ADINJC Members Meeting Minutes | 13th September 2025

Held on Saturday 13 September 2025 at the Holiday Inn, Coventry

Stewart opened the meeting at 10.00, welcomed members and thanked them for coming.

Present

Stewart Lochrie (Chair), Lynne Barrie (President), Sue Duncan (Secretary), Peter Boxshall (Treasurer), Fiona Clarke, Gordon Palmer-Taylor (DDSA), Liam Greaney (Driving Pro), Kevin & Tracey Field (Confident Drivers), Richard Dallison (RED), Andy Lloyd (Southern DIA), Kenute Wallen & David Allen (Birmingham ADIs), Bernard Vencatachellum (My Four Wheels), Graham Feest (ADINJC Road Safety Advisor), Russell Jones, Pennie Alexander, Chris Porter, Tina Cassady, Daryl Keightley, Charli Hodgson, Maggie Saleh, Geoff Moore, Judith Collinson, Andrew Love, John Phillipson, Waqas Akhtar, Vicky Folland, Terry Cook, Michelle Lloyd, Khesraw Ghazizada, Ken Tompkins. Hon members: George Simpson, Bryan Curtis, Nick Ibbott.

Guest Speakers

Vickie Ambrose, Kim Gibson, Kate Monk.

Apologies

Rachael Lloyd-Phillips, Charles Moffat, Mike Bell, James Quinn, Richard Gillmore, Brian Murray. Tom Stenson, Sue Papworth, Dan Hill, Gary Hardy, Larry Girling, Garry Thomas, Terry Bassingthwaighte, Nigel Slater, Neil Peek, Mandy Dawson, Kathy Higgins.

Minutes of the meeting held in Coventry on 31 May 2025 were proposed by Fiona Clarke, and seconded by Liam Greaney and agreed unanimously. There were no matters arising.

Correspondence

Sue Duncan reported on the following items of correspondence:

• National Audit Office investigating practical driving test delays, looking at scale & nature of waiting times, root cause of delays, how DVSA is responding to delays. NJC co-operating along with the other NASP members.
• Issues at Doncaster TC that we never really got to the bottom of
• Queries on new rules for using OBS
• Weekly correspondence from a member in Slough who writes to his MP and DVSA every week about the test booking issues
• Clarification for Scottish MPs on the PVG scheme
• Suggestions from members on how to tackle the backlog, which we pass on to DVSA
• Last meeting someone raised an issue with car insurance not being valid on a test if an examiner is under 25. We raised this with DVSA who are unaware of such issues. They said – “A driving examiner is an observer not an accompanying driver during the driving test. This would be a matter for the insurance company and driving instructor to clarify the difference between being an instructor/accompanying driver and observer on a test. Nationally there are 4 driving examiners under the age of 25.”
• NJC was invited to attend the Pathways to Independence open day for healthcare professionals, support organisations and instructors. Charli Hodgson will be representing us.
• We had a complaint from the parent of a student about the conduct of his instructor and have sent them the details on making a complaint to DVSA.

Chair’s Report

Thank you very much to Vickie Ambrose and Kim Gibson from Drive-Up Training and also Kate Monk from MyLearnerDriver.com who have kindly offered to present to the group this morning.

And thank you to all of you for giving up your Saturday mornings to come and join us – it’s great to have some new faces with us.

Update on the work of the GC and Executive Team since our last meeting on the 31st of May:

• At the AGM in May, we updated the constitution of the ADINJC to include a commitment to provide more information and support to driving instructors in the area of health and wellbeing.
• As most of us will be aware, anyone who drives professionally for a living is engaged in a role that is sub-optimal to their health.
• Long periods of sitting
• Challenges with ensuring enough fluids are taken on board
• Nutritional challenges, avoiding the temptations of fast food which is available on every high street and petrol station.
• Following the change to the constitution, the GC formed a sub-committee to take the lead on brain-storming some ideas for a campaign and resources that we could distribute and promote.
• Charli Hodgson, who joined the GC as a co-opted member just after the AGM in May, took the lead on this and she’s done an incredible job in a very short time, and I’d like to thank her, and the other members of the sub-committee for all the work that’s gone into it.
• We’ll shortly be launching a dedicated section on our website for members, as well as manning a Health and Wellbeing stand at the Conference and Expo in Solihull at the end of the month. Great work, everyone who’s been involved with the project.

