Learning to drive.

There is more to learning to drive than just getting the car to stop and start where you want it to. The driving test, these days, is much more complex than it was even ten years ago. An examiner is not looking for a perfect drive, far from it indeed, but they do expect a test candidate to drive with a high level of anticipation and awareness. You must drive with courtesy, but not negatively. You must be positive and make progress where safe, but not use excessive speed and bully your way through situations.

Learning test routes may seem like a quick way to test, but in the long run, may lead to accidents in areas a new driver is un-used to. Not to mention, the DSA often introduce new routes! For this reason, I take learners over a variety of roads and areas, from single track country roads, to city centres. Recently, pupils have found themselves driving in, for example, Tenby, St. Davids, Cardigan and Fishguard.

The DSA recommends, and I couldn't agree more, that private practice between lessons is important in getting through your test earlier. But, the DSA also recommends that at least some lessons should be taken with a qualified instructor. Why is that? Simple, we know what the examiners expect and how to deal with situations the "DSA way". How many times have you heard someone say that they wouldn't pass a test today if they had to re-take it? But, those same people think they can teach someone to drive. The driving test has changed so much over the last couple of decades that, a person who teaches their child to drive how they were taught to drive at 17, could well be teaching them to fail!

I always aim to be as honest with my pupils as possible, I WILL NOT tell you that you are not ready for test if you are, but then again I don't put people in for test if they are not ready. Some instructors throw pupils at the test as soon as they think that on a really good day, with very good luck, they might just pass - does this sound how you want to pass your test? I don't believe in relying on luck, it's not safe for you, the examiner, my reputation and, above all, everyone else on the road. Also, with the cost of a driving test these days, plus 2 hours of lesson and car use on the day of of your test, this costs you over £100 - money far better spent on a few more lessons to achieve a first time pass.

Nervous drivers

The best driver in the world can make an out of character mistake while under pressure on test. Most learners can simply focus on the next hazard and wait to see what the result is at the end of the test. However, some people are so nervous that they are either shaking (sometime literally) just at the thought of arriving at the test centre and others can fall to pieces after a simple mistake.

These learners need to be approached in a different manner and I have had lots of experience with pupils who's reactions to nerves have varied from simple added stress and tension, through to vomiting and panic attacks. Pushing such a person will make matters worse, yet some instructors have a "one-size-fits-all" technique. I will take the time to see what needs to be dealt with, then between us we can work to find a solution that best fits the learner's needs.

I can give basic advice on the support that is available to such drivers and what medication is suitable for use while driving. I also have hypnotherapy CD's which can be borrowed by my pupils for pre-test relaxation!

Pass Rates

Pass rates are not a very accurate way of assessing how good an individual instructor is, they make no allowance for, for example, nervous pupils, but for the record my pass rate has averaged just over 60% for the last 6 years. This compares to a national average of 43%.

I am proud of this rate and believe it justifies my belief in waiting till a pupil is really ready for the test. The DSA's motto is "Safe Driving For Life" and I believe this is the only way to teach people to drive on today's roads.