FT/D/2025/0376/FPP - [2025] UKFTT 01239 (GRC)

The Appeal

The Appellant lodged an appeal on form GRC1 dated 27 March 2025. He gave the following reasons for the appeal: 

“I wish to dispute the suggestion that I am no longer a fit and proper person to be a driving instructor, as I qualified as an instructor in 2005 and practiced continually until 2010 where I took a career break until 2018 and then continuously until the present day.

The fact that I have two speeding offences does not outweigh the fact that I am a fit and proper person, as both of these matters did not involve my acting as an instructor, one being in North Wales where I was convicted at travelling at 60mph in a 50mph zone (caused by my missing a traffic sign which had reduced the speed limit) and the more recent offence being my accidentally travelling at 36 mph in a 30mph area.

The particular reason I would wish to continue is that I have over the years developed a special interest in the teaching of individuals with special needs to drive. I currently have over 50% of my pupils who have different forms of anxiety, autism, ADHD and Asperger’s Syndrome and all of these individuals would be caused great distress if I were not allowed to continue to teach them. I will be able to supply documentary proof of these matters and references from my pupils and others before an oral hearing takes place.”

The Registrar’s Statement of Case dated 27 August 2025 resists the appeal. The Registrar says that the Appellant has failed to notify within 7 days or fully explain the circumstances of either offence or the speed he was travelling at the time and being under pressure is no excuse for committing these offences. A professional instructor having committed the first offence would have changed his behaviour. The Registrar stated that anyone who is an ADI is expected to have standards of driving and behaviour above that of the ordinary motorist. However, he did not believe the Appellant has displayed the level of responsibility or commitment to improving road safety that he would expect to see from a professional ADI. The Registrar cannot condone motoring offences of this nature and persons who commit them should not be allowed to remain on an official register that allows them to teach others.

The Appellant did not provide a Reply.