newslink july 2013

The Driving Standards Agency, which was launched amid much fanfare on April 2, 1990 as a body separate from the Department of Transport in order that it

could provide a stronger focus on driver testing and training, is to be merged with its sister motoring agency, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), in April 2014 as part of a rationalisation of Government departments.

The move comes as part of a wider reform of departments, with the intention of reducing back office and non-core costs and cut public spending.

The merger heralded the almost immediate end to the career of Rosemary Thew, DSA chief executive, who announced her decision to retire at the end of June on the same day the merger was confirmed.

In her place steps Alastair Peoples, currently Chief Executive of VOSA, who will head-up a transitional board which has already started work to determine the structure of the new organisation.

Rosemary was quick to stress to the MSA that the merger would have no immediate impact on ADIs. “Everything will remain the same on the surface – it really is ‘business as usual’, ” she said. “Lesley Young remains in post as chief driving examiner and Mark Magee as ADI registrar. The booking helplines, examiners and check tests all remain in place; instructors and pupils should see no changes as a result of this merger in the immediate future.”

She was keen to stress that this move in no way heralded privatisation of driver testing and training, either. “The work of the agency stays within Government.”

Changes will come into effect from 2014, when ADIs will answer to a new body – with a new name, which is yet to be finalised.

Continued on page 8 » »

NewslinkThe ADI’s Voice www.msagb.com

July 2013 Issue 253

MOTOR SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION

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MSA subscription set to increase from 1 August 2013At an MSA Board of Management meeting on Monday, 25 June 2013, a motion was passed increasing the annual membership subscription by £8 to £65 for cheque and credit card payers and to £60 for direct debit payers. Half-yearly cheque, credit card and direct debit subscriptions and quarterly direct debit subscriptions will be £34 and £18 respectively. This is the first increase in membership fees for five years.

If you pay your subscription by direct debit we will simply request the new amount from your bank when your subscription is due for renewal. You do not need to do anything. If you pay your subscription by cheque or credit card we will request the new amount from you when we send out your renewal reminder. At this point you may choose to complete a direct debit mandate in order to save you money.

Whichever way you choose to pay your MSA membership subscription, may we take this opportunity to thank you for your continuing support.

* Clarification noticeWhy does the increase apply only to members who have joined since 2010?The following extract from MSA Newslink, August 2010, 8, explains:

“On June 2, 2010, MSA received a letter from HMRC confirming that the subscription fees to the Motor Schools Association of Great Britain Ltd are exempt under the VAT Act 1994 Group 9 Schedule 9 item 1(b), as driving tuition is a profession. The board of management decided at their recent meeting to reward loyal members with a subscription price freeze for five years. Subscriptions will be held at today’s price for all members who joined before June 1, 2010.”

Get involved and raise standardsThe DSA hAS finally released details of its proposals for the modernising of driver training in Great Britain, in the form of a comprehensive consultation document.

The paper offers a number of options to reform the industry. Key issues covered include the role of PDIs, using Ofqual, the English qualifications body, to oversee the entry of new instructors to the Register rather than a DfT agency, how the standards check is administered and paid for, and other matters.

There is little new information. Many of the proposals covered have been discussed previously, and the MDT paper simply brings the different strands together in one document.

That doesn’t mean that ADIs should ignore it. The contents of the consultation paper could, potentially, have an

enormous impact on our industry, and we would urge all members to read our overview carefully and let us know your views.

Mark Magee, ADI Registrar, was keen to stress that ADIs’ views would be taken seriously.“The DSA is very grateful to MSA and our other industry partners who have worked with us on the best way to raise standards of driver training and therefore improve road safety. We believe our proposals will enhance customer confidence in the industry and establish a modern regulatory framework that reduces the burden on ADIs. As Registrar, I would urge all affected by our proposals to make their views known before the deadline of 8 August.”

Full report: See page 14 » »

Members’ notice:This notice applies to all members who joined the MSA after 1 June, 2010*

‘Cuts axe’ falls on DSAn Chief executive to retiren Former driving examiner to head transitional bodyn Privatisation ‘not on cards’

www.msagb.comContents

02 n JULY 2013 n MSA NEWSLINK

Newslink is published monthly on behalf of the MSA and distributed to MSA members throughout Great Britain by Chamber Media Services, 4 West Park Road, Bramhall, Stockport, Cheshire SK7 3JX

Views expressed in Newslink are not necessarily those of the MSA.

Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material contained within this publication, neither the MSA nor the publishers can accept any responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors in either advertising or editorial content.

©2013 The Motor Schools Association of Great Britain Ltd. Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden without express permission of the editor.

Editor: John Lepine MBet: 0161 429 9669e: [email protected] [email protected]: 0161 429 9779

Motor Schools Association of Great Britain Ltd (MSA), 101 Wellington Road North, Stockport, Cheshire SK4 2LPThe paper for this magazine has been sourced from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources. See www.pefc.org

This issue:

Production editor:Rob Beswickt: 0161 426 7957e: [email protected] [email protected]

Advertising contacts:Joanne Cantwellt: 0161 432 9717e: [email protected]

Colin Regant: 01925 468403e: [email protected]

DSA to merge with VOSA... Government’s desire to reduce size of state and cut departmental overheads sees two motoring agencies merge.

News, page 8

... so it’s so long, farewell...DSA chief executive Rosemary Thew offers her thanks to the ADI community as she steps down from the agency as it prepares for merger in 2014

Comment, page 10

... but it’s business as usual at DSA... ADI consultative groups hear reassuring words from senior management over merger and impact on ADIs, while questions remain over regulations...

News, page 12

... while potential of MDT emerges ADIs urged to consider the options as major changes proposed which have the potential to radically reform the driver training and testing industry.

News, page 14

Towards your CPD:Client-centred learningWhat role does intuition play in your teaching techniques? Susan McCormack suggests it’s more important than you first thought

page 20

Now is not the time to spend on trainingEnjoy the provocative thoughts of experienced ADI Philip Burman – and take advantage of his offer of a FREE ebook

page 24

PTLLS is your route to teaching awardMove your career along with the MSA’s own Lifelong Learning qualification, backed by Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance

page 28

Fire Service comes to the rescueMSA members enjoy an interactive session with Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service at Frodsham Community Station – and find out just how noisy it gets when you’re trapped in a stricken car

page 26

Time to end ‘cottage industry’ mentalityRod Came bemoans the lack of respect British ADIs receive compared to their European counterparts – and wonders if the industry-entry training is to blame

page 36

New penalties smack of soundbite politics The police already have powers to prosecute selfish drivers who tailgate and hog the middle lane – so why are people getting excited by the new penalties announced by Government?

page 40

News:More muddle over 80mph limitThe roads minister is still keen... but the transport secretary has gone off the idea. Confused? Everyone else is, over raising the motorway speed limit to 80

page 22

Historic books join MSA auto libraryA generous donation of some historic driver training and motoring books adds lustre to the MSA library

page 26

Western region to host conferenceSave the date: MSA announces its 2014 conference will be held in Bristol, from March 21-23 – and there’s news on regional AGMs, too

page 29

All this activity... but still no Green Paper on driver training reformDespite promising a Green Paper on driver training and new drivers before the ‘end of Spring’, the Government has admitted its release won’t now be until autumn – and the end of autumn at that.We ask, what’s the hold-up? Is it inter-departmental fighting in Westminster... or is climate change to blame for shuffling the seasons? Find out more News, page 6

Regional News:

Competition winnersCongratulations to the winners of the two competitions we ran in June’s Newslink.

A Copy of the How 2 Become a Driving Instructor is on the way to John Roberts in East Yorkshire. The correct answer to the question ‘How many Twitter followers does MSA GB have’ was b) around 1,000

The Innergie adapter and lead is on its way to Andrew O’Donnell in Bedfordshire. The correct answer to the question ‘How many Facebook likes does MSA GB have’ was a) around 500.

Thanks to all those who entered. Look out for more competitions in future issues of Newslink

www.msagb.comNews

MSA NEWSLINK n JULY 2013 n 03

The MSA: here to you You’re priority is your pupils, training them to be the safest drivers they can possibly be......but at the same time you’ve got to keep an eye on the business, making sure you have the skills to keep the new customers rolling in...And for many ADIs, even franchisees, you’re doing this mostly on your own, without anyone to support you.

That‘s where the MSA comes in.Our team is committed to being your support service, providing you with all the information, practical advice and training opportunities you need to stay at the top of the ADI profession.

We’re the MSA and we’re committed to supporting youWhether you need help with CPD, support in a problem with the DSA, the peace of mind that the MSA’s professional indemnity insurance gives you, or you just want to take advantage of our great money-saving offers through our many partners, then the MSA is there for you. Think of us as your own support service...

And all for around 15p a day!

Membership benefits:All the news you need...through our industry-leading monthly membership magazine Newslink, our website and regular membership contact through emails, texts and our many social media outlets.

CPD...Superb training events held around the country, including our national Conference every March and regional AGMs throughout the autumn every year – keep on top of the game!

MSA membership now gives you £5m professional indemnity cover including £100k bodily injury/property damage sub limit and £10m third party liability cover including £100k bodily injury/property damage sub limit in respect of in-car activities.We believe this MSA cover (free to members) is the most comprehensive and valuable cover available to ADIs through association membership.

PLUS... enhanced professional indemnity insurance

www.msagb.comDSA news


There has been a series of changes to the DSA’s driving test estate over the past few weeks.

n Bromsgrove DTC opens at HalfordsCar practical tests have begun at the Halfords site in

Bromsgrove. You can now book practical tests for this site every Wednesday and Friday.

The full address is: Bromsgrove Driving Test Centre, Halfords, 114 Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove B61 0DF.

On arrival, please park in the nearest bay to the store as possible and report to the DSA waiting area inside where the examiner will meet you.

Please note this site doesn’t have available toilet facilities.

n Beeston driving test centre ready for testsYou can now book driving tests for the new

Nottingham (Beeston) driving test centre. The first tests were held on Thursday, 27 June.

If you currently have pupils booked at Watnall test centre, they may wish to change their booking to Nottingham (Beeston). They’ll need to do this in the usual way, taking account of the last date to cancel or change the test.

You can change a test online at www.gov.uk/changedrivingtest or by contacting DSA booking support on 0300 200 1122 (textphone 0300 200 1144), Monday to Friday, 8am to midday.

Candidates with tests booked at Watnall will also be notified.

The address of the new centre is: Nottingham (Beeston) Driving Test Centre, Unit A1 : A2, Beeston Business Centre, Technology Drive, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 2ND

Access to the business centre is through a security barrier – you’ll need to tell the security guard that you’re visiting DSA. Signs in reception will direct the way to the waiting room.

Access to the site will be granted for test purposes only and DSA requests that you don’t try to access the car park to practice.

There’s no access to the main building on a Saturday. Customers with a Saturday test should wait in the security building adjacent to the security barrier.

DSA has been allocated separate parking for test candidates.

Take the first road on the left after the security barrier and the parking bays are on the left.

n East Kilbride Driving Test Centre opens at HalfordsCar practical tests are now available from the Halfords

site at East Kilbride, every Monday and Thursday. The full address of the centre is East Kilbride Driving Test Centre, Halfords, Kingsgate Retail Park, East Kilbride, Lanarkshire G74 4UN

n Cheadle Driving Test Centre open in fire stationCar practical tests are now at Cheadle Fire Station in

Stockport. Tests will be conducted every Tuesday and Thursday. The full address is Cheadle Driving Test Centre, Cheadle Fire Station, Turves Road, Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, Cheshire SK8 6AY.

Ready for tests: Cheadle Fire Station in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, which is now playing host to L-tests as well as local fire engines

DSA adds more ad hoc centres as focus switches from permanent DTCs

Are you an ‘ad hoc’ fan?Do you agree with the DSA policy of taking L-tests away from permanent driving test centres in favour of using other facilities? Let the Newslink editor know at [email protected]

A neW website designed to help road users develop and improve their driving and riding skills has been launched by the DSA.

Safe Driving for Life (www.safedrivingforlife.info) has been developed in partnership with its official publishers, TSO. It is a one-stop information resource which will be rolled out in four phases. It will hold useful, interesting and interactive material for:

• learners• experienced drivers and ridersinstructors• professional drivers and ridersPhase 1 includes:• the learners’ section• Safe Driving for Life shop• practice theory tests for car,

motorbike, LGV and PCV• a suitability tool for people to test

whether they’re cut out to be an ADIThe remaining three phases will all be

launched by August 2013, but DSA says it will continue to develop the website beyond that, according to users’ needs and requests.

If you’d like to contribute to this development you can either click on the ‘feedback’ button at the bottom of the website or contact DSA’s publishing manager, Sarah Scott, by emailing [email protected].

GOV.UK remains the official website for all government services and information about learning to drive.

Safe Driving for Life provides extra information and advice beyond what’s published on GOV.UK.

New website to help road users improve their skills

www.msagb.comDSA news


THe DSA has announced a number of new sites for motorcycle (module 2) tests. New centres include Jackman’s Place, Letchworth; eastbank Street, Southport and Approach Road, Chesterfield. A spokesman for the DSA said these three new centres would improve access to testing for candidates.

“All three centres reduce the need to travel for testing by motorcycle candidates. Until now candidates in Letchworth had to travel to Cardington to take the module 2 test - the on-road part of the practical motorcycle test, while candidates who will be using the Southport centre had to travel as far as St Helens.

“The new Chesterfield centre means candidates no longer have to travel to Rotherham”.

All three sites will offer tests on a part-time basis. Letchworth testing will be on Tuesday and Thursday; Southport on Tuesday and Chesterfield on Wednesday.

Three new motorcycle test centres join roster

DSA has launched a new DVD-ROM to help people preparing to qualify as an ADI. The official DSA Theory Test for Approved Driving Instructors includes hundreds of official theory test revision questions similar to those used in the ADI Part 1 test, including case studies and references to the source material.

It also includes:• advice on all three ADI qualifying tests• information about trainee licences and

registration• tips on how to plan and develop your career• information about professional developmentMark Magee, ADI Registrar, said: “I’m pleased

to say that this DVD-ROM for trainee ADIs has been developed with the profession very much in mind.

“We know how challenging the qualification process can be, so we listened to the industry and have tried to make this product helpful and accessible.

“The DVD’s main purpose is to help trainee ADIs to learn and understand the theory behind driving instruction to help them pass Part 1 of the qualification process and also to give them a solid foundation for providing instruction.”

The product has been developed in partnership with DSA’s official publishers, TSO.

New DVD-ROM outlines path to becoming ADI

The 2013 edition of ‘The Official DSA Theory Test for Motorcyclists DVD-ROM’ is now available and contains more help than ever before.

The DSA offers five reasons to get it:• makes passing your test simpler with a clear

three-step process ‘study, practice, test yourself ’, so that you’re completely prepared for your test

• easy to understand – new learning material in clear, bite-sized chunks to help you really understand the theory

• learn your way - loads of real-life images and clear diagrams, links to further online information and videos, and hints and tips to help you remember and apply what you learn

• clearly track your progress - it’s easy to see how much you’ve completed, how you’re doing and which topics need a bit more work to help you plan your revision

• prepares you for the day of your test You can buy it now for £12.99.

Latest theory test help for learner riders

www.msagb.comNews


Alan FleetMany members will be saddened to hear that Alan Fleet, an ADI and ADI trainer of many years standing, died on May 31. He was 78.

Alan was a stalwart of the industry in Yorkshire and trained numerous people to become instructors. He was an early and powerful advocate for the setting up of an ADITe-type register for ADI trainers, and as an MSA board member championed its creation and the need for ADIs to gain formal teaching qualifications.

It was in calling for this that he had what was possibly his finest hour within the MSA, at our Conference in 1985 (Coventry). He wanted all ADIs to take a recognised teaching qualification “so that education authorities may not differentiate in skills training and that the MSA should approach a recognised funding authority such as the eeC in order to promote this.”

He will be sadly missed by many within the MSA.

The IMPACT oF climate change on Britain’s weather has reached such catastrophic levels that the Government has formally announced that the end of Spring will, in future, be “sometime in September”.

This shock news will devastate amateur gardeners who will have to radically rethink their planning schedules for flowering bulbs and hardy perennials.

Farmers have also reacted angrily, pointing out that spring usually starts around March, culminating at the end of May. “Our sheep just don’t know what to do now,” commented one. “They’ve been brought up on a timetable of lambing in March and April, so everyone can have a nice Sunday roast in summer, but this Government proclamation has thrown their schedule. They’ve been bleating about nothing else for days.”

The news has caused consternation throughout the UK. “We know the weather’s been rubbish for a few years but I’ve always liked the idea of spring coming straight after winter, and before that damp period when all the children are off school,” commented Rob Beswick, a person with no particular interest in weather or the seasons.

When questioned as to why they had taken this radical approach to re-aligning the seasons, the Department for Metrology admitted it actually had nothing to do with climate change or the weather at all. Instead they somewhat sheepishly blamed the switch on the need for cross-departmental harmonisation of parliamentary schedules, with the finger of blame being pointed at the Department for Transport. A spokesman for the Metrology Department commented: “We have a collective need to stick together on matters such as the timings of bills, Acts of

Parliament and Green Papers. The problem has been that we’ve learnt that our colleagues at the Department for Transport had promised the driver testing and training community a Green Paper on changes to the regime for learners and new drivers by ‘the end of Spring’. As there now appears no chance of this Green Paper surfacing until September at the very earliest, we took the decision to save their blushes by realigning the seasons and pushing the ‘end of spring’ back four months so they can stick to their own deadline and deliver the Green Paper ‘on time’. From now on, ‘the end of Spring’ will be September 30.

“Therefore, if the DfT gets the Paper out before then, they have hit their deadline.”

When asked if he knew what the delays were, the man from the Department for Metrology would not be drawn, although he

did admit to hearing rumours that “there are huge rows going on behind the scenes as to what the DfT wants in the Green Paper”.

He added: “There are a number of issues slowing this paper down. The DfT’s keen but as soon as it floated the proposals by colleagues in the Department for Education and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills there were problems.

“Both are concerned that some of the proposals will put barriers in the way of young people learning to drive, which will be bad for employability and the economy. The issue of youth unemployment will not be helped by denying young people a driving licence, which is a requirement in a growing number of jobs.”

There are other issues blighting the Green paper, too. “Government might claim it wants to crack down on bad driving and improve road safety standards, but at the same time they’re caught on this ‘reduce red tape’ hook. It’s hard to cut road casualties without introducing regulations – or raising costs to the general public.

“If you come in to power declaring all regulations and red tape are bad, and you are going to cut costs, it is actually very hard to introduce legislation that makes a difference.”

Asked if there was any chance of spring slipping further back in the calendar, possibly to as late as November, the man from Metrology refused to comment further, stating that he had an urgent need to find out if it would be raining next Friday in Cheam “when it’s my children’s school fair.”

Delay to Green Paper? No, it’s just that you’ve got your seasons wrong

Promises, promises: Newslink reported that the publishing of this important Green Paper on new drivers was ‘imminent’

Direct Line launches telematics scheme at PACTS conferenceDirect Line has launched a new ‘pay how you drive’ telematics-based insurance policy, which it claims will help improve driving standards by rewarding drivers who drive safely.

The policy offers motorists the choice of having a black box fitted to their car or to download an app to their smartphone. Both devices use GPS tracking technology to monitor speed, acceleration and braking.

Direct Line is offering a 20% discount for drivers aged 17-20 who opt for the car-mounted box, and up to 10% for those choosing the smartphone app. Any driver, regardless of age, can download the app and get a 10% discount when they drive 200 miles before getting a quote from the insurance company.

Tom Woolgrove, managing director at Direct Line, announced the new policy at a Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) debate on young driver safety, which was attended by MSA general manager John Lepine. He revealed that a recent Direct Line survey had found that two-thirds of parents said they would feel less worried about their children driving if a telematics device was being used.

The event included a speech by Jessica Matthew, deputy director at the Department for Transport, on the issues being discussed by Government for inclusion in the delayed Green Paper on driver testing and training.

She said that a number of ideas were being considered for the paper, but that “the jury is still out on measures that involve restricting freedoms”.

She said: “With things such as night-time curfews there may be safety benefits, but the economic benefits are harder to see. In the midst of a recession, making it harder to get to employment or education may not be the right thing to do.”

Still being considered were graduated licensing, stricter alcohol limits and restrictions on passengers for new drivers, night-time curfews, new driving test elements such as motorway driving, and making safe driving part of the national Curriculum in schools.

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Continued from page 1

John Lepine, MSA general manager, said the news that the DSA is to be replaced by the joint body is unsurprising. “DSA has fallen victim to the current desire to rationalise the machinery of Government, make efficiency savings wherever possible and reduce headcount”, he said. “I don’t think it is in any way a reflection on the competency of the agency.”

He agreed with Ms Thew that, for ADIs, the merger would make little difference in the short-term. “ADIs will see the same examiners, use the same driving test centres and book through the same websites for some time to come – but there will be major changes going on behind the scenes.”

In addition to a new name – and, one assumes a new logo, slogan and corporate branding – the biggest questions will centre around the fate of the head office and the back office staff.

