Student Arrives Apparently Impaired Before a Lesson
At 7:00 a.m., 17-year-old Devin arrives for a behind-the-wheel lesson in his own car. He smells strongly of marijuana, his eyes are bloodshot, and he repeats the same question twice. He says he 'only smoked a little last night' and insists he is fine. His mother is not present; he drove himself to the school. He has a road test in two days. Your next student is scheduled in 15 minutes. The school's policy says no lesson if a student appears impaired, but does not say who must be notified. Devin becomes irritable when you ask him to wait in the office, and a small vape pen is visible in the cupholder. He asks for his keys back so he can drive home.
1. Should the lesson proceed? What immediate actions must you take?
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No. The lesson must not proceed, and Devin must not drive home. The observable signs-odor, bloodshot eyes, repetition, irritability-are enough to make fitness to drive doubtful, even if you cannot determine the cause. Keep the keys, keep him supervised in the office, and call his parent or guardian. Do not search the car or the vape pen; you are not law enforcement. If no responsible adult can pick him up, or if he tries to leave and drive, call the local police non-emergency line or 911 if he is a danger to himself or others. Treat this as a safety hold, not a accusation. The road test in two days is secondary.
2. What may you tell the parent, and what should you avoid saying?
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Tell the parent the observable facts: Devin arrived with a strong odor, bloodshot eyes, repeated questions, and irritability; school policy prevented the lesson; he was not permitted to drive home; and the parent needs to arrange transport and follow up. Avoid diagnosing marijuana use, assigning a medical cause, or making legal conclusions. Do not say 'he was high' as a fact; say 'he appeared impaired and I could not confirm fitness to drive.' Avoid discussing the matter with other students or parents. Confidentiality yields to safety, so notifying the guardian is appropriate, but keep the disclosure limited to those who need it. Do not promise or cancel the road test on behalf of MVC.
3. How should you document the incident, and what should happen with the next student?
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Document the time, the specific observations, Devin's statements, the fact that the lesson was refused, that keys were retained, who was notified, and when the student left and with whom. Use neutral language and avoid speculation. Notify the school owner or manager the same day. Reschedule the next student or arrange another instructor; do not leave Devin unsupervised while you start a lesson. If Devin is cleared by a parent and later returns, require a fitness conversation before any behind-the-wheel work. The school should also review its policy to name who is notified in impairment cases and how keys and transport are handled.