Posts Tagged ‘Driving instructor’
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.
Tags: Driving examiner, Driving instructor, Driving Standards Agency, Driving Tests, DSA, PCS, Practical driving test, Public and Commercial Services Union, Strike action
Posted in Events, Industry News | 4 Comments »
Wednesday, January 20th, 2010
Many driving instructors will already be aware of coaching and indeed, some are already incorporating it into their lessons. ‘Coaching’ is the big buzz word at the moment in the industry with the DSA attempting to incorporate new and improved techniques into teaching and testing with a view to creating much more responsible drivers than are created using traditional ‘instructional’ methods. Indeed, ‘coaching of driving skills and methods’ is listed in the competency framework for CPD for driving instructors and with the EU Hermes project focusing on ‘coaching and optimal communication skills’, you can expect to see a lot of development in this area over the coming months and years.
Coaching is not just a case of asking questions (which instructors do already as part of their everyday teaching). It is about asking questions which raise the awareness and responsibility from within the coachee. There are many tools that instructors can use from within the coaching toolbox and the effects of using coaching with learners can be quite profound.
Sir John Whitmore & Ged Wilmot
To date, there has been little information available about coaching specifically for driving instructors. Last year, the University of East London ran its pilot course – a Postgraduate qualification in ‘Coaching for Driver Development’ in which a handful of the best professional driver trainers and coaches from all aspects of the driving world were invited to attend. I was fortunate enough to be one of the delegates invited to attend that course, along with my good friend and colleague Kathy Higgins of Insight2Drive. We have recognised that courses and workshops for driving instructors are few and far between and so we have developed a one day coaching course specifically designed for Approved Driving Instructors.
The one day ‘Practical Coaching Techniques for Driving Instructors’ interactive workshop offers driving instructors essential information which can be incorporated into the everyday work of an ADI. The content will include basic principles and benefits of using coaching in driver training, what makes a good coach, and lots of practical coaching techniques. There are two workshop dates currently available, Monday 22nd February 2010 in Oldham and Thursday 18th March 2010 in Liverpool.
Both courses will be run by me (Ged Wilmot), Claire Wilmot and Kathy Higgins. Having a wealth of driver coaching experience, we are excited to be able to offer such a course to ADI’s throughout the North West of England.
The course fee is £139, which includes lunch and refreshments. Spaces are limited and going fast, so you’ll need to act quickly!
If you would like further information about the course, please contact Claire Wilmot on 07956 104160 or complete the contact form on the Active Driving Solutions website.
Tags: ADI Training, Claire Wilmot, Coaching, Coaching course, Driver Coaching, Driving instructor, Driving Lessons, Driving Standards Agency, Driving Tests, DSA, Ged Wilmot, Kathy Higgins, Practical driving test, Road Safety, Sir John Whitmore, Young drivers
Posted in Coaching, Events, Industry News | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, November 10th, 2009
In the past year, drivers in Merseyside were fined more than £1.2m for using their mobile phones while driving.
The Liverpool Daily Post reported that between April and September this year, police gave out tickets to more than 20,000 drivers for using handheld mobiles while in charge of their vehicles.
Even a driving instructor was among those hit with an £60 penalty and three points on their licence. The driving instructor was teaching a learner driver at the time!
Merseyside Police warned that the number of killed or seriously injured on the road could potentially increase unless they enforced the law. The cause of accidents while driving is not recorded, so there is no available data for how many people may have perished on UK roads because of mobile use.
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Tags: Driving distractions, Driving instructor, Driving Law, Mobile phones, Police, Road casualties, Road deaths, Road Safety, Texting and driving
Posted in Road Safety, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Friday, November 6th, 2009
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.
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Tags: Driving examiner, Driving instructor, Driving Standards Agency, Driving test examiner, Driving Tests, DSA, Latics Driver Training, Observer on test, Practical driving test, Sitting in on test, Young drivers
Posted in Industry News | 1 Comment »
Thursday, September 24th, 2009
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”.
