From Tech Sceptic to Advocate: How Technology Can Transform Driving Lessons

Terry Cook: 00:00:01

The Instructor Podcast with Terry Cook talking with leaders, innovators, experts and game changers about what drives them.

Terry Cook: 00:00:09

Welcome to the Instructor Podcast.

Terry Cook: 00:00:11

This is a show that helps you become an even more awesome driving instructor.

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And as always, I am your bang average horse, Terry Cook.

Terry Cook: 00:00:19

And I'm delighted to be even more delighted that you have chosen to listen because we are continuing our season nine which is based all around technology.

Terry Cook: 00:00:29

And who better to have sponsor season nine than My Drive Time, the industry's premium award winning business management app.

Terry Cook: 00:00:37

Find out more@mydrivetime.co.uk but on today's show I am joined by Vicky Folland as we take a look at how we can introduce the different types of in car technology that we have into lessons and with our learners.

Terry Cook: 00:00:51

Really enjoyed speaking to Vicki today and yeah, you'll hear on the episode itself how she taught me some stuff.

Terry Cook: 00:00:57

So really interesting episode today.

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But just before we get stuck into the episode, I want to point you in the direction of the instructor podcast website.

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That's www.theinstructorpodcast.com.

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over there you can find everything that we have to offer, including all the entire back catalog of episodes, the free resource we've got and more details on our paid membership for which there is currently a free weeks trial.

Terry Cook: 00:01:22

Find out more@theinstructorpodcast.com but for now let's get stuck into the show.

Terry Cook: 00:01:29

So today on the instructor podcast I am joined by the wonderful Vicky Fox Holland.

Terry Cook: 00:01:33

How are we doing Vicky?

Vicky Folland: 00:01:34

Yeah, I'm very well, thank you.

Vicky Folland: 00:01:35

How are you all?

Terry Cook: 00:01:36

Better for seeing your smiley face obviously.

Terry Cook: 00:01:39

And the reason I got you on stage because I wanted to talk about the sort of in car tech and how we can use that with our students and I was trying to think who we could get on and I thought who better than yourself because you are you very much on the green train, you're on the eco train, you're on the tech train, you are working in fleet, you work with learners, you're a globe trot, are going all over the world to learn, to teach, to develop all this kind of stuff.

Terry Cook: 00:02:01

So I thought who better to get on than yourself?

Terry Cook: 00:02:03

And I think I want to start off by asking you because I was giving you all those different hats to wear.

Terry Cook: 00:02:07

How would you describe yourself and what you do?

Vicky Folland: 00:02:10

That's a big intro to follow that.

Vicky Folland: 00:02:12

That made me sound really important.

Vicky Folland: 00:02:14

I'm a driving instructor and I'm a mom.

Terry Cook: 00:02:17

That'll do for me.

Terry Cook: 00:02:17

That'll do for me.

Terry Cook: 00:02:20

Let's, let's get Stuck straight in, then.

Terry Cook: 00:02:22

Because we were talking about the.

Terry Cook: 00:02:24

In car tech today, and I'm intrigued on your thoughts generally, because I still see a lot of negativity.

Terry Cook: 00:02:30

So just by drivers.

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Never mind instructors, just drivers that complain.

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I mean, look, I have a conversation with my dad every time I see him about cruise control because he despises the thing.

Terry Cook: 00:02:39

And not just that, any technology.

Terry Cook: 00:02:41

If it were down to him, I think I'd still be like Fred Flintstone running a car.

Terry Cook: 00:02:44

But I'm wondering what your thought is on tech overall.

Terry Cook: 00:02:47

Should we be embracing it or should we be a bit, you know, approaching with caution or what?

Vicky Folland: 00:02:53

I like a gadget and I like driving tech.

Vicky Folland: 00:02:57

Really, though I'm a bit of a technophobe when it comes to computers and other things like that.

Vicky Folland: 00:03:02

I have a bit of a.

Vicky Folland: 00:03:02

I don't almost have a bit of an energy around me.

Vicky Folland: 00:03:04

And sometimes automatic doors don't open, computers never work, printers do random things.

Vicky Folland: 00:03:10

Card machines go off every time I go near them.

Vicky Folland: 00:03:13

But driving tech seems to be fine.

Vicky Folland: 00:03:15

I'm all right with that bit.

Terry Cook: 00:03:17

You say card machines go off whenever I go near them.

Terry Cook: 00:03:21

Okay, interesting.

Terry Cook: 00:03:22

Well, that'll be why my zoom's playing up today.

Terry Cook: 00:03:24

That'll be what that is then.

Vicky Folland: 00:03:26

I'm a bit cursed with technology, I really am.

Vicky Folland: 00:03:28

But driving tech seems to be my thing.

Vicky Folland: 00:03:31

But every other tech.

Vicky Folland: 00:03:32

Absolutely not.

Vicky Folland: 00:03:33

Can't do it at all.

Terry Cook: 00:03:35

Why do you think so many people are negative towards it?

Vicky Folland: 00:03:38

I think people don't like change.

Vicky Folland: 00:03:40

People don't like to feel like they're losing control.

Vicky Folland: 00:03:43

Yeah, some people don't understand it.

Vicky Folland: 00:03:46

So it's that fear of the unknown, I think, isn't it?

Vicky Folland: 00:03:49

And I don't want to learn how to do that.

Vicky Folland: 00:03:51

I've done it my way for all these years and being absolutely fine.

Vicky Folland: 00:03:54

It's totally unnecessary.

Terry Cook: 00:03:56

I.

Terry Cook: 00:03:57

I also wonder if it's an element of.

Terry Cook: 00:03:59

How can I put this?

Terry Cook: 00:04:00

It's that fear of someone's telling me I'm not good enough.

Terry Cook: 00:04:04

Now if I need this assistance in my car, I'm not good enough.

Terry Cook: 00:04:08

Do you reckon that comes into play as well?

Vicky Folland: 00:04:10

Yeah, definitely.

Vicky Folland: 00:04:12

Very.

Vicky Folland: 00:04:12

Everyone's very, very defensive about their own driving.

Vicky Folland: 00:04:15

I do a lot of defensive driving courses and nobody likes their driving critiqued.

Vicky Folland: 00:04:21

Everyone likes to think they're really good at it and nobody likes to be told, actually, maybe you could do this better, maybe that could be better.

Vicky Folland: 00:04:29

But the reality is people crash every single day, and they don't crash because they weren't good enough to pass a driving test.

Vicky Folland: 00:04:37

We get distracted, we get complacent.

Vicky Folland: 00:04:40

So if we can put some technology in place, it's going to take that little bit away and make us a little bit safer.

Vicky Folland: 00:04:47

Why wouldn't you be all for it?

Terry Cook: 00:04:49

I agree wholeheartedly.

Terry Cook: 00:04:50

And moving this into kind of the instructor part, if you like.

Terry Cook: 00:04:54

I still see some resistance there from instructors and I think there's some of it which is the same thing against kind of technology, but I think I see some around.

Terry Cook: 00:05:04

It's like we shouldn't necessarily be teaching our learners because when they get the first character, not mine have the second stuff.

Terry Cook: 00:05:10

So do you agree, do you think that we should be teaching our learners as much as we can or should we be taking that approach of hold off because they might not have been a new car or whatever?

Vicky Folland: 00:05:21

I think it's important that we still teach the fundamentals and we get that right first.

Vicky Folland: 00:05:26

We don't want anybody to become reliant on technology.

Vicky Folland: 00:05:29

It doesn't matter whether you're learning or you've been passed.

Vicky Folland: 00:05:32

The technology is there to enhance your skills, not to replace them.

Vicky Folland: 00:05:36

So we have to teach the fundamentals and the basics before we can then start looking at that.

Vicky Folland: 00:05:42

But you know, when power assisted steering came in, do you think instructors went, actually we're not going to use that.

Vicky Folland: 00:05:47

You've still got to fight that wheel round.

Vicky Folland: 00:05:49

When people got windows that opened with the touch of a button, nobody said, actually, I'd rather keep my winder.

Vicky Folland: 00:05:55

Things progress and things move on down there.

Terry Cook: 00:05:58

I bet there was someone that said it.

Terry Cook: 00:06:00

You know, I miss my older handle still window done.

Terry Cook: 00:06:04

But no, I think you're right.

Terry Cook: 00:06:06

I do.

Terry Cook: 00:06:06

I do think we need to teach those basics.

Terry Cook: 00:06:08

Do you know what?

Terry Cook: 00:06:08

I love that phrase you is that technology is there to enhance our driving.

Terry Cook: 00:06:11

I like that phrase.

Terry Cook: 00:06:12

But I think the other thing I'm interested in your thoughts on this is I mentioned about the car learners get after a test.

Terry Cook: 00:06:20

Do you think this is part of our role as well now?

Terry Cook: 00:06:22

Because it's something that I've shifted a lot this year in that I used to say to students, you should buy the cheapest car you can get your insurance on that.

Terry Cook: 00:06:30

And now I'm very much buy the most expensive car you can buy the car with the most tech, the most safety features to keep you safe on the road.

Terry Cook: 00:06:39

Are you in that camp and do you think we should be doing more of that?

Vicky Folland: 00:06:42

Definitely about the safety rating.

Vicky Folland: 00:06:44

You know, some tech's not, you know, some tech's pretty and it's brilliant.

Vicky Folland: 00:06:47

But is it going to keep you safe and your car might have a five star safety rating but if you are going to get in and then turn off lane assist, turn off emergency braking and not use the features that are there, we now don't have a five star safety rated vehicle.

Terry Cook: 00:07:03

Yeah, no, I get that, I get that.

Terry Cook: 00:07:05

I just, I think that we need to take.

Terry Cook: 00:07:09

We're in a position where we're teaching people to drive and then when they pass they're going and buying a car.

Terry Cook: 00:07:13

So we were in a position where we can give them that advice, aren't we?

Terry Cook: 00:07:16

To go and buy the safest, the best, whatever you want to phrase it, vehicle for them.

Terry Cook: 00:07:20

But let's move on to some specific technology then because the first one I want to talk to is probably the least important but the one that intrigues me the most, which is I've got a few students, when they come in my car, they just connect their phone to my car straight away.

Terry Cook: 00:07:33

They'll have a playlist for that they want while they're driving so they connect it or they've got the Spotify playlist and whack it on.

Terry Cook: 00:07:39

And I think that's great.

Terry Cook: 00:07:41

And the annoying thing is they can use that radio better than I can like straight away and it just takes me 20 minutes to work out.

Terry Cook: 00:07:47

I do it.

Terry Cook: 00:07:48

Is that something you would encourage?

Terry Cook: 00:07:50

Is that something you do?

