Finding an Instructor
When you search for a driving instructor do you know what to look for? Would you know whether they were an illegal instructor or not?
Section 123 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 says that
No paid instruction in the driving of a motor car shall be given unless the person giving the instruction is the holder of a current licence granted under this Part of this Act authorising him to give such instruction.
No paid instruction in the driving of a motor car shall be given unless there is fixed to and exhibited on that motor car in such manner as may be prescribed by regulations either a certificate in such form as may be so prescribed that the name of the person giving the instruction is in the register, or a current licence granted under this Part of this Act authorising the person giving the instruction to give such instruction.
Basically this means that the instructor should be displaying either a pink triangular license, which shows they are a trainee driving instructor (still perfectly able to teach, in fact they may well be less stuck in their ways than more experienced instructors)
Or a green octagonal license, which shows they are fully qualified.
Both types of license should be clearly visible from outside of the car, and will also have a date, a unique instructor number and a photo of the driving instructor on the reverse side.
If the instructor does not have one of these on display, and is not able to produce one then they are not legally allowed to teach anyone to drive! They may be cheaper, but they are not insured to teach you, are you willing to take that risk?
All SDDIA Instructors are qualified to teach, to find the right instructor for you click here.
