Driver's licence testing set for an overhaul after survey reveals widespread concerns about corruption

They are teaching the next generation of South Australian drivers but a new survey says the teacher driver sector has serious issues with corruption. And something has to change.

Transport Minister Stephan Knoll said the new information was alarming. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

• Corrupt driving instructor Ibtisam Dimachki spared jail
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Driving teachers putting the next generation of motorists on South Australian roads have been accused of corruption, bribery and inappropriate behaviour with minors.

The shocking allegations – highlighted in a State Government survey that found 85 per cent of drivers and students were aware that the system was corrupt – have prompted an overhaul of the driver-teaching sector.

In one case highlighted in the survey, a driving teacher sent sexually explicit text messages to students. In other cases, students had to hand back their licences because no testing had taken place.

The State Government-commissioned survey of the sector and students found 85 per cent of industry participants were aware or very aware of corruption in the industry.

And 28 per cent of students did not feel confident with all of their driving skills after gaining their full driver’s licence. The survey also found major components of driving tests had been omitted by instructors.

Transport Minister Stephan Knoll told The Advertiser the survey results were alarming.

“We have had reports of driving instructors accepting bribes, misrepresenting their accreditation, engaging in inappropriate behaviour with minors or engaging in other business – some of these have led to convictions,” he said.

“If novice drivers aren’t being trained to an acceptable level, this not only jeopardises the safety of the new driver themselves, but also everyone else on our roads.

Driving instructors have a huge responsibility to equip teenagers and new drivers with the road safety and driving skills that could one day help save their life on the road and keep others safe too.”

Mr Knoll said new reforms being introduced for driving teachers would include:

TOUGHER entry requirements

HARSHER sanctions for poor performance

INCREASED penalties for unacceptable behaviour

GREATER transparency of auditing.

It comes as instructor Ibtisam Dimachki, who bribed her corrupt son to pass her students and give them licences without testing them, narrowly avoided prison this week.

In sentencing, Judge Mary-Louise Hribal, said: “It’s critically important that people who drive on our roads have been suitably tested. Your actions undermined the scheme designed to protect all of us from unqualified drivers.”

The Graduated Licensing Scheme, the process of obtaining a full licence, requires at least 75 hours of supervised driving during the learner’s permit phase, a compulsory hazard perception test and compulsory practical driving assessment to progress to stage one of a two-stage provisional licence. Instructors can be used to help drivers log the necessary hours and also assess learners for their P plates.

RAA spokesman Ben Haythorpe said it was “supportive” of measures to improve road safety. “However, we would want to see the details,” he said.