The Industry
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The Industry
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This page tells you things you need to know about the Driver Training Industry. So lets look at how the sector works. At the top of the tree is Parliament - they approve Transport Policy and the Highway Code. The Department of Transport (DfT), headed by a Minister of State, is responsible for all areas of transportation - road, rail, aviation and shipping. Within the DfT, Roads are looked after (sometimes) by the Highways Agency, while much of the area that drivers are directly interested in comes under the 'Driver, Vehicle and Operator Group'. Within this group are the three Agencies with which you are most likely to come into contact - The 'Driving Standards Agency' DSA (for your Driving Test), The 'Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency' DVLA (For your driving licence and car tax) The 'Vehicle and Operator Services Agency' VOSA (who manage MOT tests) The DSA is responsible for all aspects of driving standards - including the testing and approval of Driving Instructors. In order to become an Approved Driving Instructor today, DSA require candidates to take a three-part test - covering Theory, Practical Driving and Teaching. DSA then assesses Approved Driving Instructors during their "check test" to ensure they're continuing to maintain the highest standards of driver training. Fully Approved Driving Instructors have GREEN badges
It is illegal to accept any payment for driving tuition unless the instructor is a DSA Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) or a Potential Driving Instructor (PDI) - people that are training but have yet to pass the final and most difficult test - the test of Teaching Ability. Part-trained Driving Instructors have PINK badges
Of course, it's good that trainees should have the opportunity to practice 'on the job' ...... but would YOU expect to pay the same to employ Sir Alan Sugar as you would for his Apprentice ??? If you're getting a Trainee - I suggest you demand Sir Alan himself - or a discount !!!.... Training people to become driving instructors is a rapidly growing industry - (you've probably seen the adverts on TV promising £30k a year ....LOL !! Ha Ha !!) and as a result there's plenty of trainees out there - many of them working with the best-known motoring schools. So be warned - check the colour of their badge...and ask for a discount if it's PINK I am fully qualified with a green badge - AND I've gone through the full qualification process, including Theory and Hazard Perception tests - so I can help you with current knowledge and experience - and I'll offer you training aids and practice video clips etc on free loan. While we're talking prices and value, there's a few other important things to consider....... How long do you ACTUALLY get 'in car' during the lesson ? Many driving schools - and some independents, include the instructor's travelling time as part of your lesson - often 10 or 15 minutes. So if you book a one hour lesson for let's say £20 but you only get 50 minutes, the REAL price is £24 an hour. Of course, if the Instructor includes 15 minutes for travel, then the REAL price of an hour's tuition would be nearly £27 !!! The 'advertised' hourly rate is usually higher than £20 ...... but I'll leave you to do the sums ! I will always give you at least all the time you've paid for IN THE CAR - and usually a bit more. It's also now becoming increasingly common for Driving Schools to demand you to take a minimum lesson period of TWO hours. While that may well be an optimal period at some stages of training for some people, I happen to think that YOU should be able to book whatever period suits you. Many people will find two hours excessive - particularly in the early stages of training when concentration levels are intense. I will always discuss with you what lesson duration is most appropriate for YOU at YOUR stage of training and offer YOU the appropriate length from one hour upwards - BUT it will always be YOUR decision on what lesson length to choose.
What Value do you get ? I will give you three guarantees: 1. Your course with me will be structured and supported to minimise the number of lessons you need 2. I will always devote my very best efforts to help you progress to the required standard of driving competence and safety as quickly and painlessly as possible 3. I will never ask you to buy more lessons than you need to reach that standard
What about other costs ? It's not uncommon for driving schools to ask you to purchase videos, CDs, DVDs, books and other training aids as part of your "course fee" - often up to £50 is charged for these. While such items are helpful, they are seldom used once you've passed your test. I maintain a library of these training materials and will lend them to you free to use at appropriate stages while you're training with me. (I just ask you for a deposit which is fully refunded once you return them in good condition) And then there's "test day". Most students use the Instructor's car for their driving test - and it's common for instructors to charge up to 3 hours training time just for your test ! (Check that out before you sign up !).
Who is your contract with ? This is a hugely important point - but few Learners understand its significance. The vast majority of Driving Instructors work as Franchisees operating independent businesses, but using the "brand name" of a major Driving School. The rest work independently or in partnership with a few other instructors. But in EVERY CASE, your contract for tuition is with the Individual Instructor so read the small print !! If you learn with me, you WILL get top quality structured instruction and great service. Your contract will be with me and in the unlikely event that a problem arises, we'll discuss it and get things sorted out quickly and amicably.
What Car choice do I have ? My decision was to choose a BMW Mini One Petrol with manual transmission and Heman Dual Controls. Although this is probably the most expensive training car on the road, it scores highly on safety, visibility, flexibility and passenger comfort. It is also loved by trainees - especially those who suffer from hayfever who appreciate the air conditioning and pollen filtration systems. To see more about my car - have a look here If you have the opportunity for private practice, you should certainly consider the value of learning in a similar vehicle. Other things to think about are whether you'll 'fit' in the training vehicle - and whether you will be comfortable. Many of the small cars used for training don't have a height-adjustable seat for the driver - this is very important especially if you're not very tall. If particularly tall - check there's sufficient legroom for you. Be sure to learn in a car that has good mirrors and good all-round visibility, especially to the rear. Many modern cars have high head restraints for back seat passengers that can severely restrict your view - and this can make manoeuvring extremely difficult - and dangerous. Good safety features are another must - check you have an airbag on the driver's side and preferably side and head airbags too. I chose my car because it satisfies all these important requirements - as well as being easy to drive. Insurance No-one wants to think about the worst that could happen, but today's roads are dangerous places. You simply MUST check that your instructor has adequate insurance to cover you in the event that you are hurt in an accident. The cover should not only be comprehensive for any driver, but MUST specifically include driving by learners (and preferably disqualified drivers too). The Instructor should also be able to show you that he has current professional indemnity and public liability insurances in place. ASK TO SEE PROOF OF THESE INSURANCES. Ignore this advice at your peril..... To make life easy for you, I've compiled a simple list of essential questions and checks. Jump to the Checklist by clicking here Here's some useful links so you can validate what I've told you topicshttp://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_about/documents/page/dft_about_024077.hcsp |
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