How to Choose the Correct Driving Instructor

[@lone8869]

I passed 28 years ago and can still remember my instructor. He liked to check out any female that was nearby. He used to stop talking mid sentence to make sure he had seen enough. He was an excellent instructor though and instilled some good habits that I have never forgotten. RIP Terry you pervy old rouge. 😉

[@Ethankeenan02]

Lol

[@misterg2201]

That is just hilarious

[@fubar12345]

How to choose the correct driving instructor:- Step one: Move to Liverpool. Step two: Give Ashley Neal a call. Step three: There is no step three.

[@devonmoon5016]

Sonofa Seal love it xx

[@Ethankeenan02]

I love liverpool / scouse accents my mate has one funnyest person i know

[@okrayola222]

in that case i might book for a mock test with him before i go to my actual exam

[@amswestyorkshire8048]

:)

[@anglaismoyen]

Or move to Colchester and get in touch with Richard Fanders. He's also a good'n.

[@Craig07L]

My driving instructor used to sit with his feet on the dash, texting and taking calls quite often. Once knocked a wing mirror off a parked car whilst HE was driving. Even once talked about the local dogging sites in one occasion 🤦‍♂️😂 I passed quickly 1st time but I'm sure that was my survival instinct kicking in because I wanted it over and done with. I learnt as much from KZbin clips!

[@DamianXVI]

Choosing a proper driving instructor is not just a matter of saving some time or money, it might be one of the most important decisions in life. I can't stress that well enough. If I would have chosen a different driving school, or at least had courage to change the driving school 15 years ago, when I was attempting to learn, than maybe today I would be able to drive and my life would look completely different.

[@jailos10]

Been there, had 3 driving instructors before I found a good fit. My last instructor gave me confidence and had faith in me. Passed first time 💪🏾

[@user-to7vm2xe2h]

I have nothing to say and if I speak I'm in big trouble

[@marklittler784]

Same ere 😃

[@TinyPigy282]

I liked my instructor, although he was often late, he'd notify me and I'd still get the full 2hrs that i was paying for. My brother passed with this instructor and my friend is/was also using this instructor. He let us learn at our own pace and allowed me to have input on what we did in the lesson once the basics were learnt. He had good resources such as laminated sheets that he'd draw on and ipad picture/videos to reinforce the learning. During the lessons he was calm and would help me with my questions but also helped me get out my comfort zone and think for myself. We were able to have everyday conversations when safe so it wasn't all focused on my driving :) I passed after 2 attempts at the practical test and he helped me after i failed the first time to go over what didnt go as well. Now I'm a happy and confident young driver who drives 18miles to and from work each day.

[@hikaru9624]

That's great to hear you got a quality instructor! Mine was very patient with me and I got along well with him. We had a plenty of laughs and I know from experience that I'm more likely to remember things if I enjoyed the lesson, which I did. I am speaking as an autistic (asperger's syndrome) driver who has been driving on a full license for 7 years now.

[@Stettafire]

Mine is somtimes late, but again, I always get the full 2 hours also:)

[@LonelyPanda18420]

My instructor was much like yours. Living rural, if she got stuck behind a tractor on her way to a lesson, it could throw off the timings for the rest of the day, as she would always give us the time we paid for. I picked her as my instructor because she taught my mum how to drive nearly 20 years ago, and she was great with my mums anxiety, as she was with mine. I could've gone with the instructor who teaches most of the people at the high school I went to (he's the only instructor who is based in the town), but even though its wouldve been cheaper I wanted someone I knew would be a good fit for me.

[@Stettafire]

@@LonelyPanda18420 ye, my instructor deliberately tries to put in gaps between his lessons, bit hes often late. But honestly I dont mind. Hes a good fit and I always get the time I paid for (plus I've made him late a number of times, cus my lak of speed was an issue for a while)

[@Animalambulanceandy1]

My driving instructor was an ex police driver this was 30 years ago but he did teach me very well .

[@jahed2334]

Changing instructors was the best thing I ever did, I was not improving driving despite 20hrs in, the next instructor I had worked on the mistakes rather than just letting me drive around like normal

[@grahamnutt8958]

This particular story is about my sister. I had already left home by this time but, eventually, news filtered through to me that she had taken somewhere in the region of 25 lessons and was clearly not making much progress. I happened to be on very good terms with a security guard at the shopping precinct where I worked who ran an independent Driving School on a part time basis. Having explained the situation he agreed to take my sister on as a client and would, within 2 lessons, tell her whether or not she was ever likely to be competent. True to his word he put a stop to her lessons as it would've been a total waste of time and money to continue. Whilst being somewhat devastating to her at the time she is glad, in hindsight, to have taken my advice and switched Instructor. The point of this story? It backs up what Ashley says about what may be construed as unethical Instructors. Thanks for the upload. Stay safe people 😉

