Excellent driving instruction and responsible driving

The Fast Track School of Driving method of instruction is based on a highly effective application of psychology to the one-to-one driving instruction context - hence the phrase "The Psychology of Rapid Success".  Responsible driving is also at the heart of the Fast Track School of Driving Method.

The effectiveness of the Fast Track School of Driving method is objectively verified firstly, by the fact that the Principal Driving Instructor is a Driving Standards Agency Grade 6 Instructor [see grade 6 driving instructor] and secondly by the extremely commendable testimonials kindly given by former Fast Track School of Driving students [see pass first time Testimonials].

So what exactly does "The Psychology of Rapid Success" mean?  Allow me to outline this by defining the relevant terms in reverse order.

'Success' refers to the achievement of both learning how to drive safely and appropriately on today's busy roads and being able to pass the practical driving test [see practical driving test] - which are two related but distinct things.

'Rapid Success' refers to the fact that the Fast Track School of Driving offers high quality intensive courses to get you to driving test standard as quickly as possible and with the minimum number of driving lessons to suit your particular circumstances [see Driving Courses]: This also means that you will save a significant amount of money when you learn to drive with the Fast Track School of Driving [see fees for discounted driving lessons].

'Psychology' refers to the science of mind and behaviour that has been successfully applied to the one-to-one learning context of driving instruction.

'The Psychology of Rapid Success' refers to the application of applicable psychological concepts, theories and approaches to teaching a student to safely and appropriately drive a car on today's busy roads and pass the practical driving test.

The Fast Track School of Driving Method is in fact a highly subtle and complex mix of these applications that has taken several years to develop and perfect. Although it is beyond the scope of this brochure website to go into exhaustive detail there are a number of fundamental facets that are worthy of note here in order to give the interested reader a taste of the method. Please note that the only way to fully appreciate the method is to directly experience it first hand [see Learn to Drive].

A central concept within the humanistic perspective of psychology concerns the importance of intrinsic motivation, i.e. motivation that comes from within the self. This is important when considering learning to drive because it involves a significant investment in time [see Overview of standard and intensive driving tuition], money [see Fees for discounted driving lessons] and emotional investment and thus requires a determined resolve to make the required commitment to the process. It is this commitment that is assessed in the initial assessment driving lesson [see assessment on your first driving lesson].

The humanistic perspective also advocates an acknowledgement of the whole self and this is embodied in the Fast Track School of Driving's flexible approach to driving lesson and driving course scheduling that fits in with the driving student's life situation, where ever possible of course [see Testimonials regarding novice driving lessons].

The humanistic perspective further advocates the central concept of 'unconditional positive regard' and this manifests in the non-judgemental, supremely patient and overtly positive approach of the Fast Track School of Driving Method [see 'pass first time' testimonials].

Perhaps the most fundamental application of the humanistic perspective to the Fast Track School of Driving Method is the use of intuition by the instructor. For example, it is crucial that the driving instructor is not distracted from the centrally important emergent learning needs of the student by a blinkered adherence to the driving lesson plan and driving course schedule: The intuitive driving instructor will modify the content and focus of both on an ongoing basis in order to meet the individual needs of the student as they develop [see 'pass first time' Novice Driver Testimonials]. It is clearly the importance of being intuitive that makes good driving instruction an art rather than a science.

However, the more scientific perspectives of behavioural and cognitive psychology are also applied to the Fast Track School of Driving Method.

Learning to drive involves numerous behavioural routines that need to be clearly demonstrated, over learned and positively reinforced with genuine praise. By the way, there is no justification for a professional driving instructor losing patience with the driving student [see Transfer Student Testimonials to pass first time with the FTSD].

The most fundamental application of cognitive psychology to learning to drive is the simple acknowledgement that it is a collaborative developmental process between the instructor and student that both need to be aware of.

Further, we all have a 'limited attention capacity' and when first learning to drive we use the majority of this capacity to focus on and learn the psychomotor movements and skills to actually control the car. The diagram below [Theoretical Context 1] illustrates the limited attention capacity of the novice driver.

With the appropriate amount of Driving Standards Agency Grade 6 driving tuition [see Principal grade 6 driving instructor] and practice [see www.direct.gov.uk] the driving student is able to to move from being able to control the car to being able to both control the car and observe / anticipate the behaviour of other road users thus leading to safe and appropriate driving responses.  The diagram below [Theoretical Context 2]  illustrates the developed limited attention capacity dynamics after a full course of professional driving lessons has been undertaken.

The above representation of the limited attention capacity of the newly qualified driver can be further contrasted with that of the experienced driver - see the diagram Theoretical Context 3 below. 

The development of the limited attention capacity dynamics from novice learner driver through newly qualified driver to experienced driver can be seen in the diagram [Conclusion] below.

An extremely powerful applied 'cognitive tool' that is distinctly utilised by the Fast Track School of Driving Method is visualisation and associated psychomotor co-ordination. In between driving lessons, especially during the early stages, Fast Track School of Driving driving students are encouraged not only to think through the driving routines and manoeuvres taught but also to combine this with the required associated movements of the hands, feet and head. This is an application of several strands of psychology, the most important being the increase of 'semantic and psychomotor coding' that link the thoughts, skills and understanding of the visualised task in a way that serves as a valuable additional form of practice. This is one of the several ways that the Fast Track School of Driving Method facilitates more rapid and first time success [see professional driving school news] and thus keeps the cost of learning to drive down [see fees for discounted driving lessons].

Although the psychodynamic perspective does apply to every human interaction it would be beyond the scope of the professional driving instructor to attempt to directly apply it to the learner instructor dynamic. However, the specific advice given to practical driving test candidates by the Fast Track School of Driving is based on the unconscious dynamics of the test situation [see practical driving test]: In the Fast Track School of Driving's experience every driving student reports having thought that they had failed at some point during the driving test when in fact they passed. This may well be to do with the unconscious fear of failing that we all have and that is brought out by the driving test situation. So by simply making test candidates aware of this dynamic increases their chances of passing - assuming of course that they have had the appropriate number of driving lessons and do drive according to the Fast Track School of Driving Method [see FTSD 'pass first time' guarantee].

For more information about the FTSD Method of excellent driving instruction that centrally promotes responsible driving, please click on the tabs above.  Or to pass first time contact us now. Thank you very much indeed for your interest in the Fast Track School of Driving and we look forward to hearing from you soon.

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