Newslink October 2021

Q & A with Janet Stewart
Former MSA GB Member
of the Year just loves the
ancient ways
Greater London member
Janet Stewart on the joys of
hill walking, ancient history
and how dog training can
give you a new perspective
on your pupils’ errors
When did you become an ADI, and
what made you enter the profession?
I became an ADI in 2004. I had been
working in the City for many years and it
was no longer fun. The corporate
hospitality and jollies were drying up and
I no longer enjoyed it.
I thought “I like driving. I’m sure I
could teach. How hard can it be?”
I now know, of course, that it is not
easy at all and there is far more to it than
getting a learner through the driving test!
What’s the best bit about the job?
The best bit about the job is that I see
a result and believe that, in my small
way, I can make a difference to
someone’s life. I particularly enjoy
presenting Drink/Drive courses, currently
on Zoom. In my previous work I just
moved money around.
And the worst?
The worst thing is trying to convince
parents that 10 hours is not enough
tuition to get little Johnny through his
driving test. These are usually the
parents who do not engage with the
process other than telling me what I
need to teach their son/daughter and, on
occasion, how I should do it.
I would put money on this not
happening nearly as often to male
instructors.
What’s the best piece of training advice
you were ever given?
Before I became an ADI I did some
dog training. The trainer told us that the
dog wanted to please us and if the dog
made a mistake it was the trainer’s fault
for not anticipating what the dog was
going to do wrong.
I have been given much good and
valuable advice over the years, but I have
thought of that dog trainer many times,
and trying to understand my part in my
pupils’ errors has stood me in good
stead.
What one piece of kit, other than your
car and phone, could you not do without?
I could not do without my three pairs
of walking boots and trek poles.
What needs fixing most urgently in
driving generally?
I don’t know what needs to be fixed
most urgently in driving. I suppose I
could say it’s the potholes but what I
would really like to see is a change in
attitudes. I had hoped that Covid might
provide an opportunity for fresh thinking,
along with more cycling and walking. I
attended several Webinars discussing
how we might take the initiative in
considering shared space and
environmentally better transport options.
Alas, it seems that people have reverted
to type very quickly after the lifting of
restrictions.
What should the DVSA focus on?
I think the DVSA missed a trick some
years ago by not making CPD
compulsory. Maybe it is not too late for
them to change their mind.
“I study ancient Greek and
Latin and am really interested
in ancient history. I visit as
many very old historical sites
as I can and clamber all over
them (Health and Safety is
unheard of in some places!)”
It has also struck me that with Covid
creating such long waiting lists for tests,
this might be the time to raise the age for
acquiring a provisional licence to 18. I
can’t see that ADIs would be concerned
about lack of learners because it seems
we nearly all have waiting lists.
Either that or Graduated Driving
Licences. I don’t see why a version of
Pass Plus should not be compulsory – to
be completed within six months of
passing the L test.
What’s the next big thing that’s going to
transform driver training/testing?
The next big thing for training and
testing has got to be electric vehicles
and, yes, I am hugely in favour. I
attended a ‘Train the Trainer’ day in
preparation for teaching in electric
vehicles and any remaining doubts I
might have had were removed.
How can we improve driver testing/
training in one move?
Better minds than mine have looked at
the question of testing and training.
ADI’s signing off on manoeuvres would
be a start.
Who/what inspires you, drives you on?
I am inspired and kept going by seeing
other people overcoming the odds and
doing extraordinary things.
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NEWSLINK n OCTOBER 2021