A new official register for driving instructors is to be created under a plan to be published next Monday. Under the proposals it will be a criminal offence for unregistered instructors or driving schools to teach for reward. David Labanyi reports.
While the law will not apply to a relative providing unpaid basic driving instruction, learners will be required to have taken a minimum number of lessons - yet to be set - with a registered instructor before they get a full driving licence.
To be included on the register, instructors will be subjected to a background check for criminal convictions and serious road traffic offences. They will also have to obtain three qualifications: they will be required to hold an advanced theory certificate; to pass an elite practical driving examination; and an assessment of their ability to teach effectively, before being granted a certificate to teach.
Under the proposals instructors will face an inspection regime of announced and covert monitoring of their teaching and a complaints system will be provided for pupils unhappy with the standard of teaching.
Instructors will have to reapply for their licence every three to five years. Those found to have delivered a substandard lesson will be required to undergo additional training and will face a retest within three months.
They will also be required to keep a log of lessons given and their own ongoing professional training.
The plan for an approved driving instructor regime has drawn up by the new Road Safety Authority (RSA), which will administer the new list of registered instructors and will also run the inspection regime.
Instructors will have to prove that they have the requisite skills by obtaining qualifications from advanced driving schools recognised by the RSA. While the RSA intends to set the syllabus and the standard required for instructors it will not provide the training for driving instructors.
Improving driver training is seen as essential to significantly reduce the level of fatal crashes and serious injuries, particularly by younger motorists.
Under the plan, the 1,300 driving instructors who have completed approved driving instructor training courses as part of their registration for current voluntary Driving Instructors Register (DIR) are expected to transfer to the new RSA-run register. There are currently about 2,100 driving instructors operating in the State.
Noel Brett, chief executive of the RSA says unlicensed instructors would now face a fine of "several thousand euro" if caught teaching for reward.
"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," he said.
Mr Brett added that the RSA would ensure driving instructors were "fit and proper people to be involved in teaching learner drivers" by running background checks on all applicants, including those transferring from the DIR.
The RSA's proposals will bring to an end the current unregulated system - which is almost unique to Ireland - that allows anyone with a car, appropriate insurance and a clean licence to set 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 instructors signed up.
Those instructors who are not registered but wish to continue working in the sector will have to complete the required training as will all new entrants.
"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.
"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," Mr Brett said.
The RSA will use directly employed staff as inspectors. These will work in a separate RSA division to the driver testers to ensure independence.
After the proposals are published tomorrow, comments from members of the public and interested parties will be invited before the plan is finalised. The new rules are likely to come into effect later this summer.