Client-Centered Learning Development
This is the latest buzzword introduced into the driving instructor industry over the last eighteen months by both the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and many self styled industry leaders. All of them are quite rightly trying, as we are, to improve the standard of driving instructors in the UK. Our Driving Instructor Training course has been training driving instructors to do this for over eight years.

Most of the others seem to be simply trying to figure out how to retrain ADI’s. We already have our own ADI training aides in place which will allow you to easily develop these skills during what will be an intensive driving course. We also encourage our instructors to train weekly from day one to enable they can ‘coach’ you to a much higher standard during driving lessons than our competitors resulting in a higher success rate and lower average number of driving faults.

Coaching is a complex subject in its own right and the problem is, not many driving schools know enough about how it works within the learning process for pupils.  To achieve what our driving instructors do is simple, it’s not rocket science but we don’t want our competitors to catch up any time soon because we are possibly ten years ahead of them.

The Hermes Project was a three year EU funded project involving some of the top ‘coaching experts’ in Europe. They were tasked with developing a 3-5 day training course to help driving instructors to develop coaching skills. As part of their findings they concluded ‘it takes months if not years to develop coaching skills’ and when learning to coach they said ‘you can’t get it from a book’ or ‘learn it in a classroom’.

Coaching
This is a generic term for the natural learning or development that can be achieved provided someone has a reasonable level of common sense, knowledge and competence. If we use the example of coaching someone to play golf, the individual first needs to how to swing their arms. This is not the same as using LCD when training a pupil to use the pull-push technique as their brain in many cases  does not know how to move their arms in this way.

Coaches allow pupils to choose how they would hold and move the wheel. Experience shows us without the correct level of instruction, this task would end in failure and leave pupils demoralised. Only when an activity has been trained can we look to a pupil to develop an understanding of the rights and wrongs of what they are doing.

The GDE Matrix
GDE is a an acronym for Goals for Driver Education and matrix is a posh word for a table, more importantly, this is the structure which is set to be adopted throughout Europe and by the DVSA and in turn the industry. In brief there are four levels through which pupils skills need to be developed.

It has already been determined that to train pupils to the two higher levels driving instructors will need to be able to coach rather than instruct. The DVSA has already published a teaching schedule and structure they see, as being a minimum requirement for teaching in the not too distant future. At KISS we already have and work to a comprehensive schedule and structure which far exceeds what the DVSA has published only we have simplified the format.

Know Your Road Signs
Download your free DVSA official ‘know your road signs’ book to help you read the road better. Studying this will help when it comes to taking the Theory Test as a number of the questions asked are on road signs.

Theory Test
On your Theory Test you will be asked 50 questions and you must get at least 43 of these right to pass. You will also be presented with a case study of a particular driving scenario and asked five questions about it. To prepare adequately for the Theory Test we recommend you begin by taking a few driving lessons first.

Hazard Perception Test
With this test you are required to watch fourteen clips and in them you will see fifteen developing hazards. You will score 0 to 5 points depending on how quickly you identify the developing hazard. You will need to score a minimum of 44 points from a possible total of 75 to pass.

Before you start watch the video that explains how the test is conducted. In the preview you are asked to identify any potential hazards (someone who MAY cause you to change speed and/or direction). When you do, click your mouse, then watch to see if it becomes a developing hazard (something that WILL cause you to change speed and/or direction).

Your KISS driving instructor will help you prepare for both the Theory and Hazard Perception Tests.

Training Materials
There are a number of multi-choice question books available in shops. We recommend and sell the official DVSA Question Book at less than the RRP.  We can also supply DVD’s on which you can practice both the Theory and Hazard Perception Tests [Contact Us].

Mock Tests
We would recommend you get into your car with more than just the person teaching you to drive, so you don’t feel uncomfortable with an examiner getting in the car. Driving test examiners are normally quite sociable people although the practical driving test does mean both they and the candidate meet in  usual circumstances. They may well remain silent as you drive to allow you to concentrate, which in itself, can be un-nerving and if someone can give you the experience beforehand, it will benefit you.

Your Practical Driving Test
Driving test centres operate staggered test times, they may operate on Saturdays and during the summer months (British Summer Time) a few begin testing at 07.30 with the late ones beginning at 16.10 and 16.40. Some have car parks, others require you to park on a street nearby. Your email confirmation from the DVSA should provide details of the Driving Test Centre address and any parking arrangements you will need.

