According
to the Australian Taxation Office driving lessons are not classed as Education.
When the GST (Goods and Services Tax, same as VAT in the UK) was introduced
expenses for education were exempt. However, despite intense lobbying by our
main Instructors Associations, driving lessons are not regarded as education.
Visiting
my children’s school recently I discovered a similar form of discrimination.
Students who are learning a musical
instrument or learn singing are allowed to take these lesson during regular
school time!
Wouldn’t
this be a luxury for driving schools? No 7am starts to squeeze lessons in
before school in peak hour traffic. No more worrying getting stuck in traffic,
making students late for school. Better still, coming home at 6.30 pm to spend more time with the family and less
hours of idle time during the day?
May I suggest to separate Driver Education from
the Department of Transport and give the responsibility to the people who
understand education - the Department of Education.
What does a novice driver have in common with car licensing or with the truck- or
taxi industry, plus all the other motoring aspects the Transport Department looks
after?
This
move must include teaching
concepts, such as attitudes, psychology of driving etc, which are best taught
in a classroom situation.
An exam to ensure vital road safety principals have been understood would must
be included. How many students do I see crossing the road against the traffic
lights or in dangerous places?
If
such things were to be taught at an early age, driving instructors could build
on a solid basis, which at present is lacking in the system.
Road
Safety education ought to be given it’s rightful place in the overall
education package of every child. We owe it to them.
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