Driving instructors' green light for registration plan
DRIVING instructors have heralded the introduction of a register of their profession as way of tightening up the industry and improving driving standards.
The Environment Department is putting the plans on full-throttle in a bid to bring regulation to an area which has historically had none.
And Ace Driving School owner Belinda Hockey said the register could not come soon enough.
'This is long overdue, they have been talking about it for the last 20 years, and talking seriously about it for the last seven,' she said.
'We have to be brought in line with the UK, and people have to take exams in order to teach. At the moment, anyone can be an instructor, and clearly there will be people who are not capable of taking exams.
'The standard of instructors should go up, and the job should not be quite as dangerous for examiners, as at the moment they are going out with people who are not really ready. It will make us more professional.'
The new law would mean any individual who offers driving tuition for payment or reward without being on the register would be committing an offence.
Current legislation means anyone with basic driving qualifications could establish a driving school.
