When you are going to drive, you need to be a good driver. That might seem obvious, but anyone learning to drive doesn’t just have to follow the rules of the road, they also have to master all the controls of their vehicle.
Part of the success of a learner in mastering the skills needed will depend on the driving instructor. In this blog post, I will outline the traits of a good driving instructor.
Article Summary
The Traits of A Quality Driving Instructor
Beside knowing traffic rules and laws, good instructors provide individual attention to improve the areas and make more of the present strengths.
They promote a sense of confidence by setting a positive reinforcement style, also by their professional attitude. Such drivers feel responsible towards others on the roads.
A Supportive Mentor
When learning to drive, you need a mentor. This is a skill that can feel very daunting when you are taking driving lessons.
You have to deal with a complicated set of mechanical processes. A sympathetic instructor recognises that this is demanding work for learners and will make it less stressful for students to make mistakes. If you live in Birmingham and you get quality driving lessons in Birmingham, the instructors provide feedback without belittling students or dampening their spirits.
Clear and Effective Communication
Without clearly communicating step by step, how can we deliver a good driving lesson to our students? A good instructor should be able to describe his or her ideas clearly in language so that it will completely sink in the hearer’s mind. Thus the instructor can guide the student.
When you teach the various manoeuvres and driving techniques, you should be sure that you explain the ideas in straightforward language so that your student, as a hearer of your words, will not have any misunderstanding.
Adaptability and Versatility
The best driving instructors realize that learners have needs, styles, preferences, strengths and weaknesses, and that they must adapt their methods to take into account individual characteristics and personalities behind the wheel.
Asking ‘How can I teach in a way that works for this student?’ calls upon instructors’ adaptability to achieve certain instructional goals. For example, if an instructor is particularly interested in instilling a love for chemistry in her students, she would have a more flexible approach when teaching students who have previous negative experiences with chemistry.
She might change her teaching style to suit the learning styles of individual students or modify assessment deadlines to fit students’ life situations.
Prioritising Safety
This special vocation to promote highway driving carefully and safety is in our opinion the unique and distinctive characteristic that drives this profession. From the outset, driving instructors teach their students the habits and rules of the road that are marked by a safety-first attitude.
By teaching skills and imparting the need for decision-making by drivers themselves, such instructors produce thoughtful drivers, who care about their own safety and that of those traveling with them on the roadways.
In-depth Understanding of Traffic Laws & Regulations
Professional driving instructors, with experience in the field, have learnt the rules, regulations and guidelines which apply specifically to teach a driver in that particular country, and need to be updated regularly since laws are amended frequently due to changes in environment
Personalized Approach & Individualized Support
Learning does not work like that, and it certainly does not work in teaching to drive. The best driving instructors know that they need to teach differentially to every one of their pupils according to their needs.
Areas of weakness are enhanced while areas of strength are recognised and preserved, and by supporting the pupil, they can encourage them towards greater competence and self-assurance.
Encouraging and Boosting Confidence
Giving the student as much confidence as possible in their abilities will help them to learn all aspects of driving. A good teacher knows this, and provides feedback and support to build up their confidence and motivation: they let the student know when they are doing well and how they are improving.
Exhibiting Professionalism
There is one important quality that every professional driving instructor should embrace. That quality is of professionalism. Professionalism involves:
- Being punctual.
- Keeping to the appointments made with students.
- Maintaining students’ cars after the lessons according to the appointment time made
- Adhering to the quality and value standards set by the examination council
- Being aware of personal boundaries between inside and outside of the classroom
- Not letting personal and professional relationships be intimate.
Comprehensive Understanding of Traffic Scenarios and Road Conditions
Another important quality of a driving instructor is his or her experience in the knowledge of various traffic conditions and road forms. A well-seasoned instructor knows the different types of intersections, the typical problems and difficult driving situations on the road.
He or she trains a learner to navigate through traffic, handle the weather, and use a combination of mirrors for safe lane changing or switching on a busy highway. Through training the learner in a wide range of driving situations, the instructor equips him or her with the skills to overcome the variety of challenging experiences on real roads.
Effective Time Management Skills
It also plays a role in making a good driving instructor. Good time management ensures that lessons run smoothly and that students get to do some driving during the lesson.
A good instructor will plan a lesson ahead of time and will take into account traffic, places to practice and time for feedback and reflection at the end of each lesson. This way an instructor can make the most of each session and provide it with opportunities to learn. Thus, the skill of time management is often used.
In Conclusion
The characteristics mentioned are likely to be prevalent among driving instructors who care about providing good tuition.
Such instructors will possess the patience to encourage novices in a non-judgmental manner, together with an ability to articulate guidance in a way that encourages understanding but is not overwhelming, as well as the flexibility and adaptability to modify lessons according to need.
If you’re seeking a good driving teacher such as this, then this is a necessary outcome of the distinguishing qualities needed by your instructor from day one of your lessons though to your successful completion of the test.
The instructor will be there to install technical driving ability and also to recognise that you’re a person worthy of a safe and harmonious journey on the road.
