Insult to Driving Instructors

I have to say I'm horrified by the new IAM promotional leaflet which says all driving instructors teach to pass a test, I also think it's a bit rich considering this leaflet promotes an advanced test that you can 'fast track pass' so isn't that training to pass a test?  It's insulting to all of us who work hard at promoting road safety and train learner drivers, developing their life skills and encouraging responsibility.

They insinuate that you have no idea how to handle a car, only an IAM observer can teach that skill, because obviously nobody trains a learner to do so, but they will teach you to find out what you and your car are capable of. That wasn't my experience when I took my IAM test.

The booklet says that volunteers give up their time to train you for a test, hmm, and are highly skilled, I wonder how the driver trainers who work with a green badge view those who have an in house certificate that could have been awarded over 30 years ago?

Driver training is changing, regulations are changing, do we believe they will be heavyweight enough, the potential is there but only if run by the private sector, Government departments are cutting to the bone which in turn carries a risk for us all, the forecast for small businesses are poor with the DFT stating that sole traders are less likely to be successful as a business, with micro businesses lasting little over two years.

The potential for a new business to survive in the current economic climate is poor, however, the economy is definitely moving in the right direction with more money being spent overall. If a business survives five years then it has a great chance of being around for an extra five years, if it's limping then it's likely to run out of steam.

This isn't good news for driving instructors, particularly as the business support structure is now in place for small businesses which have 9 or more employees, as they are more likely to survive so more deserving of financial support it seems. The more established smaller companies have the advantage of recommendation, but starting from scratch right now is not an easy path.

With companies such as IAM damming our work, it only helps to crucify the sole trader.