New plan to regulate driving instructors

Driving instructors who teach for reward without being registered will face criminal charges under a plan to regulate the sector to be introduced within months.

They will also face an inspection regime including announced, unannounced and covert monitoring of their teaching. To retain their teaching licence, driving instructors will be required to undertake continuing professional development.

Establishing and monitoring an approved driving instructor regime is a key requirement of the shortly to be established Road Safety Authority, which has drawn up the plan.

The RSA hopes improved driver training will significantly reduce the level of fatal crashes and serious injuries on the roads. It is also hoped to reduce the failure rate that sees nearly 50 per cent of drivers fail.

Under the proposal, instructors will be required to prove that they have the requisite skills by obtaining qualifications from advanced driving schools recognised by the RSA.

Noel Brett, CEO designate of the RSA, says unlicenced instructors would now face a fine of "several thousand euro" if caught teaching for reward. This law will not apply to a relative providing basic driving instruction.

However, Mr Brett stressed that changes to the driver testing regime to be introduced shortly would see this method of learning to drive become insufficient to obtain a licence.

"Having an approved driving instructor regime to enforce standards is critical to improve road safety. Under this scheme, when a learner driver goes to an approved driving instructor they know they are going to get tuition of the highest possible standard." Mr Brett said the RSA would also ensure that driving instructors were "fit and proper people to be involved in teaching learner drivers."

The RSA is the statutory road safety body which will take over responsibility for all aspects of driver training and testing when the Road Safety Authority Act passes into law this year. Establishing and maintaining a register of properly training driving instructors is a key part of its remit.

Driving tutors will have to obtain three qualifications. They will be required to pass an advanced theory test, an elite practical driving examination and an assessment of their ability to teach effectively before being granted a certificate to teach. Under the RSA's proposals, instructors will have to reapply for their licence every three to five years.

Instructors will also be required to keep a log of lessons given and their own ongoing professional training.

The RSA will also screen candidates for an instructor's licence to ensure that only "appropriate individuals" are recognised.

The RSA's plan will end the current unregulated system - which is almost unique to Ireland - that allows anyone with a car, appropriate insurance and a clean licence to setup themselves up as a driving instructor.

A voluntary system of instructor training was introduced by the industry about 10 years ago when the Driving Instructor Register (DIR) was established but only two-thirds of the 1,500 instructors signed up.

To allow a smooth transition to the new regulatory regime the RSA will recognise instructors who have completed approved driving instructor training courses. Those that have not, but wish to continue working as a driving instructor will have to complete the required training.

"There may be some current driving instructors on day one who are able to meet all of the standards and criteria and who get their ticket straight away," said Mr Brett.

The RSA is not planning to provide the training for driving instructors. What the RSA will do is set the syllabus and the standard.

"We will then be looking to the market to supply the training and we will compile a list of those firms providing training that we approve," he said.

The RSA will use directly employed staff as inspectors for driver trainers. These will work in a separate RSA division to the driver testers to ensure independence.

The reforms are contained within a consultation document that will be published once legislation for the RSA is passed.

Comments from members of the public and stakeholders will then be invited before the plan is finalised and enforced as policy.