Terry Cook: 00:07:50

We all learners?

Vicky Folland: 00:07:52

Absolutely.

Vicky Folland: 00:07:53

You know, if somebody wants to listen to their own music rather than mine, that's absolutely fine.

Vicky Folland: 00:07:57

I had somebody pass their test recently and she connected our phone up and we listened to 100 Grizzly song.

Vicky Folland: 00:08:03

She had a little sing along.

Vicky Folland: 00:08:04

The examiner didn't join in.

Vicky Folland: 00:08:05

I was a bit disappointed.

Vicky Folland: 00:08:07

But yeah, why not?

Vicky Folland: 00:08:08

You know, it's their time, isn't it?

Vicky Folland: 00:08:10

And while I drive in it fundamentally their vehicle.

Vicky Folland: 00:08:14

No.

Vicky Folland: 00:08:15

So if that helps you absolutely connect up.

Vicky Folland: 00:08:18

Absolutely, yeah.

Terry Cook: 00:08:19

I also think that's a, almost a good way to introduce that technology and let them know you can press these buttons, you can do this stuff.

Terry Cook: 00:08:26

And, and you know what, you mentioned it then and I think it's worth mentioning because there's still people that don't know it's completely fine to have music on your lessons and they'll let you have it on a test.

Terry Cook: 00:08:34

And yes, I'm disappointed that examiner yours didn't have a sing song as well, I think.

Terry Cook: 00:08:39

Do you, do you, do you have an opinion on this?

Terry Cook: 00:08:43

Because I genuinely advise him.

Terry Cook: 00:08:45

Again, stuff like hardcore hip hop generally try and go for something more mellow.

Terry Cook: 00:08:50

Do you suggest that or is it just do what you want, I think.

Vicky Folland: 00:08:55

You know, as long as it's not offensive, I think just crack on, you know, it doesn't need to be loud, does it?

Vicky Folland: 00:09:02

You don't want it blaring anywhere.

Vicky Folland: 00:09:04

You're not going to be on.

Vicky Folland: 00:09:04

Especially when you're driving test cruising up to the traffic lights, window down with your boombox absolutely blasting in the base, like making the car next door you move.

Vicky Folland: 00:09:13

So, you know, I think as long as, you know, it's not offensive, just crack on, that's fine.

Terry Cook: 00:09:17

Yeah, I mean, yeah, I think you're right.

Terry Cook: 00:09:20

And do you know what?

Terry Cook: 00:09:20

It's also a good way to build up a bit of rapport and put students at ease.

Terry Cook: 00:09:23

But let's move on then, because I do want to ask you specifically about some of the tech you use and how you work for it, but I want to start with cruise control because I think, and I mentioned this before in my dad actually, but I think that this is the one that seemed to evoke the biggest reaction from people, cruise control.

Terry Cook: 00:09:42

So just to start with, is it something you use when you're driving, is it something you get your learners using?

Vicky Folland: 00:09:49

I love it.

Vicky Folland: 00:09:50

I absolutely love it.

Vicky Folland: 00:09:51

And maybe this is the eco side of it coming out because we're more efficient and we're turning that, that steady speed.

Vicky Folland: 00:09:59

So I use it a lot when I'm driving.

Vicky Folland: 00:10:01

I encourage my learner drivers to use it when we're doing dual carriageway lessons.

Vicky Folland: 00:10:05

Absolutely.

Vicky Folland: 00:10:07

I don't know why you wouldn't use it, especially the one who I've got in my car.

Vicky Folland: 00:10:11

It's adaptive.

Vicky Folland: 00:10:12

So it reads the road signs, it watches the traffic conditions, it keeps the distance safe between us and the car in front.

Vicky Folland: 00:10:19

Why wouldn't, why wouldn't you use that makes life loads easier.

Terry Cook: 00:10:22

See, I don't have adaptive cruise control.

Terry Cook: 00:10:25

I'm.

Terry Cook: 00:10:25

I'm old fashioned, you know, I've got the.

Terry Cook: 00:10:27

Yeah, I'm old fashioned.

Terry Cook: 00:10:28

I don't have adaptive cruise control keepers.

Terry Cook: 00:10:30

But what I do, I love it as well.

Terry Cook: 00:10:33

And one of the things I like about mine, and obviously this isn't the adaptive aspect, but you can just change your speed on it just with a flick of a button.

Terry Cook: 00:10:39

And I really like that, that it, it keeps me planning.

Terry Cook: 00:10:43

And I think this works quite well with students as well because one of the things that.

Terry Cook: 00:10:48

My dad's a perfect example for this because I can hear him back in my head now mourning about it, he'll say that if he sees something changing up ahead, the car won't See it, and yours might, but mine wouldn't.

Terry Cook: 00:10:59

So how are people going to adapt to that?

Terry Cook: 00:11:01

And.

Terry Cook: 00:11:01

And it is right to a degree, because if you were driving, you'd just ease off the gas a little bit.

Terry Cook: 00:11:06

But if your cruise control's on and it's not adapted, you would consciously have to press the brake or whatever.

Terry Cook: 00:11:11

And I think that works really well on lessons because it makes students look ahead because they know they're going to have to make a change.

Terry Cook: 00:11:18

And like I say with mine, when you just tweak the button, it's like, I see someone up ahead, I'll just drop it down from 30 to 27 and it's beautiful.

Terry Cook: 00:11:25

But how do you introduce that to lessons then?

Vicky Folland: 00:11:28

Before we do any dual carriageway lesson, we always have a chat about slip roads and speed, especially if we do a national speed limit and we can get up to 70, say.

Vicky Folland: 00:11:37

I think that one of the hardest things to teach is that constant speed, because they're that busy worrying about overtaking what's on what side, looking in the mirrors, and at high speed, the tiniest little change on that accelerator pedal can make speed drop from 70, 60, 65.

Vicky Folland: 00:11:52

So if we've just overtaken something, I find that my pupils have a tendency to then try and slow down as we're trying to move back across into the left hand lane, which is not a great idea because whatever we've just overtaken is going to catch us up.

Vicky Folland: 00:12:04

So we have that chat before we go about maintaining that constant speed and the importance of maintaining the speed, not only just for, obviously my eco stuff, but, you know, for safety and what's happening around us, because other people need to plan around us.

Vicky Folland: 00:12:17

If we're constantly changing, so is everybody else.

Vicky Folland: 00:12:20

And then when we're going along, I'll just say, how are you finding your speed?

Vicky Folland: 00:12:23

Are you managing okay?

Vicky Folland: 00:12:24

Actually, I might be struggling a little bit.

Vicky Folland: 00:12:27

So can we get it more constant?

Vicky Folland: 00:12:28

Can we stop the fluctuating right now?

Vicky Folland: 00:12:30

We've done that.

Vicky Folland: 00:12:32

Press that button.

Vicky Folland: 00:12:32

That's the cruise control.

Vicky Folland: 00:12:34

Look what happens now.

Vicky Folland: 00:12:36

That's what maintaining that speed looks like.

Vicky Folland: 00:12:38

Okay, that's not quite what I was doing.

Vicky Folland: 00:12:41

I was still fluctuating.

Vicky Folland: 00:12:42

And then turn it off.

Vicky Folland: 00:12:44

I'll give it another go.

Vicky Folland: 00:12:45

Turn it back on.

Vicky Folland: 00:12:46

I think actually it helps.

Vicky Folland: 00:12:48

It's like as an aid, it's not a replacement, it's an aid.

Terry Cook: 00:12:51

I love that.

Terry Cook: 00:12:52

I've.

Terry Cook: 00:12:53

I've never done that before.

Terry Cook: 00:12:54

I use the cruise control, but I've never thought of using it as a demonstration that I'M going to bring that into my lesson now.

Terry Cook: 00:12:59

I'm glad we've had this chat.

Terry Cook: 00:13:01

I think that's a really good way to do it, to practice with them on that long stretch and then get them to add the cruise control to see what it feels like.

Terry Cook: 00:13:09

I think that's a great idea.

Terry Cook: 00:13:11

Well, you throw me there with a really good idea.

Terry Cook: 00:13:13

Not that I wasn't expecting you to have great ideas, obviously.

Vicky Folland: 00:13:18

To be honest.

Terry Cook: 00:13:20

That one works a treat.

Terry Cook: 00:13:21

But I mean, just thinking of using that example along stretch of dual carriageways and along on what you could do on motorways as well.

Terry Cook: 00:13:27

Do you ever set them that challenge of getting to 70, for example, getting your cruise control on and then maintaining it at 70 for as long as possible.

Terry Cook: 00:13:37

So therefore you're having a plan further ahead just to keep that speed.

Vicky Folland: 00:13:41

Absolutely, yeah, absolutely.

Vicky Folland: 00:13:43

You know, especially if you've got a car with a smaller engine, it's hard work get into that speed in the first place, so it's much easier to maintain it.

Vicky Folland: 00:13:51

But it does require planning.

Vicky Folland: 00:13:53

We've got to be looking further ahead down the road.

Vicky Folland: 00:13:55

We've got to anticipate, we've got to be watching for people merging on slip roads and coming out of service station.

Vicky Folland: 00:14:01

We've got to make sure that we've planned that in which that's going to make them safer drivers.

Vicky Folland: 00:14:06

That's not going to help you push your driving test necessarily, but it's going to keep you safe once you've passed.

Terry Cook: 00:14:11

Yeah, I completely agreed.

Terry Cook: 00:14:12

And do you find that's where you use it most, dual carriageways, motorways, or do you.

Terry Cook: 00:14:16

Do you use it elsewhere as well?

Vicky Folland: 00:14:18

I don't use it through our town because we've got that many changes in speed limit.

Vicky Folland: 00:14:22

We go 20, 30, 40, we even have some 50 roads and then we're back to 20s again.

Vicky Folland: 00:14:29

So the adaptive cruise control would work, but how many of them would have that?

Vicky Folland: 00:14:34

So it's not.

Vicky Folland: 00:14:35

So unless they specifically asked to do it, it's not something that I would say, let's turn it on, because by the time we've got it on, it's off.

Terry Cook: 00:14:42

Yeah.

Vicky Folland: 00:14:42

So, sorry, Terry, would depend on your location, wouldn't it, and what your area was like?

Terry Cook: 00:14:46

I completely agree because I was going to give my sort of personal example for me.

Terry Cook: 00:14:50

I'm.

Terry Cook: 00:14:50

I'm at the top of the hill, a place called Saltair, and there's a really steep bend.

Terry Cook: 00:14:54

You're going up here that you do about 20 miles an hour up, and I'm a lazy sod.

