Two years in - thoughts on a trainer becoming a driving instructor.

I should start by saying, I don't really like the job title! The DVSA calls us Approved Driving Instructors. I have can have ADI after my name, it's what we call ourselves and what we are called by others (when being polite!). I don't know what the best title would be and am not going to bore with it here - but "instructing" is not really at the core of what we do.

That might sound a little picky but for me, as someone committed to training in various fields for most of the last 40 years I love to see people develop and key to that, above basic skills, is the ability to make their own decisions, something contradicted by the notion of "instruction".

Aside from the pedantic me! As already mentioned, as I turned 60 and after a long career in several industries in training roles, I was fortunate enough to be made redundant by a company that had become too inward focused and less so client focused. My role, helping clients had become redundant, we all know what it's like trying to talk to someone in large companies. So the day I was told I was possibly / probably going to leave was exciting and I started trying to think what I would do next. I don't know where the inspiration came from, I can't pretend it had been a lifetime ambition, but I woke one morning and found I had made my mind up.

Three years on, I haven't regretted my decision once. Well not quite true, facing the assessment drive that would earn my badge made me think I'd perhaps prefer becoming a travel writer or wine critic. This is training on a whole different level to anything I had done before. That had always been business to business and as rewarding as that could be, nothing beats the personal, one on one, satisfaction of watching someone who has never moved a car before develop the skills and confidence to make the necessary calls to safely navigate Salisbury's narrow roads or follow the ring road without breaking into a sweat. To see the look on someone's face when the examiner says "congratulations...".

I do love to get those messages after a pupil has passed to let me know they drove to London for the first time or they have driven on the motorway or in France. Whatever it might be, it is always wonderful to hear.

It's not just my pupils. It's a great community of driving instructors in Salisbury and I love to see the impact we have. I'll give an example. A couple of days ago, I sat debriefing a mock test in a bay at the end of Manor Road. Whilst we were sat there, I'd estimate around 20 cars turned in from St Marks direction. The nature of that road and it's proximity to the test centre means that many will be learners. My pupil and I discussed that every single learner, including one on test, took the turn correctly. Every car not showing an L plate cut the corner to a greater or lesser extent.

If you read the judgemental posts on various social media, especially when connected to a certain kerb, you'd believe the quality of learners being released onto our roads was dreadful! Our learners work hard, it's not easy to pass a test and we should be proud of what they and we achieve together.

My message to learners - trust yourself to make decisions, we are there to step in if necessary but when you get it right your confidence will soar. Paul Hanlon.