Choices Automatic Driving School

14/04/2026

Drink driving is not bad luck. It is not one of those things that just happens. It starts with a decision. A quiet one. A selfish one. You know you have had a drink. You know you should not be driving. You do it anyway.

People hide behind the same tired lines. “I felt fine.” “It was only a couple.” As if how you feel changes what alcohol does to your body. It does not. Your reactions are slower. Your judgement is weaker. Your awareness is reduced. The only thing that increases is your confidence. That is the most dangerous part.

You are not in control, you just think you are.

The road does not care what you believe. It responds to physics and timing. When something changes in front of you, when a child steps out, when traffic suddenly stops, you do not get an extra second because you felt okay. You get what your body can deliver in that moment. Alcohol has already taken from you.

The damage is never contained to the person who made the decision. It spreads. It lands on people who had no say in it. People who were driving properly. People who were walking. Families who never saw it coming. All of it caused by someone who thought they would be alright.

There is nothing unpredictable about it. The risk is known. The outcome has been seen thousands of times. The only variable is who it happens to next.

The worst part is this. Most people who do it never expected to be that person. They did not wake up planning to cause harm. They made one decision and convinced themselves it did not matter.

Don’t drink and drive !
If you do, you are choosing your convenience over someone else's life.

12/04/2026

Learning to drive if you have anxiety or other conditions that affect your mental health can be a real challenge that a lot of people don't understand.

I have a wealth of experience teaching people who suffer from anxiety. Sean has been learning to drive for over 10 years, has had a few instructors and failed his practical driving test a number of times. There were occasions when he wanted to give it all up, but he persevered and has finally achieved his goal of passing the driving test. This is the review that he kindly wrote for me:

"Barrie has been an absolute godsend for my driving journey. Navigating my particular anxiety, coaching me through what I believed were serious roadblocks I have encountered over the years. Whether it's been addressing faults, problem behaviours, he has guided me throughout the challenges that have impacted me by being a reassuring, calm and well collected man with always a joke to be had, I am inspired by how he has tuened my journey and my result around to a positive conclusion. Thank you Barrie!!"

You can read this review and others here:

Based in Broughton Astley, Choices Driving School provides driving tuition to clients within Broughton Astley and surrounding areas

30/07/2025

Proud to support the Help Appeal - County Air Ambulance Trust.

A huge thank you to Barrie Pates, Chair of Hinckley & District Driver Trainers Association and owner of Choices Driving School , for his incredible support of the HELP Appeal! 🙌

Your generous donation and commitment to raising awareness are making a real difference to our mission of funding lifesaving hospital helipads across the country. We’re so grateful for your kindness and dedication.

28/06/2025

Learning to drive can be a daunting experience, but when you are from another country, it can be even more challenging. I have taught people from countries around the world and it is always a pleasure to see them progress and pass their driving test.

I have just received this lovely review from a young Chinese lady,so if you're looking for a driving instructor who is patient, positive, and has your best interests at heart, give me a call.

"I just successfully passed the road test under the guidance of Coach Mr. Barrie. I truly believe that meeting him was my good fortune. He is an extremely professional, patient and efficient coach. I strongly recommend him to every friend who is preparing to learn to drive! The most outstanding feature of Coach Mr. Barrie is his extraordinary patience. I had great difficulty on the roundabout and always took the wrong exit. Coach Mr. Barrie never showed any impatience. Instead, he always guided me with detailed breakdowns of the movements until I fully grasped the key points. This patience greatly boosted my confidence. His teaching method is clear and easy to understand, and highly efficient. He is good at breaking down complex operations into simple steps and uses very vivid language and gestures to help me understand quickly. He can precisely identify my problems (such as my poor control of the distance when I first started practicing) and provide highly targeted practice methods, which made my progress very obvious. He not only teaches skills but also emphasizes safety and good habits. Coach Mr. Barrie always stresses safety first during the teaching process and is extremely strict about safety details such as checking the rearview mirror, using turn signals, and controlling speed. He often says, "Passing the test is temporary, but good habits and safety awareness will stay with you for a lifetime." Before the test, he took me to familiarize myself with the test site and explained the key points in detail. These valuable experiences made me feel confident during the test and I passed it smoothly in the end! Although the process of learning to drive was hard, under Coach Mr. Barrie's professional, responsible and encouraging guidance, it became both fulfilling and enjoyable. He not only taught me how to drive but also passed on the concept of safe driving. Choosing Coach Mr. Barrie was definitely the most correct decision on my driving learning journey!"

You can read more of my reviews at https://www.freeindex.co.uk/profile(choices-automatic-driving-school)_274506.htm,

Based in Broughton Astley, Choices Driving School provides driving tuition to clients within Broughton Astley and surrounding areas

04/02/2025

It's always nice to be appreciated. I got this lovely card from one of my students after she had passed her test. Being in her 30's she had put off learning to drive for a long time, but this proves it's never too late.

10/12/2024

Not every learner is 17 years old. Here are a couple of recent reviews from 2 lovely ladies who have benefited from my support despite them both passing their driving test some years ago.

Whether you are new to driving, or have held a full licence for a number of years, anxiety can sometimes be a barrier. Let me help you overcome your fears & concerns to help give you confidence on the road.

26/08/2024

My 200th 5* review! Thank you Ellie B. for your kind words.

"I made the decision to switch from manual to automatic after years of on and off lesssons and I am very happy that I did and that I found Barrie. A truly amazing driving instructor. Very knowledgeable, patient and made me feel at ease and confident whilst driving. I am quite a panicky person so the fact that I passed first time with only 2 minors is a true testament to the quality of lessons that Barrie delivers.

Thank you again."

You can read more reviews at https://www.freeindex.co.uk/profile(choices-driving-school)_274506.htm

28/06/2024

I received this lovely text message from one of my pupils after she passed her driving test with just 1 driving fault. She's faced many challenges during the time she was with me, but she persevered and got the result she deserved. That is reward enough for me, but it's always nice when someone takes the time to write such a lovely note.

"I just wanted to say again thank you so much, I've had a few instructors over the years and you were by far the best. You actually care about your job and helping people being able to drive and pass. I don't think I'd been able to pass if you hadn't of been my driving instructor. Thank you so much for believing in me, Lauren."

15/06/2024

Another excellent 5* review. Read more at https://www.freeindex.co.uk/profile(choices-driving-school)_274506.htm

"I recently passed my driving test with Barrie, first time, in only 5 months. He was patient, knowledgeable, and supportive, making me feel comfortable and confident. His instructions and helpful feedback helped me improve quickly. The lessons were well-planned and focused on my needs, preparing me well for my driving test. I highly recommend Barrie to anyone learning to drive."

Based in Broughton Astley, Choices Driving School provides driving tuition to clients within Broughton Astley and surrounding areas

08/12/2022

I'm a big advocate for private practice. It helps build confidence and can considerably shorten the learning experience if done properly.

https://www.facebook.com/100069054465086/posts/456931629951982/

18/09/2022

I am always working to improve my own standards of driving as well as those of my students and today I passed the Elite driving test.