UK drivers kill themselves and others at the rate of nearly 10 a day – that’s 3,400 a year. They put 1,000 people a day into hospital, with the cost of these accidents running into billions of pounds annually. Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is illegal for anyone to charge money or ‘monies worth’ for instruction in driving a motor car unless either their name is on the register of Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) or they hold a Trainee Licence in accordance with the Act. Qualified ADIs must display a green certificate on the windscreen of tuition vehicles, trainees show a pink one.

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is an executive agency of the Department for Transport that manages driving instruction on an annual income of £165 million. It aims to promote road safety by improving driving standards, testing drivers and riders, maintaining instructor registers and supervising basic motorcycle training. It also runs a register of inspected ADI training establishments. It carries out a number of driving tests each year:

• 1.5 million theory in 21 languages
• 1.8 million car
• 101,000 lorry and bus
• 83,000 motorcycle.

It employs more than 2,600 staff, of which over 1,900 are driving examiners; it has 158 theory and over 400 practical test centres, and an instructor training centre at Cardington in Bedfordshire. Currently, 53 multi-purpose test centres (and 15 part-time ones) are being built to replace much of the current testing infrastructure. There are more than 41,500 people on the DSA’s compulsory Register of ADIs for car instruction, and it also runs voluntary registers for LGV instructors and fleet driver trainers. It also carries out tests for taxi drivers in some areas.

Driving tests continue to evolve, with the screen-based theory element of multiple-choice questions now followed by a hazard perception test – a selection of 14 one-minute video clips showing real road scenes that feature hazards. The pass mark for the multiple-choice element is 43 out of the 50 questions correct for car and motor cycle drivers, and 51 out of 60 for LGV and PCV drivers; and that for the hazard perception element 44 for car and motor cycle drivers, and 50 for LGV and PCV drivers, out of a possible 75.

The practical test for cars takes 40 minutes, with routes designed to include a range of road and traffic conditions. Learners can make up to 15 driving faults and still pass the test (16 or more results in failure). However, if they commit one serious or dangerous fault they will fail the test.

A recent development is the Driver’s Record; a log book filled in by both instructor and pupil, designed to show when the latter has demonstrated all the competencies required to pass the test and is judged to be ready to take it. The Record is voluntary, but is issued with provisional licences.

Around 60,000 company car drivers are injured in crashes each year – a likelihood of accidents up to 50% higher than that of private motorists. Fleet driver trainers, qualified to a higher level, teach more advanced driving, usually in the corporate market. Recent health & safety directives demanded up to 100,000 fleet trainers, and the government intends to introduce minimum standards for this training; there is currently a shortfall in this area. There is a voluntary registration scheme in existence for people who have either passed a DSA exam or completed an accredited training course.

Qualifications and training

To join the ADI Register it is necessary to:

• hold a full UK or European Union (EU/European Economic Area) unrestricted car driving licence
• have held it for a total of at least four out of the past six years prior to entering the Register after qualifying
• not have been disqualified from driving at any time in the four years prior to being entered in the Register
• be a ‘fit and proper’ person to have your name entered in the Register; all convictions, motoring and non-motoring, will be taken into account and it is necessary to have an enhanced-level criminal record check
• pass the two qualifying practical examinations within two years of passing the theory examination
• apply for registration within 12 months of passing the final part of the examination.

The qualification examination is in three parts:

1. a computer-based theory test

2. a practical test of driving ability

3. a practical test of instructional ability.

Part 1, the theory test, comprises two parts; 90 minutes are allowed for the first part, which consists of 100 multiple-choice questions banded into four areas (the overall pass mark is 85%, with a minimum of 80% in every area):

1. road procedure

2. traffic signs and signals, car control, pedestrians, mechanical knowledge

3. driving test, disabilities, law

4. publications, instructional techniques.

The second part is the hazard perception test, comprising 14 video clips, which takes two hours on average (pass mark 57 out of 75).

Parts 2 and 3 must be passed within two years of passing Part 1; each may be taken up to three times, but three failures in either means that the individual cannot restart the qualifying process until the two years are up. There are some other complex rules, and an ongoing requirement to take check tests to remain qualified. The ADI qualification lasts four years and is renewed automatically provided the check tests are satisfactory.

PassPlus encourages better driving practices from new drivers by offering six extra lessons covering driving in and out of town, on motorways and dual carriageways, in all weathers and at night. For a payment, ADIs can obtain PassPlus packs from the DSA.

Motorcycle instructors may be trained directly by Approved Training Bodies (the only organisations that can teach the Compulsory Basic Training), and/or complete a two-day assessment by examiners at the DSA’s establishment at Cardington. Further qualification is required to teach Direct Access courses, and a new motorcycle test is likely to include stringent manoeuvre and braking assessments, both on- and off-road.

LGV instructors, who wish to be on the DSA’s voluntary Register take a similar series of exams to those for ADIs. They can be certified for four years, after which time they will need to re-register.

Lift truck instructors should pass a course with a trainer accredited by the Health & Safety Executive.

Blue light vehicles (police, fire, ambulance and MoD) are now recognised as a specialist category for the training of drivers who are competent in emergency situations. The three core competencies are:

1. assessing the need for an emergency response

2. driving the vehicle safely to emergencies

3. demonstrating the correct attitude when responding to emergencies.

Potential instructors should ensure that the training provider they use is reputable. The Official Register of Driving Instructor Training contains suitably qualified and inspected trainers and establishments, and anyone seeking ADI training can approach them knowing that they have achieved the required standards.

Many companies advertise in the press, and there is no requirement to be registered.

It is possible to gain other qualifications in driving instruction – for example, the Diploma in Driving Instruction, the Cardington Special Test, the Diamond Advanced qualification, and perhaps a further education teaching certificate or even a degree.

Employment

Once qualified, there are several options:

• move into the profession gradually by fitting instruction around another employment
• launch immediately as a sole trader
• become a franchisee with a local or national school
• enter a partnership with other instructors and pool efforts.

The marketplace is very diverse. As well as training learner drivers to pass both the theory and practical elements of the test, there is the PassPlus Scheme, the Driver Improvement Scheme and retraining people who have fallen foul of motoring laws.

Contact details

Driving Standards Agency, Stanley House, 56 Talbot Street, Nottingham NG1 5GU Tel: 0115 901 2500 Website: www.dsa.gov.uk

Health & Safety Executive, Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge, London SE1 9HS Tel: 0845 345 0055 Website: www.hse.gov.uk