Kurt Bugeja Coster
Driving instructors want to decide timing of tests
Driving instructors are outraged by the Malta Transport Authority's decision to allow prospective motorists decide when to apply to do their test as from the new year.
As things stand now, learners can only sit for their test when their instructors apply on their behalf, which is when they believe learners are up to it.
Many learner drivers have complained to the instructors, the transport authority (ADT) and the media that, in their opinion, they were being held back from sitting for the test so that motoring schools could continue charging them for more lessons unnecessarily.
Driving instructors said the ADT's decision to let learners make their own applications had been in the pipeline for a while but it was only discussed with them recently.
In a meeting between the instructors' association and the ADT two days ago, the former strongly opposed the move, insisting they would not allow unprepared students to use their car for the test.
"If students want to apply for the test but their instructors are not yet satisfied with their driving abilities, we will not take any responsibility. In that case, they will have to find their own car," a spokesman for the association said.
He pointed out that driving lessons were cheaper in Malta when compared to other countries despite the expenses driving schools had to incur because of the unacceptable state of some streets, missing road signs, bad drivers and a lack of places allocated for training.
The spokesman said there were over 1,000 students ready to sit for their test. "Schools are allocated weekly slots by the authority, creating a backlog because of a lack of examiners, with students waiting for weeks, if not months," he explained. The spokesman said that although the ADT employed eight examiners, one of them was on standby and they could only examine 280 drivers a week.
"There are 61 motoring schools registered with the authority that employ 140 instructors, each teaching a considerable number of students," he said. When you work this out, the spokesman added, it amounted to just two test slots per instructor per week, not to mention those that were cancelled at short notice because of mistakes in the paperwork, leave and sick leave.
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R. Piccinino
Nov 21st 2009, 08:56
I don't know what all the big fuss is about! I got my driver's license in NY and got my license at my first attempt after 3 months of lessons twice a week. Right after I obtained my license, I used to drive from Queens NY to NJ and back everyday by myself. Practice makes perfect!
J Azzopardi
Nov 21st 2009, 08:47
Where are the safety belts in the picture ?
A. Borg
Nov 21st 2009, 07:16
Jien binti ilha fuq sena tmur darbtejn fil-gimgha ma kumpanija maghrufa u thallas 20 euro kull darba ta lezzjoni ta saghtejn. Issuq ahjar minni li ili insuq fuq 20 sena imma kull darba li tghid lil instructor jekk ma wasalx iz-zmien li titla ghat-test dejjem jghidilha li ghad baqalha x'titghallem ghax titla u tehel! B'dan ir-ritmu tkun waslhet ghall-penzjoni jew tkun iddikjaratha falluta meta jasal iz-zmien li titla ! Proset ADT.
Michael Neville Cassar
Nov 20th 2009, 20:25
R Farrugia Teaching how to drive a car does not take a genus, with rules and signs of the road is practice and experience comes by driving so do not try to make out that an instructor is needed for a whole year, bleeding money out of a student .What is needed after the student gets his driving licence to show an L for the first year so that other drivers will give way as when needed.
Vince DeBono
Nov 20th 2009, 20:01
Drivng Instructors, DON'T WORRY. If the students apply when they are not ready, they will need to come back to you for more lessons. So why object? ADT needs to earn some extra fees by allowing people to sit for the exam and fail so they can pay again for the re-try.
Clive Gerada
Nov 20th 2009, 19:38
I understand why learners are a bit upset about this... it is because most of the drivers who tend to learn how to drive a car, already do this when they are 14 years old, which it is something illegal! this means that when they are 18 they are already done to sit for the test.
R. Farrugia
Nov 20th 2009, 18:04
For those that are not ready to pay for driving lessons/test they can always learn privately with there parents or other family member with their car then send comments after done so, because driving instruction is a job to be paid for and involves lots of expenses to run.
