The Instructor

Today I read an article that I would consider quite insulting to the driving instructor fraternity, it starts with 'many instructors', personally I'm quite disappointed by the sweeping generalisation but more worryingly the intention behind the article implies that we are not good at what we do.

Coaching has swept the ADI culture, well CCL has, but many compare the two, and with this has come a disregard for methods that have gone before, however the research I shall be publishing quite soon states that each style has a place and learning by rote should never be dismissed when you consider it's history and success.  Of course, robotic teaching styles may be considered to be out of touch with the modern pupil, they were really always misplaced in the learning arena, but, does that make the student less able, after all these are human beings, thinking people who question the majority of things to satisfy their own curiosity and learning to drive is no different.

So does commanding a routine of MSM mean that the pupil just displays the right amount of technique to be test standard? Only if the ADI explains it in that way, do this to pass a test, rather archaic actually, I meet many instructors in my role and unsurprisingly the educational process, the fact that more ADI's have multiple trainer roles, has improved what is demanded in the environment of the mobile office.

Why, why, why, is heard more now than ever before, schools are encouraging questioning, the teacher is more likely to have a mentor and in many cases the student too, as a life coach I meet many professional people outside of this industry who are questioning the work ethic of their company and seeking change for everyone for the greater good, so why on Earth is it presumed, not proven, that the ADI has stopped somewhere in the 1980's and become fossilised.

I recently spent some time with a professional person, occasional driver, outside of working and travelled in their car as a passenger, naturally I noted their behaviour, useful for my final chapter and saw that their habits were good despite holding a licence for many years, at the end of the journey I questioned their routine and they smiled and said blame my driving instructor I can still hear their voice ringing in my ears after forty years. Refreshing, not unusual and definitely an example to some.

Taking a Pay Cut

Being self employed brings with it a multitude of dilemmas, do I increase my prices, should I advertise, have I taken on too much, do I wish I had more work, and there is nobody to share this with.  All self employed industries bring a stigma with them, sharing productive times and good profit margins sounds a little like boasting and can sit uncomfortably mid air in a conversation when with peers who are not doing so well. The pressure then becomes apparent for everyone to be doing well, back slapping and sighs of relief, is the reality the same in the cold light of day.

It is a fact that new businesses in the UK do not survive as well as in other countries, we are considered to be recovering from one of the worst periods of recession for some time, so how does the fledgling business compete.  Commonly by dropping prices, running offers and sometimes supplementing income with a second or third job.

However I read a post that inspired this blog, culling the register for driving instructors, yet the odds are not on the side of longevity for many who are new to this particular career, unsurprisingly that is a common pattern amongst all trades where training exclusive of career are regular practice.

Plumbers, electricians, driving instructors, painters and decorators, plasterers, brick layers, to name just a few train specifically with the intention of being a sole trader, the business may grow, after all we all have to start somewhere but initially it is about making a living and developing a reputation, so why are so many held back by their limiting beliefs.

There are two trains of thought here, the first being a lack of willingness to diversify particularly if the educator painted a particular picture of life on the job the other being concerned that too much promotion could result in an unmanageable work load.

So the driving instructor, where does new work come from? Word of mouth? As a newbie that can take a year, how do you pay the bills meantime, what if you are predominantly shy and the thought of standing outside a school or college handing out cars leaves you cold, then maybe thinking outside of the box is the first place to go.  The green badge is not just about teaching learners, many organisations looking for in house trainers require a green badge holder.

The future for driving instructors is rosy, formalisation and of course the anticipated privatisation of the DVSA, after all that was the whole purpose of the merger, with the excellent record of VOSA under the control of Mr People's the DSA suddenly became a salable item over night, there is a huge amount of job satisfaction, flexibility and potential attached to this profession.  Like the plumbers, electricians etc, there is work to be found it's thinking outside of the box that finds it.

Can the cheap lesson culture continue, of course it can, whether it will is debatable because price fixing may not be legal but there is nothing wrong with the RRP so we move into guidelines, quality control among others.  Does the provider of cheap lessons want to work twice as hard to earn a living, or would they like their hands to be tied by a price structure, surely yes, what stops an ADI demanding a fair days pay for a fair days work?

