Compulsory registration for Driving Instructors

All driving instructors operating in Victoria must be registered from March 1, 1999, under new laws introduced by the State Government.

The Minister for Roads and Ports, Geoff Craige, said the Road Safety (Driving Instructors) Act would establish the minimum skills and knowledge required to conduct professional driving instruction. It would also ensure that driving instructors were of good character.

"The Government's focus is on road safety and we are therefore committed to examining ways of improving training and assessment of driving instructors," he said.

The Act provides for a series of accreditation and quality checks for instructors to ensure that learner drivers receive the best possible driving instruction.

All driving instructors will need to satisfy minimum standards for registration including:

* holding a current full driver licence;
* satisfying fitness/propriety checks, including those related to criminal, drink driving and traffic offences;
* minimum eyesight standards;
* successfully completing an approved training course; and
* providing photographic identification, name and registration number on the dashboard of their vehicles while conducting lessons.

An industry code of practice is also being developed to support the introduction of regulated minimum standards. This will address vehicle cleanliness and roadworthiness, smoking in vehicles, professional standards, complaint mechanisms and other customer service matters.

(News Release, Minister for Roads and Ports, November 2, 1998)