With the new agency run by the man from VOSA, it is easy to presume that many – if not all – core services will transfer to Bristol, where VOSA is based, but John Lepine pointed out that this was not necessarily the case. “A great deal will depend on service contracts held by the staff at the DSA and VOSA, the length of leases and the flexibility of offices to accommodate more employees as to which head office becomes the base for the new agency.

“It is possible that both offices will continue to be used. With the sophisticated IT systems at the disposal of the DSA there is no need for employees to share a physical office any more so it could be run on a split-site basis, with services retained in both Bristol and Nottingham, but common sense suggests one of the two centres will close in the future. In such a case the impact on back office staff will be severe. There will be a great deal of uncertainty for people working behind the scenes at both VOSA and the DSA and it is hoped that this will not impact on customer service standards, which in the case of the DSA have been high in recent months.”

The new departure of Rosemary Thew was something John was sad to hear. “Rosemary has tried hard to make a difference to road safety. Certainly where she has been able to have a free hand – in areas such as the improvements in IT, reducing test waiting times, the raising of service standards, investigating examiner/

ADI fraud and reductions in sickness and absenteeism, her time in office has been a success.

“I’m sure she will leave slightly frustrated at the lack of progress on other issues, however. I am convinced she believed mandatory CPD was the way forward for improving ADI standards, but this sensible idea floundered on the rock that is the Government’s mantra of de-regulation. I think the confusing messages we have had coming out of Westminster since 2010 haven’t helped her cause: one moment we had learners on motorways, the other not; then we have an urgent need for MPTCs to provide bespoke centres for driver and motorbike testing, the next minute we’re popping down to the local cornershop to have a test.

“But despite the problems she has always been happy to talk to the MSA, to take our calls and consider our views. I’ve never once thought she was paying lip service to the MSA’s opinion. We may have not seen eye-to-eye on some issues but I always thought she had taken our views on board. In addition, I know she has personally intervened on a number of occasions where an ADI has had a grievance or problem with the agency, for which we were very thankful.

“I know many members were struck by how open she was with us all at the MSA conference. It raised her stock with many attendees and is a suitable occasion to remember her time in office by.”

Her replacement, Alastair Peoples, appears in many ways to be the ideal man to lead the new agency. He has been Chief Executive of VOSA since August 2009, after spells as operations director in 2004, followed by posts as Deputy Chief Executive and then Interim Chief Executive.

Alastair joined the Civil Service in 1978 working for what is now the Driver and Vehicle Agency within Department of Environment in Northern Ireland. He worked as a vehicle and driving examiner after taking the driving examiner training course at the DSA training and development centre in Cardington, Bedfordshire.

Later, he attended and passed the supervisor driving examiner course.

After conducting driving and vehicle tests for a number of years, he held a variety of roles, eventually becoming the operations director, where he was responsible for the delivery of all vehicle and driving tests in Northern Ireland.

Therefore, unusually for this position, he has practical experience of driver testing as well as considerable administrative experience.

There are obvious synergies between the two agencies and in many ways the news that the DSA was only merging with one other is a relief, says John Lepine. “I was concerned that the DVLA would reach out and take both agencies and the Vehicle Certification Agency under its wing, to be based in Swansea.

“It would have created a ‘super agency’ that would struggle to react quickly to changes and problems. By combining VOSA and the DSA I think there is a chance senior officials will remain close enough to the core services to undertake reforms when needed, and

Alastair’s considerable experience in the front line of driver testing is a

bonus.”Both agencies are of similar

size, employing around 2,400 staff on a payroll of £6.5m. “The vast majority are customer facing, and there is little or no overlap in the core services, so we do not anticipate those personnel to be threatened by redundancy. Support staff will obviously be fearful, however,” John added.

VOSA – formed on 1 April 2003 following the merger of the Vehicle Inspectorate and

the Traffic Area Network division of the Department for Transport – provides a range of licensing, testing and enforcement services to improve the roadworthiness of vehicles, ensuring compliance of operators and drivers with road traffic legislation, and supporting the independent Traffic Commissioners.

Government reforms lead to DSA losing separate status

That was then... this is now: How Newslink covered the story of the launch of the DSA back in April 1990.23 years on, the agency has been served notice that its days as a separate body are numbered

Moving on: Rosemary Thew is retiring from the Civil Service

Industry response“I don’t think this is a surprise... it is not, in my opinion, a reflection of the competency of the agency either... rather DSA has fallen victim to the current desire to rationalise the machinery of Government, make efficiency savings and reduce headcount.”

John Lepine, MSA

www.msagb.comNews


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The Minister’s official announcement on the proposed new agency to cover the work of the DSA and VOSA

The Department for Transport is committed to delivering better quality and better value motoring services to the public and business. I am therefore pleased to announce that a new single agency will

bring together the testing and standards services that are currently provided by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and the Driving Standards Agency (DSA). These services will be delivered by the two agencies under a single chief executive and transitional board from July.

Bringing together the testing and standards services currently provided by VOSA and DSA will enable a single agency to deliver the same high-quality service, but with greater efficiency, potentially allowing for the reduction of fees. It will be easier for customers to navigate the services offered, and will reduce the administrative burden for those individuals and businesses that currently have regular contact with both DSA and VOSA.

The DSA and VOSA are already undertaking work to make testing more flexible and convenient for customers and this merger will allow them to explore opportunities to extend this in the future. These services will be delivered by the single agency in 2014. A transitional board, under the leadership of VOSA Chief Executive Alastair Peoples, who will head the agency, will start work next

month to determine the structure of the organisation.The initial move will take place in July this year – a single

Chief Executive and transitional board will oversee the two trading funds. They will continue in their current form for at least the next 12 months. By that time we expect the detail of the structural reorganisation to be complete.

We need to make sure that we continue to keep pace with customers’ needs and deliver services in a way which is both convenient and cost-effective. These changes will put customers at the heart of the services they rely on and allow for a more coherent approach to service delivery. By bringing testing and standards services into a single organisation we will make life easier for customers and potentially reduce the fees we charge.

Staff at the DSA and VOSA do a great job in delivering for customers every day and we will work closely with them to support them through these changes.

We will work to ensure that there is no detrimental effect on the quality of customer service during the transitional phase.

This announcement follows the consultation on our motoring services strategy which ran from 13 December 2012 to 7 March 2013. The strategy proposed rationalising the roles and numbers of agencies to

provide an improved and more efficient delivery of motoring services to customers. Respondents to the consultation were generally supportive of this proposal.

I am also publishing the summary of responses to that consultation. Decisions on any other proposals detailed in the motoring services strategy will be announced in due course.

Customers at heart of new agency, says Minister

“

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Industry responseThe Road Haulage Association welcomed the news. RHA Chief Executive Geoff Dunning said: “This move makes obvious sense to an industry that is surrounded by regulations from a number of regulatory bodies. However, we are concerned that this is another case of the devil being in the detail and we would welcome the opportunity to contribute to the negotiations as to how the new system will actually work.

“We have always had a good relationship with both the DSA and VOSA and are confident that this will continue with the new, single, regulatory body.”

Speaking for the Freight Transport Association, Karen Dee, director of policy, said: “We support any move which can deliver improved services and better value for money, and we can certainly see some potential for this in the proposed merger of DSA and VOSA - for example if this allows transport managers to check their OCRS scores at the same time as their drivers’ DCPC status that would be a big step forward.

“However, we will be looking very carefully at the detail behind this to ensure that benefits such as this are delivered.”

www.msagb.comComment


ROSEMARYTHEWChief Executive, DSA

Chief Executive Rosemary Thew left DSA at the end of June and in her last column for MSA Newslink, she reflects on some of the highlights of a very busy final month.

JuNe hAS BeeN very eventful, with the launch of a major DSA consultation on modernising driver training, the publication of our Annual Report and Accounts and an important announcement on one of the outcomes of the Motoring Services Strategy consultation.

The latter, as you may already be aware, is that DSA is to merge with VOSA and I will be stepping down as chief executive at the end of June. I’ve been considering moving on for some time, for private and personal reasons. The creation of a single agency replacing DSA and VOSA seemed the right time for me to do so.

Alastair Peoples, VOSA’s current chief executive, will oversee strategic operations for the two agencies towards a full merger over the next year.

No impact on our servicesThe changes are designed to offer motorists and

businesses better and more convenient services, while making sure that road safety and first class

customer service remain a top priority. They won’t impact on the services you use from DSA and VOSA nor the progress of other ongoing reform programmes.

Modernising driver trainingThe DSA is consulting on a range of proposals to

modernise the way in which people qualify to become ADIs.

The aim is to further improve training for new drivers and offer a cost-effective and flexible training route for new instructors.

New vocational qualificationProposals include the option of replacing the

existing DSA qualifying tests with a new vocational qualification and reform of the trainee licence scheme which allows trainee instructors to gain experience by giving paid tuition before they are fully qualified. Under the new plans, trainees would only be able to give paid tuition when accompanied by a fully qualified instructor.

The consultation also seeks views on changes to the ADI register including restructuring the ADI grading system and publishing more information about ADIs to help learners choose their instructor.

New standards checkIn addition, the agency has announced that it

will replace the ADI check test with a new standards check from April 2014. This assesses an ADI’s ongoing ability to give effective tuition, and has to be taken at least once by all ADIs during each four-year period of registration.

The new assessment is more directly linked to DSA’s national standards. It places greater emphasis on the ability to support learning and enables the ADI to show competence in areas of lesson

planning, risk management and a wider range of teaching and learning strategies.

Annual report and accountsIt has been another year of success for the

Agency, where we met 20 out of 24 of our performance measures.

By reducing waste and improving efficiency, we achieved savings of £5 million in 2012-13.

We also made great progress on our aim to become a digital-by-default organisation by 2015 by introducing new digital services for booking tests online and increasing take up of electronic services to 97%.

We are also supporting DfT ambitions to make it easier for people to access motoring services. During 2012-13, the DSA has started to deliver tests from sites such as Halfords, Mantra Learning, Nottingham Trent University and fire stations. This ‘taking testing to the customer’ approach has received very positive initial feedback.

Moving onI would like to sign off by recording how much,

during my time as Chief Executive of DSA, I have valued the dedication of ADIs to the driver training industry. Your hard work has been appreciated and your opinions always welcomed.

Alastair Peoples started out as a driving examiner and trained at our Cardington site. He is also a long-serving motoring services chief executive and familiar with the agency’s business.

I’m confident that the team here at DSA, under Alastair’s leadership, will continue to offer our customers the very best service they can as the merger proceeds and the combined agency emerges.

Rosemary Thew, June 2013

Busy month but hopefully we’ll all reap the benefits in future

A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of carrying out illegal instruction as part of a joint operation between the DSA and Met Police in the Ilford and Barking areas.

As a result of the operation on Friday, 14 June, several ADIs were also warned over failure to display their badges.

Two marked police cars were used to stop vehicles displaying L-plates and driving school signage. Candidates were asked if they had paid for instruction and instructors were asked to provide evidence of their entitlement to charge for giving lessons.

During the operation 48 vehicles were stopped and the instructors’ accreditation checked. This resulted in:

• The arrest of one individual who was suspected of carrying out illegal instruction

• Another individual was issued a warning and told not to instruct until they had received their new ADI badge

• Confiscation of two photocopied badges where the original was in another car, and of two out-of-date ADI badges

• Four warnings for failure to display a valid badge.

DSA’s Head of Fraud and Integrity, Andy Rice, said: “Operations of this nature are a vital part of our attempts to stop illegal driving instruction. Those carrying out the fraud have often not undergone any background checks, or an assessment of their ability to drive or teach, and their car insurance may also be invalid. This puts learners and other road users at risk.

“I would like to thank all the ADIs and members of the public who continue to give us information about illegal instruction. It is largely through their efforts that we’re able to continue our effective work in stopping fraudulent instructors.

“We investigate all reported cases and work closely with the police to identify offenders and bring them to justice.”

ADI Registrar Mark Magee added: “The message is clear: if you’re not approved by DSA, but continue to undertake paid instruction, then expect to face the penalty.”

If you have concerns that an instructor may be teaching illegally, call the DSA Fraud and Integrity Team on 0115 936 6051 or email [email protected].

DSA hails latest success on illegal instructors

ASA upholds DSA complaint on website claimsTHe Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld a complaint made by DSA against a booking website that claimed it was the easiest and fastest way to book a driving test online.

The company, Book Your Practical Test Online Ltd, which owns the website www.book-your-driving-test-online.co.uk, showed a car and a woman holding a car key and an L-plate. Text stated ‘The Easiest Way to Book Your Driving Test online’ and ‘The Fastest Way to Book your DSA Driving Test Online.’

DSA, which offers a free direct access booking service, complained to ASA about the claims. no evidence was made to substantiate either claim of being ‘the fastest’ or the ‘easiest’ way to book a driving test online.

In view of that, ASA concluded that the advert was misleading and the claims should not appear again in their current form.

earlier this year DSA launched an updated version of its online practical test booking service at gov.uk/bookdrivingtest. The new site is in line with the Government’s digital-by-default policy.

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www.msagb.comMeeting with the DSA


The ADI CoNSuLTATIVe GRouPS were surprised to have a long scheduled meeting with senior officials at the DSA cancelled at 48 hours’ notice on June 19 – although

within a few days the news of the merger between DSA and VOSA, and the retirement of chief executive Rosemary Thew, made sense of the sudden cancellation.

By way of consolation, a teleconference with Rosemary Thew, Lesley Young (chief driving examiner) and Mark Magree (ADI registrar) was held with the main groups on June 25.

The session opened with a brief explanation by Rosemary Thew of recent developments. She was at pains to state that the recently announced merger should not be viewed negatively by ADIs, stressing that it would be ‘business as usual’ and ADIs would see little in the way of changes until next year, when the new name, the new head office and other changes would become known.

Indeed, the first question posed to Rosemary was on the new name: were there any clues? The simple answer was no: it was obviously high on the agenda and would be announced soon.

The DSA officials confirmed that the Modernising Driver Training Consultation paper would finally be released on June 29 (see pg 1 and pages 14-18 for more on this).

The consultation period on this was to run until 8 August and the ADI groups were encouraged to submit their opinions to the DSA so that all views could be considered.

n A question was raised by DISC representative Gareth Marchant over a potential misalignment in the way the Part 3 qualification is assessed and the proposed client-centred learning focus of the new Standards Check.

With CCL not an official part of the current Part 3, but central to the new standards check, was there a danger that newly qualified instructors would find their tuition judged against a whole new set of criteria within a few months of qualifying?

The suggestion was that the introduction of the standards check should be pushed back until the Part 3 examination could be changed to align it better with the new criteria used to assess ADIs.

Mark Magee was strongly against this idea: the response to the standards check had been overwhelmingly positive and it was hoped that it would have a very positive impact on the profession. Putting it back was not acceptable and it would be introduced from April 2014.

The MSA was supportive of the assessment process but did have some concerns. In particular, the dropping of the option to role play on a standards check was a concern, and seemed inconsistent when that option remained on the Part 3.

The new check was dependent on the ADI’s pupil being available for the lesson as arranged. As all instructors are only too aware, last-minute cancellations are common: how would such an occurrence be judged by the examiner? Would it be classed as a ‘FTA’ (failed to attend)?

Mark said there would be some leeway given to examiners as to how they assessed situations such as this one. Having pupils fail to attend on a regular basis would probably have to be marked down against the ADI but Mark was sure common sense would apply when the ADI was clearly not at fault for the no-show.

Lesley Young said the role play option on the Part 3 was a bone of contention: more complaints were received over assessment when role playing than with ‘live’ pupils.

It had been hoped that introducing the role play option on the check test would cut the number of ADI who fail to attend but that had not been the case. As Lesley pointed out, “I still have examiners sent out to do four tests a day who report that they’ve only managed to do one. It’s an unacceptable situation.”

The MSA has obtained figures that show the FTA rate for check tests is nearly 10%. The FTA rate for car and motorcycle tests is 2%.

DISC pointed out that the check test was something many ADIs feared, and other contributors commented that the industry needed more information on what the new standards check would entail. A clear timetable needed to be set out and the criteria against which ADIs were to be assessed had to be circulated. Mark and Lesley promised to ensure this happened. (see pg 18 for a first look at the standards check assessment form).

n John Lepine asked what had happened to the promised Green Paper?

The news that it would not be published until autumn was very disappointing. Carly Brookfield of the DIA stated that she knew the insurance industry had been dismayed at the news as they were hopeful the Green Paper would help move the industry forward over young and novice drivers.

John asked if this delay was a precursor to the ideas contained within the Green Paper being dropped. As it would contain non-party political reforms, the DSA hoped that a consensus could be reached across the floor of the House of Commons on the key measures, and it could still be debated

and passed before the General Election in 2015.As John pointed out, however, that was no

guarantee of reforms being introduced: there was still a great deal of legislation agreed under the Road Safety Act of 2006 which had not been enacted, particularly the creation of an overarching register for all driver and rider trainers. He was disappointed that more progress hadn’t been made on some of the excellent ideas contained within the 2006 legislation

The reform of PassPlus was still being debated and its future would play a central role in the Green Paper, the DSA believed. Mark stressed that the current PassPlus scheme was still being supported by the DSA.

n The DSA revealed details of two fairly major changes.

The new Code of Practice had gone forward for publishing, and the support and assistance the ADI groups had given this important document was acknowledged by the agency’s senior management team. The failure to convince the minister on the worth of mandatory CPD was lamented but the DSA did say it was going to help the public differentiate between those instructors who were maintaining their CPD and endorsing the Code of Practice from those who neglected to do either, via the Find Your Nearest website. In future this would be split into two sections, clearly labelling those ADIs who endorse the Code of Practice and CPD from those who do not.

In addition, changes had been made in the way CRB regulations were administered.

Previously applications for a CRB check resulted in a copy being sent automatically to the DSA as well as to the ADI/PDI. There had been issues over this practice, however, where the applicant had challenged the findings of the CRB check.

In the future the result of the CRB check would

It’s business as usual, DSA reassures ADI groups

A question of standards: Will the emphasis of the new standards check clash with that of the Part 3?

www.msagb.comMeeting with the DSA


go only to the applicant who would then send this off to the DSA if requested to do so by the agency when they were happy with the outcome and had clarified any queries. This new procedure would inevitably lead to a slowing up of the application process, and the DSA emphasised the need for ADIs to apply early for their record check.

It was noted that for an annual fee of £13 your CRB position could be constantly checked and updated on your behalf. The scheme had been set up to assist those whose careers led to them requiring regular checks, such as supply teachers or locum healthcare workers. It was an option for ADIs to consider though if a problem does arise, it had to be stressed that instructors would have to pay for a full CRB check and could end up paying twice.

n John Lepine asked how far the consultation into language support for learners drivers on tests had got.

The replies were still being analysed and a decision was imminent. It was likely that if major changes were implemented, a period of grace would be granted before support was reduced or taken away from learners who didn’t speak English. There was no need for legislation on this change so it could be enacted quickly once a final decision was made.

n The new animations for the HPT were also imminent.

Rosemary said that a test batch of 10 clips would be released soon, and that the company undertaking the project, Jelly, was still on course to supply a complete animation of the HPT before the end of the year.

n ADIs had complained about a quirk of the test

booking system. When a pupil went in to make an amendment to

an existing test, the ADI number disappeared. It was a flaw on the system and Lesley promised to look into it.

Lesley Young has since been in touch to say that “I have had a quick chat with our booking people and I am informed that they are aware of the problem and intend to implement a fix but this will not be done until the next round of amendments in September. I will continue to seek a quicker resolution and let you know if I am successful.”

n Other matters:Motorcycle tests: The question of whether

Module 1 motorcycle tests would be allowed on roads was discussed. A decision was promised very soon on this.

Saturday tests: There was little chance of Saturday tests being introduced when there were gaps in the current Monday-Friday schedules, said

Rosemary. If waiting times grew and the weekday slots were all taken the DSA would consider introducing Saturday testing at the affected centres but it was unlikely at the moment.

europe: The next round of European elections in 2014 could possibly herald the 4th European Directive on driver testing and training.

There was no information on what this could entail as yet but Rosemary stressed that she believed the UK should be in the vanguard of discussions on the issue, considering the lead we had in Europe on this and other road safety issues.

B & e Testing: Neil Peek, representing the ADINJC, asked a number of questions on the load required for B & E testing (an issue covered in recent issues of Newslink).

Lesley Young was at pains to point out that the new requirements were consulted on widely and the industry had supported the line taken by the DSA.

The new policy required candidates to have a trailer loaded with 600kg of sand or 1,000 litres of water in an IBC, which was above the minimum requirements laid down in the 3rd European Directive. The weight of the trailer was not considered.

The benefits of this was that it created a simple ‘one size fits all’ policy that removed the need for candidates to consider weigh bridges or for examiners to carry round a list of all trailer weights. It was simple to administer and check.

Neil asked whether the DSA could run into trouble for exceeding the requirements laid down by the EU statute: Lesley stressed the directive set out a minimum and that in this case the DSA had decided to go beyond that to come up with a formula that was simple to administer.

“There was still a great deal of legislation agreed under the Road Safety Act of 2006 which had not been enacted... which was very disappointing...”

