LISTEN: Driving instructors in 'complete chaos' following restrictions announcement

by Q Radio News

Driving instructors have been 'thrown into complete chaos' following the latest restrictions set by the Executive to curb the spread of Covid-19.

On Friday, the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) announced that driving tests would be cancelled for the four weeks that the tighter restrictions are set to last for.

Driving lessons must also cease because of the close proximity and length of time drivers and their students would be in close contact.

The Northern Ireland Approved Instructors Council (NIAIC) now say 1,200 instructors have been left 'devastated' by the local developments.

"Driving instructors as a whole were given less than 45 minutes official notice from the DVA that driving lessons were to stop," said its chair Gavin Sinclair

Gavin Sinclair

"We have been informed that the decision was made by the NI Executive on Friday morning and that the DVA were only informed just before lunchtime about the decision."

He added: "Whilst other businesses and industries were given a few days to prepare for the new regulations, difficult though they may be, we were given no warning that we had to close for 4 weeks.

"We appreciate that these are difficult times for everyone, however there are now over 1200 instructors in Northern Ireland left devastated by this impossibly late news.

"The coronavirus pandemic has seen multiple challenges and changes within our industry and has obviously had a huge impact, however it shows a major lack of foresight, management and planning from the NI Executive to allow the opening of driving tests on Monday 5th October 2020 and then to close them again just over a week later."

Mr Sinclair says all necessary public health requirements have been adhered to by drivers.

"Driving instructors were left out of the original lockdown regulations imposed in March 2020, by the NI Executive, and again we are an afterthought.

"There have been no COVID cases confirmed in relation to driving instruction or examiners as we have worked hard since resuming in July to put in appropriate PPE and we adhere strictly to guidance from the Public Health Agency. Given this, we would like to ask why are we included in the new regulations?"

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon said support for driving instructors will be available if they are eligible for support schemes.

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon MLA

She said, "that this will be of huge concern to driving instructors who had taken considerable steps to deliver their services safely."

"Like other close-contact services which have been closed, they will be able to avail of, subject to eligibility criteria, financial support schemes being put in place during time that they are closed," she added.