Tags: Department for Transport, Driving instructor, Driving Law, Driving Standards Agency, Driving Tests, DSA, DVLA, Tax disc, Vehicle Excise Duty, Vehicle tax
Posted in Driving Law, Industry News | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009
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.
For information or advice on becoming a driving instructor, visit www.laticsdrivertraining.com or our sister company which provides ADI Training & Development www.activedrivingsolutions.com
Tags: ADI Information Pack, ADI Training, Approved Driving Instructor, Continual Professional Development, CPD, Driving instructor, Driving Standards Agency, DSA, Information pack
Posted in Industry News | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009
How many times have you tried calling the DSA, gone through their tedious menu system and eventually received a helpful message telling you that all the DSA advisers are busy and that you should call back later? Really frustrating, isn’t it? Especially when it’s the 5th time you’ve called.
Well, the DSA have now offered these helpful instructions on the best way for ADIs to contact them.
When you call the DSA’s contact centre, make sure you use the fast track and callback assist. It’s easy and will save you time (and money)!
1. Call 0300 200 1122 and dial one of these options:
- All theory tests – dial 11.
- Practical test enquiry and booking (including ADIs) – dial 25.
2. If they don’t answer your call after 60 seconds you will be offered callback assist. This will save your place in the queue so you can hang up and get on with your day.
3. You will need to confirm the number you want them to call you back on. It can be a landline or mobile, and it doesn’t have to be the number you’re calling from at the time.
4. Speak your name and hang up when you’re told to.
As soon as you reach the front of the queue they will call you back. And don’t worry if you’re on the phone, as they will try three times.
If your number’s been engaged and you haven’t heard back from them within 30 minutes from the moment you hung up, you will need to go back to step one.
Tags: callback assist, Driving instructor, Driving Standards Agency, DSA, Fast track
Posted in Industry News | 3 Comments »
Friday, August 14th, 2009
The Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) will affect all driving instructors who teach anyone under the age of 17.
The changes in legislation were prompted by the murders of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells by caretaker Ian Huntley in 2002.
Under new legislation from July 2010, the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) have powers to bar unsuitable people from undertaking paid or volunteer work with children (up to age 18) and vulnerable adults.
ISA registration uses data collected by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) to decide if a person is unsuitable. Any person who has to apply for an enhanced CRB for work purposes will automatically have to gain ISA registration which means that all driving instructors will have to comply with the scheme. It also means that to comply with the ‘fit and proper person’ requirement for Driving Standards Agency (DSA) registration, anyone starting the qualification process to become a driving instructor from July 2010 will have to have an enhanced CRB check and gain ISA registration, even before they intend to teach either on a trainee licence or a full licence.
Existing driving instructors will have until 2015 to register.
Registration costs £64 and is for life.
Tags: ADI Training, CRB, Criminal Record Check, Driving instructor, Driving Lessons, DSA, ISA registration, PDI, VBS, Vetting and Barring Scheme
Posted in Driving Law, Industry News | No Comments »
Monday, May 25th, 2009
The industry is changing, and it’s about time! Out with the old-fashioned and largely ineffective teaching methods, and in with the successful new coaching style. Some may argue that their current instructional style is proving very effective, but they largely base this claim on their pass rates.
But pass rates mean nothing when young drivers pass their tests and go on to have crashes. The facts:
- An 18-year-old driver is more than three times as likely to be involved in a crash as a 48 year-old.
- One in five new drivers has a crash within six months of passing their test.
So at long last, it appears that the DSA are supporting the approaches that many driver trainers like myself have been pushing for for years – progressing from short-term instructional methods which tend to help learners pass the driving test, towards more active-learning methods which prepare learners for solo driving and to foster ongoing learning after passing their driving test.
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Tags: ADI Training, Coaching, Consultations, Driver Coaching, Driving coach, Driving instructor, Driving Lessons, DSA, Road casualties, Road deaths, Road Safety, Sir John Whitmore
Posted in Industry News, Road Safety | No Comments »