Between the end of May and the end of July, DVSA held its consultation on proposed changes to the online booking system. As an association run by a Governing Committee, we were unable to advise members definitively on how to respond, but we did actively encourage all ADIs to make sure that they took the time to participate.

• These efforts seem to have paid off and initial feedback from DVSA suggests that around 11k ADIs/driving schools completed the survey.
• Outcomes and next steps due by end of Autumn
• We’ve also had it confirmed that DVSA has received Treasury approval to go ahead and build a new booking system and we’ll be available to work with DVSA as they go through that process. We’ll keep members informed, and obviously we’ll be representing members’ interests as they apply to that new booking system.
• In June, I attended the first in-person meeting of the DVSA-organised Car Driver Forum in Bristol.

This meeting comprised the three NASP associations, representatives from the national driving schools, and some other selected stakeholders.

• The objective of the forum is to allow DVSA to engage with a wider cross-section of the industry as it puts together its next five-year plan.
• Outcomes and shared goals from that meeting have been split into several Workstreams, and we will be hoping to progress some of the ideas contained within these Workstreams over the coming months.
• We’re not allowed to disclose any of the details from these meetings, but they are definitely future-focused, and there is definitely a desire in the room to push things forward in areas such as training, ADI qualification processes, and road safety.
• Lynne and I will be attending the next meeting in a couple of weeks’ time. We’ll keep members as informed as we can, when we can.

In addition to the car driver forum, Tom Stenson attended a dedicated Part Two – focused workshop in Nottingham in June, with DVSA and other stakeholders, and we expect some announcements soon on some changes to that particular test.

This Week, NASP September Meeting:

• NASP Report from this week’s meeting has just been approved for release, Headline figures! 1700 applications per month to DVSA and 1000 Trainee Licence applications per month.
• 5,200 P2 and P3 test on hold – 2,200 test delivered each month.
• L Test wait time average 22.2 weeks – slight increase
• Pass rate up to 50.69%
• Targeted Operations and Education: There are ongoing targeted operations with police forces to identify illegal instructors, educate candidates, and conduct proactive checks at test centres, including badge verification and car park checks.

Included in this week’s Cabinet Reshuffle, was the news that Lillian Greenwood – who attended and spoke at last year’s ADINJC Conference and Expo as Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Roads and Transport, has been replaced by Keir Mather. I wrote to Mr Mather this week to introduce the ADINJC, and to invite him to our conference in a couple of weeks.

Along with NASP, earlier this week I attended a PACTS Road User Behaviour Working Party, chaired by David Crundall.

• The Road User Behaviour group is one of the main working parties organised by PACTS and it’s attended by all of the main academics working in the road safety field – Liz Box, Neale Kinnear, Tanya Fosdick, Shaun Helman, as well as representatives from the fleet market, motorcycle training, and it turns out that they’ve never had a driving instructor body attend.
• Road User Behaviour meets on a regular basis to assess current initiatives focused on improving driver and rider safety, and its aim is to influence policy where it can. It’s a good place to be if we are serious about making changes to this industry – it’s a way to hopefully influence things above the heads of the DVSA, and to gain support from outside of the industry for meaningful change.

And finally, this week I attended an interview with the National Audit Office which is conducting an investigation into DVSA’s handling of the test waiting time crisis.

The role of the National Audit Office is that of the UK independent public spending watchdog – it holds departments and other bodies responsible for spending public money, to account.

The focus of the investigation is:

• The scale and nature of the waiting times for booking practical car diving tests
• The root causes of the delays
• The Impact
• How the DVSA is responding to the delays

This provided an opportunity to pass on member frustrations and concerns in a very direct way. The NAO report will be released before the end of the year, and I’m fairly sure it will receive some media coverage. If it doesn’t, I’m sure we can help to make that happen.

That’s a summary of the industry work that we’ve been involved in – it’s been a busy summer.