Price structure, SRP, RRP, when lessons will be sold as specific courses, this is not intensive courses, but the block booking style of other EU countries.  This guarantees commitment from the client, eliminates cancellation notice as the fee has been paid already, and the likelihood of chopping and changing for deal chancing gone.  However, it would appear that these measures are seen in countries where the driving instructor is seen as a professional providing a valuable service, until these measures come to the UK then the instructor is fighting an uphill battle until all of this is in place.

If you would like to see formalisation to mirror other EU countries, email me at centraldt@hotmail.co.uk and I can add your thoughts to the data collection.

DVSA PLC

It has been quite well publicised over recent months that the Highways Agency (HA) will become a company in it's own right, this will allow the selling of shares, for the Government to retain a portion and for the Agency to become self financing, good news for tax payers it would seem, however it will only be good news if the sale time is right, as reflected in the information released today regarding the Post Office.

So that leads to other departments that provide a service, for some time now I have mentioned privatisation of the driving test, with such a strong push towards each department becoming a stand alone, after the natural trimming of staff, think Rosemary Thew, there is an even greater implication that the newly formed DVSA is a step towards creating a company that is a viable investment for share holders.

As a tax payer we retained a 30% stake in the Post Office, there is of course no reason for the Secretary of State to withhold a slice of the cake to the same size, although as a tax payer I would be far happier if all interests were held at 51% giving us the majority holding. Currently the holding for HA will be 100% but that can only have limited time scale, meaning the Agency needs to meet it's business forecast for the years 13/14 14/15 to make it more attractive.

So, logically, the back office will be deciding what package they need to pretty up and hold out for the share holders.  With the cost of a driving test rising next year, along with a restructure of the test itself, and the introduction of a standards check (quality assurance), the FTSE100 is likely to embrace the company with open arms.

Changing how instruction is delivered, more customer friendly, teach don't dictate, will make for a more attractive proposition, the question has to be can it really work.  With a new man at the helm, Alastair Peoples, the packaging is more appealing solely because the former DSA needs to lose it's reputation and skeletons before it can be offered for sale.

AI Solutions: Sex and the ADI

AI Solutions: Sex and the ADI: Well of course sex sells, but where does the line become crossed, it was interesting, or maybe disturbing to read that Mark Magee repo...

Sex and the ADI

Well of course sex sells, but where does the line become crossed, it was interesting, or maybe disturbing to read that Mark Magee reports more complaints of a sexual nature from learner drivers in the last year compared to previous years.  Of course there are big question marks surrounding this, what constitutes a sexual advance, what particular word or action would be considered to be inappropriate.

It is a fact that learning to drive creates a relationship between learner and trainer, just as in any tutor role, after all we have all read the stories of teachers absconding with their pupils, in fact I knew a teacher from my school days who upped and left his family of four and went into hiding with a sixteen year old girl. Knowing the family well, it was quite a difficult time for them all, a well respected head of year turned to being a refuse collector to support them both. Does this happen within the learning to drive community, of course possibly even to that extreme.  I have met many women who married their ADI.  So when does a professional relationship become a personal one.

We would be horrified if teachers in schools were suggestive towards our children, but a trainee student is an adult, so should the same view be taken, well during some research on the learning to drive process some of the responses were quite obviously indicative of uncomfortable car situations, but is that because the young female, as they were by the far the larger group who had a story to tell, feel embarrassed or unsure of their sexuality so respond poorly in an intimate environment.  From a female point of view, if you are 'trapped' in a vehicle with a good looking male you are more likely to behave differently and try to perform better, whilst trying to appear cool and knowing and sexy.  However, in the car with a butch female, the working environment could be taken more seriously as there is no pressure to display a more adult impression than might otherwise seem necessary.  As a woman, who remembers those teenage years too clearly, nature made the decision of attraction and being mature enough to overcome that is not so easy.

This doesn't of course solve the problem.  Some of the things sited in my research were such normal everyday comments it was very difficult, even trying to find a suggestive nature, to pinpoint certain phrases as sexual.  You look nice today - I mean, really?  Do you have a boyfriend? - is that a come on, or just polite conversation to relax the student?  Your legs look nice in jeans - well I guess you could take that the wrong way. However, I fail to see any of the above statements grounds for complaint.

