Would you pay an unqualified driving instructor?

I agree that it is possible to learn to drive with the help of a friend or family member who are not fully qualified driving instructors. I also think there is some misconception about the trainee licence holders. I have recently qualified as an ADI who trained whist working as a PDI. As a PDI I was trained in the latest training tecniques. As a PDI I had to go throught 40 hours of training in the core compentencies before I was allowed to apply for the tranee licence with a further 20 hours training whithin the first 12 weeks. I was able to put 11 pupils through their test with 8 of them passing first time. The rest passed second time. To say that any licence holder can put someone though their test without being able to identify and analize the faulst is nonsence. The only way to be sure of being ready for the real world of driving is through a qualified ADI or PDI.

Richard the precise wording is
Its illegal to charge or get a reward for teaching driving if not qualified
Anyone can give tuition if they are 21 and held a licence for 3 years or more

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/LearningToDriveOrRide/DG_4022661

Type your post code, and the site will return the qualified driving instructors close to your post code

you will need a large piece of land to teach dual carridgeway driving !! – also, as a general comment to this subject, people need to also be aware driving instructors are also graded up to the highest level of 6

Mel – Nonsense – the piece of land does not have to be a full scale model of anything – it simply needs to offer the facility to indicate the conditions – That includes a length of ordinary road or a field…

Not to mention I actually said “After all it is possible to learn to drive properly and pass the test first time without the aid of any Instructor” Instructors are not actually necessary to pass the test.

Given the choice between a free good unqualified instructor or a mediocre paid instructor – I’d opt for the free good one every time.

An instructor does not have to have passed any driving qualification – except have a full driving licence for three years – to actually be an excellent driving instructor.

I’m currently in training to become an Approved Driving Instructor and whilst what you are saying is strictly true your attitude is somewhat flippant, if I may say so, given the requirements to pass the test are becoming ever more stringent and change constantly. I would urge caution by suggesting it is possible to learn drive to test standard on a plot of land. While you may certainly teach someone the basics and that may have worked well even 15 years ago nowadays certain test requirements and experiences cannot be replicated on a plot of land IMO.

Neilonsea – Sadly – I have taught driving for free – effectively continuously since 1947 – The dozens “many years ago” I mentioned was a direct result of running a motorcycle and car maintenance course for Senior Scouts for several years – I included driving instruction as a necessary part of the course. Since that time I have taught successfully the children and grandchildren of those Senior Scouts plus others.

I was a teacher by profession and found that a good teacher is a good teacher virtually irrespective of subject. Subjects I’ve taught ranged from Mother Care – Greek – Latin – Maths – Electronics – Woodwork – Metalwork – Tech Drawing – All Sciences and photography to Survival and Camping – all with good pass rates. And like any good teacher do keep up with developments.

I’m sorry – professional tuition is not almost a must – but good instruction is. The reason I’ve continued to teach driving occasionally is simply because I’ve been asked to – by friends and relatives of my “original” .groups of Senior Scouts.

Frankly from what I’ve read on other conversations too many present day drivers are either badly taught or incompetent anyway.- ignoring speed limits – traffic lights and mini roundabouts. All were able to pass a test..

BobHW – the pink “trainee” licence is only issued to those who pass Part 2, so Andy is correct – since 34% pass Part 3 the failure rate for trainees is 2 out of 3.

I’ve been an ADI (Approved Driving Instructor) for 2 years. When I was training I didn’t go a pink licence. I taught family friends for free to get experience – I told them I was training but since they weren’t paying a penny for their lessons (you can’t even accept payment for petrol unless you have a pink or green licence) they were happy with the arrangement. Personally I would not have felt right charging for lessons while I was learning myself – which is why I didn’t go for the pink licence.

The way some large driving schools use trainees is certainly questionable – I would certainly want to know if my son was being taught by a trainee and have the option to change or get the options at a cheaper rate.

That’s all well and good about PDI’s. Now what about ADI’s? They all sit the same qualifying exams and then have to sit and pass Check Tests during their licence life. Sadly, that is precisely where the standards end for a **** of a lot of instructors. I am totally sick at the tales I regularly get from pupild new to me who have been with other instructors and have been so badly treated. This is not isolated but happens every few weeks when a learner calls to ask about lessons, stating that such and such has happened and they cannot go back to their original instructor. They have been ripped off by late arrival/early drop-off, they have been yelled at and reduced to tears by a bad tempered instructor, most disturbing are those who have been assaulted in the instructors car. I have had many learners, completely independant of each other who have suffered physical assault from one local instructor. I always encourage them to report, but they believe that they will not be believed. I have even said that perhaps this instructors assault will get worse and maybe even lead to rape. Still, they don’t report him. Now, the DSA won;t do anything either. I spoke to them. I was told that the sufferer must be the one to raise their concerns. But they won’t, so we have (some) ADI’s going about their daily business and doing exactly what they want to their pupils. maybe now readers will understand my nausea – and my feeling of helplessness to offer real support to these pupils.

this is very true – I happened to pass them all 1st time 15 years ago and am now a grade 6 adi with a pass rate of over 70% – before this i also drove LGV and have been a motorcyclist from about 12 years old !!- i enjoy driving and passing on my aquired knowledge to new drivers – i have never had a “to blame” acccident – i figure this all makes me a reasonable driver.
if the instructor training establishments screened their applicants properley for suitability, the pass rate would increase – but then again maybe they would make less money ???????????????
(and more people would keep their redundency payouts and be able to put the money to better use)

2010 lists how many instructors there are

As I stated – my “pupils” passed – I did not charge them anything – it was a service I did and would still do if asked.- It started because of the complaints about the appalling quality of the instructors.available.

May I point out that many people pass the test without any form of professional instruction and many people fail with professional instruction – so in any case it can’t be that difficult

As I said at the beginning – it is all to do with the quality of the instructor – not his/her qualifications. Many people are good at instruction without formal qualification.

Sorry Sandra

I am an unqualified driving instructor (but I don’t charge) – all the people whom I instructed passed – this included women.just a couple of years ago. I am a professional teacher who actually taught at a school for physically and mentally handicapped children for years (Richard Cloudsley School) (I taught physically handicapped boys to operate lathes for metalwork – requires as good a control as driving a car)- Also taught “difficult” children for over 40 years., This included overcoming motor skill deficits. Plus the driver instructing as I described since 1947.

As I said I have known qualified driver instructors that are useless at imparting skills after years of instructing.- in fact the women I taught asked me to teach them after they experienced such poor instruction..

As I said at the beginning a good driver instructor does not need a qualification – but they do need need to be able to instruct effectively. Teaching in a field means dual controls are not necessary – basically because I’d never take them into traffic unless I was confident they would be able to cope. and I am an expert at assessing motor (movement) skills

If you are not charging, what insurance do u have. If you are teaching family and friends is the insurance company aware you are letting unqualified people drive your car.