Driving instructors no longer allowed to have sexual relationships with their 17 year old pupils

[StealthPolarBear]

I am shocked this was ever allowed. Not only are they in a position of power but the young person is shut in a car with them individually.

No need to bother with a male. Just don't trust them in an enclosed space

Yes because we all know that all men become raging perverts in an enclosed space .

By far one of the most ridiculous sentences I have ever read on MN.

I know I have a 17 year old.

But it's not really dating when the 17 year old is highly unlikely to feel they have a genuine choice.

Sorry red . Hope you're ok

I had one shouty man and another lovely one with whom I passed. I certainly saw no need to request a female instructor.

In theory 17 year olds cm have a wholly consensual ancy safe relationship with their (say) 30year old instructor. But the potential for abuse of power is MUCH higher in these situations than when the 17 year old is having a relationship with a peer.

Graphista
I hope I am raising my kids well enough that they know they can either abandon a lesson anytime they would remotely feel uncomfortable, chose another instructor and not feel like they have to date some random bloke they see 1 hour a week!

I have had both male and female instructors and found that while neither were inappropriate the woman was a better fit.

Yeah I'm ok thanks for the .

It's just I thought I'd dealt with them all.

My instructor used to tap me on the leg when he told me to go a bit faster. I wasn’t terribly comfortable but I do wonder if he did it to the male clients. My guess is no. I was too polite to say anything. He was retired from the police with advanced training, which obvs makes parents think he’s safe.

I've read loads of stories of sexually iffy behaviour from male instructors towards very young female learners.

Thing is you're trapped in a car with them, and it's a student teacher relationship (you are there to follow their instruction, do what they say).

Of course they shouldn't be trying it on with their pupils but I've heard loads of stories of it happening, I imagine it's something that is attractive as a job to some men who are predatory.

I don’t think that making it illegal for driving instructors to have a relationship with a 17 year old learner driver will make a blind bit of difference. Why would it? The ones feeling up young girls aren’t after a relationship and there are already laws in place for unwanted sexual behaviour - that doesn’t stop it happening, so why would this?

I was surprised that this was ever allowed either, I thought your title was an example of tautology but it seems not.

I've been driving for 30 years now. There were a lot of male instructors way back then but not many - if any - female instructors in my area anyway. The first two I went with were sleazy and one put his hands on me while I was driving. Horrible man.

I had 4 different male instructors. The first one was useless - I was not making any progress. The second one got me up to test standard but I failed twice. Third one was a bit creepy, he never actually tried it on but there was something off about him... had another test with him failed again. The 4th one was lovely, respectful and did not talk more than was necessary which was exactly what I needed and I passed with him.

Many years ago a school friend of mine had a (very brief) relationship with her driving instructor. She was 17 and he was in his 30s.

I remember her bringing him to a party and all of us thought he was just creepy.

He was the first man she slept with!

I think if there is a stated code that things mustn't happen, it reinforces it to the instructors and might make some of the "harmless fun" leg patters think twice, and also gives support to girls in complaining about / reporting behaviour.

EH, we’re they ever?

But whats the problem?

If the people are over the age of concent whats the issue?

Do we ban bus drivers too, taxi drivers, what about the guy down the local tesco who serves young women too.

What about gay female instructors? Same rule apply to them?

This is getting out of hand now.

@Justmyownself what's getting out of hand exactly? Stopping inappropriate advances from people in power to those in their tutelage???

What's out of hand about that?

The difference between driving instructors and your examples is that driving instructors are in an enclosed space with young people, who are in a student/teacher relationship.

Unlike every other example you've cited!

Surprised it was ever allowed too. Surely it's the same as a teacher dating a student (like at university/college).

My instructor was female because she was my mum's friend and was practicing to be an instructor so I got lessons cheaper. Can't argue with that.

A former colleague of mine was an ex driving instructor. Cheeky chappy type. He shagged loads of his pupils. He’d persuade their parents they needed motorway lessons after they passed their tests so he could keep shagging them.

@AnnieAnoniMouse because it will stop the instructor saying 'she was obsessed/wouldn't take no for an answer/begged me to/was asking for it etc etc etc'

Basically it takes away the capacity for an inappropriate instructor to victim blame.

Do you have to do that, gingergenius? Just because you don't like the post?

My neughbour’s daughter had a relationship with her driving instructor, he was about 14 years older than her & she moved country to be with him. They split up after 6 months or so.

Is this rule just for 17 year olds or for all pupils?