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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/derb ... 140057.stm

Driving school buys breathalysers

A driving school in Derby is using a breathalyser on its pupils to make sure they are safe to get behind the wheel.

The Derby Driving School has bought eight of the hand held devices for instructors to check that learner drivers have not been drinking alcohol.

Owner Malcolm Spencer said he was particularly worried about customers who were still affected by drinking from the night before.

He said anyone refusing to take the test would not be allowed to drive.

Life lessons

Mr Spencer said the breathalysers were similar to those used by the police, costing about £70 each.

"We have some pupils who are considered to be at risk for driving while still under the influence of drinking the previous night," he said.

He added: "It is an opportunity to teach the pupils about alcohol and driving because we are not just teaching them to pass their driving test, you are teaching them to drive safely for the rest of their lives.

"A lot of drivers take their frustrations out on learner drivers so they have to be taught to deal with that and we want them ready and safe."

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I hope that this is a publicity stunt.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

Bizarre

The article doesn't make it clear though whether the pupils will be automatically tested before every lesson, or only when the instructor has "reasonable suspicion" the pupil may be over the limit.

If they have "reasonable suspicion" in the first place, don't do the lesson regardless

BTW Do the instructors test themselves before setting out?

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That's how Nazi Germany started. They'll be burning books next. (Brian Noble, Wigan coach - updated 20/4/06!!).

I can understand their position though, and would challenge anyone who "deals with the general public" on a day to day basis to counter. Pupil seems a little dopey, maybe maybe thats faint alcohol on breath, instructer not quite sure, breathaliser can settle the arguement, with the instructer reasoning to the student "It's my licence too chum".

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Fear is a weapon of mass distraction

I remember a thread on the old IAM Forum where one observer was expressing concern about an associate who'd asked for a weekend run to be put back until later in the day because of a heavy night the night before. The description suggested he might not be legal to drive in the afternoon either.

Young drivers are often very ignorant of the morning-after drink-driving issue (partly because government campaigns do not tell people about it as it "blurs the message") and so long as the breathalysers are only used where the instructor has reasonable grounds for suspicion then I don't see a problem.

Incidentally, is the supervising driver committing an offence if the learner turns out to be over the legal limit?

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed