Les Ridley driving instructor

All the way up to the Scottish Highlands, and this is a tourist attraction 😄

There seems to be a lot of posts from people looking for a “Last Minute Driving Instructor”. So I thought I would try and help out, help you understand why you can’t find one.

Times have changed. So has the way we learn to drive…..

The Covid test backlog and certain other DVSA constraints, mean that Instructors are becoming hard to find. We all have around a 12 week waiting list. We appreciate those pupils that take time to get in touch, we add them to our waiting list, we appreciate that they wait diligently, until their turn comes up.

As Driving Instructors, we spend hours in our car with our “own” pupils. Sometimes over weeks, months, or even years.
We see them with adrenaline filled, shaking hands and legs in the first few lessons.
We see them overcome, with sensory overload on these ever increasingly congested roads of ours.
We see them struggle from week to week – sometimes one foot forward, 2 steps back.
We see them watch bad driving from other road users, and wonder why they have to reach a much, much higher standard.
We sometimes see them struggle financially, during this horrific cost of living crisis.
We often become friends, and share their family trials, tribulations and sometimes loss.
We become their confidante, and sometimes they become ours.
We build a relationship, and commit to stick with them till the day that all their hard work pays off, and they finally pass their test, with that smiling photo on social media with a prized pass certificate in their hands.
We sometimes become mentors in life, as well as in driving.
We are more proud of them, than they will ever know.

To parents of young pupils……. you entrust us to ensure that your child (the same child that you have nurtured, guided, cherished, protected and mentored for the last 17 years) passes their test with the skill, knowledge and confidence that will keep them SAFE on the roads for the rest of their lives….. it’s a big responsibility to a Driving Instructor, and one that we don’t take lightly.

NO…… its not easy, and its not quick, but is it really worth cutting the last corner with their safety? Its certainly not cheap, there are no corners to be cut. Learning to drive takes time……

And when its your turn to be test ready, we will do all we can to help you get a test, just as soon as we can, often swapping with other instructors and spending our own time on the phone swapping things around. The Apps that come up with cancellations are the bain of our lives…. open to any chancer, be they test ready or not, more often than not resulting in a fail and increasing the already insurmountable waiting list.

Did you know that DVSA now penalise Driving Instructors? If we present a candidate to test that fails very badly, every fault made is recorded against the Instructor. If too many faults are accrued, we are hauled over the coals and can be called up for a “Check Test”. This is where our Instructional Ability is assessed, under Exam Conditions ….. as a direct result of the candidates that we present under our badge. Repeated failures of this “Check Test” can mean that we will be struck off (regardless of our reputation, reviews or pass rate). We lose our vocation, our business, our livelihood………

We also have a working relationship with our Examiners. They know us, and we know them. Examiners have a tough job, we wont put them in danger with a dangerous candidate. We WILL NOT present a candidate to test, who is not ready. It’s a tough call and in my opinion the worst part of our job, to tell someone “you are not ready yet” and have to push their test back. Not to mention that tests slots are hard to come by. We try not to waste them.

So when we are suddenly asked, can you take me to test in 3 days time, my Instructor is “not available” (usually means the Instructor has said you are not test ready) …… is it any wonder that we won’t drop everything, push our own pupils precious lesson slot aside, put our Examiners in possible danger, and risk our own livelihood…… all because you have “found” a cancellation and want to “jump the queue” ??????

We are mostly overworked, dog tired and bone weary. But still, we do our best to look after our pupils, and help them reach that final goal. We turn up week after week, with a cheery smile and a “can do” motivational attitude (despite our burnt out clutch, scuffed alloys and sweaty seats 😀 ) We try and work around your shift patterns, even though we are sacrificing our own family time. We understand that passing your driving test means so much to you, opens so many doors and we will fully support you….. as best we can.

