Hafiz Muhammad Ahmad v Registrar of Approved Driving Instructors

Facts

The appellant is a trainee driving instructor. Before the present process he held one trainee licence granted under section 129 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, effective from 11 March 2024 to 10 September 2024. Two further licences were then granted under that section, valid from 3 February 2025 to 2 February 2026. He failed the Part III instructional ability and fitness test on 13 November 2025. On 21 January 2026 the Registrar of Approved Driving Instructors received his application for a third licence. After considering his representations, the Registrar refused it by correspondence dated 17 April 2026. The Registrar gave general reasons: the licensing system must not become an alternative to registration, a licence is meant to allow up to six months' experience, and the appellant had already held licences covering twelve months. The Registrar also gave reasons specific to him: he had failed the test once despite ample time, and a licence is not needed to attempt the test or to obtain training. The appellant appealed. He relied on his wife's health problems and surgery, which he said had prevented him from focusing on his training, and on additional voluntary training. He had a further Part III booking for 16 November 2026, the earlier booking for 19 August 2026 having been cancelled by the DVSA. The Registrar was not represented at the hearing.