The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is warning un-regulated driving instructors, that they must comply with new laws, which were introduced recently, to regulate driving instructors in Ireland or face prosecution.
Instructors who are not registered with the RSA as Approved Driving Instructors (ADI) face a fine of up to €2,000 or even six months imprisonment, or both if convicted in a court of providing lessons for reward.
The RSA is advising all learner drivers to only take lessons from full permit holding ADIs – do you want to pay for driving lessons from someone who hasn’t even passed their own tests?
“There are over 1,300 Approved Driving Instructors registered with the RSA and a number who, under the new legislation, have been given 90 days to complete their exam.” Said Mr. Noel Brett, CEO of the RSA, “However, we are aware that there are instructors out there who have not engaged in the regulation process at all and continue to unlawfully charge driving test candidates for driving lessons.”
“Our message to un-licensed instructors is simple. You are committing an offence and the RSA will take action to protect the consumer from un-regulated driving instructors. Anyone who is aware of such un-licensed instructors should report them immediately to the RSA by phoning 1890 50 60 80 or email adienforcement@rsa.ie .”
Learner drivers looking for their nearest Approved Driving Instructor can visit www.rsa.ie or www.drivingtest.ie or www.theorytest.ie to download the list of full permit holding Approved Driving Instructors.
Since 1st May 2009 it has become an offence to give driving instruction to a learner driver for hire or reward unless the instructor is on the RSA register of approved driving instructors (ADI).
Regulation guarantees the quality and skills of those teaching new drivers across the country. It is a crucial building block in our work to make the roads safer. The quality of driving instruction in Ireland impacts directly on road safety and it is essential for a credible driving instruction industry that every instructor meets a minimum standard in terms of his/her ability to deliver instruction.
An ADI must also show that they are tax compliant and be able to provide a tax clearance certificate. All ADI’s have been through the Garda vetting process and this provides an added layer of protection for young learner drivers.
The regulation process applies to individual instructors and not to driving schools.