Delay in approving driving instructors

LEARNER drivers have been urged to take lessons only from approved driving instructors — despite the delay in the creation of the approved driving instructor register.

The register was due to take effect from January 1, with only those instructors approved to join it legally allowed to charge for lessons, but the deadline has been pushed back to April 30 because of the large number of late applicants.

There are thought to be up to 2,500 driving instructors operating across the country, but so far just 800 have fully completed and passed the three tests — covering theory, driving and teaching — required to join the register.