Hints and Tips for Private Practice:
I recommend that all learners take the opportunity to practise their driving between professional sessions. If you are able to do this it will increase your chances of passing your test and enable you to develop safe driving knowledge and skills quicker. Your accompanying driver must be over 21 and have held a full driving licence for at least 3 years.
Information for the accompanying driver:
It may have been a while since you learned to drive and things have changed a lot in that time. Road layouts, pedestrian crossings and the technology in cars, to name but a few have evolved a lot in recent years. Before you take out a learner, it is advised that you familiarise yourself with the Highway Code and read the DVSA’s book – ‘The OFFICIAL DVSA GUIDE to DRIVING the essential skills’.
Once you get on the road with the learner, ensure they understand what you want them to do. Give early instructions (for example, we are going to take the next road on the right just past the lamp post). After a few lessons the learner will know about the system of approach before changing speed or manoeuvring the car. This system is used by Driving Instructors and Driving Standards Agency (DSA) Examiners.
MSPSL – Mirrors – Check before change of speed or manoeuver (Centre then direction – left or right)
S – Signal – Indicator (is the signal needed, will it benefit any other road users?)
P – Position – Where in the road does the car need to be positioned – What does the position ‘tell’ other road users?
S – Speed – What speed should they be doing to make the situation safe – do they need to change gear?
L – Look – What should they be looking for before carrying out the manoeuvre?
As they are driving, check they are following this routine (you could ask them to talk you through what they are doing. As they approach hazards (such as junctions or parked cars), if you spot something, check they have seen it. Ask simple questions such as ‘What are you going to do about …?’
Don’t get into lengthy discussions about faults whilst the learner is driving. Find somewhere safe, get them to pull over and discuss it then. I will happily talk you through this and anything else you want to know about accompanying a learner for private practice.
Also, if your learner agrees I welcome accompanying drivers to come out on some of the professional lessons with the learner for more experience. This allows you to see what level the learner is at before you take them on the road.
I recommend that all learners take the opportunity to practise their driving between professional sessions. If you are able to do this it will increase your chances of passing your test and enable you to develop safe driving knowledge and skills quicker. Your accompanying driver must be over 21 and have held a full driving licence for at least 3 years.
Information for the accompanying driver:
It may have been a while since you learned to drive and things have changed a lot in that time. Road layouts, pedestrian crossings and the technology in cars, to name but a few have evolved a lot in recent years. Before you take out a learner, it is advised that you familiarise yourself with the Highway Code and read the DVSA’s book – ‘The OFFICIAL DVSA GUIDE to DRIVING the essential skills’.
Once you get on the road with the learner, ensure they understand what you want them to do. Give early instructions (for example, we are going to take the next road on the right just past the lamp post). After a few lessons the learner will know about the system of approach before changing speed or manoeuvring the car. This system is used by Driving Instructors and Driving Standards Agency (DSA) Examiners.
MSPSL – Mirrors – Check before change of speed or manoeuver (Centre then direction – left or right)
S – Signal – Indicator (is the signal needed, will it benefit any other road users?)
P – Position – Where in the road does the car need to be positioned – What does the position ‘tell’ other road users?
S – Speed – What speed should they be doing to make the situation safe – do they need to change gear?
L – Look – What should they be looking for before carrying out the manoeuvre?
As they are driving, check they are following this routine (you could ask them to talk you through what they are doing. As they approach hazards (such as junctions or parked cars), if you spot something, check they have seen it. Ask simple questions such as ‘What are you going to do about …?’
Don’t get into lengthy discussions about faults whilst the learner is driving. Find somewhere safe, get them to pull over and discuss it then. I will happily talk you through this and anything else you want to know about accompanying a learner for private practice.
Also, if your learner agrees I welcome accompanying drivers to come out on some of the professional lessons with the learner for more experience. This allows you to see what level the learner is at before you take them on the road.