I’ve had a number of hits from people asking about driving lessons over Christmas. Some appear to be from ADIs asking if they should give lessons over Christmas. Others seem to be from learners asking about doing lessons.
Get one thing straight: if you become an ADI intending to make a living out of it, you do not turn work away needlessly, and you don’t just do what everyone else does (or says they do) – you make your own decisions. But where do you draw the line?
Well, you’ll see people boasting how they “don’t work in December” or they’re “off now until February”, and I think this has spawned some of the hits. Many of these people who pull down the shutters for so long do the job for fun, not to make a living. Indeed, you rarely see them driving around and you never see them at the test centre. They’re part-timers who are living off other financial resources, and while there’s nothing specifically wrong with that, no normal or serious ADI could possibly afford to shut up shop for a month. Even with the oft-cited cancellations you get at this time of year any income is better than no income at all. No decent businessman whose living depends on it will turn away lessons like that.
On the other hand, everyone both needs and is entitled to time off. Quite how much time, and when to take it, is an individual choice.
Personally, I only ever draw a line through Christmas Day and Boxing Day – and even then I can envisage scenarios where I’d give lessons if there was a good reason to – and if I was being paid double time! It’s never happened, but I wouldn’t rule it out on my conditions.
Let me stress that you don’t get queues of people wanting lessons on Christmas Day!
If you’re a learner, chances are you’ve been given lessons as a present and you’re eager to get started. Good for you! Check out whether or not you can get lessons over the Christmas period – many decent ADIs will be working a few days between Christmas and New Year. Those that aren’t might also have funny ideas about not working weekends and evenings the rest of the year, and that might not suit you, so do your homework before committing.