22/07/2026
The last few weeks have been less than fun.
Around four weeks ago, I was rear ended at the Warrix roundabout in Irvine whilst my pupil was driving. My car was taken in for repair and I was given a replacement car, arranged by Dash Claims.
Just four days later, with another pupil, we were rear ended again at the Q8 (I have to say the guy was extremely apologetic) but it almost wrote the replacement car off.
I was again in another replacement car within half an hour, again a huge thanks to Dash Claims, but after a couple of hours, ended up at A&E. Spending 7 hours there, before being sent home with really strong painkillers and the worst back, shoulder, stomach and feet (yes feet) pain I've ever felt.
I wasn't able to work for a week.
Two weeks after the first accident, my own car is ready and I'm back out in it, giving lessons.
Then, not even a week after I got my own car back, I had to cancel the remainder of my lessons as the clutch had gone in my car. It's not a cheap repair.
Straight away I phoned Sandy Hillan (again), in a panic - I cannot afford to pay a fortune for a car if I can't earn. Once again, he and Dash Dual Control stepped up to the plate and within an hour of calling him, I'm in yet another lovely replacement car.
Three times in the space of three weeks, Sandy and the Dash Team have stepped up to help me out with a replacement vehicle.
The point of my post is two-fold.
Firstly, I just want to thank Sandy and Dash Claims - he took care of both my claims from the start. I haven't claimed through my insurance, so I've had zero to pay and my premiums won't be affected. He also had me in another car within an hour in both cases, something my own insurance could not have done. They don't just provide this service to Instructors, it's for everyone who has a non-fault accident and I cannot recommend them enough.
Secondly, this is a plea. If you see a learner car, please give us space and patience. The driver is not an experienced driver, they are learning. We don't have the luxury of private roads to take them on and the only way they get experience is by getting out there and driving.
As instructors, we have a rewarding but extremely challenging job. We need to watch the learner, manage risk, watch the road, watch signs and watch all other road users (cars, buses, trucks, cyclists, motorbikes, scooters, ebikes, pedestrians, cats, dugs) all at the same time and whilst trying to keep everyone safe.
Meanwhile, we have people tailgating us, flashing their lights, beeping their horn, gesturing and I've even experienced confrontation when stationary.
It's not acceptable, and this behaviour does not make you a good driver.
Give us a little space, a little patience and we'll be out of your way! And yes, we do need to stick to 20mph in a 20mph zone even if we don't understand why that road is a 20.
We do our best to support our students but they have to learn. They have to and will make mistakes. We must support them in having a go, whilst managing the risk, otherwise how do they learn!
They don't always do what we want them to do and they don't always do what we expect them to do...which is why we have L plates on and ask you to give us space and patience.
Flashing the lights or beeping your horn is a sure fire way to guarantee another stall.
Imagine that is your little brother, sister, son, daughter, cousin, best friend or even parent in the car - would you want someone doing that to them while they try to master a skill?
The current standard of driving on the road leaves a lot to be desired - rules have changed a lot over the years. Is everyone aware, or do we stop paying attention after we pass?
It took a lot for me to get back in the car, my nerves were shot to pieces - but I need to be there for my learners and I, at times, need to be the confidence they lack. I also didn't want to give up.
We were all learners once - please remember this when you see us in the car. Please don't make our job harder and the learners experience a bad one 🙏🏽
Apologies for the long post, but it all needs to be said.
A massive thank you to Dash Claims for sorting everything (and I mean everything) I didn't need to do a single thing with either accident and no claims through my insurance. Any non-fault accident call them, not your insurer and that goes for any driver, not just instructors.
A massive thank you to Dash Dual Control & Vehicle Hire Ltd without whom, I would have been without a car for weeks.
I'm absolutely deflated, so if you see the L2PWV car over the next few days, give us a wave and a smile rather than a beep and a frown.
Trust me, I need it 🙏🏽