What do you think about the issues raised at this meeting? Let us know your views. Write to the Editor, Newslink, 101 Wellington Road North, Stockport, Cheshire SK4 2LP

www.msagb.comModernising Driver Training


The MuCh-ANTICIPATeD proposals for the reform of the driver training industry have finally arrived from the DSA, in the form of a lengthy consultation document on Modernising

Driver Training (MDT). The document’s release capped a momentous week for the agency, which included the retirement of its chief executive and the news that the agency would merge with VOSA by April 2014.

Because the ADI consultative groups have been involved in these matters from the beginning, there are no great surprises in the package of measures suggested, which have been widely trailed in Newslink over recent months.

Some readers will recall that when the MDT agenda was first discussed the plan was a little different, as this extract from an email to the MSA from the then DSA project leader in 2007 testifies: “The [MDT] working group will be responsible for developing proposals necessary to inform the public consultation paper in relation to the implementation of a mandatory CPD programme, following the initial introduction of a structured voluntary scheme.”

As members will be only too aware, the loss of mandatory CPD is something the MSA believes is a mistake, but while there is no sign of CPD there are many other matters on which your views are being requested.

The main issue is a change in the qualifying process. Professional driving instructors have been regulated since the 1960s to help ensure that people receive a minimum standard of training. Regulation was put in place by creating a Register of Approved Driving Instructors (the register).

Those on the register are given official approval as approved driving instructors (ADIs). The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is the regulatory body and the register is managed by the ADI registrar on behalf of the Secretary of State. The regulatory framework also covers the qualification process that people must pass to enter the register. Only those on it, or potential ADIs (PDIs) who have been granted a trainee licence by the registrar, can give in-car driving instruction for money or reward.

If the proposals put forward in the MDT paper are to be acted upon, the DSA wants to build upon current best practice and the knowledge, skills and understanding already held by ADIs. DSA has published an evidence-based National standard for driving cars (category B) which sets out the competences required to be a safe and responsible driver. The supporting National standard for driver and rider training sets out the competences required by professional instructors to deliver effective driver training.

A modern and fair regulatory framework can, says the DSA, help ADIs to obtain these competences and reduce the burden on small business. It is interesting to note that the DSA is not extending the regulatory framework to its other voluntary registers. It will also be looking to ensure that no additional, unnecessary, burdens are placed on those who are on both the ADI register and other voluntary registers.

In March this year DSA confirmed changes to the check test. They hope the changes will encourage ADIs to review and develop their competence against the new national standards. This can be achieved with only a minor technical change to the current regulatory framework.

Further details of the changes and a copy of the new marking sheet are on page 18.

Officials want to ensure that those entering the industry develop the same competences. This consultation invites comments on proposed changes to the way in which people qualify to become an ADI.

One of the options is the introduction of a vocational

qualification, which would see regulatory responsibility for the qualification process move from DSA to the Office of Qualification and Exams Regulations (Ofqual) and SQA in Scotland. Ofqual currently covers qualifications in Wales through a partnership agreement. Interestingly, Ofqual has the same jurisdiction over qualifications in Northern Ireland as it does over those in England but as members will be aware, the driver training regime is very different in that part of the UK - hence why this document covers Great Britain only.

AS WELL AS ensuring that the qualification process is more closely based on the national standards, the proposals will also reform the

trainee licence scheme and it is hoped increase the likelihood of applicants successfully qualifying, and reduce the considerable amount of time and money that is currently wasted by many applicants.

Currently the fall-out rate from the ADI qualification process is alarmingly high. Only 40 per cent of those eligible actually apply for a trainee licence as a signal that they have both taken Parts 1 and 2 of the qualifying process and intend to go on to attempt the Part 3. Of these, 60 per cent apply for a second trainee licence at the end of the six-month period that the trainee licence is eligible for.

DSA is also seeking views on possible changes relating to the register and registration:

• the ADI registrar being able to issue a financial penalty for regulatory non-compliance (civil sanctions)

• changes to the process by which standards checks are booked

• changes to the ADI registration fee structure• changes to the ADI grading structure• extending consumer information on ADIs• changes to the re-registration process

for ADIs whose registration has lapsed for more than 12 months

• allowing an ADI to request voluntary removal from the register

None of these changes are going to happen overnight and some will require further consultation on the detailed arrangements.

DSA has published an analysis of the costs and benefits arising from the proposals, along with the reasons for change, and these along with the full text of the consultation are available to read online.

Type DSA modernising driver training into your search engine and you will be able to access a plethora of information about this consultation.

So what are the options for change put forward by the DSA? Turn to page 16 to find out. » » »

Key points of the MDT consultationn New qualification for ADIs entering the Registern DSA may hand over responsibility for new ADIs to Ofqualn Push to reduce fall-out rate from trainees

As the DSA releases its Modernising Driver Training consultation paper, Newslink looks at the key reforms proposed and offers an initial view

Paper opens up ADI industry to major changes



MDT: What’s on offer?n Continued from page 14

Well, one option on offer is to do virtually nothing. Under this option, DSA would introduce the new standards check in April 2014 but maintain the current testing and qualification processes. However, DSA believes that the ‘do nothing’ option is not viable.

The consultation therefore sets out three options for changing the qualifying process, which we will examine towards the end of this article.

Civil sanctions against ADIsOn other matters, the DSA is looking to

introduce civil sanctions for ADIs: in other words the registrar would be able to fine ADIs who break the rules.

First reaction to this news is that it sounds draconian but as the consultation explains, the registrar currently has only a limited range of options for dealing with those instructors who fail to meet the fit and proper conditions or comply with the regulatory requirements. He can issue a warning letter, refuse an application or remove an ADI from the register. Alternatively, he can seek prosecution through the criminal courts. These options offer the registrar very little flexibility.

Fines would be applied where an ADI had failed to comply with a condition of approval, with the level of the penalty set in the region of £200. DSA says it will work with the ADI consultative groups to identify the circumstances when a fixed penalty may be appropriate.

This would form part of a revised enforcement policy for most instances of non-compliance, where the registrar was satisfied that the ADI had committed an offence, eg, failing to display their badge while giving paid instruction. The fine would not be automatic. A first offence would receive a warning letter, with a second offence within 12 months leading to a fine being imposed. At both stages the ADI would have the opportunity to make representations and as a final safeguard the ADI would have the right of appeal to the First-Tier Transport Tribunal.

Standards/check tests and feesRevisions are also suggested to the standards

check (new check test) booking system and the fee structure for ADI registration.

At the moment a large number of ADIs fail to attend for their check test or cancel it at short notice. This makes the process more expensive, because examiner time is normally lost and extra administration is required to re-book the assessment.

In addition, some ADIs wish to deliver fleet training or other specialised training for local authorities or other bodies, many of which currently require the instructor to have obtained a high grade in their check test. Such ADIs may seek to improve their grade in order to obtain or retain this additional work and look for an early standards check. However, they cannot book such a test and DSA could not charge for the costs incurred in providing it.

All ADIs pay the same £300 registration fee which includes the cost of the check test. However, some ADIs have more check tests than others. For example, around 15 per cent of ADIs fail the check test and are given a second, and if necessary, a third attempt.

DSA suggests introducing a system whereby ADIs book their own standards checks, and pays for them in the same way an L-driver would apply for and pay for a driving test. An on-line system would be created for ADIs to book their standards

checks at a time and date that best suits them, with the fee structure changed so that an ADI pays a lower initial fee for registration and a separate fee for the standards check at the time the test is booked.

Over the years many people have questioned the ADI grading structure, which is currently 1, 2 or 3 for sub-standard tuition; Grade 4 is the minimum standard of performance; while Grades 5 and 6 indicate that the ADI’s performance is above the minimum standard. An ‘Educational’ grade is sometimes given when an ADI is new on the register.

The current system is felt to be confusing for some – particularly the general public who might well expect that a Grade 1 is the highest grade.

DSA will be removing the existing Educational grade. The new standards check form will score an ADI’s competence in a particular area, between 0 (no evidence of competence) and 3 (competence demonstrated in all areas). DSA is, therefore, considering whether to move to a grading system for ADIs which uses four grades as per the standards check form and the same descriptors, ranging from ‘Not acceptable’ to ‘Fully competent’.

Consumer informationOne part of the consultation that was perhaps

not expected is the section on consumer information. It seems the Government is keen to improve the information that is available to learners and parents, presumably via the ‘Find my nearest’ facility on the DSA website. The consultation states: “Some pupils have particular needs when it comes to selecting an ADI, eg, they may be looking for expertise in supporting very nervous learners.” Few ADIs will have met any learners who are not nervous so this would seem to be a bad example.

RequalificationThis consultation also seeks to tidy up some of

the loose ends on the requalification front. Currently ADIs who allow their registration to lapse for more than 12 months must re-qualify by passing all three parts of the qualifying test. The DSA propose to end this requirement. Instead, the

registrar would treat the ADI the same as any other new entrant to the register but ensure they undergo a standards check soon after re-registration.

It is also a strange anomaly that there is no provision in the current legislation for ADIs who do not wish to remain on the register to have their name voluntarily removed. Although the registrar currently acts on such requests, his actions are purely administrative as there is no specific legal base for doing so.

DSA proposes to change the legislation to allow the removal of an ADI’s name from the register on request. However, it should be noted that there would be no refund of any part of the registration fee. No surprise there then.

Becoming an ADI: Qualifying processThe most radical changes to arise from the MDT,

however, are the options for change to the qualifying process for becoming an ADI.

The DSA has offered three options, with the first being its preferred approach. This would both create a qualification process that aligns to the national standards and make the necessary changes to the trainee licence system.

It would see a vocational qualification introduced to replace the current qualifying test. Under this option, individuals wishing to become ADIs will complete a vocational qualification based on the National standard for developed driving competence and the Driver Training National Occupational Standards (NOS) which are aligned with the national standards. The qualification will be in two parts, providing candidates with the option of receiving a qualifying credit at the end of the first part, should they decide they do not wish to complete their training. Those completing the vocational qualification will then apply to the registrar to have their names entered in the register.

Applicants for registration would continue to be required to meet the fit and proper conditions and undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service check (previously a CRB check).

The vocational qualification would be delivered only by recognised training centres approved by an awarding organisation. The regulatory body for this aspect of the ADI qualification process would be the Ofqual/SQA rather than DSA.

The trainee licence arrangements would be replaced by a ‘class exemption’ permitting any individual undertaking the vocational qualification to give paid instruction so long as they: were accompanied by an ADI at all times while providing paid instruction; informed the customer immediately before the start of each lesson, and in the presence of the ADI, that they are only partially qualified; and ensure that the badge of the accompanying ADI was displayed in the windscreen.

In establishing the basis for definitive documentation for qualifications, DSA will reinforce this by requiring that, when a trainee instructor is giving paid instruction as part of their training course, the person accompanying the trainee instructor must: be a registered ADI; be satisfied that the trainee instructor has reached a sufficient level of competence to deliver paid instruction; ensure that the pupil has been informed of the instructor’s status and has agreed to participate on that basis

If the vocational qualification is launched those who have started the DSA route and passed the Part 1 would be allowed to continue, including

Key points of the MDT consultationn Pay-as-you-go standards checks, lower registration feen Fines for breaking regulationsn Ban on PDIs giving lessons without direct supervisionn End to the need to fully requalify if you take a break from profession

What’s your view?Do you support the proposals in the MDT consultation paper - or are the DSA proposals ones you want to see? Will these proposals improve and reform driver training in a way you agree with?Tell the MSA your views: email the MSA at [email protected]



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giving paid instruction under the conditions of the trainee licence scheme. However, no new applications to start the DSA route would be accepted. Those who had passed the Part 1 at this stage would have two years from when they passed the Part 1 to complete Parts 2 and 3.

DSA would seek to avoid raising the fees for the qualifying tests during this period. It is expected that the DSA route, including the trainee licence scheme, would be discontinued two years after the vocational qualification is launched. At this point ORDIT would also close. ORDIT fees would be frozen during this two-year period.

Fully replacing the DSA route with a vocational qualification would require an amendment to primary legislation. This can be a lengthy process and DSA states that it has limited control over the timing of these changes.

ADI qualifying process: Option 2The second option suggested by the DSA is to

improve the existing route to ADI qualification by making improvements to Part 2 and Part 3 of the existing DSA qualifying test for ADIs, and making reforms to the trainee licence scheme.

The trainee licence scheme would be replaced by an instructor exemption. While the effect of this would be similar to option 1 the individual potential driving instructor (PDI) would need to apply to DSA for an individual exemption.

The existing DSA three-part assessment route would be amended to provide some limited improvement to the way it aligns to the national standards.

Under this option the costs of training, system changes and progressing proposals would be recovered from ADI fees. PDIs would no longer apply for a trainee licence. Regulations would specify that an eligible person would be able to

apply for an ‘exemption’ which would allow them to deliver paid instruction for a period of six months only, subject to conditions.

They would not be able to apply for an extension or for a second exemption. The trainee licence scheme would end on the day that the new scheme is switched on. Under the transition arrangements, any PDI already granted a trainee licence would be allowed to complete that licence. They would not be allowed to apply for another once that licence has expired.

Unlike option 1, option 2 does not specify that the ADI accompanying the PDI must be the person who is training them. However, there is a strong likelihood that this is the case as the proposed arrangements are designed to make it uneconomic to earn on this basis and restricts these opportunities to training requirements.

The format of Part 2 of the qualifying test would be improved by requiring the candidate to deliver a commentary while continuing to demonstrate an appropriate level of driving competence. This would test the candidate’s ability to communicate effectively in the learning environment and provide additional evidence of their ability to scan and plan.

To free up more time for the assessment of driving competence, candidates would be required to perform only two specific manoeuvres, instead of four as currently required.

Proposed amendments to the current exam would see the end of the use of pre-set tests and role-play. Instead we would require candidates to attend with a pupil. The emphasis of assessment would be on instructional competence and the management of risk. This would make for a more realistic test in which the candidate must plan and deliver an appropriately structured lesson to suit the needs of the pupil. This mirrors the proposed improvements to the standards check for ADIs and would help to ensure trainees understood more clearly what would be required of them once registered.

Qualifying process: Option 3Under the final option on offer, option 3, only

the trainee licence scheme would be reformed as set out in option 2. No changes would be made to the DSA tests.

Responding to the MDT consultationRegarding responding to this consultation all

ADIs are invited by the DSA to respond to this consultation individually and can do so on the www.gov.uk website.

The MSA will also respond on behalf of members and a DRAFT MSA response will be placed on www.msagb.com in the next couple of weeks that members will be invited to comment on.

Key points of the MDT consultationn Option 1 includes closure of ORDIT for ADI trainersn Options 2 and 3 for qualifying improve existing route to ADI licencen Draft MSA response on line soon. What’s your view?

Want to know more about the new Standards Check?Turn over to page 18



DSA unveils enhanced standards check form

The existing check test does not cover all the competences introduced by the national

standards, says the DSA in the MDT consultation paper. The assessment form does not help an ADI to understand their strengths, or where they are in need of development. This is set out by the examiner in a separate explanatory letter.

DSA is therefore introducing a new standards check on 7 April, 2014. Examiners will use a new assessment form which is more directly linked to the objectives of the National standard for driver and rider training. The standards check will focus more closely on the skills, knowledge and understanding that an ADI requires for effective learning.

The new approach does not require ADIs to discard their existing instructional methods. However, the form will place greater emphasis on the ability to support learning and enable the ADI to evidence competence in the key areas of lesson planning, risk management and a wider range of teaching/learning strategies.

The form will more clearly identify what the examiner is assessing and whether effective learning is taking place. It will also provide better feedback to ADIs at the end of the test, without the need for a separate letter, enabling them to better understand their strengths and identify those areas where they should improve their level of competence. An example of the new form is set out right.

An ADI should not try to behave differently in their standards check from the way they would when delivering a lesson. The aim is for the examiner to see the ADI conducting a normal, one hour, driving lesson.

The examiner role-play option was originally introduced to help ADIs who were unable to attend for a check test with a pupil. However, the number of check test cancellations has not reduced despite its introduction. Many ADIs also say that the role-play check test is unrealistic, in that it restricts their ability to instruct, and that the examiners’ role-playing skills do not accurately reflect a normal pupil’s reactions or ability during a lesson. Therefore, the role-play option will stop and all standards checks will be conducted with a live pupil.

Naturally some ADIs view the present check test with some concern. The DSA believes that, once it is properly understood, its new approach will reduce these concerns. ADIs should be much clearer about what is expected of them. They will also be supported with much clearer feedback on areas for skill development through the new form.

DSA will publish its guidance to examiners on the new form in October 2013. This will help to ensure that ADIs have plenty of time to understand and prepare for the standards check ahead of its introduction in April 2014.

Key points of the new Standards Checkn New check expects ADIs to evidence competence in key areas of lesson planning, risk management and wider range of teaching/learning strategies n Guidance to examiners released in October; new check launched in April 2014

www.msagb.comTowards your CPD: Client-centred learning


oVeR The PAST few months I have been looking at essential coaching skills and showing how these skills, when used in client-centred learning, raise awareness

and build responsibility in the individual learner. Rapport. This is all about the relationship

between you and your customer. The relationship must be equal and the customer must trust that you will be non-judgemental. Being non-judgemental is critical in empowering the customer to be themselves. The customer must believe that they can express how they think and feel about things, knowing that you will not be dismissive or defensive in your response.

This equal relationship enables the customer to learn how the way they think and feel about things influences the choices they make. The learning environment is such that they feel comfortable exploring and experimenting with different strategies to manage their emotional state and help them make decisions that are safe for them.

Rapport is created, not through banter or even establishing common ground, rather through non-verbal communication techniques, such as the use of eye contact, nodding, smiling and matching body language, tone of voice or use of words.

Listening: There are a number of levels of listening, most of which are ineffective when aiming to create a client-centred relationship. Active listening is about focusing entirely on the customer’s agenda and almost seeing yourself as a blank sheet. As the coach, you have no idea where the conversation is going to go and simply facilitate the process.

There are a number of techniques you can use to do this, such as repeating back parts of what has been said, paraphrasing and summarising. These techniques enable the customer to check that what they have said is what they meant. Listening is very important when developing the customer’s ability to set their own goals and determine for themselves how they learn.

Questioning: Effective questions target thoughts and feelings. They are open questions and may start with words like, what, where, why or how; or explain, or tell me.

Coaching or client-centred questions are very different from the use of questions in an instructor-led relationship. Coaching questions do not check knowledge and understanding. They focus on the underpinning things that motivate behaviour. They help the customer recognise how individual they are and how the decisions they make are affected by their state of mind.

Feedback: There are many forms of feedback and in client-centred learning the most powerful form is one that develops effective self-evaluation skills in drivers. Feedback is all about the customer identifying a set of skills, against which they can measure their performance. They need to be aware of their strengths, weaknesses and development needs and they need to understand how their emotions impact on their behaviour and their ability to rationalise.

Their measure of ‘good’ and ‘safe’ will be very different from yours because they think and feel things differently from you. ‘Drive like me and you will always be okay’ is not helpful to an individual

when all their life experiences, conditioning, peer groups and influences have developed them into human beings who do not resemble you in one tiny little way. They can ‘drive like you’ up to their test and pass but post-test they will always ‘drive like them’.

Effective feedback is about developing their ability to make choices by evaluating the potential consequences of those choices and deciding whether this is what they want or need to do.

Just pause for a moment and consider two different emotional states: happiness and sadness. Reflect on how you feel when you are happy; where that feeling of happiness sits; how it affects the way you carry yourself; how you feel when you smile or laugh; how you relate to other people. Now consider the same points when you reflect on how you feel when you are sad.

Now imagine you are sitting waiting to emerge at a busy junction in a sad state and then in a happy

state. Does your emotional state affect your judgement of a safe gap? The answer is ‘Yes’ but the extent to which it affects your ability to make a decision depends on you and will vary from individual to individual. In order to make a safe decision to go I have to consider my emotional state and understand how it influences my thought processes and my behaviour. I will drive differently depending on how I feel and I will develop strategies to help my decision-making process based on my recognition of my emotional state.

Sadness slows down my ability to make decisions. I am more hesitant. Happiness may encourage me to take more risks and I may emerge into gaps that are too small.

It is the use of essential coaching skills that empowers our trainee drivers to recognise how their thoughts, feelings and behaviour are inextricably linked.

There is one more essential coaching skill I want

In previous issues we have looked at the importance of rapport, listening and feedback in client-centred learning, says ADI coaching expert Susan McCormack. This issue we consider the role of intuition

Intuition tells you she’s in control and driving well

www.msagb.comTowards your CPD: Client-centred learning


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About the author:Susan McCormack has been in the driver training industry for over 25 years as an ADI, instructor trainer and producer of training materials, and has an MSc in Driver Behaviour and education from Cranfield university. She is a director of Tri-Coaching Partnership Limited, which delivers driver training and coaching courses to all driver trainers. In particular, the company offers a BTeC Level 4 and Level 3 in Coaching for Driver Development, as well as a two-day course called ‘aCCeLerate’. Visit the website for further information: www.tri-coachingpartnership.co.uk. Susan can be contacted on 07817 646970.

to discuss, and that is the use of Intuition.As driving instructors we are able to use our

intuition in many ways. We recognise when our customers are feeling nervous as their shoulders tense and the grip on the steering wheel tightens or they sit forwards in their seat when the demands of the task suddenly increase.