• In terms of Governing Committee work, I provided details of most of the ongoing website initiatives at the AGM and this work remains ongoing.
• Lots of credit to Dan Hill, Liam Greaney, and Chris Porter for the seemingly never-ending work of updates, tweaks, page-building, blog writing, branding work and design that all goes on behind the scenes.
• The Training Team led by Tom Stenson has delivered a great year of high quality CPD workshops, including a selection of free, member-only Expert Sessions that have been very well attended.
• These free sessions, as well as the discounted rates for members really do represent excellent value given the low monthly membership fee.
• From the GC, we’ve had Lynne Barrie, David Allan, Leigh Brookes, and myself all deliver sessions, as well as Pennie Alexander, the Confident Drivers team, and next month we have an Expert Session on Making Tax Digital.

Tina continues to do a remarkable job as our Charities Liaison with Speed of Sight.

• There was a track day held at Mallory Park last week, and upcoming events are being held at 3 Sisters, Wigan on the 22nd September, and the final event of the year is at Anglesey on the 8th October.
• If you’d like to support Tina and Speed of Sight, please reach out or check out the website. And buy a raffle ticket.

The last thing to mention is our Conference and Expo which is being held this year in Solihull on the 28th September.

• Record number of instructors registered – and a lot of work behind the scenes carried out by Lynne Barrie and Sue Duncan – thanks as always to them.
• I think it’s going to be a great day – always is – hope to see some of you there.

In summary:

• Everyone on the Governing Committee is working very hard on the behalf of members
• Our membership numbers continue to grow
• We’re excited with everything we have planned for the rest of the year
• That concludes my Chairman’s Report.

Lynne Barrie thanked Stewart for his report and said she was enjoying working with him. She proposed acceptance of the report, which was seconded by Andrew Love and accepted unanimously.

Daryl Keightley asked if there was any progress on extending the 2 year qualification period for PDIs, but since this is in legislation it is unlikely to happen.

• Andrew Love cautioned that an extension could cause more issues and more consideration should be given to the qualifications to enter the process.
• Stewart said that there are 1700 people a month starting the process, with 1,000 a month trainee licences issued.
• There are currently 43,000 ADIs on the Register, with the highest number having been 49,000.

Stewart said that NJC receives a lot of ideas, some of which are sensible, and are passed on to DVSA.

Lynne said that there are more ADI Examiners, but the situation nationwide is still poor, and it is still difficult to get a 3rd test within the 2 year period.

• She said it needed someone to take a test case to court to challenge DVSA, but this would take money.
• Liam Greaney said that there are currently approximately 10,000 extra learner tests being conducted a month, which would take 4 years to clear the backlog.
• See Liam’s blog on this subject – The State of Our Industry

Stewart said that trainers and schools have an obligation to explain to people thinking of coming into the industry what the current situation is, and advising trainees correctly on applying for part 2 and 3 tests.

• He added that training for part 3 should be started as early as possible, and not after passing part 2.
• There are no figures on the number of people not taking on a trainee licence and training for free, and Lynne said that it should be made clearer as an option.
• NJC will include this within the PDI zone on the website. Kim Gibson said that not all PDIs are getting quality training.

Guest Speakers

Vickie Ambrose and Kim Gibson from Drive-Up training gave a presentation on ‘Developing Business-Ready Driving Instructors’. The slides for Vickie and Kim’s presentation can be found here.

Kate Monk delivered a presentation on her new initiative ‘My Learner Driver’ aimed at parents teaching their children to drive. Kate’s presentation can be found here.

Expo 2025

Lynne updated members on arrangements for the Conference and Expo on Sunday 28 September at Cranmore Park in Solihull.

• Currently there are 2,300 registrations
• Lynne said this year there are 100 VIP tickets for people wanting to upgrade to pay £25 for privileged parking, free tea/coffee from the green room, and reserved seating in the speaker rooms.
• There are more exhibitors than ever before, the NJC has a health & wellbeing stand within a health section, where St John’s Ambulance will be demonstrating CPR.
• DVSA have several officers in attendance on their stand, which is a useful opportunity for ADIs to ask questions and get information.

