JH Driving School

Terms and Conditions

Lesson Terms and Conditions

Introduction
The following terms and conditions represent the basis upon which I (the owner of JH Driving School) offer driving lessons to you (the student).

Please note that I am monitored and regulated by the DVSA who do conduct Standard Checks to ensure I am acting in line with the recommended ADI Code of Conduct.

1. General Conduct
I will be courteous, polite, tidy and punctual. I will behave in a professional and ethical manner at all times. My training car will be well maintained, clean and tidy (weather permitting), fitted with dual-controls and is fully insured for driving tuition purposes. I will not smoke in the training car at anytime, nor will I use your lesson time for any other form of business, personal or otherwise without your expressed permission.

2. Qualifications
I am legally authorised to give driving tuition in Great Britain by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

3. Driving Licence and Eyesight
As required by law, you must hold a current, valid driving licence (provisional or full), which must be produced on or in advance of your first driving lesson. I will ask you to provide a licence check code through the gov.uk website in advance of your first lesson and provide instructions on how to do this. You must be able to read a number plate at a distance of 20.5 metres (i.e. 67 feet – about 5 car lengths) with prescribed visual aids (i.e. contact lenses or glasses) if normally worn. Please note, if you need contact lenses or glasses to achieve this, you must make sure you wear them on each and every driving lesson.

4. Safety, Comfort and Well Being
Safety is a shared responsibility as identified below:

  1. In the interests of comfort and safety you are advised to wear suitable footwear and clothing that don’t hinder your driving.
  2. It is important you act responsibly at all times and give your undivided attention to the driving task at hand. Should anything be distracting you during your lesson it is important you make me aware of this fact even if it is something that I am doing or that has happened outside of lesson times. If you are feeling uncomfortable or uneasy about anything please let me know. I will be grateful for your feedback and I will think no less of you for doing this.
  3. In an emergency situation, it is important you follow my instructions and allow me to take control of the steering wheel if necessary to avoid an incident. I may also need to make use of the dual controls (i.e. brake and or clutch pedals) and thus override your use of them. As soon as it is safe to do so I will advise you of why my actions were necessary and help you to calm down if required. Any subsequent discussion will focus on what can be learnt rather than who was to blame. I use the controls to keep us safe from other road users as well as keeping them safe from us.
  4. I will do my best to deliver any instructions or take any actions (even in an emergency) in a calm and measured manner so as not to alarm you or make you feel uncomfortable or disheartened in any way. I will never shout at you or make any derogatory remarks. I require you to be honest and open with me. I am here to help, not judge you.
  5. You can be assured I will not use improper language or suggestive behaviour and/or physical contact.
  6. You must take note of any medication you are taking which may affect your ability to drive safely and advise me accordingly before taking any lesson booked. Similarly, you should inform me of anything you feel might impact on your ability to undertake the proposed lesson safely.
  7. In the event it becomes apparent you are unable to concentrate due to illness, tiredness, or your emotional state of mind I reserve the right to terminate the lesson early or require your agreement to choose an alternative learning activity which can still be undertaken safely. I will decide if I charge for the time taken or the whole slot as it represents a loss of earnings for me.

5. Driving under the Influence
To ensure the safety of you and other road users I reserve the right to cancel any lesson if you are or if I suspect you are under the influence of drugs, legal highs and/or alcohol (prescribed or otherwise). If this occurs the full training fee for the period in question will be charged. There is ZERO tolerance on driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

6. Lesson Postponement/Cancellation Policy
You will lose, or be required to pay for, any lessons booked in my diary which are postponed or cancelled by you, unless I am able to obtain new replacement work for those appointment time(s). However, I will judge each incident on a case by case basis. I reserve the right to postpone lessons if I consider the weather or road conditions to be unsuitable or dangerous. In these cases, you will not be charged and I will contact you to reschedule the lesson at the earliest mutually acceptable time. Unfortunately, I cannot be held responsible for any costs incurred as a result of me having to postpone any lessons, for whatever reason. Costs may include, but are not limited to: travel fees, parking fees, and test payments.

7. Punctuality
In your own interests you are advised to be punctual for your lesson appointments. Appointments will be recorded via Total Drive which will also send reminders.

