Officials in Guernsey are currently considering implementing a more rigorous system of checks for driving instructors on the Channel Island. Because Guernsey is not part of the United Kingdom but is instead a possession of the British Crown, it sets its own laws and regulations. These are instead made by the States of Guernsey, the island’s parliament.
At present, anyone can teach learners to drive in Guernsey and be paid for it. This is in contrast to the system for driving instruction in the UK, where instructors must be certified either a fully qualified driving instructor or a trainee driving instructor.
Driving instructor register proposed for Guernsey
Since 2006 there has been discussion in Guernsey about the need to create a register for driving instructors along the same lines as that in the UK and other Channel Islands such as Jersey. In 2009, proposals were put forward for a formal register in which all instructors would be required to have a criminal records check, and would have to sign up and adhere to a standard code of practice.
Guernsey driving instructors will also have to take and pass exams relating to the theory, practical and teaching elements of the trade. This follows criticisms from some, including the chief driving examiner in the UK, that the present system is putting both learners and other road users at risk.
The request to set up the register is now up for review in December, when it will formally be passed or dismissed by the States of Guernsey. Its supporters believe that if it is passed the register will help to make the roads safer, provide fairer contractual arrangements between learners and instructors, and help support the international recognition of driving licenses issued on the island.
It is not yet known what the changes would mean for driving instructor insurance in Guernsey if they are passed. At present, instructors on the island need sufficient insurance to cover them in the event that one of their learners is injured while driving, and any accident that might result from and error made by a learner. In theory, driving instructor insurance could be cheaper on the island if the register comes into being, as instructors will have a standardised level of competency and will therefore present a lower risk to insurers.