My driving instructor says he cant pick me up from my house for safety reasons?

CDT

I own and run a driving school myself and all my instructors pick up their customers from a mutually convenient place - usually their home, workplace, school, college or anywhere else that suits them in their local area, such as the shops, library etc.

These days instructors picking up pupils from wherever suits them is common practice - way back when I took driving lessons, I had to go by bus into town and meet my instructor at the driving school office, but these days that sort of thing hardly ever happens, as most driving instructors cover a wide geographical area and it's makes much more sense for them to come to you rather than the other way round...it's good customer service too!

A while back we taught a girl who lived on a "rough estate" where idiot chavvy kids threw stones at cars. She was embarrassed by her neighbours and their stupidity and said she would walk round the corner onto the main road to be picked up for her lessons - the instructor would have carried on picking her up from home but she didn't want him to.

I have heard of driving instructors who are reluctant to pick up from areas similar to the situation I describe...I've heard of instances where gangs of "hoodies" regularly harrass learner drivers by jumping out in front of them, standing in the road and intimidating them and even trying to smash car windows etc...but that's really very rare.

The only other thing that occurs to me is perhaps where you live is on an extremely busy road where it is perhaps difficult (or even illegal) to stop...

Did you ask your instructor for his reasons for not picking you up from home?

If not, ask him - or get your parents to ask him.

You need to find out his reasons for saying he won't pick you up from home...don't just accept it because he says so - he may well have a good reason, but if you don't know what it is, you're left wondering and feeling hard done by, so ASK HIM ;)

EDIT
@ Harry's Mummy :) Sorry for suggesting you get your parents to ask - I hadn't looked at your user name which should have given me a clue ;)

I'm in agreement with Dave J - please get back to us when you find out what's going on here. As he and I are in the same business we're clearly equally intrigued by this one...my mind is boggling :)

Dave J

Like, others have said, ask him what the safety reasons are. Obviously, it's not an issue with the area that you live in, as you have said the area is nice.

It seems strange, I pick all my pupils up from wherever they want, work, college, and home - some live miles from the test centre, so when it gets nearer their test, if they go college or work nearer that area, I try to arrange their lessons so we can spend more time on test routes, but that is more for THEIR benefit than mine.

Like I say, ask him, as it seems strange! Please get back to us though, as I am very interested to know his reasoning!

Best wishes

pinkstars

no I've never heard of that before...and we have a family friend who is a driving instructor! He taught me and he always picked me up from my house. I can't understand it....I can't imagine that you live somewhere that is especially dangerous to drive...unless you live right on the edge of a cliff or something! lol. I think you should ask him why...then if he has no reaon it has to be up to you whether you put up with the 10 minute walk or change instructors.

Charlotte S

ive never heard anything so silly in my life unless you live in the middle of a coal stack or something serious like that. i'd change instructors if i was you xx

PAUL F

Safety is the biggest get out for people who are lazy. Nothing in this world is safe - it all a matter of degree and as far as your driving instructor is concerned I would say he is a con man and should be reported to the DVLA (UK)

Superleague32

Hi, I am a driving instructor and I have never heard such rubbish in my life in regards to what your instructor has said. He should pick you up from your house every time you have a lesson if this is what you wish. I have been an instructor for many years and have never heard that before. I hope this helps.

BARRY B

Very simple solution, change your driving instructor.

Owen D

Tell him he picks you up from your home, or you will find an other instructor.

Theatreman1

Get another driving instructor - the guy is just lazy - you are paying him so he should do what is asked of him. If he is that lazy with his teaching you may fail your test.

GARFIELD

Maybe there is someone on your road that he's been seeing and their husband has found out.

carmelia.marcella

I've never heard of this - I learnt to drive with British School Of Motoring and my instructor always picked me up from home and although my friends and I all learnt to drive with different driving schools, we were all picked up at home by our instructors.

Wine Me Dine Me 69Me

I think you should also be considering your safety as a lone female having to walk for ten minutes to meet him.

Wingman1

I don't blame him for laying down that rule - as long as you live in the middle of Lebanon; having mortor rockets landing outside your house every day or all those people hanging around your house wear balaclavas, black clothes and carry Kalashnikovs'!!!

It sounds to me like he has strung you along for 16 lessons with still no sight of putting you in for your test and, if that is the case, then he can't be up to much as an instructor!! The only thing he is interested in is getting as much money out of you as possible; that is, of course, unless you are totally useless as a pupil, in which case, you shouldn't even be trying for your licence in the first place as it is going to cost you a fortune to find out that you're never going to pass your test - but I doubt that anyway!!!

If you are a normal human being with a reasonable apptitude for driving then change your instructor - the man sounds like an idiot!!!

thud.fan

I hope that you signed a contract with school or instructor. The contract should explain the whats, whys and wheres of the course, including where you will be picked up, dropped off and any exceptions.

If you are using a driving school car, the instructor should be picking you up and that should be stated in the contract.

In any event, the instructor should explain to you why he cannot pick you up as before.

All the best.

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