Driving School in North Lanarkshire

In 2002 became a fully qualified driving instructor and haven't looked back since.

I am also a Pass-Plus qualified instructor.

I have passed the I.A.M. (Institute of Advanced Motorists) driving test which was a straight pass or fail test, and also great fun to do, and have also passed the R.O.S.P.A. (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) which is graded, and I passed at gold level, and again a really enjoyable experience.

Also, just for fun I completed a skid control course at Knockhill Racing Circuit, hopefully I will never need to use it in a real situation but good to have just in case.

Pass-Plus lessons
.
Pass Plus is a training course specifically aimed at new drivers to build upon your existing skills and knowledge, it will teach you how to anticipate, plan for and deal with all kinds of hazards, and can help you to become more confident on the roads.

The Pass-Plus course is made up of six lessons usually lasting one hour each and cover the following:

Driving in town.

Driving in all weathers.

Driving on rural roads.

Driving on dual carriageways.

Driving on motorways

Anyone who holds a full UK licence is eligible to take part in the scheme. You will not have to take a test at the end of the course, instead you will be given tuition and guidance to successfully complete all the modules in the course to an achieved or exceeded standard.

Motorway tuition.

Motorway tuition is available for any driver who may not feel comfortable driving on motorways or wants to be a safer driver on motorways.

It is also available for newly qualified drivers who are nervous about going onto the motorway for the first time.

.

Refresher Lessons

Refresher lessons are available for drivers who have not driven for a while, or for drivers who suddenly find that they have to deal with new areas of driving that they previously have never encountered before. i.e. starting a new job or just moved house and find driving around difficult.

These lessons are completely tailored to your needs i.e. reverse parking, roundabouts, parking in supermarkets, city centre driving etc. whichever area or areas in driving you would like help with.

.

1 hour lesson - £20
Block of 10 lessons - £180

.
For Students.

1 hour lesson -£18
Block of 10 lessons -£160

*Students must have a valid up to date student card to qualify for the discount.

Refer a friend offer.
If you are learning to drive with Walkers driving school yourself and know someone else who would like to learn. If they take a block of 10 lessons with me, you get the use of the car for the your test plus a one hour lesson before your test for free!!!!

.

Telephone: 01698 304589
Mobile: 07 856 581 088
e-mail walkers.ds@blueyonder.co.uk

A relaxed and happy atmosphere, a joy to learn with Walkers

Very easy to learn with, always a pleasure, every lesson.

A nice and relaxed Instructor who made learning to drive fun.

A friendly and patient instructor. Had a great time learning to drive with Walkers.

Friendly and makes learning to drive fun.

A patient instructor who explains everything clearly.
Ann Young.

.

A patient and friendly instructor, I had three instructors before and passed first time with Stevie.
Ellison Young.

COCKPIT DRILL D.S.S.M.
Doors / Seat / Seat-Belt / Mirrors.

Doors: First pull, then push to make sure they are closed. Also you can use the exterior mirrors to check that the rear doors are closed.

Seat: Make sure that all three parts of the seat are adjusted correctly, the bottom of the seat so that you can reach the clutch pedal comfortably. The back of the seat so that you can move the steering wheel and reach all of the auxilliary controls easily. And the head restraint which should be in line with the top of your head.

Seat-belt: Make sure that the seat-belt is sitting across the shoulder and not up at the neck, use the height adjuster if necessary. Also make sure that it is not twisted.

Mirrors: The interior mirror should be adjusted so that you can see all four corners of the rear window in the mirror, or if this is not possible you should line up the top and right hand side of the mirror with the top and right hand side of the rear window.

Always Always Always remember that before starting the engine, check that the handbrake is applied and that the gear is in neutral.

Preparing the car:

Clutch fully down.
Select 1st Gear.
Set gas.
Clutch up to biting point. (this is when the tone of the engine drops and the bonnet rises).

Observe:

Left mirror, Interior mirror, Road ahead, Right Mirror, and Blind spot.
If a signal is necessary, apply the signal and observe again.

Move:

If safe, release the handbrake and slowly ease the clutch up, then take your foot right off the clutch pedal and place on the floor.

Remember there should be no delays between checking the blind-spot and moving off. If there is, just remember to observe all round again.

Mirrors:

When you are driving you always start with the interior mirror first and then check whichever side mirror is most beneficial, in this case the left mirror.

Signal:

Decide if a signal is necessary for stopping, is it going to benefit someone?

Position:

Line the kerb up with your reference point.

Speed:

Once you are happy with your position cover the clutch and the brake.
Brake gently and then press the clutch fully down.
When the car has stopped apply the handbrake, select neutral and take your feet off the pedals.

Look:

You should be looking all the time during the M.S.P.S.L. routine for any hazards or dangers and also making sure that you are going to stop in a Safe Convenient and Legal Place. S.C.A.L.P.

As I have been a driving instructor for quite a few years now, I have definitely seen a pattern in the pupils views of the driving test. Usually these views have been been formed in their own mind, or more often than not have been given to them by other drivers.
I have sat in the back of my car on a great many driving tests as an observer and spoken to many driving test examiners so I hope I can help dispel some of the many myths that seem to be floating around about the driving test.

.

1. Pupil: I hope the examiner hasn't reached his quota for passing pupils yet, I've heard it's especially difficult to pass near the end of the month.

Answer: There is no such thing as pass rates. None at the end of the week, month or even year. If you drive safely and avoid committing any serious or dangerous driving faults and commit 15 driving faults or less you will pass the test.

.

2. Pupil: To be able to pass the driving test I have to adjust the mirrors so that I have to really move my head about to check them. This way the examiner will see me checking my mirrors.

Answer: Please please please do not do this. If you do the examiner may even fail you for not setting the mirrors correctly as part of your cockpit drill. Examiners are highly trained professionals and know exactly when you should be checking your mirrors and how often and although you may not see it they do watch your eyes to see if you are checking the mirrors.

.

3. Pupil: I've heard that the examiners are really stern and dont say anything to you on the test, only where to go and what to do.

Answer: To me, examiners have a really tough job on this one. If they sit in the car and chat to you a lot it could distract you from what you are doing. If they don't say anything at all it could make you more nervous. Generally though I have found that before the actual driving takes place, when they are walking you to the car they will be very talkative, and during the test the examiners will pick the right moment to ask little things about you like where you are from and what you do, to really try to help put you at ease.

.

4. Pupil: When I am slowing down I must change down through every gear.

Answer: Untrue, I think maybe in the past this used to be the case but nowadays we tend to block change going down the gears i.e. 5th to 3rd, 4th to 2nd etc.This way your hands are on the wheel for longer giving you greater control of the car.

.

5. Pupil: Manoevers are really tough on a test, you only get one shot a doing it right and you can't go back and start from the beginning.

Answer: Yes It's true that you only get one go at the Manoeuvres, so you really want to be comfortable in doing all three before you go for the test, but you can correct a Manoeuvre that is going wrong. So if you think you are going to hit the kerb or go wide on a reverse to the left stop, drive forwards a little and correct the manoevre. This is down to the examiners discretion however, but in all the times that I have observed a test the examiner would only ask the pupil to drive on if they have already failed the Manoeuvre i.e. hit the kerb, or if they show no sign of wanting to correct the manoever i.e finishing up wide on a reverse park and not bringing it in.