Instructor Books

Useful Books for Driving Instruction

There are loads of driving instructor books out there, many of which are great, but some are utter rubbish! Here are a few tried and tested books, which I personally know are worth having a look at. If you’ve got any suggestions - info@beyonddriving.co.uk.

Essential instructor books:

 Driving: The Essential Skills:
This is the book we all work from. It is the driving bible! Use this book to hone your driving for the part 2 exam.
Use it to work up your briefings and teaching on your part 3 exam.
Use it in daily teaching.
Never leave this book behind.
Amen!

The Driving Instructors Handbook:
This book contains all the information you need on how to become an instructor. Though not exhaustive, it contains the essentials for your training and beyond. If you only buy one ‘instruction‘ book, make it this one.

The Highway Code:
This really is a no brainer isn‘t it?

Many of the CDRoms you can buy for the theory test are similar, but none of them replicate the Hazard Perception test perfectly (not even the DSA official one!).
This one seems to be the best value. If you know better, tell us.


Some recommended extras:

 

 Iain at Learnmoore has designed some of the most sensible lesson presenters around. Have a look at these before you buy Colourfile pro.

The Official guide to Hazard Perception:
If you have any trouble with the Hazard Perception element of the theory test, many instructors have found that the official version is much more realistic than the other versions on offer.
Have a look at the Instructor forums in our Links pages for loads of hints and tips on the HPT.

Learn to Drive in 10 Easy Stages:
This is probably the best non-DSA learn to drive book out there.
By the same author as The Driving Instructor‘s Handbook, it is simple, clear, and can be used as a training scheme in itself.
Well worth recommending to customers as well.

The Official Guide to Learning to Drive:
This is the DSA official syllabus for the learner test. This is what we have to teach, and the standards our customers need to achieve.
Not as ‘in depth‘ as Essential Skills, but if you cover everything in here on your lessons - you have done your job. (If you‘ve missed anything, you‘re in trouble!)


Coaching Books for Driving Instructors:

 Derren Brown - Tricks of the Mind:
Not a typical coaching book, but this is a brilliant introduction to certain useful techniques like memory tools and how hypnosis works. Not suggesting that you should hypnotise your customers (!) but elements could be used to help particularly nervous customers overcome problems. As long as you can cope with the florid style (which is more fun than some of the more dry texts mentioned here) this is a great one to start with.

Coaching with NLP:
This is a pretty serious one, if you’ve already had a look at NLP, this one will be great, with useful insights into problems, and solutions for them.

Coaching for Performance:
Coaching is a complete departure for the traditional ‘driving instructor’ profession.
The techniques in this book can help you turn a ‘challenging’ training session into an enjoyable one. John Whitmore is also the one of the original writers of “Roadcraft”, and despite his views on pull-push steering is an excellent writer.
Recommended for any instructor.

Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) for Dummies:
Use it on yourself.
Use it on your customers.
A simple introduction to a silly, new age, positive mental attitude, office-speak waffle - THAT ACTUALLY WORKS! Try it, you will be surprised.


Business Books for Driving Instructors:

 Getting Business to Come to You:
As Driving Instructors, we tend to spend a lot of time thinking, studying, and working hard on our job, and often forget that we are actually in business, and that means getting customers.
I didn’t want to fall into the same trap as other instructors and schools I had seen, so I got this book. There’s a lot here, but it is simple to read, and well laid out. If you are having any trouble getting customers - get it. It’ll help.

Non-Amazon Books Worth a Look:

The DIA Driving Instructor’s Handbook: This one is a heavyweight, but extremely useful, with I reckon everything you need to know, from legal requirements and legislation information, to extremely good explanations of how people learn. It is required reading for candidates for the DIA Diploma in Driving Instruction. Available directly from the DIA.

Colourfile: The title kinda says it all! Colour pictures for illustrative purposes for lesson plans. I have the ring bound version, which seems ok at the moment, but comments on the forums suggest this may deteriorate after a while, so it may be worth aquiring the loose leaf version. Loads of illustrations from the MSPSL routine approaching junctions, to slip-roads approaching dual carraigeways. The notes on each page, are great bullet points for briefings - trainee instructors could effectively do their part 3 directly from these notes. An alternative to the colourfile is available from Learnmoore training aids. Colourfile professional available from Grade Six Supplies among others.