Euan's Brilliant Learners

11/04/2026

Motorists who reverse into busy roads and cause an accident could face charges of driving without due care and attention, which carries a potential fine of up to £5,000 and three to nine penalty points.

While not specifically illegal, the practice of reversing onto a main road is discouraged both for safety and legal reasons.

West Yorkshire Police reinforced the point in a recent statement, saying: “It is not illegal to reverse into a main road but it is not advisable – this is for safety reasons. The main road is likely to be very busy and there will be an increased chance of an accident due to the presence of more cars.”

The Highway Code says: “Do not reverse from a side road into a main road. When using a driveway, reverse in and drive out if you can.”

Despite this advice, many drivers continue to drive forwards onto their driveways, often prioritising convenience over safety.

This reminder underscores the importance of reinforcing best practice in low speed manoeuvres, not just for test preparation, but for everyday driving safety.

10/04/2026

Are We Asking Too Much of Driving Instructors… or Just Not Understanding the Job?

Everyone thinks they know what we do.
Sit there.
Give directions.
Get someone through a test.

Simple.
That version of the job does not exist anymore.

Every lesson is pressure.
Real roads.
Real risk.
Real consequences.

We are not just watching traffic.
We are predicting it.
Preventing it.
Intervening in seconds when it goes wrong.

And at the same time…
We are managing anxiety.
Panic.
Overthinking.
Confidence that disappears mid-roundabout.

We are adapting for neurodivergent learners.
Rebuilding people after collisions.
Supporting adults who have not driven in years.
Sitting beside someone whose hands are shaking before the engine even starts.

But here is the part no one talks about.
We are expected to do all of that…
calmly…
consistently…
professionally…

While the world outside the car gets worse.
🚘 Costs rising
⏰ Test delays stretching months
📱 Drivers distracted and impatient
🧠 Learners under more pressure than ever

And still…
People think we are “just instructors.”

No.
We are risk managers.
We are decision makers.
We are the barrier between a mistake and a collision.

And most of it goes unseen.
So next time you get frustrated behind a learner car, ask yourself this:

Would you want that responsibility?
Would you want to sit there, knowing one missed moment could change everything?

This is not just a job anymore.
It is responsibility at a level most people will never experience.

It deserves more respect than it gets.

🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗

07/03/2026

TAILGATING A LEARNER DRIVER

We all know tailgating is dangerous.

So is failing to signal at roundabouts.
So is excessive speeding.
So is changing lanes without proper mirror checks or cutting in.

But tailgating a learner driver who is under supervision is on another level entirely.

It is not impatience.

It is intimidation.

The person you are bullying today might be the driver who keeps your family safe on the road tomorrow.

Sitting inches from a learner’s bumper does not help them improve. It adds pressure. Pressure increases anxiety, reduces concentration, and makes a rear end collision far more likely.

This behaviour is becoming far too common.

When bullying and intimidating driving is largely ignored, the result is predictable.

• More rear end collisions
• More instructor vehicles being hit and repaired
• More disrupted lessons
• More learners losing confidence before they have even had the chance to build it

Teaching and supervising learner drivers should be demanding in the right ways.

It should not involve managing the aggression of fully qualified drivers who choose to behave irresponsibly.

Learners already face enough pressure.

Lessons.
Costs.
Tests.
Fear of making mistakes.

Intimidation from behind only adds to that burden and increases the risk of errors and long term anxiety.

After nearly twenty two years of teaching and supervising learner drivers, this is one area where I increasingly feel unprotected and unheard.

Once again it is the vulnerable and inexperienced who suffer most.

Once again the loudest and most aggressive drivers face the fewest consequences.

Over the years I have come to the conclusion there are two types of tailgaters.

🚗 The incompetent
Some drivers have genuinely forgotten everything about safe following distances or stopping distances. Many simply copy the behaviour they see around them.

🚗 The aggressive
These drivers know exactly what they are doing. They sit close deliberately to intimidate the vehicle in front.

Often there is no logic behind it.

There is nowhere to go.
A queue of traffic ahead.
A junction coming up.
A red light in the distance.

Yet the intimidation continues.

Experienced drivers see this behaviour every day.

Coach drivers.
Bus drivers.
HGV drivers.
Motorcyclists.

Many describe vehicles sitting dangerously close behind machines that cannot stop quickly, or drivers bullying anyone they perceive as slower or less confident.

Some even target learner vehicles deliberately.

One simple truth remains.

If a learner driver is making you late, you did not leave early enough.

Someone once slowed down for you when you were learning too.

I am curious how many people experienced this while learning to drive.

Did another driver sit right on your bumper while you had L plates on?

Did it make you more nervous or cause a mistake?

If you remember that feeling, you will understand exactly why learner drivers need space.

