Do the examiners have quotas to pass
and fail?
•
It really doesn’t matter whether your
driving lessons are in Hounslow,
Isleworth or Ashford Middlesex. My
experience of driving examiners
across a number of test centres is
wholly positive. I have sat in on a
good number of driving tests and I
can honestly say that if someone has
failed their test, there has always
been a valid reason why. I have never
been in the position of questioning a
decision, and results have always
been fair, and backed up with a
proper explanation. The bottom line
is that if someone drives to the
required standard then they will pass.
It really is as simple as that.
Whether you are
looking for driving
instructors or driving
lessons in Hounslow,
Isleworth or Ashford
Middlesex, this
section has picked
out some of the most
commonly asked
questions.
I have tried to answer these as honestly
as possible, based on my experience.
There are also various excellent websites
that provide a wealth of detailed
information on all related topics. Some
of these can be found on Useful Links.
How many lessons will I need to take?
•
The accepted average is around 50 -
70 hours of practise, which can be a
combination of professional lessons
and family and friends. Looking at
my last 50 test passes, although
there were variations either side of
these numbers, my own experience
shows that 50 hours is a good
average figure.
•
Looking back at my past clients - all
ages, male and female, all shapes
and sizes, different backgrounds etc,
I can find no common denominator
to say that one person is going to
learn to drive any quicker than
another. Quite simply, some people
are naturally able to learn and apply
the driving skills faster than others.
•
The important thing is that when you
do take your test you have the
necessary skills to drive on your own
with confidence.
•
Driving a manual car requires good
hand / eye / foot co-ordination, and
as new learners discover, driving is
not an easy skill to master. Some
start in a manual car, and then move
over to automatic because they do
not like the distraction of a gear box
and clutch.
•
I thoroughly recommend doing as
much extra driving, in addition to
lessons, as possible. Learning the
basic skills with an instructor is
important, but what an hour or two a
week doesn’t give you much of is on
the road experience. Go down the
same road 10 times, and you could
experience 10 different sets of road
conditions. It is important that you
feel comfortable with whatever comes
your way and this can only be gained
while out and about and driving.
•
Since I passed (a VERY long time ago!)
the roads have become a lot faster
and very much busier. So for me the
most important thing is that when
someone passes they have absolute
confidence in their driving abilities
because they will then be driving on
their own and without someone next
to them to help out if things get tricky.
•
.......and finally. Hopefully it goes
without saying that you should make
sure that any car you drive is properly
insured and that your co - driver
meets the requirements to take a
learner out on the road. Refer to the
DSA website.
Can you guarantee that I will pass my
test?
•
The simple and honest answer to this
is “No”
•
We are teaching people, not
machines. Machines can be
programmed to do the same thing the
same way to get the same perfect
result each and every time. People, on
the other hand, and no matter how
well trained they are, occasionally
make mistakes. Also, people have
different personality types. Some are
super confident. Some are extremely
nervous. Some have superb natural
co-ordination skills, others do not.
•
Any instructors in who say they can
guarantee 100% that a candidate will
pass are making very bold claim. Can
they prove it?
•
Even with the best, most
comprehensive training, anyone
taking a driving test has the possibility
of failing that test, sometimes through
nothing more a simple momentary
lapse in concentration.
•
As an example, a while ago, I had a
candidate who was extremely well
prepared for their test and who was
very confident of a first time pass. I
too could see no reason why they
should not pass with ease. On the day
of the test, the candidate lost
concentration and failed to notice that
a set of traffic lights had gone green.
So rather than proceed, they sat there
holding up the traffic behind until the
examiner pointed out the green light.
Test failed. The candidate was
devastated, but that is what can
happen if you take your eye off the
ball.
•
One thing is certain though. If you fail
to prepare, then you prepare to fail.
So your chances of passing are
dramatically improved with an
experienced and knowledgable
instructor to take you thorough your
training program and prepare you
properly for what will be expected of
you on the day.
Do you teach test routes?
•
The simple answer is no.
•
Teaching test routes is not the
same as teaching someone to
drive properly in a variety of areas
covering a variety of road
conditions.
•
If you practice the test routes
often enough you will eventually
be able to do them without too
much thought. This may be
enough to get you through a
driving test, but how will you cope
on your own on unfamiliar roads,
and with conditions that you
haven’t previously experienced?
Not well I would guess. To be in a
car on your own and not knowing
what to do in any given situation
is a very lonely place to be.
How qualified is my instructor -
Choosing a Driving Instructor
•
There are two types of badge
holders. A Pink badge denotes a
trainee instructor. Only fully
qualified instructors will hold a
Green badge. I am a fully
qualified, fully insured, DSA
registered Green badge holder.
Do you use your mobile phone during
lessons?
•
No. IT IS ILLEGAL TO DO SO. This
law applies equally to driving
instructors, who SHOULD NOT use
a mobile phone for any reason
while the car is moving - particularly
while in charge of an inexperienced
learner driver who requires their
undivided attention.
•
I am well aware that I have lost
plenty of potential clients because I
have taken a few hours to reply to
calls where I have been teaching
and people have called other
instructors instead. My view is,
that’s life, and as much as I hate
losing business, I will never
compromise anybody’s safety by
using my mobile during a lesson.
Similarly, I ask all my learners to put
their mobile on silent at the start of
a lesson.
Do you piggy back your lessons?
•
No. My view is that you are paying
for my undivided, uninterrupted
attention during your lesson and not
to double up as a taxi service for my
next lesson.
•
I have never and will never piggy
back lessons. Personally I wouldn’t
feel comfortable using 10 minutes or
more of your lesson time for you to
drive my next lesson. I know that
piggy backing is used by many
instructors to save on travel time
between lessons. As the paying
customer, if you are happy with such
an arrangement, that is your choice.
•
So you will get a full 60 minute
lesson, and not 50 minutes to allow
for taxi time between lessons.
Filby Driver Training
Frequently Asked Questions
07958 466141
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