I would normally wait for you for a maximum of 15 minutes before the lesson will be abandoned and the lesson fee forfeited or become due for payment. A reciprocal waiting time may become necessary if I am delayed due to unforeseen circumstances. I will make up any lesson time lost as a result of this at the end of the normal lesson time or as soon as possible.

9. Payments

  1. Payments must be made before any tuition is provided.
  2. The time is only yours once it is paid for. Pupils who have already paid will be given priority.
  3. Please do speak to me if you have any concerns. I do understand that learning is expensive and always ensure you are getting proper value for money.

10. Total Drive

I currently use Total Drive to help manage the admin side of things. I will create you a profile before the first lesson then I will go through how it works. Please have notifications enabled as this is my preferred method of communication.

11. Ending Tuition

I reserve the right to end providing lessons, if I feel I cannot help you progress or you are not responding to my teaching then I will stop providing lessons. Any prepaid hours that haven’t been used will be paid back in full. If you decide you no longer want lessons then please notify me in advance of your next lesson. The same conditions will apply for this lesson as for cancelling or postponing a lesson, and any monies paid for additional lessons will be refunded in full. Where possible please provide feedback as to why in case I need to change something. I will not judge you for any reason that you provide.

12. The Driving Test

  1. Bookings
    Driving tests can only be booked by you. I will communicate to you my availability and test centre preference. Driving test bookings always take priority over other lessons. Therefore, your lesson may be postponed to allow for someone else’s driving test and vice-versa. Changes to lesson bookings as a result of this will be notified immediately. Test appointments must be notified to me as soon as they are known to you, otherwise I cannot guarantee to provide a vehicle for the test or any lessons just prior to it. Once you book a driving test only two appointment changes are permitted. I can help with swaps but I cannot do them for you.
  2. Double Bookings
    In the possible event of two tests being booked at the same time, I will try to help to resolve this to help everyone. If a learner is happy to take their own vehicle or move their test then this is the preferred course of action. If this cannot be done then I will decide which learner I will take and this will be clearly communicated to both learners.
  3. Use of the Vehicle
    In the interests of customer and public safety I reserve the right to withhold the use of the training car for the test if, in my opinion, your driving is actually or potentially dangerous – behaviour which if repeated on the test would result in a test failure. This is my livelihood and business, therefore I will protect it. However, this is a last line of defense subsequent to me clearly communicating my evaluation of your driving, and making a recommendation regarding test dates early enough for you to consider and change your test date if necessary. My only goal is to make you a safe driver. Where possible, I will make an assessment one month before the test date and advise accordingly. This will give you enough time to find another Instructor if you wish to continue with your test date. By taking a pupil to test I am saying that I think that pupil is ready to drive independently. I reserve the right to withdraw or grant my permission to use my vehicle for the test at any point, should your driving change significantly after my initial decision.
  4. Test Cancellation
    Ten days (excluding Sundays and public holidays) notice of test cancellation or postponement is required by the DVSA. You will find the deadline date on your DVSA confirmation email. Failure to provide the required notice will result in the loss of your test fee. I cannot be held responsible for any postponement or cancellation of tests by you or the DVSA. In the event the DVSA cancel your driving test within 3 days of the test you will still be liable for my lesson time and can claim out of pocket expenses. I will assist you with this process.
  5. Vehicle Breakdown
    In the unlikely event my tuition vehicle develops a mechanical fault prior to your driving test I will advise you on how best to proceed. I do my best to keep the vehicle in working order but I cannot plan for every possibility. You are permitted to take your own car to test, with a few exceptions and I can advise you on your best options.

13. Special Offers and Lesson Price Increase
Driving lesson/courses prices are subject to change without notice. I may also decide to run a special offer but can withdraw or change it at anytime. I may also decide to change the price of lessons at any time. I will give advanced noticed and where possible explain why I have chosen to do this.

14. Using Pictures for Social Media.
By agreeing to these terms, you are happy for me to share relevant pictures of you on social media. I will check with you on the day and send you a link to see what is posted. If you wish for pictures to be removed please contact me in writing.