Coronavirus (COVID-19): vehicle lessons

Overview

This guidance provides practical advice for vehicle lessons and is an annex to the Safer Businesses and Workplaces Guidance which should be instructors’ primary reference. It also supplements information provided by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency which includes guidance on sitting theory and practical tests.

As part of Scotland’s ongoing response to COVID-19, businesses should maintain compliance with current protection measures. Continued collective effort and commitment, particularly in sticking to the rules and guidance in place, will be a critical part of our response in the weeks and months ahead.

Protection measures and good practice

Protection measures are either mandatory legal requirements to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 or advisory measures included in guidance which businesses, staff and visitors are asked to follow. 

This guidance must be read alongside the safer businesses and workplaces guidance which lays out the full protection measures to be followed.

Mandatory measures to reduce the transmission of COVID-19

Businesses have a duty to manage workplace risks under existing health and safety legislation, in addition to the specific requirements set out in the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2021. On 17 December 2021, regulations were introduced to help combat transmission of the Omicron variant.

The regulations state that a person who is responsible for a place of worship, carrying on a business, or providing a service must:

• have regard to this guidance about measures to minimise risk of exposure to coronavirus and
• take such of these measures as are reasonably practicable to minimise the incidence and spread of coronavirus on the premises, for example measures which limit close face-to-face interaction and maintain hygiene, making adjustments to the premises and putting in place protective measures such as signage, screens and other mitigations

The Risk assessment - Working safely during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic guidance sets out further detail on risk assessment and duties as a business or service provider.

Staying safe and protecting others guidance provides further considerations. 

Face coverings

Face coverings are required by law in an enclosed motor vehicle while in use for a driving lesson or driving test, unless exempt under the current regulations or unless all occupants are from the same household. If only one occupant of the vehicle falls within an exempt category, other occupants must continue to wear their face covering throughout.

The type of face covering required by law is set out in face coverings guidance and does not include a face shield. While face shields may be worn in some circumstances, we do not recommend their use during vehicle lessons due to the risk of injury in the instance of an air bag being deployed.

Self-isolation and Test and Protect

Everyone should continue to follow Test and Protect rules and guidance which means you should stay at home if you have symptoms or test positive for COVID-19, even if you have received two doses and a booster of the COVID-19 vaccine

Anyone providing vehicle lessons or tests should not work at all if they have symptoms or are required to self-isolate. Affected customers should not attend.

Information on self-isolation and supporting employees with COVID-19 symptoms can be found in Safer Businesses and Workplaces Guidance. 

Advisory protection measures and best practice

Alongside the mandatory and advisory protection measures, instructors should assess their service to ensure they continue to provide lessons in the safest possible settings.

To manage the risk of virus transmission, we also recommend:

• have regard to this guidance about measures to minimise risk of exposure to coronavirus; and
• take such of these measures as are reasonably practicable to minimise the incidence and spread of coronavirus on the premises, for example measures which limit close face-to-face interaction, such as supporting working from home, making adjustments to the premises and putting in place protective measures such as signage, screens and other mitigations.

The Risk assessment - Working safely during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic guidance sets out further detail on risk assessment and duties as a business or service provider.

Staying safe and protecting others guidance provides further considerations, in particular measures that can be strengthened now in response to the Omicron variant.

Alongside the wearing of face coverings in an enclosed motor vehicle, Test and Protect rules and guidance, and the advisory precautionary measures, instructors should assess their service to ensure they continue to provide lessons in the safest possible settings.

Due to the potential for increased risk of transmission, we also recommend:

• keeping distance where you can and think about how best to use the space available
• take regular Lateral Flow Tests and ask your customers to take one before participating in a lesson or test
• promote and ensure the continued use of face coverings
• maintain a high standard of hand hygiene including washing hands regularly and making hand sanitiser available in public spaces if possible
• if needing to sneeze, or cough, around other people, sneeze into a tissue, handkerchief or your elbow to minimise the chance of spreading illness
• ensure touch points and controls are wiped down regularly, particularly between each lesson and at the end of the working day
• ensure the tuition vehicle is well ventilated, by opening windows or switching on ventilation systems to draw fresh air. A balance must be struck between ensuring the vehicle is well ventilated and being able to hear the instructor/client without shouting. Use your judgement, particularly when driving through louder/busier areas and at higher speeds
• provide any relevant paperwork to the client in digital format where possible
• do not conduct driving lessons in vehicles fitted with screens between the driver and front passenger
• the client must fit their own earpiece if relevant, for example motorbike lessons, and these should be provided by the client. If the client does not have a compatible earpiece, you can provide an earpiece that has been cleaned in accordance with good hygiene practice.