Young learner drivers need protection from 'predatory' instructors, claims MP
- Published
There are calls for more protection for young learner drivers
Driving instructors should be banned from having sex with young learner drivers.
That's what Conservative MP Richard Graham has told Prime Minister Theresa May.
He says instructors should be covered by the same rules as teachers.
The MP for Gloucester wants the law to be changed to protect young drivers from "being groomed by a predatory instructor".
'Jess' from Portsmouth told Newsbeat she had a bad experience with her driving instructor.
"I started noticing little comments. He'd talk about whether I cycled anywhere and said 'You'd look good in Lycra'.
"He added me on Facebook and would ask me questions about whether I was single. As soon as I ended the lessons, I had a text from him asking me out for a drink."
Jess says this left her "mortified" as she thought she was way too young for him.
"Why would he think this would be an appropriate thing to do?"
She didn't complain because she wanted the whole thing to be over and thought that, aged 26, she could handle herself.
But looking back, she wishes she had said something.
"17 or 18-year-olds are probably in the car with this guy and what's stopping him from talking to them in the same way he talked to me?"
In 2001, the law was changed to make it illegal for teachers to engage in sexual activity with pupils at their school, if they were aged under 18.
Conservative MP Richard Graham says he's concerned about driving instructors abusing their position of trust.
Theresa May has said she would ask the appropriate government department to look into the issue.
Nick Ibbott has been a driving instructor for over 30 years.
"You've got to make sure that you don't cross that line and if someone is uncomfortable, they should complain to the necessary people," he says.
Driving instructor Nick Ibbott
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Authority (DVSA) is a government body, which approves people to be driving instructors and makes sure they provide good quality training.
In a statement, the DVSA said it takes the safety of learner drivers very seriously.
"All allegations of improper conduct will be investigated by DVSA and could result in instructors being removed from the register."
Find us on Instagram at BBCNewsbeat, external and follow us on Snapchat, search for bbc_newsbeat, external