What does a driving instructor do?

General:
The initial answer to this question is not to teach someone to pass a driving test but to drive safely. As a result of this they would then pass their driving test. We have an overriding moral duty to the pupil, ourselves and society in general to ensure they are safe. Nothing could be worse for an Instructor than to read that someone you have got through a driving test has been in an awful accident.

Most of us work with the normal learner driver. However some instructors go on to specialise in different areas depending on their own interests.

When we work, where and when is decided by how your availability fits in with the availability of your client. Some instructors work round their family commitments, others round their desire to play golf or the like.

In performing our tasks a professional instructor will deploy a variety of techniques. Which ones to use will be dependant on your client/pupil and the circumstances you find yourselves in. The skill of the instructor is in how these techniques are deployed to the individual client/pupil’s best advantage.

Responsibilities:
Your overall responsibility is safety. We discharge this duty by ensuring that the pupil and others are safe during their training. When the training has finished they have the knowledge and skills to be safe drivers.

You will have a responsibility to do this in a professional manner. You will be expected to present pupils to the driving test who are capable of passing. Your pupils with have the right to respect when they may be vulnerable and unsure. They have the right to confidentiality. Your role in society is an important one. Lives depend on it and how you discharge that duty.

In terms of work you will be responsible for your car. The outside is your shop window and the inside is you office. It will say a lot about you.

You will need to manage your pupils in a professional way. Be on time and do the time you are being paid for. Look after and be able to account for monies paid to you or that you may have to pay out. Both the Taxman and your pupil will expect accuracy.

You will need to make sure you have proper training materials and aids. Keeping up to date is a must.

Your pupils need accuracy and honesty from you. Telling someone they are not ready for a test is not always easy. If you are working for your pupils and doing you best they will recognise that.

Relationships:
As an ordinary driving instructor your most important relationships are going to be with your pupils, driving examiners and the general public. Your reputation will be everything. We have already touched on what the pupils might expect but what about the examiners or the general public?

Examiners have a right to be able to do their job safely. This means you have to present people to test who are capable of passing. If you treat the examiners with respect, you will find a friendly helpful professional.

The general public will want to use the roads without being greatly inconvenienced by learner drivers. Your knowledge of the area and the roads will allow you to choose accordingly. All learners assume that any sounding of the horn is directed at them. No learner has ever improved what they were doing by being tooted. One of the skills of an instructor is a choice of routes to match the pupils current level of ability.

Most instructors choose to work in groups for a franchise. In return for a fixed fee they should get support. This should include advertising materials, administration help, phones answered and new pupils when they need them. It is important to choose a school with a good reputation. Your reputation is partly dependant on theirs. You may be a diamond but hang around with carbon and you will be seen as carbon.

Requirements:
Besides the requirements listed in the section “Becoming A Driving Instructor” you should:

Be a people person. People are the most precious thing of all. Look after them and they will look after you.

Be able to do your best for them. The difference between a customer and a client is that with a customer you do the best for yourself. With a client you do the best for them. Your pupils should be your clients.

Adapt to your pupil. They are all different with there own way of seeing the world. Try to see what they see.

Think about what you do. We want drivers who can think for themselves. If we can’t think about what we do, how can we get others to think about what they do. Both pupil and instructor should be able to reflect on what was done and how it was done.

Have a balance in your life. We work to live not live to work. Family, hobbies, interests will enrich your life and give you a way to relate to your pupil. It’s a people business.

Be able to communicate. Remember its what is understood, not what is said that is important. We all understand things differently and your pupils will prove that to you.

Working Conditions:
It’s self employed. Keep records, sort the Taxman out.

Use time responsibly, both yours and the pupils.

Maintain your vehicle, training aids and knowledge at a professional level.

You will meet people in their richness and diversity. They will make your life interesting.

Adapt to your pupils but be professional. This is the trickiest one. As a new instructor you will want to be as open as possible to your pupils. Over a period of time you will learn when to say no.

Our Driving Instructors Hampshire

We are proud of our team of male and female professional driving instructors. When you choose a Driving-Pro instructor you’re getting the very best — we’re driven to help you to learn!

To find out more click on one of the instructors below.

Liam Greaney

Portsmouth & Southsea

Mark Parnel

Portsmouth, Havant, Waterlooville & Leigh park

Greg Wise

Portsmouth, Southsea, Waterlooville & Denmead

Nigel Thomas

All Areas Covered

Doug Drinkwater

Portsmouth, Southsea, Havant & Waterloovile

Gav Kendall

Portsmouth, Southsea, Havant & Waterloovile

Danny Farr

Southsea & Portsmouth

Jo Guthrie

Gosport

Glen Robbins

Gosport, Fareham & Lee on the Solent

Teresa Greaney

Safeguarding & Confidential Listening Officer

About Driving-Pro

Driving-Pro is an independent driving school based in Portsmouth. Our fantastic team of local driving instructors deliver lessons throughout Portsmouth, Havant, Fareham, Gosport and Waterlooville.

We firmly believe in a client-centred approach to training. We use modern coaching practices to encourage our learners to think independently and to make safe choices when driving.

Driver training standards are always moving forward, so all our instructors are dedicated to keeping up to speed. We work closely with the DVSA to stay up to date with modern training techniques.

Our Driving Courses

We are proud to offer individually personalised driving lessons for beginners and experienced drivers

Our qualified, professional instructors want to get you driving in a relaxed and positive atmosphere where you will enjoy learning to drive properly.

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Learner Driver Courses

Our friendly and experienced driving instructors will guide you through all of the stages of passing your driving test.

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Refresher Driver Training

Want motorway experience or never driven in the UK? We will help you to become safe and confident on the road again.

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Taxi Training

You are much more likely to pass your taxi test if you have some training beforehand. We know what the examiner is looking for.

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Testimonials

“I passed today with Gav! Honestly the best driving instructor and couldn’t recommend anyone else, he is absolutely amazing and such a genuine person and I honestly can’t thank you enough! even when I made stupid mistakes you still made me feel like everything was okay, gonna be weird not having you beside me in the car , thankyouuuu!!!”

Jade Newell

“Had an absolutely amazing experience with glen he was so patient with me and gave me so much confidence in my self and my driving. He was so fun but very professional. I will miss our lessons thank you for believing in me.”

Taylor Usher

“I passed my driving test first time with Nigel, he is a great guy who cares about his students, he was early for every single lesson and has a huge amount of driving experience to draw upon.”

Adam Sparrow