R. Farrugia
Nov 20th 2009, 17:52
Iam sorry to say that Comments especially of - J.Demicoli (that was answerded back last time he wrote but didn`t answered back) - J Abela - A Bartolo - D Vella - JA Farrugia - MN Cassar (seems to be a genius) - J Cauchi are all unfounded comments the only 2 comment that really make sense and written with true responsability are of R Huber and D Farrugia. SAFETY have to be considered first and not personal interests - GOOD DRIVERS ARE MADE NOT BORN
Collen Isherwood
Nov 20th 2009, 17:50
Common-ish thread " bad driving/ drivers on the roads" so who taught them then????
rhuber
Nov 20th 2009, 16:06
Being involved in the business I do sympathize with some comments but on the other hand some comments come from irresponsible persons. First of all it is most unfair that ALL motoring schools are put into one basket and judged all the same. Myself I can assure all that most motoring schools are responsible and do care about their driver learners. Personally I will not take anyone for their driving ability test unless I feel confident that he/she is fit to drive on their own and are not a danger to themselves and other road users. I too get the occasional driver learner who tries to bully me about the test and stopping driving lessons and I always give them other option of what to do, such as to change to another motoring school or ask someone they know such as a relative and get them to a driving test fast. Fortunately I have children of my own and I am concerned about other learner drivers as much as I am with mine. So please let’s be responsible for I am more than sure that no parent wants their child to be involved in an accident.
John Abela
Nov 20th 2009, 15:22
Insisting they would not allow unprepared students to use their car for the test.
Np then ADT should procure one or 2 cars for the test at ax extra fee.
Anne Marie Bartolo
Nov 20th 2009, 14:33
SORRY , NOT ALL INSTRUCTORS ARE THE SAME . i WISH THAT THE LEARNERS WOULD APPLY THEMSELVES , TO SIT FOR THE TESTS BUT THE ADT MUST PROVIDE CARS THEMSELVES . AND NOT USE THE INSTRUCTORS CARS FOR THE TESTS .
Daniel Vella
Nov 20th 2009, 13:49
Might I add also that the only reason I managed to convince him was that I "threatened" him to stop the lessons. Only then did he succumb
J Demicoli
Nov 20th 2009, 13:42
At last one GOOD and COMMENDABLE decision from the ADT.
I have expressed myself about this matter earlier this summer. It really costs one a hefty sum of money to get this driving licence.
Why should it be that one must be literally at the mercy of the driving instructor?
Why should it be that a driving licence should cost one in the tune of Euro800 to Euro1500?
Why is it that one has to pay Euro70 for the instructor to file one’sapplication when this costs Euro23 at the ADT?
Why is it that some driving instructors – at least this was my experience – charge another Euro 70 apart from and independently from the first E70 on the eve of one’s driving test, claiming that this is for the insurance?
JAFarrugia
Nov 20th 2009, 12:36
I'd like to know who teaches or trains the Instructors??
The bad habits that i see when im drving are incredible, there mostly on the mobile probably booking other lessons.
I agree that it cant be very easy teaching on this island due to the amount of bad drivers there are, but if the change is gonna happen it has to be from the top all the way down.
D.Farrugia
Nov 20th 2009, 12:21
I,m a mother of a 20 year old who last week passed her driving test on her first try.She had been going for lessons for a year.She was always grumbling that she was ready for the test but the instructor wouldn,t take her.Being a driver myself,I am thankful towards the instructor cause I know that when driving, one has to pass the driving test,but and a BIG but, there is need to build up some experience on the road.The experience could be built up by driving and driving and at different times of the day.She had her driving experience through more driving lessons and as a mother I feel that it is right, after all it is more safe for her and for the other motorists.
Michael Neville Cassar
Nov 20th 2009, 12:12
Daniel Vella A year to learn how to drive ,then the instructor must be an idiot. A normal person should be able to drive a car in short time of 6 weeks provided he does not panic or scared stiff.
Daniel Vella
Nov 20th 2009, 11:09
Driving instructors in Malta are a scam! I was held back for a YEAR before I managed to convince my instructor to apply on my behalf. Apparently I was more than ready because I was one of the few who managed to get my licence on the first try.
I won't mention any names, but I know of other people who took lessons with this guy, and none of them got to take the test before a year.
Not to mention the exhorbitant fees...
Joseph Cauchi
Nov 20th 2009, 10:57
If this is not another form of CARTEL, then I don’t know what is?
Why is it that everything being done in Malta has to have some sort of “Cartel”?
Isn’t it this another sort of CORRUPTION?
The authorities should wake up and STOP THIS ABUSE NOW!
JC.