Terry Cook: 00:14:58

I just bob the cruise control there, set it to 20 and take my feet off at pedals and I can just steer and it makes my life so much easier.

Terry Cook: 00:15:05

And that's probably not somewhere where you'd necessarily think to use the cruise control, but in that situation it works perfectly.

Terry Cook: 00:15:12

So, yeah, I think you're right.

Terry Cook: 00:15:13

It depends on the.

Terry Cook: 00:15:14

On the situation completely.

Terry Cook: 00:15:16

Well, let's move on then.

Terry Cook: 00:15:17

I want to ask you about the technology you use.

Terry Cook: 00:15:21

So have you got some examples of tech that you use and how you use it with your students?

Vicky Folland: 00:15:26

Yes.

Vicky Folland: 00:15:27

So my learner assists automatically on in my car.

Vicky Folland: 00:15:30

So the first few times my pupils will feel that is when they're not in their lane or when the road markings about and my car's trying to force them one way or the other.

Vicky Folland: 00:15:39

So some of them would prefer just to switch it off, which is fine.

Vicky Folland: 00:15:42

Some of them will say, can you show me how to do that?

Vicky Folland: 00:15:44

That's not a problem at all.

Vicky Folland: 00:15:46

So lane assist always on, because that's where it just comes straight on.

Vicky Folland: 00:15:49

So you have to actually turn that off.

Vicky Folland: 00:15:52

Lane assist is brilliant.

Vicky Folland: 00:15:54

Like motorways, dual carriage wears.

Vicky Folland: 00:15:56

It stops that wandering and we all see it happening when we're on long journeys, you see other people doing it, wondering about all over.

Vicky Folland: 00:16:03

So I think it's brilliant for that.

Vicky Folland: 00:16:05

But we've got a problem, as in our roll back into our rubbish.

Vicky Folland: 00:16:09

We can't see them and our cars can't see them either.

Vicky Folland: 00:16:13

So technology is brilliant.

Vicky Folland: 00:16:15

Infrastructure not so great.

Terry Cook: 00:16:18

Yeah, no, that makes sense.

Terry Cook: 00:16:20

I like the LAN assist and I think one of the good things I found it useful for is I think it weirdly helps students signaling for that lane change.

Terry Cook: 00:16:32

Because when you signal in, the learner assist won't kick in, you don't feel it and there's the odd time and I'll allow it to happen, if it's safe.

Terry Cook: 00:16:39

Where they'll go to change lanes, you know, no one's there, they've got to change lanes and the car will vibrate and it'll flash up saying, stay in your own lane and oh, I didn't signal.

Terry Cook: 00:16:48

They bob the signal back on and it's.

Terry Cook: 00:16:50

I'm not saying they necessarily should have that, but it's almost itself.

Terry Cook: 00:16:53

It's a nice little learned.

Terry Cook: 00:16:54

Have you come across that as well?

Vicky Folland: 00:16:56

Yeah, absolutely.

Vicky Folland: 00:16:58

I think the problem with that lane assist and that signaling is it promotes an automatic response.

Vicky Folland: 00:17:04

So what we're really then teaching them is you just need to signal the change lens.

Vicky Folland: 00:17:08

But hang on one minute.

Vicky Folland: 00:17:09

What?

Vicky Folland: 00:17:09

Where's Our judgment gone because you don't always need to signal on.

Vicky Folland: 00:17:13

So we shouldn't just be teaching, we always have to signal.

Vicky Folland: 00:17:16

I think it's really important that that judgment call's still there.

Vicky Folland: 00:17:20

What's happening around us, who's benefiting from this signal?

Vicky Folland: 00:17:24

And I think with Learn Assist that is a huge downfall because it sort of takes that decision making away, where it's just we have to put one on, we have to put one on and it becomes so automatic.

Vicky Folland: 00:17:35

Unless you've got blind spot monitoring that's going to stop you from making that lane change.

Vicky Folland: 00:17:39

You're going to be across and you haven't checked.

Terry Cook: 00:17:42

I'm really glad you made that point because it's not one I would have thought to make.

Terry Cook: 00:17:46

And I remember a student recently saying so much along the lines of, I hate changing lanes this car because I've got to faucet.

Terry Cook: 00:17:53

And it will because she wasn't signaling.

Terry Cook: 00:17:55

So she felt the car pull it and she had to push against it.

Terry Cook: 00:17:58

So, yeah, it's a really good point because the great thing about this technology is that it does help keep us safe.

Terry Cook: 00:18:03

It does add in these extra barriers.

Terry Cook: 00:18:05

But like the point you just made, we still have to be vigilant as drivers and as instructors and making sure our learners are vigilant as well.

Terry Cook: 00:18:14

And you know, obviously you're a top class instructor, but have you found that a hindrance at times to teaching learners?

Terry Cook: 00:18:22

Have you found that you've had to almost overcome some of these technological issues?

Vicky Folland: 00:18:26

And I fully embrace the tech and as soon as I get a new car, I know what all the gadgets are.

Vicky Folland: 00:18:32

I am that person.

Vicky Folland: 00:18:33

Don't press that button.

Vicky Folland: 00:18:33

What?

Vicky Folland: 00:18:34

That button.

Vicky Folland: 00:18:34

I will press it straight away.

Vicky Folland: 00:18:36

So I need to find out what it all done.

Vicky Folland: 00:18:38

So for me personally, I enjoyed that.

Vicky Folland: 00:18:42

For some pupils, they don't want to know and they don't want to embrace that.

Vicky Folland: 00:18:45

Especially some pupils who are maybe got anxiety or neurodiversity and they're already dealing with a lot with driving.

Vicky Folland: 00:18:52

And then hang on, there's a button here for this and there's a button there for that.

Vicky Folland: 00:18:55

And a learner says, going to move the car.

Vicky Folland: 00:18:58

But I'm on a minute, I want to move the car.

Vicky Folland: 00:19:00

And so I think for some people it can be a huge disadvantage.

Vicky Folland: 00:19:04

Again, it's been able to tailor it to them, isn't it?

Vicky Folland: 00:19:08

And help them overcome that in a way that they can see that as a positive rather than something I don't want because eventually all cars are going to have this tech in, not new cars.

Vicky Folland: 00:19:19

Have it in.

Vicky Folland: 00:19:20

We can turn it off at the moment, some of it, but it's going to get to the point where we're not going to have choice.

Vicky Folland: 00:19:26

It is there and we're going to have to embrace it.

Terry Cook: 00:19:29

Do you know what?

Terry Cook: 00:19:30

I think that's perfect because you mentioned before as well about this tech is there to enhance our driving.

Terry Cook: 00:19:34

And I think that's what we need to have our learners in there.

Terry Cook: 00:19:37

It's.

Terry Cook: 00:19:37

We need to get them using the tech in the way that works for them to help them with their driving.

Terry Cook: 00:19:43

So if that's use the example before the road by me, that's all bending me, just being lazy and making that drive a bit more comfortable for me and do it in a way that helps me.

Terry Cook: 00:19:52

I think that's what we need to get along.

Terry Cook: 00:19:53

And have you come across much resistance with your learners with this?

Terry Cook: 00:19:57

Because the reason I asked that question, I'll put some context on it because I very, very rarely do.

Terry Cook: 00:20:03

I've got one bit of tech in my car that I'll touch in a bit that I occasionally get a bit of rebuttal with.

Terry Cook: 00:20:09

But generally my learners just love it.

Terry Cook: 00:20:11

But I seem to see a lot of other people complaining.

Terry Cook: 00:20:13

So I'm wondering if you come across any negativity from your learners or any of the fleet guys that you work with.

Vicky Folland: 00:20:19

Some of the fleet, some of the wagon drivers and some of the tech that they've got, they are not a fan of the wagons and things will break sometimes, though, they'll misread road signs and they'll whack the brakes on on that wagon to bring the speed limit down.

Vicky Folland: 00:20:32

And that's not correct.

Vicky Folland: 00:20:33

And then they're potentially in a more dangerous position.

Vicky Folland: 00:20:37

So certainly doing fleet, I think there's more resistance, but it depends on the technology.

Vicky Folland: 00:20:43

And I feel that for some fleet, especially for the sort of the wagon drivers, they feel like it's big brothers watching me.

Vicky Folland: 00:20:50

Everything's monitored.

Vicky Folland: 00:20:52

There's cameras inside the cab, their steering's been monitored, their brakes with their accelerator.

Vicky Folland: 00:20:56

Everything's been monitored to like an nth of a degree.

Vicky Folland: 00:21:00

And there's a lot more advances in technology in these bigger vehicles and there seems to be in our little cars at the moment.

Vicky Folland: 00:21:07

So I think certainly on the fleet side, yes, probably a little bit more resistance.

Vicky Folland: 00:21:11

But for my learner drivers, I think because I approach it with a positive attitude, I think, you know, you get back what you put out a lot of the time.

Vicky Folland: 00:21:18

So I hate the sat nav I hate it.

Vicky Folland: 00:21:21

That's one bit of check I just cannot get with.

Vicky Folland: 00:21:23

I can't really use it.

Vicky Folland: 00:21:24

It confuses me.

Vicky Folland: 00:21:26

The voice makes me really, really angry.

Vicky Folland: 00:21:28

I would happily let my pupils reverse over it all day long.

Vicky Folland: 00:21:32

And I hate that.

Vicky Folland: 00:21:34

I tell my pupils I hate that.

Vicky Folland: 00:21:36

But even though I'm saying I hate it, most of them are absolutely fine with it because I think they're just used to it.

Vicky Folland: 00:21:43

It wasn't a satnav when I started learning to drive.

Vicky Folland: 00:21:45

I didn't own one until I was an instructor.

Vicky Folland: 00:21:47

It's not something I wanted to use where a lot of them, they'll use it, just Google Maps, just walking about.

Vicky Folland: 00:21:53

So they're so used to that technology that they don't even think of it as tech.

Vicky Folland: 00:21:58

It's just to what we have to what we use.

Terry Cook: 00:22:01

A couple of things I want to back on then, because again, you said something really key is that having that positive attitude.

Terry Cook: 00:22:06

And I think that's so lacking it in some stuff where, you know, if we come in and we're enthusiastic and talking about the positives and the negatives, you know, the stuff that doesn't always be great.

Terry Cook: 00:22:16

So we're not just saying it's all sunshine and roses, but we come in with that positive attitude.

Terry Cook: 00:22:21

That's how we get people on board when we come in.

Terry Cook: 00:22:24

You know, I always think back to when they brought the pull up on the right maneuver onto the test.

Terry Cook: 00:22:28

I couldn't get my head around that.

Terry Cook: 00:22:30

And I used to just complain about it to all my students.