[@KahnuevsKrake]

I've had 2 instructors before eventually passing. The first one was a nice guy and he spotted that I needed glasses and thought automatic would be the right path for me, although he did once reach over, beep the horn and make a rude hand signal at another driver who cut me off at a roundabout. Although he was sticking up for me, it wasn't very professional in hindsight. Sadly life circumstances prevented me from taking my test at the time and all my learning went out of the window. About 7 years later, I wrote to a local driving school who referred me an independent instructor, and his attention to detail and quality of teaching honestly dwarfed that of my previous instructor. He was also one of the most patient and calm people I've ever met. He used to specialise in nervous pupils, and it showed in the way he conducted himself, and that built me into a confident driver. So if you live in the Guildford area and need an automatic instructor, give Mark Sinclair a call. You won't regret it.

[@jcardboard]

I had a driving instructor years ago who was so 'confident in my ability' she just sat on her phone most of the time. I was young and naive so didn't tell her to stop (I would now). Needless to say I failed.

[@reindeerxtrash68]

God that sounds like my first instructor to be honest, glad I found my current one, taking my test on the 23rd so I'm a little nervous but he thinks I'm doing good

[@marklittler784]

Yeah I decided to try a new instructor after explaining I had plenty of experience we started off and I had to do an emergency stop after a few hundred yards, he wasn't paying attention and me unfamiliar with the new, new car, braking hard gave him the shock of his life, he wanted to throttle the guy that stepped out lol.

[@ResevoirGod]

Ashley - how do you stay so calm and collected as a driving instructor? The number of rage inducing moments you encounter on a daily basis would send me mad. Could you do a video on avoiding road rage?

[@smasheduppumpkinette]

I looked on Facebook for recommendations. I wasn’t fussed on a male or female instructor (I’m female). I had no issues with my instructor and felt like I was learning at the right pace for me. He was good at taking into account things I wanted to get extra practice with etc. I don’t know if the fact I was taking lessons in my 30’s made a difference to all that or not (and the fact id have lots of on and off practice over the years with family in my own cars). I definitely felt a lot more confidence driving that I did when I was younger. I did have lessons when I was 17 and hated every minute of it. I had about 20 hours of lessons and then quit. Thinking back it was probably the wrong instructor for me. It’s hard to explain as he wasn’t shouty but he always had that sort of agitated / nervous/ stressed out vibe to him. I never felt relaxed or calm in lessons with him. Even when we were driving along a deserted side with nothing happening road he still made me feel like I was doing something wrong as he was on edge. I hope that makes sense. It was like all the nervous / stressed energy he had made me feel nervous and stressed. I was out of driving for a few years after that.

[@shaunw9270]

A friend introduced me to his mate down the road who had a guitar for sale & he thought I would be interested. I ended up buying 2 guitars off the guy. Turns out they knew each other as the guitar man had been my mate's driving instructor. I left that day with the guitars and 20 hour long Saturday morning lessons to look forward to ! Passed first time. Thanks for everything Dave Exton of Bristol. If you're out there ,you're an A1 Peach Plus bloke 😉👍

[@srichards9707]

If that's the Dave Exton that I trained with he is a legend.

[@streyyk5799]

I had my first and only car crash in my first instructor's car. I'd had about 10 hours instruction and she was sat in the passenger seat texting her next student while I was driving along at 30. Got into a situation where she should have been on the dual controls, but she was miles away. Whoops.

[@sonia4072]

My first instructor had a tendency to focus on my mistakes a lot and generally stress me out, didn't teach me manouvers properly and was also a bit racist. My second instructor was a lot calmer, taught me manouvers, gave constructive criticism and helped me to get to that driving test standard, I passed 1st time with 6 minors with her help. Edit- What you said about male driving instructors is exactly why I went with female driving instructors, my brothers however went with male ones, but as far as I know they had no issues.

[@Ethankeenan02]

My instructor was a very good instructor and only charged £25 a lesson and 22 a lesson when you get ten lesson in one go i only spent £525 on lessons alltogether he was very passiant and had a good style of teaching and if i messed sothing up we practiced it again until i did it spot on

[@georgekellett5509]

As much as I loved learning to drive, I wish I learnt with Ashley, he seems like the ideal instructor.

[@denissherry9163]

Hi Ashley. Great video! I'm here in Ireland and my previous driving instructor used to be on his phone all the time during our lessons. He'd have it charging during the lessons, would pick it up and text and call people while I was driving. He was around the same age as me and it annoyed me to be honest. It was so unprofessional. Now I have a new instructor who is an ex Guard (police officer) and he's so much more professional and respectful in my opinion.

