Training Driving Instructors' Role Play

The information that follows is taken from the DVSA National Driver and Rider Training Standard - Unit 6. Unit 6 is for the Trainer, developing a programme of role play for trainee driving instructors.

'The role play will help trainee driving instructors to learn how to deal with situations that they may come across with their learners. You will know when role play is appropriate to use as a training method, and be aware of the strengths and limitations of its use. You will be able to brief the trainee instructor and undertake a variety of roles yourself as a trainer. You will be able to make sure the role play develops the trainee instructor’s confidence by using accurate and supportive feedback. You will know when to close the role play and be able to help the trainee instructor to understand the learning achieved. You will appreciate the importance of, and need to comply with, relevant health and safety practices and road traffic legislation in all role play activity. 
Performance standards
You must be able to:

• 1. Identify when role play could be an effective training activity
• 2. Design role play activities that are realistic, reliable and credible
• 3. Make sure that the role play is relevant to the needs of trainee instructors
• 4. Define learning outcomes for each role play situation
• 5. Plan routes that are suitable for each role play situation
• 6. Plan simulation that makes sure that you, the trainee instructor and other road users are not put at risk.

Knowledge and understanding requirements
You must know and understand:

• a. the strengths and limitations of role play
• b. how to develop role play situations that meet the needs of the trainee instructor
• c. when the use of role play is helpful, and when to use other methods
• d. the types of faults and style of driving or riding common to various types of learners
• e. for which situations role play is not a safe training method

Tri-Coaching Partnership run Train the Trainer courses for approved driving instructors for those ADIs who want to become a trainer and for those who want to convert to a client-centred learning approach that matches the National Driver and Rider Training Standards.