This blog is not intended as advice. It is for educational and research purposes only. Read this disclaimer first if you want to read this post.
The ABC reports that Driving Tests are now cancelled in all states except the NT due to the risk to the public servant doing the test. Apparently it OK for the driving instructor to sit next to the learner, though I would be a bit nervous as the instructor.
If the student had been self isolating and the instructor and student both wore an appropriate mask to protect the student and disinfected things like the brake and steering wheel and door handles (inside an out) before the lesson, the risk would have to be low. Plus of course hand sanitising for both. There is no need for physical contact between student and instructor.
As both student and instructor are facing forward, respiratory droplets would tend not to be directed at each other.
The ban appears overkill as the routes used for testing are usually much the same routes and it would be easy for the instructor to see video streamed from the instructors phone.
My guess is most driving testers would know within 10 seconds which students are likely to pass and a test could be done to a high standard in a large car park even without the video streaming.
Result: Happy student, employed instructor and public servant still working for his/her salary.
It must be tough for people living in the country or outer suburbs where public transport may not be an option. Many students would be young and this would be another blow to their job prospects.
