Bad Driving Instructor? How To Tell If You Are With The Wrong Driving Instructor

Learning to drive is one of the most important moments in someone's life, as you are laying the groundwork for a lifetime of good choices behind the wheel. With that being said, you may be feeling discouraged when you are not seeing the results you wanted from your driving lessons. If this is the case for you, it might be because you are working with the wrong driving instructor. So, are you working with a bad driving instructor? We give you some tips on seeing if your driving instructor is bad for you.

Choosing Your Driving Instructor

This is an important time in your life, so you need to make the right choice when choosing your driving instructor. We have previously written about four qualities to look for in a driving instructor. Besides those, you want to check out the profile on the instructor and read reviews on them. See what other students are saying about them, as they have gone through what you are about to.

Signs Of A Bad Driving Instructor

Of course, this all does depend on a case-by-case basis. Sometimes a driving instructor may be perfect for one person, but a total mismatch for another student. You have to keep your needs in mind, but below are some signs to watch out for when it comes to a bad driving instructor!

Driving Instructor Does Not Give You Any Praise Or Encouragement

Giving praise and encouragement is a key aspect of being a driving instructor. The positive feedback makes you aware of when you are doing something right. If the driving instructor is not giving you any praise or encouragement, then they probably aren't invested in your success.

The driving instructor needs to build that trust with you. This will help encourage you to push yourself further and learn more in the process. If the driving instructor doesn't even believe in you, why should you? You need to be paired with someone that believes in you and encourages you along the way.

You Feel Intimidated By Your Driving Instructor

There is a difference between someone in authority and being nervous around them and someone who is intimidating you. Some of us can feel nervous around teachers or bosses, but you should never feel intimidated by them. If they do make you feel this way, that is not a good sign. You should not feel scared or intimidated when you get behind the wheel, as you are there to learn and you should feel comfortable and safe when doing so.

They Yell At You

Regardless of what happens during your driving lesson, there is never any kind of circumstance where a driving instructor should raise their voice at you in anger. The driving instructor is there to keep things calm and enjoyable for you. By yelling at you, the instructor is being very unprofessional. If they do start yelling at you, you can calmly ask them to return you to your drop-off point and end the lesson. You should let the driving school know what happened and get paired with another instructor.

Your Driving Instructor Acts Inappropriately

When taking part in a driving lesson, you are required to be in close proximity to your driving instructor. Because of that, you need to have full trust in them to have your best interest. If during a lesson they start to act or say anything inappropriate, you need to speak up and let them know that it is not acceptable. If they continue doing this, then it is time to look for a new driving instructor and report what happened to the driving school. You should not feel uncomfortable around your driving instructor, especially since they are there to make you feel comfortable and safe behind the wheel.

Lack Of Patience

When it comes to a driving instructor, they need to have an unlimited amount of patience. Each student is different with how quickly they will pick up on things behind the wheel. Because of that, a driving instructor needs to have the patience and ability to teach each student at their own pace. If they are getting angry and upset after you make mistakes, this will not help you on your journey. You learn from your mistakes, so this is a teachable moment, not a moment to get upset or angry.

If you come across any of the above situations, you are more than welcome to switch driving instructors. As the student, you have the right to choose who you are partnered with. We value your concerns and want to make sure you are as comfortable as possible when behind the wheel at Coastline Academy.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our friendly support staff. If you want to start your driver's training journey with Coastline Academy, make sure to sign up for Drivers Ed and book your driving lesson today.