In a survey we recently conducted with driving instructors across the country, we found that, out of 118 respondents, 90% of those asked reported that they had experienced a scary incident during a lesson.
To help keep you safe, we’re exploring ways you can avoid this happening to you.
1. Teach your pupil defensive driving from the beginning
One of the easiest ways to keep yourself and your students safe on the roads is to teach them how to drive defensively from the start of their very first lesson. Teaching them to remain vigilant while driving, anticipate dangerous situations, and expect the unexpected from other drivers on the road can go a long way in keeping you both safe.
This will give them the foundation to ensure they’re leaving the right amount of following distance between the car in front, staying alert and aware of other road users, and using their mirrors effectively.
Prevent students from picking up offensive driving habits by not reacting emotionally to any unexpected moves from other road users (easier said than done but it’s worth it). By keeping calm in the face of rude or aggressive drivers, you can help normalise this behaviour to students.
2. Go at the student’s pace
Every student is different; whilst some might have previous experience riding a scooter, the majority will likely be starting their journey on the road with you. People will have varying levels of experience and confidence levels, so it’s important that you allow the learner driver’s capability level to set the pace.
If, for instance, your student is struggling with left and right turns, it’s a good idea to focus on these until they gain confidence before moving on.
If your pupil doesn’t mind doing it, getting them to commentate on what they’re seeing and anticipating while driving can help you check their observational skills. It can also help you gauge whether they’ve seen a hazard and act accordingly before the situation becomes dangerous.
We’d recommend making it clear that this isn’t you testing them, but you understanding their thought process, ensuring you don’t increase their anxiety.
4. Explain the way roundabouts work thoroughly
Many driving instructors commented that their scariest incidents happened on roundabouts. Respondents had varying reasons for this, including one pupil pulling the handbrake while on a roundabout, a student turning right at a roundabout instead of going around, and learner drivers not keeping lane discipline while going around.
Roundabouts are tricky to navigate, especially for students who are just starting to learn to drive. It’s a good idea to thoroughly explain how roundabouts work and what pupils should expect when driving on a roundabout before they go around any.
Consider going around mini roundabouts before attempting any larger ones, so students get to grips with giving right of way and finding a gap in the traffic to go around themselves.
And when you feel like your pupil is ready to go around a bigger roundabout, it’s a good idea to choose off-peak times to attempt it at first, just so the student can practise lane discipline without the added pressure of rush-hour traffic.
4. Be extra careful on dual carriageways and motorways
Some of the driving instructors we surveyed explained that their scary experiences occurred on dual carriageways. For instance, one reported that a student stalled while crossing the dual carriageway, and another said that they were “wiped” off the road by a drunk driver.
Given their relative speed, dual carriageways can be a daunting place for both learner drivers and their instructors. To stay safe, introduce these roads to students in stages. It’s a good idea to scope out quieter dual carriageways first before attempting motorways.
You’ll also want to teach your pupils how to safely get up to the right speed on the slip road before merging onto the dual carriageway, and how students should pick the right place to merge.
Practice mirror and blind spot checks in the lead up to your dual carriageway and motorway lessons (which are allowed in England, Wales and Scotland), and make sure to talk through how to do this before your student puts everything into practice. Whilst you can’t always account for reckless drivers, you can make sure your pupil is as prepared as possible to drive defensively in these situations.
5. Steer clear of distractions
We’re sure you do this already, but when you’ve been teaching all day, it can be difficult to remain as vigilant and fresh as you were when you started that morning. It’s important that you keep distractions to a minimum and schedule regular breaks between lessons to ensure you remain as present as possible.
6. Watch out for students swerving and braking unexpectedly
Learner drivers coming across new hazards on the roads can cause them to act more drastically than is necessary, like swerving or braking in a dangerous way. Look ahead and in blind spots for hazards and make your student aware of any upcoming issues if they haven’t faced the hazard before, or you feel like they haven’t spotted it in due course.
7. Keep your cool even when other drivers on the road don’t
One driver reported that another driver “deliberately intimidated” them when a student stalled by calling the number on their top box over and over again while the learner was trying to rectify their mistake.
And this isn’t a one-off situation; many learner drivers on reddit and onlookers on mumsnet have asked why some drivers treat learners so harshly.
To prevent situations like this escalating, it’s important to respond to these eventualities by keeping calm with both the other driver and your student. This will help prevent the learner driver’s anxiety from spiralling out of control and will set a good example for them.
8. Consider investing in driving instructor equipment
Whilst driving instructors don’t tend to need a lot of equipment to start out, you might want to consider investing more heavily in non-essential gear, as these can help ensure you remain as aware of your surroundings as possible and help enhance your lessons. Many of these are tax deductible, so you can get reimbursed for them.
For instance, whilst a blind spot mirror isn’t required, consider getting one so you can more easily check your blind spots when the student is driving. This will also allow your student to more easily check their blind spots.
A dashcam is also a good piece of kit to get. If you or your student get involved in an accident, the footage from your dashcam can prove who was at fault and back up your claim. Dashcams can also enhance your lessons as you can review footage with your pupil if they make a mistake and talk through anything they need to improve. You could even record their mock tests or real tests and review the minors or majors if they end up failing.
8. Keep your own skills sharp
There’s no greater way to reduce the risks of scary incidents on the road than by keeping your own skills on the road sharp. Continuing professional development (CPD) is a great way of doing this, and there are plenty of options available across the UK for approved driving instructors (ADI), including:
- Networking with other instructors
- Attending meetings and conferences
- Learning about bookkeeping and accounts
- Training to teach PassPlus
- Carrying out research online
- Going on courses
- Developing your business skills
9. Debrief your student after every lesson
As most lessons are at least an hour long, you might find that your student forgets the pointers you provide throughout. It’s a good idea to set aside a few minutes at the end to talk through any mistakes your pupil made throughout the lesson and what they should focus on during private practice or your next class with them.
It can also help to spend a few minutes before the student’s next lesson running through these again so the learner driver knows what to focus on.
Get driving instructor insurance with Adrian Flux
If you’re looking to take out driving instructor insurance, speak with the experts at Adrian Flux. We have extensive experience covering both approved and potential driving instructors. Speak to our team on 0800 369 8590 or book a callback to find out more.