Terry Cook: 00:22:32

I don't know why we're doing this.

Terry Cook: 00:22:33

It's not appropriate.

Terry Cook: 00:22:34

High record, ra ra ra ra.

Terry Cook: 00:22:36

None of them liked it.

Terry Cook: 00:22:37

And then I shifted my attitude and I started being positive about it.

Terry Cook: 00:22:41

All of a sudden they started getting on board and it's, it's not going to work every single time, but it's definitely going to have a bigger impact if we're positive, isn't it?

Vicky Folland: 00:22:51

Absolutely.

Vicky Folland: 00:22:52

Yes, absolutely.

Vicky Folland: 00:22:54

Why would you want to bring your negative attitude to work anywhere?

Vicky Folland: 00:22:56

Like, I know I've just said I hate the satnav and I'll openly say that, but we just make a bit of a joke about it.

Vicky Folland: 00:23:01

And when they can follow it better than me, I always ask them to give me a lesson.

Vicky Folland: 00:23:05

But, you know, I, I want to come to work and have a great time.

Vicky Folland: 00:23:08

I don't want to come and sit there and be miserable and whinge all day.

Vicky Folland: 00:23:11

Like, that must be so tiring and draining and you must come home feeling absolutely awful.

Terry Cook: 00:23:17

But There's a big difference for me in the way that you just described.

Terry Cook: 00:23:21

You don't like satnav and.

Terry Cook: 00:23:22

And the way other people do.

Terry Cook: 00:23:24

Because that to me didn't sound negative.

Terry Cook: 00:23:25

That sounded playful.

Terry Cook: 00:23:26

I don't like sunlight.

Terry Cook: 00:23:27

It's not for me.

Terry Cook: 00:23:28

You know, it sounded jovial, even though you don't like it.

Terry Cook: 00:23:31

So if I was your learner there, well, maybe I'm misreading that.

Vicky Folland: 00:23:37

But just a happy person to me.

Terry Cook: 00:23:40

There you go.

Terry Cook: 00:23:41

But I love the sat nav.

Terry Cook: 00:23:43

Honestly, it's my favorite thing.

Terry Cook: 00:23:45

And I think it's because I'm genuinely.

Terry Cook: 00:23:48

Don't give a toss if I go the wrong way.

Terry Cook: 00:23:50

I'm not like.

Terry Cook: 00:23:51

It's not one of the things I just say to put students ease.

Terry Cook: 00:23:53

It's like, I just.

Terry Cook: 00:23:55

It's like a view as having someone just giving me general guidance.

Terry Cook: 00:23:59

And because I've got that mindset, I love it.

Terry Cook: 00:24:01

It's just like, okay, I'm going over there, right?

Terry Cook: 00:24:04

Sat nav's in.

Terry Cook: 00:24:05

And I'm aware.

Terry Cook: 00:24:06

And I just find it.

Terry Cook: 00:24:07

The only thing I don't like about something is when it interrupts my music.

Terry Cook: 00:24:10

That's the only thing I dislike about it.

Terry Cook: 00:24:12

But, you know, I just.

Vicky Folland: 00:24:14

I think she's so rude.

Vicky Folland: 00:24:15

She's so rude and she's so impatient.

Vicky Folland: 00:24:17

She's like, turn left, turn left, turn left.

Vicky Folland: 00:24:20

I'm like, I am.

Vicky Folland: 00:24:21

When I get there in a minute, check my mirrors.

Vicky Folland: 00:24:23

I've signaled.

Vicky Folland: 00:24:24

I'm aware of the traffic.

Vicky Folland: 00:24:25

I'm getting on with it.

Vicky Folland: 00:24:27

Leave me alone.

Vicky Folland: 00:24:28

If I said to my pupil, turn left.

Vicky Folland: 00:24:30

And then in another 100 yards, said, turn left, then got right on top of the junction and said, turn left, they'd say, just be quiet.

Terry Cook: 00:24:37

Do you think satnav should say turn left when it's safe?

Vicky Folland: 00:24:41

Yeah.

Vicky Folland: 00:24:42

And a couple of my pupils have said, would I be a voice on sat nav?

Vicky Folland: 00:24:46

So just to give some little road safety tips as we went as well.

Vicky Folland: 00:24:49

So I like approaching a roundabout, third exit.

Vicky Folland: 00:24:51

Think about repositioning.

Vicky Folland: 00:24:52

Stay in your lane 100.

Terry Cook: 00:24:55

Do that.

Terry Cook: 00:24:55

Out of curiosity, what accent have you got on your sat nav?

Vicky Folland: 00:24:59

Is it Serena?

Vicky Folland: 00:25:00

Is that the standard?

Terry Cook: 00:25:01

I don't know.

Terry Cook: 00:25:02

I've got mine.

Terry Cook: 00:25:02

Well, that shows how much you like it.

Terry Cook: 00:25:03

I think maybe I've got mine specifically set to Australian.

Terry Cook: 00:25:06

I'll switch between Australian, Irish.

Terry Cook: 00:25:08

So there you go.

Vicky Folland: 00:25:09

Yes.

Vicky Folland: 00:25:10

Invite the examiner shoes.

Vicky Folland: 00:25:13

But if I'm.

Vicky Folland: 00:25:13

If I use it myself, I have to turn the voice off.

Vicky Folland: 00:25:16

That is my personal trigger.

Vicky Folland: 00:25:18

Like, makes me really stressed.

Vicky Folland: 00:25:20

I can't be listening to her.

Vicky Folland: 00:25:22

I have to quit.

Terry Cook: 00:25:26

And we're just taking a brief pause to give a shout out to a few of our latest sign ups to the Instructor Podcast Premium.

Terry Cook: 00:25:33

And they are John Sewell, Ian Kilby and Alistair.

Terry Cook: 00:25:37

Now these fine folks have decided to upgrade their CPD and become even more awesome driving instructors with a membership to the Instructor Podcast Premium.

Terry Cook: 00:25:47

Now, with that membership, they get immediate access to hundreds of hours of video, audio and written training to help them become even more awesome driving instructors.

Terry Cook: 00:25:57

So whether you're looking to grow your business, become a better instructor, or get some help looking after your mental health and mindset, sign up to the Instructor Podcast Premium.

Terry Cook: 00:26:07

There's currently a three weeks trial or you can get a 16 discount with an annual membership.

Terry Cook: 00:26:12

To find out more, use the link in the show notes or head to the website theinstructor podcast.com but I also want to take a moment to thank my drive time for being sponsors of Season nine and take the opportunity to shout out about one of my favorite my drive time features.

Terry Cook: 00:26:30

And that's the ability to create multiple progress trackers for different types of students so we can add unique things such as parking on driveways or with one of my students specifically, a very specific type of roundabout.

Terry Cook: 00:26:44

Loads of you that are in Leeds will know as lawnswood roundabout.

Terry Cook: 00:26:47

She has a phobia about this roundabout.

Terry Cook: 00:26:49

So on her progress tracker we have roundabouts and within that roundabout section we have lawnswood roundabout specifically for her.

Terry Cook: 00:26:57

I love that I can do this and so does she.

Terry Cook: 00:27:00

It's the last thing she wants to do.

Terry Cook: 00:27:02

It's the last thing on her lesson she wants to do.

Terry Cook: 00:27:04

But either way, enough about that.

Terry Cook: 00:27:06

To find out more about my drive time, head to mydrivetime.co.uk but for now let's get back into the show and you know, let's tie the sat nav in.

Terry Cook: 00:27:16

We're learning a bit then.

Terry Cook: 00:27:17

So how do you bring in the sat nav into lessons?

Terry Cook: 00:27:20

We, we sort of learners specifically.

Vicky Folland: 00:27:23

So after we've mastered the basics then we'll say, right, let's look at the independent driving.

Vicky Folland: 00:27:29

So we'll do a lesson where we do sat nav and road signs.

Vicky Folland: 00:27:33

Because I normally say you, you know, you normally prefer one or the other.

Vicky Folland: 00:27:35

You're normally better at one than the other.

Vicky Folland: 00:27:37

I love, I love a road sign.

Vicky Folland: 00:27:40

So we'll, we'll go and we'll just follow up out of a test route round and to be honest, they all find it absolutely fine and most of them prefer that and they really get really excited about putting the sat nav on.

Vicky Folland: 00:27:53

Or we can.

Vicky Folland: 00:27:53

We.

Vicky Folland: 00:27:54

We use the sat nav if they want to.

Vicky Folland: 00:27:55

We can use Google Maps on the phone.

Vicky Folland: 00:27:57

We can use the inbuilt car one.

Vicky Folland: 00:27:58

That's fine.

Vicky Folland: 00:27:59

Always.

Vicky Folland: 00:28:00

Just take the TomTom, because this is the one that you're going to see on your test.

Vicky Folland: 00:28:04

But I don't even mind which one we use.

Vicky Folland: 00:28:06

I don't like any of them, so I don't mind which one we use.

Terry Cook: 00:28:08

Yeah.

Terry Cook: 00:28:09

Do you ever find that it seems to be on their mind?

Terry Cook: 00:28:12

It's quite a big thing.

Terry Cook: 00:28:13

But then when you do it once, they're almost like done with it.

Terry Cook: 00:28:15

Oh, that was easy.

Terry Cook: 00:28:16

Right.

Terry Cook: 00:28:16

I'm done that.

Terry Cook: 00:28:16

Because I seem to get that a lot, that it's a big.

Terry Cook: 00:28:19

It feels like a big thing from.

Terry Cook: 00:28:20

And then they see how simple it is and it's like, oh, no, that was all that was, you know, whatever.

Vicky Folland: 00:28:24

Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

Vicky Folland: 00:28:26

I think a lot of them prefer the satnav because it tells you and you can see and it'll tell you and tell you and tell you where were the road signs.

Vicky Folland: 00:28:32

If you missed it, you missed it.

Terry Cook: 00:28:34

Yeah.

Terry Cook: 00:28:35

The one of the things I do, and I don't know if this is something you do, I'll be interested in your thoughts, is like you said about the inbuilt sat nav from lesson one.

Terry Cook: 00:28:43

I make sure that that's got the map screen on the sat nav screen.

Terry Cook: 00:28:47

Even if you're not using it, that'll be on there.

Terry Cook: 00:28:49

So it's not like a new thing when all of a sudden they've got this map there.

Terry Cook: 00:28:54

Is that something you do?

Terry Cook: 00:28:55

Is it something you'd encourage?

Vicky Folland: 00:28:57

In my Mini, we've got no maps at all.

Vicky Folland: 00:29:00

So more basic in the electric car, the maps are there.