The deadline for cancelling your practical driving test is three clear working days, although usually any decision to cancel needs to be made a week before. The DVSA will sometimes re-book a test cancelled with less than three clear working days notice if the cancellation was for medical reasons.

The DVSA has introduced a number(19) of SHOW ME, TELL ME questions that you will need to be able to answer before you start the practical part to the test.  These are fairly basic and vehicle checks that any driver should routinely make to ensure their vehicle is roadworthy and safe on the roads.  Your examiner will ask you one SHOW ME question and one TELL ME question, if you get either or both wrong YOU WILL NOT fail the practical test, it will possibly make you more nervous though.

Paperwork
Two weeks before the test, make sure you check you have the correct appointment date and time, the theory test pass certificate and BOTH parts of your provisional licence. If you have lost the paper part of the photocard licence you MUST obtain a replacement from the DVSA – you WILL NOT be allowed to take the test without it. If your address has changed complete the lower section of the paper licence giving their new address and postcode before you get to the Driving Test Centre.

On The Day of Your Practical Driving Test

Your Car
Present yourself in the best possible light – i.e. a clean, tidy and vacuumed car with nothing rolling around loose on or under the seats. Be careful if you use air fresheners as they can be overpowering and some examiners may not like the fragrance!

On the day of the test you, along with your driving instructor/supervising driver must first check to make sure your vehicle is roadworthy and legal. This means a valid tax disc must be on display, wiper blades must work, oil, coolant and windscreen washer fluid levels need to be topped up. Tyre’s must not only be road legal they must not have cuts and/or flaps of rubber hanging off the sidewalls and the pressures must be correct.  All external lights must be working to include headlights, sidelights, number plate lights, indicators and brake lights and warning lights on your dashboard go out with the ignition on.

Modern cars are not designed to make bulb changing easy – even if you have a set of spare bulbs in the boot, it can take some time to change one. It may well be necessary to remove the light unit which will require tools just to gain access to the bulbs. You will usually be given a maximum of five minutes to rectify any problems before the examiner abandons the test.  Even if you could change a tyre in this time, many cars only have space saver wheels, the use of which would not be allowed on test because of their 50mph speed restriction.

If the test is abandoned because of a defect on the car the DVSA will not offer any form of compensation.

At the Test Centre
Candidates are generally allowed into any available parking bays ten minutes before the due time therefore you should plan to arrive at the test centre no sooner than this. If you need the toilet before your practical driving test be aware that many driving test centres do not provide toilet facilities. So, if you need the toilet or a nerve calming cigarette allow a further ten minutes for this so you don’t arrive late. Examiners are permitted to wait a maximum of five minutes for late arrivals.

Be aware of any practical driving tests that may be leaving or returning late, it’s important to be considerate to others and stay as far out of their way as possible.  Examiners are easy enough to spot as they usually wear high visibility jackets. If you see someone ‘on test’ try to stay out of the way as much as possible without putting other road users at risk.

Accompanying Tests
Examiners are sometimes accompanied by their Supervisor or a quality manager reasonably often as part of their quality monitoring procedures. The second examiner is watching how the examiner assesses you and not testing you – they are unlikely to say anything to you about your test.

The DVSA actively encourages any supervising driver to accompany the candidate on the practical driving test which normally takes an average of 35 minutes. Pass or fail this helps the supervising driver should any clarification of faults be needed. 

Before the practical driving test begins the examiner should ask the candidate if they would like their supervising driver to come with them and if they wish them to be present at the debrief. Examiners will not be able to offer a second debrief once they have left the car because of their obligations under the Data Protection Act.

Be aware your car may perform differently when accelerating, braking and on hills with three people in it.  on hand for any debrief as the Data Protection Act does not allow an examiner to give a second debrief.

Paperwork
Whilst you are in the driving test centre waiting room get both parts of your provisional driving licence ready for when the examiner appears.

Cancelled Tests
In the case of sickness or industrial action the DVSA will offer limited compensation and automatically rebook a test within three days for you. Adverse weather conditions are considered beyond their control and therefore the DVSA does not offer compensation but will rebook a test free of charge within three working days.

TOP TEN FAIL POINTS

1. Observation at road junctions
Not checking before making the decision to go. They must check Right, Left, Right before crossing the doted lines.  If they need to peep and creep they must see clearly up and down the road before committing to go.