The physical tension will make them tire more quickly and affect their ability to focus on the hazards and risks outside of the car. We know instinctively when they are thinking about changing gear before they have even done so or when they have misinterpreted our instructions and are about to signal left when they should be going right.

IT IS IMPoRTANT that we use our intuition to develop coping strategies in our customers. They need to understand how their behaviour is a reflection of their thoughts and feelings. If

something becomes too difficult for them to manage and we notice this in their behaviour then we need to identify this to them so that they can work out for themselves the link between the way they are thinking and feeling and the way they are behaving.

For example, one of my customers struggles with busy junctions and roundabouts. Often she will end up stalling. I noticed that on the approach to these junctions she would take her left hand off the steering wheel and place it on the handbrake. When we pulled up to discuss this I used my intuition – I knew that her hand going down to the handbrake was because she was feeling nervous about the busy junction and wanted to make sure she could stop the car. The problem with this is that she was ‘thinking stop’ whereas she really needed to

be ‘thinking go’ and getting the car ready to move by slipping into first gear and holding it on the bite.

I could have told her all this and she would have practised it and got it. However, she wouldn’t have had the chance to reflect on her nervous state and appreciate how this emotion was governing her behaviour. So, instead, I scaled her on how nervous she felt approaching these junctions and she said she rose from a ‘4’ to a ‘9’. I then asked her where she was on the scale when her hand went down to the handbrake. We had to go and practise this for a couple of junctions for her to identify that when she got to a ‘9’ her hand went to the handbrake. Only once she had realised that her behaviour was a direct result of her feelings was she able to rationalise her fear.

She realised that her fear was producing risky behaviour – the opposite of her intention. By encouraging her to keep her hand on the wheel until she needed to change gear and getting her to ‘think go’ she was able to bring her nervousness back down to 4 and keep it there. In this case, her

behaviour now governed her emotions. Intuition, therefore, is about recognising a

mis-match between behaviour, thoughts and feelings. Someone might start yawning when you are giving them a briefing. Your intuition tells you that they are no longer paying attention and processing what you are saying to them – they have stopped learning and you need to change your methods.

To become good coaches and remain client-centred at all times we need to develop our ability to use these five essential coaching skills.

We can only do this through constant practice, reflection and evaluation and it is a long process that will not happen overnight.

When you come across someone who you think cannot be coached, ask yourself whether you have been using these essential coaching skills effectively enough.

Next month I am going to look more closely at how we can use these five essential coaching skills to deliver a coaching conversation.

www.msagb.comNews


Hi-tech route is boost to safetyUK drivers are huge fans of in-car accident prevention technology, and believe it is a way of improving road safety and reducing traffic casualties, according to a new survey.

A survey of 1,000 new car buyers in the UK has revealed that 96.5% of consumers believe that new accident prevention technologies will make driving safer, with almost 40% saying the technologies would improve safety considerably.

The survey was conducted on behalf of CarSafetyRules.com by Opinion Matters and asked people who had bought a brand new car in the last three years about their attitudes to technologies, brands and safety.

The survey indicated that despite the high number of cars available with five-star Euro NCAP ratings, buyers continue to research safety before buying, with 75% saying that they understood the safety technologies in the car before driving away.

Corporate impact surprises expertsIndustry experts have reacted with surprise to the news that only three successful prosecutions have been made for a road traffic-related incident since the introduction of the Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act five years ago.

Experts suggest one-in-three fatalities on Britain’s roads are somebody driving for work, equating to nearly 600 employees in a single year. It was this strong link between at-work drivers and casualty figures that led to many saying the Corporate Manslaughter Act would become a dominant legal threat once it became law.

However, police and prosecutors are gaining a greater understanding of the law, and many more cases are in the pipeline, says the CPS.

Trust My Garage scheme backedThe Government has backed a new code of conduct for independent garages.

Called the Trust My Garage scheme, qualifying garages will display a shield confirming that they have been approved by Trading Standards. The scheme was set up by the Independent Garage Association (IGA) following a Government call for better regulation of independent garages.

“Approved garages showing the Trust My Garage shield can be trusted to provide an honest and professional service to all motorists,” said the IGA.

Trust My Garage will work with Trading Standards to drive out any independent garages that do not comply with standards, IGA said.

InBrief

MIxeD MeSSAGeS from Government have left road safety groups, environmental campaigners, business organisations and pro-driver lobbying groups baffled over whether the motorway speed limit is to be raised to 80mph.

In a speech to the Conservative Party Conference in 2011, the then transport secretary Philip Hammond said that the motorway limit would be raised by 10mph, “which would benefit the economy by hundreds of millions of pounds through faster journey times”.

However, since then little work has been done to turn this speech into reality, despite tentative attempts to set up trials on sections of motorway.

With many people assuming the policy was being left to wither on the vine through inactivity, it came as a surprise when roads minister Stephen Hammond told a motoring forum in June that plans for the 80mph limit were still on track.

This renewed interest in the idea was backed up further by a DfT spokesman who said: “We have been working to assess the potential economic, safety and environmental impacts of trialling 80mph speed limits across a number of sites on the motorway network. That work is not yet complete and we would consult on the potential impacts before proceeding with trials.”

However, these statements were almost immediately contradicted by the transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin, who told The Times: “You would have to do trials in certain areas, so it’s not something that’s a high priority.”

A source close to the transport secretary also told the paper: “This is not going to happen with Patrick McLoughlin as transport secretary. Safety is paramount to him and his view of how to run the roads, and he would not be confident about how you would do it.”

The business case for raising the limit has also lost a lot of momentum after it was pointed out that the extra 10 mph would make little difference in journey times. A 100-mile journey at 80mph would be just 11 minutes shorter than if completed at 70mph. “It’s not the speed limit that increases journey times, it’s the congestion and the inability of the network to cope with disturbances such as road works or incidents,” said a DfT spokesman. “If your journey goes unchecked by traffic jams, no one complains about not being able to get to their destination quicker.”

The pro-80 case hasn’t been helped by environmentalists pointing out that driving at 80mph could use up to 20 per cent more fuel than at 70mph, while Hammond’s plans also failed to understand that a large number of companies have their vans fitted with speed limiters.

Road safety charity Brake, which is part of the ‘No to 80’ campaign group, was delighted to hear McLoughlin’s comments. “If implemented (raising the speed limt) would result in more violent deaths and injuries on the roads, increase carbon emissions and place an increased financial burden on the public, the NHS and emergency services,” a spokesperson said.

However, the Association of British Drivers was disappointed to hear of the apparent change of heart. Roger Lawson, commenting on behalf of the ABD, said: “It is a proposal we wholeheartedly support and we are very disappointed that the Government is dragging its feet. The reluctance to even instigate a trial clearly highlights the lack of support. We think a trial, if conducted properly, would show some very positive outcomes as this is a very sensible suggestion. We don’t believe the road safety or environmental cases against raising the speed limit have been made conclusively.”

Government guilty of confusing signals on new motorway limits

Speed cameras cut the number of serious injuries in road accidents in the areas where they are placed by an average of more than a quarter, a study suggests.

Research by the RAC Foundation was based on data from 551 fixed camera sites in nine areas of england. Twenty-one sites bucked that trend, however, with the number of injuries going up.

The RAC Foundation said the findings showed how effective speed cameras were for road safety.

The study found that after cameras were installed the average number of fatal or serious injuries fell by 27 per cent.

The authors of the report have written to those councils where the figures have risen suggesting that they try to find out why this is the case.

RAC Foundation director Stephen Glaister said: “Safety cameras are contentious, people dispute whether they work. But in fact the general public as a whole like them because they want roads to be made safer.

“If cameras were turned off overnight there would be something like 80 people killed extra a year and 800 people killed or seriously injured. So the evidence is very good that on average they do work, they are effective.”

The Coalition Government cut Whitehall funding for speed cameras when it came to power, claiming that police and local councils relied on the devices too much, and should use a range of different methods to improve road safety.

But a study last year suggested that most councils had kept speed cameras in place.

Survey shines light on cameras’ true worth

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www.msagb.comTowards CPD: ADI training


SINCe The DSA’s decision to introduce the ADI Standards Check it has become apparent that many instructors feel now would be a good time to expand their

teaching skills. However, if this describes you, my very strong

recommendation is not to spend your hard-earned money on training. Furthermore, I believe there is no way you should contemplate doing any sort of preparation for this new test – no way at all.

Some years ago I was involved with an instructor training company. I happened to answer the phone on one occasion as the receptionist was temporarily unavailable. Expecting the call to be an enquiry from someone who wished to train, I was surprised to be confronted by an extremely irate ADI.

He accused us of trying to destroy his business and demanded to know why we were advertising in his local paper for people to become ADIs, when (he claimed) there was already a lack of work for instructors in the area. (To put it in perspective, this was in 2002). After a while he calmed down and we were able to have a normal conversation. Evidently he did not have enough pupils to make a reasonable living.

I asked if he belonged to any ADI associations at all. The answer was no. I suggested he ought to join one as he might get some ideas about ways to

promote his business, and other help besides, but my advice fell on deaf ears. In the end I had little sympathy as he clearly had no interest in either improving his marketing skills or upgrading his instructional techniques. He was a qualified ADI and he thought people ought to book lessons with him for that reason alone – and it seemed to me he expected this almost by divine right. The reality remained that it wasn’t happening for him and he wasn’t doing anything to change the situation, apart from blaming others for his predicament.

Doesn’t that old saying ‘If you do what you’ve always done you’ll get what you’ve always got’ come to mind?

When you compare them, marketing and teaching have certain aspects in common. For instance, marketing attempts to persuade people to purchase a product or use a particular service. A company with an inept marketing strategy is undoubtedly at a disadvantage.

In teaching, information, attitudes and new skills are on offer. ADIs who cannot sell these features, if their pupils need them, risk suffering the financial consequences.

During my quest to gain some degree of marketing competence, I’ve met many successful entrepreneurs. They all have one thing in common. No matter how well they’re doing they still possess a tremendous thirst for knowledge. Continual improvement is their goal. I have shared that desire since I became an ADI. I read everything I can get hold of which had the potential to improve my instructional ability. In addition I went on course after course and attended numerous seminars. Some gave me additional qualifications, others gave me new understanding but no certificate – but that didn’t matter as long as I got the know-how.

Not only is now not the time to spend out on further training, I believe there never was a time when this would have been a good move. So why, in the light of my continual study, am I telling you not to spend out on training? Is it a case of ‘Don’t

do as I do, do as I say’? Or maybe I don’t want you to enhance your instructional ability?

Actually, the situation is precisely the opposite. You see, I got the training I needed without spending anything! And some courses were time consuming – meaning I had to forgo income to both attend classes and complete the required assignments, and some were quite expensive. Yet I never spent a penny and in my opinion neither should you.

IF ALL ThIS sounds a little hard to swallow, let me explain because it’s really very simple. I did not spend money – but I did invest money! I invested in myself, of course! Yes,

there is a big, big difference! If you suppose the cost of acquiring knowledge is

money spent, in other words money which will have then disappeared into a big black hole somewhere like a bill which has to be paid, quite understandably you might be tempted to avoid the outlay.

Picture this instead. Training is nothing less than a sound financial investment. I say that because everything I have ever done in this respect – in whatever format – has returned massive dividends. The additional skills I acquired enabled me to be a far more effective instructor. Not only did my pupils benefit, but as a result I got my money back over and over again including, of course, the times when I was able to take advantage of new opportunities. I am in no doubt whatsoever that any training you invest in will result in huge dividends for you, too!

Now I’ll clarify why you should not prepare for the ADI Standards Check. In order to do so, I need to illustrate what appears to me to be the mentality of a particular breed of instructor and tell you about an ADI meeting I went to once. The SE addressed the group and announced the local test centre was due to close, but a new centre was

PHILIPBURMANADI and author of several books on driver training

Now is not the time to spend out on further training...

If you still feel the ADI Standards Check is something to worry about, here’s an important and undeniable truth. The more knowledge you acquire, providing you put that knowledge into practice, the better ADI you’ll become. The better you are in your role as an ADI, the more confidence you’ll have. The more confidence you have, the less you’ll see the ADI Standards Check as a threat.

Indeed, by comparison, your experience of new techniques could easily put you streets ahead of the DSA official who is sat in the back of your car assessing you. I recall an SE (a dedicated and helpful individual) asking me what the SE most wants to see on a check test. My reply – naturally enough – was a good lesson. No! That was not the correct answer. Apparently he most wants to see a piece of effective instruction which he didn’t previously know about, so he can then spread the word about it when he gives advice to other ADIs! Can you be an ADI who inspires their SE? Of course you can – if you take the necessary steps!

According to some news reports it seems we are beginning to emerge from the mist of our economic gloom and confidence is starting to return. If these reports are accurate – and I think they are – more people will decide to learn to drive. I believe this recession has been the catalyst for a

huge change in consumer attitudes. Once people have a bit more money in their pockets, overall value rather than a low unit price could become increasingly important.

Consider this too. Never has feedback been so easy, what with internet forums and social media. I suggest tomorrow’s learners will use these as an aid to seek out the best ADIs. I feel it in my bones that there’s much more of an understanding of how effective instruction can reduce the overall spend on tuition and also provide lasting value in other ways too. We can look forward to hearing less of that well-known phrase, ‘How much are your lessons?’ Rather it will be a question of showing potential pupils you are on top of your game – which can easily be done with good marketing, especially on your website.

Free ebook on avoiding embarrassing errorsFinally, I have something to offer which you may find useful, but you won’t have to spend anything out to get. It’s not even buy one, get one free, it’s just free. Your only investment is the time it takes to read and implement any of the suggestions which appeal to you. It will be sold later on, but right now it’s free to MSA readers.

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DIA00062 155x108 new.indd 1 26/06/2013 11:26

opening about seven miles away. Immediate uproar ensued with ADIs bellowing out: “We can’t get there on lessons! Our pupils won’t be able to learn the test routes!” It clearly demonstrated the attitude towards their role of moulding future drivers. How they’ll manage to get their heads round client-centred tuition remains something of a mystery to me.

Shortly after I passed my driving test I went into a multi-storey car park for the first time. I found it quite daunting. Perhaps that’s why I would normally cover the subject with pupils – and they seemed happy to do so. Similarly, they were keen to practise using a petrol station. And I taught many other things which were not on the test. Teaching people just to pass a test has never been my philosophy and I hope it’s not yours either. Teaching pupils to drive safely, competently and confidently, covering as wide a scenario as possible, has always been my prime aim.

Just as I believe the specifics of the driving test should not be the end goal for learners, I feel exactly the same is true of the ADI examination for us. Unfortunately, like the instructor described at the beginning of this article, some see qualification as their ultimate achievement, or at least the only thing which is necessary. Let’s face facts. Passing Part 3 is an entry level requirement and the ADI standards check is just that – a check to see whether the standard has been maintained. If you identify with this premise, you won’t target your training simply to do well on this test. Why? Because a mindset of this nature has the capacity to limit what can be accomplished. Instead, you’ll want to gain expertise for the vast benefits it can bring to you and your pupils. By the way, should we ever stop educating ourselves in our chosen profession? I cannot think of one good reason to do so, can you?

“The more knowledge you acquire, providing you put that knowledge into practice, the better ADI you’ll become. The better you are as an ADI, the more confidence you’ll have. The more confidence you have, the less you’ll see the ADI standards check as a threat...”

www.msagb.comNews News


The MSA hAS received a very generous donation of a collection of historic books on driving and driver training.

The gift has come from John Dowell, whose comprehensive automotive library has been hosted by the MSA in trust for some years.

John has now gifted approximately 600 books to the MSA. They date from 1898 and have values ranging from £1 to £60; the total value is around £5,000.

It is a real treasure trove of driving memorabilia. Any member with an interest of driving, driver training and motoring in a bygone age would be most welcome to visit and flick through the many books and papers we now hold – though we warn you, time spent looking back through the years goes quickly! Previous visitors have popped in for an hour... and not emerged for some time, so fascinating is the material on hand.

There are so many gems it seems churlish to pick one or two out. However, John Dowell has a particular interest in Car Driving for Beginners, which was an RAC publication from 1960 to 1986. John continues the story: “There are some 31 copies which was the extent of the run. I knew Ivan Ellis who was the Chief RAC examiner for RACRI instructors. When Ivan died I was contacted by the RAC and was donated his entire library.

“The particular interest in these books was the amendations made, by hand, from one edition to the other by Ivan. He would sit with me and explain in detail how he worked these out.

“In my records I have not put a value on them.”

Over the coming months John has promised to donate some very old copies of Highway Codes to the library, once he has finished his research on some 60-plus copies.

Historic books added to the MSA collection

Plans to penalise careless drivers with on-the-spot penalties when they put other road users at risk have been praised by road safety groups – though concern has been voiced that reductions in police traffic officers will make the new penalties’ introduction meaningless.

Under the new measures announced by Road Safety Minister Stephen Hammond police will have the power to issue fixed penalty notices for careless driving, giving them greater flexibility in dealing with less serious careless driving offences – such as tailgating or middle lane hogging – and freeing them from resource-intensive court processes.

The fixed penalty will also enable the police to offer educational training as an alternative to endorsement. Drivers will still be able to appeal any decision in court.

In addition, existing fixed penalty levels for most motoring offences – including

using a mobile phone at the wheel and not wearing a seatbelt – will rise to £100 to bring them into line with the penalties for similar non-motoring fixed penalties.

Stephen Hammond said: “Careless drivers are a menace and their negligence puts innocent people’s lives at risk. That is why we are making it easier for the police to tackle problem drivers by allowing them to immediately issue a fixed penalty notice rather than needing to take every offender to court.

“We are also increasing penalties for a range of driving offences to a level which reflects their seriousness.”

Edmund King, AA President said: “It is worrying that three-quarters of drivers see others using mobile phones behind the wheel on some or most journeys. This epidemic of hand-held mobile phone use while driving costs lives and demands action. An increase in the standard

motoring fixed penalty fine will help deter those who commit motoring offences including mobile phone use.”

“We are also pleased to see that at long last new powers and fines will be given to the police to tackle the top three pet hates of drivers – tailgaters, mobile phone abusers and middle lane hogs.”

Stephen Glaister of the RAC Foundation also welcomed the crackdown but insisted the new fines must be accompanied by tougher enforcement. “Anti-social behaviour is as big a problem on the roads as it is in wider society,” he said. “Giving police more discretion to act, and freeing up resources to allow them to do so by cutting procedural delays in court, is good news. We are also pleased to see that the stick is accompanied by the chance of re-education for moderate offenders.

Full list of offences and punishments is: • a non-endorsable (where the driver

does not receive points on their licence) £30 fixed penalty notice will rise to £50

• an endorsable (where points are given) £60 and non-endorsable fixed penalty notice will rise to £100

• an endorsable £120 fixed penalty notice will rise to £200

• the fixed penalty notice for driving with no insurance rises from £200 to £300

• Graduated fixed penalties (mainly for commercial goods and passenger carrying vehicles and including offences like drivers’ hours and overloading) and financial deposits (for drivers without a satisfactory UK address) will also increase:

• a £30 non-endorsable fine rises to £50• a £60 endorsable and non-endorsable

fine will rise to £100• a £120 endorsable and non-endorsable

fine will rise to £200• a £200 endorsable and non-endorsable

fine will rise to £300.

Tough penalties to crack down on bad driving

www.msagb.comNews

A smarter way of teachingInstead of buying books or CDs, you can now give away free access to Theory Test Pro to as many of your students as you like.

Theory Test Pro contains everything your students need to prepare for their theory test, plus it has many features to assist instructors.

HOW DOES IT WORK?1. Simply enter a student’s name and email

address into Theory Test Pro.

2. We’ll send them an email containing all the information they need to get started.

3. Check a student’s progress at any time by going online and viewing their report card.

4. Use their report card to personalise your lessons and give assistance on topics.

It’s free to try, there’s no minimum contract and you only start paying when you’re ready.

SCAN ME with your smartphone to sign up for a FREE TRIAL

START YOUR FREE TRIAL www.theorytestpro.co.uk/adi38

The Department for Transport is seeking your views on how the EU helps or hampers UK transport.

The influence of the European Union on UK transport is extensive. It affects many different areas - from air and rail travel to the cars and lorries on our roads.

Now the DfT wants to know what you think about its role. A consultation period has been opened and will stay open until 6 August 2013.

The Government is carrying out a review of the balance of competences between the EU and the UK - an audit of what the EU does and how it affects the UK.

This call for evidence concerns the transport report led by the Department for Transport in the second semester of

the review (spring to winter 2013).The objectives of the transport report

are:• to explain how EU policies impact on

transport in the UK• to explore the current state of

competence in respect of transportWe are looking for objective, factual

information about the impact or effect of the competence in your area of expertise. Anyone wishing to contribute to the review is asked to send their written views before 6 August 2013.

To view examples, further reading and submit evidence online see https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/eu-balance-of-competences-review-transport-call-for-evidence

Delegates at the European Transport Safety Council’s Annual Road Safety PIN Conference have praised Denmark for showing outstanding leadership in road safety. The conference, held in Brussels on June 17, also reported that 2012 had seen a huge fall in road deaths over the previous year, with a fall of 2,661 recorded in the eU. As well as saving a huge amnount of personal grief, this reduction in road deaths had saved a projected €5bn.

