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 Peception 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 whichto react. For each hazard you canscore 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 0115 901 2629, or writing to DSA, PDI section, Talbot House, Stanley Street, Nottingham, NG1 5GU.

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 tests 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.