What does it take to be an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI)?
Here are a few things you should consider before 'taking the plunge': Do you have the right character? An ADI should possess the following qualities:
•Patience - with some student drivers you will have to keep going over the same things many times;
•Understanding - you must be able to understand the student needs and feelings;
•Good communication skills;
•Inter-personnel skills - you must be able to deal with the public in a non-aggressive manner.
•A lot of patience and study;
•Your family must back you 150%
The rules:
To begin with, you must have held a full driving licence in category B (manual cars) for at least 3 1/2 of the last 6 years. You must not have been disqualified during this time. You must also be a 'fit and proper' person. This relates to convictions not spent under the 'rehabilitation of offenders' act.
The tests:
Before you can train people to drive, you must pass three main qualifying exams. You have up to 2 years to qualify from the date you pass the ADI Part 1 test.
1.Part 1: Theory and Hazard Perception tests:
2.Part 2: Practical driving test
3.Part 3: Practical test of teaching skills
The Theory and Hazard Perception tests
The Theory Test consists of 100 multiple choice questions. Each question has 4 possible answers, only 1 is correct. Candidates have 90 minutes to complete the ADI Theory Test. The 100 questions have been banded into four main areas:
1.Road procedures
2.Traffic signs and signals; car control; pedestrians; mechanical knowledge:
3.The driving test; disabilities, traffic law
4.Publications and instructional techniques
The HPT consists of 14 video clips; the 14 clips will contain 15 developing hazards.As the potential hazard develops into one requiring you to change speed or direction, you will have a time window in which to react. For each hazard you can score 5 points going down to zero. This gives a highest possible score of 75 for the test. The pass mark for potential driving instructors taking the Part 1 will be 57.
The overall pass mark for the test is 85%. However, you must reach a minimum mark of 80% in each of the 4 subject areas. So you must get at least 20 out of 25 in each band. A score of 25, 25, 25 and 19 would give you 94% but would not be acceptable.
The test is taken on a touch screen computer monitor.
Books you will will need to study for the Part 1 test:
•Driving - The Essential Skills;
•The Highway code
•Know your traffic signs
•The Official Driving Test
•The Driving Instructors Hand book
•Instructional techniques and practice
•Booklet ADI 1 ***
•Form DL1 (gives details of driving license requirements) ***
•Form DL9a Driving test report ***
•Form DL3 Driving test application ***
•Certificate DL8 (driving test pass certificate) ***
*** These forms are part of an information pack from the Driving Standards Agency, and can be obtained by phoning 0300 123 1126, or writing to:
Driving Standards Agency
P.O. Box 280
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE99 1FP
The starter packs currently cost £5.00
The other books mentioned, can be obtained from any good bookshop or online from Amazon.
Part 2: Practical driving test
The ADI Part 2 driving ability test, consists of an hours' driving whereby you will need to display above average driving skills. You will be allowed to make no more than 6 minor driving faults within the test. As a benchmark, learner drivers can make up to 15 driving faults, and still pass.
Part 3: Practical test of teaching skills
For the ADI Part 3 Instructional Ability test, you will be given two Pre-Set Tests. For example, moving off/stopping a car, and meeting/crossing the path of other vehicles. where a Supervising Examiner will role-play a leaner driver at various levels of ability. You would need to show him/her that you have the necessary skill to train members of the public to drive safely. The Part 3 test last for an hour.
Passing the qualifying exams is not easy. Less than 1 in 3 pass Part 1 exam. Figures show that fewer again pass part 2 and still fewer pass part 3
For a detailed explanation, see Introduction to becoming a driving instructor