Open Forum

• Nick Ibbott asked whether DVSA could be asked to reinstate the show me/tell me question on washer bottles.
• Fiona Clarke said she has an EV and in 3 years has only had one examiner do a show me question under the bonnet.
• Dipod has been pushing the Expo.
• Daryl Keightley said he was unable to find mention by DVSA on the average learner hours.
• Liam Greaney asked for articles for the website – mention will be given to authors and their websites.
• Fiona Clarke said the process for DBS checks now invites you to engage in a webchat, which is only open during office hours.
• Vickie Ambrose asked what ADIs can do to support DVSA against illegal instruction.
• She said it was important to get the registration number of people not displaying licences, but people should not put themselves at risk.
• Lynne said the DVSA officer responsible would be at the Expo. Collaboration between the police & DVSA is being strengthened.
• Daryl said that the police are checking car parks for illegal instruction.
• A PDI asked about responses from PADI when sending information. Lynne suggested he ring them to ensure receipt.

Speed of Sight

£129 was raised from the raffle in aid of NJC’s charity Speed of Sight. Stewart thanked members for their support.

Dates of Meetings

Saturday 6 December 2025, Coventry
Saturday 28 February 2026, Coventry
Saturday 12 September 2026, Online
Saturday 5 December 2026, Coventry

Meeting Closed

Stewart closed the meeting at 13:15, thanking members for coming.

Like a lot of us, we had an early start.

After about 3 hours driving, we made it to the Holiday Inn where the meeting was to be held.

We arrived early but guess who as always was there and had everything already set up.

The really great thing about these meetings is to be able to catch up with old faces and to make new friends.

Stewart Lochrie, our Chairman, ran the meeting well – See Member Meeting Minutes here

The speakers did an excellent job.

Stewart made a number of good points!

It poured with rain on the way back home but it was a good meeting. Lots of good information and always good to catch up with old friends.

Introduction

With around 40,000 instructors on the DVSA register, imagine the impact if we all taught eco-driving. Small changes like smoother acceleration and better anticipation can cut costs, improve safety, and reduce emissions. Here’s how I made my business more sustainable, and why it matters for our industry – Vicky Folland

This included blood pressure, heart rate, body mass index and blood tests, plus advice on fitness, a stop smoking campaign and diabetes awareness. It was a great opportunity to raise awareness as not many of us really stop to think about our own health, never mind thinking about getting a check up.

Why I Chose to be Sustainable

I’ve been a driving instructor for nearly 20 years, but my journey into sustainability started at home. My son, part of his school eco-council, encouraged us to look at our family’s carbon footprint. It was higher than average, mainly due to my mileage for work. That made me think, what could I change, what could I do better?

I began offsetting emissions, switched to an electric car, and started teaching eco-driving so learning to drive remains sustainable for future generations. The UK Government has also committed that “we will be the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than that in which we found it” (Environmental Principles Policy Statement, 2023). That’s a goal I want to help with.

Climate Change in Simple Terms

Climate change means long-term shifts in weather patterns caused by human activity. The greenhouse effect is a natural process that keeps Earth warm, but we’ve added too many greenhouse gases by burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests. This is trapping more heat, like putting a blanket on. This is leading to global warming—rising seas, extreme weather, and threats to wildlife and people.

What Sustainability Really Means

Sustainability is about meeting today’s needs without stopping future generations from meeting theirs. It rests on three pillars:

• Economic growth – supporting jobs and businesses
• Social inclusion – ensuring fairness and wellbeing
• Environmental protection – looking after natural resources

Getting this balance right is crucial for a sustainable economy and for meeting the UK’s net zero targets.

Why Eco-Driving?

Transport makes up 27% of UK emissions, with road vehicles a major contributor. Eco-driving is one of the fastest ways to cut emissions. Simple habits like:

• Smooth acceleration and braking
• Steady motorway speeds (using cruise control when safe)
• Avoiding idling
• Keeping vehicles well maintained
• Planning journeys and anticipating hazards

One driver making these changes might not seem like much, but across millions it adds up. And with around 40,000 instructors on the DVSA register, we’re in a unique position to shape habits from day one.

The Benefits Go Further

Eco-driving isn’t just good for the planet. It also means:

• Lower running costs
• Safer, smoother driving
• Stronger reputations for instructors and schools
• Better preparation for the UK’s Net Zero 2050 target

One Lesson at a Time

Climate change can feel overwhelming, but progress starts small. For instructors, that means weaving eco-driving into lessons. For families, it’s recycling or switching to cleaner energy.

