A DUNFERMLINE driving instructor has spoken out after a near miss which saw a teenager walk in front of his vehicle during a lesson.

Mark McQueen, from SwiftPass Driving school, says he is facing weekly incidents – mainly involving high school children – following a change in rules giving priority to pedestrians waiting to cross.

He now wants to raise awareness among parents and children about the dangers of stepping out without any thoughts to their safety or the safety of others.

The latest incident on Woodmill Road, of which Mark has shared dashcam footage, saw a girl stepping out in front of his car just before he was going to pass her.

"That one was close. If we had not reacted, the girl would not have been going home, she was heading to the hospital. It was quite a scary experience," he said.

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"I give a lot of credit to my pupil whom reacted brilliantly doing the emergency stop and simultaneously I braked and the car pedestrian protection system also kicked in.

"The girl I was teaching got such a fright and was very upset to the point of tears.

"I don't know if people are misinterpreting the new rules. They walk out in front of a car and force them to stop and are not taking responsibility. They are interpreting the rules as go in front of a car and force it to stop. It is going to end in a bad way.

"In general, the school kids will look at you, wait until the car gets there and walk in front of you. That one there was not that though. She looked right at the car and just ran.

"There was a pedestrian crossing just 50 yards away. She crossed the road and walked towards it."

This week's incident is not an isolated one with Mark and his students often forced to slam on the brakes.

"It is at least twice a week where you are passing by and it happens with pupils from Dunfermline High, or Woodmill, St Columba's, or Queen Anne," he added.

"Every time, you brake, the kids look at the car and walk in front. It is happening at break times, in the morning and afternoons, and lunch and home times.

"I have noticed it over the last few months that it has got really worse. Kids seem to think they are immortal and will literally walk in front of a car and look at you as if you, and wave their arms, as if you have done something wrong."

While acknowledging the change of rules brought some benefits, Mark said thoughts for basic road safety needed to be considered.

"I understand why the are trying to give the protection to the pedestrian but it has got to be clearer," he said. "People are interpreting it that you just go in front of cars.

"The likes of a zebra crossing, people don't know how to use it. They are stepping out and you have already come to the point of no return."