[@Stettafire]

I've had four instructors First one for ages, made no progress and developed a fear of driving downhill (yes, downhill not uphill, only downhill, especially on approach to a junction) and a hatred of buses/lorries. Tried about two in Liverpool (not Ashley, but simular area) and one of them was awful and drove a car only fit for landfill, the other was ok, but it was better for me to have an instructor nearer where I lived (not in Liverpool) and my current instructor is honestly the best out of those four. The amount of time, money and curbs I would have saved had I seen this video about a year and a half ago :P You don't like your instructor, switch :)

[@rainfordays855]

My first driving instructor was recommended by a family member, she was lovely, but I couldn't see me passing my test with her any time soon. She'd have me drive around anywhere while she'd be on her phone. Rarely practiced manoeuvres and never gave me feedback or anything to help improve my driving. As far as I saw it, she'd take the money and have me drive her around. She'd often show up late and bring me back early. My second driving instructor was great. Really by the book and would go above and beyond to help me. I'm glad I had a look around for the right driving Instructor as I passed my test in February of 2019. ☺️

[@nigelcox1451]

When I trained, 2003/4, The Instructor College, both in Reading and Bristol seemed to actually teach instructors to stand outside the car for manoeuvres. We used to see them often.

[@Informational_Comparisons]

Yes, Ashley Neal with the shoe repairs! 🤣

[@hybridangel3403]

My first instructor was good starting out. But he kept taking me around the quiet parts. I noticed when we got to more challenging areas he seemed a bit more distracting. Going around a roundabout he pointed right and said big turns I nearly turned immediately right. And as shouted big turns I was doing what he said and nearly gone into the rounabout. He just was not the best instructor for me. I was not going anywhere I changed my instructor to one recommended by my friends. She was amazing so much less uptight and calmer. Let you know if you had not done something wrong and you didn't do it again. I found with each lesson I improved. And each test I failed I had improved. I have passed now and have a bit of fear when I drive. I have paid her to come out in my car to help and reassure me.

[@sassyboofle6983]

So far only seen 8 mins and have to go out , But good so far. I am very impressed with my instructor as she never did any of those , she was abrupt strong and could be very hard on you but I believe that helped me and am very happy I had her .so will come back after finish watching the clip , 👍

[@Dannysdrivingschool]

One thing you always drummed into me professionalism ! Always try my best I honestly can’t believe that guy got out to ask a question 🙈 I thought you was goner hit him with go back in your car 😂

[@ashley_neal]

I didn't have Jacob with me for backup ;)

[@Dannysdrivingschool]

Ashley Neal 😂😂 won’t be long before you have to use it again ash

[@eyelidman09]

Another factor is the learner’s ‘learning style’. For example my instructor used a lot of visual aids to help me learn (many years ago), and made lessons great fun. That suited me. If you don’t ‘click’ with an instructor, move on until you do. It’s your money, and your choice.

[@derbar7051]

Completely agree. Everyone has their own learning style. I am kinesthetic so I learn through movement. My instructor told me that I learn via repetition.

[@melodybernhardt981]

I had a guy who was always late and on his phone - and then cancelled lessons every week because he kept having a ‘flat tire’... he was even from a very reputable driving school. Got some lessons refunded and found an amazing and cheaper driving school that I passed with 👍 took me ages to find the right instructor but when you do you’ll know because you’ll progress more quickly than ever before. I passed on Saturday with this instructor (Latics driving school for anyone in Manchester - highly recommend)

[@sassyboofle6983]

Very wise sound advice here . It is very daunting the first time you step into a car when you will be in control of it , so to judge an instructor is almost an unheard of thing . And yes it is like judging , as you do not know anything else , unless you are a very confident person . Also never sure on how to judge them , what standard to set them by . Upon now driving a while I see how good an instructor she actually was . 👍❤️

[@josephmarsh8235]

I would say I chose the correct driving instructor first time as I passed first time test. After all, he knew to teach me the best habits that some instructors don't teach, for example not to dry steer when parking, set gas before clutch when moving off and lots more. I will even ask him next year for some extra tests on motorway and more. My instructor was from AA Driving school in Suffolk 😀

[@jaytoppo1670]

I'm glad I chose the right instructor back in 2006, I chose you personally Ashley and passed first time ;)

[@bombardygamer4248]

My instructor once heard of an instructor that used to pick up a pupil for a lesson, drive to a nearby breakfast place, sit in the place and ask the student some theory questions while they sat and ate their breakfast, and then take the pupil out to drive.

[@SCOTTCOD4]

I had a female driving instructor, she was absolutly spot on and i couldn't fault her. I passed in 8 lessons with 1 minor. I can be someone who lets little things get to me (annoy me) but she was my calming figure, and brought out the best in me. I can't deal with regimental people and just gets my back up. Every person is different, and some more than others. Its all about finding the right one for you.