It’s not about perfection, it’s about progress. Every conscious choice makes a difference. Together, we can support growth, protect the environment, and create a safer, cleaner future for generations to come.

Vicky Folland M.Inst.IMTD – Vicky’s Driving Tuition

Introduction

I recently attended the Pathways to Independence open day at Pashanger Golf Course. It was great to see so many industry professionals attend, and host stands at this event.

I was very lucky to speak to James Hinkins, who is a representative for Driving Mobility, Lead Driving Assessor DVSA ADI ADRT and Specialist Theory Support Tutor. James not only showed me some of the latest and greatest vehicle adaptations on the market and how they worked but also took me through some of the challenges and heartbreaks of his job role.

Hert Ability works closely with Motability and together they collaborate with individuals to see if they can safely drive a vehicle either without or with some adaptations. Firstly, the individual would have a driving assessment at a specialist mobility centre to evaluate their physical and cognitive ability. Based on the assessment, they may need specific vehicle adaptations. Here are a few that I saw and learnt about from talking to a representative from BAS at the open day.

Hand Controls

Thumb Touch Electronic Accelerator – If the individual has limited use in their upper body, then the thumb touch electronic accelerator could be the answer. This type of adaption offers full acceleration control, with either the left or right thumb and allows freedom to move your hand whilst driving.

Trigger/Twist Grip Accelerator – Offers a seamless, intuitive driving experience. Allowing the user to accelerate and brake using a single device. This is designed for ease of use and safety, ensuring precise control for drivers with restricted leg mobility.

Push/Pull Brake/Accelerator – the design of this aid allows for full movement of the steering wheel, allowing each driver to set the wheel at the best and safest driving position for them. A BAS push / pull brake / accelerator also allows the airbag to stay active and in place meaning that safety is not compromised. A lot of these specific aids on the market often require the airbag to be removed or disconnected or restricted to a predetermined fixed steering wheel position. Which does not suit every individual.

Foot Controls

Adapted vehicles offer various foot control options for drivers with limited leg or foot mobility, including the left-foot accelerator (a floor-mounted or twin-flip system), pedal extenders to reach the pedals, and pedal guards to prevent accidental operation. The “twin-flip” left-foot accelerator allows for easy switching between left-foot and right-foot use, making it ideal for drivers who share the vehicle with others.

Wheelchair Access and Aids

There are a lot of different wheelchair lift and aids which helps individuals put their wheelchairs into and take them out of their cars with ease. The ABI Loader was one of the most unique lifts on the market now. It not only lifts the wheelchair in and out of a vehicle, it also delivers it right to the driver’s door. This is for safety and convenience. It’s the only lift currently that has this ability.

Transfer Plates

A simple and easy to use device which can either be fitted and manually folded and tucked away when not in use or electronically fitted and stowed away using a remote. This aid is designed to make boarding a vehicle from a wheelchair comfortable, safe and easy.

The DVLA will need to be notified of any new medical conditions and adaptations to their vehicle. Medical clearance must be received by the DVLA to ensure the individual meets the legal and safety requirements for driving.

Talking to some instructors who deliver assessments and work alongside individuals delivering driving lessons in adapted cars to prepare them for an L test or just have the confidence and capabilities to drive an adapted vehicle, I can understand how this job can be so rewarding but can come with its challenges / barriers for both parties. After learning that the clientele can range between 16 years old and 96 years old, I can also see how diverse an Instructors day can potentially be.

The rewarding side is that the Instructor can see the individual through their journey and come out of the other side with true independence. No matter what age or the ailment.

Herts Ability help people stay independent and mobile. As part of the national Driving Mobility network and supported by the Department of Transport, they offer friendly, personalised driving and mobility assessments for all ages.

Herts Ability can help if:

• You have a medical condition that may affect your driving
• You need specialist vehicle adaptions
• You’re an older driver unsure about continuing
• You’re returning to driving after illness or injury
• You’re finding it difficult to access or use a car

Are you thinking about helping others?

