The following terms and conditions represent the basis upon which I offer driving lessons and courses.

Introduction

The following terms and conditions represent the basis upon which I (the owner of Bayview Automatic Driving School) offer driving lessons and courses to you (the student). Please note that Bayview Automatic Driving School is independently owned and operated, and the contract for service is between you and me. My continued ownership and operation of Bayview Automatic Driving School is dependent upon maintaining the highest standards of service and behaviour.

1. General Conduct

I will be courteous, polite, tidy, and punctual. I will behave in a professional and ethical manner at all times. My training car will be well-maintained, clean, and tidy (weather permitting). My car is fitted with dual controls and is fully insured for driving tuition purposes. I will not smoke in the training car at any time, nor will I use your lesson time for any other form of business, personal or otherwise, without your expressed permission.

2. Qualifications

I am legally authorized to give driving tuition in the UK by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

3. Driving Licence and Eyesight

As required by law, you must hold a current, valid driving licence (provisional or full), which must be produced on or in advance of your first driving lesson. You must also check that you can read a number plate at a distance of 20.5 metres (i.e., 67 feet – about 5 car lengths) with prescribed visual aids (i.e., contact lenses or glasses) if normally worn. If you require contact lenses or glasses to meet this requirement, you must wear them for every lesson.

4 Safety, comfort and well being

Safety is a shared responsibility as identified below:

a) In the interests of comfort and safety you are advised to wear suitable footwear and clothing.

b) It is important you act responsibly at all times and give your undivided attention to the driving task at hand. Should anything be distracting you during your lesson it is important you make me aware of this fact even if it is something I am doing. Similarly if you are feeling uncomfortable or uneasy about any driving task please let me know. I will be grateful for your feedback and I will think no less of you for doing this.

c) In an emergency situation it is important you follow my instructions and allow me to take control of the steering wheel if necessary to avoid an incident. I may also need to make use of the dual controls (i.e. brake and or clutch pedals) and thus override your use of them. As soon as it is safe to do so I will advise you of why my actions were necessary and help you to calm down if required. Any subsequent discussion will focus on what can be learnt rather than who was to blame.

d) I will do my best to deliver any instructions or take any actions (even in an emergency) in a calm and measured manner so as not to alarm you or make you feel uncomfortable or disheartened in any way. I will definitely not shout at you or make any sarcastic or derogatory remarks.

e) You can be assured I will not use improper language or suggestive behaviour and/or physical contact.

f) You must take note of any medication you are taking which may affect your ability to drive safely and advise me accordingly before taking any lesson booked. Similarly, you should inform me of anything you feel might impact on your ability to undertake the proposed lesson safely.

g) In the event it becomes apparent you are unable to concentrate due to illness, tiredness, or your emotional state of mind I reserve the right to terminate the lesson early or require your agreement to choose an alternative learning activity which can still be undertaken safely.

5. Driving Under the Influence

For the safety of all road users, I reserve the right to cancel any lesson if you are, or if I suspect you are, under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or any impairing substances. In such cases, the full lesson fee will be forfeited.

6. Lesson Postponement

You may lose, or be required to pay for, any lessons booked in my diary which are postponed or cancelled by you, especially if I am unable to obtain new replacement work for those appointment time(s). However, I reserve the right to postpone lessons if I consider the weather or road conditions to be unsuitable or dangerous. Unfortunately, I cannot be held responsible for any costs incurred as a result of me having to postpone any lessons, for whatever reason.

7. Punctuality

You are advised to be punctual for your lessons. If you are more than 15 minutes late, the lesson may be abandoned, and the lesson fee forfeited. If I am delayed due to unforeseen circumstances, I will make up the lost time at the end of the lesson or as soon as possible.

8. Payments

a) You are required to make payment for the course or the driving lessons in advance of the training. To book a course, a 50% deposit or the full course fee (if the course start date is within 4 weeks of the booking date) is required.

b) The deposit or any subsequent training fees paid are not refundable in the event you decide to cancel the training once the booking has been accepted by me and placed in my diary. At this point a binding agreement is made between yourself and me. This does not in any way affect your statutory rights to be provided with the goods and services you have bought (please see term 12).

9. The Driving Test

a) Test bookings

Bookings Driving tests can be booked by you, me on your behalf. Driving test bookings always take priority over other lessons. Therefore, your lesson may be postponed to allow for someone else’s driving test and vice-versa. Changes to lesson bookings as a result of this will be notified immediately. Test appointments must be notified to me as soon as they are known to you, otherwise I cannot guarantee to provide a vehicle for the test or any lessons just prior to it.

b) Use of the vehicle

In the interests of customer and public safety I reserve the right to withhold the use of the training car for the test if, in my opinion, your driving is actually or potentially dangerous – behaviour which if repeated on the test would result in a test failure.

c) Test Cancellations

Ten clear working days (Sundays and public holidays don’t count as working days) notice of test cancellation or postponement is required by the DVSA. Therefore, to cancel a test booked for a Friday you need to do this online no later than the Friday 2 weeks before thus giving ten clear working days (i.e. Friday, Monday Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Friday, Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday). Failure to provide the required notice will result in the loss of your test fee. I cannot be held responsible for any postponement or cancellation of tests by you or the DVSA. However, I will help to arrange another test as quickly as possible and to reclaim expenses from the DVSA if appropriate.

10. Special Offers and Lesson Price Increases

Prices for lessons and courses are subject to change without notice. Special offers may be withdrawn or altered at any time.

11. Complaints

If you have a complaint, please discuss it with me first so I can attempt to resolve the issue. Any complaints must be raised as soon as possible.

12. Your Statutory Rights

Nothing in these terms and conditions will reduce your statutory rights relating to faulty goods or services provided. I have a statutory obligation to provide you with goods and services fit for the purpose for which they were bought and as described. If you have any doubts about your statutory rights please contact your local Trading Standards Department or Citizen’s Advice Bureau