Standards check risk management
Standards check risk management is what many instructors worry about. Get this wrong and you will fail the test no matter how well you do in other areas.
I’ve written many tips on this page but first of all watch this video. It contains new clips not seen before in the full length version of my standards check marking sheet video.
Standards check risk management tips
Set the pupils role
You must make the pupil aware of the role they will be playing in the lesson. This should come from an open discussion that you have with the pupil where the roles are agreed.
It’s no good just setting off on a lesson when you haven’t told the pupil what you expect from them. What are they responsible for? What are you going to help them with? When are you going to speak and when are you going to let them handle the situation?
The video above shows you an example of this at 0:15.
If you set off without setting roles and responsibility then you will fail the standards check without doubt because neither of you know what you’re supposed to be doing! The only time it’s ok to just get in and go is if you have already worked on the skill in the previous lesson and are carrying on a few days later.
This is stated in ADI1 (the examiners marking guide) when it says “…where the ADI and the pupil have been working together for some time prior to the standards check, they may have already laid down the basic structure of the pupil’s learning goals. This needs to be taken into account when assessing this element.”.
If you want to see my epic 3 hour video where I go over every point of the standards check section of ADI1 then you can watch all of my standards check videos for free.
Be aware of your surroundings and make the pupil aware
If you have someone driving too closely behind you then it’s no good just ignoring it or hoping they’ll go away. Sometimes the pupil won’t be aware of this due to poor mirror checks. The most common crash learners have is when they slam the brakes on, completely unaware that anyone is even behind them.
If you ask the pupil a simple question “What’s going on around us at the moment?” you will sometimes be surprised that the pupil answers “That car has been right on the back of us for miles now”. It’s great that they have noticed that and if you haven’t mentioned it then they’ll think you haven’t seen it or that it doesn’t matter.
You MUST make pupils aware of danger around you and then do all you can to minimise the risk. Ask them what difference it makes to have someone so close behind. It might be wise to ask the pupil if they would like you to do the braking at the junction coming up because you don’t want to risk a crash due to the person behind driving so badly.
Watch the video above at 3:47 for an example of this.
Never think that someone in the back seat (the examiner) can’t tell what’s going on behind. They can see in the side mirrors, the interior mirrors and they can maybe even hear the engine of the vehicle behind.
Ignore danger and you will fail.
Body language
As you see in the video above at 3:47 the pupil said “I don’t like it when they do this”. Notice the tone of worry in the pupils voice. You must act on this and discuss the problem or reassure the pupil. Imagine if your pupil says “That car is so close! I think we’re going to crash!” and you answer with “Ok.”.
The pupil has just told you that they are in fear of crashing and need help and all you can say is Ok? You should be asking them why they feel scared, what they think will happen, how they can avoid it. It’s no good just ignoring it.
You can see another good example of body language in the video above at 6:01
More risk management tips
The above points are just a few basic ideas to get you thinking.
If you want to see more videos of me talking more about risk management and every other element of the standards check then visit my standards check videos.
If you’d like to train with me then contact me for standards check training.
You can find out more about the standards check from the DVSA.