[@Stettafire]

Ye, I am very much the same. I think I suit a calmer teacher.

[@hikaru9624]

I do recall my driving instructor wanting to go out of the car to get a bottle of water from the local spar (he had a sore throat). However I wasn't left alone to do any manoeuvres and the car was parked with the engine off. Before doing so he asked me if I was alright with his request, and me being the kind of person I am said yes as I felt bad for him to teach me while a little under the weather. Edit: curse my autistic brain! I forgot to point out that I was parked in the spar car park.

[@conrar1320]

3:38 Didn't know Joe Pasquale was a driving instructor

[@AKAMustang]

My first instructor was a one-man-band, pre-paid 10 lesson block... he was shite. I moved to someone else, but still didn't realise quite how bad he was until I saw how amazing the new guy was. It's so hard to know, because you have no frame of reference, at least you didn't before the days on KZbin, would be much easier these days I'd say.

[@nv1368]

It may be wise to do a video on customers as well just for the balance. Things such as pupils booking 2hrs then cancelling 15mins before lesson, or turning up for a lesson and no one at home (and then pupil ringing stating should have rang door bell instead of knocking), or asking to pay the week after and then suddenly disappearing, or asking at the last moment to drop them off somewhere different, or pupils that constantly ask to book their test stating their supposed friend passed test after only 10hrs, or parents wanting to speak with you after finishing a lesson and then taking another half hour of your time, or getting a recommended pupil and first thing asked is how much do you charge, or those pupils who constantly take the cheapest ten hrs offered by different schools and hop around hoping that after 40hrs somehow they will ready for test.

[@ashley_neal]

Already on my mind. Fools seldom differ ;) Ashley

[@1988dgs]

I learned from a police instructor, then a biker paramedic was among the group of instructors for my bike licence, all great people

[@davidbrown5523]

For myself it was easy, I picked a local instructor, we got on well from the start. I'd been driving for the past 3 years with my wife supervising so it was just little bits to tidy up, I passed first attempt. My eldest son had three attempts with different instructors and failed on each attempt. We got a car for him and I spent some time with him on all aspects of the test, we hired the Arnold Clark dual control car, submitted for the test and passed. With my youngest son, we watched the local instructors driving both with pupils and on their own, I once again hired the Arnold Clark dual control car, he passed first attempt.

[@BrightonandHoveActually]

We had a discussion about CRB - now DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) checks when I trained as a Cub Leader some years ago. The trainer said all it proved was that you had not done anything yet. I told him he was wrong. All it proved was that you had not been CAUGHT yet! Where a parent CAN be useful is in providing the learner the opportunity to practice what they have learned, building experience and the neural networks that enable them to carry out the actions they have been taught as second nature. But as the supervising driver they need to be alert at all times. There was one occasion when I intervened when my son was learning to avoid an accident that would have been the fault of the driver of the other vehicle who had clearly failed to notice the road markings were unusual. To be fair, so had my son but he was a learner and not sufficiently experienced to recognise this and the consequent risk of an error. I am certainly not a perfect driver (I have a backside full of mecanno as a result of one of my mistakes!) but on that occasion I was on the ball and that was the difference between an accident and us simply doing an extra lap of a roundabout.

[@rob7726]

My first driving instructor I had in Liverpool every lesson I had he was either smoking in the car or having me stop at cafes for him to get his lunch the worse was when I missed my driving test due to him getting a soup in a cafe that's why I decided to do lessons with friends and family which I am now a full license holder this week.

[@MickeyCool30]

Find someone you are comfortable with and enjoy learning with. Like any form of learning it should be fun, and gain knowledge. Nothing worse than learning with someone you aren't comfortable with. Also it shouldn't take a short period neither should it take ages, everyone learns at a different pace, people shouldn't compare themselves to others, people arent learning to pass a test they are learning to be a lifelong safe driver, the instructor isn't going to be there forever, so you will need to be confident to do each element. An instructor who guides and gives good constructive criticism but friendly, but allows you to learn at your own pace and develop and discover things yourself is a good instructor. Had one where there was too much information in one go and didn't allow to practice each thing until I was confident, also he wasnt fun to learn with and not friendly it puts you off, especially as I have autistic traits, I generally learn better with nice friendly people who do things in small stages rather than information overload

[@AtticusDenzil]

6:44 you know i actually tried google as you suggested and really I managed to find an instructor with good reviews like the second funny one in your video

[@coffeeflavouredapples]