Twenty-seven of the 31 countries monitored reduced the number of road deaths in 2012 compared with 2011, said Antonio Avenoso, ETSC executive director. Denmark was presented with the 2013 Road Safety PIn Award after making tremendous progress towards reaching the eU road safety target of halving road deaths between 2010 and 2020. With a road mortality figure of 31 deaths per million inhabitants, Denmark could serve as an example for the EU, where the average road mortality is 55 deaths per million inhabitants.

Danish Minister for Justice, Morten Bødskov, received the Award on behalf of his country and detailed some of the road safety policies introduced.

The Dutch have the lowest number of road deaths per population for the period researched, with the UK just behind.

Transport review: what the eu does and how it affects the uK

Danes ‘exceedingly good’ at improving road safety

The European Commission has brought the introduction of an e-Call system across EU vehicles a step nearer with the publication of a legislative proposal on making fitting of the system mandatory.

The move has been endorsed by car makers after the general secretary of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), Ivan Hodac, said: “e-Call has the potential to save lives by shortening reaction time, enabling emergency services to respond as rapidly as possible within the ‘golden hour’ after an accident.”

eCall is designed to automatically alert emergency services in the event of a road traffic accident or collision. Alongside its members, ACEA has actively participated in developing effective solutions for pan-European 112 eCall. It is of particular use when incidents occur in rural areas, summoning help to the scene of a road crash when participants may be unable to do so.

It is interesting to note that UK road

death statistics show a disproportionately high number occur on rural roads, and a similar picture is found elsewhere in Europe.

Any public eCall service must be pan-European and available to all customers before the system becomes obligatory. To work properly therefore, EU telecoms infrastructure must be ready and able to receive eCalls.

However, there are concerns that many EU states do not have the infrastructure in place. “Throughout the development process ACEA has consistently outlined the importance of parallel contributions from all stakeholders,” said Mr Hodac. “Everyone and everything has to be in place for it to work.”

Accordingly, other stakeholders must uphold their commitments to the technology, Public Service Answering Points (PSAPs) must be ready in all member states, and mobile network operators need to be prepared before in-vehicle systems are enforced.

eCall a step nearer as european Commission backs plans

www.msagb.comMSA training


Move your career along with a Lifelong Learning qualification through the association’s own course

MSA has recently become an accredited centre for the Award in Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Sector (PTLLS) with Highfield

Awarding Body for Compliance. This qualification is offered via distance learning with

one day’s attendance (blended learning) and we’re pleased to say we already have a steady number of students progressing well with their studies.

The qualification provides a stepping stone into classroom teaching. It is popular with people from all walks of life, including internal trainers, driving instructors, personal trainers, nutritionists, florists, accountants and chefs. They all share the common goal of wishing to achieve a nationally recognised qualification in teaching adults.

The benefit of studying with the MSA is that everyone who studies is already a teacher of adult education; something often overlooked by ADIs and those outside our industry. Having listened to Rosemary Thew’s presentation at this year’s annual conference, it is clear that the DSA is looking towards a competency-based qualification as the new route in to the industry to replace the existing model.

So, let’s take a look at what’s involved and see how well it fits the role of a driving instructor.

First, it looks at the roles, responsibilities and relationships in lifelong learning. Lifelong learning, as the name suggests, is about learning throughout your adult life beyond compulsory education. It fits well with the DSA’s motto of Safe driving for life and our own commitment towards CPD.

The course looks at key aspects of legislation, regulatory requirements and codes of practice relating to your own area of teaching. Well, that is fairly straightforward. It is about the legal stuff we all have to observe as ADIs, for example; passing the qualifying examinations, being entered on DSA’s Register of ADIs, undergoing quality assurance checks (check tests), understanding eyesight and licensing regulations, keeping our teaching skills and knowledge of the Highway Code up to date (CPD) and signing up to the ADI Code of Practice.

Equality and diversity are also covered. These subjects are often covered without thinking, for example, equality is about recognising that everyone is different but allowing them the same opportunities to succeed. Your pupils will have different needs, including the time of day they are available for lessons, some may prefer a female instructor, while others may need more of your time covering specific topics, such as manoeuvres or roundabouts. You may even have to book their test for them if they are not computer literate.

We also need to recognise our boundaries and know when to pass a learner on to someone with more specialist skills, for example, someone with learning difficulties or a disability or even sending someone to Spec Savers if they are unable to read a registration plate.

Diversity is how you pitch your lesson and consider how to present your visual aids and handouts. It means being aware of stereotyping, for example making sure your diagrams are representative of society. It also means respecting people’s preferred learning styles and abilities. You need to stretch each pupil regardless of their ability. It

is easier in a one-to-one situation but you will need to consider these points when teaching in a classroom environment to avoid holding brighter students back or going too quickly for less-abled ones.

The whole emphasis is on being able to provide a safe and supporting learning environment and to promote appropriate behaviour towards others. This is essential for ADIs because our classroom moves. How we act when we are driving or teaching will have an effect on our learners, or even potential clients. It also means ensuring the vehicle is clean, tidy and roadworthy and that learners feel able to ask questions without fear of embarrassment.

SeCoND, the next section looks at inclusive learning. We are asked to summarise the teaching methods used in our own specialism and explain how those

methods meet the needs of our learners. In an ADI’s instructional toolbox there is a variety of

methods at our disposal. Inclusive learning means including all types of learning styles. For example, there is a questionnaire you can encourage your learners to complete at www.vark-learn.com to help you recognise their preferred learning styles.

The VARK learning styles theory is designed to describe how four distinct types of learners process information. Based upon the VAK (visual, auditory and

kinaesthetic) model of learning, VARK learning styles theory was pioneered in 1987 by Neil Fleming who recognised that there was another element to the visual learning style. He split this in to two distinct parts, those who preferred to watch (visual) and those who preferred text (reading).

Although we have to accept that driving is a kinaesthetic skill we need to recognise our learners’ preferred method for learning new skills and knowledge. For example, some may prefer to have a go on their own, others listen to a detailed talk-through, some may like a demonstration, while others like to read up on the subject before trying it out. It is important to respect that not all methods suit all leaners. An old method for teaching driving used to be EDP (explain; demonstrate and practice), but anyone old enough to remember the Generation Game, with contestants wrestling lumps of clay on a potter’s wheel, will know that this method was generally unsuccessful with most of the contestants.

Third, you need to understand assessment. This involves looking at different types of assessment methods, knowing when to use them and evaluating the various methods used. For example, all ADIs can assess: we do it from the minute we take a potential customer’s first phone call or their information from the website. This is the first step to making sure they start at the correct level.

ADIs continuously assess pupils during their course of lessons; identifying what they can do well and what requires more practice. We evaluate our methods too and we know what method is suitable for each stage of the syllabus. For example, we can use self-assessment by encouraging our learners to reflect on their performance, and encourage them to find solutions (client-centred). We also use observation and ask a range of questions, both open and closed at appropriate times.

Last of all, PTLLS requires you to put all this into practice via a micro-teaching session. This is the attendance part of the course; a 20-25 minute teaching session on any subject. It involves preparing and providing an interactive lesson that keeps your fellow students interested and involved in the subject. In recent courses topics have included stage fighting, languages, cooking, knitting, photography and magic. In fact, ADIs have a wealth of hidden talent!

Hopefully you can see how this course can be applied to driver-training, much of it we can relate to everyday activities. During the course you will learn how to transfer those skills in to a classroom and manage a small group of students, and gain a nationally recognised qualification to prove it.

We have structured the course to be studied online with one day’s attendance. There are notes for guidance for every part of the course, links to websites and resources and a students’ forum where you can discuss various issues that arise. Your tutor will be available on the forum to help and provide support to help you achieve success. The one day’s attendance will be arranged depending on the location of students.

For more information about enrolment, visit http://www.msagb.com/

MSA PTLLS course offers route to recognised teaching award

“The whole emphasis is on being able to provide a safe and supporting learning environment and to promote appropriate behaviour towards others. This is essential for ADIs because our classroom moves...”

www.msagb.comMSA events


Your local MSA AGMThe MSA has finalised the dates for all 10 of its regional training days and AGMs for 2013. Details of venues, timings, costs and speakers will be announced in due course, but make a date now of your local event.

NOVEMBER3 Scotland9 South Wales 11 Western 16 Greater London 17 West Midlands18 North West24 East Midlands

OCTOBER20 Eastern 21 South East 27 North East

NOV.03

OCT.27

NOV.09

OCT.20

NOV.24

NOV.17

OCT.21Make a date of your local event NOW!

NOV.18

NOV.16

MSA Annual Conference 2014 heading to the Western regionGot a diary for 2014 yet? Wel, if you have we’ve got some early dates you must reserve: Friday, March 21 to Sunday, March 23.

That’s when the MSA Annual Conference and Training Day 2014 takes place.

Our hosts will be the MSA Western region, as we’ll be holding the event at the Holiday Inn, Bristol. It’s a great venue, well used to hosting high-profile conferences and with superb service standards from its team of dedicated staff.

As in previous years we will open up proceedings on the Friday evening with a social ‘ice-breaker’ event, giving delegates the chance to catch up with old friends and meet new ones.

Saturday is the main day of conference, with a full day packed with interactive sessions and workshops that will educate and inform.

Among our guest speakers already confirmed is the Chief Driving Examiner, Lesley Young, who will be delivering the keynote address.

There‘s never been a more important time

to be at conference. It will take place just days before the introduction of the new Standards Check and the DSA merging with VOSA to create a new agency to regulate driver training and motor vehicle standards.

So will you be there? We will be announcing more speakers and pricing after summer but for the time being, save the date!March 21-23, 2014.

SAVE THE DATE!MSA coNfErENcE, MArcH 21-23, 2014

NOV.11

www.msagb.comNews


CoDe oF PRACTICe for Approved Driving InstructorsIntroduction

DSA and the driving instruction industry place great emphasis on professional standards and business ethics. This Code of Practice has been agreed between DSA and the bodies representing ADIs listed at the end of this document; it is a framework within which all instructors should operate.

A person who gives lessons in a motor car in return for payment must be on the “Register of Approved Driving Instructors” (ADIs). To gain entry to the register the instructor is required to have passed the necessary qualifications to become a driving instructor.

Once fully qualified and on the register, ADIs are regularly tested by DSA to check their continued ability to give instruction to an approved standard.

Personal Conductn the instructor will at all times comply with the law and, in

particular legislative requirements regarding the protection of personal freedoms, discrimination, data protection, trading standards, the workplace and road safety

n the instructor will at all times behave in a professional manner towards clients in line with the Standards in the National Driver/Rider Training Standard™

n clients will be treated with respect and consideration and will be supported to achieve the learning outcomes in the National Driving/Riding Standard™ as efficiently and effectively as possible

n the instructor will ensure that their knowledge and skills on all matters relating to the provision of driver training comply with current practice and legislative requirements

n the instructor will try to avoid physical contact with a client except in an emergency or in the normal course of greeting.

Business Dealingsn the instructor will safeguard and account for any monies paid

in advance by the client in respect of driving lessons, test fees or for any other purpose and will make the details available to the client on request

n the instructor on or before the first lesson should make available to clients a copy of this Code of Practice together with their terms of business to include:

n legal identity of the school/instructor with full address and telephone number at which the instructor or their represent-ative can be contacted

n the current price and duration of lessonsn the current price and conditions for use of a driving school car

for the practical driving test

n the terms under which cancellation of lessons by either party may take place

n the procedure for making a complaintn the instructor must check a client’s entitlement to drive the

vehicle and their ability to read a number plate at the statutory distance on the first lesson

n the instructor will advise a client when to apply for their theory and practical driving tests, taking account of local waiting times and forecast of the client’s potential for achieving the driving test pass standard

n the instructor will not cancel or re-arrange a driving test without the client’s agreement. In the event of the instructor’s decision to withhold the use of the school car for the driving test, sufficient notice should be given to the client to avoid loss of the DSA test fee

n when presenting a client for the practical driving test the instructor should ensure that the client has all the necessary documentation to enable the client to take the test and ensure that the vehicle is roadworthy.

Advertisingn the advertising of driving tuition shall be clear, fair and not

misleadingn claims made shall be capable of verification and comply with

CAP Advertising Codesn advertising that refers to clients’ pass rates should not be open

to misinterpretation and the basis on which the calculation is prepared should be made clear.

Conciliationn complaints by clients should be made in the first instance to the

driving instructor/driving school/contractor following their complaints procedure

n if having completed the procedure the client has been unable to reach an agreement or settle a dispute they may seek further guidance:

n if they believe their instructor is not providing a good service they can contact their local Trading Standards office or Citizens Advice Bureau for guidance

n if they are not happy with their instructor’s behaviour they can contact The ADI Registrar, Driving Standards Agency, Email: [email protected]

This code is endorsed by the following ADI consultative groups who represent driving instructors and schools:Approved Driving Instructors National Joint Council (ADI NJC)Driving Instructors Association (DIA)Driving Instructors Scottish Council (DISC)The Motor Schools Association of Great Britain (MSAGB)

CoP for ADIs Agreed 8 May 2013

New Code of Practice sets out a professional path for the industryThe Code of Practice (CoP) for ADIs had not been updated since it was agreed in 1996 and first published in 1997.Back in 2009 an attempt to update it was undertaken but a final version never materialised.In November last year a fresh attempt to update the code was launched and following lengthy negotiations between the ADI consultative groups, a final version was agreed by four of the ADI organisations in May.ADI Registrar Mark Magee has agreed the contents and the new code is now set to be published on the GOV.UK web site. Contents of the new Code are published right.

Recommend a colleague to join the MSA – and receive a £10 M&S voucherMany new MSA members join on the recommendation of a colleague – and we want to make sure that if that colleague is you, you know that your work in spreading the good news about the MSA is appreciated. So if you do recommend a colleague, we’ll send you a £10 Marks & Spencer’s voucher as a thank you.If you recommend a colleague ask them to put your membership number in the “How did you hear about the MSA?” further details box if they join online, or if they join over the phone, they can quote it when they submit their details to our membership team.

www.msagb.comComment


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I WouLD LIKe to start my column for this month’s Newslink by apologising for its slight delay in reaching you. As you will seen from the many articles on these pages, there has been an unusual amount of

Government and DSA activity during the last couple of weeks of June.

In particular, the release of the much-anticipated Modernising Driver Training consultation document at the very end of June led to us taking the decision of holding up the publication for a couple of days in order to make sure we included as much up-to-date information as we could.

The first inkling of this burst of activity was when DSA cancelled a long-planned meeting with the MSA at just 48 hours notice and with no explanation. The reason for this decision arrived a couple of days later when the Department for Transport (DfT) made its announcement of the creation of a single agency, bringing together the testing and standards services that are currently provided by the DSA and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA).

At the same time we also received the news that Rosemary Thew had decided to step down from her role as Chief Executive of the DSA and leave the Civil Service. We then had a conference call with the DSA during which they told us about the impending announcement of the Modernising Driver Training consultation

There followed the publication of a plethora of documents: Modernising driver training: reform of the regulatory framework for Approved Driving Instructors (35 pages); Annex A: impact assessment - Qualification proposals to modernise the driver training industry (46 pages); Equality impact assessment: ADI qualification (13 pages); Equality impact assessments: ADI standards check - assessment and form: equality impact assessment (15 pages); ADI standards check - role play: equality impact assessment (11 pages); National standard for developed driving competence (six pages).

All these were cross-referenced to the existing National standard for driver and rider training (32 pages) and the Driver Training National Occupational Standard (70 pages).

Then we had the DSA’s Annual Report and Accounts 2012 to 2013 (70 pages); and the Driver and rider tests and instructor statistics: 2012-13 (eight pages and 30 pages of XLS tables).

On the same day the DfT published Reported road casualties in Great Britain: main results 2012 another eight pages with a further 10 pages of tables, together with a policy statement Making roads safer and the Department for Transport annual report and accounts 2012 to 2013 (204 pages).

In total well over a ream of paper (500 sheets) if it were all printed. No, we haven’t read it all yet but we are

working on it and will bring you details of some of the statistics and interesting extracts from the Annual Report in the August issue of Newslink.

The merging of the DSA with VOSA and Rosemary Thew’s departure from the DSA mark something of the end of an era. However, the CEO is not the only

member of staff to depart as the DSA admin team has been reduced by over 200 in recent times.

I would like to record special thanks to Rosemary for always being accessible and prepared to accept my calls and while I may not have always agreed with her position or views on some subjects, I always enjoyed the proficiency, integrity and good humour that she displayed over the last eight years.

I would also like to thank a couple of other agency staff who are leaving around this time. Graham Law from policy has always been kind enough to explain policy changes I could not quite grasp, while Chris Lee from the press office has always strived to answer my questions, however bizarre.

A particular thank you, too, to Phil Gibbs from the ADI Register team. Phil started with the DSA just before it became the DSA, starting with the old Driver Training and Testing Division in Marsham Street before the new DSA opened in Nottingham.

He has been a great contact over the years, helping to sort out a myriad of MSA members’ problems and to explain ADI administrative arrangements and policies.

To FINISh, many thanks to all those who very kindly sent congratulations on my election as EFA President. Your good wishes are much appreciated.

Whatever happened to the ‘paperless office?’

JOHNLEPINE MBEGeneral Manager, MSA

I AM A LITTLe saddened this month after asking for ideas in the last issue for what you wanted from your committee, and what events/venues you would like to see us put on. So far I have not had a single call so I can think of only two scenarios from that: either we are doing everything exactly how you would like us too, or you are not interested.

I would hope that the latter is not the case. The driver training industry can be a very lonely occupation and, of course, in these austere times spending money on things that may seem unimportant is quite understandable but to put it into perspective the events that we put on here in the East Midlands are usually for less than the cost of a packet of fags and the information that can be gained at them far out weighs that price.

Not long ago I was in my local DTC and an instructor asked me what I thought of CCL (client-centred learning for those who haven’t heard of it!). They said that they had not seen or heard much at all, adding that they had no intention of changing what they had done for years and it was all a load of hot air.

Now that is fair comment and some of it I can relate to, but to dismiss it totally is rather foolish. Whether we like it or not it is going to happen and let’s face it, if we all thought the same over the years we would still have a low speed limit with a man waving a flag in front of the car. Yes, I did say ‘man’ because without progress and change women would not be allowed to take on such a job.

I must admit that I am having issues with CCL but I am trying and, hopefully, succeeding with changing 35 years of teaching into coaching and attending seminars and reading books can only be a good thing.

So once again I ask, what would you like your committee to do to entertain, enlighten, engage and help you with? We will try to do all of the aforementioned. Guessing is not a satisfactory option. FEEDBACK PLEASE.

PAuLA MoRRIS’S article on refresher courses caught my attention in the June issue of Newslink and it was very interesting .

It got me thinking about how it could be made a part of keeping a driving licence. Whenever you hear about re-testing everyone the usual response is ‘how much it would cost, who would police it?’, etc, and it is regarded as a non-starter. Well, maybe it could be done. When you get a car you have to

tax it and you receive a reminder to do so. When ADIs are due for a standards check they receive a reminder. Would it be possible for drivers to be sent a reminder every year or two that they need to have a refresher course on their driving? There would be no need for a test but if they had not taken a refresher assessment, say, two months after receiving the reminder then they could have some sort of restriction on their record. Maybe three points or a fine of £200.

We know that most drivers are perfect anyway (!) but just reminding them of some slight weakness in their driving might just prompt them into delivering a bit more effort. As they say, ‘every little helps’ and even if it saved two lives a year how many millions of pounds would it save? It may conceivably help teenagers understand why a good attitude to driving is saving them and the country money and lives, and just on the outer edge of all this the culture might just start to change for the better.

Or am I living in cloud cuckoo land as usual? Your thoughts, positive or negative, would be welcome.

DuRING MY PReVIouS stint in the regional editor’s chair I used to keep members up to date with how my car was running and what faults I had found on it.

In fact one car I had that was a particular dog kept me busy writing every month as it had many problems, none of which were resolved. In the end I resorted to returning the said car to the manufacturer’s import centre where I made myself a bit of a pain at the main gate until I was invited in to see the top man. The day ended with me taking delivery of a car that would prove to be very reliable and stayed in the family with four different owner/ drivers for 11 or 12 years of good service.

The car I presently use is a Toyota Yaris 1.4 D4D and so far it has given me sterling service and my local dealer, Listers, has been exemplary in their service, which brings me to car dealers in general. How does yours treat you? Over the years I have had various makes and models and the service has been as diverse as you could imagine and, of course, what is good for one person is not good for another. I suppose it is all down to the individual. Sometimes you hear someone say “Oh, I wouldn’t touch one of those” or “that garage is rubbish”. I am the same. Many years ago I had a car of which I will not divulge the maker as they now have a very good reputation. It was fine for 12-13 months then the whole car started falling apart. The warranty had run out by a month and there was no such thing as goodwill in those days. My car was off the road for a month and the parts that were needed were not in the country or even on their way. When I asked how long they would take, the garage said they had no idea as they came in a container and they did not even know what they were getting. Needless to say I have never used that brand since.

