You have your provisional license, you have saved enough money for lessons (*cough*or your parents have offered to pay the dough *cough*), and now you are ready to go! Finding the right instructor is the next step on your driving journey.
It is important to have a great relationship with your ADI. You will be spending a lot time one-on-one with this person as you learn and grow on the road. They are also responsible for keeping your car in good condition, which can be difficult when you’re in charge of such a powerful vehicle as a car.
One of the most important things to consider when choosing a driving instructor is what gender you would prefer to work alongside. ADI status has seen a rise in women becoming instructors. They are in high demand. Pass Me Fast learners often request female instructors.
These trends in mind, it seemed like the right time to examine why some people may prefer to have a female driver instructor and how easy it can be to find one. Curious? We’re curious?
Why choose a female driving instructor?
A learner may choose to have a female instructor rather than a male one for a variety of reasons, from the serious to the trivial. Gender might not matter to many people. To ensure their competence and suitability for the job, all ADs must undergo rigorous training.
Learning to drive requires a significant investment of time and money. You have some control over who you learn from. If you feel that you would be more comfortable with a female instructor, let us know.
There are some religious or cultural reasons why a woman instructor is chosen. These situations are usually caused by women not wanting to be with a man they don’t know (certain men may also actively seek out male instructors). Negative past experiences may also be a factor in putting people off being in an intimate relationship with a man they do not know.
Sometimes it’s a matter of personal preference, and that’s okay! This is your driving adventure, so get involved.
According to the stats
How likely is it that those who are inclined to have a preference will be able search for a female driving instructor in Birmingham.
It is impossible to give an exact number for how many women are currently registered on the ADI registry. We do have data that can give us an estimate of the number. These figures are subject to change due to economic conditions. This is more than just the fact that there are more people taking the test each year.
A look at the numbers shows that women applied to be ADIs declined between 2012 and 2015. Despite this short slump, the numbers have risen since then, with more female applicants for 2017/18 than any other time in the past seven years. We can only guess at the number of female ADIs, but this doesn’t give us an exact figure. In April 2012, 22.4% were registered ADIs in Great Britain. We can estimate that around 8,000 to 10,000 female ADIs are working in Britain today, given that 39,248 ADIs were registered on the DVSA’s Register by March 2018.
This assumes that there are a steady or increasing number of female ADIs. It turns out that data from part 3 of ADI (the final stage in qualification) shows that it is currently!
You can see that there was a decline in people passing the ADI part3 test between 2013 and 2015. However, things changed in 2016 and the numbers started to rise, with women passing the test at a rate that is higher than before the slump.
Pass Rates
Although men are still far more likely to take the ADI test than women, the pass rate of females for part 3 is higher than their male counterparts. This graph shows the overall increase in this number.
39.2% might not sound like much, but it is when you consider the 34.9% pass rate for men in 2017/18. The overall pass rate has risen to 36.1% thanks to women. This should give you confidence (not to say bragging rights!) that women are well-suited for this job role.
Female driving instructors: Traits
Let’s be clear, gender is not a sign of someone’s personality and demeanour. However, it is often due to preconceptions about character that people choose to learn from a female instructor rather than a male one.
Women are more patient, empathetic and calm than men. It makes sense to have someone who can help you when you are in stressful situations. If your instructor is able to understand your problems and is willingly to work with you, it can take the pressure off.
Female instructors also have the traits of being friendly, encouraging, and nurturing. These traits are especially appealing to those who have nerves about driving. These traits are not exclusive to male instructors. All of our ADIs display them! It’s simply that many people associate them with women.
The risk factor
Statistics completely refute the negative stereotype that women are bad drivers. Women are safer drivers than men, and have lower accident rates. Are you ready for more stats? A driving ban for men is 6 times more common than that for women. A 2014 study found that 74% of all deaths in Britain are caused by men, and that 70% of serious injuries to British motorists is sustained by them. Eye-opening stuff!
Some learners might feel more at ease taking driving lessons with a female instructor because of safety concerns.
