Drive With Smurph - Sophie Murphy ADI

13/10/2026

I've just had this lovely message from someone who used my tips and has now passed their Irish driving test! 🇮🇪🚗

Knowing that something I've shared has helped someone feel calmer, believe in themselves and get one step closer to their freedom honestly makes my day🥹

You don't need to be a perfect driver to pass. You need to drive safely, make good decisions and trust yourself.

If you're someone who struggles with driving test nerves, overthinks every little mistake or puts too much pressure on yourself, join me over on TikTok.

Give Drive With Smurph a follow for more tips, reassurance and reminders that you've got this!

https://www.tiktok.com/?_r=1&_t=ZN-9AWabbLoXoM

10/10/2026

💚 World Mental Health Day 💚

I think sometimes we get so caught up in just getting through the day that we forget to give ourselves a bit of a break.

Between work, family life, money worries, all the little things that seem to pile up and the never ending to do list, it can feel like there's always something else that needs doing. And even when you're feeling overwhelmed, you still feel like you have to keep going because life doesn't stop, does it?

But it's okay to not be okay all the time. It's okay to have a rubbish day, to feel like you're not getting anywhere, or to just need a bit of time for yourself.

I think we put so much pressure on ourselves to get things right, to keep up with everyone else and to reach certain milestones, that we forget we're allowed to do things at our own pace.

And that applies to driving, too. 🚗💚

You don't have to learn as quickly as someone else. You don't have to be perfect every lesson. And having a difficult day doesn't mean you're not making progress.

So, whether you're learning to drive or just trying to get through everyday life at the moment, please be kind to yourself. You're probably doing better than you give yourself credit for.

Sending a little love to anyone who needs it today. 🫶🏻

03/10/2026

Booking your driving test? 🚘

Head to gov.uk/guidance/driving-test-appointments-release-dates-and-finding-earlier-tests to find out when driving test appointments are released, when to search for earlier tests, and how long people wait to take the test.

03/10/2026

🚗 Road safety skills I’m building in my kids

As a driving instructor, I spend a lot of time teaching learners how to be safe behind the wheel…
But road safety doesn’t start when you’re 17 and sitting in a driving seat.

It starts way before that.

My children are 7 and 5, and there are little things we do every day to start building those skills now.

🚗 On car journeys, they look out for bikes and other road users. It keeps them occupied on longer journeys too (😅)

🚦 We spot road signs and if they can tell me what a sign means, even better!

👀 We talk about what’s happening around us when we’re walking. What can we see? What might be happening? What could we need to be aware of?

🚪 We talk about hazards. Just because we can see a car, doesn’t mean the driver has seen us. We talk about what could happen next and what we need to consider.

👂 We use our hearing too. Sometimes you hear something before you see it, so I encourage them to listen to what’s happening around them.

🔮 We predict what might happen next.
“What do you think that car is going to do?”
“Do you think those lights will change?”
“Which way do you think they might go?”
This is helping them develop those anticipation and observation skills that will be so important when they eventually learn to drive.

🚶‍♀️ We talk about crossing safely, too. I want them to learn how to choose a safe place to cross and make a safe decision, rather than simply following someone else.

And perhaps most importantly…
🌍 We talk about different road users.
The roads aren't just for cars. Pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and other road users all have different perspectives, vulnerabilities and things they need to look out for.

I'm not trying to create two tiny driving instructors 😂
I'm simply passionate about road safety, and I don't ever want the call that any parent dreads.

If I can help my children build good habits, awareness and confidence around roads from a young age, then that's something I'm more than happy to do!

Start small. Keep building. These skills will stay with them for life. 🚗

01/10/2026

A no strings attached check in lesson. No upselling, no trying to get you to book 10 hours. Just honest feedback for you to work on.

🚗 On The Right Track? Let's Make Sure. 🚗

I'm now opening a limited number of one-off Driving Check-In Sessions.

Whether you've been learning through private practice, haven't driven for a while, or simply want some professional guidance, these sessions are designed to help you understand where you are now and what your next steps should be.

Private practice is a fantastic way to gain experience, but it can be difficult to know whether you're developing the right habits, building safe routines, or preparing effectively for your driving test.

That's where a Check-In Session can help.

