Module 5.
Session 3. Dual Controls
There is no online Workshop for this session.
Dual Controls
While good instructors will rarely need to resort to use of dual-controls ‘in anger’ they remain a potential life saver in emergency situations. With this in mind it is perhaps surprising that many ADI training courses don’t specifically teach dual-control use.
This guide contains information and exercises to teach dual-control use.
Topics in this guide:
The difference
During your in car session with your instructor you will look at the differences between sitting in the instructor’s seat and the driver’s seat – possibly revising some information from the instructor’s workplace.
You will discuss with your instructor and practice aspects of the following:
- Steering control. Here you will exercise to develop the skill of controlling the steering from the passenger seat.
- Brake/Clutch. Here you will perform a series of exercises to help you feel confident about your ability to stop the car.
- Simulated emergencies. Here you will be putting the skill and knowledge gained in exercise ‘1’ and ‘2’ into practice.
The difference
Operating the car’s controls from the instructor’s seat is very different from operating them from the driving seat. The physical differences are perhaps obvious; but there is also a psychological difference.
Up to this point in your life, when you have been seated in the left front seat, they have been passengers. Whilst this is hardly a revelation, it is important to remember because passengers do not generally take control of the vehicle.
Because of this, it is always good practice to refer to the left seat as the ‘instructor’s seat’. This will also get you to develop the mindset of ‘instructor’ not passenger. This will go a long way towards you developing the correct communication techniques with your learner drivers.
Because it is highly unlikely that you have ever taken control from the instructor’s seat, it is important to build your confidence gradually.
It is important to note during this part of your training that dual controls are not provided to be used in place of sloppy teaching or poor route planning, and that they should only be used in emergencies, for demonstration, or to help in a situation where the learner’s confidence is severely at risk of being damaged. In most situations, early verbal intervention can prevent or minimise any safety-critical incident.
Exercise:
In your workbook write a few lines highlighting when you may need to use the dual controls during a lesson with your student driver. Outline any perceived benefits or dangers of using the dual controls - when can they be your friend - when can they be the learner drivers enemy?
his will give both you and your instructor a good platform to start your in car session on the use and practice of dual controls.
In Summary
The use of dual controls and handling the vehicle from the instructor’s seat should be an integral part of the trainee instructor’s development.
Students are unlikely to have taken control from the passenger seat before.
The left seat is best referred to as the ‘instructor’s seat’.
Dual-controls should only be needed in emergencies.*
The DVSA marking ‘Was any verbal or physical intervention by the trainer timely and appropriate?’ covers use of all controls.
The practise exercised will build gradually (there's that 'bite sized' learning again).
*Duals can sometimes be useful for demonstrating certain aspects of driving and occasionally to get a learner out of a ‘tight spot’ if this is necessary to avoid damaging confidence/motivation.