The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) administers a compulsory register of car driving instructors.

The DSA set the minimum performance standards for the entry examination.

ADIs must also have regular supervision in the form of 'Check Tests'. This involves a Supervising Examiner sitting-in on a driving lesson and awarding a grade according to the instructors' performance. All ADIs who took 'Part One' of the qualifying examination before 14 November 2002 have also had to sit a Hazard Perception Test.

The Road Traffic Act of 1962 established the original Register of Approved Driving Instructors on a voluntary basis. In October 1964 the first two-part ADI test was conducted. Registration became compulsory in 1970.

Over the last four years there has been a steady increase in the number of ADIs and the Register now lists 42,662 ADI's of which less than a third are estimated to be full-time instructors.

Legal Requirements
Potential instructors must have held a full driving licence for at least 4 years and be able to read a car number plate from a minimum distance of 90 feet (27.5 metres). The applicant's driving licence has to be free of endorsements, although certain allowances may be made. Anybody with serious criminal convictions will not be accepted.

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ADI Qualifying Examination
The first part is a touch screen computerised 'Theory Test'. Known as the 'Part One', it lasts for 1½ hours and consists of 100 multiple choice questions on topics such as 'instructional techniques', 'road procedure', 'car control', the 'driving test' and 'motoring law'. To pass you must score at least 85% and also a minimum of 80% in each of four topic bands within the test.

Since 14 November 2002 ADI candidates taking the Theory Test also have to take an Hazard Perception Test. As with the learner driver Theory Test this takes an extra 15 minutes and contains 14 random clips of moving video, filmed from a car. By clicking a mouse button (left or right), candidates identify the developing hazard(s). As in real driving, you need to concentrate totally and be alert throughout the whole of each video clip. One of the random clips will contain two scorable hazards. The highest score you can achieve is 5 marks for each hazard and, remember, one clip will have two hazards. The pass mark is 57 out of 75.

The next part is a practical 1 hour test of driving technique. It is particularly important as a driving instructor to show good judgement of what other road users are going to do and be capable of reacting accordingly. Candidates therefore need to demonstrate a high standard of advanced driving to pass. 'Part Two' test routes include all types of roads including fast dual carriageways, motorways and country lanes.

The final part of the examination is another practical 1 hour test. The 'Part Three' test of instructional ability is found to be the most demanding part of the qualifying examination. The examiner uses role plays to simulate two different pupils who will be at varying stages of ability. Candidates have to draw upon their techniques, experience, knowledge and personality to deliver two driving lessons where control is maintained and learning is achieved.

From passing the first part, potential instructors have 2 years in which to qualify. The DSA only allow 3 attempts at each practical test, meaning that candidates do need to be fully prepared as to what to expect. For various reasons, only about a third of those beginning the examination process actually qualify as Approved Driving Instructors.

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ADI Test Pass Rates

	Part One	Theory Test (including HPT)	52%
	Part Two	Driving Technique	49%
	Part Three	Instructional Technique	31%

It is widely accepted that good drivers don't always make good instructors. Likewise, a good driving instructor isn't necessarily the best person to train up new instructors. Training to teach requires different skills to teaching to drive, so you need to be sure that you go to an approved establishment.

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Official Register of Driving Instructor Training (ORDIT)
While many Driving Schools offer an instructor training service, surprisingly few are approved by the DSA.

Those that are, receive a regular inspection and have signed up to a Code of Practice. The 50 or so that have approval are listed on the voluntary 'Official Register of Driving Instructor Training' (ORDIT). There can be no guarantee of qualifying but potential instructors are assured that technical standards agreed between the industry and the DSA are being met.

ADI Check Test Grades

	Grade Six	Highest Performance	2,019
	Grade Five	Good Performance	10,432
	Grade Four	Competent Performance	17,591
	Grades Three to One	Substandard	326
		Educational	230

Driving instructors represent a broad range of people, all of whom have an interest in driving, and have demonstrated an ability to teach.

The ADI Register provides learners with a form of quality assurance through the qualifying examination and the regular tests of `continuing ability and fitness to give instruction'. It should be considered that these rely on technical merits and do not necessarily reflect the overall picture of an instructor's popularity or true abilities.


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