“Anyone can drive. Teaching it? That’s another beast.” I was told by one of the trainers that he had heard more engines that were stalled than there were hot dinners. He wasn’t joking. To receive some more thoughts on this, go to my blog in order to receive some more tips and stories. The education of becoming a driving instructor starts with a reality test. You may think you are a good motorist. and then an inspector is feeling you, poking you, by the side with a clip-board and as grave as a graveyard. that it is a shame that abruptly that lazy mirror eye is misplaced. Every signal, every stop, every shifting of gear is investigated. No coasting, no conjecture. Precision is everything.
The UK regulation of the process is managed by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. The trainees must undergo three tests which include theory, advanced driving test and lastly a teaching test. Most stumble on the last one. You know it is hard to describe what you know and do it.
The advanced driving test calls upon concentration. You must read a road map weather. Spot hazards early. Adjust speed smoothly. Examiners desire commentary driving: commenting on what you have seen. “Van edging out. Pedestrian near crossing. Brake lights two cars ahead.” At first, it feels strange. Almost it makes your consciousness keens.
Then comes teaching. The teacher trainees are inquired about the learning styles of people. Adults cling to habits. Adolescents seek power at the expense of self-confidence. And then there are learners, who need repetitions in a low key fashion. There are others who respond to direct feedback. Both the strategies are taught to the trainees. And then it is too tender and the student gets lost. Too sharp, and trust breaks. Role-play exercises test patience. One of the trainees is self-confident. The atmosphere is full of laughter, unfortunately, the lesson is learned: patience is its own reward.
Risk control is key. Dual controls do not prop, they are safety nets. Timing is everything. Interfere too soon and the learner will lack a developmental opportunity. When it is too late jump in and you surely may be bumped. The trainees practice emergency stops and non-panic instructions. “Brake gently.” “Clutch down.” Steady voice, always steady.
Paperwork matters too. Instructions of the lesson, preparations towards improvement, law–all these in moving one safely through a load of iron. Also there is the business side that must be looked into. The majority of the instructors are independent. The training entails pricing, marketing and handling last minute cancellations. “Sorry, I overslept,” happens. You come up with things so that you can get by without being hasty or idle.
Fatigue is real. Six consecutive examinations specialize and concentration. Each learner is different. One of them runs, one of them accelerates, one of them freezes. You adapt constantly. Finally comes the reward. A student who would panic over road crossing will not panic when driving. Test day arrives. They pass. They are grinning like they had won the race of their life. You shake your head, maybe you jest, Told you so, but pride is smouldering.
The development of driving skill does not happen through training in driving instructors. It builds tolerance, swiftness of thought, sympathy, and a sense of calmness. Teaching one to drive, is giving him/her the four wheel freedom. It is a debt that is paid very dearly by experience.