North motorists warned over illegal instructors

Learner drivers in the North were today warned to steer clear of illegal driving instructors.

Environment Minister Sammy Wilson warned anyone thinking of buying lessons for themselves or others for Christmas could be exposing themselves to risk if they did not check out their instructor first.

The minister warned: “Illegal instructors don’t have the necessary qualifications to teach and may not have proper insurance.

“More alarmingly, they may not have undergone the rigorous criminal record checks that driving instructors must pass before they are able to teach young people on a one-to-one basis.”

Illegal instructors may appear legitimate, may advertise in local papers and have dual controls fitted to cars covered with logos, he said.

But Mr Wilson warned: “Learners could be putting themselves at serious risk if they take lessons from illegal, uninsured or potentially dangerous instructors.

“That is why anyone buying lessons must check out the credentials of those offering lessons.”

The Driver & Vehicle Agency regulates the activities of close on 1,000 approved driving instructors and has a list of them which can be obtained online or by phone.

They also advised learner drivers to:

:: Ask an instructor to produce an approved driving instructor, or potential driving instructor (trainee) licence.

:: Refuse to pay for lessons until they had established the instructor is legal.

:: Report an instructor they know to be illegal to the PSNI or DVA.

Mr Wilson said not only should instructors be asked to show their certification, but learners should stay away from them if there was no expiry date on the certificate or it had passed.

He added: “Parents paying for lessons – particularly if they are buying in bulk – should also ask to

see the driving instructor’s licence before handing over money for lessons.

“Cheap lessons may indicate illegal instructors.”