Vicky Folland: 00:29:04

I think, again, it comes down to personal preference and the type of person that you're teaching that can be quite a distraction and people start looking at it rather than the road.

Vicky Folland: 00:29:14

One of my friends uses the sat nav and drives it like a computer game and stops looking at the road.

Vicky Folland: 00:29:19

So they plan their bends and turns and everything off the map, which I think is absolutely crazy.

Vicky Folland: 00:29:25

Again, it's just personal preference, I think, isn't it?

Vicky Folland: 00:29:27

And knowing your pupils and making sure it's right for them.

Terry Cook: 00:29:31

You're making me nervous thinking of driving like that.

Terry Cook: 00:29:33

Now, I want to ask you about Hill Hold Assist.

Terry Cook: 00:29:38

Do you have or have you had experience with Hill Hold Assist?

Vicky Folland: 00:29:42

Yeah.

Vicky Folland: 00:29:42

So my Mini's got a little bit of it.

Vicky Folland: 00:29:44

You mean, don't get me wrong, you can still roll backwards.

Vicky Folland: 00:29:46

But it's not like when I learn to drive where, you know, the minute that you moved your feet, you were going to have a roll.

Vicky Folland: 00:29:53

And that caused me quite a lot of anxiety when I was learning.

Vicky Folland: 00:29:56

And even when I passed, I remember, like smelling that horrible Bernie clutch smell.

Vicky Folland: 00:29:59

So I was that worried about stalling or rolling on the hills of way too much gas on and holding the clutch because I didn't dare put my handbrake on in case I couldn't find my feet again and ended up rolling backwards.

Vicky Folland: 00:30:10

So I think that's our technology.

Vicky Folland: 00:30:12

That's.

Vicky Folland: 00:30:12

That's great, isn't it?

Vicky Folland: 00:30:13

And lots of learners probably don't even know it's that.

Terry Cook: 00:30:16

This is the one for me that causes the most debate, shall we say, on lessons, because for the listeners that don't know, the hill hold assist is where you've got your foot brake on, on a hill.

Terry Cook: 00:30:28

And when you come off, the car will lock for about two to three seconds, I think, depending on the car.

Terry Cook: 00:30:33

And even if you find your biting point, it will still stay locked.

Terry Cook: 00:30:36

The only way to unlock it is to hold that two or three seconds, or as soon as you press a gas pedal will override it.

Terry Cook: 00:30:42

So for anyone listening, that's what that is.

Terry Cook: 00:30:44

That doesn't kick in with a handbrake.

Terry Cook: 00:30:45

So you've got the handbrake on, it won't kick in.

Terry Cook: 00:30:47

And this causes real debate with my learners because some of them love it.

Terry Cook: 00:30:52

They think it's great because it's like that safety net.

Terry Cook: 00:30:55

So if they've just stopped on a hill and for whatever reason they're not using the handbrake, they know they've got three seconds to do whatever they're doing before they sit off.

Terry Cook: 00:31:02

And it's like this massive safety net.

Terry Cook: 00:31:05

But then I've got other students that come to it, and this is where the preference comes in.

Terry Cook: 00:31:09

Like you spoke about before, they hate it with all of their being.

Terry Cook: 00:31:12

They despise it because they find the biting point, they come off their foot break and then the car's not moving.

Terry Cook: 00:31:18

And then it's like that little delay before they find the gas and all they can hear is the noise because they're at biting point but the wheels are locked and it's just horrible.

Terry Cook: 00:31:26

And I have so much fun with that on lessons because I'm quite mean.

Terry Cook: 00:31:30

And I will make the ones that don't like it do it more just because it amuses me.

Terry Cook: 00:31:39

Have you.

Terry Cook: 00:31:40

I know you Said you're not.

Terry Cook: 00:31:41

You've got a bit of it in your car.

Terry Cook: 00:31:42

Have you had any students sort of react positively or adversely towards that?

Vicky Folland: 00:31:47

No, mine's not as bad as that.

Vicky Folland: 00:31:49

So.

Vicky Folland: 00:31:49

Because my money's getting on a little bit now, Big bang.

Vicky Folland: 00:31:52

The love of my life is.

Vicky Folland: 00:31:54

Yeah.

Vicky Folland: 00:31:54

Knocking on some years now.

Vicky Folland: 00:31:56

So it's sort of like a very early version of that, I suppose.

Vicky Folland: 00:31:59

Or.

Vicky Folland: 00:32:00

No, you're not gonna roll as much.

Vicky Folland: 00:32:04

I wouldn't even say it was a thing.

Vicky Folland: 00:32:05

In my car, we just get on with it, you know, find your bike, let your gas, off we go.

Vicky Folland: 00:32:10

But then I've got an automatic car that even when you have retested automatic car, the examiner says, pull up on the left to do a hill start.

Vicky Folland: 00:32:16

Well, where are you going?

Vicky Folland: 00:32:19

You're only going to go forward.

Vicky Folland: 00:32:20

You're not going to go backwards there.

Vicky Folland: 00:32:22

I mean, I've got auto hold in my electric car.

Vicky Folland: 00:32:25

So, you know, when we talked about tests and it being fair and the same.

Vicky Folland: 00:32:30

Well, it isn't, is it?

Vicky Folland: 00:32:31

Like if you've got all this technology or how that hasn't, or if you get a parallel park or a park on the right or some.

Vicky Folland: 00:32:37

Not the same test, is it?

Terry Cook: 00:32:40

It's not.

Terry Cook: 00:32:40

But, you know, it's interesting, when I was at the convention in April or earlier on this year, the dvs, they were speaking there, weren't they?

Terry Cook: 00:32:49

And they were saying that they can't mandate this technology because that's discriminant against people that don't have it, but they do encourage you to use it.

Terry Cook: 00:32:55

And, you know, I encourage my youth learners to use it as well.

Terry Cook: 00:32:58

But just going back to that hill hold, I always forget the hold bit.

Terry Cook: 00:33:02

The hill hold assist.

Terry Cook: 00:33:04

I just.

Terry Cook: 00:33:05

I just think it's one of the things that I love it personally, and I'm slightly apprehensive about when I change cars because I lease my car.

Terry Cook: 00:33:13

So I'll get a new one next year, I think.

Terry Cook: 00:33:15

And I'm slightly nervous that my next car will have it because I've got.

Terry Cook: 00:33:19

I just love this.

Terry Cook: 00:33:20

I find it's just.

Terry Cook: 00:33:22

I can just, you know, come off my brake.

Terry Cook: 00:33:24

I don't even have to find my banking point.

Terry Cook: 00:33:25

And I think it's just such a wonderful little thing.

Terry Cook: 00:33:28

But I think the thing I want to get across here, and I'm sure you'll agree, so please share your thoughts, is that even with this, I will teach my students to set off without it so they're not using it.

Terry Cook: 00:33:38

Because as much as we want them to get the safe, the more techno technological car, if you like.

Terry Cook: 00:33:45

Processors still might not, so we still need to teach them kind of every aspect.

Terry Cook: 00:33:49

Your handbrake set off your hills is set off your non hill set off.

Terry Cook: 00:33:52

So I'm presuming you'd agree with that.

Vicky Folland: 00:33:54

Absolutely.

Vicky Folland: 00:33:55

We've got to be able to get the fundamentals and the basics right and driving is just starting and stopping, isn't it?

Vicky Folland: 00:34:01

You know, whether it be on a hill, junctions, traffic lights and the world's not flat.

Vicky Folland: 00:34:06

So when we talk about hill staff, we think of a hill and quite a steep gradient where actually on the approach to the roundabout you're probably going up slightly up a slight gradient.

Vicky Folland: 00:34:15

When you park up on the left, the road's probably not flat, it doesn't have to be a steep hill.

Vicky Folland: 00:34:19

So we're stopping and starting all the time.

Vicky Folland: 00:34:21

So I don't specifically teach hill starts as a lesson, unless someone who's got severe anxiety rap, because how many times actually are we stopping and starting just on the flat?

Vicky Folland: 00:34:30

I think when you put the word hill start in, it sort of like gets that panic going or actually quite often I'll say, oh, that was a great hill start.

Vicky Folland: 00:34:39

And they're like, oh, did I do a hell start?

Vicky Folland: 00:34:40

And I'm like, yeah, we're on a hill because we haven't dressed it up as that and called it that and parked them on the side of a mountain.

Vicky Folland: 00:34:48

Then they haven't realized it's even happened.

Terry Cook: 00:34:51

It's interesting you say that because that's kind of what I used to, especially on the first lesson, I'd always try and get my first ever set off on a hill and they wouldn't notice.

Terry Cook: 00:35:00

Nine times out of 10 and IQ, the only time I would bring it in specifically is if they were saying they were concerned about hill starts.

Terry Cook: 00:35:07

But I found that with this car I kind of have to because it's got this technology.

Terry Cook: 00:35:11

So it goes back to what I was saying before.

Terry Cook: 00:35:13

There's definitely positives there because it reduces the risk of rolling back.

Terry Cook: 00:35:17

But the negative is now I have to do this hill start aspect of it.

Terry Cook: 00:35:21

So yeah, it's interesting, but is there any other technology that you can think of that you sort of specifically either teach your learners or talk about with your learners?

Vicky Folland: 00:35:30

I think revising cameras comes up a lot still, doesn't it, in the technology and can you use it?

Vicky Folland: 00:35:35

Is it allowed?

Vicky Folland: 00:35:37

And like I've said with the other technology it's a, an aid rather than a replacement.

Vicky Folland: 00:35:41

That doesn't stop you checking it Gives you extra information.

Vicky Folland: 00:35:45

So we can't just look at the camera and watch it like the telly.

Vicky Folland: 00:35:48

We still have to be fully aware, but it's given us extra information.

Vicky Folland: 00:35:51

I think people got worried about being able to use the sensors on the cameras in the car as well.

Vicky Folland: 00:35:56

That's fine as long as it's not replacing the checks that you need to be making too.

Vicky Folland: 00:36:01

I think that's quite a common one that lots of people have in their car now, isn't it?

Vicky Folland: 00:36:05

Some sort of at least a sensor?

Terry Cook: 00:36:07

Yeah.

Terry Cook: 00:36:08

I don't just.

Terry Cook: 00:36:09

There's no parking sensor in there, there's no cameras and I've never actually driven a car.

Terry Cook: 00:36:15

I've driven a car with parking sensors, but never on my cameras.

Terry Cook: 00:36:17

But I've.

Terry Cook: 00:36:18

I've been in one with a camera once.

Terry Cook: 00:36:19

It was the weirdest thing because it was a bird's eye view, so the camera was looking down upon the camera.

Terry Cook: 00:36:25

How does this work?

