Robina's Motoring School

The greatest feeling any driving instructor can get is aswel as a pupil passing their test, is helping a pupil believe in themselves enough to have the confidence to drive!

For many people, driving is something that frightens them, many don’t think they will ever do it, so when you see an instructor car with a pupil maybe struggling a bit, take into consideration the fact that in that car a man or woman, is working hard not just to teach a nervous individual, but also working hard to keep their nerves under control, to reassure them, to build their confidence and make them feel safe!

Also be aware that we get a lot of pupils who are Autistic, dyspraxic , dyslexic and suffer anxiety they can often find driving very challenging!

Driving instructors strive to improve the lives of people’s loved ones, they strive to help give them the opportunities and freedom in life that come with a driving licence!

To be honest it’s often a hard job, but very rewarding, not everyone could do it, despite what people may think, the dual controls only work on the brake and clutch, we have no control over a pupils nerves, or slamming the brake on..it is the skill of the instructor who keeps things safe and calm!

Remember we are teaching and keeping safe people’s loved ones, one day it could be one of your loved ones!

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝… 🙏🏾❤️

Wishing all pupils who are celebrating.

Next time you want to quibble over the price of driving lessons, have a look at road traffic collision statistics and ask yourself...'am I prepared to let my child become one of these numbers?'

By quibbling with the price of a professional service, you are undermining the professional.
Driving instructors pay a lot of money to qualify, and for what?
To be told 'well I passed in just 10 hours so I dont want to pay for any more than that.'

10 hours by today's standards will get you basic controls, minor roads, a couple of manoeuvres and if you're lucky, roundabouts.

Dont undermine your driving instructor. 😊

The most common reason for failing a driving test is observations at junctions. 👀

You’ll be marked with this fault for not taking effective observation before emerging at junctions and emerging into the path of other vehicles.

All drivers should always make sure it’s safe before proceeding.

DVSA reveals top driving test faults made in the first year of the new test Failing to look properly at junctions and not using mirrors effectively are the top reasons people failed following changes made to the driving test in 2017.

Wishing everyone happy Eid who are celebrating today.
Eid Al Adha is all about sharing what we have and caring for those in need.

Imagine a child throwing a tantrum because their parents won’t let them ride their bike as fast as they want.

That’s what I see grown adults do every day.

They’ll throw little tantrums because the car in front is sticking to the speed limit.

Especially in a 20mph zone.

Actual tantrums.

By actual adults.

(If you ask them about it, they actually try to justify it, the same way a child would!)

So if you’re learning to drive, and there’s an ‘adult’ behind you throwing a tantrum, try not to let them affect you too much.

Imagine them rolling around on the floor screaming in ASDA because the queue is too long.

That’s basically what they’re doing.

If you are taking driving lessons and take the decision to book a practical test, please accept that this booking is provisional on you reaching the required standard prior to the date of your test.
As an instructor my reputation lies in the standard of pupils I take to test.
Having a test in a matter of weeks isn't going to make you ready.
You must be able to drive independently, make safe decisions in situations you may have never come across before.
The examiner is expecting you to have reached this standard.
If I don't feel that you are ready, I will not risk my reputation so that you can just have a go.
Test readiness Is not dependant on when your theory certificate runs out.

🚗 With the continuing lack of test availability at any local driving test centre, a few words from one of my colleagues and me!!!!

🚙 Almost on a daily basis, we are getting enquiries from people with test dates booked and no instructor to take them or a car to take the test in! A recent request even saying that they’re not very good at reversing and also wanting to know what is required during a test, with all this giving me one week’s notice!

🚗 The best person to tell you what is required on a test and to get you test ready is a driving instructor. The use of my car or any instructor’s car is not a given right but a privilege and I only hand over the keys to my car to a pupil that I have trained and I am confident they will treat it with respect totally independently and have enough knowledge and experience to pass a test. So telling me you want to use my car, when a test is booked and giving me no time to fit you in into non-existent availability is just NOT HAPPENING.

🚙 In the meantime, we are continuing to train our pupils that are nearing test readiness and no tests available because they have been taken up by people that have no chance of sitting a test on that day. This is also causing a high number of no shows on test day.

🚗 What’s the solution? Get a driving instructor, get the correct training then with your instructor’s advice and consent book a test when they become available. Let’s do this the right way then we can all work together to help clear the backlog!

We wish Eid mubarak to all the pupils celebrating today.
Best wishes from RMS.

Woman passes her driving test on her 960th go after spending £11,000 Cha Sa-soon first attempted the written test in April 2005 and after failing it, she continued to retake it until she passed. She then took the practical test 10 times before getting her licence

Wishing all my past and present Muslim pupils, Ramadhan Mubarak 🌟

Sending you warm greetings on this sacred occasion. May the essence of Ramadan inspired you to lead a better life, filled with love, compassion, and gratitude.😌

Driving eyesight rules 🤓

You must wear glasses or contact lenses every time you drive if you need them to meet the ‘standards of vision for driving’. 👀 ( 20 metres or 67 feet )

You must tell DVLA if you’ve got any problem with your eyesight that affects both of your eyes, or the remaining eye if you only have one eye.