2. Reverse/Bay Parking
Ineffective observation and/or a lack of accuracy. Be sure when teaching either of these manoeuvres your pupil is looking predominantly out of the rear window (70% of the entire time, and regular checks around throughout).  As for “lack of accuracy”, make sure your pupil understands and uses reference points and is looking where they are going.  If it starts to go wrong, make sure they know how to, and can, fix it.

The car must be inside the lines when ‘bay parking’ and reasonably parallel, if the white line is clearly underneath the car the pupil should not allow the front wheels to enter the bay, they should ‘shunt’ forwards to correct it.  The tyres are allowed to be on the lines but must not be outside the bay.  They can go forward and back as many times as is necessary providing they are “making progress” each time.  With the reverse park they should finish a tyre’s width from the curb, reasonably parallel and within two car lengths.

3. Use of mirrors
Not checking the mirrors at all, in time or the appropriate mirror or combination of mirrors. A pupil may be marked down for ‘checking the mirror but failing to act property on the information’.  Watch your pupils to make sure they do not have such a problem, ask them ‘is it clear’ and ‘what can you see’.  Pupils rarely ‘over use’ the mirrors, however they do hesitate as a result of taking too long to make sure it is safe to move off.  They must always know what is going on behind and to the side, to make decisions about going forwards.  On the test pupils need to demonstrate to their examiner their awareness of any activity around them.

4. Reversing round a corner
See Reverse/Bay Parking for the problems and solution. Reasonable accuracy could be considered to be no more than one metre from the kerb and in any case they must not cross the centre line.  Of particular concern is a pupil’s decision making ability when dealing with approaching traffic.  So create opportunities to practice this with them.

5. Incorrect use of signals
Not cancelling or giving misleading signals. Teach pupils to move off in busy situations where they have to think.

6. Moving away safely
Yet again the problem here is simply observation. Is your pupil checking the mirrors and blind spot properly before moving the vehicle?  Watch their eyes as it is not always obvious if they are going through the motions of checking the blind spot because they know it’s expected.  Can you see their right ear, if not they aren’t looking.

7. Incorrect positioning on the road
At roundabouts and/or on bends. There is a difference between a look and a glance.  Get them to look early and identify which lane to be in, minimise gear changes – why do something twice when you can get it right first time.

8. Lack of steering control
Steering too early or leaving it too late. Plan ahead using LADA and control using MSPSL or they won’t have control and turn accurately.  Quantify the steering in quarters, halves, full lock, one-handed steering improves dexterity.

9. Incorrect positioning to turn right
At junctions and in One Way streets. Look ahead-plan ahead. What are the dangers of cutting corners?

10. Inappropriate speed
Travelling too slowly or being hesitant. For ‘L’ Test the pupil should reach speeds which are no more than 10 to 15 per cent below that of the maximum for the road.  Use your own experience on the Part Two Test as a benchmark for what you teach your pupils.  The standard is the same only the test duration and complexity en-route differ.

We hope you find this on-line resource helpful as we are sure it will help speed up the learning process.  This should save you money when taking driving lessons, it’s what our own driving instructors use this when they train to become a driving instructor.

Theory First – The Highway Code

Pass Plus
Statistics show that new drivers are more likely to have an accident in the first two years after passing their test, due to lack of driving experience. Pass Plus is not a driving test but a 6 hour course (minimum) that will build on your current skills and knowledge. It will teach you how to anticipate, plan for and deal with all kinds of hazards, and help you become a more confident driver.

A Pass Plus course can be taken at any time, but it’s ideally taken in the first year after passing your driving test. Pass Plus consists of six modules about driving in different conditions:

Driving around a town
The first module has two parts. It begins with an introduction to Pass Plus, explaining the course aims and the skills and knowledge to be covered. The second part is a practical session covering the different features of driving in a town, such as complex junctions and public transport. You’ll focus on:

• observation, judgement and awareness
• eye contact
• consideration for vulnerable road users
• showing caution
• keeping space around your car

All weather driving
This module will be covered as much as possible in a practical session. You’ll focus on correct speed, safe stopping distances, plus seeing and being seen in:

• rain
• sleet, snow and ice
• mist and fog
• bright sunshine

You’ll also look at skidding, and:

• what causes skids
• how to prevent skids
• correcting slow-speed skids
• braking on poor surfaces
• aquaplaning

Driving in the countryside
This module looks at the main differences between town and country driving:

• observing the road ahead
• making progress safely
• bends, hills, uneven roads and dead ground
• keeping a safe distance from the vehicle ahead
• safe overtaking

It focuses especially on being aware and showing consideration for:

• pedestrians, horse riders and animals in the road
• farm entrances
• slow moving vehicles

It also covers the correct use of a horn, coping with mud and debris on the road and how to use passing places.

