Can Driving Instructors Use Their Phone While Teaching?

Picture the scene. You are a nervous and ridiculously anxious first-time learner getting behind the wheel of a car for the first time ever. Yet your proclaimed driving instructor is totally engrossed in their iPhone and swiping right on every scantily clad faceless torso on Tinder.

Not the best start for your first ever driving lesson. Also, unprofessional and totally illegal.

Whilst most driving instructors are proficient and wouldn’t even consider rudely fiddling away on their phone while teaching someone to drive, there are some that feel a quick call or text isn’t really a big issue.

Well, if you take away the downright lack of courtesy and respect, there is the issue of them being paid to be teaching you and them not fulfilling a service in which you have paid your hard-earned money (or parents’ money) for them to complete.

This doesn’t exactly portray an accomplished and experienced. And then there is the small matter of them breaking the law.

Instructors who are caught using their mobile whilst on the road teaching face the same penalty as drivers caught using their mobile – that’s six points and a hefty £200 fine. Worst still for the instructor, is that they may end up losing their job.

There are expectations of course. You’re driving instructor may use a mobile or tablet device for showing you driving or manoeuvre visual aids for example, providing you’re safely parked up of course.

But typing away on WhatsApp while a clueless learner drives recklessly on the M25 is a definite no!

So not only is that a bad Google review but potential unemployment on the horizon. Were those anonymous Tinder swipes really worth it?

So, if you ever find yourself in the uncomfortable and slightly awkward predicament of being in a crammed car with an obnoxious driving instructor staring at their mobile phone rather than watching your manoeuvres. Not only should you tell them to ditch their phone, ditch them too and find yourself a driving instructor that actually cares.

How to be a Driving Instructor

If you are looking to help people get behind the wheel and on the road, then a career as a Driving Instructor could be for you. To kick-start your career as a Driving Instructor, find out more about getting a Driving Licence first.

Already have a Driving Licence? Then you are ready to begin the process of becoming an Approved Driving Instructor.

Looking for a Driving Instructor? Find out more information at the Get Licensed Driving School.