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Original poster

Can a supervisor of a learner driver be prosecuted??

117 replies

Correc · 18/12/2023 13:25

My friend wants me to supervise him driving to North Wales which is a 3 hour drive from our area. I am aware that learners must display L or D plates and must not drive on motorways. However if he decides to not use L/D plates or drives on a motorway, obviously there is nothing I can do to stop him. Can I as the supervisor be prosecuted for anything if he gets caught by the police?

OP posts:

Original poster

Correc · 18/12/2023 16:37

@YouveGotAFastCar What can I put instead of these reasons? How do I phrase a polite but objective ‘no’?

OP posts:

Luxell934 · 18/12/2023 16:37

Correc · 18/12/2023 16:25

@RedToothBrush Most insurance companies want the supervisor to be over 25. I’m 24.

He has just said he’ll keep looking even after I said I’d prefer to wait. Then I put there's too much responsibility and he said there isn’t. He won’t take no for an answer!!

Oh come off it, just tell him NO. Without L plates and no motorways it's illegal.

Why can't you drive yourself if you are going to travel with him 3 hours each way anyway?

Potentialmadcatlady · 18/12/2023 16:38

Correc · 18/12/2023 13:44

Basically, he doesn’t want people to know that do is only provisional because he drives around in his own. He only told me recently, I was understanding as I know many people do it.

So because other people do it you are going to condone?
Will you condone it if he kills a family Christmas week?
Hope your ‘understanding’ can give you peace of mind if he wipes you or other people out.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Driving & parking

RedToothBrush · 18/12/2023 16:44

Correc · 18/12/2023 16:37

@YouveGotAFastCar What can I put instead of these reasons? How do I phrase a polite but objective ‘no’?

"I'm sorry, I do not feel happy supervising. I do not want the responsibility. You are asking for too much and pressuring me which I find upsetting. You need to pass your test so you don't have this problem in the future. This is not my problem to fix."

If he goes off in a mood, even better. This man is not your friend. It needs repeating. He doesn't care about you.

RedToothBrush · 18/12/2023 16:46

Correc · 18/12/2023 16:37

@YouveGotAFastCar What can I put instead of these reasons? How do I phrase a polite but objective ‘no’?

You SHOULD put those reasons: "its illegal and you wouldn't be insured. I am not enabling that. I am not taking on that responsibility. Its your problem to fix, and you are not being a friend for putting me in this situation"

I don't understand why you think you should be polite about it.

You are a doormat. Stop being polite. Be direct and blunt.

Why are you afraid of this man?

ToWonderWhyIBother · 18/12/2023 16:47

Have you held your full licence for over 2 years @Correc, as that's a stipulation for sitting with a learner driver.

But I can't stress enough, that this will not go well if you do sit in the car with him and the police do a random stop as they usually do at this time of the year.

They will check his licence realise its a provisional only, and they will confiscate the car so if you happen to be 3 hours away how are you planning to get home ?

He will have to go to court, will get points and a ban and possibly a fine, his insurance when he eventually passes his test will be through the roof as it will be noted on all insurance databases, there is no hiding this.

You may also get a bloody good bollocking from the police who stop him and to be honest you would totally deserve it.

Just tell him NO he is breaking the law and you are not going to be a part of it.

HelpMeGetThrough · 18/12/2023 16:47

Correc · 18/12/2023 16:37

@YouveGotAFastCar What can I put instead of these reasons? How do I phrase a polite but objective ‘no’?

Just say, "no, I'm not doing it, now stop going on about it".

MaggieFS · 18/12/2023 16:48

Just say no.

If he's pressuring you he doesn't sound like much of a friend.

Tbh, I'd have a pretty dim view of a friend who thinks it's ok to drive illegally anyway.

Perhaps you need to call 101 sooner rather than later and that might put a stop to it all anyway.

BrilliantEarth · 18/12/2023 16:49

I was understanding as I know many people do it

You know some very stupid people.

