‘Check the instructor’ plea issued
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LEARNER drivers in Caithness have been urged to check that the person teaching them to drive is fully qualified to do so.
A police investigation into
unlicensed driving instructors
resulted in one person in the North being reported to the procurator
fiscal, and now Northern Constabulary has warned learners to check out their teachers. The alleged unlicensed instructor was said by police to have been operating throughout last year.
PC Andy Mackay, of Wick Police Station, told the John O’Groat Journal this is an unusual offence for the Highlands, but said it highlighted the need for people to be more vigilant before booking lessons.
"It is essential that anyone learning to drive checks that their instructor is fully licensed," he said.
"Receiving incorrect or outdated instruction at such a crucial stage may be detrimental when it comes to your test day, but it can also be unhelpful for the rest of your driving career.
"This is not a usual offence which takes place in the Highlands but there have been cases in other parts of Scotland.
"Fully licensed instructors are up to date with the latest standards required by the Driving Standards Agency.
"It is quite easy for someone to say that they are a fully qualified
driving instructor, and people don’t think twice about all the boxes being ticked.
"The only real way to check if someone is qualified is to go on to the DSA website and type in your postcode.
"This will show all the qualified driving instructors in the local area."
For a full list of local approved driving instructors, go to www.dft.gov.uk/dsa
