With the UK currently in lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, some people are wondering whether driving instructors are still working. According to th RAC, the average learner requires 45 hours of driving lessons, plus an additional 20 hours of practice.
Are driving instructors working?
Under the guidelines, people have been instructed to stay at home and can only leave for “very limited purposes”.
People have been advised to only go out for food, health reasons or work.
This means that driving lessons should not be taking place during the lockdown, unless it’s for key workers.
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Driving tests have been put on hold for up to three months but emergency tests are available to those whose work is critical to the COVID-19 response.
A statement from NASP (National Associations Strategic Partnership) read: “At an extremely difficult and worrying time for us all, taking into account the Government public health advice regarding social distancing and trying to control and delay the spread of the COVID-19 virus, NASP would urge all instructors to stop delivering driving lessons, if you have not already done so, with the exception of teaching key workers where necessary.”
While learners are understandably keen to keep practising, Ian McIntosh, the CEO of RED Driving School, has warned against driving during the lockdown.
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“The temptation for parents and their learner driver children to use the lockdown as an opportunity to practice is very real,” McIntosh said.
“If we are to look forward to getting out and about again soon, we must follow the Government’s advice to stay at home and avoid the appeal of quiet roads.
“Starting to learn with family members can set up new drivers with bad habits and, without dual controls in the family car, it can also be very dangerous for those just starting out.
“But most importantly right now, it is inappropriate for learners and parents to be out on driving lessons.”
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Driving instructors are among the professions to be hit hard by the coronavirus lockdown as many are self-employed.
Chris Bensted, who has been an instructor for 12 years, told Kent Live: “The interesting thing about driving instructors, even in big companies is that everyone is an individual instructor.
“This means that they are a group of individual instructors who are self-employed.
“About 40% of instructors aren’t getting help and are not eligible for Universal Credit.”
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He added: “I currently qualify for Universal Credit but I am waiting on the self-employment grant from the government.
“Obviously, it is supposed to be 80 per cent of our earnings, but it is a taxable income and so will end up being around 58% after tax, so I needed to plan ahead.
“There are limited options such as loans and they have to be repaid, they are 12-month interest-free, but then there is a big question over whether we are going to be working by that point.
“So that leaves potentially finding a new source of income.
“For now, I am resigned to the fact that I am going to have to make do with what we have got.”
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