This does not include being short or long sighted or colour blind.

When picking your frames for driving, avoid any that have thick sides as they can restrict your side vision and therefore make driving more dangerous.

Choosing thinner sides will allow you to see around the frames into other lanes of traffic and improve your peripheral vision.

If you’re caught using a handheld phone while driving, you’ll get
🛑 6 penalty points on your licence
🛑 A fixed penalty notice of £200 or a fine of up to £1,000 (or £2,500 if you’re a bus or lorry driver).
🛑 You’ll also be risking a driving ban; if you get just 6 points in the first 2 years after passing your test, you will lose your licence.

.

As snow is falling in parts of the UK today, it's important to remember what Rule 229 of the Highway Code states before you set off on any journey 🌨️:

You MUST be able to see, so clear all snow and ice from all your windows ✔️
You MUST ensure that lights are clean and number plates are clearly visible and legible✔️
Make sure the mirrors are clear and the windows are demisted thoroughly ✔️
Remove all snow that might fall off into the path of other road users ✔️
Check your planned route is clear of delays and that no further snowfalls or severe weather are predicted ✔️

Drive safely, and do not travel in severe weather unless your journey is essential ❄️

Read the other Highway Code weather rules online, for free: http://ow.ly/nprE50NbR99

Happy International Women's Day ♀️

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/driving-test/359697/driving-test-examiners-go-strike-dates-announced

Driving test examiners to go on strike: dates announced | Auto Express DVSA staff will walk out from 6 March, as union aims for “significant impact” on operations

WASTED PRACTICAL TEST SLOTS!

I would advise people, to make sure they have an instructor, or the agreement of an instructor to take them to test before they book a test.

We are all getting calls asking us to take people we don’t know from Adam to test because:
“Their city has no slots available!”
“Their instructors have let them down, or they are double booked !”

The fact is, all instructors are very busy trying to fit their own pupils in and getting them to test standard.

Please check instructors have available spaces before you commit to a test.

This will save you a lot of stress and disappointment.

Also a great factor of to many test slots getting wasted , finding no driving instructors have availability after booking a driving test and then forgetting to cancel the driving test hence ending up as a “ No Show!” at the test centre and a waste of money !

Not helping the back log with tests being wasted!

We as driving instructor’s have clients that can’t find any test slots and calls coming in with tests booked and no instructor’s!

If you're a learner driver, you must pass your car theory test before taking your driving test. It will help you become a knowledgeable and safer road user ✔️

The theory test has two sections:
❓ multiple choice questions
⚠️ hazard perception

And costs £23!

Book your theory test, here: http://ow.ly/6QZP50MAZbn

🇹🇷🙏😞

COPIED FROM A FRIEND!

Taking a Practical Driving Test !

A driving test is designed to allow you to demonstrate your skills and road knowledge to the examiner, who will assess you with a simple marking sheet!

You will be nervous taking the test, everyone is, however there are two types of nerves!

Nerves because you are being tested, just like exams in school are normal, in many ways they are helpful as they give you a little Adrenalin to up your game!
The second lot of nerves are not helpful they come from self doubt, contributing factors are:

Listening to friends and associates horror stories about their tests or their friends tests, remember a story is only interesting if it has drama and people do like to exaggerate!

Driving instructors take many pupils to test every year we are the only ones who can give you the true facts about a driving test, so don’t listen to stories!

Horror stories about examiners, nonsense!

They don’t put anything on the sheet, the sheet is empty when you start, if you drive without making mistakes it will remain so!

People telling you that certain junctions are awful and they failed their test there, again nonsense if you have put the hours in, gained the experience, if you read the road markings and signs and drive to the conditions you will be fine!

Lack of confidence on the day, usually because you have missed lessons or have not had enough lessons, the same as going for an exam in school and missing lessons or not revising!

The driving assessment/test lasts about 40 minutes, the real test starts the minute the examiner says to you “I’m happy to tell you that you have passed!”
Because then you have responsibility for your safety and that of the passengers who may travel with you and other road users as well!

Don’t just look at driving lessons as a means to pass a test, that’s just ticking boxes, look to get as much knowledge and experience as possible on lessons, don’t sell yourself short on knowledge and experience!

No one ever failed anything by studying and practicing too much!

One last tip, don’t tell people when you have booked your test, keep it to yourself!
You don’t need an audience or a second episode !

Good luck to everyone who has a practical driving test coming up 😊

Part of your driving test now includes “Show me tell me” questions.

Did you know you may have to pop the bonnet and identify key areas of the engine?

Link 👇🏻 below 👇🏻

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/car-show-me-tell-me-vehicle-safety-questions/car-show-me-tell-me-vehicle-safety-questions

Speed is a critical factor in all road crashes and casualties.

