Another timely warning for learner drivers
We spoke last month about the number of phoney driving instructors conning pupils out of thousands of pounds while all the time not being qualified to teach. Now as the Christmas period rushes towards us and driving lessons are a commonly requested gift, police have issued another warning about the number of fake driving instructors on the road.
A recent series of roadside checks found a number of unqualified ‘instructors’ in the middle of a lesson. The Metropolitan Police in London are concerned that if people are not taught properly (not only to pass the driving test, but also the fundamental skills of safe driving), then the consequences could be considerable for years to come.
The DSA has carried out a series of roadside operations since 2011 to apprehend unlicensed ‘instructors’, but are concerned that on average one illegal instructor is being either caught or reported to them every day.
A convincing act
Some of these phoney instructors can be remarkably convincing. Vasim Choudhary, a DSA fraud investigator, said: “They sticker up their car to look like reputable driving schools, and candidates presume they are legal when they are not.
“A qualified instructor will teach you skills which will set you off on your driving career, so you can be a safe driver for life, as opposed to someone who might just teach you skills which are very limited,” he added.
A ‘green badge’ instructor (one who is properly qualified and registered with the DSA as an ADI instructor) will also have the correct type of driving instructor insurance. Phoney instructors are not only putting pupils at risk, but other drivers too, as any insurance they may carry will be inappropriate, inadequate or even non-existent.
In the past four years a total of 123 individuals have been arrested, and 39 have been convicted of fraudulently offering driving instruction. Police and the DSA advise that pupils should always check that their instructor is properly registered and displays and up-to-date badge in their windscreen (either a green badge for a fully qualified ADI or a pink badge for a trainee instructor).