On your 1st ever lesson
Pick up location of your 1st lesson.
Your driving instructor will pick you up from your address or a location agreed upon during the initial booking. They will greet you and ask to see your provisional driving licence, then request that you read a number plate from 20 meters away. If you cannot provide your licence or read the number plate, the lesson cannot continue. Once these checks are completed, your instructor will drive you to a suitable location for your first lesson. Knowing you may be nervous, they will help you feel comfortable.
Demonstrations drive
On the way to your training location your instructor will demonstate ether the M.S.M routine (mirror, signal, manoeuvre), the pull/push steering method, and reference points at the base of your windscreen.
At the location
Upon arriving at the training location, your instructor will indicate a visual reference on the road outside your training vehicle while you are seated in the front passenger seat. In the example shown in the picture, there is a shadow on the ground, and the question is how far the shadow is from the front bumper of the training vehicle.
Sitting in the drivers seat
You will now be asked to walk around the back of the training vehicle and sit in the driver’s seat and your instructor will sit next to you in the passenger’s seat.
Dual controls
Your driving instructor will point out the dual controls installed in the training vehicles. These controls are legally required in all driving instructors’ vehicles and can be used to keep both of you safe if you ever lose control. Don’t worry— instructors are familiar with hiccups from new students.
Throughout your lessons, your instructor will talk about adjusting risk responsibility, which will be explained in more detail during your sessions.
Instructor badge
Your instructor will also show you their ADI/PDI badge that is displayed in the passenger window. This is a requirement for all instructors to display this and if they do not, they cannot teach for money or fuel.
The difference a Green and a Pink badge
A green badge is a fully qualified driving instructor and a pink badge is a trainee instructor. To find out more about the two differences click on the link to find out more
The cockpit drill
The cockpit drill is a pre‑drive safety routine remembered as DHSSSM or DSSSM, covering Doors, Handbrake, Seat, Steering, Seatbelt and Mirrors to ensure the car is correctly set up before driving.
Doors
1. Ensure all your doors are closed (including bonnet and boot)
2. Check your handbrake is on, the handbrake leaver will be up
and you will see a handbrake light on your dash board
Driver’s seat
1. The height of your seat, make sure you can see ½ way up your front window.
2. Place your ball of your left foot on the clutch pedal and push it fully down to the floor, making sure you do not over stretch your left knee (if unsure on the pedals your instructor will help you).
3. Place your hands on the steering wheel to ensure your shoulder blades do not come out your driver’s seat
4. Adjust your head restraint so the middle part of the restraint is in line with your ears and eyes
Seat belt
1. Fasten your seatbelt and ensure your passengers also fasten their seatbelts.
2. Ensure there are no twists are in your seatbelt when you applying it.
3. There may be a seat belt alteration on seatbelts, if your seat belt irritates your neck, you can adjust it.
4. The driver is responsible for all passenger to wear seatbelt and by law any children under 14 years of age.
Mirrors
1. The interior mirror glass is flat (true view) and the door mirrors glass are convex (wider field of vision).
2. Set up the interior mirror by framing the rear window with the interior mirror and using your left hand.
3. Set the door mirrors so you see the front door handles in the inside corner of each mirror.
Adjust the door mirrors with the switch on the driver’s door, your aim is to see roughly 25% of your vehicle and 75% of the road
