Near Miss of the Day 861: Driver of Red Driving School car races through red light and close passes cyclist

The DVSA isn't it ?

I'm always torn on learner driver ones, as part of me says they're allowed to make some mistakes, but also the instructor should be teaching them properly. The manner of that driving I'd hope was just the instructor by themselves.

But i was close passed the other week by a learner under tuition and I actually got hooted and punish passed by other drivers for daring to draw any attention to it.

The best driving instructors in the world still need time to work on nervous pupils, there are always going to be mistakes until their confidence grows behind the wheel. I always give learner drivers plenty of space as there is always that chance of them making an error.

In the context of this article though, a nervous pupil is not a speeding pupil, and a pupil who fails to stop at a red light is not one who would be allowed to continue driving at speed around cyclists.

I've not seen a learner driver look out of control at speed - I've seen plenty out of control at low speed, and as you rightly point out, any learner should be given a wide berth and shown tolerance.

An instructor permitting improper driving such as excess speed or close passing, as opposed to having to recover from a learner making a mistake (stalling, drifting out of lane where there is no conflict with another road user and so on) should be given zero tolerance. An instructor should see the potential for conflict with cyclists and offer guidance and be alert for intervention ahead of time.

I'd be certain from the way the car was driven that it was being driven by the instructor or a member of his family, not by a learner. If it was not an instructor working or between lessons, then it shouldn't be displaying the L plates. Proper instructors know to remove them.

which is why I say they are allowed some mistakes, but a decent instructor wouldnt let a nervous pupil make a mistake that was dangerous to other road users, theyd be spotting the hazard forming themselves and intervening telling their pupil to give more space, or slow down, not complete the pass.

I'm not sure how one "gives space" to someone approaching from behind. Do I have to check over my shoulder every 10s, and then if I see a learner pull off the road?

Car Delenda Est wrote:

Who instructs the instructors? 🙃 13 days ago (need to submit that police report for all the good it won't do) I had a driving instructor pull out from across the road straight into me...

Well as law states NIP has to be issued within 14 days of incident (non collision), reporting on day 13 will result in no action taken.

The Avon and Somerset portal only accepts reports within 7 days - this allows time to assess and process to get NIP/warning letter etc. out within the 14 day limit.

Although I believe I should still get a case no. or whatever and it should still get added to statistics which effect local government decisions (haha) which in this case is especially desirable as the area is soon to become an LTN.

I already knew Sussex Police don't give a f***, I was hit in a cycle lane last year and their response was to send me a form identical to the one I already sent with a made up 14 day limit on it.

As there was an accident, the 14 day rule does not apply.