Terry Cook: 00:36:26

This.

Terry Cook: 00:36:27

There isn't a camera above the car.

Terry Cook: 00:36:28

How are we looking down?

Terry Cook: 00:36:29

There's obviously ways to cameras around the car, but it just.

Terry Cook: 00:36:32

That completely baffled me and I think genuinely that I will find that more distracting if I've got a camera and I've got sympathy for learners.

Terry Cook: 00:36:42

I've got that because I can see why someone would find it more distracting.

Terry Cook: 00:36:45

So, yeah, I think that.

Terry Cook: 00:36:47

But no, you're right again, it goes back to.

Terry Cook: 00:36:49

We use it as an aid, but we've got to make sure we get those observations in as well.

Terry Cook: 00:36:54

So I'm going to chuck another couple in here because there's one for my car that I can't teach, but I can talk about and I struggle with this word, so bear with me.

Terry Cook: 00:37:05

Autonomous.

Terry Cook: 00:37:06

Oh, got it.

Terry Cook: 00:37:07

Right.

Terry Cook: 00:37:07

So if we can do it twice.

Terry Cook: 00:37:08

Autonomous emergency braking.

Terry Cook: 00:37:11

So again, for those that don't know, there's a sensor at the front of the car and if something was to, for example, pull out in front of the car, that will kick in.

Terry Cook: 00:37:17

If we're not breaking.

Terry Cook: 00:37:18

It will basically kick in with the brakes and the car will stop and a big flashing sign comes on the dashboard saying, you know, warning.

Terry Cook: 00:37:26

And the reason I know that is because it's happened and it happened once when inadvertently and this car came flying out from the left and stopped at the junction.

Terry Cook: 00:37:37

But my car sensed it was coming and the learning was driving.

Terry Cook: 00:37:40

It just kicked in and the learner thought the car had broken because it had just come up, it had just stopped and the.

Terry Cook: 00:37:46

The red light come on and then it will.

Terry Cook: 00:37:48

I suddenly realized I've Never discussed this with my students.

Terry Cook: 00:37:51

So.

Terry Cook: 00:37:52

No, because it had never happened, Terry.

Vicky Folland: 00:37:54

It's not something that I've ever discussed with my students.

Terry Cook: 00:37:57

Yeah.

Terry Cook: 00:37:58

But now I do, you know, now.

Terry Cook: 00:38:00

And it said discussion.

Terry Cook: 00:38:01

It's not like a massive long two hours pulled up at side of road, but it'll be somewhat where we talking about something else technology wise.

Terry Cook: 00:38:10

And I'll say, oh, while we're talking about this, let me mention this.

Terry Cook: 00:38:13

Have you heard of.

Terry Cook: 00:38:14

You know.

Terry Cook: 00:38:15

And sometimes I'll say the word correctly, sometimes I will.

Terry Cook: 00:38:17

Autonomous emergency braking.

Terry Cook: 00:38:20

And sometimes I've got loads of questions.

Terry Cook: 00:38:22

Sometimes you just want to explain in.

Terry Cook: 00:38:24

So I think that's one.

Terry Cook: 00:38:26

And the other one that ties in with that a little bit is ecol, which my understanding.

Terry Cook: 00:38:32

I don't think I'm wrong.

Terry Cook: 00:38:32

My understanding is that every new car will now have the E Call feature.

Terry Cook: 00:38:36

So does any.

Terry Cook: 00:38:37

Do either of your cars have E Call?

Vicky Folland: 00:38:39

Yes.

Terry Cook: 00:38:40

Right.

Vicky Folland: 00:38:40

Not in my Mini, because like I said, we're knocking on a little bit, but in my electric car.

Vicky Folland: 00:38:45

Yeah.

Terry Cook: 00:38:45

Do you talk about that with your students?

Vicky Folland: 00:38:48

Only if they go, what's that?

Vicky Folland: 00:38:50

And look up and like, don't touch the buttons up there.

Vicky Folland: 00:38:54

So only if it came up.

Vicky Folland: 00:38:56

Some of them are interested.

Vicky Folland: 00:38:58

But no, I'm not.

Vicky Folland: 00:38:59

It's not something that I've probably even thought to say.

Terry Cook: 00:39:02

See, I'll be honest, that's something that I've now started tying in with the aeb.

Terry Cook: 00:39:08

That should be.

Terry Cook: 00:39:09

If I'm not storing the word again, the aeb.

Terry Cook: 00:39:11

Because just while we're saying that, I'll also go.

Terry Cook: 00:39:13

And you know what?

Terry Cook: 00:39:14

That does.

Terry Cook: 00:39:14

Because again, what I want is for them to get as much knowledge as possible.

Vicky Folland: 00:39:20

I love the way that we both keep.

Vicky Folland: 00:39:21

Pointless ceiling.

Terry Cook: 00:39:22

Yeah.

Terry Cook: 00:39:23

Just in case people don't know where up is, you know, or the roof.

Terry Cook: 00:39:28

But yeah, it's.

Terry Cook: 00:39:29

I think it's.

Terry Cook: 00:39:31

It's useful just spending that one minute and just saying, look, asking them, do you know when you'd use it?

Terry Cook: 00:39:36

You know how it works and just explain how it connects to the operator who will then connect you to the emergency service.

Terry Cook: 00:39:42

And then they've got all your data from the car then as well, which.

Terry Cook: 00:39:45

And I'm sure I read somewhere that the average response time is like 50% quicker if he was E call us.

Terry Cook: 00:39:52

Yeah, yeah.

Vicky Folland: 00:39:53

Because it's specifically to your location, isn't it?

Vicky Folland: 00:39:55

And I've done a social media post on it, but it's not something that I've thought to put in my lessons, but I will be from now on.

Vicky Folland: 00:40:02

Terry.

Terry Cook: 00:40:02

Well, we're learning from each other today.

Terry Cook: 00:40:04

This is a good episode.

Terry Cook: 00:40:05

I like this, but I just think that one minute conversation that could make a difference for someone post test.

Terry Cook: 00:40:13

And I think the other thing I think I do just want to touch on here a little bit is the show me questions.

Terry Cook: 00:40:20

Because when we, I think this is a really good place for me to shoehorn this in.

Terry Cook: 00:40:25

Because when we think of the show me questions, what have you got?

Terry Cook: 00:40:27

You got opening windows, turning lights on, cleaning your windows, demissing your windows, that kind of stuff.

Terry Cook: 00:40:33

So whilst it's not necessarily modern technology, it's still a form of technology.

Terry Cook: 00:40:38

So perfect opportunity for me shoe this harness in and ask how you cover the show me questions.

Vicky Folland: 00:40:45

So we normally do it a little bit later on, but what I'm going to start doing actually going forward, I think I heard this on one of your episodes that you were doing before is getting the pupils to do them sort of right from the off because they're driving.

Vicky Folland: 00:40:57

We ask them to take part responsibility.

Vicky Folland: 00:41:00

So, you know, we should be more aware of them.

Vicky Folland: 00:41:02

So, you know, that's on me and I need to start doing that a bit earlier because it's normally right.

Vicky Folland: 00:41:05

You've got your test book, let's start looking at these questions.

Vicky Folland: 00:41:08

I always explain to them the importance like this is not just to pass your test.

Vicky Folland: 00:41:13

When you're, you're passed and you've got your car, even if it's not your own car but you're driving somebody else's, it's your responsibility to check that things are okay.

Vicky Folland: 00:41:22

We don't want any breakdowns, we don't want any crashes.

Vicky Folland: 00:41:25

And you could prevent some of these things from happening by just having a quick check around.

Vicky Folland: 00:41:30

To be fair, they all seem to quite enjoy it.

Vicky Folland: 00:41:33

I've had a puncture mid lesson and we've had to actually go to the, to the garage and get the tire off.

Vicky Folland: 00:41:39

And then while they're off, I'm like, right, this is where your brakes are and this is what this looks like inside and just use it as a learning opportunity.

Vicky Folland: 00:41:45

The day my car was on fire and we needed to be recovered with a fire extinguisher.

Terry Cook: 00:41:49

Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on.

Terry Cook: 00:41:51

The day my car was on fire.

Vicky Folland: 00:41:54

Honestly, there's a whole episode on this, on our podcast, like, it's my worst day I've ever had at work.

Vicky Folland: 00:42:00

I honestly the love of my life on fire mid driving lesson because the people say, oh, I just rely on my sensors.

Vicky Folland: 00:42:07

Well, I'll tell you that day, my Car was on fire.

Vicky Folland: 00:42:09

There was not one light on that dashboard.

Vicky Folland: 00:42:12

There was anything wrong with my car.

Terry Cook: 00:42:14

Just flames coming out of the bonnet.

Terry Cook: 00:42:16

It's.

Vicky Folland: 00:42:16

Yeah, I'm lo.

Vicky Folland: 00:42:17

Black smoke bellowing through the vent.

Terry Cook: 00:42:19

Okay, right, sorry.

Terry Cook: 00:42:21

You just massively threw me there with that.

Terry Cook: 00:42:23

Starting off, casually dropping in.

Terry Cook: 00:42:24

The day my car was on fire and I interrupted your story.

Terry Cook: 00:42:27

Please carry on.

Terry Cook: 00:42:28

I think you were talking about how you learn and learn from that.

Vicky Folland: 00:42:31

So you know the importance of what to do because actually how often have you been in a car that's been on fire?

Vicky Folland: 00:42:36

Well, that was my first time too.

Vicky Folland: 00:42:38

So the importance of the electrics and getting the engine off and who to fall and what to do and you know, if it goes up.

Vicky Folland: 00:42:45

Is there anything you can do?

Vicky Folland: 00:42:46

Well, not really.

Vicky Folland: 00:42:47

You've got to step away.

Vicky Folland: 00:42:48

So we used it as a learning opportunity.

Vicky Folland: 00:42:51

But I always use this story because again, with technology, we've all got lazy with these vehicle checks.

Vicky Folland: 00:42:56

And we rely on a sensor to tell us when our tire pressure is low, a sensor to tell us when our oil needs topping up, our screen wash needs putting in, where actually if the sensors come on, it's probably late anyway.

Vicky Folland: 00:43:06

If you're driving down the motorway and it's come on to tell you that your tire pressure is not right, well, that would have been better to know before we set off.

Vicky Folland: 00:43:14

But the day that my car really was not okay, there was not one light that not even an engine management light came on to say there was something wrong.

Vicky Folland: 00:43:23

So we need to stop relying on it and check ourselves.

Vicky Folland: 00:43:27

It's really, really important.

Vicky Folland: 00:43:28

It literally could save your life.

Vicky Folland: 00:43:30

Just doing these show and tell questions that we, we ask people to do very much.

