The restrictions we have faced as part of the UK Government’s attempts to halt the spread of the coronavirus pandemic have caused many disruptions to both work and personal lives for many of us, including those who are taking driving lessons.

No doubt for many the lockdowns, which stopped driving instructors being able to offer driving lessons, has, whilst necessary, been a pain for students and instructors alike. For those of us who were about to take or book a driving test it has meant delays for this too, and the backlog to catch up will undoubtedly mean further disappointing delays.

Driving lessons in a pandemic

Here at Beverly Slater, we are excited to look beyond the current lockdown for the measures we believe will need to be in place once we reopen.  We certainly know that going forward we must be prepared to make changes to the way we operate, once the current lockdown measures are eased.

Keep motivated

While we wait for lockdown to be over and lessons to resume, we can all use the time to refresh and improve our knowledge of the Highway Code, so that when we are back on the road we have a head start ready for our winter driving!

What do we have to look forward to and how will this impact on pupils and instructors?

Both instructors and students will need to make some important changes, one of which for the foreseeable future will likely be the requirement to wear masks and disposable gloves throughout driving lessons.  

Instructors will require longer time between lessons as they will need to sanitise the area between students. To make our lessons run more smoothly, we will be asking that our students are ready on time and arrive with hands sanitised immediately before they get in the car. Having a hand sanitiser available to use throughout the lesson will likely become necessary too.

Where instructors have previously used the first part of a student lesson to take the previous student back home, it is likely that at least initially as lockdown restrictions are removed, this will no longer be permitted. 

We also expect that it will be an ongoing requirement to be asked to comply with track and trace rules and to ensure that should a student or instructor feel unwell, lessons are cancelled to avoid potential exposure to others.

It won’t be forever

While the restrictions can be frustrating for students and instructors alike, they will not last forever. While we’re unable to provide the same great service we usually do at the moment, we’re looking forward to being back on the road with both new and returning students soon.

Driving lessons were allowed to resume in July after experiencing months of lockdown, which has been very exciting for those waiting to get their pink driving license! With the latest guidelines from the government, it’s likely that roads will be quieter than normal, which can be helpful if you’re feeling nervous about getting behind the wheel.

At Beverly Slater, we’re here to make sure you feel comfortable learning to drive, despite the new measures that are currently in place. Whether you’re starting from scratch, or your lessons were put on hold during lockdown, we want to reassure you of just some of the measures that have been advised to keep everyone safe.

Before your lesson

Both yourself and our driving instructor will need to make sure you have not been in contact with anyone who has had Covid-19 symptoms, and that you don’t currently have any symptoms.

You may want to think about what you wear to your driving lesson, as in some cases the window may be open slightly to help airflow.

Before we pick you up, we’ll wipe down surfaces in the car including the steering wheel, gearstick, indicators and door handles. We’ll also sanitise our own hands, and we might ask you to do the same.

During your lesson

Both our instructors and yourself will need to wear a mask, and will both be asked to look ahead as much as possible, rather than at each other. Even the smallest things could make a big difference in keeping everyone in the car safe!

We haven’t installed any further measures in our cars, such as screens or protective visors, because they could pose a hazard, especially if there’s an accident.

After your lesson

Usually, our instructors would sit with you in the car at the end of your lesson, to talk about your driving and offer feedback. We might now do this outside, so we can follow social distancing without compromising the progress of your driving skills.

Taking your test

Your driving test has also undergone a few changes. Unfortunately, our instructors won’t be allowed in the back of your car, as this invites more people into the vehicle and could increase the risk. You may not be allowed inside the test centre, unless you need the loo of course!

If you make a serious mistake that means you have failed the test, you won’t be expected to continue the test. Instead, you will be directed back to the test centre. This can minimise the time spent in the car with your examiner.

If you’ve got any worries or concerns about learning to drive during the ongoing pandemic, just get in touch and ask us any questions you might have!

Here at Beverly Slater we have taken our time to put together some short snappy tips to follow in order to find the right best possible option for you as you embark on your exciting driving adventure:

Speak to them first

You’re going to spend a great deal of time on a 1 – 2 – 1 basis with them in the car, and you need to know that you’ll get along. By speaking with the driving instructor or school beforehand should mean you form a more accurate first impression.

Don’t choose on price only

BEWARE – if an offer sounds ‘too good to be true’ then it probably is. It will be a waste of your money and possibly the experience could well end up putting you off learning to drive all together.

Reputation & Reviews

Word of mouth is one of the best & most reliable forms of advertising. Do they have a good local reputation and what are their reviews like? Have a look on their social media and online reviews. Would previous customers recommend them?

Is your instructor legal?

Is the driving instructor actually legal? A legal driving instructor will display a green or a pink badge in their windscreen. If they don’t – then it is illegal for them to charge you for driving lessons.

Be able to teach you the way you learn

Everyone learns in different ways. Your driving instructor should be able to adapt their teaching to the best way for you to learn. If you feel you’re not learning anything then consider changing your driving instructor.

Whilst the pandemic continues, travelling in your car requires extra thought & consideration. Despite there being less cars on the road, you could easily break down or have an accident – this could result in people coming out to help you whilst risking their own health.

Stay Safe If You Must Drive

In day to day life you will no doubt take countless safety measures both in general and when on the road, but it is now even more important to be careful when in your car during this difficult period. If you do have to get into your car, here are some top tips that could potentially save lives:

Wash your hands before getting in your car and after exiting your car – use alcohol gel if it is not possible to use soap and water.

Ensure that the only people who enter the car are family members from the household you have all been living in. If you need to collect something from inside of your vehicle, make sure it is you and only you that does this, so that there are always as few people as possible entering the vehicle.

If you share your car with another owner, it is pivotal that you wipe the handles, steering wheel, and all the other things that you will be using your hands to touch inside the vehicle. To do this, you can use soap and water or even use disinfectant.

Only get into your vehicle at times when you know that the roads won’t be very busy – if possible stay away from driving during working hours due to the fact that keyworkers could be travelling to and from work or they could be driving on their shift.

It is essential that you only fill up fuel if it is absolutely necessary. It is extremely unsafe to drive with not much fuel – therefore, you must fill your tank right to the top when you go to the petrol station. This means that you will, then have to go to the petrol station far less frequently. The coronavirus can spread quickly at petrol stations because the pumps are touched by different people that are coming and going all day. One way you can avoid this is by using disposable gloves and using contactless methods to pay for your fuel.

For more information regarding driving safely, visit Beverly Slater today.