5 Essential Traits of Great Driving Instructors

According to data collected from approximately 225 driving instructors, these professionals earn an average of over $50 an hour. Besides wanting to earn a great wage, however, there are other attributes that can help you be a successful driving instructor. Here's a look at some of the traits that can help.

1. Great Driving Record

This is essential. Before you enroll in driving instructor training, the school will want to see your driving record. It's also important to maintain a clean record after you complete your training. When you apply as an instructor at various driving schools, those facilities will likely check your record again.

Although it's not necessary, it can also be helpful to have driving experience in a range of conditions. That could include driving professionally as a taxi driver or even operating big machinery.

2. A People Person

As a driving instructor, you will work alongside of people every single day. If you are easily annoyed by other people, this may not be the ideal career for you. However, if you enjoy working with people, this may be right in your wheelhouse.

It also helps if you like all ages of people. As a driving instructor, you may work with teens or other beginning drivers, but you may also work with older drivers who want to improve their defensive driving skills.

3. Ability to Explain Things

Being a driving instructor is not like working retail, being a bartender or doing a variety of other jobs where it helps to be a people person. On top of being around people, you have to explain concepts to people.

For instance, you have to explain how roundabouts work or how to drive carefully through a construction zone. If you're skilled in putting complex subjects into language that other people can understand, you may enjoy this career path.

4. Attention to Detail

Do you notice small details easily? That can also help you to be a great driving instructor. For instance, if a student is constantly rolling through stop signs, you need to notice that and help them correct it. If you fail to notice that detail, you may send a new driver out into the world, who isn't ready for the responsibility.

5. Quick Reaction Times

Finally, there may be situations where you need to react quickly. For instance, a wild animal or a pedestrian may run into the road, and if your student doesn't react, you need to. If you tend to have delayed reactions, you may want to explore other pursuits.