Terry Cook: 00:43:35

And you mentioned kind of hearing me talk about it before.

Terry Cook: 00:43:38

So just to clarify what I do, I don't necessarily cover the whole thing on that first lesson, but from the day they drive us out from their house, because often, you know, the first lesson or two, I'll drive them out somewhere.

Terry Cook: 00:43:50

So the, the day that the first time they drive us out, I'll get them to do a walk around, check around the car, and that's often a 32nd thing.

Terry Cook: 00:43:57

It's not like inspecting everything.

Terry Cook: 00:43:58

I mean, the first time we do it, it's longer because we talk about it a bit, but then it's just them checking the car.

Terry Cook: 00:44:02

And one of the examples I always use that I think works quite well because I've had students in the past say to me, well, they trust that I'm going to bring them a good car and I'LL say, but what if the student before you was taking a trunk out of the tire and then during today's lesson you bump the curb and I look and I say it's you and I'm now going to make you buy me a new tire.

Terry Cook: 00:44:21

Which I probably wouldn't do, but they don't know that and you can see it just clicks.

Vicky Folland: 00:44:27

Have got a shopping list and a price list on their dashboard.

Vicky Folland: 00:44:30

I mean, have you heard about that before?

Terry Cook: 00:44:32

Yes.

Vicky Folland: 00:44:34

So much for a wheel and so much for a mirror.

Terry Cook: 00:44:36

I try not to give instructors ideas with our stuff, but no, but that's kind of how I kick it off and I'm always happy to go into as much detail as I want and I try and bring this stuff in earlier and I had Fairly recently a 25 minute conversation about tires with a student and I accidentally timed it, you know, just because I know at the time.

Terry Cook: 00:44:58

And it was all her asking me questions and there was some stuff I didn't know.

Terry Cook: 00:45:01

So we looked up and there were a center of the way of Sophie Lydon, the Thai lady.

Terry Cook: 00:45:05

And it was just she's awesome and she.

Terry Cook: 00:45:09

But it was just such a great conversation.

Terry Cook: 00:45:11

And from this conversation that's helped me with other students because it's maybe made me thinking, oh, what about this and what about this?

Terry Cook: 00:45:18

But I mean it got me thinking what I do now just turn the tires for what can we get out and look at the tread on the tire and do that every lesson now and again.

Terry Cook: 00:45:27

It's generally it's a two minute thing.

Terry Cook: 00:45:30

So for any, anyone listening, this isn't me making my student pull up outside of 25 minutes, look at a tire with every single student.

Terry Cook: 00:45:37

Generally it's a two minute thing where they learn some.

Terry Cook: 00:45:39

But sometimes students.

Terry Cook: 00:45:40

Last question.

Terry Cook: 00:45:41

Sometimes we'll dig into it a bit more.

Terry Cook: 00:45:42

Sometimes it'll turn into a 25 minute conversation about tires which I still can't get my head around.

Terry Cook: 00:45:48

But yeah, I just think that the earlier we bring it in, the better.

Terry Cook: 00:45:52

And do you think that maybe this is coming off topic?

Terry Cook: 00:45:57

Slightly, but I'm interested in your thoughts.

Terry Cook: 00:45:59

Do you think that the people that just send that DVSA video out for, you know, the seven show me questions on that the day before a test or whatever and sit here, memorize this for tomorrow.

Terry Cook: 00:46:11

Do you think that's part of the problem in our industry?

Vicky Folland: 00:46:15

Hugely.

Vicky Folland: 00:46:16

I think we still have people with the attitude of I'll teach to pass your test, where we've got a responsibility not just to that person but that person's out on the road now with everybody else.

Vicky Folland: 00:46:28

You know, can you go home and look at yourself in the mirror knowing that you've only done half a job?

Vicky Folland: 00:46:34

Like, what if that person has a horrendous crash and it's, you know, there's fatalities and it was because you missed something.

Vicky Folland: 00:46:45

You didn't explain something properly, you didn't stress the importance of these vehicle checks.

Vicky Folland: 00:46:51

Because it's not just a two minute.

Vicky Folland: 00:46:52

Watch a video.

Vicky Folland: 00:46:53

Like, you know, it's a legal responsibility that you've got.

Vicky Folland: 00:46:56

You can get a fine, you can get points, you know, you might end up in prison if something goes wrong.

Vicky Folland: 00:47:01

It's not just watch this video.

Vicky Folland: 00:47:04

I think you need to fully understand the importance.

Vicky Folland: 00:47:07

I think not just as driving instructors, I think, you know, I'm a parent, I get my kids to help me do vehicle checks.

Vicky Folland: 00:47:14

Especially if we're going like long trips, we make it part of the thing.

Vicky Folland: 00:47:17

Before we go, let's get the bonnet open, let's get the 20 pence piece out like Sophie does, let's check the tread.

Vicky Folland: 00:47:24

Because when they do a journey when I'm not here and they've passed, I want them to do that.

Vicky Folland: 00:47:29

I want that as part of their routine.

Vicky Folland: 00:47:31

I need to know that when they leave my house, they're going to make it safely to where they need to be.

Terry Cook: 00:47:38

And I think that kind of ties into what we're talking about today as well.

Terry Cook: 00:47:41

It's a nice full circle, if you like, in the idea that most of this tech we've spoken about today and loads that we haven't, because there's loads more we've not touched on, but most of this tech doesn't, isn't needed on the driving test.

Terry Cook: 00:47:53

You know, you don't have to use cruise control, you don't have to set a speed limit, but if you have a speed limit or cruise control, you're not going to break the speed limit.

Terry Cook: 00:48:00

So it will actually help you on your test.

Terry Cook: 00:48:02

But also it's giving you, the students those additional knowledge, not additional skill after test to make them safer.

Terry Cook: 00:48:10

And I recently put a post on.

Vicky Folland: 00:48:13

LinkedIn, sorry, there is studies to back up what you're saying, that all these aids and enhancements that we're putting in vehicles do make us safer.

Vicky Folland: 00:48:23

Yeah, they do.

Vicky Folland: 00:48:24

The research is there?

Terry Cook: 00:48:26

Yeah, 100%.

Terry Cook: 00:48:27

And this is the problem, isn't it?

Terry Cook: 00:48:29

What we do is we work off anecdotal personal evidence where this thing happened once, rather than looking at the big picture, which massively contradicts that one piece of anecdotal evidence that we've got that's been spread around like wildfire and now sounds like a much bigger thing than it actually is.

Terry Cook: 00:48:45

But is there anything else technology wise, that you want to touch on today or anything that you've come across for your learners that particular like or dislike or.

Vicky Folland: 00:48:54

Not so much my learners, but just personally, I'm quite intrigued in what you think about fully autonomous vehicle.

Terry Cook: 00:49:01

Oh, do you know what?

Terry Cook: 00:49:03

I hate you for asking me this question because I.

Terry Cook: 00:49:07

There are two parts of me right now.

Terry Cook: 00:49:10

One part is the old grumpy old man Terry going, yes, but, you know, we, we should be driving and you know, the fled Fred Flintstone Terry, because I am still human and I have those, those thoughts.

Terry Cook: 00:49:24

But when I step back and look at it rationally in principle, I think that they will reduce massively significant if we could bring in autonomous vehicle, I'll say that again, vehicles that work correctly, not necessarily perfectly, but correctly, the death on our road would plummet.

Terry Cook: 00:49:41

There will be very, very little.

Terry Cook: 00:49:43

The problem is that even autonomous vehicles still requires an element of human supervision.

Terry Cook: 00:49:50

And I think that's going to be the problem.

Terry Cook: 00:49:53

And these are the, maybe the exceptions to the rule, but the people that decide, right, screw it, I'm going to take a nap.

Terry Cook: 00:49:59

I'm going to climb into the backseat and take a nap.

Terry Cook: 00:50:01

There was a guy fairly recently in America that did something like that one there, and it resulted in a collision.

Terry Cook: 00:50:06

So I think my bigger concern isn't the actual vehicle itself, it's how the humans handle it.

Terry Cook: 00:50:12

But I still have this nagging thing that I have to fight off, you know, grumpy old man syndrome.

Terry Cook: 00:50:18

What, what are your thoughts on them?

Vicky Folland: 00:50:21

When I was out in Saudi doing some driver training earlier on the year, I got to go on an autonomous bus.

Vicky Folland: 00:50:26

And honestly, like, it was quicker to walk, it was quicker to get the golf ball.

Vicky Folland: 00:50:31

But I made Chris, the other trainer that I was out with, wait for the autonomous bus to come.

Vicky Folland: 00:50:35

And we were the only two people that had got on it all morning.

Vicky Folland: 00:50:38

And I was so excited, I couldn't wait to try it.

Vicky Folland: 00:50:41

But it still had an operator and there's cameras and stuff.

Vicky Folland: 00:50:45

So if anything went wrong, he's there to press the emergency stop button.

Vicky Folland: 00:50:49

But honestly, I just, I couldn't wait.

Vicky Folland: 00:50:50

Like, I'm fully, fully up for this technology.

Vicky Folland: 00:50:53

I don't think it should replace us.

Vicky Folland: 00:50:54

I think we still need to be able to take control because things do go wrong.

Vicky Folland: 00:50:59

But yeah, it was, it was really exciting.

Vicky Folland: 00:51:02

Would you not have got on the bus with me, Terry.

Terry Cook: 00:51:04

Oh, 100.

Terry Cook: 00:51:04

I've been on that bus.

Terry Cook: 00:51:06

I would have been.

Terry Cook: 00:51:08

I would have been annoyed that he probably drove better than me.

Terry Cook: 00:51:11

Um, but also keen to see what.

Terry Cook: 00:51:13

What it was like and how smooth was it.

Terry Cook: 00:51:15

Smooth.

Terry Cook: 00:51:15

I know you said it was slow, but was it smooth?

Vicky Folland: 00:51:17

It was very, very smooth.

Vicky Folland: 00:51:19

It's very, very cautious, though.

Vicky Folland: 00:51:21

And people take bigger risks around slower moving vehicles.

Vicky Folland: 00:51:26

So it kept having to stop all the time because people just walk out in front of it because they know it's going slow and they know it's going to stop.

Vicky Folland: 00:51:32

So I think that's another thing that we probably need to look at.

Vicky Folland: 00:51:35

I think when we get these in advances in technology, we need much better education around.

Vicky Folland: 00:51:41

Around it.

Vicky Folland: 00:51:42

Because you might go and get a new car.

Vicky Folland: 00:51:44

The guy from the sales person, you know, the person who does the exchange with you when you go and pick a new car, does the demonstration, you're only getting the information that they know.