✔️ 2.5-hour driving review and coaching session
✔️ Conducted in my dual-controlled tuition car
✔️ Professional feedback tailored to you
✔️ Identify strengths and areas for improvement
✔️ Build confidence behind the wheel
✔️ Improve test readiness and driving skills
✔️ Detailed driving report

This session could be perfect if you:

🚗 Have been learning with a parent, partner, family member or friend
🚗 Haven't driven for a while and want to rebuild confidence
🚗 Have a driving test approaching and want an honest review
🚗 Feel stuck with your progress and need some guidance
🚗 Want reassurance that you're on the right track

Each session is a one-off booking with no pressure and no commitment to ongoing lessons.

Just professional guidance, honest feedback, and support to help you move forward with confidence.

📩 Message me to book your Driving Check-In Session.

💙 Support. Guidance. Results.

09/09/2026

So… what can you expect if you learn to drive with me? 🚗

Learning to drive isn't just about learning the skills to pass a test. It's about how you feel while you're learning too.

I want my lessons to be a safe, calm and inclusive space where you can ask questions, make mistakes, laugh, learn and build your confidence without feeling judged.

So I thought I'd show you a little bit of what you can expect if you learn with me.

Because ultimately, I don't just want you to pass your test… I want you to feel confident and happy behind the wheel. 😎

03/09/2026

🚨 A little availability update… 🚨

I’ve had loads of lovely enquiries lately (thank you so much!), which means I’ve now only got a handful of lesson slots left.

So if you’ve been sitting there thinking “I’ll message her later”…

Consider this your polite little nudge.🤪

I’ve got limited daytime availability, so if you’re wanting to get started, drop me a message sooner rather than later.

Whether you’re starting completely from scratch, coming back to driving after a break, or determined to finally get that licence sitting proudly in your wallet, I’ve got you. 🚗✨

Once those remaining spaces disappear, it’ll be onto the waiting list I'm afraid!

31/08/2026

If I can help this much from a TikTok… imagine what I can do sat next to you! 👀🚗

A few days ago, someone commented on one of my posts saying they were struggling with coasting when changing down.

So, I made a TikTok specifically to help explain what might be causing it and what they could try differently.

A few days later, they came back with this…

“I tried those tips and it worked really well!!! Thank you so much! My driving is so much smoother now and my reaction to hazards is a lot better now lol.”

This is honestly one of my favourite things about teaching. 🩵

Sometimes, you just need something explained in a slightly different way for it to click. And if a little TikTok can make that much difference.

Imagine having me sat beside you, watching exactly what you're doing and helping you work through it in real time! 😍

That’s what I’m here for, helping you understand why you're doing things and become a safer, smoother and more confident driver.

📍 Manual driving lessons
📩 Message me to enquire

30/08/2026

🚗 Want more driving tips, advice & learner support?

I’m also over on TikTok sharing regular posts to help promote driver confidence and a positive mindset 👀

Come and give me a follow 👉

https://www.tiktok.com/?_r=1&_t=ZN-99JJPnQMCcY

30/08/2026

🚗 Are you helping someone learn to drive?

If you're a parent, partner, family member or friend who regularly sits in the passenger seat while they practise, you'll probably know that private practice isn't always as easy as it sounds!😅

You want to help them, but what happens when…
😤 You both get frustrated?
😬 They make the same mistake repeatedly?
🙈 They don't actually want to practise?
🗺️ You have no idea where to take them?
🤔 You're not sure what you should be doing from the passenger seat?
❤️ You want to help build their confidence without putting them under more pressure?

As a driving instructor, these are things I see and hear all the time and that's why I've created The Passenger Seat Companion.

It's a practical guide designed specifically for the person supervising the learner, covering things such as:
✔️ Planning private practice
✔️ Choosing suitable routes
✔️ Dealing with frustration
✔️ Supporting a reluctant or anxious learner
✔️ Knowing when to step in (and when to give them space)
✔️ Making private practice productive
✔️ Helping your learner build confidence

Because you're not their instructor, you're their support system.

I wanted to create something that could give supervising drivers some guidance when they need it.

I'm sharing this here because I know there are lots of local families currently helping someone learn to drive, and I thought it might be useful to some of you. 😊

The Passenger Seat Companion is currently available as a digital download, so you can access it straight away and keep it on your phone, tablet or computer.

If you'd like to find out more, just comment "COMPANION" below or send me a message and I'll happily send you the details. 💬🚗