Archive for February, 2010

Driving Test Examiners to Strike in March

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Civil Servants, including Driving Test Examiners are planning a 48 hour strike on 8th and 9th March 2010 following a long-running row over changes to the civil service compensation scheme.

The Public and Commercial Services Union voted in favour of strike action and an overtime ban.

General secretary Mark Serwotka said: “These cuts, which will see loyal civil and public servants lose tens of thousands of pounds if they are forced out of a job, are more about crude politicking than making savings.

“We have suggested ways in which the Government can make these savings whilst protecting the rights of existing members, yet it seems intent on penalising the people who keep this country running.”

Changes to redundancy and compensation agreements will see staff lose entitlements and redundancy pay.  Further strike dates may be finalised when the union’s national executive committee meet next week.

Candidates with driving tests booked for either the 8th or 9th March should contact the DSA on 0300 200 1122 for further guidance.

Red Driving School goes into Administration

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

On Tuesday, Lansdowne Venture Group (LVG) incorporating Red Driving School, Red Instructor Training and Red Fleet Training was placed into Administration whilst a sale of the company as a going concern is pursued.

The company which was founded in 1992 has 22 instructor training colleges throughout the UK.  LVG also offers accountancy services to driving instructors under the FBTC brand and publishes the driving instruction industry magazine ‘ADI News’.

Red Driving School recently featured on ITV’s Tonight Programme, ‘How to Blow Your Redundancy’, during which it was alleged that they were making false claims about earning potential as a Red driving instructor.

LVG’s instructor training division (formerly known as ‘The Instructor College’), has been responsible for training thousands of potential driving instructors, but with the Part 3 pass rate at only 28%, many will not have qualified.

The number of Approved Driving Instructors on the Driving Standards Agency Register has increased dramatically from 29,000 in 1999 to over 43,000 in 2008. The number of ADI’s currently on the Register is unknown.

For further information on the Administration of LVG Ltd, click here.

Toyota, Peugeot & Citroen Recall: Info for ADI’s

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

Toyota Safety RecallFollowing vehicle recall notices issued by Toyota and Peugeot Citroen, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has announced conditions for allowing affected vehicles on the driving test.

Recall notices affect the following vehicles with the specified build dates:

Toyota
AYGO (Feb 2005 – Aug 2009)
iQ (Nov 2008 – Nov 2009) – already considered unsuitable for test.
Yaris (Nov 2005 – Sep 2009)
Auris (Oct 2006 – 5 Jan 2010)
Corolla (Oct 2006 – Dec 2009)
Verso (Feb 2009 – 5 Jan 2010)
Avensis (Nov 2008 – Dec 2009)
RAV4 (Nov 2005 – Nov 2009)

Peugeot 107 (Feb 2005 – Aug 2009)

Citroen C1 (Feb 2005 – Aug 2009)

In total, Toyota and Peugeot Citroen are recalling around 320,000 UK-basedvehicles. As yet, VIN number ranges have not been released.

Using these cars on the driving test

If one of the vehicles affected is presented for test, it will only be conducted if either:

  • the vehicle has a manual transmission gearbox and is fitted with dual controls to help the examiner control the car in the unlikely event of a failure
  • documentation is supplied to show that the remedial work has been carried out – this will usually be in the form of the Toyota or Peugeot Citroen recall letter stamped by the respective dealer and containing written confirmation

Candidates who cannot proceed with their test should contact DSA customer services to arrange for their test to be rebooked once the remedial work has been done.

As there has been no prior warning of this action, if the test is not conducted the fee will be refunded or a free retest given on the first occasion that a specific vehicle is presented for test. Customers can ring DSA customer service on 0300 200 1122.

Think! Seatbelt Campaign

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

The ongoing seatbelt advertising campaign from Think! shows just what happens in a collision at 30mph if you don’t wear a seatbelt.

Here is the pre-watershed version:

Road Safety Minister Paul Clark said, “If you are involved in an accident while not wearing a seat belt then your body experiences a series of three collisions damaging vital internal organs.  This campaign reminds drivers that – no matter how short their journey or how slowly they are driving – they are risking their life if they set off without putting their seat belt on.

“I hope this campaign will help everyone realise that they need to belt up every time they get in a car.”

With recent research showing that drivers are less likely to belt up on low speed, short journeys on familiar roads, the £1.3 million THINK! Campaign hopes to show that drivers are still risking their lives.  Drivers are twice as likely to die in a crash if they do not wear a seat belt and if everyone belted up, one life a day could be saved.

The full advert can only be aired after 9pm due to its graphic content.