The controversial plan for all learner drivers to be accompanied on driving test by their driving instructor from October 2010 has been partially scrapped.
A meeting was held at DSA’s Headquarters with ADI representative organisations on 24th September 2009. At the meeting, the DSA responded to the objections raised by ADI’s and ADI organisations to the original proposal of making it mandatory for supervising drivers to accompany candidates on all driving tests.
DSA Chief Executive Rosemary Thew explained that the DSA had reflected on the points raised. Chief Operating Manager Brian Gilhooley read out the following statement:
“The proposal that candidates should be required to take an observer with them on their practical car driving test from October 2010 has generated a great deal of debate. DSA has received comments from a variety of stakeholders and has met with the ADI Consultative Groups and the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS). We have listened carefully to all the views expressed. We remain convinced that an observer sitting in on test will enhance the learning process, which, in turn, will provide road safety benefits. We recognise, however, that there are valid reasons why an approach based on education and incentivisation might be preferable to mandating through regulation at this stage.
“So this is the approach we suggest: at the start of the test, driving examiners will ask all candidates if they would like their driving instructor (or another observer, such as a parent, guardian or friend who has taught the candidate to drive) to sit in on their test. The examiner will then ask the candidate if they would like their instructor be present for the test result and debrief. This will allow candidates to take advantage of the opportunities available to support their ongoing learning and development, but will leave the final decision with them.
We are officially 8 years old today! Latics Driver Training was launched on 5th November 2001 by business partners Claire Wilmot and Glyn Crossley who have more than 25 years experience in driver training between them. The company has expanded steadily over the years to become Oldham’s biggest and best driving school and has helped thousands of happy customers pass their test. Our team of dedicated instructors and our happy customers have been paramount to the success of Latics Driver Training.
Over the last 12 months, we have been busy expanding and offering new products. Director Claire Wilmot has visited local schools to give presentations and deliver road safety messages, our new ‘Pass in a Week Crash Course’ has been launched, and all the vehicles have been signwritten with the fantastic new Latics Driver Training branding.
Over the next 12 months, we aim to deliver the same high standard of driving instruction and customer service. We will also be launching our new and improved pupil progress system and updating our instructors with some of the new breed of extremely successful coaching methods being introduced to the driver training industry.
The driving school provides driving lessons in Middleton, Ashton, Rochdale, Oldham, Saddleworth, Hyde, Manchester and most surrounding areas. See our website for more information.
COW, the graphic texting & driving public information film which we discussed on the Latics blog in August is being given its TV premiere by BBC Wales next week after becoming a global hit on the internet.
The film stars young actors from south Wales and shows a teenager killing four people in a crash when she sends a text from her mobile phone whilst driving.
Filmmaker Peter Watkins-Hughes produced it for Gwent Police as an educational tool for young drivers. It will be broadcast for the first time on BBC Two Wales on Monday 2nd November at 10pm (Sky Channel 991).
Wannabe motorist Cara Griffiths, 28, from Romford, has been driven to despair after passing her driving test, only to be told hours later that she hadn’t because the examiner didn’t conduct her test properly.
According to the Romford & Havering Post, Cara cruised through her driving test first time with only five minor driving faults, observed by two examiners from the Hornchurch Test Centre.
She was presented with her driving test pass certificate and was so pleased that she immediately phoned family and friends to tell them her fantastic news. But Cara’s celebrations were short-lived when examiners contacted her four hours later to tell her that the pass certificate was invalid because the examiner had made a mistake during the test.
“I got home chuffed to bits as I’ve wanted to do this for years, only to be told I had failed,” said Cara, who has spent more than £600 on lessons and tests. “I drove exactly how I was instructed, but the examiner had only done one manoeuvre and forgotten to do a second one. Now I’m being penalised and have failed the test.”
Customers of two of Britain’s biggest mobile networks can now get the latest news from the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) straight to their mobile phone – free of charge.
The DSA is already using the popular microblogging site Twitter to keep almost 700 subscribers – or ‘followers’ – updated via the internet.
Now O2 and Vodafone are allowing customers to receive Twitter messages, known as ‘tweets’, as free text messages to their mobiles.
It means you can get latest DSA news wherever you are and at the times which suit you.
The DSA have so far used Twitter to highlight upcoming changes to the Theory Test, the introduction of Driver CPC, the new Enhanced Rider Scheme campaign, to give advice on test bookings and to advertise their attendance at various shows and events.
Set up your mobile phone
To receive this service, you’ll need to subscribe to Twitter at twitter.com. Then when you’ve created your account, head to your account settings on the Twitter website, and activate your mobile phone. All you need to do then is:
The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has warned that high energy drinks used by high mileage drivers to keep them going could lead to increased weariness behind the wheel.
An alert for those driving under caffeine intoxication has been issued by the US National Safety Commission (NSC). The warning is similar to those associated with driving under the influence of alcohol.
Research has shown that drivers can experience serious lapses in concentration and slower reaction times as caffeinated drinks begin to wear off as early as an hour after drinking. Symptoms such as irritability, irregular or rapid heartbeat, nervousness, muscle twitching and rambling speech can be caused by excessive caffeine consumption.