The best advice from Driving Instructors? Find an Instructor, do the recommended number of lessons (no matter how hard it might be to hear!). If you are not happy with your instructor, change Instructor. But work with us to make sure that when you sit your test, you have all the knowledge and practice you need, to make you safe and confident to drive unassisted.

I hope this post goes some way to help you, in understanding why you will never find a “last minute Driving Instructor”
Thanks for reading....

BOOKING DRIVING TESTS !!!
In the future.

Get ready for changes to how you book and take your test this year.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is all set to make significant changes to how and when you book your driving test. After a consultation run by the agency between January and March in 2022, several proposals are now set to be introduced. These include:

1. Longer waits
What? If you fail your driving test, you will now need to wait 28 working days before being able to take another car driving test. Currently, the wait is 10 working days.

Why? To ensure that learners spend more time practising before attempting another test so they have a better chance of passing.

2. Shorter cancellation times
What? If you need to move or cancel your driving test, you now need to notify the DVSA at least 10 full working days before your test date to avoid losing your test fee. Currently, you can give notice three full working days before your test.

Why? If you need more practice, the move will give the DVSA more time to cancel your test and reallocate it to a learner who is good to go.

3. Eyesight checking
What? Currently, an eyesight check is carried out at the beginning of your test in good daylight, requiring you to read a number plate on a parked vehicle from 20 metres away. Get it wrong three times and the test is cancelled on the spot.

Why? Policy makers want the change so eyesight checks can be carried out in any level of light. This in turn could expand the availability of driving tests in different conditions and at other times of the day.

4. Certification displayed
What? Driving instructors will have to display their professional certificate in their windscreen when bringing you to your test.

Why? This will enable the DVSA to note your performance and how it reflects on your driving instructor. This will help the agency to assess if the instructor’s pupils are making any similar faults. The information could also be used to offer you performance information about instructors in your area when searching for one.

5. Pass certificates
What? Instead of receiving a paper version of your pass certificate after a successful theory or driving test, you will only be given a digital pass certificate.

Why? This will save on costs for the agency as well as create a more sustainable solution.

Many of these measures are part of the DVSA’s ‘Ready to Pass?’ campaign, which has been designed to improve pass rates by asking learners if they’re truly prepared to take their test. You can learn more about the campaign here.

“With more than half of people failing their driving test, it is clear more needs to be done to make sure learner drivers only take their test when they are fully prepared. These new measures will help make sure test-ready learners find appointments and give those who fail more time for more practice.”

• Loveday Ryder, CEO of the DVSA.

Just for laughs! 🤣

This is funny The Ladybird book of Understanding your Driving Instructor (updated)

If you’ve decided you want to pass your driving test, obviously you’ll need to learn how to control a car and how to deal with traffic. You might not have realised though that you’ll need to learn how to deal with a Driving Instructor. There are around 40,000 of these individuals in the country and you’ll want to keep a good one when you find one. Here are some helpful tips and hints:

Cleanliness - Have a wash: a quick spray of Lynx Africa wont cut it if you haven’t had a shower for 4 days. 🚿
Time-keeping - Go out in time for your lesson. You’ll get sent a text if you’re 5 minutes late. At 10 minutes late your instructor will be away quicker than a Junkie’s Giro. 🚗 💨
Payment: online payment is the norm these days. I’m afraid if your instructor doesn’t see payment in their account at bedtime on the night before your lesson, they won’t even set their alarm! 🛌 💤 ⏰

During your lessons you’ll find you are forced to learn lots of things that you’ll never use in real-life driving, like checking blindspots, reversing into parking bays, identifying road-signs, obeying speed limits etc. Might seem pointless but the examiner will look for them on test day so it has to be done.

Despite the fact you’ve survived all 17 years of your life only looking forwards, you’ll find your instructor is obsessed with what’s happening behind you and to your sides. If this was truly important then obviously you’d have eyes on the side of your head like a fish. Sadly if you fail to check your mirrors frequently, you’ll find they nag you constantly or invent lots of silly games to force you to check them.

