Support grows for banning private driving schools from four London streets

A driving school vehicle attempts a three-point turn on Piers Crescent in London (Daryl Newcombe/CTV News London)

A steady stream of student drivers testing their skills is also testing the patience of homeowners in the White Oaks neighbourhood.

On Monday, the Community and Protective Services (CAPS) Committee unanimously (6-0) recommended Council support a motion by Coun. Elizabeth Peloza that directs city staff to investigate using the Business Licensing Bylaw to regulate driving school instruction and designate restricted areas.

Peloza cited support for the initiative among residents of Archer Crescent, Alayne Crescent, Piers Crescent, and Stroud Crescent.

“There’s a petition I dropped off to the clerk so that its in their possession,” she told the committee. “(It has) almost 90 signatures, and you’d see around 13 more letters on the agenda of this meeting.”

The crescents are located near the south end of Jalna Boulevard, and are among the closest residential streets to the regional DriveTest Centre at 4380 Wellington Rd. in south London.

Private driving instructors are bringing students to practice on the same four roads where part of the Ministry of Transportation’s (MTO) road test is often conducted.

The letters sent to the CAPS Committee expressed the frustration of neighbours who have dozens of vehicles practicing three-point turns and parallel parking every day.

“Everyday starting at approximately 6 am, the driver training vehicles begin their ĺessons and continue until dark . I have witnessed countless near misses and not misses. One driver actually ended up on the sidewalk when kids were on their way to school. SCARY!” writes Sharron King.

Nancy Schembri’s letter reads, “The student driver vehicles are frequently lined up one behind the other many times during the day.”

“Hil & Linda Martin used the security camera to count driving school vehicles in front of their home on Stroud Crescent, “I can relate to you that in one 24 hour period there were over 120 incidents of Drivers Ed. (recognized by the signage) captured by the camera. The earliest on this particular day was 6:40 a.m. and the last was at 10:55 p.m.”

Peloza’s motion would only regulate private driving schools, and not restrict parents from instructing their children on the four crescents.

In addition, the municipality does not have the authority to restrict where the provincial MTO chooses to conduct driving tests.

City staff previously asked MTO representatives and driving schools to diversify the areas where road instruction and testing occurs, but it had no impact.

Council will make a final decision about Peloza’s motion on July 21.