Transport Error

For the first time in over seven years of my being a driving school instructor, a potential learner driver client asked to see my green ADI registration badge to confirm that I was a legally operating driving school owner. This was a good thing, but as I said, it is not a regular thing. People are either more interested in getting cheap driving lessons and don't really care who is teaching them, or just take the words of the instructor as being true without checking the green ADI badge which should always be displayed on the windscreen by the instructor when giving paid tuition to any member of the public.The ADI registration badge has the following information about the person giving the learner tuition, so it is a good idea you check this and avoid getting ripped of by an illegal instructor.The full name of the instructor, the ADI number, whether they are fully qualified (green coloured badge) or a Trainee (pink/red), the photo of the individual named and the date of issue of the registration badge and expiry date.The document is the only assurance a learner driver has that whoever is teaching them has gone through the proper training and is operating according to the standards of the DSA and thus will be giving them good quality instruction.No matter how cheap your driving lessons are, or what you have agreed to pay your instructor for every hour of tuition, if it involves remuneration in cash or kind, it is illegal for that person to do it unless they are on the ADI register, and display the certificate to prove. Why not check your driving instructor's green registration badge today.

There I was sitting in the waiting room of the test centre with some other driving school instructors having a chat, our clients had not long ago departed with the DSA examiners to the car park to begin the 40 minutes of the practical assessment.In walked a man who was more than 5 minutes late for the driving test, we adviced him to ring the bell knowing fully well that he was not going out on this occasion with the examiner who was probably having a cup of tea while filling out the necessary paperwork.The examiner walks in, and the candidate begins to explain that the reason why he was late was that the bus he took got caught in traffic! So you didn't come here in a car then? No, I was going to use the dsa car for the driving test! The kind examiner goes on to explain that they don't provide cars for the practical assessment, that it is the responsibility of the candidate, and that all this is explained in the test appointment letter. He also advices him that he will have to re-book another appointment, and he needs to talk to one of us ADIs about using our cars.After the dsa examiner goes back to the office, we find out that the man is a foreign licence holder who just booked the theory test passed with flying colours, went on to book a practical test without speaking to a driving instructor or doing any proper research, and didn't even bother to read the appointment letter he was sent in the post by the DSA! Well that mistake cost him £62 in driving test fees, a wasted journey and day off work!You need to bring your own car for the test, and it must meet the requirements as par the letter sent to you confirming your test appointment, better still get an approved driving school instructor to take you, he or she would usually ask you to book an assessment driving lesson prior to the day, to confirm you are at test standard, and will not crash their means of income, more importantly it will get you to actually demonstrate that you have the skills expected by the DSA examiner, and the ADI would also give you some advice to increase you chances of passing.Even if you don't think you need driving lessons, I strongly suggest you thoroughly read the book Prepare for your Practical Driving Test: The Official DSA guide, as it contains all the information you need to make sure you adapt your international skills to the UK standard.

Before we get to the happy ending of this story let me tell you what Amber and her student dealt with at the Hemet DMV this morning. We do not normally take students to the Hemet DMV for the Drive Test, but we made an exception in this case because appointments at any DMV have been extremely hard to get since the beginning of the state budget meltdown.

The student’s test was scheduled for 11:00am, and as usual Amber picked her up an hour before the test for the warm-up drive. The warm-up went went and they arrive at the DMV shortly before 11:00am to find, a massive line of cars waiting for the Drive Test. Amber and her student waited in the parking lot for the test examiner for an HOUR AND A HALF!

Despite the long wait the student was able to pass her test with a score of -9. Not the best score, but very impressive considering the circumstances. Congratulations to one of Murrieta’s newest licensed drivers!

Have a good weekend everyone, and remember to drive happy.

Finally travel with your car and enjoy with it