“As a student, you have to ask yourself what do you want from a driving instructor. I�ve taken driving lessons with different instructors in the past in the UK (I already hold two driving licences; one from Texas, U.S.) and I have failed in every instance. The instructors always thought that �well enough� was �good enough� and that somehow I was just unlucky. It seemed at the time that I would remain forever paying exorbitant insurance fees and going through the hassle every year of renewing an international licence. Until I met Rob Andrews.
You see, whereas in most US cities the layout is a grid and roundabouts are only seen on Mr.Bean movies and all you have to do is just follow your textbook, in the UK is the opposite. You have to be lucky if street arrangements resemble anything close to the textbook. You need to know how to manage exceptions of all kinds; roundabouts in which you stay on the left lane to turn right, cars parked on the road that make you drive on the wrong lane for longs periods of time and so on.
Rob was spectacular in two counts. Firstly, he had the patience of tolerating a �mature student� with all the bad learning (i.e. including lack of appropriate observations; let�s not blame everything on the roundabouts). Secondly, unlike previous instructors, he did not prepare me just to be �good enough� so that if the passing roulette stops at the right slot I will get my certificate. All the opposite. He prepared me to be in complete control and to have 100% mastery during the test.
The exam was so easy compared to the training that I had received that I had to tell Rob that the exam was more relaxing than taking a lesson with him. This is a big complement. It�s like you go to military training and then going to war is a walk in the park compared to the training camp. I only had two minors and everything else was spot on. First time pass.
If you want to sit driving examinations forever then you may consider other options, but if you want a rigorous, tenacious training system that will make you a better, safer, confident driver who actually gets to rule the test rather than struggle at it, then Rob Andrews is your instructor.”