When looking round for my Toyota I was quite

astounded at the difference between dealerships and cars of the same brand. I called in one Toyota dealership and opened boots and doors, waggled gear levers, etc, but not one sales person even approached me so I walked out. I bought a Citroen C3 in the end – though that, as they say, is another story! Before I started back in the industry I was looking for a replacement for our Skoda Fabia 1.4 Tdi Sport and as I was planning on returning to the ADI ranks we only needed a small hatch for the two of us. Off I went, trawling the dealers and on going to Listers intending to look at an Aygo and IQ. I entered the showroom and was warmly greeted by the young lady on reception, who invited me to have a look round while she located a sales person.

The IQ was there so I had a good look at it at which point a smart young salesman appeared and asked me if there was anything I was particularly interested in and he then invited me to go to the computer terminal and sat me down, offered me coffee and proceeded to show me in detail everything I would want to know about the car. He then, without asking (in my experience, most unusual), offered me a test drive. That usually means they drive and after about a mile turn into a convenient piece of grass and offer you the drive back, which of course is useless. Not this one. Yes, he did drive out but when we stopped he said you can drive where you like and I drove quite a few miles and there was no feeling of urgency in me returning to the dealership.

On our return I said that I would not be making a decision at that point as my partner would be the main driver so could she come and have a drive too. The next day my partner and myself returned to look at the car again and the salesman went through exactly the same procedure with her, even down to the accessories that could be fitted.

Some people would say that that is what should happen every time a new car is being purchased, but in all the years that I have been doing it the process has been far less personal and mostly the attitude “well, are you going to buy it or not”.

We are now on our second IQ, and this one is even better than the first one!

Is the dealership you use as good as mine? I hope so because it is a big decision, and to get it wrong has a very negative effect on many aspects of the ownership. If you have any horror stories or the opposite I would be pleased to hear about them and could include some in my monthly news.

If that is what you would like to read about, of course.

Finally, the print date for this issue prevents me publicising our meeting in Skegness on June 30. I’ll just say I hope you all remembered it and took time to attend. I’m sure it will be a great event and I’ll have plenty to write about next issue.

Keep well to the left – and please remember to get in touch if you want to discuss anything with me.

My new contact details are in the panel (left).


Regional view:» » » The MSA’s nationwide network of editors with the news and opinions that matter at local level

www.msagb.com

DAVE PEPPERDINEEditor, East Midlands

Help us to help you navigate all the changes in our industry

ContactDave Pepperdine can be contacted via t: 01476 979367e: pepsphx7@ hotmail.co.uk

MSA eASTeRN has another ADI meeting organised which we really hope you will support. It’s on Tuesday, 23 July at Heartsease Methodist Church Hall in Norwich, to start at 6.30 pm.

Our last meetings have been a great success and well attended and we would like to build on that.

This meeting will have the latest MSA update, presented by Rod Tipple, MSA Eastern Chairman, with an opportunity for any questions on issues that may be concerning you locally or nationally.

The proposed Green Paper on learner and new drivers will be one of the topics on the agenda so this is an ideal opportunity for you to find out more on the potentially major changes that may be coming your way.

We will also have a presentation from Kevin Isaacson of AA Drive Tech, who will be opening our eyes to ADI teaching opportunities. Intrigued? Come along and find out more!

Refreshments will be supplied and it will be a chance to meet up with your fellow ADIs as a bonus.

The cost? Only £2 for members and £5 for non-members.

To join the MSA the cost is £72 a year including a one-off joining fee but if you sign up on the night of the meeting you will save £15 and pay only £57 – a bargain for keeping up to date and gaining the support of the MSA.

If you know anyone who would like to join up, this is the perfect opportunity to do it. Membership is just over a £1 a week – cheaper than a cup of coffee!

IN ADDITIoN to the items above we will also ask

if anyone in attendance is interested in joining the MSA committee.

As with all volunteer groups, we depend on the committee to help us deliver events and support locally. We need more members to come forward and help us out. The more we have on our board, the more we will be able to do. We were asked to put on some social events which we would love to do but more hands make light work!

If you are interested in being on the committee please contact me or Rod Tipple and we will arrange an opportunity for you to attend a meeting and give it a try. We have a vacancy for a secretary and an events organiser.

Finally, advance notice of the Regional AGM. We have finalised a date for this on October 20, with Colchester earmarked as a potential venue.

If anyone has ideas for a great venue in that area, please contact us.

Look forward to seeing you all in Norwich in July! In the meantime, stay safe.


www.msagb.com

Fire and Rescue open upJohn Lomasp34

All I hear is radio ga-gaTerry Pearcep38

Cottage industry thinking must stopRod Camep36

FOLLOWInG the success of previous meetings we now have another for you on July 23 – see Sara Bradley‘s column (left) for more details.

I hope you can come along. If you are looking for a reason why, after the last meeting we organised I received the following email:

Hello Rod, this is Dave J. I would like to say I enjoyed the meeting on Tuesday, but as a new ADI I am surprised at how many are not members of the MSA.

I am off work today and have just received, Newslink having read it and the accompanying booklet. I think this organisation is a must for any ADI.

I’m glad to be a member with all the help and information that is for me fantastic value for money.

Anyway, thought I’d just give you some feedback. All the best and thank you for all your work as our chairman.

I must say its thoughts and gratitude like this that makes this work worthwhile, so many thanks Dave.

On this thought I hope many more new ADIs will come along to our meetings and please bring your ideas and thoughts to us. I am sure we can help.

SARA BRADLEYEditor, Eastern

Many hands make light work so come and join us

ROD TIPPLEChairman, Eastern

Contact

• You can contact Sara at [email protected]

Member’s positive feedback makes it all worthwhile

Eastern

MSA Eastern regional meetingDate: Tuesday, 23 July Venue: Heartsease Methodist Church Hall NorwichTime: 6.30 pm. Cost: Just £2 for members £5 non-members For non-members who join on the night we’ll waive the usual £15 joining fee, reducing 12 months MSA membership to just £57

Speakers include:Rod Tipple, MSA Eastern chairman, on reform of the learner driver industry and Kevin Isaacson, AA Drive Tech

Come along and find out the latest industry news

Meet up with fellow ADIs and network with your peers

Tolls news slips in behind congestion funding boostGood news that congested roads in England are to benefit from a £165m funding boost has overshadowed a potentially even more important piece of information, that the Government has confirmed plans to introduce a new toll road.

The tolls will be used to help pay for upgrades to a section of the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon.

According to the Treasury document, cash for the A14 upgrade will be “supported by contributions from local authorities and local enterprise partnership plus tolling”.

If successful, it could encourage other road upgrades to be supported by tolls.

The main announcement of the funding is the second tranche of cash from the £190 million Local Pinch Point Fund. It will help finance 62 schemes. Combined with local contributions, the total investment rises to more than £300m.

The successful schemes announced include improvements and upgrades to vital roads and bridges, new access routes and enhancements to address congestion at local traffic hotspots.

Many of the schemes will help enhance provision for buses, as well as improving facilities for cycling and walking.

www.msagb.comRegional News: North West


Frodsham Fire and Rescue meetingOn Friday, 31 May a group of ADIs, mainly from Merseyside and Cheshire, visited Frodsham Community Fire Station for a demonstration of the procedures involved when the fire officers attend a crash where one of the vehicles has to be dismantled to facilitate the extrication of the occupant/s.

The demonstration highlighted just how frightening it can be for those involved in a real incident, whether in the vehicle or waiting for a loved one to be rescued.

The station is quite close to the M56 and the noise from traffic on the motorway was quite loud and intrusive, yet it was completely drowned out by the noise produced by the hand saw tool used to cut through the windows; even the jaws used to cut through the metal A, B and C posts and hinges produced loud cracks as they made their last cut.

MSA North West chairman Graham has actually experienced being the “victim” in a genuine joint rescue services exercise and he was able to tell us how much louder it really is for those directly involved.

Following the demonstration Cheshire Fire and Rescue road safety officer Frances Edgerton, gave an explanation of what we had seen.

If you are wondering how useful such a presentation might be for us as instructors I would remind you of the National Driver and Rider Standards. This sort of event can help to give instructors the wherewithal to inform their pupils about the sorts of things they:

a) could do when they find themselves the early arrivals at an RTC, and

b) what they might expect in the event of being trapped in a car following an RTC in accordance with Unit 4.3: Manage incidents effectively from the National standard for driving cars (category B). For further information type National standard for driving cars into your search engine

n n n n n

What is middle lane hogging?The Government has just announced measures to attack the problems of road hogging, including middle lane hoggers and tailgaters.

But I haven’t seen or heard any definitions for ‘middle lane hogging’ other than a vague reference to staying in the middle lane for around half a mile. So I did some quick calcu- lations to see how far one travels to overtake.

60mph is actually 88 feet per second but for ease of calculation I used 90 fps.

Two lorries are in the left-hand lane, with a gap between the two. They are driving at 60mph (ok, I know they might have 56mph restrictors

Fire and Rescue Service opens up on casualty evacuationsJOHN LOMASEditor, North West

Contacte: johnstar driving@ hotmail.comt: 01254 705999m: 07796 091767a: 7 Devon St, Darwen, Lancashire BB3 2JZ

but I am trying to get a general picture here).If I am doing 70 and overtake a lorry I am going

to avoid moving back in until I am two seconds in front (180 ft at his speed of 60); when I near the second lorry I want to move out by the two-second point (210ft at my 70).

Now the question is, except to get out of the way of a faster moving vehicle which is approaching me from behind, how big a gap do I want between the lorries for a reasonable move back in and then move back out?

I would certainly consider that a five-second gap is the absolute minimum for safety but I would have no sooner moved in than I would be having to start preparations for moving back out.

For a comfortable progression down the road I would suggest that a 10-second gap between the lorries could be an acceptable minimum to enter.

If you then extrapolate from that how far you would travel if just going past in the centre lane you get a very interesting result.

The two lorries at 60 will both travel 900 ft in those 10 seconds so you are basically overtaking a single 900 ft entity travelling at 90fps.

If you start from two seconds behind (210 ft)

and finish two seconds in front (180 ft) then you have to travel 1,290 ft more than the lorries.

After one minute of overtaking you will have travelled 6,300 ft and the lorries 5,400ft; therefore you have to continue in the middle lane for another 30 seconds to reach comparative figures of 8,100 ft for the lorries, while you do 9,450 ft.

The result of this shows, in my opinion, that it could well be reasonable to ‘hog’ the middle lane alongside a gap for most of the middle mile of that one and a half miles.

n n n n n

Facts, figures and researchIf you are one of those ADIs who like to collect facts and figures on various aspects of road safety and diving then can I draw to your attention to a new website: www.roadsafetyobservatory.com

It draws into one location a whole plethora of research and info and presents that information in varying levels of detail from key facts, summary and full review.

I gave a short mention of the site, backed by a couple of Powerpoint slides, at the Frodsham

Cut it out: The Fire and Res-cue team get to work cutting a ‘victim’ out of a car wreck.

Once the door as removed, first aid was applied, before the job was completed with the roof cut away with the hand saw tool and the ‘jaws of life’.

www.msagb.comRegional News: North West/Scotland


meeting and have already had feedback from some attendees that it is a useful resource.

n n n n n

Red Lights and Blue LightsI see that this is still producing quite a furore in Newslink.

It seems to me that a lot of people are of the opinion that crossing the white line involves entering the conflicting traffic and road.

The stop line is extremely rarely, if ever, at the edge of the other road; it is normally set back before the start of the curving kerbstones which edge the throat of the junction.

So if you are the first in the queue on the left and have stopped at the line it is still possible to “unzip” by crossing the line and moving left into the widened part of your road without encroaching the other road.

With a dual carriageway it might even be possible to do a similar movement from the right hand lane by moving to inline with the central reservation.

All the photos from a red light camera, which I have seen, show the offending vehicle in the centre of the junction, not in either of the positions which I have described.

n n n n n

Flying or drivingI noticed my fellow regional editor Paula

Morris’ article in the June issue (p35) on the need for refresher lessons.

While her research was correct so far as air transport pilots are concerned a private pilot can get in the air after a lot fewer hours and can then carry passengers non-commercially in visual flight conditions, (simply put, when you are able to keep in visual contact with the ground in daylight)

Some information here:The Private Pilots Licence (PPL) Your flying training will need to consist of a minimum flight time of 45 hours. Of this 45 hours, a minimum of 25 hours will be under dual instruction, and at least 10 hours of solo flying must be carried out including at least five hours solo ‘cross country’ time; this will include a qualifying ‘cross country’ flight of at least 270 km (150 nm), during which you will land at two aerodromes other than your home airfield.

There is even a slightly shorter method which only allows you to fly in the UK and not travel abroad.

The biggest differences between a private motorist and a private pilot is that you have to have special ratings for night and bad weather (cloud) flying, you need to be checked out on different aircraft. In addition, student pilots have to have solo practice whereas drivers are forbidden solo practice except the entry level motorcyclists.

Telematics ‘Black Boxes’: Who has set the standard?

Information resource:The front page from the Road Safety Observatory

I NoTICeD last month that David Pepperdine (p38) is in favour of the principle of ‘black boxes’, as I and many others are – though I have to say that my next door neighbour’s son, a recent pass, was actually able to insure for a lot less without one than through the companies that do use them, writes John Lomas.

This sounds a bit like the, “it is only the expensive companies that give recognition for advanced driving qualifications” statements, which I have heard for years from both drivers and brokers.

On page 14 of the same issue there was mention of a new telematics-based insurer with a somewhat inappropriate name, “Drive Like a Girl”. If I used the English language like that at college I would be up on a disciplinary charge.

And just what does it mean anyway?However, that title got me thinking: Who

has set the parameters for these black boxes and the reports they return to the driver and the insurer? What are those parameters?

If anyone from the insurance industry

can respond, don’t give us some vacuous subjective answer, try to use objective statements.

I would be interested, for example, to see if anyone has ever used a blackbox-fitted vehicle on a ROADaR test with a Gold award resulting and if so what the telematics verdict was.

If it would not be possible to get an ‘excellent’ rating, or very close to it, from a Gold drive, then I would like to know why.

Is a ROADaR Gold not safe?The length of experience that the driver

has had is immaterial if they drive well. There are quite a few young, enthusiastic drivers who have achieved Golds and Silvers and hold IAM passes. Could they qualify for cheaper insurance using telematics and advanced driving styles/techniques or would they be penalised?

Incidentally, I notice that Aviva is advertising a smart phone app for this purpose. You can go to free download links for it to suit iPhones or Androids from: http://www.aviva.co.uk/drive/

Road safety update: Scotland

There is a continuing need to focus on improving the safety of vulnerable road users, says the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), as provisional road casualty figures for Scotland reveal an increase in cyclist and pedestrian deaths.

The figures, published by Transport Scotland, show that 898 cyclists were injured on Scotland’s roads in 2012 - nine per cent more than in 2011. Of these cyclist casualties, nine were killed (two more than in 2011) and 167 were seriously injured (11 more than in 2011).

There were 1,950 pedestrian casualties (five per cent fewer than in 2011); of these, 54 were killed (11 more than in 2011) and 456 were seriously injured (58 fewer than in 2011).

Among motorcyclists, there were 864 casualties (seven per cent more than in 2011), including 21 deaths (12 fewer than in 2011) and 342 serious injuries (49 more than in 2011).

There were 7,577 car user casualties, of whom 72 were killed (17 fewer than in 2011) and 836 were seriously injured (80 more than in 2011).

Overall, there were 170 road deaths in Scotland in 2012 - 15 (eight per cent) fewer than in 2011 and the lowest number since current records began more than 60 years ago. A total of 1,959 people were seriously injured - 82 (four per cent) more than in 2011. And, 10,446 people were slightly injured - 269 (three per cent) fewer than in 2011.

There were welcome reductions in child casualties, including deaths (two in 2012 compared to seven in 2011) and serious injuries. Of the two children killed in 2012, one was a cyclist and one was a pedestrian.

Karen McDonnell, head of RoSPA Scotland, said: “As in previous years, the publication of road casualty

figures for Scotland has shown that we cannot lose sight of the work that still needs to be done on making our roads safer, particularly where vulnerable road users like cyclists and pedestrians are concerned.

“RoSPA encourages people to walk and cycle and we know that concerns about safety are often cited as barriers to these modes of transport. We therefore support initiatives that seek to improve the safety of cyclists and pedestrians because they can prevent injuries and have other health advantages too.

“Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2020 includes commitments on cyclist and pedestrian safety and some good work is ongoing. However, we urge all those involved in road safety across Scotland to redouble their efforts in these areas. Reductions in deaths among car users and motorcyclists are on course to meet the target set for 2020, but more work is clearly needed if the target is also to be met for cyclists and pedestrians.”

Scotland’s target is to reduce the number of people killed in road accidents by 2020, based on a 2004-08 baseline average.

“Reductions in deaths among car users and motorcyclists are on course to meet the target set for 2020, but more work is clearly needed if the target is also to be met for cyclists and pedestrians.”

Concern as Scotland’s vulnerable groups see rise in casualty figures

www.msagb.comRegional News: South East


SINCeRe CoNGRATuLATIoNS To MSA General Manager John Lepine from the South East for his election as President of EFA, the European Driving Schools Association.

It can only be hoped that with John in this position some beneficial effect will be generated in relation to the professional status of ADIs in this country. Elsewhere in Europe driver trainers have expertise in the eyes of the public because of the training they have to undertake in order to qualify. Their training, in most respects, makes that of the average UK ADI look like they graduated from junior school rather than university.

More stringent qualifications must be introduced in the UK to improve the knowledge of the subject of driving and of being able to pass that knowledge on to new drivers. The ‘cottage industry’ approach to driver training that we have in this country must come to an end sooner rather than later.

Having the presidency of EFA in the capable hands of John Lepine may just hasten that endeavour.

n n n n n

Theory test theoryI have been following the progress of Ed

Cumming, a mature learner driver, who has been chronicling his progress in The Daily Telegraph motoring section. AA Driving School is his chosen source of tuition and features prominently in each article detailing his progress.

The latest article relating to his approach to the DSA Theory Test was quite revealing, and probably reflects the mind-set of many candidates who regard the test as an added inconvenience to them gaining a full driving licence, rather than a requirement to display a degree of knowledge in relation to driving on the road.

He had been advised by several people how easy the test is and decided to ‘head online to brush up’. He then came to the conclusion that ‘many of the questions do not require any knowledge of motoring at all….’ also that ‘the hazard perception (test) is even simpler.’

Armed with this knowledge he headed off to the test centre in Southwark, where he was successfully brought down to earth by being told that he had failed. Unfortunately his is not an isolated case. Many people come to grief in a similar fashion. But why should this be? Why do test candidates treat this examination of their road safety knowledge with such distain?

It could be a continuation of the thought process

from the previous test of a candidates’ knowledge of driving when, at the end of their practical test, they were asked to answer a couple of questions and to identify half a dozen road signs, even then they didn’t have to get them all correct! The introduction of a written theory test was meant to improve matters, but failed miserably.

Initially the pass mark was set very low thereby perpetuating the myth that the test was easy. This was confirmed by the DSA when they published the questions accompanied by the answers, an error that has only recently been corrected.

At present it is only necessary for a driving test candidate to take an interest in driving theory up to the point where they pass that particular test. As we all know after that milestone has been reached any thought of the rules of the road go out of the window. The practical test is seen as a different animal.

The Hazard Perception test was to be the panacea that would enhance the ability of all new drivers to improve their observation and anticipation. Did it work? Of course not. That also is seen as part of the game– a computer game that requires little skill from those who are adept at such entertainment. Again it is something else to be forgotten when that test is passed.

I did wonder why the AA instructor allowed his client to enter for the theory test when he obviously had the wrong attitude in relation to it, and was apparently not up to standard? There is such a thing as bad publicity.

n n n n n

DSA Daily Digest BulletinI wonder if I am missing out on something. I

have checked back on my emails and find that I receive the DSA Daily Digest Bulletin about twice a fortnight. Is there so little going on in the world of DSA that they can only muster enough information to pass on so infrequently, and even then it is usually to inform me what to do if their staff decide to take an extra day’s holiday at the request of their union.

My interpretation of daily is ‘occurring once in every 24 hour period’. I do not expect DSA to work at weekends as ADIs often have to, but I do expect ‘daily’ to be five times in a working week. I would be right upset if my daily newspaper only came out once a week, especially as I pay up front for it, much as I do for the lamentable service I receive from the DSA.

Will things ever improve with the DSA in its present form? I very much doubt it.

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CRB checks and customer ‘service’As if to prove the point regarding the distain

with which DSA regards ADIs, consider the two following sentences from their Daily Bulletin relating to CRB checks.

‘Your application to become an approved driving instructor, renew your registration or re- register could be delayed if you don’t send your

certificate as soon as DSA asks for it’, and ‘You don’t need to send your certificate unless DSA tells you to.’ADIs are customers of DSA as much as any other

group of people is. Having said that I suppose we are treated much as the others are. Wouldn’t it be nice if DSA regarded us as equals in the universal quest to improve road safety?

Wouldn’t it be nice if they treated driving test candidates as customers to be given a service, particularly when their driving test has been cancelled because of the previously mentioned ‘holiday’ by an examiner, rather than ‘we’ll let you know in about a fortnight when we can fit you in again’? This is a problem caused by not having a choice of provider.

