Driving instructor raging over abuse on Northamptonshire roads causing learners to quit

Driving instructor Linda Ball is fuming over other motorists abusing her learners on Northamptonshire roads.

Linda who runs Lady Auto Driving School in Daventry is backing a petition calling for stiffer road rage penalties.

She Linda said: “Pre-pandemic, I had maybe one to two issues with abuse per day — now it's one or two every lesson.

“I was out recently for six hours teaching and received abuse in each lesson.

“I really feel there should be a tough consequence for drivers abusing learners, it's surely time for there to be an offence of learner intimidation or dangerous driving around a learner, with points or a fine being imposed.

"If another driver causes a learner to have an accident, the abusing driver needs to be held responsible for the accident.”

The petition started by learner driver insurers, Marmalade, is now approaching 11,000 signatures.

Marmalade’s research, surveying more than 1,000 learners and more than 400 instructors across the UK, revealed every four in five have experienced abuse and intimidation from other road users while driving.

Nearly 60 percent of instructors say it has increased since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic resulting in one in eight learners quitting.

Linda added: “I would have loved to have been surprised about Marmalade's stat of 81 percent of learners receiving abuse, but unfortunately I'm not.

“On one occasion after I'd asked a pupil to stop on the left in a safe place, another motorist pulled alongside and shouted through his window that my pupil was a ******* idiot for stopping there.

“He then stopped in front of us, so we had to consider going around him, but he pulled away laughing and waving.

“My pupil went into a meltdown, she couldn't believe that anyone could be so nasty to her.

“Following the incident and with her test a couple of days later she felt she no longer wanted to drive and taking the test would be pointless.

“Something has to be done, as this can’t go on.”

Marmalade’s report found a whopping 99 percent of UK instructors have witnessed abuse directed at their pupils.

They believe the intimidation is leading to an increase in errors on the road.

Marmalade’s managing director Paul Baxter said: “This issue means a lot to us and is something we feel incredibly passionate about. It’s something that impacts the majority of our customer base and that’s why we’re calling on the Government to help.

“Our research found that 54 percent of all respondents supported on-the-spot fines for abuse and more than one-third want penalty points.

“We’re asking the Government to do more to prevent on-road bullying of learners by introducing measures to impose stronger sentences on drivers who drive carelessly or dangerously around learner drivers.

“Everyone who drives has been a learner before, so they should be able to empathise with the struggles of learner drivers and feel compelled to help by signing this petition.”

■ Click HERE to find out more and to sign the petition to encourage changes in the highway code and penalties for abusive road users.