A local driver training school says if the price of fuel continues to rise as it is expected to, the price of professional driving lessons will be forced up.

Police and the RTA agree professional driving lessons are advisable but according to the NRMA, not much will be done if the cost of lessons is driven up by the cost of fuel in the country.

No government would offer a subsidy to offset the cost of driver training, NRMA director for Western area of NSW Graham Blight said

The NRMA is franchising driving schools across NSW and hopes to increase the number of schools from 25 to 40 by mid next year.

However he said it was likely the cost would become greater in country areas so long as country motorists continued to pay a premium on fuel but did not think there would be much done to help the situation.

Orange Driving School has already considered the possibility of putting up prices.

“Fuel is one of our major expenditures,” instructor John Dunn said.

He said he has so far been able to keep his prices down due to a deal struck with a local petrol supplier however he is not sure how long that will prevent the impact of rising fuel prices from reaching the business.

“Reluctantly we will have to pass that [increase] on to customers.”

Mr Dunn and business partner Graham Kidson both believe that driver training was essential to creating safe drivers.