There is a driving instructor around my neck of the woods who is amazing he'll fill you with confidence even if you are like me got no confidence he never shouted at you he was always very calm even if you cocked up he'd explain what you did that was wrong and or dangerous and providing you understand what you did was wrong and or dangerous he get you too proceed with the lesson And with your permission I'd like to give him a shout out I can remember on one of my lessons with him I came to a junction where my view was blocked by parked cars so i leant over the steering wheel and crept out of the junction whilst looking out for any vehicles or hazards when I deem it to be safe I continued to safely pull out of the junction and he said what I did was very good both in situational awareness and control of the car

[@keith6400]

In my opinion it's a good idea to not commit to a large numbers of lessons in one payment. Intensive driving lesson courses seem to me to be taking on a big financial risk. What would be the situation regarding the huge pre-payment if you were really ill that week or what if you really did not get on. I think you should look at what friends and relatives have found to be good and pay no more than a four lesson block at most.

[@ibs5080]

Ib S Ashley, any chance of you doing a Learning Point video about using a petrol station. I searched to see if you had done one before and didn't find anything but I do know and remember very well two years ago you did "Learning Point 62" regarding a McDonald's Drive through. It occurred to me that a learning point on petrol stations would be even more relevant. I think a learning Point video on using petrol station would be great actually. You could cover things such as petrol station etiquette (some drivers queue up right at the entrance to see which lane becomes free first rather than actually picking a lane, as a result they end up blocking the entrance). You could also cover such aspects as: Is it ok to try and fill up on the non fuel cap side, is it ok to drive up to a pump in front of someone else if it becomes free first, the fact that if the forecort is free, using the furthest pump, being aware of pedestrians, is the petrol station forecourt one way ( either officially or unofficially, and if it is one way officially, then you should be able to use the right hand side of the exit opening to turn right). So many aspects of petrol station usage and etiquette could be covered in your video and you could use examples of several different stations with different layouts and so forth. Hand in hand with this, either in the same video or a separate one, cover the topic of using an EV charging point, including etiquette (use only during charging, use an app to monitor the charging if possible, don't park there if you are non EV etc). I believe some of your instructor cars (Toyota Yaris?) are electric or hybrid, is that correct? You may also recall it was me that suggested a "How to drive like a driving instructor - Night time" video ( just after the clocks changed). Hopefully you wil be able to get round to that as well in between your very busy schedule. I want to also say, thank you very much for all your videos so far. You are helping raise awareness to a very useful degree. You know, my own mum has recently complimented me on my driving and feels I have improved, she has no idea why! It's all thanks to your videos. For the record I am 59 and passed my test on the first attempt in 1978. Either way, a huge thank you and it just goes to show that one never stops learning and that there is always room for improvement. I also love your positive attitude.

[@CortinasAndClassics]

Do you think the car is a factor when learning? Whether you dislike it or not? Years ago I had an instructor who was very loud and verbally offensive. I only had a couple of lessons with him and I left.

[@marklittler784]

Some cars give you a much better all round view and are much easier to judge the four corners of the car, the Ford Fiesta in the 80s was a good one.

[@PhilofBristol]

I remember seeing a driving instructor picking up a female student in an old-style school mini. About half an hour later I saw the same car in a secluded beauty spot car park. Let's just say that I don't think they were practising driving manoeuvres!! 😊

[@Ajd83.]

Another excellent video.... 👌📹👍

[@v9382s]

I had two instructors, second one great first one not so great. They would both text on lessons and it made me anxious!

[@Shyted]

I had three driving instructors, it wasn’t until the third that I actually started to make progress. The 2nd had a heart attack and died (not during my lesson) so I’ll exclude him from this. The first was really uncritical of me and didn’t pull me up when he should have and I failed two tests. The 3rd one would be really hard on me and it was just what I needed and I passed.

[@lone8869]

My son's instructor was forever cancelling lessons at the last minute yet we had paid for 12 lessons in advance then it was a mither to get another appointment to suit him. He passed 1st time but we won't be using him when it's my daughter's turn.

[@marklittler784]

I think it's a good idea to try a couple of other instructors in the long run after you've had some experience, for an hour, to see what they are like especially their opinion of how your doing, don't be shy.

[@jus__gra]

I was searching for that review but didn't get to the took down part 🤦‍♂️😂 I paid £929 for a week intensive course. Start Sunday test on next Friday 😁

[@drekposrani4252]

Had worst driving instructor possible. We almost had a fist fight at one point when he didnt want to teach me the things i asked him to which i didnt know. Told him id fill in a report on him, passed first time afterwards.

[@SultanSaeed_99]

Interesting how they've changed 13:20 Instructor grades from 1-6 to A-C but GCSE grades have done the opposite lol.

