Your Car or Mine - DrivingCoach Instructor Stories

1.                 Dress casually as for any pleasant outing. Resist the temptation to wear a padded suit or protective headgear. Be sure to breathe and keep muscles relaxed. Placed folded hands in the lap.

2.                 Step 2

Explain to the new driver how to adjust the rear view and side view mirrors. Make sure that seatbelts are securely fastened. Talk about turn signals, the horn, the emergency brake, and various dashboard controls.

3.                 Step 3

Start small by driving in an empty parking lot. Discuss the plan first: e.g., drive to a specified point, turn right, drive back to the starting location. Talk it through before commencing.

4.                 Step 4

Compliment the driver. Use a calm, moderate voice. Reassure the driver by focusing on the things he’s doing correctly.

5.                 Step 5

Trust the driver. Resist the urge to grab the wheel or the emergency brake, honk the horn or make adjustments for the driver. Make calm suggestions to the driver and let her decide.

6.                 Step 6

Increase the driving challenge by moving to a neighborhood to practice starts, stops and turns. Talk about defensive driving. Move eventually onto the main roads as the driver’s comfort level increases.

7.                 Step 7

Conclude each driving session with an evaluation period. State what he/she’s doing right. Allow the driver to identify error(s) and express ways to correct

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Besides having more fun than some people earning a living, we as driving instructors sometimes do have days when we really work very hard and stress a lot.

I had one of those days last Saturday. My first client had a test in Mitchells Plain at 08H20. This meant that I had to get up at 05H30, get ready and leave my house at 06H30 so I can meet my client at 07H00 so we can do a 1 hour lesson just to warm up before the test.

While I was waiting for her as she was doing her parking with the examiner, I was a little bit worried as some mistakes were made but thankfully she held it together and passed. My next lesson was at 10H30 and I had just a few minutes to spare which meant no break in between. After the 2 hour lesson it was time for my 13H00 appointment. So off I went to do a mock test with the client.

This took me to 15H00 and there was just enough time to drop the client at home and pick up my 15H30 appointment. At this point I had a headache that not even panado tablets could cure. Needless to say it took a lot out of me to hide this from my last client as I believe that each of my clients should get the very best from me even thou my body and mind sometimes do not agree.

My day as a driving instructor ended at 18H20 when I got home. Time to reach for that red bull I saved for a day like this.

From “a day in the life of Delme Petersen”