Other comments which could be stepping on the line or inching over included, feel how cold my hands are - which could just be someone who is kinesthetic but touching is always a no go area. I've had a row with my wife this morning, and proceeding to tell the details - why? These two comments alone saw different variations, but they all were viewed as negative by the females.  The males who took part could see no problem with any of these statements, so maybe it really is that women are vastly different from men.

The comments that were completely across the boundary included, you are gorgeous, you should have been a model - from a driving instructor? Let me help you with your seat belt - if they can't do it themselves should they be driving, falls into the personal space no go area. I am a photographer too, I can take some pictures for your portfolio they'd look great - advertising photography to impressionable females could definitely fall into the seduction scenario, innocent or not. Do you fancy meeting up when I'm not working - two single people, maybe acceptable after all there are plenty of office romances, but that is in an equal environment, the tuition car is  an unequal environment just as a school or college would be.  This could be interpreted as grooming.

It is funny that female instructors, who have their fair share of advances from male pupils, never see it necessary to complain, in fact sometimes it's flattering, who would we complain to? Our association? Would we stop the lessons, taking into account the financial environment, or is it a matter for the Police?

We all have our own idea of inappropriate behaviour, and many are quick to judge and jump in, but from an instructors point of view, and reflecting on Mr Magee's comments, are we at risk, do we need in car cameras to protect our integrity or will that make no difference at all.  Because the research clearly identifies that an offensive comment or action to one is deemed as an over reaction or not worthy of comment by others.  Would every ADI be shocked by their pupils thoughts.  Because as individuals, pass this on to the court system and there is exactly the same problem, the definition in law of sexual advance is an attempt to gain sexual favour, with the best will in the world, is that really going to happen on the back seat of a modern hatchback?  Especially when valuable working hours are lost.  Is that honestly the intention of instructors who may feel that this is the best way to break the ice, with a bit of innuendo or flattery.

As a community of instructors it is important to know what the boundaries are, despite how obvious they may appear, what the boundaries are that are expected of the executive agency that licences us and where our protection comes from.  A teenager having  a bad day can ruin someones career, what's your protection?

AI Solutions: The Standards Check

AI Solutions: The Standards Check: There has been quite a lot of talk about the changes to the check test system, I've blogged about it before and written an article,...

The Standards Check

There has been quite a lot of talk about the changes to the check test system, I've blogged about it before and written an article, but I was very interested by the DVSA document concerning the standards check, where they anticipate teething problems and are very aware that many may acquire a lower grade until they become more used to the system.

"Initially DSA expect there to be a slight dip in satisfactory standards checks while ADIs gain
a better understanding of the new process and familiarise themselves with our published
standards requirements. The project will ensure effective communications ahead of
introduction to get across the new assessment criteria to minimise this impact" (DSA 2013)

So surely that means that they are looking for a better standard than previously, or does it mean that the examiners are now all trained to the same level rather than in previous years where as each examiner became able to take tests for part two, then three, then check tests, so had a more up to date or different training regime resulting in an inconsistent marking strategy.

There are 85 examiners trained to carry out check tests in the UK, who will receive just four days training, which seems quite small when you compare the requirements, working to the script of the standards document and taking into account CCL.

Of course if you already deliver CCL, which isn't coaching, just to be clear, according to my communication from the DVSA and also the former road safety minister and also are following the syllabus set down by the DVSA then there should be no drop in standards, surely?

So, for people like me who will be taking a fleet client, despite the fact it is not essential to provide a full licence holder to maintain my fleet badge now, I wonder how the marking will take place and if their will be a bias towards pupil based lessons.

There are 20 instructors over the age of 81, with the majority group being between 41 and 60.  This will surely impact on them as there are so many different forms of 'training' taking place in preparation for the new test, everyone is surely going to have a different experience as each client and subject matter is different.

So do we need to prepare for the standards check, are we doing enough, will it have all changed again in a years time if everyone is downgraded or more slip off the edge, if the DVSA have no idea of the impact then how as instructors are we expected to view this change, for many of us a lower grade would see a change in working practice as some contracts require a specific grade.

All of the ADI Associations have approved the new marking system, and to be honest if there is to be modernisation it has to include everything, so when is modernisation going to spill over into the driving test, well one would expect once the modernisation of the examiners and the driving instructor has taken place.