Police warn driving school instructors

by Ananda KANNANGARA

The Motor Traffic Department (MTD) has warned instructors of driving schools to refrain from conducting training classes for drivers after 6.00 pm.

According to MTD regulations, driving school instructors are not permitted to train drivers after 6.00 pm and the police could take action against them.

Motor Traffic Commissioner General, B.D.L. Dharmapriya told the Sunday Observer that many driving school instructors ignore such warnings and conduct regular driving classes. Some driving schools are in the habit of training drivers on busy highways and crowded junctions regardless of long traffic jams in the mornings, afternoons and at peak hours in the evening. According to MTD regulations a person who holds a temporary driving licence, by the Department could not drive a vehicle without the assistance of another in it. Only authorised instructors of driving schools could train people and not other persons even if they hold a valid driving licence.

A senior MTD official of the Narahenpita called upon temporary driving licenceholders to refrain from driving on busy highways until, they become conversant with road rules. There was a recent incident at Wadduwa in Kalutara where, a car belonging to a driving school crashed into a roadside tree. Four occupants including the driving instructor were in the car at the time of the accident which took place around 7 pm.

An occupant of the vehicle and the driving instructor received minor injuries.

Police who rushed to the scene reprimanded the driving instructor for training new drivers on a highway in the dark.