[@CGKBettz3]

My last instructor was way too lazy. He expected me to get a bus to a location so he didn't waste money on petrol. Didn't pay for my tickets, obviously. £5 a go on top of whatever i was paying him. He'd also tell me to pull in to fast food places and have lunch, go to the bank and deposit the money I have him, and do other chores while I'm paying him for lessons. On the phone arranging things for properties (was also a private landlord) didn't help either. First driving test he refused to sit in with me because he was busy being a landlord... Needless to say, I learned the square root of bugger all. Had to cancel my second test a week before due to his car being stolen, silver lining as I've now moved to another much better instructor that suits my style of learning. (Direct clear, sometimes blunt instructions)

[@nigelcox1451]

Travelling to meet an instructor can be a benefit at times. (I'll come back to that) The rest of your story is unacceptable behaviour. For anyone living away from good learning areas, or out of town, travelling to meet an instructor gives you the full lesson time in a better learning area. Otherwise, a large part of your lesson will be repetitive travelling from home to town and back. When travelling between lessons the instructor is earning nothing. For this reason many will not teach pupils outside of a restricted area. This can make finding an instructor, if you live out of town, more difficult, so travelling to meet can work well. A compromise might be to do lessone to or from work or college. May need some negotiation for individual circumstances.

[@mxlexrd]

I had a particular driving instructor with whom I had one lesson and then he disappeared off the face of the earth. We had a lesson booked, and at the last minute he canceled it. I then sent three messages asking to book another one and he never replied.

[@Jonc25]

You must have scared the life out of them on your 1st lesson. Hope you didn't have anymore vanishing driving instructors. Lol. 🤣

[@scottlaaa]

I had five different instructors! the last one was a friends dad and was absolutely amazing who i passed with. With Bsm she didn’t turn up for the first two weeks and the third week she rang to say she was late even though i was on a 9 week waiting list! she offered me free lessons, to which I declined and told her I would find another driving school, she had the cheek to have a go at me for wasting her time as I waited for her to turn up lol a bit of karma 😂 I had my first lesson 3 weeks after i was supposed to have started with an instructor who fitted me in without much notice who was awesome, i moved to Wales so had to change instructors i was gutted he was a top bloke. Then had a guy who was constantly playing with his phone and kept asking me to pull over so he could get out too smoke, turned up late and dropped me off earlier so he could get to his next pupil! I had four, two hour lessons which was enough! Then the next instructor turned up late even though he lived around the corner 🤦🏻‍♂️ he started with the basics explaining how the controls work to which I explained to him I know how it works I’ve had around 20 hours of lessons and after half n hour of being sat in the passenger seat I gave him £20 and got out as he wasn’t listening and I lost my shit with him because i was annoyed at him turning up late. Which I probably could have handled better. so I went with Wayne at eze drive who was awesome and made me relaxed and i passed first time. He wasn’t even disgruntled about being my 5th instructor he made a joke about kissing a few frogs before finding your prince proper dad jokes with him lol he even shouted at me before my test because i made a huge mistake stalling and was nervous which afterwards I thanked him for because it cooled my nerves and he was like just buy me a beer lol At the time i was young and naive and had no idea that you could check out reviews online or even complain to anyone.

[@Lightning477]

Genuine, good advice

[@janiceN4Nugs]

My first instructor was texting whilst I was driving. We had hit traffic so he was letting his next pupil we was running late...

[@pdcmoore]

During an advanced driving lesson I ended the lesson early because the observer (instructor really) was so bad I did not feel safe. Out of all the instructors or observers on my advanced course 3 were poor, 3 were superb.

[@Lanzy4lee]

A long shot I know but re the two driving instructors. They could be off duty given as you know they are able to leave box l plates etc. Also they could be doing adi part 2 or pdi or standards check training. I know it's poor practice but unless we know for sure it's difficult to point fingers

[@rebeccawilliams139]

My friends dad was going to be a driving instructor under his dads school, he’d already been teaching pupils (which I’m told is common but idk) before he’d taken his instructor test. He failed his test. Edit: this was in Liverpool too.

[@marklittler784]

His pupils probably went on to become taxi drivers looool

[@christianbuczko1481]

My instructor was awesome. One day i stalled at lights, and the car behind went full roadrage. My instructor was an ex miner, so didnt take shit.

[@haveyouseenchef4531]

For me. I didn’t realize how bad my instructor was until I passed my test and started driving

[@SSC0002]

My instructor is, I think, a unique individual. He'd be late most of the time, and he'd usually be on his phone during lessons, and he works from 6am to midnight every day. Having said that, he's a brilliant teacher if you like to get straight into things. On my first lesson we went around a cul de sac a few times, then got onto the main road after about 10 minutes. On my second lesson I was on a dual carriageway at 60mph. Passed first time with 4 minors

[@cameron6816]

10:35 my instructor never had me do this and I didn’t do this until my driving test. Should my instructor have asked me to read a number plate on the first few lessons?

