Industry given no information on new driving rules, says instructor

A driving instructor says many in the industry have received "no information" ahead of the introduction of rules for new drivers later this year.

They are being brought in by the Department for Infrastructure to try to reduce fatal road crashes involving young people.

Graduated driver licensing, which is due to be introduced on 1 October, applies to all new drivers, but is particularly aimed at 17 to 23-year-olds.

Infrastructure minister Liz Kimmins has said she acknowledges there is work to be done to ensure the time frame is met.

The new rules include a six-month wait for learner drivers before taking a practical test, as well as completing new training modules that must be signed off by an instructor or a parent or guardian.

Neil McLaren is an approved driving instructor in Newtownabbey and says the industry is "nowhere near ready" to oversee the changes coming in.

"The driving test itself isn't going to change - it appears, but what we don't know is what is required for the preparation for the driving test," he said.

"We would like to see the apps and what's going to be included - in the 14 sections that we are expected to manage - as of yet we know absolutely nothing of what is going to be contained in this.

"How they are going to be managed?

"Who is responsible for signing them off?

"All of this information still has to come to the industry - we would like to know."

McLaren said the delay in instructors being given the necessary information could impact negatively on the profession.

"I don't want to change and there are people who - are actively retiring because of this change - and because of the lack of information which is coming our direction," he warned.

He appealed for the minister and her department to "talk" to the industry.

David Boyles from the Northern Ireland Approved Instructors Council said he had concerns about the "finer" details of what instructors will be expected to do.

He told Stormont's infrastructure committee that the council had requested seminars from the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) to explain how the system will work in practice.

"But at this present moment in time, no dates have been set," added Boyles.

He told assembly members (MLAs) that the council only learned that the changes were being introduced when they were made public by the minister in a news announcement in January.

Asked if he thought the proposed timeframe for putting the changes in place was reasonable, Boyles said it depends on how quickly information is released.

"As long as instructors are going to be informed with all aspects of GDL (graduated driver licensing), what is expected of the instructor, the pupil and the parents' side.

"If we get all that and can get that out to the industry... there's a slim possibility instructors could be ready for 1 October."

Carly Brookfield from the Driving Instructors Association, which represents instructors across the UK, said more work needs to be done about how the "log book" will work, when it comes to signing off training that new drivers do.

"There might have to be more instructor time and that comes at a cost, but it's better than allowing a novice to be trained by a novice - and kicking the can down the road in terms of risk," she told MLAs.

Infrastructure minister Liz Kimmins said departmental officials will be engaging with instructors between now and October but acknowledged there is work to be done to ensure the timeframe is met.

"This legislation has been sitting on the shelf for many, many years I want to ensure we get it out there and get it implemented so it can make a real difference.

"This is about saving lives."

The reforms, described as the most significant changes in 70 years, will see Northern Ireland adopt a version of laws in place in countries including Australia, the US and the Republic of Ireland.

The Department for Infrastructure said graduated driving licences were aimed at revising training and testing for new drivers and motorcyclists.

The minister said that in 2024, there were 164 people killed or seriously injured in Northern Ireland's roads from crashes caused by a driver aged between 17 and 23.

This age group of drivers account for 24% of fatal or serious collisions despite holding just 8% of licences, she added.