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Driving Tips, Advice & Instructor Training Articles
Welcome to the Chris Deane ADI blog. Explore expert driving tips, practical test advice, and professional driving instructor training resources tailored for learners and trainees in Portsmouth and surrounding areas.
Driving with Grace
Written by Chris Deane ADI
Driving with Grace: The Harmony of Mindset and Car Control 1. The Internal Engine: Why Your Mindset Drives the Car The vehicle is a telemetry sensor for your mental state. Every tremor in the steering wheel or jerk in the pedal reflects an internal process. If you are a person who "likes to get on with things" in your daily life, that ingrained habit of rushing will manifest as technical instability behind the wheel. When a rushed personality enters a moving motorcar, they create what I call the "atom of risk." This is the direct result of forcing pace over precision. Rushing doesn't just shorten your journey; it shrinks your capacity for processing information and exponentially increases the margin for…
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I wished I'D Stayed at home!
Written by Chris Deane ADI
I wish I'd stayed at Home! The sat nav on my dashboard, a perpetually optimistic voice named Brenda, chirped, “You have arrived at your destination.” I pulled my pristine, dual-controlled Skoda into the cul-de-sac and squinted at the house numbers. 17...18...19. Ah, there it was, number 18. Parked neatly in the driveway was a small, green lawnmower, still warm from a recent cut. An auspicious start. I checked my notes on the passenger seat. “Barnaby, 19. Has never driven before. Likes… competitive lawnmowing? I scratched my head. That couldn't be right. I made a mental note to ask him about that later. As I pulled up, the front door flew open. A lanky teenager with a mop of unruly brown hair…
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Did you ever have one of those days? Today I met my new student, a sweet little old lady named Brenda. From the moment she hobbled out of the house with a nervous smile, clutching a worn-out copy of the Highway Code, I knew this wasn't going to be a normal lesson. "I hope you have more patience than the others," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "They all shouted at me and said I was unteachable. One of them even called me a 'menace to society' and refused to give me back my learner's permit until I promised not to drive ever again." I assured her that we would take our time and go at her pace, no shouting…
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The night before the Part 3
Written by Chris Deane ADI
The night before the Part 3 Standards check It was the night before the Part 3 Standards Check, and Peter, a PDI (Potential Driving Instructor), lay in bed, the weight of his final attempt pressing on him like a snowdrift on a sagging roof. He tossed, he turned, and finally drifted off into a restless sleep, only to find himself in the most bizarre driving scenario of his life. Peter’s dream began when he pulled up outside his pupil Charlie’s house. Charlie, who was known for being “eccentric” at the best of times, stepped out the door wearing a full elf costume—complete with jingly shoes and a hat that had a bell so loud it could wake the dead. To…
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The myth of “right of way”
Written by Chris Deane ADI
Understanding Priorities at Junctions: The Myth of "Right of Way" I came across a video on this subject this morning and watched it before heading out for my first lesson. On the way, I encountered two drivers shouting at each other, simply because one pulled out in front of the other in slow traffic. So it gave me the idea for this blog. When approaching a junction, how often do we hear phrases like, "I had the right of way"? It's a common belief among drivers that the road belongs to them in certain situations. But let’s set the record straight: priorities at junctions are not rights that can be taken—they are responsibilities that must be given. This distinction is…
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The Car Theory Test: Is It Fit for Purpose? The car theory test is a vital component of obtaining a driving license. Introduced in the UK in 1996, it aimed to ensure that learner drivers possess adequate knowledge of the Highway Code, traffic signs, and the principles of safe driving before getting behind the wheel. While its intentions are noble, the question remains: is the current theory test truly fit for purpose, especially in a world where technology and driving habits have evolved? The Current State of Theory Test Preparation In recent years, the way learners prepare for the theory test has undergone a significant shift. Mobile apps and online platforms have become the primary tools for studying. These apps offer…
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How Driving Instruction Has Evolved Over the Last 60 Years Learning to drive is a big deal in the UK, just like it is everywhere else. But the way we teach people to drive has changed a lot over the past 60 years. From new technology and tougher tests to different ways of teaching, driving lessons in the UK have undergone a lot of change. In this blog, we’ll look at how driving lessons have changed in the UK over the past 60 years and what that means for new drivers today. 1. The Driving Test - More Than Just Basic Skills Back in the day, when I sat the UK driving test, it was all about basic car control…
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