Driving at night
This covers the important parts of driving at night, dawn and dusk. You’ll learn about:

• the importance of using headlights correctly
• adjusting to the dark
• judging speed and distance
• the correct use of lights and keeping them clean
• dealing with dazzle
• hard-to-see road users
• parking issues

Driving on dual carriageways
Dual carriageways are high speed roads where the two carriageways are separated by a central reservation. You will need to have particular skills, including:

• effective observation, using your mirrors and checking blind spots
• judgement and planning ahead
• separation distances
• joining and leaving a dual carriageway
• overtaking and lane discipline
• the correct use of speed

Driving on motorways
This should be a practical session if possible. If there is no motorway nearby, it will be covered in a theory session.You should drive on a motorway as soon as you can afterwards so you can put the theory into practice.The topics covered include:

• journey planning
• joining and leaving a motorway, and using slip roads
• safe speeds in different circumstances
• effective observation
• signs, signals and markings
• overtaking and lane discipline
• courtesy to other road users
• motorway fatigue
• breakdown procedures use of lights, including hazard warning lights
• debris on the carriageway
• crosswinds

Source: direct.gov.uk

Off-Road Development
How can someone begin to learn and take driving lessons before they reach seventeen? It’s easy – book a few hours of ‘OFF ROAD’ driving lessons with one of our driving instructors. Anyone, 14 years or older, can book a minimum of 2 hours at a cost of £40 an hour. The cost includes being driven to and from the off road venue in addition to the two hour driving lesson.

Why not host an ‘off road’ driving party which can be organised for a birthday or other such celebration. Again this would be for a minimum of 2 hours and any number of cars. We will be happy to discuss any personal needs you may have and we can also provide gift vouchers for a special occasion. You should contact us here for prices and availability.

The driver gets to move off and stop, learn how to turn the car round in the road, deal with junctions and drive round the 3 mile circuit changing up and down through the gears. They also get to experience our unique client centred learning techniques which will help motivate them to learn quickly and to a higher standard once they get out onto the roads for real.

The off road driving experiences can be taken at Autodrome in Essex, Dunsfold Park in Surrey, and Bovingdon Aerodrome in Dorset.

Contact us using the form below to book your off-road driving lesson:

Flying Start Package
Ideal for beginners this flying start package comprising of 14 hours of driving lessons, training materials to help prepare for the Theory Test and the first Theory Test booked for you. Most learners should have achieved reasonable car control and should be able to move on to develop their driving skills to a higher level of competence.



The fourteen driving lessons can be taken at any time to suit the learner although we recommend starting with two hours a week. Once you have passed the Theory Test the driving lesson frequency can then be increased.

Theory training materials comprise of either a copy of the ” Official DVSA Theory Book” or the Focus “All Tests” CD/Rom depending which format you prefer to study from. You will also have access to all of our on-line training aides and an invitation to our training days where you can get extra expert tuition.  Contact us for prices

Block Booking & Student Discounts
Please ask your instructor about block booking discounts and our student discounts. Some of our Instructors offer a discount to full-time students and will need to see evidence of your student status.

Getting Started
Book your first driving lesson and get to know your driving instructor before you hand over more money. We train all of our driving instructors and guarantee high quality driving lessons.  We also work in support of our driving instructors so much more than any other driving school in ways that benefit and help prepare pupils for test.

We want you to ensure you are happy with the services of your KISS Instructor from the word GO! So please do try one of the special offers to satisfy yourself of the high standard at which KISS Instructors teach.

The lesson fee is payable direct to your KISS instructor and can be paid by cash or cheque.

Contact Us Direct
If you have any queries or would like to book a lesson, you can call us on 0845 245 0405, email us using the form in the sidebar or text us on 07760 754 517. Our receptionist can answer any questions and will be able to put you in contact with your local KISS instructor. Your instructor will then ring you to introduce him/her self and find about about you. If you want to book please do so direct with the Instructor. The instructor will provide you with a mobile number for you to be able to make direct contact. Payment should be made direct to the Instructor.

Please note that our instructors ask for 48hrs notice if you need to reschedule an appointment as this allows the instructor time to resell the lesson space.