Core Competencies: Analysis

The ‘core competencies’ are the essential skills that you will need as an ADI.  You will be required to demonstrate these skills on your Instructional Ability test.

In the previous module you looked at fault identification.  This is the first important step to recognise a fault so that you can identify the problem with your pupil.  The next step is now to analyse the fault to help your pupil understand why it is a problem.  If they understand why, they are far less likely to repeat making the same mistake.  Your pupil can now take more ownership of the fault and help you work towards a remedy with them.

Analysis of a driving fault will explore what should have happened and what the consequences may have been to other road users or the car itself.

For example, let’s take cutting a corner when approaching a junction to the right.  First we would need to identify the fault, so we say something like “You just cut the corner on the last junction”.  Now we need to analyse this with the pupil.  We could say “When should you have turned”?   Now depending upon their response, they will either know the answer or not.  If they knew when they should have steered, thus avoiding cutting the corner, we do not need to spend our time explaining it – they already know!  If however, they do not when they should have turned, we would need to provide some training to fill the gap in their knowledge.  We would ask them to find somewhere safe to stop so we could do this in depth.  However, if they knew when to turn, but just forgot,  we still need to explore this a little deeper.  So we could say “so what’s the danger if you cut a corner”.  Now depending upon their answer, we will help them accordingly.  If they do not recognise the danger, we need to help them understand the possible consequences and would consider stopping the car to do this.

Now it’s your turn to have a go at analysing a driver fault.  Look at the fault which has been identified and write down the questions you would ask the driver.  Think about what their response may be to your questions and how would you help them to understand why they should check their blind spot and what are the possible consequences.

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