Instructors get star ratings?

Driving instructors may soon get star ratings under new Government plans. Learners could use these to gauge tutors’ pass rates, and ‘cherry pick’ those who are most likely to get them through their practical test at the first attempt. It’s part of a raft of changes to test and driver training which have been proposed by the Department for Transport (DfT). But driving school BSM claims the plans are unfair. Its road safety expert Robin Cummins – a former chief examiner at the Driving Standards Agency – said: “A star rating should be measured against the local pass rate, the national average and the number of tests pupils have done. It’s too simplistic to say instructor A is better than instructor B because more of his pupils passed.”

Other proposals include giving instructors the final say over whether pupils are ready to take their test – although this could encourage unnecessarily long training.

The DfT says it wants to improve young drivers’ standards. Currently, one in five has an accident within six months of getting their licence.