Vicky Folland: 00:51:53

You're only going to remember a bit of that.

Vicky Folland: 00:51:55

Then as instructors, you're going to go and pass on that information.

Vicky Folland: 00:51:58

And again, you might only remember a bit of it now that that person that you've then passed it on to has now only got a tiny bit of that information.

Vicky Folland: 00:52:05

What if you bought a secondhand car and nobody explained it to you?

Vicky Folland: 00:52:08

Now, what if, when we get these autonomous vehicles on the road, do we need to start incorporating it into road safety education in schools so that they're more aware of the risks and what can happen?

Vicky Folland: 00:52:19

Because I think as kids especially, you think that was really fun.

Vicky Folland: 00:52:22

Wouldn't you, to step out in front of a bus that you knew was going to stop, especially teenagers, and that would be great fun on the way home from scale.

Vicky Folland: 00:52:29

But actually, where's the element that tells us what.

Vicky Folland: 00:52:33

What if it goes wrong?

Vicky Folland: 00:52:34

That can still happen.

Terry Cook: 00:52:36

Yeah, I fully agree.

Terry Cook: 00:52:38

I think it needs better education now because I think that's where a lot of this negativity comes from, is a lack of understanding, you know, And I'm hoping that a couple of the episodes I do on this season, how I'm hoping today helps with life, I'm being honest, but I think the closest thing we've got to that now.

Terry Cook: 00:52:54

Have you seen the little robots that deliver parcels?

Vicky Folland: 00:52:57

Yeah.

Vicky Folland: 00:52:58

Oh, I'm so excited.

Vicky Folland: 00:52:59

You know Jason Sykes, one of the examiners?

Terry Cook: 00:53:03

Yes.

Vicky Folland: 00:53:03

He has the.

Vicky Folland: 00:53:04

Where he lives.

Vicky Folland: 00:53:05

And it was the first time I'd seen them and I was like, what are these little things with the flags on?

Terry Cook: 00:53:09

Yeah.

Vicky Folland: 00:53:09

If there Was one of them near me that would be bringing me all of my parcels and shopping?

Terry Cook: 00:53:14

Well, we've got them in a very, very local to one of our test centers and the students love them.

Terry Cook: 00:53:19

I think they're.

Terry Cook: 00:53:20

I love them.

Terry Cook: 00:53:20

I think they're like the cutest thing at all because they drive down and they, they stop when there's a big leaf, you know, and then they reverse back and drive around it and they stop outside it road and they won't come out in front of you, they'll stay there until you go, you know.

Terry Cook: 00:53:32

And I just think that.

Terry Cook: 00:53:33

I appreciate that's a different thing because that's something probably moving like one mile an hour.

Terry Cook: 00:53:37

But when you look at the way that works, if that can be applied to two vehicles and then, yeah, there's got to be somewhere in there.

Terry Cook: 00:53:44

But we'll see, we'll see, we'll see what the future holds.

Terry Cook: 00:53:47

In fact, I'll ask you, let's.

Terry Cook: 00:53:49

Let's make a prediction now.

Terry Cook: 00:53:51

What year will autonomous vehicles first come on to fully autonomous vehicles first come on to UK roads?

Vicky Folland: 00:53:57

I think the technology will be there way before our infrastructure.

Vicky Folland: 00:54:01

I think we always spoke about it earlier with the lane assist.

Vicky Folland: 00:54:05

If our infrastructure is not correct, the technology can be as brilliant as you want, but unless it can, all the road signs are correct and unless the lane markings are correct and unless councils update maps and things when there's been speed limit changes and model out changes in things.

Vicky Folland: 00:54:22

It can drive as much as it wants on its own, but it's going to stop the minute it doesn't understand and at the minute it wouldn't understand because the infrastructure is too poor.

Terry Cook: 00:54:31

Yeah, I, I agree.

Terry Cook: 00:54:34

So on that note, on a nice agreement, I'll take some people where they can find you and what you might have to offer.

Vicky Folland: 00:54:40

Yes.

Vicky Folland: 00:54:41

So I am on Tick Tock, Facebook and Instagram.

Vicky Folland: 00:54:45

If you just search for Vicky's driving tuition, I am on there.

Vicky Folland: 00:54:48

I'm also on LinkedIn and just as myself, Vicki Folland, if anybody wants to, you can see the pictures of the autonomous bus on there.

Vicky Folland: 00:54:56

I'll put it straight on my LinkedIn.

Vicky Folland: 00:54:58

I was way over excited.

Vicky Folland: 00:54:59

And if anybody wants to check out our podcast, you can just search for Car School Confessions.

Vicky Folland: 00:55:04

We're definitely not serious educational side like you are, Terry, or rather the lighter side and the funnier side of being a driving instructor.

Terry Cook: 00:55:12

Fair enough.

Terry Cook: 00:55:13

On that note, I just want to take a moment to thank you for joining me today.

Terry Cook: 00:55:16

It's been a pleasure.

Vicky Folland: 00:55:17

Oh, thank you so much for having me, it's been great.

Vicky Folland: 00:55:20

Thank you very, very much.

Vicky Folland: 00:55:21

I really appreciate you asking me on.

Vicky Folland: 00:55:23

Thank you.

Terry Cook: 00:55:27

So a big thank you to Vicki Fallen for joining me today.

Terry Cook: 00:55:30

Really interesting conversation.

Terry Cook: 00:55:32

Vicky making a debut on the show.

Terry Cook: 00:55:34

And when I was thinking of talking through this tech stuff, Vicky was someone that sprung to mind.

Terry Cook: 00:55:38

Like I said at the start of the show, the stuff that she gets up to is phenomenal.

Terry Cook: 00:55:42

You, you really do want to go follow on LinkedIn because she pops up everywhere doing all kinds of stuff.

Terry Cook: 00:55:48

And some of the stuff you've said today I will be adding into my lessons.

Terry Cook: 00:55:52

So, yeah, definitely so.

Terry Cook: 00:55:54

And as always with this episode, once you've listened, go back and listen again with a notepad and pen, make some notes and apply the stuff you've heard today.

Terry Cook: 00:56:02

I've said this before and I will continue saying it.

Terry Cook: 00:56:05

The Instructor Podcast and the Instructor Podcast Premium is not giving you quick fixes.

Terry Cook: 00:56:10

This is stuff that we want you to take away and apply.

Terry Cook: 00:56:13

So Whether you've got one key takeaway from today or 20, it doesn't matter.

Terry Cook: 00:56:17

Go and find one of those things to work on.

Terry Cook: 00:56:20

Don't just listen to it as background noise.

Terry Cook: 00:56:22

Now, admittedly some episodes will be background noise to you.

Terry Cook: 00:56:26

This one for example.

Terry Cook: 00:56:27

Maybe you're already doing everything we've spoke about today, in which case, fantastic.

Terry Cook: 00:56:32

Hopefully we've entertained you a little bit today, but go and find another episode where you can take something from.

Terry Cook: 00:56:38

And that same ethos applies to the membership that I run, Instructor Podcast Premium.

Terry Cook: 00:56:44

Do not sign up for the Instructor Podcast Premium if you're not a dedicated driver that wants to improve, because that's what we're all about over there.

Terry Cook: 00:56:50

If you're after quick fixes and a quick oh, do this thing and do this thing and the world will be magic and sunshine and rainbows.

Terry Cook: 00:56:58

Not really the right place.

Terry Cook: 00:56:59

The Instructor Podcast Premium is somewhere you want to go when you want to develop and evolve as a driving instructor.

Terry Cook: 00:57:05

And I suppose excuse the cheesiness of me saying this, but and as a human as well, got stuff around the three key pillars of the Premium, which is the mental health and mindset, the business and the in car stuff.

Terry Cook: 00:57:18

So to find out more, head over to www.theinstructorpodcast.com or use the link in the show notes.

Terry Cook: 00:57:25

There's a free trial that runs over there for a week, so you can get access to everything there.

Terry Cook: 00:57:29

Or you can upgrade your CPD with a membership to the top tier, which is interactive tier, where you get to come and join loads of stuff live and get access to the expert sessions over this well delivered by people such as Tom Stenson, Kevin Tracy Field and Chris Benstead.

Terry Cook: 00:57:45

Chris is always on there somewhere.

Terry Cook: 00:57:47

But you can also bring the Instructor Podcast Premium into your driving school because we now run the option of you being able to give the Instructor Podcast Premium to your ADIS and PDIS as part of your driving school franchise.

Terry Cook: 00:58:01

To find out more, feel free to reach out to me or go and have a look on the membership.

Terry Cook: 00:58:06

Lastly, just want to give a big thank you to my Drive Time.

Terry Cook: 00:58:10

I mentioned the feature that I've really kind of keen on at the minute, which is that multiple progress trackers.

Terry Cook: 00:58:17

I love being able to create unique ones, different students.

Terry Cook: 00:58:20

Now admittedly most of them don't need a different one.

Terry Cook: 00:58:23

You can just do one and tweak it a bit here and there.

Terry Cook: 00:58:26

But I don't know.

Terry Cook: 00:58:28

It's a feature that I like a lot, but I'm not if I'm being completely honest, I'm not waving for the features and with them for the reliability.

Terry Cook: 00:58:36

I'm with them for the security.

Terry Cook: 00:58:38

I'm with them for the customer service.

Terry Cook: 00:58:40

That's what I like from them.

Terry Cook: 00:58:42

They they deliver the bread and butter and they are adding ego.

Terry Cook: 00:58:46

I hope Dan's listening to this.

Terry Cook: 00:58:47

They deliver the bread and butter and they're continually adding fillings to that bread and butter to make it an even better sandwich.

Terry Cook: 00:58:54

I'm gonna have to use that analogy somewhere at the start of the show because not everyone listens to the end.

Terry Cook: 00:58:58

So if you like that one, keep listening to the end of the show.

Terry Cook: 00:59:00

But yes, go and check out my drive time.

Terry Cook: 00:59:03

I appreciate them sponsoring the show.

Terry Cook: 00:59:04

Anytime someone sponsors this show, it helps me massively with the running of this podcast because this takes 10 hours a week to produce.

Terry Cook: 00:59:13

So when someone comes in with a sponsorship offer, it takes so much weight off my shoulders and I put off doing it for years.

Terry Cook: 00:59:22

Finally caved and it's definitely helpful.

Terry Cook: 00:59:24

So big thank you to my Drive time.

Terry Cook: 00:59:26

Find out more@mydrivetime.com Cook UK but for now, let's just keep raising standards.

Terry Cook: 00:59:34

The Instructor Podcast with Terry Cook talking with leaders, innovators, experts and game changers about what drives them.