An investigation has revealed numerous allegations of sexual harassment and assault involving driving instructors in Australia. The inquiry uncovered over 300 disturbing accounts from individuals who reported inappropriate behavior by their instructors, with many incidents dating back to the 1960s. Most of the victims are women.

One victim, 17-year-old Bodhi Genis, recounted a traumatic experience during her first paid driving lesson. Alone with her male instructor, she felt trapped when he directed her to a remote area. "He said, 'Oh, you're doing such a good job,'" Bodhi recalled. "That's when he went over and put his hand in between my legs while I was driving and started rubbing me." She described feeling unsafe and helpless during the encounter.

Bodhi's mother, Lois, observed the interaction and sensed something was wrong. "They've got these gorgeous, young, innocent, naive women in the car who have their hands on the wheels, who are trying to focus on driving," Lois said. Despite the incident, Bodhi chose not to report it to the police, fearing a lengthy and unproductive legal battle.

The investigation revealed a pattern of behavior among instructors, with many victims reporting verbal abuse and sexual assault. Some instructors allegedly groomed students, manipulated them under the guise of instruction, and made inappropriate comments. One woman described her instructor asking if she had a boyfriend and making lewd remarks. Another victim reported being touched inappropriately while driving.

The impact of these experiences has been profound for many victims. Some have stopped taking driving lessons altogether, while others have abandoned their plans to obtain a driver's license. Rebecca, another victim, shared her story of being pressured into a late-night lesson that turned into a traumatic encounter. "I ran out the other door and screamed like I've never screamed in my life," she said. The incident left her traumatized and affected her ability to drive for years.

Legal experts, including barrister Mollie McKendrick, have called for reforms to protect learner drivers. Currently, there is no legal requirement for driving instructors in Australia to have dash cameras in their vehicles. McKendrick argues that mandated cameras could help document incidents and provide evidence in cases of alleged assault. "You're not only seeing what's occurring in the act itself, but you're seeing the background, the context, the behavior and a lot of those grooming practices which … are also likely to be captured," she said.

In South Australia, new reforms will require driving instructors and examiners to install cameras and GPS in training vehicles. Advocates believe this will enhance safety for both instructors and learners. Bodhi Genis expressed hope that such measures would make the driving experience safer for students.