(2 , am a driving instructor with an organisation which trains
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heavy goods vehicle drivers. From time to time, we are asked to train individuals with both provisional car and hgv driving licences; these are known as double "L"s. To teach a person to drive a car for reward the instructor must be an approved driving instructor, but for tuition on an hgv in the same circumstances this authorisation is not required. But success in the hgv driving test automatically gives a double "L" trainee a full car driving licence. In that case, is the instructor of a double "L" trainee required to be an authorised driving instructor?
AThe short answer to your question is "no". Briefly, Section 126 of the Road Traffic Act 1972 states that no instruction for payment of money or money's worth shall be given in the driving of a motor car, unless the instructor is an approved driving instructor. A "motor car" is defined, in general, as a vehicle which has an unladen weight not in excess of 3 tons.
The instruction given to a potential driver of a heavy goods vehicle is in respect of a "heavy motor car" and, therefore, the instructor does not need to be an approved driving instructor. The fact that a double "L" will also qualify for an ordinary (Part IM driving licence is incidental to the main activity.
In confirming this view, the DTp has pointed out that the original motivation behind Section 126 was as much for consumer protection as for road safety. The same circumstances did not apply to hgv driving instruction.