You will be stamped down to bare minimum, by striving teachers. You may believe that you are a good driver–but what is good driving? And it is there they swing–check my source. The majority of the trainees are very confident at the beginning. Ten years on the road. Clean record. Smooth gears. And so the trainer asks, why were you looking at this mirror. Silence. Habits aren’t enough. Education requires objectivity, accuracy and serenity.
It begins with higher tests of driving. Every small flaw is noticed. Late signals. Half-hearted observations. Coasting at junctions. When things are blaring you never conceived of them. The humiliation makes good teachers, though it is a humiliation.
The mental chess is the hazard perception exercises. Videos freeze mid-action. “What’s about to happen?” guesses fly. One of the passers by comes out behind a van. The room groans. Repetition will assist to instruct your brain since you will no more be operating blindly but you will be in a position to sense any danger before it comes.
Then comes communication. Short, clear sentences win. “Ease off the clutch.” “Hold the brake.” “Check right.” Clear beats clever. During the driving process, trainees converse. It feels simple but isn’t. Of one half your brain is half a driver, of the other half a coach. Role-play activities are rendered energetic. One trainee acts terrified. The other one is the too full of himself teenager who believes that he is a basically a pro. Then there is the feedback, followed by laughter. “You spoke too fast.” “You missed their anxiety.” Comedy fades, lessons stick.
The feelings have been buried in the stability. Learners panic. Some cry. The agitation of the teachers should not be done. No sarcasm. No raised eyebrows. Nerves are easily stabilized within a few seconds with a calm voice that is not nervous. Theory is serious too. Road laws. Risk control. Documentation. Paperwork protects careers. I once had a chance to hear that your career is your notes by one of the former trainers. The teachers and the students have been made comfortable in terms of accuracy.
The test resolve Supervised instructional hours. An aged teacher is observed by a back seat instructor. You teach. They take notes. Feedback is prompt: Less instructions at the same time. “Good hazard anticipation.” Permanent growth, not convenient growth. Artificial mayhem is created by simulators. Heavy rain. Cyclists swerving. Students are not threatened of rehearsing answers. It trains the quick thinking and easy reaction.
Training also involves business skills. Pricing, marketing, scheduling and cancellations, not losing your temper. No journal can ever get up with talent. Something is different in the end evaluation. You loosen your grip in the door handle. You trust your phrasing. Stuttering, breathing, reading. Timing becomes an art.
The training of driving instructors involves reorganization of the vision of the road. Crossing of the highway becomes schools. Traffic lights are constructed to learn. You begin to envision that it is of cars and you eventually find that it is of people. Patience matters most. That second brake? It’s safety. Your voice? The real tool.