Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency
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New powers to suspend driving instructors

New powers to suspend driving instructors

News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 12 November 2009

Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) who pose a significant threat to the safety of the public will face immediate suspension under new legislation which gained Royal Assent today.

* Legislation receives Royal Assent

* Closes loophole in existing law

* Immediate suspension possible

The Driving Instruction (Suspension and Exemption Powers) Act 2009 will close a loophole in existing law by allowing the Registrar of ADIs to immediately suspend ADIs who pose a threat to learner drivers and other road users while they are removed from the register permanently.

It currently takes 45 days to remove instructors from the register of Approved Driving Instructors, during which time they can continue to give driving instruction.

The new law originated as a Private Member's Bill introduced by Willie Rennie MP and was supported by the Department for Transport and Driving Standards Agency who also provided technical and organisational assistance.

Transport Minister Paul Clark said: "The Government has been pleased to support Mr Rennie's Bill.

"The overwhelming majority of driving instructors provide tuition in a professional manner but a small number fail to maintain these standards.

"These new suspension powers will allow the Registrar to protect the public in those few instances where there is a need to take immediate action to prevent an instructor from working with learner drivers."

Willie Rennie MP (Dunfermline and West Fife) said: "I am delighted that this Private Members Bill has reached the statute book, and I would like to offer my thanks to all of those who have supported me throughout this process. It will send a strong message to those driving instructors who are guilty of an offence and present a danger to the public that they will no longer be able to carry on as normal.

"This will improve the safety of learner drivers and will also offer support to the vast majority of instructors who conduct themselves quite properly in carrying out the valuable role of teaching young people to drive."

It is anticipated that the Registrar will use the suspension power only in exceptional circumstances.

The Driving Standards Agency intends to consult early next year on the detailed arrangements for implementation of the Act.

The new suspension power will also apply to Potential Driving Instructors, who are authorised to provide instruction using a trainee licence.

* For further information contact DSA Media on 0115 936 6134 or email press.office@dsa.gsi.gov.uk

dsa.gov.uk | direct.gov.uk/motoring | businesslink.gov.uk/transport

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Notes to Editors:

1. The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is one of the Executive Agencies that forms the Motoring and Freight Services (MFS) group, within the Department for Transport.

2. DSA's vision is "Safe Driving for Life" with a mission to contribute towards the Government target of a 40% reduction in riders and drivers killed or seriously injured in road crashes, in the age group up to 24 years, by 2010.

3. Information on road casualties is available from dft.gov.uk

4. DSA promotes road safety through setting standards for drivers, riders and trainers, testing drivers and riders fairly and efficiently, maintaining the registers of Approved Driving Instructors; Large Goods Vehicle Instructors; Fleet Trainers; Driving Instructor Trainers and Post Test Motorcycle Trainers; supervising Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) for learner motorcyclists; and driver education and the provision of learning resources.

5. DSA is a trading fund with planned turnover of £199 million in 2009/10, largely funded through fees and revenue from other road safety initiatives. It delivers tests from over 400 practical driving test centres and 158 theory test centres.

6. DSA employs over 2,700 staff, of which some 2,000 are driving examiners. In 2008/09 DSA conducted 1.72 million practical car tests, 84,000 vocational tests and 105,000 motorcycle tests. A total of 1.5 million theory tests were carried out. At the end of the year there were around 44,768 people on the Register of Approved Driving Instructors.

7. DSA was one of the first Government agencies to introduce an online booking service at direct.gov.uk/drivingtest

DSA60/09

Contacts:

DSA Press office
Phone: 0115 936 6133
nds.dsa@coi.gsi.gov.uk

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