FT/D/2025/0451/FPP - [2025] UKFTT 01248 (GRC)

The Appellant has been involved with the driver training and examining industry for over 20 years both as an ADI previously and more recently as part of the DVSA ADI enforcement team. The Appellant is no longer a part of the DVSA ADI enforcement team and so has sought to return to being an ADI and hence has sought to have his name entered on the Register.

The Appellant recognises that the fixed penalties are something they are ashamed and embarrassed about.

Both incidents were just over 10% above the relevant limit, but the Appellant recognises that this is still below the standard required even though the driving was not careless or high risk.

Given the Appellant’s record and background they are confused why they are not a fit and proper person.

Up until 2023 the Appellant had a perfect driver record with no fines or points and in their last quarterly review they were assessed as exceeding in their role as an ADI examiner.

Having carefully considered the representations made by the Appellant it remains the case that the fact that their driving licence is currently endorsed with 6 penalty points for two offences of excess speed cannot be ignored. Further, the offences were committed whilst they were a DVSA ADI qualified driving examiner.

The Appellant’s driving licence is currently endorsed with 6 penalty points having accepted two fixed penalty notices for exceeding the speed limit on a motorway. The conditions for entry onto the register extend beyond instructional ability and require that the applicant is a fit and proper person. Anyone who is an ADI is expected to have standards of driving and behaviour above that of the ordinary motorist. Teaching (generally) young people to drive as a profession is a responsible and demanding task which should only be entrusted to those with high standards and a keen regard for road safety. The Appellant is not believed to have displayed the required level of responsibility or commitment to improving road safety that is expected from an ADI.

Speeding offences are serious road safety offences and give rise to significant numbers of casualties and accidents.

Registration represents official approval, it would be inappropriate to condone motoring offences of this nature as it would effectively sanction such behaviour if transgressors are allowed entry on to the register to teach others.

It would be offensive to other ADIs and persons trying to qualify as such, who have scrupulously observed the law for this recent relevant conviction to be ignored.