Approved driving instructor in Lowestoft

The following terms and conditions represent the basis upon which training is offered by Ticketyboo Driving School:

Cancellations

If you should need to cancel or change the date or time of a lesson, a minimum of 24 hours notice is required. Should you be unable to keep to your booked appointment and give less than 24 hours notice, then your lesson fee will still be due for payment.

The provision of training is subject to the acceptance of these terms and conditions.

1. Driving licenses:

You must hold a current, valid driving license, provisional, full or international, and produce it on (or in advance of) your first training session.

2. Fitness to drive:

You must be fit to drive with regard to legal and medical requirements. Accompanied by any doctors letter. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are fit to drive on each of your lessons or test.

Sickness, tiredness, alcohol, illegal and prescribed medication may affect your driving; any of these could place you and other road users in serious danger.

Please note that some ‘over the counter’ medications may affect levels of concentration; always read the instructions on the packet. If you are taking any medication please check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure they will not affect your driving.

If you have recently taken alcohol or drugs (legal or illegal) please inform your Driving Instructor. In the interests of public safety we reserve the right to cancel your driving lesson or refuse the use of the school car for the driving test if there is any suspicion of impairment because of illness, drugs or alcohol.

You may face action from the Police or the Crown Prosecution Service if you choose to ignore the law regarding your fitness to drive.

3. Payments and cancellation:

Tuition fees are normally payable in advance. Payment can be made by cash or cheque to C. Hood.

Your instructor will do everything possible to ensure that your lessons start and finish on time, but reserves the right to cancel, postpone or change lesson lengths and start/finish times under certain circumstances (e.g., dangerous weather conditions). In the event of postponement, fees paid in advance will be carried forward.

4. Bookings and lesson duration:

Your instructor will endeavour to maintain regular lesson slots at the same time each week to ensure continuity of learning. However, this cannot be guaranteed.

The minimum lesson period is 60 minutes. If, for any reason, the instructor is late for the lesson he/she will make a concerted effort to inform the pupil of the estimated time of arrival, and where possible the lesson will be extended by the time due– if this is not possible the extra time will be carried forward to the next suitable lesson.

5. Training location:

All sessions will start and finish at the same location unless alternative arrangements are made in advance.

The instructor will determine a location for practical lessons which ensures both the pupil’s and public safety – this means that the instructor may need to drive the pupil to and from the lesson location; this journey time forms part of the lesson as paid for.

6. Training vehicles:

Training vehicles provided by the school are taxed, insured for the purposes of driving tuition, fully roadworthy and fitted with dual controls.

Pupils who require tuition in their own vehicle must supply evidence from their motor insurer that the car is covered for lessons when being supervised by a professional instructor in return for payment; the car must also be taxed and hold a current MOT certificate where appropriate. Your Driving Instructor reserves the right to refuse to teach you in a car that isn't fitted with dual controls.

7. Driving tests and bookings:

Your instructor reserves the right to refuse use of a driving school vehicle for test if he/she considers that provision of a vehicle could cause a risk to public safety.

We reserve the right to withhold the use of the driving school car for practical test if, in our opinion, the chances of passing the test are unrealistic.

Where a school car is used for test, the booking period will be based upon the instructor’s normal diary schedule. This will require a maximum two hour 30 minute booking charged at £60.

In the event of the driving school car being unavailable on the day of the practical test for reasons of illness on our part, or for reasons of mechanical failure, we will refund test fees incurred by you in full.

Your instructor cannot be held responsible for test appointments cancelled by the DVSA due to bad weather, sickness, staff shortages or other reasons. Such cancellations are beyond the control of your instructor and therefore the lesson fee and ‘use of car’ fee for the booked period will be charged. Your instructor will advise about claiming compensation from the DSA.

8. Code of conduct:

Your instructor agrees to abide by the conditions of the Professional Code of Conduct (a copy of which follows). In the unlikely event of complaint or dispute the guidelines of the Code of Conduct will be adhered to.

9. Your rights:

These conditions do not affect any protection that you have under consumer legislation.

We reserve the right to change or alter any of the terms and conditions without notice, but will endeavour to inform pupils of any changes as soon as possible.

10. Complaints procedure:

Please bring to our notice any complaints that you may have and we will endeavour to address the situation.

In the event that you are not satisfied, you may then make reference to the registrar of Approved Driving Instructors who will consider the matter and advise accordingly.

Acceptance:

I hereby confirm that I have read, understood and accept the terms outlined in this document.

Signed: ................................... Date: ...................

Name: ………………………………………………………

On behalf of ......................................... (if student is under 18)

Instructor’s contact details:

Name:

Phone: ................................................................................

Code of Practice for Approved Driving Instructors

The DVSA (Driving & Vehicle Standards Agency) and the driving instruction industry place great emphasis on professional standards and business ethics.

The code of practice has been agreed between DSA and the main bodies representing ADI’s (Approved Driving Instructors); it is a framework within which all instructors should operate.

Personal conduct:

The instructor will at all times behave in a professional manner towards clients.

Clients will be treated with respect and consideration.

The instructor will try to avoid physical contact with a client except in an emergency or in the normal course of greeting.

Whilst reserving the right to decide against giving tuition, the instructor will not act in any way which contravenes legislation or discrimination.

Business dealings:

The instructor will safeguard and account for any monies paid in advance by the client in respect of driving lessons, test fees or for any other purpose and will make the details available to the client on request.

The instructor on or before the first lesson should provide clients with a written copy of his/her terms of business to include:

• legal identity of the school/instructor with full address and telephone number at which the instructor or his/her representative can be contacted

• the price and duration of lessons

• the price and conditions for use of a driving school car for the practical driving test.

• the terms under which cancellation by either party may take place

• procedure for complaints.

The instructor should check a client’s entitlement to drive the vehicle and his or her ability to read a number plate at the statutory distance on the first lesson. When presenting a client for the practical driving test the instructor should ensure that the client has all the necessary documentation to enable the client to take the test and that the vehicle is roadworthy.

Instructors will advise clients when to apply for their theory and practical driving tests, taking into account local waiting times and forecast of clients’ potential for achieving the driving test pass standard. The instructor will not cancel or re-arrange a driving test without the client’s agreement. In the event of the instructor’s decision to withhold the use of the school car for the driving test, sufficient notice should be given to the client to avoid loss of the DSA test fee.

The instructor should at all times, to the best of his or her ability, endeavour to teach the client correct driving skills according to DSA’s recommended syllabus.

Advertising:

The advertising of driving tuition shall be honest; claims made shall be capable of verification and comply with codes of practice set down by the Advertising Standards Authority.

Advertising that refers to clients’ pass rates should not be open to misinterpretation and the basis on which the calculation is made should be made clear.

Conciliation:

Complaints by clients should be made in the first instance to the driving instructor/driving school/ contractor following the complaints procedure issued.

Failing agreement or settlement of a dispute, reference may be made to the DSA’s Registrar of Approved Driving Instructors who will consider the matter and advise accordingly.

Should the Registrar not be able to settle the dispute he or she may set up a panel, with representatives from the ADI industry, to consider the matter further or advise that the matter should be referred to the courts or other statutory body to be determined.

For further information or advice write to:

The ADI Registrar Driving Standards Agency Stanley House 56 Talbot Street Nottingham NG1 5GU

Telephone: 0115 901 2500