Driving is not a competition.

A learner driver is not an obstacle.

They are someone’s son.
Someone’s daughter.
Someone’s future safe driver.

Give them space.

It costs you nothing.
But it gives them the chance to learn safely.

05/03/2026

🚗 PLEASE READ — PUPILS & PARENTS 🚗

We understand how frustrating driving test waiting times are right now. However, we are seeing an increase in pupils wanting to take tests before they are ready, sometimes with pressure placed on instructors to agree.

I want to be clear:

👉 Safety will always come before reviews or pressure.

If your instructor is still:
🛑 telling you when to change gear
🛑 asking speed limits
🛑 talking you through manoeuvres
🛑 telling you which lane or exit to take
🛑 helping you judge space or positioning

…then you are not test ready yet.

I can only give honest professional advice. Abuse, threats, or pressure will result in lessons or calls being ended immediately.

Trust me, I have been personally abused and threatened by parents for refusing to take their child for their test


Remember — when the test starts, it’s just you and the examiner. No prompts, no help, just your own ability.

Nerves are normal. Doubt usually means more practice is needed.

This is a skill for life — not just a test.

Thank you for understanding and helping me keep everyone safe on the roads. 🚗

18/02/2026

Look who passed his driving test recently in Kirkcaldy, with a fantastic Zero fault pass. Welcome to a very exclusive club, this is going too make life a lot easier. Most of the hard work was done by the parents. Stay safe out there.

03/02/2026

Changes to driving test booking rules
The rules for booking practical car driving tests are changing to make the system fairer and more secure. These changes are part of the outcome of our consultation to improve the way driving tests are booked.

What's changing
From 31 March 2026 you and your pupils will only be able to change a car driving test up to 2 times (reduced from 6). This applies to all car driving tests booked by you or your pupils.

Swapping tests between 2 of your pupils will count towards this limit, so we’d encourage you to make sure your pupils only book their test when they’re ready to take it.

Managing your availability
You can set times when you're available to take your pupils to their driving tests. This stops your pupils from booking tests at times that do not work for you.

When your pupils use your ADI personal reference number to book their test, they will not be shown appointments at times you've marked as unavailable.

You can set:

morning and afternoon hours you're available for each day of the week
one-off times you're unavailable, such as when you're on holiday
how long you need between one test ending and the next one starting
Find out how to manage your availability for driving tests.

Ready to Pass? campaign
We’re creating new messaging to share with learner drivers through paid media advertising to encourage them to take action before the changes are introduced.

We're also working on updating the campaign toolkit to help you communicate these changes with your pupils.

We will be running webinars later this month to give you the opportunity to talk to DVSA officials about the upcoming changes, learn more about the paid media campaign and the updated toolkit.

We will share dates and details about how to book your place, so look out for future emails. You can also read more about the changes on GOV.UK.

30/01/2026

14/01/2026

Massive congratulations to Kirsty Williamson on passing her driving test this morning in Kirkcaldy with very good feedback from the examiner. Well worth the early start. Happy car shopping, take care. Thanks Euan ☺️

13/01/2026

Massive congratulations to Jessica Dimitrov on passing her driving test today in Kirkcaldy. With some excellent feedback from the examiner. This will make travelling to university a lot easier. Take care and drive safely.Thanks Euan ☺️

07/01/2026

Massive congratulations to Charlotte Guthrie on passing her driving test today in Kirkcaldy. This might make getting to training a bit easier. Good luck with your prelims and your exams. Thanks Euan ☺️🚗

06/01/2026

Massive congratulations to Helena Bell on passing her driving test today,in a wet and cold Kirkcaldy. This will make it easier to get to the horse and to college,also you are now the designated driver for mum and dad or as otherwise known as a free taxi. Thanks Euan ☺️

19/12/2025

A Message to Drivers Who Struggle With Learners

This is a message from a mum of a newly-17-year-old who has just started learning to drive and it’s one I hope a few people will really take on board.

Learning to drive is stressful. It’s intimidating. And it’s made far worse by drivers who beep, tailgate, overtake aggressively, or even undertake learners because they’re “in the way”.

That behaviour isn’t just impatient it’s dangerous.

Every single qualified driver on the road today was once a learner. You stalled. You hesitated at junctions. You drove too slowly. The difference is, you were given the time and space to learn.

An L plate is not an invitation to bully someone who’s still building confidence. It’s a clear sign asking for patience. A few seconds of delay does not justify intimidating a nervous new driver or putting lives at risk.

If you find yourself getting angry at a learner, please ask why. Your rush does not outweigh their safety. Your frustration does not excuse reckless driving.

Be the driver you’d want your own child, partner, or friend to meet on the road.

Let’s do better.