This morning, I watched a video on Facebook posted by an ADI that left me deeply concerned about the standards we expect within our profession.
In the video, the instructor swears, intervenes late as hazards develop and talks down to learners in a way that, in my opinion, falls well below the professional standards we should expect from an approved driving instructor.
I reported the content to the DVSA.
Why? Because this is about more than one video or one instructor.
I’m concerned that learners are being treated with such little respect. I’m concerned that footage of learners making mistakes, and even arguing with their instructor, can be published online for likes, views and followers.
I’m concerned about the PDIs who may see content like this and believe that this is an acceptable way for an instructor to behave.
I’m also concerned about members of the public who see it and may assume it reflects the wider profession.
Setting the right example
We also need to consider the example this content sets for people entering the profession.
PDIs increasingly have access to an enormous amount of driving instructor content online. Much of it can be useful, but popularity on social media should never be mistaken for an example of good professional practice.
The standards we demonstrate publicly matter.
Every video, comment and interaction contributes, in some small way, to how the public perceives driving instructors as a profession.
When poor behaviour attracts thousands of views, it does not only affect the instructor involved. It risks undermining the work of the many conscientious instructors who treat their learners with respect and take their professional responsibilities seriously.
A first test for the new Code of Practice?
This is why I believe the updated ADI Code of Practice is important.
A Code of Practice should not simply be something we acknowledge and then forget about. It should help establish what good professional conduct looks like and provide a meaningful benchmark for the standards expected of our profession.
Social media is now part of that conversation.
How instructors present themselves online, how they treat learners on camera and how they use footage from lessons can all influence confidence in the profession.
The vast majority of instructors work hard to support their learners and uphold high standards. We should not allow the actions of a minority to undermine that.
Where we see behaviour that we genuinely believe falls below the standards expected of an ADI, we should be prepared to challenge it through the appropriate channels.
If the new Code of Practice is going to have the positive impact on our profession that I believe it can, it must be capable of addressing professional conduct not only in the car, but in the increasingly public world in which instructors now operate.
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