[@Lauren_B]

My instructor loved to drag out lessons as much as he could to get all your money. I did way too many lessons in my opinion as I already knew the basics before doing any lessons with him and I would say I’m a quick learner. He also would text and be on his phone a lot, he would also be racist toward pedestrians. He would make me feel awkward at times and would get angry over silly things. I ended up passing my text first time with 2 minors anyway:) my friend went with him and she did twice as many lessons as me (40) she eventually gave up and went to another instructor and passed her test a week or 2 later lol

[@Hanx896]

What I want to know is why is it a lot of drivers approaching a left turn, they turn right then left?

[@ashley_neal]

Video already planned 👍

[@Hanx896]

@@ashley_neal People don't seem to understand that you CAN actually do 90 degree turns in a car 🤷‍♂️ even SUVs

[@venkatasivagabbita788]

How about people making false complaints? Happening increasingly nowadays, especially when customers think they know better than the instructors. Sometimes because somebody else told them something else.

[@seblewis6275]

I would not go for an instructor like Warren from the BBC comedy series, Warren, that screened a few months ago. Warren a fictional driving instructor played by Martin Clunes. It was about a driving instructor who was with a new woman who had two sons from a previous relationship and surrounded their family life and one of the plots surrounded in his driving instruction and let's say Warren was not a very profoessional instructor from the many antics we saw.

[@roach7191]

idk if i have a good instructor she keeps scrolling through her phone and shes busy so its hard to book lessons with her. today were going on main roads wish me luck

[@mrandrews4081]

Hi Ashley, I know it's off topic but I'm posting this on your most recent video hoping for a response. I saw your video on merging recently and you explained how you should use both lanes when a duel carriageway becomes a single one and using the right lane is not "que jumping" something I have always taken advantage of. However what I am unsure of and hoping you could clarify for me regarding duel carriageways is does this rule apply when at the end of a duel carriage way there is a long que of traffic at a set of lights for example for the left lane which is for continuing ahead and the right lane is empty but for turning right? For example where I live there is a set of lights at the end of a duel carriageway which in rush hour the ques can stretch back a long way in the left lane for people wanting to continue straight but the right hand turn is for a supermarket car park so people use this lane to save themselves sitting in traffic. Is this OK or would this then be considered que jumping? I appreciate your help on this and hope it makes sense and if it doesn't I am happy to try and clarify what I mean. If you don't respond it's completely understandable and thank you anyway!

[@mrandrews4081]

@@samhwilson this is my thoughts on the matter however (please don't think I'm being rude I'm really not I'm just not good with words particularly when writing) I'm asking Ashley specifically as he has done videos on the subject and I clearly an experienced and knowledgeable driving instructor. Thank you for your input though 👍

[@Momofan69]

My instructor was amazing, recommended by my mum and just a great guy, I was a really shit driver so his patience was one of his best features lmao.

[@CFZ_JCW]

Only had 1 instructor and I passed first time but my instructor would play fifa videos through his phone down country roads.

[@passkat]

Hi, I noticed on 9m.19s you didn't check your blind spot! Is there a reason for this? Nice video some good tips there.

[@jens5567]

He's stopped in traffic as you can see the vehicle behind in his rear window, and not parked at the side of the road. He also checks his mirrors before he moves off too as he should.

[@hoodnationproductions]

On my lesson today when the traffic lights went green I floored it like me dad does

[@kalilavalezina]

Thanks Ashley - can I ask you a question about the touchy-feely thing? I've had 12 lessons with my instructor and he's touched my arm, shoulders and back 4 times now. In the last lesson he said I looked pretty and later asked if I was hot in my jumper, I could take it off. He made a comment about another female student driving with her legs together and he had to tell her to open her legs. Do you think this is inappropriate and enough to report him?

[@ashley_neal]

@@kalilavalezina because I obviously wasn’t there I can’t be sure what has happened but if it’s as you say, that’s not right.

[@anglaismoyen]

"How to choose the correct driving instructor" in 2021 with the covid backlog is to ring up every driving school in the area until you finally get one that's available, sadly.

[@Ethankeenan02]

I wouldent have the passients to be an instructor but i would like to be an instructor

[@adammoorby99]

My first driving instructor kept grabbing the steering wheel and shouting at me so much other stuff safe to say after i made a complaint he was indeed fired Tbh i can’t even pass the theory so i took my CBT for the motor-biker and don’t feel like i want a car 🤣 but i know I do because it makes things easier for shopping or dates lol

[@marklittler784]

I failed twice with the first instructor he kept saying very good very good, I realised he was refering to his bank balance.. 😈

[@amybarker9672]

My instructor was good, but he was a pervert - to the point where I made sure I always wore jumpers and baggy stuff in my lessons. I remember one time he had to grab the wheel, and grazed my chest as he did so, and after that he apologised and went “do you have a boyfriend?” And i said “yes” and he said “they’re for him to play with, not me”. Whenever I wore something with straps or showing cleavage he would make comments that made me uncomfortable. I know one girl who actually stopped taking lessons with him because he was a perv.