Volunteer with Herts or support their work – your time or a donation can help more older and disabled people stay mobile and independent. To find out more call: 01707 324581 or email driving@hertsability.org.uk

© Charli Howe
https://drive-up-training.co.uk/

I spoke to two lovely ladies from Space who support families with children and young people on the Autistic Spectrum, those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and or other neurodiverse conditions.

We also talked about how adults can learn from this and how instructors can benefit from knowing how to identify signs and symptoms in cars, and how to deal with them appropriately.

There are free workshops that are available so that parents, instructors and guardians of children with neurological disorders can understand, safeguard and provide successful solutions for young people/young adults. I actually found this the most interesting stand as Nicky was so passionate about the cause and truly wants to make a positive impact to help and support.

As previously stated, they are a Hertfordshire based Charity so if you are an Instructor in and around this area, please give Nicky a call or drop her an email.

She would be more than happy to chat and explore ways in which you can help one another if this is something you wanted to look at getting into. In order to get young adults into a driving frame of mind where it’s not so overwhelming when they reach 17, Space currently uses a “man made track” in Harlow.

This allows young people to get behind the wheel with trained professionals and ensure they are equipped with the safety components from an early age, BEFORE getting behind the wheel at 17. There is no age limit at the track, but there is a height restriction.

This means that children/young adults can be taught and coached in what “good practice” behind the wheel looks and feels like at a younger age in preparation for when they fully learn to drive.

Children with Autism and ADHD find this way of learning a much more positive route.

www.spaceherts.org.uk
admin@spaceherts.org.uk

Introduction

Hertford Council had a stand promoting health and wellbeing. As an advocate for this, it was something I was interested in. After speaking to the host, it was confirmed that anyone between the age of 40 and 75 would be eligible for a free health check in the Hertford Council District.

This included blood pressure, heart rate, body mass index and blood tests, plus advice on fitness, a stop smoking campaign and diabetes awareness. It was a great opportunity to raise awareness as not many of us really stop to think about our own health, never mind thinking about getting a check up.

Cholesterol

Cholesterol was one of the biggest talking points as not a lot of people understand it or know whether their cholesterol levels are correct. Cholesterol is a fatty substance, vital for good health. It helps form cell membranes, various hormones, bile and vitamin D. We get some cholesterol from our diet but most is made in our liver.

Anyone can have high cholesterol, even if they are slim, eat well and are physically active. Most people won’t notice any tell tale signs of high cholesterol. Cholesterol levels can be affected by your family history, age, medicines and some medical conditions. If you have higher cholesterol then you are more likely to suffer from: narrowing of the arteries, angina, heart attack, coronary disease, a stroke or a mini stroke.

It is worth getting checked out if you have not had your cholesterol checked within the last 10 years or if you know that it is in your family history. I spoke to them briefly about the challenges and barriers driving instructors face when being in the car and having a sedentary daily job. She agreed that it was an issue and saw a lot of this at shows like the open day where there were a lot of driving instructors attending and talking to them individually.

Time Management

The biggest barrier was “I don’t have time”. We talked about how we could make time, but then we realised that we were both self-motivating people and the reality is that not everyone has that ability.

So, we started talking about the things that non-self-motivated people could do to help themselves be a bit more active in the day to day. Some of those things were:

1. Pencil in the time into your diary. You wouldn’t cancel on a learner so you shouldn’t cancel on yourself.

2. Park further away from convenience stores or in car parks so that you walk further.

3. Set a little time aside between lessons to get out of the car and stretch your legs for a five minute walk around the block.

4. Set a goal of steps per day that you want to achieve and monitor on your smart phone or a smart watch.

5. Make yourself accountable, ask a friend to go for a walk after work or at lunchtime.

As you can see, there was a lot going on at the ‘Pathways to Independence’ Open Day and well worth a visit if you’re in town next time!!!

© Charli Howe

https://drive-up-training.co.uk/

Introduction

There have been a number of posts and comments in various places about the old Pre-Set Tests (PSTs) and the new Standard Check (SC). So we thought it might be a good time to have a closer look at what might be the differences.

Pre-Set Tests

Those of us who have been around a bit longer will remember these. It might be said that to a large extent it was a knowledge based test where you had to know your stuff and how to apply it.

