The Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 2007

Approved test assistants

45.  After Article 8 of the Order of 1981 insert–

“Approved test assistants

8A.— (1) The Department may make regulations permitting any person wishing to be accompanied at a relevant test by another person (a “test assistant”) to be so accompanied if–

(a) he submits himself for the relevant test in any circumstances in which the Department considers it appropriate that he should be entitled to be so accompanied; and

(b) the test assistant is approved in accordance with regulations made under this Article to accompany people at relevant tests in such circumstances in order to assist them in undergoing the relevant tests.

(2) The circumstances in which the Department considers it appropriate that a person should be entitled to be accompanied by a test assistant at a relevant test may include, for example, circumstances in which he is likely to have difficulty in hearing, understanding or responding to instructions or questions in the course of the relevant test without assistance.

(3) The regulations may make provision in relation to the approval of test assistants and may, in particular, include provision–

(a) in relation to the making of applications for approval;

(b) for the payment in respect of applications for approval, or in connection with approvals, of fees of a prescribed amount;

(c) in relation to the period for which an approval is to have effect and withdrawing approval;

(d) authorising the imposition of conditions on an approval;

(e) for an appeal to lie to a court of summary jurisdiction acting for the petty sessions district in which the person resides against a refusal of an application for approval, the imposition of conditions on an approval or the withdrawal of approval;

(f) prescribing circumstances in which an approved test assistant may not act as such;

(g) as to the evidencing by persons of their status as approved test assistants;

(h) authorising the Department to make available (with or without charge) information about approved test assistants.

(4) In this Article “relevant tests” means–

(a) tests of competence to drive a motor vehicle prescribed by virtue of Article 5(3) of this Order or Article 41(5) of the Offenders Order;

(b) examinations of ability and fitness (or continued ability and fitness) to give driving instruction for which provision is made by virtue of Article 62 of the Order of 2007;

(c) emergency control assessments under Article 65 of the Order of 2007.”.