IAM Director of Policy and Research, Neil Greig said: “Energy drinks are good as a quick fix, but they’re no substitute for regular breaks. Having a high-caffeine drink is a one-off hit – you can’t repeat it, as this type of drink does not produce the same effect in a couple of hours’ time.”
On long drives, the IAM advises you to avoid fatigue when driving by:
Stopping overnight on long-haul journeys
Sharing the driving with someone else – don’t do it all yourself if you don’t have to
Stop for a break every two hours
Find a safe place to stop if you start to feel tired while driving, don’t rely on air con or an open window
Only get back behind the wheel when you feel properly refreshed
Remember, tiredness can be a killer as it affects concentration and reaction times.
The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has launched its own video sharing channel on YouTube.
YouTube is the world’s largest video sharing service with over 100 million videos viewed every day. The DSA will be using the site to publish official road safety videos.
DSA’s Director of Strategy & Performance, Nick Carter said: “Using YouTube will let DSA reach a wider audience than ever before – we want to talk to our audiences on the platforms we know they use.
“By putting our videos on YouTube, we’re catering for the growing number of people whose first choice to find information is to go online.”
Video content from the DSA channel can be embedded directly into visitors own websites or blogs, used in forums, shared by email, and linked through social networking sites such as Facebook.
The channel can be viewed at youtube.com/dsagov and is being used to post videos which offer advice to road users as well as test candidates.
An ECOlogical driving test was launched on 1st September 2009. The test is designed to assess the driver’s fuel economy and accident avoidance skills.
This new test is set to become a vocational test and is being closely watched by Whitehall.
The voluntary 90-minute test provides a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). Drivers will pass if they demonstrate a high level of safe, defensive and environmentally friendly driving. The Eco-Advanced Driving Test costs £160 and will test drivers on most types of road situation.
Drivers who are successful could benefit from:
fuel consumption savings up to 15% below the vehicle’s official average
reduced risk of incidents and reduced vehicle wear and tear by up to 60%
The Driving Standards Agency has amended the rules regarding the display of tax discs when a candidate takes their driving test. Previously, if the tax disc displayed in the vehicle had expired the candidate was ineligible to take their driving test.
Following a change in the law regarding the display of car tax discs, there is now a 5 day period of grace given to vehicle owners to allow them to buy their tax discs online, providing they have applied for a new disc before the old one expires.
Colin Maddock, Head of DSA Chief Executive’s Private Office confirms that “examiners have been given an instruction to take a driving test on any vehicle if the tax disc is up to five days out of date. They will not ask to see proof that a tax disc has been ordered online”.
The new information pack for ADI’s is now being distributed to newly qualified driving instructors. The pack has been produced by the DSA following feedback from experienced ADI’s on what they would have liked when they started out on their new career as a driving instructor.
The new pack contains cards, leaflets and booklets full of information about their new career. It has among other things, useful information about check tests, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and a DVD for L test candidates – Are you ready?
Charles Morton, Registrar of Approved Driving Instructors for DSA, said: “We have listened to feedback from ADIs, which indicated that when they first qualified, they would have found a pack like this useful, as it contains information about how to make the most of their new career and help their pupils.
“The pack is designed to be glove box-sized so that ADIs can have it readily to hand. They will also be able to add any ‘pull-out-and-keep’ brochures we publish in Despatch magazine, and there is room for them to insert their own useful information.”
Although all new ADI’s will be sent the pack, those who registered within the last six months will have to request a pack to be sent to them. At the moment, ADI’s who qualified longer than 6 months ago will not be able to request the pack. ADI’s will have to wait and see if the DSA makes the pack readily available to those already qualified.
If you are eligible, you may obtain a pack by emailing adireg@dsa.gsi.gov.uk or writing to: DSA, The Axis Building, 112 Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham, NG1 6LP.
A meeting was held at DSA’s Headquarters with ADI representative organisations on 24th September 2009. At the meeting, the DSA responded to the objections raised by ADI’s and ADI organisations to the original proposal of making it mandatory for supervising drivers to accompany candidates on all driving tests.
Wannabe motorist Cara Griffiths, 28, from Romford, has been driven to despair after passing her driving test, only to be told hours later that she hadn’t because the examiner didn’t conduct her test properly.
The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has warned that high energy drinks used by high mileage drivers to keep them going could lead to increased weariness behind the wheel.
The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has launched its own video sharing channel on YouTube.
An ECOlogical driving test was launched on 1st September 2009. The test is designed to assess the driver’s fuel economy and accident avoidance skills.
The Driving Standards Agency has amended the rules regarding the display of tax discs when a candidate takes their driving test. Previously, if the tax disc displayed in the vehicle had expired the candidate was ineligible to take their driving test.
The new information pack for ADI’s is now being distributed to newly qualified driving instructors. The pack has been produced by the DSA following feedback from experienced ADI’s on what they would have liked when they started out on their new career as a driving instructor.
