Driving instructor jargon
Driving instructor jargon can be confusing so here is a list of the most common phrases.
ADI – Approved Driving Instructor. Someone who has passed all 3 qualifying exams
Canx – Cancellation, when someone cancels a lesson
Check test – A check test is when an examiner sits in the back of your car to grade you. This ended in 2014 and was replaced by the standards check
DSA – Driving Standards Agency (the old name for the DVSA). Jokingly known among instructors as the Double Standards Agency
DVSA – Driver and vehicle standards agency. The agency is responsible for conducting driving tests. Jokingly known among instructors as the Devious Agency.
Grade – Every instructor is graded A or B with A being the best. Instructors used to be graded from 1 to 6 with 6 being best but for some reason nobody understands they cut it down to only two grades.
DTAM – Driver Trainer Assessment Manager. This is an examiner who conducts exams for part 2, part 3 and standards checks.
DTQAM – Driver Trainer Quality Assessment Manager. This is an examiner who ranks one above the DTAM. They sit in on check tests and part 2’s and parts 3’s watching to see that DTAM’s are doing their job properly. This is who you’ll do a standards check with if it goes to the third and final attempt.
Essential Skills – The DVSA book about driving that all instructors, learners and drivers should know inside out.
Franchise – What you pay a company or individual for running your own business under their brand. For example, you can pay £150 a week to be supplied with a car and pupils from a driving school. See an example of how this works.
LADA – Look Assess Decide Act
Meatloaf – A PDI who failed part 3. Comes from the Meatloaf song 2 out of 3 ain’t bad.
ORDIT – Official Register Of Driving Instructor Trainers
PDI – Potential Driving Instructor. Someone who has not yet passed all their exams
NTU – Not turned up. When a pupil doesn’t appear for a lesson.
MSM – Mirror, Signal, manoeuvre
MSM/PSL – The same as MSPSL. The DVSA book “Essential Skills” says “MSM/PSL” and it confuses everyone. It just means swap the last M for PSL.
MSPSL – Mirror, Signal, Position, Speed, Look
PDI – Potential Driving Instructor. Someone who is still training to a driving instructor.
SEADI – Supervising Examiner for Approved Driving Instructors. This term is no longer used, it was replaced by DTAM in 2010.
Standards check – Every 2 to 4 years an examiner from the DVSA sits in the back of your car to check the standard of your tuition. Find out more on my standards check page
WTF – Something you’ll be saying a lot when you first become a driving instructor and see the crazy things that learners do.
