A brand new rule change for driving instructors has come into force this week in a bid to protect teachers during their lessons.
As of Wednesday, January 25, driving instructors and examiners will have to wear a body camera in order to ensure their safety, reports Glasgow Live. This change comes in a bid to tackle the issue of abuse, which has bee increasing, according to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).
In a report from the DVSA, there have been "1,702 overall assaults or abuse incidents at driver and rider tests by financial year". The number of physical assaults in total is at 58.
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As these rules come into place, it means that learners who either verbally or physically attack their instructor will face having their record hit - meaning it could take longer to get a future test. This is because centre managers can deem these people as high enough of a risk that they need two examiners in the car as a safety precaution.
What have the DVSA said to instructors?
In an email to instructors on Wednesday, the DVSA said: "From today (January 25) driving examiners will begin to wear body worn cameras to help tackle an increase in abuse.
"We’ve taken this decision due to an increase in unacceptable violent and abusive incidents against driving examiners since testing restarted after the pandemic restrictions.
"Although the most recent figures show incidents of abuse have dropped since, they still remain on course to be higher than before the pandemic."
How will the cameras be used?
These cameras will become an essential part of the new driving instructors uniform - to ensure their safety. Cameras will only be switched on if an examiner feels threatened or to capture inappropriate behaviour.
Following this, the footage will only be released if required to prosecute if abuse occurs. The cameras not available to be used to dispute a candidate's test result.
How will learners be informed?
Driving examiners are being instructed to tell pupils and candidates that they will start to see body cameras worn and in use.
Candidates will be informed of the serious consequences of abusing an examiner, with the risk of cancelling tests or even prosecution. The DVSA explained: "Body worn cameras are not new to DVSA, our enforcement examiners tackling road-side issues have worn them for several years."
The information below lists the number of overall assaults or abuse incidents at driver and rider tests by financial year:
- 2018-19: 319
- 2019-20: 332
- 2020-21: 162
- 2021-22: 610
- 2022-23: 285 (financial year until 20/12/22)
Total – 1,702
This is the number of physical assaults at driver and rider tests by financial year:
- 2018-19: 8
- 2019-20: 12
- 2020-21: 10
- 2021-22: 17 (financial year until 20/12/22)
- 2022-21: 11
Total – 58
Peter Hearn, DVSA’s Director of Operations told Glasgow Live: "Our colleagues have every right to feel safe at work. One assault is one too many and we will not tolerate any form of abuse.
“Although the majority of people are courteous, we hope that the cameras will help our examiners feel safer from the abusive minority.”
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