Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
The rising cost of driving lessons is becoming an increasing concern for learner drivers, with the situation potentially set to worsen. Following the outbreak of conflict in Iran, fuel prices at UK petrol stations have surged dramatically. This uptick in costs has raised alarms among driving instructors and industry bodies, who warn that lesson fees might climb further while securing practical driving tests could become even more difficult.
Rachael Hutson-Lumb, who has worked as a driving instructor for four years, shared her perspective with BBC Newsbeat. She explained that she has kept a close watch on fuel price fluctuations and has recently increased her lesson fees by 50p, bringing her hourly rate to £37.50. “My prices are going up a bit, not a lot, because I appreciate lessons are already not cheap for learners,” Rachael said. She emphasized the necessity of adjusting prices in line with rising costs due to lessons forming her key source of income.
According to the RAC, UK petrol and diesel prices rose by a greater margin in one month than ever before, largely driven by the ongoing war. However, the government insists that fuel supplies remain “resilient.” The UK’s largest professional group for driving instructors, the Driving Instructors Association (DIA), noted that any increase in lesson prices would be carefully considered but somewhat unavoidable. Meanwhile, learners such as 26-year-old Catherine Thoyts from Bristol are feeling the pinch. Catherine, who works in a care home, pays £80 for a two-hour lesson and finds that higher prices could make it harder to afford her lessons. Although her instructor has not yet raised prices, she worries about the combined impact of a jobs crisis and already expensive lessons on many young people.
There are also concerns about potential fuel rationing, a measure introduced in some European countries like Slovenia due to cross-border fuel purchasing. The DIA and the Approved Driving Instructors National Joint Council (ADINJC) have urged the UK government to prioritize fuel access for instructors and examiners if rationing comes into effect. Rachael Hutson-Lumb highlighted the severity of the issue, stating that any rationing would cause major disruption, not only to her business but to the wider workforce. She said, “If we can’t get fuel, no one’s going to be able to work and that’s going to be a problem.” Transport Scotland has acknowledged the ongoing challenges with driving test availability but confirmed these remain a responsibility of the UK government and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.