In 1999 Ben Lindsay began his career as a driving instructor. This started with an intensive training course and he has built on this training with experience. During the past 7 years he also managed a large driving school. In an effort to maintain the highest possible standard of driver training he has recently completed the toughest advanced driver test available.
The RoSPA advanced driving test is regarded as the most comprehensive and challenging available to the public in the UK or Ireland. It is monitored and approved by the Driving Standards Agency. To maintain membership of RoADA, a candidate must resit this test every 3 years.
A RoSPA gold is the highest civilian driving standard available and the holder will be a master of his or her art. It is unlikely that anyone will gain a high grade without a good knowledge of The Highway Code and Roadcraft.
The Bronze grade is awarded to drivers whose driving performance is significantly above the standard required to pass the Department of Transport driving test. The driver is considered to be entirely safe, observing traffic signs, responding correctly to hazards and displaying advanced driving techniques.
For more information about this exam, please visit the RoSPA website here
By the end of July 2007 all driving instructor were to be registered with the RSA (Road Safety Authority). After this date anyone giving instruction for reward must be an ADI (Approved Driving Instructor) with the RSA. Anyone that was working as a driving instructor up to this date could apply for a temporary permit so they could keep working while completing the exams to become an ADI.
Due to this change in legislation Ben Lindsay became a temporary permit holder in July 2007. In April of 2008 he completed and passed his last exam and is now a full ADI permit holder. The first part of the exam process was a theory test consisting of 100 questions relating to teaching driving. The second part was a driving test, similar to the normal driving test although twice as long and only four faults allowed instead of the usual eight.
Ben completed this third exam on 1st April 2008 and received his full permit shortly afterwards.
The third exam involved two separate parts. In the first section the tester takes the role of a student just beginning to learn how to drive and the candidate, Ben, teaches a particular aspect of driving to the tester at that level. In the second section the tester takes on the role of a more experienced driver approaching their driving test. The candidate here must teach a particular aspect of driving that the more experienced driver is having and identify and correct any other faults that may be present in their driving. This test is graded on eight different areas with points awarded for things included in the lessons.
If you would like any further information regarding this qualification please see www.rsa.ie.
