Pile 'em up an' shoot 'em down

In this blog, Tom Ingram from BIG TOM Driving School discusses the issue of accountability in the driving training industry.

At some point, driving instructors do have to take some responsibility for outcomes.  Rhys who qualified a couple of days ago had the following choice for insuring his VW Polo 1.2L ‘07’ plate:  install the black box telematics and pay £1200 per year, or pay £4000 per year.  As professionals in the training of drivers we should collectively hold our heads in shame.  No matter what the root cause, seeing as he can only get his car insurance to £100/month by having his driving behaviour constantly monitored is a sad state of affairs.

When I pulled up to a different driving test centre the next day with a pupil taking their test, in front of us was a franchised driving school car with “10 lessons for £99” displayed all over it.  To be paid as professionals, we really do have to act like professionals.  When I pointed it out to my pupil he said “Well I guess it’s the only way they can get them in”; referring to the method the driving school was using to attract custom.  Pile ‘em up an’ shoot ‘em down.

To gain the respect of customers so that they are willing to pay a professional driving instructor a decent wage for a decent service will require a step change in behaviour from franchise owners.  But it has to be said that if franchise owners with these business models did not attract franchisees they would HAVE to change.

One of the big problems in the training of PDI’s is the lack of connection to the DVSA Standard.  Training of PDI’s all too often resorts to training to pass the Part 2 and Part 3 tests, and unfortunately, that has proven to be wholly inadequate for the newly qualified ADI.  The result?  All the emphasis is then on how to survive the DVSA Standards Check.  It becomes a continuous cycle of training for survival.  There is this notion that if an ADI spends £300 for a couple of days training in passing the Standards Check, bags the “A” grade, then that means they are top notch, all singing and dancing, the best of the best.  This deceit has been embroiled in the driving training industry for years and years.  It does not serve the ADI or their pupils.  Training providers for established ADI’s have a thankless task on their hands trying to teach old dogs new tricks, and this situation all stems from the limitations of the initial training of PDI’s because it is centred around dealing with negative outcomes of driving behaviour i.e. driving faults.

There is good reason to look to the future with optimism with the proposed changes in assessment of PDI’s.  But my over-riding message for anyone coming into this industry is aim high; get yourself well versed in the Driving Standard, you WILL pass the qualifying tests.   If you want to be treated like a professional once you qualify, immerse yourself in the circlesof people in the industry who act like professionals.  You really don’t need to be providing your service for £9, £12, £16 per hour.  It is demeaning to you and to your industry.

Tom Ingram provides PAYG training for PDI’s 0775 607 1464