New Safety Rules For Driving Schools

SERVICE N.S./MUNICIPAL RELATIONS--New Safety Rules For Driving Schools

New driver training school regulations will help make for a safer environment for students learning how to drive, Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations Minister Barry Barnet announced today, Oct. 1.

"Driver training provides new drivers with a sound foundation and is an important part of making our roads safer," said the minister.

After reviewing the driving school and instructor regulations, representatives of the industry and members of the Road Safety Advisory Committee, the committee responsible for promoting road safety, agreed that changes were needed. The revisions are part of the initial renewal of licences for driving schools.

The new regulations will:

• include a provision that a criminal record check be conducted as part of the initial licensing of a school or instructor;
• enhance the training programs for instructors;
• report course results to the department,
• ensure that instructors must be employed by either a public or private educational institution or have completed an instructors course approved by the department;
• increase in-car training to 10 hours;
• include instruction on cross walk safety,
• require that vehicles used for training are in good mechanical condition, and
• require driving schools to have all the necessary equipment and personnel to conduct both classroom and on-road training.

The minister added that the updated rules will enable the province to maintain an effective and safe driving school program.

Driver training schools and instructors are licensed under provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act. For more information see the website at www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/.