Consider this: I recently booked an eyesight check with a firm of opticians which I have used for some time. I needed a check quickly and they gave me a suitable date. A few days later they rang up and told me my allocated optician would not be available that day, could I wait a fortnight? No, I couldn’t.

Another firm of opticians could fit me in on the same day that the first had cancelled. I took my custom to them. That is the benefit of consumer choice, the same benefit exercised by the customers of ADIs, but not available to those of the DSA – yet. n Editor’s note: It should be noted that Rod submitted his editorial before the news about the DSA’s merger with VOSA.

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Road safety changes Some people are getting their knickers in a twist

because Wetherspoons has been granted permission to open a branch of their popular pub chain at a motorway services. Apparently it is illegal to sell or consume alcohol at motorway service areas but the one in question is not actually on the motorway but on an adjacent ‘A’ road and is therefore OK.

This could open up an interesting discussion. Obviously we do not want drivers who have had an alcoholic drink hurtling along a motorway at 70mph while inebriated. Allowing alcohol to be sold at motorway service areas may encourage some people to do this. But is there less incentive if the services are just off the motorway, or if they choose to drink at a pub a mile away from the motorway before using that road to make their way home?

Is there any statistical evidence that having pubs situated alongside dual-carriageways has led to an increasing in drink/drive related collisions on those roads? I suspect not – it appears to be a storm in a beer mug to me.

Perhaps more important to us all is the announcement that police will be allowed to issue fixed penalties to drivers for a number of observed offences such as tailgating, bad driving, failing to give way at junctions, forcing their way into a queue of traffic and using the wrong lane at a roundabout.

Rather worrying are the latest figures which

ROD CAMEEditor, South East

Contacte: camedt@one tel.com t: 01424 883333 / 07930 842833a: Crown Cottage, Cackle Street, Brede, Rye, east Sussex TN31 6eA

Time to close the door on the ‘cottage industry’ approach

www.msagb.comRegional News: South East and South Wales


show that 26,500 drivers were prosecuted in England and Wales for the offence of careless driving, but a massive 21% (7,700) were found to be not guilty. I expect that most of those prosecutions resulted from collisions. When it comes to observed offences relying on opinion then the waters will become distinctly muddied. Prepare for a lot of argument and ‘not guilty’ pleas – except that usually there is an increase in the penalty if you have the cheek to plead not guilty which is certainly a disincentive to take that route, but as an ADI whose livelihood depends on having a relatively clean driving licence (fit and proper person) can you afford just to accept a fixed penalty notice and points without fighting back?

Take the situation where you happen to be supervising a learner driver when they make an innocent mistake, for example taking the wrong lane on the approach to a roundabout but not causing any danger or inconvenience. However, you are spotted doing so by an alert officer of the law. A fixed penalty containing a fine and three points could land in your lap as well as that of your pupil’s.

Even more interesting could be the situation when the same happens on a driving test. The examiner would not be issued with a penalty as they are not a supervising driver, but your pupil is going to be pretty miffed at getting one, especially because by then the examiner will probably have made their excuses and started to walk back to the DTC.

At that point you should stand by for the letter from their family (or no-win no-fee) solicitor claiming that you had not taught the pupil properly, and claiming actual and punitive damages. At that point the MSA professional indemnity insurance included in your annual subscription may appear to be of extraordinary value.

As with all such things there are shades of black and white. It is when the alleged offence falls within the grey area that problems arise. It is to be hoped that a fixed penalty would not be issued where there is a shadow of doubt, but we all know that will not be the case, especially where there are targets to hit.

On the first occasion when a fixed penalty might be issued there is a ‘get out’ clause in that a driver education course could be offered. I suppose it would be interesting to be a client on such a course rather than an instructor, but that wouldn’t happen. Would it?

However, as always there is at least one fly in the ointment. I would hope that the issuing of these penalties would be entrusted to experienced police

officers. As they are traffic offences logic suggests that this would be traffic patrol officers, and therein lies the problem: there are far fewer on the road now, certainly in Sussex, than there were 40 years ago.

The decimation of the Traffic Division as it once was, to its present nomination as a Road Policing Unit, means that there is insufficient traffic police coverage of our roads to properly enforce this proposed road safety initiative. If it is left to PCSOs – currently to be found waving speed cameras at drivers – well, for them to issue these fixed penalties then traffic enforcement will have reached a new low point. But c’est la vie – as Mr Lepine may put it, with his new European post!

oNCe MoRe the Government is looking at modernising driver training programme. How far and how fast these changes will advance depends on political processes.

There has been news recently of changes to the ‘spot fines’ to be used to deal with so called anti social motoring offences such as tailgating and lane hogging, among others.

I saw and heard comments from motorists that can bring a smile to the face of many drivers who don’t consider they belong in the older driver category. A few examples I recall were ‘the old guy in the middle lane (motorway), doing 70mph and won’t pull over as he obviously doesn’t want anyone going faster’.

Another frequent comment is ‘over 70 years old shouldn’t be allowed to drive without a further test’.

Also a common idea put forward is ‘slower drivers are more of a danger on the roads than faster drivers’, which is often connected with ‘speed limits are the law, but drivers need to drive at an appropriate speed’.

I am definitely in the older driver category, but seeing and thinking of many comments such as these does bring a twitch to my facial muscles which could be mistaken for a smile.

Why is this? I feel that a lot of the comments or pet hates are often valid but, by way of contradiction, often rubbish too. It all depends on the context of how they occurred at the time.

I have been involved in ‘mature’ driver assessments and have heard some of the flip side, with comments such as ‘youngsters drive too fast’; ‘there’s no respect shown nowadays for older people’; ‘ they want older drivers taken off the roads, see what will happen to the insurance premiums then’.

It’s often a challenge to sit there and hear these comments and resist the urge to smile or to try and reason against it, I don’t feel qualified to go too far. I always try to have some discussions with my learners about how difficult it can be to try to analyse another driver’s actions; even experts have to use lots of research and intelligent analysis, what chance do we have?

I think it can be a waste of time and effort to blame others for their poor actions when we should focus our (driving) efforts towards keeping our car and passengers safe.

In essence my message is “we should always believe what other road users tell us they are going to do, but we should never have complete trust that they will do it”. I am sure all trainers have their own way of putting this across.

HOW ABOUT the ‘highway robbery’ TV programme the other week? Some authorities are raising huge amounts in fines using CCTV and dubious road safety measures. The success also relies on DVLA providing access to our registered details. I don’t think Dick Turpin had assistance from the Crown to plan his exploits!

So the people who pay all sorts of taxes which fund all these public authorities are now being penalised through dubious schemes, which raise more money for those authorities to create more dubious schemes.

If we rearrange the following words we may come up with an understanding of some of this; ‘asylum the over taking lunatics the are’.

But this used to be a joke!This is only one example of the way that motorists are being

squeezed financially and many are being put off the costs of driving, both privately and commercially. This affects us all but for some is a double whammy as young people who do not have a well paid job, or parents who have well paid jobs, are put off the idea of driving altogether.

ContactDavid James can be contacted via e: [email protected] or via 07733 070888

Watching the drivers: Police will be given greater powers to assess motorists’ standards in addition to gauging speed

It’s the way ‘they’ tell ’em!

DAVIDJAMESEditor, South Wales

I hAVe NeVeR been a car person. In my first 20 years of driving I had three cars and only changed them when they could not be welded any more to pass the MOT.

For me cars have always been a method of getting from A to B and even now being able to tell one model from another does not interest me. Two young ladies I taught, who knew everything there was to know about cars, found this hilarious especially when I asked them to reverse around the red or blue or whatever colour car there was. They could tell me the make, model and everything else there was to know. I just kept to the colour.

So how do I choose a car? When I qualified as a driving instructor I went around the various dealerships but to me it was a minefield. I rejected one car I was interested in because I did not like the colour of the interior trim. I settled on a Peugeot simply because they were locally produced and it was the car my instructor taught me to teach in. I have stayed with Peugeot ever since.

I recently changed to a Peugeot 208. As long as I feel comfortable, can see the speedometer and can take control of items such as the indicators from the passenger seat then I am happy.

Unfortunately this changed when I took delivery and I realised I could not turn the radio off! It sounds ridiculous but you really cannot do it. You can mute it but when you turn off and restart the engine the radio comes back on. I tried turning the volume down to zero but that does not work either as it often comes back on at a low level. I experienced this while sitting in the back on test. You cannot choose the USB unless there is a memory stick in place so I thought, put a blank one in. This was fine until you turn the engine off and on again and it then rejects it and changes back to radio.

Checking online for a solution I found various others, mainly driving instructors, who were as frustrated as I was. I decided to email Peugeot and was advised to consult my local dealership who were best placed to help me.

Surprise, surprise, they knew about the problem but couldn’t give me a solution, which prompted me to write this article about it. I called Peugeot and asked for the email address of the press office.

I was told there wasn’t one and was recommended to use the general address and ask for it to be forwarded. I thought about this and deciding it was rubbish, I called again telling them exactly who I was writing the article for. This time I was given an email address for a public relations manager called Kevin and duly sent him my concerns.

The reply came back very quickly and it included Kevin’s phone number so I was also able talk to him. His reply said, “While I do completely understand your frustration, I have news, there is a fit in the form of a download due very soon, and this will remedy the issue and update other features of the car.”

www.msagb.comRegional News: West Midlands


TERRYPEARCEEditor, West Midlands

Contacte: terrysom@ aol.com t: 02476 335270a: 20 Brownshill Green Road, Coventry CV6 2DT

“I’ll get to you soon a date when it’s available (expected to be in July), and can only apologise for what was a design feature.

“Please rest assured, a lot of thought goes into the design of the modern motor car, but I appreciate this one was clearly an over-sight where control is preferred”.

So there is a result on its way. I am only glad I did not obtain a 208 when they were first launched last summer. I imagine instructors who did must be feeling like putting their fist through it by now!

halfordsDriving tests are now available from the Halfords

site in Bromsgrove but there are no toilet facilities. While I understand the DSA, instructors and candidates want a more local centre, isn’t the lack of toilets a backward step? If you use this new site or one like it please let me know what you think.

Denis GriffinIt is with sad regret

that we have to announce the passing of Denis Griffin, former Deputy Chairman MSA West Midlands and regional editor (pictured).

Denis served on the regional committee for many years and in 1995 was awarded the MSA Editor of the Year. He had run a very successful driving school, (New Milverton School of Motoring) and worked on diversionary courses for his local authority in Warwickshire until his retirement.

Denis was very supportive of the regional committee and only stepped down after his retirement as he found difficulty to attend committee meetings.

The West Midlands Chairman Geoff Little and his Deputy, Ralph Walton, who were personal friends of Denis’s, attended his funeral; we send our sincere condolence to his widow and family.

All I hear is radio... and it’s driving me ga-ga

The Peugeot 208: A fine car with a little problem with the radio

“For me cars have always been a method of getting from A to B and even now being able to tell one model from another does not interest me... I rejected one because I didn’t like the colour of the interior trim...”

www.msagb.comRegional News: West Midlands


All I hear is radio... and it’s driving me ga-ga

I WAS ReCeNTLY invited to the North Wales Mobility and Driving Assessment Service for a day.

Before going into too much detail about the day itself I would like to introduce the North Wales Mobility and Driver Assessment Service, one of several Mobility Assessment Centres around the UK. It is a registered charity funded by the Welsh Government, whose aim is to offer impartial and professional advice that will enable people who are elderly or have a disability to achieve their optimum level of independent outdoor mobility.

The centre is Motability accredited, DVLA approved and a member of the Forum of Assessment Centres UK.

It offers both driver and passenger assessments with the aim of providing clients with long-term mobility solutions. All assessments are conducted by suitably qualified members of staff and are treated confidentially.

Following assessment clients are provided with the necessary relevant information and a written report of their findings and recommendations. Clients may decide to use their report as evidence of their ability when informing DVLA or insurance companies of medical history.

The driver assessment is not a driving test; the aim is to evaluate the physical and cognitive ability of the individual to drive a motor vehicle safely and comfortably.

For clients who experience physical disability, the centre has a wide range of adapted vehicles that can be tailored to individuals’ specific requirements. Should more sophisticated, high-tech vehicle adaptations be required, the centre may be able to arrange a practical driving assessment in a suitably adapted vehicle.

For clients who experience neurological and cognitive disorders, the centre’s offer expert assessment of their ability, consideration is given to the individual’s cognitive abilities at a practical level. During an assessment drive, they explore the client’s concentration, perceptual and decision making abilities, all of which are necessary skills to ensure safe driving.

For clients who are experiencing difficulties with access to and from a vehicle, the centre has a wide range of equipment that may reduce or eliminate the physical effort involved during transfers. This assessment explores safe transfers and travelling needs, vehicle suitability and equipment options and stowage.

The centre offers free information and advice service and can advise on a range of issues, including DVLA legislation, Motability Scheme driver tuition, vehicle adaptation companies, grant funding schemes and much more. You ask the question, they will do their best to find the answer.

So there are a number of reasons for contacting the centre;

n To determine your ability to drive a motor vehicle.

n For current, impartial information and advice on vehicle choice and adaptation.

n For driving instructors who have clients with disability or SEN.

If you have a client or you are a driver experiencing difficulty with the following:

n Physical or cognitive fatiguen Vehicle entry and exit n Stowage of equipment, such as wheelchairs

scooters, etc.n Disability or special educational needs,

learning to drive... then the Mobility and Driver Assessment

Service could be an ideal place to contact.

I’m in the fortunate – or unfortunate – position of being in a triangle of three assessment centres North Wales, Derby and Birmingham. I have previously visited Derby DrivAbility and the North Wales satellite centre in Newtown, but this would be my first visit to the Glan Clwyd Hospital Bodelwyddan. Although a long drive I arrived there looking forward to the day.

The day started with introductions by Gary Jones, ADI Centre Manager, Louise Barr, administration, Chris Jones, ADI, and Caroline Holt, ADI. After a quick health and safety briefing, then on to an informal chat with the two ADIs who would be conducting the day’s assessment over coffee, followed by licence checks. It was very rewarding being able to discuss and exchange ideas with like-minded ADIs who work in the same sector of driver training as myself.

Caroline showed me around the centre and its extensive range of vehicles, ranging from small and medium saloons, MPVs and WAVs (wheelchair accessible vehicles). Different vehicles were set up in varying ways: standard automatic, push-pull, left-foot accelerator, over-ring/radial electronic accelerators, infrared secondary controls. Some had hoists for lifting wheel chairs and scooters, and there were ramps for WAVs.

After a short break Chris and Caroline took me out in a Nissan Note fitted with Elap over-ring/radial accelerator with push brake for a short assessment drive similar to one they would do with a client.

It was interesting controlling the vehicle in two different ways. One problem I found was that it was difficult to maintain acceleration while turning the wheel with the over ring, although

operation was very light. There was a similar problem with the radial accelerator which, unlike the standard push/pull, if you maintained acceleration while braking the system cut power to the accelerator until the brake was reapplied without gas. This caught me out a couple of times.

Even though I had some initial problems with both types I can see the benefit for some clients. During the drive I noticed that even as an experienced driver, with adapted controls using a different set for the first time you do forget the odd mirror check and speed limit.

After a short debrief we parted for lunch and to allow the ADIs time to discuss their client’s assessment. It also gave me an opportunity to make some notes.

After lunch, before the assessment I was required to sign a non-disclosure agreement so I cannot refer to the client in detail.

During the assessment watching the two ADIs work together was very interesting. The Q&A was thorough but sensitive and professional, their manner was effective and empathetic.

The client was asked for their hopes and expectations from the assessment. The client was worried about being told that independent driving would no longer be an option. Spinal surgery had initially left the client with quadriplegia but after physiotherapy this had improved to the extent that they now had use of the right arm and leg, with limited use of the left arm and hand but no viable use of left leg. The client was now presenting left-sided hemiplegia, enabling the use of a vehicle with automatic transmission fitted with steering aid plus possibly parking brake adaptation, with gear selector adaptation or choosing a vehicle without transmission lock button. Secondary controls was another option.

After the initial assessment in the centre we moved on to the on-road session. The client was introduced to the vehicle and controls and after getting used to the vehicle on the hospital grounds they were taken out onto public roads. The usual exercises were carried out including controlled stop and then back to the centre. The staff had a discussion with the client about their thoughts and possible plan forward after which the staff prepared their report.

On this occasion this would go to the client because they had self-referred, although they would be required to inform DVLA and insurers of their disability and any adaptation required.

As an observer I didn’t take any verbal part while the client was present, but while the client was out of the room, both instructors included me in their discussions and asked for my assessment of the client and for my training recommendations.

Because of the confidentiality, I can only tell you that the client, with some small adjustment to vehicle, their driving style and some training, should be able to drive again.

It was a long drive there and back but it was well worth it and I found the day rewarding. I learned quite a lot during the day, which gave me an insight into their much undervalued work. Most people – including ADIs – don’t want to go to an assessment centre or have a DVLA assessment, but if you do visit I’m sure you won’t feel the same after.

Caring professionals focused on the needs of disabled driversMSA West Midlands committee member haydn Jenkins takes a trip to see the work undertaken by assessors at the North Wales Mobility and Driver Assessment Centre

www.msagb.comRegional News: Greater London


TONY PHILLIPSEditor, Greater London

Contacte: tony@tonys trainees.co.uk Please ensure all emails contain MSA Greater London in the subject

FRoM a personal viewpoint, I’m concerned with the announcement by the current Road Safety Minister Steve Hammond that there will be fixed penalties for motorway middle lane ‘hoggers’ and ‘tailgating’.

Personally, I think it’s a bit of soundbite politics as the police have always had the power to prosecute drivers for these types of bad driving, under careless driving or driving without due care and attention. What the new regulations provide is the ability to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice rather than the more time-intensive court process already in existence.

My problem is that up until now, a police officer would have to think long and hard about going ahead with a prosecution for those offences as they are so very difficult to prove. Although many ADIs work in areas where there are no motorways (Aberdeen is a city I know well that springs to mind; a big city surrounded by a lot of fast rural roads plus one or two national speed limit dual carriageways, but no motorway for a couple of hundred miles or so until you get near to the Edinburgh/Glasgow cosmopolitan region of Scotland), even so we really should all have a very good knowledge of how to drive on multi-lane motorways, what would be the correct lane to use at what times, etc,

Take this as an example. Lane 1 is occupied by miles of LGVs. Even though there may be a large gap between one group of lorries and another further ahead, returning to the left lane from Lane 2 may cause you to have to reduce speed for some distance unless you come back out again pretty soon to avoid being overtaken by a great swathe of faster moving vehicles approaching from behind in the lane you had just vacated. This would therefore have made the return to the adjacent lane to the left unnecessary. If a traffic cop has come up on you quite late, would they think that you’re a middle lane hogger or a thinking advanced driver?

Various police forces have come under close scrutiny recently for the wrong reasons. I know of two close acquaintances who have been at the wrong end of very dodgy police activity, details of which I will not give here.

Suffice to say that both of them came out of court clean and proved truly innocent with the police receiving a reprimand from the

court because they had produced ‘evidence’ to the contrary.

However, when we consider the involvement of police officers in the News of the World scandal and some various unsavoury actions in the news, you can possibly understand my reluctance to allow police more powers that make it easier for them to prosecute on situations that rely upon opinion and judgement. None of us are perfect; however, the vast majority of us don’t have anywhere near as much power either.

What is interesting is the line in the announcement that said: “The fixed penalty will also enable the police to offer educational training as an alternative to endorsement.” I’m hoping and expecting that this will be offered to ADIs and not the police itself. I’m absolutely certain that the big ‘fleet trainer’ operators will be bidding for this contract and they at least traditionally use ADIs for this type of work.

I THINK in the meantime that the increase in penalties for mobile phone and seatbelt usage are at least steps in the right direction, but are they enough?

I have read many reports, investigations and studies that conclude that using a mobile phone, even hands-free, while driving is possibly more distracting than driving under the influence of alcohol. Therefore, shouldn’t the penalty for hand-held mobile phones at least be much more severe than £100 and three penalty points?

The Man from Auntie

Did you see the programme on the BBC TV about the money ... sorry yellow box junction in Hammersmith? It seems that at least Hammersmith and Fulham councils are using yellow box junctions and bus lanes as cash generators rather than the original purpose of traffic control systems that help to improve traffic and bus flow.

All manner of large sums of money were mentioned during the course of the programme but there was just one part of it that sold it for me. The council had lots of statistics on cash flow produced by their CCTV cameras; however, they had no statistics on the correlation between use of CCTV and the improvement of traffic movements and traffic congestion.

Naturally, if money is spent on a system, be it technical or a work system, there must be some form of record keeping that proves whether it is working well, badly or at all. This record keeping would naturally show and report on what it is that the system has been installed for. Therefore, if the council is keeping statistics on the funds it (the CCTV system at the yellow box and the bus lanes) generates but not the traffic flow, I think that we can safely say that they system was installed to generate cash.

There are in excess of 35 million registered driving licence holders in this country. How can we rally together and form the biggest pressure group to stop this type of highway robbery?

Asking police to judge driving standards is cause for concern

Traffic control... or an extension of Council Tax? You decide...

www.msagb.comNews


Greater London

Want to know more about the new Standards Check... client-centred learning... the Green Paper on Driver Testing and Training... or just want a chance to network and relax with your fellow ADIs?

