A brief description of the sort of person that your Instructor will be, and what you can expect from him.

First and foremost he will be professionally qualified. He will be an ADI - that is a Government Approved Driving Instructor. To become Approved he has taken a difficult three-part examination set by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) in Driving Theory, Practical Driving, and Teaching - having to pass each stage before going on to the next.

He will display a Green Certificate on the windscreen of the car as proof of his qualification.

Part of the Teaching Examination is a Personality Assessment. This ensures that ADIs are suited to teaching young people and old alike, to pick up the life saving skills required to drive a vehicle on todays roads. Tolerance, patience and a sense of dedication and duty are all required to work as an ADI.

Your Instructor will also have signed up to the Codes of Practice maintained by the DSA and the Driving Instructors Association (DIA). These are guides to the minimum standards of behaviour and conduct of business that should be achieved and our Instructor will work to a standard that is much higher than this.

When you meet your ADI for the first time he will introduce himself and ask you how much driving you have done, if any. Your answer will enable him to formulate your first lesson so that it is appropriate to your experience. He will probably drive you away to a place nearby that is quiet so that he can have a brief discussion with you.

He will try to put you at your ease because he will be expecting you to be a little nervous and apprehensive on your first lesson. He will emphasise that you will not be under any pressure and he will plan your lessons to match your own capabilities. As you progress through the course you will find that the lessons become busier and busier as your own capabilities become greater.

You will be given much detail in your first lesson but your Instructor will stress that you are not expected to remember every single thing there and then. He will ensure that you understand everything as he speaks and shows you what to do, and he will repeat details as much as you need them.

You will be encouraged to ask as many questions as you like, and to query things that you do not understand. It is very important that you understand everything all the time.

You will never be shouted at, or told off. No matter how many times you have to do something to get it right the Instructor will not become impatient.

He will tell you that you must not be afraid of making mistakes - he is there to help you through them and he will help you to avoid repeating them.

If you need to ask anything about Instructors that is not mentioned here please use our Feedback link