Lives of learner drivers 'at risk'
Poor regulation of driving instructors is putting the lives of learner drivers at risk, it was claimed today.
Labour Party Transport Spokesperson Róisín Shortall said many people, especially parents, would be shocked to discover there is no legal requirement for driving instructors to be registered.
“The absence of adequate regulation is leading to a free-for-all whereby absolutely anyone can set themselves up as a driving instructor,” she said.
“No garda clearance is required and no minimum standards are set down for driving experience, let alone tuition experience.
“1,300 driving instructors do register on a voluntary basis with the Driving Instructor Register and complete an appropriate training course, garda clearance procedures, and competency tests. However, this represents only about two thirds of the total driving instructor pool.
“That leaves approximately 700 unregistered instructors.”
Ms Shortall said the absence of any formal standards or vetting is unacceptable in terms of driver education and personal security.
“If garda vetting is required for taxi drivers, it should be required for driving instructors too,” she said.
“I am not casting aspersions on the current crop of driving instructors but I am saying that as a society we should have safeguards in place to ensure that learner drivers are safe and are properly trained.”
The Dublin North West TD said the issue was due to be tackled as part of the Driver Testing and Standards Authority Bill but there is a great lack of detail of how it will actually work in practice.
“Furthermore, that Bill has been delayed because the minister wants to change the Authority to a new Road Safety Authority,” she said.
“While that is a good idea in itself, it could mean two to three years before regulations are in place for the driving instructor sector.
“Currently, driving instructors are in limbo because they don’t know what will be required of them in the future.
“The minister should act in advance of the establishment of the Road Safety Authority by setting out in detail what the requirements will be for driving instructors in terms of training, vetting and registration.
“That way driving instructors can act now in advance of the law taking force,” she added.
