another thing i hear allot at test centres), but asking the RIGHT questions.

I even reflect after each day, and see where I can improve. All of this can only benefit me and my pupils, thus making them safer drivers.

I feel that some in the industry like to blame others for their own short comings, if they were to ask the right questions to the right people I am sure they would have had a better result/experience.

                                                      

New tricks learnt for my driving lessons in Banbury and Davetry

I recently completed my BTEC3 course in driver coaching. I went in open minded and was not disappointed. I learnt more about myself than I thought. Plus I learned how to help my pupils in a more positive way, and some new teaching skills.

I have been teaching for over 10 years now, and I wish I had known more about coaching when I was teaching scuba diving.

It just goes to show you can never be too old to learn new tricks, and I am looking forward to developing my coaching skills as time goes on.

It has to be said that I have to thank aCCelerate for their BTEC3 course, and Kevin Field for delivering it in a fun and positive way. 

An old dog, new tricks.

There is allot to be said about teaching people who think they know about things, but really do not. I have only been an ADI for a couple of years, but i taught scuba diving for 10. The mechanisms for teaching both were very similar.


We all know that the standards check is coming, and some think they coach already, they may will do, but do they really understand how client centred works, it's not just about customer service, as i have just learnt on my recent BTEC3 course with aCCelerate. Its about knowing your pupils needs, helping them understand, and creating safe drivers after the test.

I am not going to go into it too deep as you can do the course yourself. @ aCCelerate

I will be useingmy new skills Iin my driving lessons, in Banbury,  and Daventry. 

More bad awareness and planning here, sitting on a Zebra crossing. If they had planned ahead then this would not have happened, i planned for it 50 mts back just in case. 

In car video system now fitted.

Well i eventually done it, i have invested in two in car camera's, from MI. I have done this for a number of reasons. As an instructor i like to use all of the teaching tools i can, with the camera's i can show a pupil exactly what happened and where, for example if i put on the brakes due to a wrong pull out, i can show them how close the car was, and then ask them why it is not a good idea.

Another reason it sometimes we encounter some unsavoury drivers, both in front and behind, if something happens i have video proof.



You can check out the system i now use here. http://www.store.mi-witness.co.uk/mi-witness-hd-camera-driving-instructor-in-car-camera-package.html

In car video system now fitted.

Well i eventually done it, i have invested in two in car camera's, from MI. I have done this for a number of reasons. As an instructor i like to use all of the teaching tools i can, with the camera's i can show a pupil exactly what happened and where, for example if i put on the brakes due to a wrong pull out, i can show them how close the car was, and then ask them why it is not a good idea.

Another reason it sometimes we encounter some unsavoury drivers, both in front and behind, if something happens i have video proof.



You can check out the system i now use here. http://www.store.mi-witness.co.uk/mi-witness-hd-camera-driving-instructor-in-car-camera-package.html