Module 1.

Session 1.  The Instructor's Workplace

As a professional driving instructor you are going to be spending a lot of your working time in your car, this will be your workplace.  But like many work places there are rules, some of these are legalities that are enforced by law, such as the legal implications of using a mobile phone both whilst driving and instructing a learner driver.

The driving instructor should strive to keep their workplace in a clean, tidy and professional state.  You will find through time that this is some times a bit of a challenge, during some of the months of the year it seems like your vehicle is never clean on the outside due to mud, rain, roadworks etc.  A bit of effort should always be made to present yourself well.  After all your vehicle is your greatest form of advertising that you are a professional and take yourself, the industry and your students seriously.

The inside of the instructor's vehicle should also be kept clean and tidy.  Keep workbooks, pens and other teaching aids to hand but stowed away, think of how distracting things could be for your learner whilst driving.

Here are a few things for you to think about:

• What does a dirty and/or undermaintained vehicle say about the instructor?
• How should a driving instructor dress?   Is this important?
• What are the legal implications of keeping your windows clean and free from obstruction?
• During the day many driving instructors lunch between lessons, how do you think your choice of food might negatively effect your instructor's workplace and have a negative effect on your student?
• At present the world has been shaken by Covid-19, how do you think this would effect how you might conduct lessons at this time and what additional measures might be appropriate?