Driver training
Driving school Code of Conduct
Purpose of Code of Conduct
The purpose of this Code of Conduct is to establish and communicate a set of principles and guidelines for the proper conduct of driver training instructors, driver training schools, and instructor training facilities licensed under Division 27 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations (the “licensees").
As part of their application and renewal processes, applicants and licensees must review the Code of Conduct and by signing the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) application they are indicating that they have read and understood, and will comply with this Code of Conduct. Driver training schools and instructor training facilities must review this Code of Conduct with new employees during onboarding and annually with all employees.
A breach of this Code of Conduct by licensees may result in the suspension or cancellation of a driver training school’s road test booking privileges or further action being taken by ICBC against the licensee under Division 27 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations. These actions would be in addition to any other sanctions that may be imposed by law (e.g., charges for federal or provincial offences).
Anyone who believes a licensee is not following this Code of Conduct is encouraged to contact ICBC via our online submission.
Driver training schools and instructor training facilities will post a copy of the Code of Conduct that is clear and legible, and keep it posted, in each place of business, including the business website, where it will stand out and be easily noticed by customers.
Code of Conduct
1.1 - Licensees will immediately notify ICBC should they be charged with an offence listed under Divisions 27 or 28 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations, convicted of an offence listed under Divisions 27 or 28 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations, or receive a driving suspension or prohibition.
1.2 - Licensees will not aid, abet, counsel, or overlook any federal or provincial offenses committed by another licensee, a licensee's agent, or a student in the context of driver training.
2.1 Licensees will not:
Act in a misleading or deceptive manner towards customers
Threaten, harass, physically or verbally abuse customers, other licensees, or ICBC employees or its agents
Use substances that may affect their ability to conduct driver training, including drugs, alcohol, cannabis, or medication
Allow customers to drive if they appear to be affected by drugs or alcohol
Accept or solicit bribes or facilitate the bribery of ICBC employees or agents
Improperly use their position or knowledge as a licensee for personal benefit
Examples of misconduct:
Selling or assisting with the sale of a road test appointment
Attempting to influence the outcome of a road test by offering gifts or other benefits to a driver examiner or any other ICBC employee or agent
Promising a customer that they will pass a road test
3.1 - For example, they will not discriminate against a person because of the person's Indigenous or other racial identity, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital or family status, physical or mental disabilities, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age, pursuant to the Human Rights Code.
Examples of misconduct:
Refusing service to a person because they are Indigenous
Inappropriate language or making obscene gestures or actions in the presence of customers or while conducting driver training
Making comments or displaying pictures or written materials depicting racial or sexual stereotypes or other demeaning content
Making suggestive or derogatory comments about a person’s physical appearance, racial or ethnic background, sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation
Examples of misconduct:
Unnecessary familiarity with customers such as deliberately touching the customer for any reason other than a safety maneuver (such as to avoid a crash)
Making offensive jokes, lewd comments, or using offensive language
Displaying pictures or written materials that can be interpreted as offensive or obscene
Initiating communication of a sexual nature or asking questions about personal relationships
5.1 - This means that they will:
Protect the health, safety and wellbeing of customers and other road users
Comply with all Government orders related to public health and safety
Respond to customer inquiries or concerns with promptness and courtesy
Maintain proper standards of dress and personal hygiene
Ensure driver training vehicles are safe, clean, tidy, and smoke-free
5.2 - This means that they will not:
Conduct themselves in a way that could diminish the reputation of the driver training industry, other licensees, or ICBC or its agents
Deliver or advertise driver training for which they are unqualified or unlicensed
Allow private interests to improperly influence professional conduct
Examples of misconduct:
Permitting a customer to speed or make unsafe driving manoeuvres during lessons
Speaking negatively about another licensee to gain a customer’s business
Making representations that may be damaging to the reputation of ICBC or its agents
Engaging in public confrontations with customers, other licensees, or ICBC employees or agents
Wearing clothing with inappropriate language or pictures
Smoking, including the use of e-cigarettes or vaping, or allowing others to smoke in a driver training vehicle used for lessons
Having customers stop at a coffee shop or restaurant the licensee or their friends and family has a profitable interest in, or may receive a free meal from
Running errands or conducting personal business while instructing
6.1 - Licensees will not undermine road safety by disrupting the testing and licensing of drivers.
Examples of misconduct:
Teaching customers the test route rather than teaching how to drive safely
Conducting practical training in driver licensing office parking lots during office hours
Interfering with driver examiners, examinees or road test vehicles during testing
Soliciting business at ICBC offices
Using a device to record an ICBC road test route or anyone taking a driver examination
Distributing, circulating or publishing video footage taken of driving tests from in-car cameras
Sharing photos, audio or video recordings, drawings, notes, or other representations that could undermine the integrity of ICBC testing
Requesting or directing a customer to request a specific driver examiner
7.1 - This means that they will fully comply with ICBC's Road Test Booking Terms and Conditions and must respect ICBC's road testing process and outcomes.
Examples of misconduct:
Booking or maintaining a booking for a road test appointment for a customer who does not need a road test or appointment
Selling road test appointments
Asking for or using a customer’s keyword to book a road test appointment
Using a customer’s personal information to book a road test for another customer
Failing to promptly cancel a road test appointment when the customer for whom it was booked no longer requires a road test
Disclosing a customer's driver's licence number to ICBC to book an appointment without obtaining that customer's written consent using the ICBC Student Consent and Release form
Becoming hostile with Driver Licensing Office employees about the outcome of a student’s road test
8.1 This means that they will not:
Use customer information without their knowledge and consent
Use customer information for a purpose other than for which it was collected
Share customer information with a third party without the customer’s consent
Examples of misconduct:
Recording a customer without the customer's consent
Using a customer's information to reserve a road test appointment for another customer
Discussing a customer's road test results with ICBC employees, without the customer's consent