The faster a vehicle is travelling, the longer it takes to stop, and the greater the risk of a crash.

Speed and stopping distances don’t increase at the same rate.

Small increases in speed result in bigger increases in stopping distances.

Stopping distances include the distance travelled while the driver notices a hazard and applies the brakes (thinking distance), and while the vehicle comes to a full stop from its initial speed (braking distance).

🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘

THE REALITY OF LEARNING TO DRIVE

Before anyone makes the decision to learn to drive, please consider the following points that I’m about to make.

1; You are learning to operate a machine that if used or operated incorrectly, or irresponsibly, can result in serious injury or, even worse, fatality.

2; Your learning process will not be simple, quick or cheap. The co-ordination and spatial awareness takes time to develop - particularly to a point where it becomes second nature.

3; As the driver you are legally responsible for the vehicle, yourself and equally responsible for the safety of others. Being a learner driver doesn’t excuse you of these responsibilities - nor does it make you immune from prosecution if laws are broken.

4; The importance of knowing your subject matter should not be underestimated or taken lightly.The theory test isn’t just an obstacle on the way to your practical test.Revise thoroughly and aim to pass with the highest score possible.The more knowledge that you learn and retain can potentially make a massive difference to all round safety.

5: We are all individuals who learn at different rates. Friends or family may have reached the standard more quickly, but don’t treat the learning process as a competition. Equally, guard against becoming demoralised if you’re taking longer to learn than you thought. Don’t let pride get in the way of safety.

6; Always listen to your Instructor and take on board their advice. An Instructor’s advice is more likely to be correct and up to date than that of friends or family - no matter how well meaning. Your Instructor is also the best person to advise you when you’re ready to take a test.

7; When you have passed your test please remember that a test pass means that you’re safe enough to continue learning on your own. It takes years of experience to become a truly good driver, so never assume that you’re the finished article.
We never stop learning, nor should you.
🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘

Driving examiners to wear body worn cameras
From today (25 January) driving examiners will begin to wear body worn cameras to help tackle an increase in abuse.

Happy new year to all my past and present pupils.

#2023

Wishing all of my Friends, Fellow ADI’s and Pupils, Past, Present and Future, a Very Merry Christmas 🎄🎅🏽 and a Happy, Healthy & Safe New Year 2023 🚗 😀

Congrats 👏

Congratulations to Kaneez for passing her practical driving today. Well done 👏

🚗 Pupils taking their driving test only when ready will help reduce waiting lists as they won’t need to retest.

💻 Use our ‘Ready to Pass?’ checklist as a tool to discuss with your child to see if they’re fully prepared: https://readytopass.campaign.gov.uk

Well done Maria for passing 1st time with RMS today, we wish you a 'safe driving'.

You'll be asked two safety questions during your driving test

Wishing all my pupils who are celebrating, 🎆🎇Happy Diwali.

BOOKED YOUR DRIVING TEST ????

Don’t have an instructor for those “few lessons” you “need” and the use of a car just so you can pass?!
If this sounds familiar, it’s worth noting WE ARE NOT HIRE CARS.

Driving instructors are well aware of the many people who book practical tests and then rush around asking every instructor in the local area hoping someone will take you. We get messages from you several times a week! The answer is always the same-no!

So let’s look at why you are you finding it hard to get an instructor to take you on….

The truth is we are busy, and booked up weeks in advance.
We therefore do not take pupils we don’t know and haven’t trained, we concentrate on those we do know and are prepared to put the required hours in.

Why you ask??
Because it takes more than a “few lessons” to assess your ability for a start. We then have to spend time to correct the faults and ensure that you have enough time to practise driving to the safe standard that is required to pass.
We then have to ensure you can consistently drive safely and INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT HELP….

So hopefully now you can start to see why your kind offer of a “few lessons” is often rejected.

I have never met a student yet who has been able to meet the standard required to pass a test in two lessons, and I would invite any instructor to correct me if I’m wrong.

So why have you booked this test?
Maybe you're in a rush to pass- I get it we want it done ASAP.
Also, it’s expensive learning to drive isn’t it, lessons are costly we understand that, but so is a funeral….

Ask yourself this…(and be honest)….
Would you jump into a pool knowing you aren’t able to swim yet….in the hope you might just survive?
Course you wouldn’t!

So then why book (and or a sit) a test you’ve not prepared for, aren’t at the standard to pass and could risk other peoples life’s all to “have a go” - yes I’m talking about the examiner who has to sit next to you fearing for his life, and the other road users you’ve put at risk all to “have a go”?

So please - if you’ve made it this far…don’t book a test until you have spoke with an instructor willing to take you.
Your blocking up an already back logged system, and will no doubt have to cancel that test when you fail to find an instructor to “hire”.
Making it even more difficult for people who are ready to book a test.

We want you to pass just as much as you want to pass.. and in doing so we will give you the best and honest advice, after all, you will be sharing the road with us and our family and friends! 💖🚙 RMS