A HEREFORD driving instructor has warned county residents about the need to find proper training if they are considering entering the profession.

Phil Brown, of U2 Drive driver training, fears the recession could see a flood of driving instructors who are not fully qualified.

Mr Brown told the Hereford Times that there appeared to be press and television campaigns encouraging people to take instructor training with the promise of a substantial annual wage.

Yet many of those who are enticed to enter the profession do not realise they will lose their training fees if they fail the tests.

Even if they pass them but choose to work in an area that already has enough instructors, they may struggle to earn a reasonable wage after costs have been paid out.

“A fully qualified driving instructor has to pass three tests: a theory test, a driving test and a test of ability to instruct,” said Mr Brown, who has been an instructor for six years.

“Having passed the first two, a partly qualified instructor is allowed to give driving lessons for six months. The third test is the test of instructional ability. This is key to the whole thing – and is the most difficult part to pass.”

He says not only could an unsuspecting trainee driving instructor lose out, the situation could also be a problem for learners.

“Students are still paying for lessons and possibly won’t be told their instructor is a provisional driving instructor,” he said. “They may not be given the full picture and perhaps their faults are not being picked up as they occur. A new driver can start picking up bad habits.”

Another of the city’s driving instructors has also stressed the importance of finding the right person to teach learners to drive.

Heather Thompson, a self-emp-loyed driving instructor who is also a member of road safety group Time and Place, said there were other advantages to having an approved driving instructor.

“On a one-to-one basis, young girls can be quite vulnerable but anybody who is an approved driving instructor has had a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check,” she said.

“Students should also be aware of instructors who ask for money up front. The best way is not to pay for a block of lessons unless you are completely happy with the driving instructor.”

She added fully qualified driving instructors would have a green ADI licence, with their photo included, displayed on their windscreen.