A driving instructor spent an entire lesson watching a film on his phone, while another tutor was accused of tailgating a vehicle, flashing its lights and gesturing angrily at a fellow motorist, according to complaints submitted to the Road Safety Authority, reports Breaking News.
The RSA said it received more than 160 complaints from dissatisfied learner drivers last year concerning the standard of driving lessons and tuition, reports Breaking News.
One complainant alleged their instructor used a racial slur, made sexualised remarks and joked about ‘Women’s Aid’ for “battering [his] car.”
A copy of the complaint stated the instructor had said: “‘Watch that hand or I’ll have a case against you,’ implying that I had nearly touched him inappropriately, which I absolutely had not,” reports Breaking News.
Another learner described receiving threatening text messages from an instructor who warned they would report them for driving without insurance.
They added: “A girl has also come out to me saying he would be talking about other girls during driving lessons talking about private body parts with his clients,” reports Breaking News.
One resident complained of ongoing problems with an instructor parking on a footpath and “continually obstructing” pedestrians.
“This is who is teaching our young to drive,” they said. “Worrying to say the least,” reports Breaking News.
Of the 161 complaints lodged, 46 related to conduct or behaviour, while 25 concerned payment issues or fees.
There were 21 grievances about the overall quality of instruction and a further 21 regarding lesson routes or formats, reports Breaking News.
Another 31 learners said their lessons had not been properly uploaded to the online portal used for driver testing, according to RSA documents released under FOI.
One individual also complained that after around 12 lessons, their instructor abruptly began behaving in a “rude and very agitated manner,” reports Breaking News.
They explained: “She even tried to induce me to make a mistake at the beginning of today’s class, where she asked me to drive through dangerous traffic at a T-junction.”
The complaint further stated that at the end of one lesson, they were left “in the rain in a parking lot far from [their] house,” reports Breaking News.
Another learner said they were taken directly onto a dual carriageway during their first lesson despite not knowing the function of the pedals.
An email read: “From the very first lesson, he was constantly on his phone not paying attention to the road or what I was doing,” reports Breaking News.
This was among several complaints alleging excessive mobile phone use by instructors during lessons.
A separate complaint stated: “The instructor was watching a movie on his phone. [He] was stuck to his screen,” reports Breaking News.
One learner said their lesson was interrupted for what was described as a toilet break.
However, the instructor “returned with hot food that smelled strongly of fish and chips,” reports Breaking News.
The complaint continued: “This was extremely unprofessional, but I continued the lesson at the time. In the second lesson, he again arrived late and asked me to pull into a car park.
“I assumed this was to practise manoeuvres, but instead he said he was going to get a coffee and left me sitting alone in the car for over ten minutes,” reports Breaking News.
One extensive complaint detailed multiple issues, including claims the instructor told the learner to drive along the hard shoulder for a prolonged period.
The learner said they were also instructed to drive with just one hand on the steering wheel and received conflicting and confusing feedback, reports Breaking News.
After one incident, the instructor allegedly became extremely angry, prompting the learner to decide to exit the vehicle.
The complaint alleged: “After I exited, he locked the back door, preventing me from retrieving my mobile phone. When I asked him to unlock it, he refused, stating: ‘You haven’t paid me yet,’” reports Breaking News.
When asked about the complaints, the RSA said it had no further comment to make, reports Breaking News.
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