With driving lessons and tests being put on-hold once again during lockdown, a petition has been launched, calling for instructors to pass their own pupils – but many have concerns with the concept.

The petition was created by Ben James Joseph Stanway, asking the government to “allow learner drivers to be passed if their driving instructors feels they are safe to drive due to the failure of the Government to enable learners to book a test”.

And while more than 48,000 people have signed it, with 136 of these names being from Carlisle, Copeland and Allerdale, some Cumbrian instructors have shared their thoughts.

“Every lockdown has been horrendous, financially and emotionally,” driving instructor Brian Pratt, of ABC Motoring, said.

“I understand the logic behind the petition – there are so many learners who are desperate to take their test, so it would be nice to get them passed, but I think there’s too much of a bond there.

“Examiners have no connection to them, so they fairly and accurately assess whether the learner should pass. If I had to assess my own pupils, knowing how desperately they want to pass, I honestly don’t know if I could do it.”

Mr Pratt, whose driving school covers Whitehaven, Egremont, Cleator Moor and surrounding West Cumbrian areas, continued: “I’ve had one pupil who was meant to take his test in April, but here we are almost 12 months later and he’s not been able to.

“It’s awful, and I do understand why people would want the rules to change, but you’ve got to think about road safety.

“Worst case scenario for people being passed when they shouldn’t be is that they kill themselves or someone else, and if a driving instructor passed them when they shouldn’t have, it would be horrific to have on their conscience.”

Although petitions that reach 100,000 signatures on the parliament.uk website will usually be debated in Parliament, the Government has already issued a response, stating there are "no plans" to change the rules.

The statement said: “There is no provision within legislation that allows an approved driving instructor (ADI) to conduct a driving test for a learner driver. The Government has no plans to lay legislation to amend this.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented challenge for us all. Our absolute priority is to tackle the spread of Covid-19. Following the announcement of national lockdown restrictions, all routine practical driving lessons and tests have been suspended until the restrictions are lifted.

“The Road Traffic Act 1988 only allows a full driving licence to be issued if the person has passed the test of competence to drive.

“The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) 1999 regulations require driving test examiners to meet certain criteria and pass an initial qualification and examination before being authorised by the Secretary of State to conduct practical driving tests.

“The regulations also specifically prohibit an examiner from simultaneously being an active ADI. “