About my driving instructor, BSM.?

Question

I've been having a 2hour lesson each week or so since March, and I still feel rubbish at driving. I don't feel I get on with my instructor at all, he can snap quite easily and I don't feel supported, at the end of the lesson for example he'll tell me it was great but I feel like sh** because he never really gives much praise. If he gets a phone call he answers it, while im driving sometimes and he's never really in a hurry to hang up which makes me feel anxious. My parents don't want me to change because BSM are a reputable company ect ect, but when all my friends say how nice their instructors are and how supportive they are I feel jealous. I know its more about passing your test than having someone nice, but im not even passing! I know im not horrendous at driving, any experiences of BSM? Im in the essex area.

Answer 1

I had an instructor with the AA after2 failed tests i felt i was heading nowhere and he wasnt supporting me. I made the decision to change instructor but stay with the AA. They allowed this and it was no trouble.  The guy i ahd was so much more suited to me and i passed my 3rd test within 2months of having lessons

Answer 2

Dave J

That is the best answer that I have ever read.

I don't want to hijack this question but you are so right with your reasoning and logic.  I passed my test in 1969 after 14 hours of tuition, the rest is continual learning for the last 39 years.  You learn something new every day.

I also hold a full licence to ride a motor cycle (passed my test in 1968) but I wouldn't even dream of getting on one now without further tuition.

Answer 3

dave j is spot on as an instructor myself I never answer the phone in a lesson its on silent. Sounds like you have an instructor that's more interested in money than his pupils report him to the Dsa

Answer 4

Why dont you ask BSM to send you a different instructor?  You dont have to stick with the same one.

Answer 5

CHANGE...trust me...I have gone through this and so have loads of my  family & friends ...Companies like BSM & the AA may be reputable but there not worth it....My instructor worked for BSM and was told to stretch out the learning process by the company to ensure that students book more lessons.

Get the yellow pages and look for a company that is not so big, book one lesson just to get a feel for the instructors style  AND if you don't like them don't continue its your CHOICE, get an instructor your comfortable with or you will not be passing your test any time soon.

Answer 6

One lesson a week is no good. Every other day, one hour.

Answer 7

i make that at 40 hours driving if your not ready yet to take your test he wants sacking coz he is c**p.

it normally takes 20 hours to be ready for a test some are ready in about 14-15 hours but 40 is taking the p1ss.

if i was you i would ask for a new instructor remember you are paying for this guy its not free its up to you.

why don't you ask your friends who have passed and go with the person they passed with ??

Answer 8

Golly gosh there are some very opinionated answers! OK firstly, as I haven't witnessed your instructors teaching, I, like everyone else cannot really comment! However, on what you have said, I would suggest getting a different instructor and reporting your current instructor to BSM and to the Driving Standards Agency for one reason alone: the fact he answers his phone while you are driving.

This is completely unacceptable, nevermind the fact he doesn't praise you or not - that's his problem and hopefully he will lose so many pupils he might start encouraging them a little more! But answering the phone while teaching someone to drive is a shootable offence in my opinion!

With regards to BSM, no-one can comment on how good BSM are as a driving school, because the instructors are all individuals - they are not robots that all work the same way! How can people say "BSM are rubbish" thats like saying "tesco employers are all idiots"!!!

Also, BSM instructors are NOT encouraged to string out lessons and not give encouragement - that is a load of bullsh*t! However, some BSM instructors - like independent instructors i know of - will string out lessons because they are selfish money grabbing morons - but you can't say that EVERYONE who works for BSM is like that!

OK, with regards to 40 hours being a ridiculous amount of lessons - that is also complete rubbish! Yes, maybe back in the early 1950's you could pass your driving test after 2 minutes behind the wheel, however, unfortunately, times have changed, traffic has increased, road layouts and systems have become more complicated and the driving test has become a lot harder. 40 hours of tuition is quite a normal average amount of lessons for an average test centre - nevermind a test centre in a busy city.

I would invite anyone with a full driving licence who thinks that they can still pass their driving test to contact me and I will arange a mock test in my area and see how they get on - I am certain it would be an extremely interesting experience!

Nearly finished - asking what his pass rate is means nothing at all! That is like saying that the teacher in the special school is a worse teacher than the teacher in a private school with and entrance exam - because of the grades their respective pupils get! I have pupils who pass and pupils who fail - I teach them everything they need to know so that they are prepared for their test - I wouldn't put them in for it if they weren't ready - but if they go and pull out on a car because they misjudged it, and fail their test because of that - that reduces my pass rate - does that mean that I am a poor instructor???

Finaly word - change instructor - not because he works for BSM, not because of two hour lessons (I provide these and find people learn SO much more than in 2 separate hour lessons) but because you don't like him, the way he is with you and most of all - because he uses his phone while you are driving - that is my main reason - please report him for this!!

Answer 9

Change instructors - just call the BSM office and say you would like someone else.  Ask for an ADI...

BSM have a lot of trainee instructors these are PDI's (pink licence in the windscreen - fully trained ADI's have a green one).

Things like the mobile phone incident are unacceptable and you can complain to the DSA and the SEADI (Senior instructor) for your area.

You are the customer dude and its your cash...

Answer 10

BSM - reputable - are your parents having a laugh at your expense - BSM are the worst instructors going.

Drop them and go to someone else - they are told to be negative and drag out the lessons - they do this to make you book more lessons than you actually need - this equals - MORE MONEY for them

Answer 11

ide change my instructor 1st

ide also change from having one 2 hour lesson, to having two 1 hour lessons on different days.

Answer 12

My ex driving instructor told me stories about BSM. I wouldn't use them. You'll find the smaller, less advertised schools are better.

Answer 13

BSM are a franchise. As such  they are only as good as their employees. Leave them and try and find someone who is involved the Institute of Advanced Motorists. They don't provide learners instruction as such but you are bound to find an individual there who will help.

BSM are con artists who can't see beyond their commission.

If your parents are in doubt get them to ask the BSM office what percentage pass rate they have and then listen to all the excuses they offer why they won't tell them that