Then eat and drink in the latest information at the

MSA Greater London proudly presents...

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Book by email at [email protected] or call 0207 690 0698

MSA Greater London Barbecue SeminarRadiomarathon Centre, 188 Turkey Street, Enfield EN1 4NW

Thursday, 11 July, 6pm for 7pm startWith presentations from Greater London chairman Tom Kwok and editor Tony Phillips

The Mayor and Transport for London (TfL) have published an ambitious plan to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on London’s roads by 40 per cent by 2020.

Safe Streets for London covers the period until 2020 and was launched at the Waterloo IMAX roundabout, an area that has recently benefitted from a range of enhancements to help improve the safety of all road users. The busy junction is also the first of a number that TfL is looking to introduce 20mph limits at in the next few years.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “I want London to be the most liveable capital city in the world and improving the safety of our roads is key to achieving this.

“We’ve made good progress in recent years, but we must do more. London’s population is rapidly increasing and the extra demand that this will place on our road network poses a significant challenge.

“That is why I have set a new target to cut the number of those killed or seriously injured by 10,000 - or 40 per cent - by 2020.”

The plan builds on solid progress already made by TfL, the London boroughs and the police over the last decade to improve the safety of London’s roads.

Using detailed analysis of how and why people are injured in road collisions in the capital, and which groups are affected, it looks to ensure that the right measures are being taken to reduce casualties.

Through this approach, and working closely with the boroughs and the police, TfL aims to further reduce death and serious injury on London’s roads by introducing and achieving a target of a 40 per cent drop in KSIs by 2020.

TfL has identified 56 key measures which will help drive forward change and improve road safety for all, including:

• Long-term investment to improve the safety of London’s main roads: TfL’s recent business plan set out how an unprecedented doubling of planned spending on London’s roads over the next 10 years will be spent, rising from a planned £1.9bn to around £4bn. In partnership with the boroughs, TfL will look to focus this investment into proven and innovative road safety methods engineered to protect vulnerable road users across London

• Creating a London Vehicle Innovation Task Force: This group will work to identify, support and trial new systems such as advanced emergency braking systems for motorcycles and in-car driver feedback systems

• Equipping boroughs with the skills needed to implement road safety improvements:

• Focusing police enforcement: Using the best methods in intelligence analysis to help focus police enforcement to specific times and places in order to tackle driving behaviour.

Open data on collisions in London: The data on collisions in London will be made available online for the first time.

• Carrying out trials of innovative cycling measures: If successful, these measures could be introduced in London and potentially more widely across the UK.

The trials will examine a range of suggestions such as ‘Dutch style’ roundabouts and low-level cycle signals to assess their suitability for introduction on the UK’s roads, subject to DfT approval

TfL has also recently joined the expert panel for the European Commission’s review of the Weights and Dimensions Directive for construction vehicles. By having a place on this panel, the needs of London’s vulnerable road users can be directly voiced at a European level, helping to drive forward safety improvements.

David Davies, Executive Director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) said: “This is a sophisticated and innovative plan which sets ambitious targets to reduce casualties by 40 per cent. At the same time it promotes walking, cycling and public transport which are important to making London a healthier and more sustainable city.

“Some of the proposed actions, such as improved vehicle safety standards and eye-sight requirements, could have benefits well beyond the capital.”

Want to know more? See the full report at www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/corporate/safe-streets-for-london.pdf

London Mayor sets out ambitious new strategy for road safety

www.msagb.comMSA news


The MSA is delighted to announce that it has updated its Terms of Business. These are an ideal way of presenting a professional face to your pupils as you meet them for the first time, and set out clearly the terms under which you will conduct your lessons and other business affairs with the pupil.

All the ‘rules’ by which you are entering a business agreement with the pupil are contained in these handy pamphlets. They are a vital part of your ADI supplies. In addition they offer you some vital protection, particularly over cancellations and if the learner’s licence circumstances change and they do not inform you, such as they are prosecuted for a speeding offence while doing some extra practice with a parent.

The booklets have been produced on behalf of the MSA by Driving School Supplies. The MSA and Driving School Supplies are currently working on producing more MSA branded goods. Please have a look at both our websites (www.msagb.com and www.d-ss.co.uk) to see the latest products as they become available.

Updated ADI terms of business now available from Driving School Supplies

See www.msagb.comorwww.d-ss.co.uk for more details

Then join the MSA today!Just £57* per year – that’s around 15p a day

MOTOR SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION

AMSlogo final solo.indd 1 25/2/11 15:49:16

Want access to industry-leading levels of support, advice, training and money-saving offers?Want the reassurance of £3m of professional indemnity insurance FREE OF CHARGE? Want to know what’s happening when it happens – and clear guidance on what it means to you?

Call us now on 0800 0265986 and join immediately with a credit/debit card

Or go online to www.msagb.com and click on the ‘Join’ drop down menu along the top of the opening page

Complete the simple application form and payment details – and you’re a member and can start benefitting from membership right away* Initial application £72, includes one-off joining fee of £15

www.msagb.comMotoring: MINI


MINI COOPER D HATCH

For driving schools

The MINI Cooper D Hatch for driving schools, only £51 + VAT per week.• Metallicpaint• MINItlcservicingpackagefor5years/50,000miles^

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Contactamemberorourteamon020 8344 0920 formoredetails.

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only £51 per week

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MINI Cooper SD (Model Year 2013) and MINI One D (Model Year 2003)

IT’S BeeN 120 years since Rudolf Diesel invented the type of engine that still bears his name.

Today, the Rudolf... sorry, diesel... engine is synonymous with efficiency, delivering frugal motoring that doesn’t compromise on power or enjoyment.

For the ADI, the option of a diesel engine has always been attractive, with mpg savings easily paying for the premium initial purchase price. And when you combine this engine type with the classic lines, cheeky styling and driving excellence that is the current MINI range, you have a marriage made in heaven.

The current MINI diesel models are fitted with further refined injection technology, turbochargers with variable turbine geometry, auto start/stop function, shift point display, brake energy regeneration, on-demand operation of ancillary units, electromechanical steering and cutting-edge exhaust gas purification technology. The result: 120 years after Rudolf Diesel made his pioneering invention, the engine of the MINI Cooper D provides an impressive peak output of 82 kW/112 bhp, a maximum torque of 270 Newton metres at 1,750 rpm , a fuel consumption on the EU test cycle of 3.8 litres per 100 kilometres and CO2 emissions of 99 grams per kilometre.

The latest generation of the MINI One D is powered by a 1.6-litre engine which delivers 66 kW/90 bhp and a maximum torque of 215 Newton metres that goes on stream at 1,750 rpm. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are the same as those of the 82 kW/112 bhp MINI Cooper D. The entry-level diesel engine is also available in the models MINI Clubman and MINI Countryman, transferring its power via a 6-speed manual transmission in each case. For the MINI Cooper D there is also the option of a 6-speed automatic

transmission which is combined with a 2.0-litre version of the 4-cylinder engine in each model version. The choice between the two variants applies to the MINI, MINI Clubman, MINI Convertible, MINI Countryman and MINI Paceman.

The latest and most powerful way to experience the kind of pulling power and efficiency so typical of a diesel engine is provided by the MINI Cooper SD. Also operating with a capacity of 2.0 litres, this 4-cylinder power unit generates a peak output of 105 kW/143 bhp and provides a maximum torque of 305 Newton metres between 1,750 and 2,700 rpm.

And this engine offers exemplary economy as well as supreme power delivery. The MINI Cooper SD sprints from zero to 100 km/h in just 8.1 seconds, achieving a top speed of 215 km/h. Its average fuel consumption on the EU test cycle is 4.3

litres to 100 kilometres, with CO2 emissions of 114 grams per kilometre.

The most powerful diesel in the MINI engine portfolio is available for all seven models - the MINI, MINI Clubman, MINI Convertible, MINI Coupé, MINI Roadster, MINI Countryman and MINI Paceman. In each model it is combined as standard with a 6-speed manual transmission or else an optional 6-speed automatic transmission. Its power can also be optionally transmitted to all four wheels by means of the all-wheel drive system ALL4 in the MINI Cooper SD Countryman and the MINI Cooper SD Paceman.

As the range of variants has expanded, so the popularity of the diesel engine in MINI models has continuously increased. Despite the fact that the market for this engine type is largely focused within Europe, nearly one in four MINIs supplied to customers last year was a diesel.

A frugal MINI marvel

www.msagb.comMotoring: Citroen


Looking to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector?Then it’s time to consider taking the MSA Award in Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector, better known as the PTLLS course.

Accredited by Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance, it is the initial qualification for new teachers or ADIs wishing to move into adult education and classroom teaching.

It covers a range of topics, including understanding your roles and responsibilities in lifelong learning, providing inclusive learning for all students and planning for assessment.

It has been designed as a blended learning course, which means it combines distance learning and attendance, to reduce the amount of time away from your own students. It is available nationwide and results in the nationally recognised PTLLS qualification.

Course fees: £360Courses will be run by Steve Garrod, who has been involved in running teacher-training courses for over 20 years.To book on a course see www.msagb.com or email [email protected] for more information

THE JUDGES at What Car? and JD Power don’t give out their baubles easily, so it tends to be true that if you hear of a car receiving one of their customer satisfaction awards, it’s something to take note of.

So if I was to suggest that the Best Supermini category didn’t go to a Ford, a Vauxhall or a Volkswagen, nor a Japanese manufacturer, you may just be scratching your head in wonder as to where it went.

It didn’t even go to one of the ‘newer’ Asian manufacturers, either. No Hyundai, Kia.

No, the award went about 26 miles from Dover, in a roughly south-easterly direction. To France. And, to be precise, to Citroen. For the winner was the delightful DS3.

In some ways more remarkably, the cheeky Gallic stunner came fourth in the overall standings as well as winning its classification, leaving many illustrious rivals wallowing in its wake. Not bad for a car that many said would flounder within six months of its launch, back in 2010.

At launch it was an extension of a throwaway concept vehicle, the DS Inside. However, the new DS struck a chord and gave Citroen an entry into a competitive sector that it had been struggling to crack for some time.

As a result the new DS (pronounced déesse, French for goddess) range was hustled into production. While the branding explicitly recalls the classic Citroën DS, the DS3 itself bears no resemblance to the older car.

The Citroën DS3 sitting at fourth place is a great achievement for the French brand... the best-selling DS3 supermini proved to be a joy to own with its funky styling and low running costs.”

“

DS3 takes the plaudits in top customer satisfaction survey

www.msagb.comMotoring: Citroen


Official Government fuel consumption figures (Range): Urban cycle, Extra urban, Combined (litres per 100km/mpg) & CO2 emissions (g/km); Highest: Citroën DS3 VTi 120 automatic DStyle 9.3/30.4,4.9/57.6, 6.5/53.5, 150. Lowest: Citroën DS3 e-HDi 90 Airdream manual DStyle 91g 4.3/65.7, 3.2/88.3, 3.6/78.5, 91.

www.citroen.co.uk

‡ Offers apply to qualifying new Citroën vehicles ordered & delivered 01/04-30/07/13 for business users only & exclude VAT. Rental price shown: Citroën DS3 e-HDi 90 Airdream manual DStyle Plus. The weekly rental is the weekly equivalent of the monthly rental of £190 withoutmaintenance & £216 with maintenance. An advance rental of £570 will be required followed by 24 monthly rentals. Contract hire rental includes delivery to dealership, Citroën Roadside Assistance, Vehicle Excise Duty & Government First Registration Fee. Excess mileage chargesmay apply if the agreed annual mileage is exceeded. Citroën Contract Motoring reserve the right to amend any of the rentals quoted without notice. Finance subject to status. Written quotations available on request from Banque PSA Finance UK Branch trading as Citroën ContractMotoring, Quadrant House, Princess Way, Redhill, RH1 1QA. Over 18s only. A guarantee may be required. *On DS3 - free metallic paint on body only (not two tone, which is chargeable on DSign & DStyle models). Offers, prices & specification correct at time of going to press/publicationfrom participating Dealers. Terms & conditions apply. Please ask us for details. Subject to stock availability. Finance offers apply to UK only.

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ORFROM ONLY £50 A WEEK‡

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• Free Dual Controls (also available on Citroën C1, C3 & C4 models)• Free secondary GPS Speedo on Citroën C3 and DS3 only.• Free metallic paint (also available on Citroën C1, C3 & C4 models)*• Free contrasting roof paint on DS3 DStyle and DStyle Plus models.

Each element and every angle of Citroën DS3 is 100% new: fresh,original, innovative, advanced and radically different from other cars,fantastic for learner drivers.

Model shown: Citroën DS3 e-HDi 110 Airdream 6-speed manual DSport with optional chrome door mirrors

What is it?It is classed as a premium supermini that rivals the MInI and Alfa

Romeo MiTo. It’s based on the C3, but has a more upmarket interior and exciting driving experience.

What’s the options on power?Engines range from an efficient, road tax-exempt 89bhp diesel to a

1.6-litre petrol turbo that produces 155bhp. It is an impressive range. The 89bhp diesel is good around town and cheap to run, while the superb 155bhp petrol engine makes for an exhilarating drive.

how’s the drive?It’s a fine all-round drive. All models, apart from the DSport, are

equipped with soft suspension and offer a supple ride. If you want to go for the DSport you get stiffer suspension, giving the car more grip and making it sportier. Comfort can be compromised, however.

The steering is light and easy to use on all models, however.

What will pupils think?They will love the look, particularly female learners, but both sexes

will appreciate the handling and the sporty feel to the interior. The driving position is pretty good though shorter pupils may struggle to get their hands on the furthest central console buttons. However, there is a wide range of adjustments on the seats so they should get themselves comfy and within reach after a bit of fiddling about.

There is plenty of room in the front though the rear seats are really suitable only for adults on a short journey. As a family car it will work well with children.

how much?Prices start at £12,700 for the DSign VTi 82. The best-seller is the

DSign 1.6 VTi 120hp, at £15,085. All models come with a five-star euro NCAP crash test rating, six airbags, stability control and ABS.

However, since launch it has attracted a steady and loyal following in the UK – with particularly strong sales in the female, urban professional demographic. Put simply, it appeals to young ladies who like a bit of fun from their motoring, who place style and individuality high on their wish-lists when buying a new car and who won’t trade their principles for anything.

Without wishing to labour the point too strongly, take a spin down to your local sixth form college or university in a DS3 and you’ll draw plenty of admiring glances. Not a bad endorsement if you’re thinking of asking them if they need driving lessons!

But to return to the What Car?/JD Power award, the Citroën DS3 DS3 received an 82.2 per cent satisfaction score – the overall industry average was 77.6% – with a maximum five-star rating awarded by its owners for performance, service and running costs.

The high score means Citroën DS3 was ranked an impressive fourth in the overall results out of a total 116 models, led only by Skoda’s Superb and Yeti, and the Jaguar XF.

Chas Hallett, What Car? Editor-in-chief,

commented: “The Citroën DS3 sitting at fourth place is a great achievement for the French brand, the best-selling DS3 supermini proved to be a joy to own with its funky styling and low running costs.”

The DS3 knocked the Honda Jazz off the top spot to be crowned “king of the superminis”, championing other rivals including the Skoda Fabia, Hyundai i20 and Volkswagen Polo.

The Citroën model’s design, quality, comfort and enjoyable performance were all referenced as part of the positive owner experience.

Citroën’s dealer network was praised for its “clean facilities and professionalism” and DS3 owners also claimed to enjoy the lowest fuel costs and service repair bills in the segment.

Linda Jackson, Citroën UK’s Managing Director, said; “This is a simply fantastic result for DS3 and the Citroën brand. The JD Power survey ranks the views of real car owners so this is meaningful recognition for a model that continues to go from strength to strength and is obviously rewarding its owners.”

DS3 takes the plaudits in top customer satisfaction survey

Is the DS3 for me?

www.msagb.comRoad safety news


A CoNFeReNCe organised by young driver insurer ingenie has urged the Government to set a mandatory number of lessons before L-drivers can take a driving test, and to allow learners to practise on motorways as part of a bold three-point plan to improve young driver behaviour and reduce their chances of being involved in a road traffic incident.

A live expert panel debate including Steve Broughton, ingenie chairman; Andy Watson, CEO of Ageas, Bob Skerrett, global telematics lead from RSA, Ian McIntosh, CEO of RED Driving School, Dr Lisa Dorn, a driver behaviour expert from Cranfield University and Adrian Walsh of RoadSafe called for its proposals to be included in the Government’s Green Paper on young driver safety, which was due out in late spring but has now been postponed to the autumn.

The outcome of the event called for three broad changes, which will now be lobbied for by the high-profile group:

Before the testn Educate and train children about road

safety before they are old enough to get behind the wheel

n Greater uptake of free ‘brain training’ software like Drive iQ

While learning to driven Enforce a mandatory minimum

number of lessonsn Allow practice on the motorways and

at nightn Encourage parents to be more

involved

After the testn Continue education using telematics

insurance products like ingenie as a co-pilot

n No unenforceable curfews (such as banning them from driving at night, or with friends) that restrict young drivers without making an impact on safety.

Car crashes remain the single bigger killer of under 30s. Speakers at the event believe that private sector innovators can play a major part in reducing the number of serious deaths and injuries that young drivers have on the road.

Speaking at the event, Richard King,

founder and CEO of ingenie said: “We are disappointed that the Government has delayed the publication of this green paper. The issue has never been more important or topical. Split-second mistakes are causing life-changing injuries to kids on a daily basis. Car crashes are still the biggest killer of people under 30. We can, must and have been doing something smart about it.”

The event attracted a large number of high-profile supporters, including Max Mosley, the former FIA president, sports presenter and father-of-four Gary Lineker, TV presenter Sophie Morgan who was

paralysed in a car crash, and motoring journalist Quentin Willson.

Max Mosley said: “We must continue to champion the cause of road safety. If the Government made black box insurance mandatory, I’d be against it on the grounds of civil liberties. But if a young person chooses to have it to prove they are a good driver and receive cheaper insurance then what is the problem? If a 17-year-old drives like a 50-year-old then it seems logical to me they should pay the same for their insurance, and this is what technology like ingenie allows and incentivises them to do.”

Sophie Morgan said: “My message is really to young people themselves. I just want to say, please think about the responsibility you have to your friends – when you get in the car to drive your friends around you are taking their lives in your hands – so if you aren’t thinking about yourself please, please think about them.”

Quentin Willson said: “The young driver problem is an urgent social issue. We need a seismic change in young driver education. Technology such as ingenie, that acts as a co-pilot, can help us deliver this. We should embrace this black box technology to help young drivers improve. It is the private sector that must succeed where the Government has consistently failed.”

TESCO BANK has become the latest insurer to introduce a hi-tech motoring policy backed by telematics. It hopes Tesco Bank Box Insurance will encourage responsible driving and help bring down the cost of motoring for young and new drivers.

Its introduction comes at a time when parents are increasingly fearful of how their children will cope once they have passed their driving test. A survey by the bank found that nearly two-in-three parents (64%) worry about their children’s safety on the roads, while 22% fear their child drives recklessly. 15% said their child learning to drive was more stressful than when they leave home, start university, or go on holiday with their friends.

Two-thirds of the young drivers surveyed said regular feedback on their driving ability would encourage them to drive more safely. Tesco Bank Box Insurance allows policy holders to monitor their driving performance and provides them with feedback to help them improve.

A smart little ‘black box’ is installed out of sight in the car, by a trained fitter, and tracks performance against six factors: speed; braking; time of day; distance; type of road and breaks taken. The information gained is available to policy holders via their own personal

web-portal and is also used to determine the renewal premium. Tesco Bank Box Insurance is a mileage-based policy, which rewards responsible driving behaviour with bonus miles. This can bring down the cost of an annual premium over time: a positive benefit to the almost 90% of young drivers who consider their car insurance to be too expensive.

Karl Bedlow, managing director, insurance at Tesco Bank said: “Sitting behind the wheel of a car in those first few years of driving is exciting but also daunting and we want to help young drivers, and their parents, make it as safe as possible. The launch of Tesco Bank Box Insurance will not only help increase the safety of our younger policy holders, but also provide the same value and quality which they and their families have come to expect from Tesco Bank insurance.”

The use of telematics technology to encourage greater

safety among younger drivers has also been advocated by road safety experts. Director of the Road Safety Foundation, Dr Joanne Marden, says: “Feedback about the driver’s interaction with the road is hugely valuable in overall road safety. This is never more important than among young drivers, who are consistently over-represented in fatal and serious crashes.

“Telematics technology can play a vital role in helping to reduce such incidents and in helping young people to become safer behind the wheel.”

To provide further peace of mind, this new product includes an accident alert service which automatically contacts a call centre manned by trained staff whenever a significant impact is recorded.

“Feedback about the driver’s interaction with the road is hugely valuable in overall road safety. This is never more important than among young drivers...”

M-way tuition and greater use of black box technology could cut young driver crash stats, says expert panel

Conference calls for learners to take mandatory minimum of lessons

Backing the plan: From left, ingenie’s Steve Broughton with Max Mosley, Sophie Morgan, Quentin Willson and Gary Lineker

Drivers offered a little help by telematics-based policy

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