Instructor Ethics, Liability and Student Supervision
Duty of care with a passenger who is a minor
An instructor owes a student the care a reasonable, similarly trained professional would give under the same circumstances. Negligence requires duty, breach, causation, and damages - so questions often turn on foreseeability. Was the route appropriate for the skill level? Were the dual controls functional? Was the instructor's attention on the road? A foreseeable risk that was ignored is the classic breach.
Supervision rules: never leave a student unattended in a running vehicle; never let an unlicensed student drive outside an authorized lesson; stay off your phone except for a genuine emergency; no personal errands with a student in the car. Ride-alongs, extra passengers, and off-route stops need authorization and documentation.
Ethics questions cluster around boundaries and honesty. Do not form dual relationships, do not date or socialize with students, do not accept gifts that create obligation, and do not transport students for personal reasons. Keep student information confidential and do not post student images or progress on social media without written consent. Report suspected child abuse or neglect as required by law. Documentation must be truthful - falsifying a driving log to help a student pass is the single most damaging ethical failure in this field, and it is reportable.
Worked example: a parent offers cash to "just sign off" the remaining night hours. Run the reasonable-instructor test: would a competent, certified instructor certify hours never driven? No. Decline, offer the legitimate options (more scheduled lessons, a documented practice plan), and record the conversation. Protecting the student's actual competence is the point of the rule, not the paperwork.