Mike Butcher (DSA ADI)

I have held a driving licence since 1985 and am proud that I have never had any points.

I have always had a love of cars and a keen interest in driving and motoring issues. I have lost count of the number of cars I have owned and am now a strictly family man with a big MPV - Oh Well the BMW Z4 will have to come when the kids leave home!

Early on in my career I worked for a car manufacturer as a workshop controller which involved test driving many new cars but I also got to see the remains of vehicles brought back after road traffic accidents which really brought home what can happen when things go wrong.

My interest in the skill and safety aspect of driving grew when I passed my HGV (C+E) and was a lorry driver for some years. I travelled the country and witnessed many incidents of bad driving and the results these errors can lead to.

I passed my advanced driving test in 1996 and have been a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists ever since and am one of the few IAM Registered Driving Instructors in the area.

In 1999 I opened a driving agency, alongside my wife, and was involved in driver training and assessment. My interest in teaching and my passion for driving skills and safety issues made it a natural progression to qualify as a Driving Standards Agency Approved Driving Instructor (D.S.A. A.D.I.).

To qualify as a driving instructor, A.D.I. (Approved Driving Instructor) I have had to complete a rigorous application process set out and maintained by the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) to prove my suitability and capability to become a driver trainer.

• Have held a full driving licence for at least four years
• Not have been disqualified from driving at any time in the four years prior to being entered in the Register
• Be a "fit and proper" person to have your name entered in the Register.
• Be required to have an enhanced level criminal record check.
• Pass a much tougher theory and hazard perception test than the one learner drivers take. Pass rate 2006/2007 49%
• Pass a strict driving test. Pass rate 2006/2007 - 45%
• Pass a very involved instructional ability test. Pass rate 2006/2007 - 23%
• Reach and keep up a high standard of instruction. The standard of tuition given by the ADI is regularly checked by a supervising examiner from DSA
• Be registered with DSA
• Display an ADI identification certificate on the windscreen of the tuition vehicle

As a qualified driving instructor I am completely up to date with the latest legislation and training techniques, however I have an interest in alternative methods and techniques of teaching which can be helpful to nervous pupils or those with learning difficulties. I fully support the concept of Continuing Professional Development scheme (CPD) and welcome opportunities to widen my knowledge and skills base.

I feel if my pupils enjoy their experience with Xpert Driver Training they will learn faster and have a better understanding not just of the whats but also the whys of driving.

As an experienced car and HGV driver I can pass on my wisdom regarding the realities of driving to ensure you glean a true insight as to why driving is cited as a Skill for Life.

Last Updated on Monday, 30 May 2011 12:38