Around 99% of the population conform to the requirements of saluting Magpies. Driving Instructors don’t though, and will spout nonsense about road-safety if you dare carry out the usual salutations when on the move.

Everyone knows that being able to tell left from right is a black art, at best a 50/50 guess. Instructors however, go on courses at the Transportation Instruction Training School, where they master the art, getting it correct every time. Unfortunately for you this means they will expect you to be at the same level, despite having had only the 17 years to learn. Try turning right at a roundabout when you should’ve went left and they’ll react like you’ve just shat in their kettle!

Instructors are generally much younger than they appear but poor vehicle-sympathy prematurely ages them. Each crunched gear change or slipped clutch means yet another grey hair or wrinkle so take it easy. If they pat the dash and apologise to the car a lot, you might need to improve your smoothness or co-ordination.

Observing your instructors body-language at the end of the lesson will provide a good indication if they are likely to turn up again next week:
Did they drive away leaning forwards avoiding a sweaty seat-back?
Did they have to wipe a salty mess off the gear-knob?
Are they constantly muttering swear-words under their face-mask? 😷
Did you actually make it home or was the lesson abandoned in a pub car-park and they went in for a swift one?
Did they storm off in a huff when you drove in to the canal?
Are you still on your first instructor or are they instructor number 5 or 6?

Look after your instructor, treat them well and you’ll find they turn up week after week, until you can finally wave them goodbye and go on to develop your own style of driving. Treat them poorly though, you’ll find they might fake their own death or change mobile number to avoid you!

Beep beep!
Hope it makes you smile 😊

Unfortunately due to the increase in the cost of fuel, I am having to increase lesson price from the 1st July.
When and if fuel prices reduce back to normal I will bring them back down.
new prices are ,


1 hour lesson£32.00

10 hours£300.00

20 hours£568.00

Saturday
NO BLOCK BOOKING DISCOUNT£35.00


Pinched from another instructor but so true 🚗🚗🚗🚗

Fancy looking at a day in the life of a driving instructor?

Here goes......

We get abuse for being in the correct lanes.

We get abuse for sticking to the speed limits.

We get abuse for slowing down because it says so on the road.

We get abuse for pulling up outside your house.

We get abuse because the driver didn’t set off quick enough.

We get abuse for stalling.

We get abuse for not tailgating the car in front.

We even get abuse for not blocking junctions and not going into a box junction.

We get abuse when you kindly let a learner out but they don’t react as quick as you would like them too.

Please don't beep your horn, it really won't speed us up.

Until we teach one of your family to drive then for a short time the abuse stops, but only for a short time.

We're asked not to use a person's car to practice parallel park, but when we enquire where the person practiced their parallel when learning they reply a car at the side of the road - but that doesn't mean you can use mine !!!!!

We have all had to learn to drive, it’s funny how quickly we forget what it’s like.

We forget what it’s like to approach your first roundabout, the first parallel park, the first crossroads.

Please have a thought for us and our Students, it could be your son, daughter, niece, nephew. We can’t use a class room and trust me we don’t like holding you up anymore than you do!

Please be patient...

Thank you 🚗🏁

Copied from another instructors page

DO YOU THINK YOU ARE READY TO TAKE A DRIVING TEST?

***** JUST A SMALL REMINDER *****

As driving instructors, we can only advise people about their readiness to take a test!

You may think you are driving well when the instructor is:

Telling you when to change gear!
Asking you what the speed limit is!
Talking you through every manoeuvre!
Telling you which lane to be in!
Reminding you which exit to come off of on a roundabout because you forget!
Helping you when you can’t work out if there is enough space for you to get your car through!

If all, or any of the above apply to you, then you are NOT test ready!

When the door shuts and it’s just you and the examiner, the car is the loneliest place to be, when you make a mistake and your brain goes to mush it’s the worst feeling ever!

