Welcome to my latest blog. I wrote this article 15 years ago. The skills still apply and are essential if you want to manage the risk to be able to achieve the goal.
Fault Identification
This covers the ability of the instructor to clearly identify all the important
faults committed by the driver that require correction as part of an
effective instructional process. This ability is expected to cover all
aspects of control of the car and procedure on the road at all times.
Consider possible faults that may occur for each exercise and
contemplate how you could anticipate these faults occurring.
Watch the pupil because you must pay attention to what he
is doing. By watching him you will become accustomed to
anticipating what they may do next and if it is wrong be able to
correct the potential error before it occurs.
Compare the pupil’s driving to your own, if you would
have started the MSM routine then check that they have started and
are acting safely and sensibly on what is happening.
A real driver’s character has an effect on their reactions to what is
going on around them; often their attitude has been set before they
arrive for their first lesson. Remember they have had years of
watching other people drive, this could include their friends and
relatives. Some of these attitudes will have been passed on to
them; these can be good as well as bad. Know your driver find out
how they view road safety.
Fault Analysis
This covers the ability, having identified a fault, to accurately assess the
cause and offer an analysis as appropriate.
What caused the fault? The driver may have approached a junction to
turn left and was travelling too fast. This could result in entering the
junction too wide and coming into conflict with other road users waiting
to emerge. You are aware that the speed of the vehicle was too fast.
The simple answer is to slow down more on approach, but were there
other factors to consider?
Such as did the driver identify where the junction was, did they start the MSM routine too late, are they applying the brake correctly, did the clutch go down early, was it downhill? Something triggered an emotional response. As you can see there are many possible outcomes.
If you are sure of the cause of the fault then tell the driver immediately.
If it is not too complex you can explain whilst on the move. Be prepared
for the driver to repeat the mistake again, this will enable you to
anticipate and not allow the fault to be repeated.
If you need to investigate further then ask the driver to pull over and park at a safe and convenient place. If this is not possible ask the driver to remember the
incident and tell him that you will pull over as soon as it is safe and
discuss the incident. When you discuss it, ask the driver what happened
and get their opinion, if they can identify the problem then you are
halfway to fixing it.
Remedial Action
Remedial action relates to offering constructive and appropriate
action/advice to remedy a fault/error that has been identified and
analysed.
The fault assessment need not be immediate if this would be
inappropriate at the time, but it should be given at the earliest
opportunity. It is safe to say that if you did not identify the fault you will
not reach this stage.
Correcting the fault can often mean that you have to go back some
stages in the learning process. Imagine that you are emerging from a
junction that has a slight uphill gradient and you are encouraging your
driver to creep and peep forward, and they either roll backwards or move
forward too quickly.
The reasons are numerous, it may be that they cannot use clutch control
correctly on a hill, it could well be that they are not confident enough to
use clutch control and that they are scared of rolling backwards.
Find somewhere safe and convenient to stop, even if it is downhill you
can practice in reverse.
Firstly allow your driver to do a hill start and then stop.
Secondly ask them to creep forward as slowly as they can and then
stop.
Thirdly ask them to creep forward and then balance the car still.
Pick a spot, say the beginning of a driveway, and ask them to creep
forward and hold the car still using clutch control, repeat this exercise
until the driver is confident. Before moving away explain that the next
time they are on an uphill gradient emerging from a junction you will
expect them to use this new skill before deciding if the handbrake is
necessary. Reassure them that you will not allow them to roll
backwards, remind them that it is your car, tell them it is OK if they do
not succeed at first and that the only way they will learn is to keep trying.
If you do not have enough time on that lesson to practice further, make a
note to work on it at the next lesson.
A lot of faults can be corrected instantly and should be whenever
possible. Once you have corrected the fault be prepared for the fault to
be repeated. Identify early a situation where the fault could be repeated,
it may be that the driver has not checked the interior mirror well before
slowing down, look for pedestrian crossings, traffic lights etc ask the
driver what they should do before the next hazard and then ask why.
Be proactive using the tell, ask, assess routine is a simple remedial
technique for an PDI/ADI, if you are a trainer and want to know more about the tell, ask, assess routine and how to teach it effectively to PDIs, then please contact me for information, about my Train the Trainer course.
If you are a PDI, I offer, Practical and Zoom training session, please contact me for further details.
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