You would report to the examiner’s test centre and they would role-play according to a pre-set agenda. Each exam would have two phases chosen from three types of pupils:

• Beginner
• Part trained
• Trained

And you had to know 20 subjects which were given out in 10 possible combinations.

In short you had to know your stuff and be able to apply it with a role-playing examiner.

As an ADI you would then be subject to check tests where you would take a pupil out with a Supervising Examiner sat in the back. They would then see how you would be applying your recently won knowledge in the real world. You had your badge and a chance to settle into your role.

Standards Check/Part 3

These came into being on 7 April 2014. The purpose of these is to, and I quote “the examiner will assess whether your instruction helps a person to learn in an effective way, you can best show this by giving a normal lesson to a real pupil.”

So we moved from a knowledge-based test to a skills-based one. That skill being, can you get your pupil to drive safely?

Differences

So in practice what might the differences be?

Perhaps the biggest one is that you are coaching a real pupil, but you do have the examiner sitting in the back. So rather than the examiner being part of the process as they were with the PST’s they are now observers of the process. An immediate consequence of this is an increase in pressure on the PDI.

Basic knowledge of your subject and its application which used to be assessed on Part 3 under the old PST system is now no longer done. Decent trainers will of course make sure it is done, but it is not tested as it would have been under the old PST system.

A stage is missed out, meaning a PDIs standard of knowledge of driving as tested is now not much greater than what is required for a learner. You might say the ADI 21T still makes this requirement of going over the subjects as it has not changed since the PST days.

But how often do you hear people saying that the ADI 21T is completely outdated? As an industry are we happy with the fact there is not much difference between a learners theory test and a PDIs theory test?

The next biggest difference might be that with the old PST’s the role playing examiner was choosing the route and managing the risk, this is now done by PDI. This effectively means that PDIs must be moving and managing the route. Your choice of route is now crucial. Too easy or difficult and the pupil is not learning.

The marking has changed from knowledge of your subject to your skill in imparting it and making it stick with the pupil. This has meant that rather than telling a pupil you are now so long as it is safe, asking. A simple way of looking at it is:

• Where does the pupil need help and what do they need to know?
• Is it safe?
• Are they learning something?

Consequences

It has become more difficult to pass. It would be very difficult to pass if not impossible without having had a trainee licence.

With the current waiting times for Part 3 tests, should second and third licence extensions should be granted as a matter of course (subject to normal quality standards), so that the PDI has a reasonable chance with real pupils of having their allowed 3 attempts?

Let us know what you think of that one.

You are now expected to have this knowledge and be able to apply it in real terms with real pupils. The game has been upped and rather than being eased into the job you are now required to hit the ground running.

Routes are crucial, too easy and they are not learning, too difficult and they are also not learning and sometimes only just surviving. Wrong route for the subject and see how that goes through your competencies.

© Liam Greaney
driving-pro.com

Introduction

Hi, I have written this article to assist in selecting the correct topics in the correct order so your pupil has a structured platform that you build on as you progress through the different topics and subjects that we teach.

In my humble opinion, teaching people to drive is very similar to building a house. Houses need good foundations, the same as drivers need good car control skills.

Car Control

All the more challenging topics require good car control skills. Let’s use a good example, if your pupil lacks the ability to move the vehicle off fairly quickly, can you expect them to do this whilst taking an opportunity to emerge at a very busy roundabout where chances to go are few.

Also do you really want your pupil to emerge at busy uphill junctions with poor clutch and gas coordination. What would you expect the outcome to be if you allowed this to happen.

The same can be said of mirror use, which should be introduced at a very early stage. If not, the pupil starts to habitually not use them and like quick drying cement, the habit will be harder to crack later on down the line.

Knowledge of the area you teach in is critical to your pupil’s progress, especially in the very early stages as you want to be taking them to empty industrial estates or car parks as much as possible so your pupil can practice and refine their vehicle control skills as much as possible, so they have the confidence in using them in more challenging situations.

Traditionally pupils struggle with clutch control, steering, gear changes and braking. This is where rote learning still has a place in learner training. Rote learning is continually practising and repeating a skill over and over again. They say practice makes perfect. I think practice makes permanent. So, make sure your pupil does it properly and well each time, as much as possible.

