{"id":2892,"date":"2010-06-30T15:28:59","date_gmt":"2010-06-30T15:28:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.diaryofanadi.co.uk\/?p=2892"},"modified":"2022-11-04T16:27:24","modified_gmt":"2022-11-04T16:27:24","slug":"how-an-adi-gives-route-instructions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diaryofanadi.co.uk\/?p=2892","title":{"rendered":"How An ADI Gives Route Instructions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This is an old article. DT1 has been updated several times, but the gist is still the same.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Someone found the site using the above search term – they were asking how a driving instructor gives route instructions to a pupil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The short answer is: do it how the examiners do it, and refer to the DT1 Internal Guidance Document (this link is to a PDF file on the DSA website). Look under Annex 7; Page 243.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, real-life is a little different. The pupil you are giving lessons to is not the same as the candidate you are submitting for their driving test for at least 80-90% of the time they spend with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, DT1 says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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GENERAL DIRECTIONS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the drive continue ahead, unless traffic signs direct you otherwise, and when I want you to turn left or right I will tell you in plenty of time. Move off when you are ready, please.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Would you pull up on the left at a convenient place, please.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

or<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pull up along here, just before………..please.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drive on when you are ready, please.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take the next road on the left\/right, please.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will you take the second road on the left\/right, please. (If necessary add this is the first.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the end of the road turn left\/right, please.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the roundabout.. turn left please (it is the first exit)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

follow the road ahead (it is the second exit)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

turn right please (it is the third exit).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Additional information should be given if necessary to assist the driver to plan their route through the hazard. Examples are in brackets above).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Similar explanations are given for the examiner’s wording for all other parts of the test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, this is all well and good, but if you want to build a friendly rapport with your pupil, behaving like an examiner all the time is a good way of failing miserably. This is especially true with new pupils who maybe haven’t driven before, and who are very nervous (even if they don’t show it).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since I am teaching<\/em> them – not examining<\/em> them – I tend to say things like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Take this next turn on the left (or right).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take the second turn on the right (or left).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the end of this road – at the T-junction (or crossroads) – turn left (or right).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the roundabout we’re going left, 1st exit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the roundabout take the second exit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the roundabout we’re taking the 4th exit, it’s a right turn.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

These are just examples – I mix and match as necessary. You’ve got to remember that early on, particularly at roundabouts, you really are teaching\/instructing them and you have to add a lot more information until you can pull it back to the bare minimum. As they get closer to test standard you can give examiner-like instructions and still have a chat or add information as required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important that they are familiar with the terms and approach the examiner is going to adopt, but they should be comfortable overall – not just fine tuned for the test, and only the test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note: The DT1 document I have linked to above is not intended to be anything other than educational. It isn’t a tool to help you challenge the result of your test (or for your instructor to do it). Examiners don’t have to use that wording exactly<\/em>. They can deviate for all kinds of reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you can drive properly in the first place there should be no need to worry about challenging examiners over their interpretation of your poor performance o the day. If it wasn’t poor in the first place – you only have to be able to drive reasonably <\/em>well, in any case –  then there’d be no need.<\/p>\n\n\n