Driving schools across the NSW Riverina are being lead to close after Service NSW announced they were postponing driver testing for a minimum of two months.
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The decision was made in a bid to help stop the spread of COVID-19 with more than one person in close proximity, but instructor at Able Driving School Glen Gaudron said the new regulations have not been made clear.
"I stopped lessons about a week or so back because it's not worth the risk for my own health, but also there aren't many people booking because they can't do their test any time soon," the instructor said.
"There's a lot of mixed messages though because on the one hand we're being told we're allowed to keep instructing, the regional police here are saying it's okay for learners to practice their driving, but then the police commissioner Mick Fuller says going for a drive - even if you don't get out the car - isn't okay."
Service NSW outline on their website that the change to testing "comes into effect immediately", and means all practical driving tests across the state are postponed for at least two months.
They also state aged driving assessments will be deferred for a minimum period of three months, ensuring those due to have a test in that time will have their licence status maintained.
However, Mr Gaudron said he was also told Safe Driving Courses could go ahead.
Riverina Police District posted an update to Facebook on Monday night stating officers had "received a number of inquiries in relation to taking learner drivers for lessons".
"Whilst an infringement has been issued in Victoria, the circumstances are viewed differently in NSW," the police district posted.
NSW Police also outlined in a statement that a "reasonable excuse" for leaving home during the current public health order included "travelling for the purposes of work where you cannot work from home, so driving instructors can leave their house for their work - to teach people how to drive".
"We consider that it would be a reasonable excuse for a person to leave their house to receive driving lessons (either from a driving instructor or a member of their family), given that this is a learning activity that cannot be done from home and is akin to the listed reasonable excuse of travelling to attend an educational institution where you cannot learn from home," the police statement said.
Yet earlier in the week Police Commissioner Mick Fuller commented on an incident where a Victorian learner driver was slapped with a fine, saying driving for the sake of driving was "not okay", regardless of if there were no intentions of leaving the vehicle.
Amid the confusion, Mr Gaudron suggested learner drivers hold off on lessons until restrictions are lifted.
"There is definitely no need for going out driving when there are no tests being held," he said.
"But those in charge need to make a decision now, whatever that may be."