Remember those family and friends who urge you to just have a go for the experience, aren’t the ones having to go through it, people have very selective memory’s when it comes to driving and tests!

Ask anyone who has failed a test if it was a nice experience!

Remember it’s YOU doing the test, no one else, no phone to google answers, no help from anyone else just YOU!

If you are up to standard, you will still be nervous, but you won’t be doubtful of your ability!

Go look in the mirror and have a straight talk with yourself!

This is a skill for life.

It saves YOUR life and other road users life.

ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION..........

Would you take an A level if you hadn’t studied enough and then expect to pass it?

Thanks for reading. Have a serious think .....

Anyone who has a test booked at Elswick keep an eye out for an email.

Of now until 4th January 😀

media.tenor.co

🚘UPDATE TO ALL PUPILS AND PUPILS WAITING TO START THEIR DRIVING LESSONS🚘

The driver training industry is currently under enourmous pressure due to the huge demand for driving lessons since the easing of the lockdown on 12th April 2021.

As we begin to return to some normality over the coming summer months, there will be large amounts of people wanting to either start learning to drive or restart their training.

As with most driving instructors at this time, we are currently FULLY BOOKED and have a waiting list of new learners eager to get started on their journey to becoming safe drivers. Learning to drive cannot be rushed and we must all stay safe on the roads, therefore it will take some time for current learners to achieve a standard ready to take a driving test and pass. We are working hard to free up some availability as quickly but as safely as possible.

We are also delayed due to a lack of theory and driving test availability. There are a lot of learners who are having to wait until the end of summer for a driving test, who may be ready now but cannot stop taking lessons as they will lose their confidence and possibly ability to drive to the same standard.

Please bear with us as we work through the backlog and get current learners through their driving test.

If you have been in touch about starting your lessons and have been added to our waiting list, please bear with us. We haven't forgotten about you! If you are looking to start your lessons and are planning to get in touch, please be aware that it will be some time before i can get you started.

If you already have a driving test booked at short notice and don't currently have a driving instructor please do not ask us if you can take you to your driving test. We will not take you to a test without assessing your current standard and we do not currently have availability for this at short notice. Please consider postponing your test and providing that test slot for someone who does have an instructor and is fully prepared ready to take a test.

Thank you for understanding and stay safe 🏎👍🙏

It's official now, back to work next monday

Taken from a post on Facebook
Figures from 9th March.

Official figures from the DVSA regarding the current backlog of theory & driving tests.

Theory test recovery
NASP asked about the recovery plan for theory and practical tests; the backlog of theory tests is currently 380,000. DVSA has been working with Pearson Vue before the new service launches in September, and the provision of 10 additional temporary theory test centres will help contribute to an extra 110,000 more tests per month when theory testing restarts. The aim is to clear the backlog by the end of August. The new booking system opens in July for September bookings.

Driving test recovery
There is a backlog of around 420,000 practical tests, with an average of 20 weeks waiting time.

DVSA is working with PHE and HSE to review procedures. 195 test centre waiting rooms were opened before lockdown and there will be an additional 27 when tests resume and another 27 following. There are 49 that may not be possible to use, and 58 sites without waiting rooms. There are 16 across the estate with no toilet facilities.

The target is to recover the backlog in 12 months, after the return to seven tests a day. DVSA stated everything would be done to achieve this and it was important for everyone to feel that it was getting better.

Well we have been given hope , its looking like April the 12th might be the date to restart lessons again, This is just to let you know that, I will be in touch 2 weeks before to start booking lessons again, this is just in case things change ,I don't want to start disappointing people again,
Unfortunately I will only be able to offer 1 lesson per person per week to start, and people who have driving tests booked will take priority (some people have been waiting since March 2020) ,I hope people understand, it wont last forever things will go back to normal eventually
Thanks Les.,

If you send a message on this page, please be aware, messages are not coming through straight away ? If you can , please get in touch via text or WhatsApp. Les