The role of a driving instructor is much more of a challenge now than when the driving test was first introduced back in 1935. There are also far more opportunities as the scope of work has become more diverse. These can include:
- Theory and pre-driver training
- Teaching people with disabilities
- Training under the 'Pass Plus' Scheme
- Defensive and advanced driver training
- Company and fleet training
- Minibus driving
- Training in the towing of trailers and caravans
- Corrective training for traffic offenders
- Assessments for older drivers
- Driving training schemes run by police forces and local county councils
The speed and density of traffic as well as increasingly complex driving situations make many demands on today's driving instructor. Your aim is to improve the standards of new and experienced drivers in order to reduce the number of accidents, deaths and casualties suffered on our roads, as well as to help them enjoy their motoring. So to become a good driving instructor you need to:
- Have a thorough understanding of the rules and principles involved in safe driving.
- Be able to put these principles into practice by driving thoughtfully and efficiently.
- Be able to patiently teach drivers how to apply those principles.
- Instil safe attitudes into clients at all levels of driving
The qualities of a good driving
instructor are:
- Responsibility - always have the safety and well-being of your pupils at heart
- Concentration - you have to read the road much further ahead to keep your pupil safe, relaxed and eager to return
- Anticipation - you will have to learn to recognise the needs of each individual and anticipate how different pupils will respond to changing situations
- Patience - demonstrating tolerance will go a long way to building up your pupils confidence and also their belief in you
- Confidence - avoiding those situations a pupil is not ready for will help you gradually build up their skills and confidence
- Knowledge - you will need to pass on your knowledge so that the drivers you teach will also be able to apply the same principles for driving safely
- Communication - you will need to develop ways of communicating effectively with the wide variety of pupils you will be dealing with.
Driving procedures need to be continually adapted to suit not only the ever changing road and traffic conditions, but also the regular modifications to rules and regulations.
All of these elements mean that new drivers have to be taught to a far higher standard than ever, with hazard awareness playing a major role in their development.
To be able to do all these things well, you must be prepared to keep yourself up to date with the changes taking place relevant to driving and the teaching of it.