I don't know a single person who has done this, including all my DC and their friends.

gotomomo · 18/12/2023 16:53

What he is doing is illegal, I suggest you inform him he must stop driving unaccompanied immediately and you will report him if he does it again. Laws are in place for a reason, why doesn't he just take his test

As476 · 18/12/2023 16:55

For each missing L Plate the driver gets 3 points ☺️. I found this out the hard way when one of mine flew off on a 70mph dual carriageway. Thankfully I had a spare and the policeman was so lovely, I genuinely didn’t notice it was missing as I didn’t see it go. The policeman let me off as he could see it was a genuine error - I also had P plates in the packet in the car ready and printed insurance documents - so he was happy to let me stick a new L on and keep driving.

rubydoobydoo · 18/12/2023 16:55

Why is he bothering having a supervisor if he's not planning to abide by the other rules that would make it legal? With no L plates and driving on motorways he could still have his car seized and be prosecuted or fined for driving otherwise than in accordance with his licence.

Is he your partner, OP? If it's somewhere you're planning to go together can't you just do the driving?

Longma · 18/12/2023 16:59

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. at the request of it's author.

Longma · 18/12/2023 17:02

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. at the request of it's author.

OceanicBoundlessness · 18/12/2023 17:06

Surely it's really simple. You do the motorway bits and he does the rest with L place on.

SheilaFentiman · 18/12/2023 17:10

RedToothBrush · 18/12/2023 16:44

If he goes off in a mood, even better. This man is not your friend. It needs repeating. He doesn't care about you.

Show quote history

Perfect.

those saying why doesn’t he just sit a test - it’s very hard at the moment to book test slots and often they are in random places 100 miles away etc.

he is still an utter knobber for breaking the law, though.

CatherinedeBourgh · 18/12/2023 17:10

Just say 'I'm sorry, I'm not comfortable with that' and repeat ad nauseam.

AgnesX · 18/12/2023 17:13

If he's only got a provisional he won't insured for motorway driving. Simple as that.

LiesDoNotBecomeUs · 18/12/2023 17:14

Correc · 18/12/2023 16:37

@YouveGotAFastCar What can I put instead of these reasons? How do I phrase a polite but objective ‘no’?

If you can't stand up to him when you are safe on the ground... don't even consider 'supervising' him.

Supervision puts you in the position of the experienced driver and you are supposed to be in control and giving instruction when required!

He won't listen so you won't be in charge.

Gettingcolder · 18/12/2023 17:14

You would be potentially liable in law if anything happened as you are a knowing accomplice.

"Accomplice liability means an accomplice faces the same criminal liability and culpability as the individual who committed the crime. The penalties for aiding and abetting depend on the underlying crime."

JoyeuxNarwhal · 18/12/2023 17:16

Correc · 18/12/2023 13:44

Basically, he doesn’t want people to know that do is only provisional because he drives around in his own. He only told me recently, I was understanding as I know many people do it.

If you know he's driving on his own and you don't want to be a part of it then the easiest way would be to report to the police and/or DVLA.

nmchg · 18/12/2023 17:25

@ToWonderWhyIBother it's actually 3 years the OP has to have held a licence for. 3 years AND over the age of 21.

I am wondering how old OP is since they seem very sketchy on the rules of driving, but then again if OP is young surely they've themselves passed quite recently so should be well aware of what is and isn't legal. I find it hard to believe any experienced driver would be fine with any of the situation regarding the friend though.

nmchg · 18/12/2023 17:27

Correc · 18/12/2023 16:25

@RedToothBrush Most insurance companies want the supervisor to be over 25. I’m 24.

He has just said he’ll keep looking even after I said I’d prefer to wait. Then I put there's too much responsibility and he said there isn’t. He won’t take no for an answer!!

Just seen you put your age here. So how do you see this panning out? Is he going to gag you and drag you into the car so you have to be there? You've given an answer, now get on with reporting him and job done. Time for both you and friend to grow up a bit and realise that driving is a privilege not a right.

crumblingschools · 18/12/2023 17:35

Surely you just say it is illegal (and I would then report him if I knew he was driving illegally)

SheilaFentiman · 18/12/2023 17:36

What drew you to MN for this post, @Correc ? Rather than a driving forum or similar?

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