Learning

On a recent human factor course, I was told that you have to repeat something 66 times until it becomes natural! So be patient! To make life simpler and easier for your pupil, why not break the skill down into smaller chunks.

If your pupil is having difficulties in remembering the whole sequence in getting the vehicle to move off, get your pupil just to practice putting it gear one about five times, then selecting the gas and finding the bite a number of times.

If your pupil struggles with any single aspect of the sequence, just keep practising that part, with lots of help of course so they can do it right independently and feel like they are succeeding.

Success is still important in driving lessons and it helps motivate your pupil. There are a number of exercises I have used in the past to great effect to improve clutch control.

I have practised, setting the gas and finding the bite on very quiet industrial estates with the vehicle being allowed to crawl very slowly forward and then getting the pupil to apply the foot brake and clutch to stop. This gets a pupil to learn to feel how the pedals work, as no amount of observation can teach this as it’s a psychomotor skill that has to be learnt through the sense of feel.

© David Allen
‘A’ Grade Driver Training

Introduction

In many educational settings, learning contracts are used to set clear expectations between instructor and learner. For driving instructors, they can be a valuable tool for improving engagement, ensuring progress, and maintaining a professional learning relationship.

What is a Learning Contract?

A learning contract is a written agreement between the instructor and the learner that outlines:

• Learning objectives
• Responsibilities of both parties
• Agreed timescales
• Measures for tracking progress

Originating in education and training environments, learning contracts have been shown to improve focus, accountability, and motivation.

Why Use Them in Drive Training?

For ADIs, a learning contract can:

• Clarify lesson goals and expected behaviours
• Reduce misunderstandings about lesson structure and responsibilities
• Give learners a clear roadmap to test readiness
• Encourage shared responsibility for learning outcomes

How to Create an Effective Learning Contract

Agree the Goals Together

Include both short-term skills and the long-term goal of test readiness.

Be Specific

Avoid vague statements; detail the skills, timelines, and number of hours to be completed.

Include Mutual Commitments

For example, the learner agrees to practise manoeuvres between lessons, and the instructor agrees to provide structured feedback.

Review Regularly

Check progress every few lessons and adjust if needed.

Practical Example for ADIs

A contract might specify:

• “I will arrive on time for all lessons”
• “I will practise mirror checks and hazard perception daily”
• “I will prepare a lesson plan for the next session” (instructor)

Introduction

Ever wondered why when your test candidate signs the DL25 that it says you must be resident in the country for 185 days?

The short answer: It’s the legal test for “Normal residence”.

What it means

UK law requires you to be normally resident in Great Britain to get a provisional licence and to take theory and practical driving tests. “Normal residence” is defined as living in the country for at least 185 days in the last 12 months.

We as a rule of thumb say it’s 6 months, but doubling up on 185 gives 370 which is more than half the year, which is 365 or 366 long in a leap year. So if it was 183 that would be exactly half a leap year and cover the years that were not leap years. So why 185 days?

It comes down to how we measure months and also what sort of months we use. There are calendar months, January, February etc. and these vary from 28-31 days in length.

So if you start counting the days in consecutive months you will notice that the maximum number of days you can have within any 6 month period is 184. These are the days using the months July and August both of which have 31 days and are the only two of 31 days that are next to each other.

The minimum number of days you can have within any 6 month period is 181 which uses February which is the only month with 28 days.

So 184 plus 1 day to go over the 6 months gives us 185 as our total.

Its Legal Basis

This 185-day threshold comes from EU Directive 2006/126/EC (Article 12), implemented in the UK via the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999/2864). The UK kept this definition after Brexit.

This 185 days was not thrust upon us by some European bureaucrat, but is a period of law, common in the UK. Perhaps most importantly summary offences which covers most driving offences are dealt with within a 6 month time frame by a magistrates court. More serious ones such as death by dangerous driving need to go to a crown court and are outside the 6 month rule.

Why it exists

To ensure the licence is issued where you actually live, so records, penalties, disqualifications, and test integrity are properly managed and to prevent licence tourism.