[@ashley_neal]

That's terrible Amy. He needs reporting.

[@shahzaibawais44]

is this legal to record a video while driving on the road 😘😘

[@nigelcox1451]

Yes, as long as it does not distract. Part of our role as an instructor is to do 'commentary drives', so we are used to talking and driving. We can be sure that Ashley will only be talking ot us when he has already properly assessed the situation arond him and has all potential problems covered. But, to use a well known phrase, "Don't try this at home".

[@downloaderbyproxy93]

I'm sure that driving instuctor was one of my previous instructors did the reg end in tlc if so he was a major be*lend

[@Momofan69]

I had a male instructor but he acted sorta female, like he was kind and patient if I had a shouty male instructor I'd be like no thanks.

[@shaun1293]

My instructor was Scottish and became an instructor after killing two people on the road (somehow his car ended up on top of another car with two people inside). Excellent instructor but had a thing for my mother, who is married and is a good catholic woman haha! Nevertheless he taught me a valuable lesson; treat the road as if all other drivers are unpredictable morons.

[@rudinam2409]

I went with two cheaper instructors and I had to change to an expensive one with a 15 year experience, and let me tell it's worth every penny I just wish I didn't waste hundreds of pounds on those other idiots.

[@dizzydozdb]

My instructor is slightly sexist, very very Christian as he's pointed out a few time. Says the occasional inappropriate thing (not toward me) and we've had to agree to disagree many times. But he's a really good teacher. I am looking forward to passing though 🤣

[@LazarkGaming]

16:50 which is why I prefer a female instructor, as a straight male, this is a dream come true.

[@pdcmoore]

Think you are an excellent driver Ashley. Your knowledge is superb and your videos are too. But have to be honest, you talk too much during the lesson. I would find it difficult to take it all in particularly while trying to concentrate on everything else. My original 2 driving instructors would park you up to tell you anything that took anything away from the pupils concentration. Both were very good. On my test the examiner praised my driving so they must have done a good job, lol

[@Plexipal]

What happened to the new intro?

[@hugoburton5222]

I think it was just for that video.

[@ashley_neal]

This video was uploaded before I made the switch. The old intro is still on a lot of the learning points that are scheduled over the next couple of months 👍

[@smasheduppumpkinette]

Until I seen this comment I thought I had just imagined the new intro.

[@jony6107]

Don't get the one who says you are a great driver from the first lesson. Even i could see that i was rubbish,but hey,he got my money for 3 sessions before i quit driving with him. My 3 and last one was answering his phone every 20 mins,because his wife was calling him all the time and hey,i get him. You can ignore your friends,mom,but jesus christ don't ignore your wife. You have never seen the devil until you don't reject her calls several times 🤣🤣 poor guy,but a good instructor overall

[@Ethankeenan02]

Does anyone know the cheapest insurance without a black box for a 18 year old

[@hikaru9624]

There's no such thing as cheap insurance.

[@SSC0002]

The cheapest you'll get is probably £3000 per year

[@hikaru9624]

@@SSC0002 I've never paid that for insurance but I live out in the sticks and had my late dad as a named driver. Maybe 3rd party fire and theft is best for the op?

[@Stettafire]

18 year old + cheap. Sorry, not likely. Also, it depends on what kind of driver you are, where you live ect, ect. For example, if ya are driving long distances ya need nationwide recovery. If you are only doing short trips to the shops, less so. If you are a learner ya need learner's insurance which means the car must be fully insured with a seperate driver. I find other drivers target new drivers on the road. So protection from uninsured drivers I would recommend highly. But yeah, reckon you are looking at £2k-£3k depending on your car, occupation ect, ect.

[@Sampy1997]

Theres no cheap insurance without a black box unfortunately if you are wanting to shell out over 2 grand. Young drivers aged 17-21 have more risk of getting into incidents. I'm a new driver aged 22 and I drive a 2002 Nissan Micra which is a insurance group 9 and I got a black box so I pay £1.6k annually for the first year. If you are wanting cheap insurance then look out for cars under insurance group 10 and go onto compare the market to see what insurance quote works for you. You can get your parents as the named driver to reduce the premium by a couple £££. I heard that people who don't have their own driveway and park on the streets have a higher premium.. so do experiment with quotes online before you make a final decision.