If you need urgent support, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. To contact our Crisis Messenger (open 24/7) text THEMIX to 85258.
Options
Driving instructors making students pay for damage
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
My brother is currently learning to drive (his test tomorrow so hopefully he passes), and he's had this instructor for a while who is frankly a cunt. Tells him hes stupid, yells (despite knowing my brother has a learning disorder) and has now told my brother he'll have to pay for any damages because he's left the driving school and is now independant. If my brother doesn't pass tomorrow he's going to change instructors anyway but I was just wondering if they're allowed to do this?
0
Comments
I mean they're not exactly rare, why doesn't he just change to another one if he doesn't pass his test?
During your driving lessons, it is important that you feel safe in the car as you need all of your concentration on what is going on around you to make sound judgement and if your mind is pre-occupied with other things, then you will not be able to react quickly to dangers. However there are times when disgraceful driving instructors will try to hit on you. In most cases it is a male driving instructor trying to flirt with a female learner. Women instructors tend to be more professional towards their job and cases where women instructors have tried flirting with a male student are really rare.
You should know that it is against the Code of Practice for an Approved Driving Instructor to misbehave with his/her pupil. Driving instructors are supposed to teach you how to drive and not harass you in any way. So if you feel your teacher is behaving in a non-appropriate way with you or not giving you any respect or consideration, then you need to make a complaint against that driving instructor.
All approved driving instructors have a pink or green badge which should be clearly visible on the car's windshield when they are teaching. The badge is a proof of their license as a driving instructor and without it they cannot demand payment for the driving lessons. If they try to act clever and increase the fees for the driving lessons every now and then without any valid justification, you can report them for that too.
First thing you need to do is warn the driving instructor that you are not happy about what is going on or complain to the driving school for which he/she works for. If the outcome is not satisfactory, then you can approach the Driving Standards Agency Registrar of Approved Driving Instructors and use either the full name of the instructor or their ADI number to report them. Be clear and concise when you are speaking to the representative of the DSA and tell them exactly why you are willing to make a complaint as this will enable them to lodge an investigation against the instructor. The latter may be suspended or have their license taken away if found guilty and you may even get a compensation as well depending upon the circumstances.
Remember if your driving instructor is abusing their power as a tutor in any other way not mentioned here and taking advantage of you, report them straight away. The sooner you do that, the better!
Below is the contact info (address & telephone number) which you need to make a complaint about a driving instructor:
The ADI Registrar
Driving Standards Agency
Stanley House
56 Talbot Street
Nottingham
NG1 5GU
Tel: 0115 901 2500 "
We've been telling him for ages to change but by the time he mentioned anything to us it was close to his test (he was meant to have one in december which got cancelled because of the snow), so he figured he may aswell stick it out as he was used to driving that car. But will mention reporting him, prob best to get our dad to do it because my brother can't really do that kind of stuff. Thanks
hes got aspergers so because this guys wrecking his confidence he assumes thats just how it is and that he doesn't deserve better (we do tell him otherwise), plus he got used to the car and was reluctant to change. He has a very black and white way of looking at things. I've just spoken to my dad and he should hopefully be going with the guy I went with so all should be good soon.