Dear Ms. Ryder,

In our last blog we stated that we are willing to be friends with the dvsa and gave you the chance to engage with us on ideas that truly matter to your customers - US the ADIs, and the Learners that we bring to you for test.

We acknowledged openly you are trying and that we are willing to do our bit. To this end I have asked around for some ideas to get you started with. Here are a few topics that could do with some straight answers from you at the dvsa and as they are not rocket science we would love to take this chance to dispel some of the nonsense that is flying around on social media. as follows:

Questions from your ADIs.

Speed display on Satnav.

My satnav – same make as the DVSA model, has the speed display on it.  Why do the DVSA not display this as they claim that all modern adaptations on cars are allowable on test yet refuse this basic item to assist candidates.

Satnav.

Why is the Satnav in Yards and not metres (give the candidate the choice) as pupils all learn in metres and the BBC even give distances in metres these days? Not relevant to signposts in miles as they are required to visualise yards, yet run (sports) and measure in metres?

Do instructors make a fuss of unnecessary stuff?

e.g, crossing arms, position holding the wheel - which can play havoc with steering for some, and many more. Any suggestions please?

Bay Park.

Why mark for control faults, I understand for observations but not for accuracy as totally irrelevant because either you can – in a couple of shunts – or you can’t? I've watched your webinar and appreciate what you have tried to do but the question still applies. The car can be diagonal across the corners as long as inside the white lines. Many ADIs & examiners need a couple of shunts, or even more for some of them to park, do the DVSA require a higher standard from basic candidates than from their own examiners?

What can we do to help?

Are there any issues that examiners see regularly that get their back up on test that they feel ADIs could take a little more time over with their pupils?  We accept that there may be something that we could improve on or have misinterpreted and would like some advice/guidance here.  This may be more important as a local issue as there are huge variances in areas, conditions and routes used across the UK.

Coasting. 

 Is coasting the big ‘offence’ that it is made out to be, what form of, or how much coasting constitutes a fault?  I understand losing control cannot happen but what/where is the dividing line?

Handbrake, I see a lot of rubbish about the handbrake on forums, is it necessary to use it at a stop line if the candidate is capable of just holding and moving on from the footbrake, are your examiners o bord with your thinking?

Cancellations by the dvsa

When the dvsa cancels a test due to unforeseen circumstances/examiner sick etc, why doesn't  the DVSA give the unfortunate person the next available test at that location? At present depending on where you are in the country it could easily be 6 months away and this puts huge pressure on the ADI and the candidate. 

Why does the dvsa not create a priority list for each centre and allow the test centre manager to place the candidate onto their priority list for the next available test at that centre rather than going to the end of the queue. 

 Currently as soon as tests are released they are being syphoned up by various companies and being passed on to others, not the poor sod who has had their day ruined by your situation and by a last minute bombshell being dropped with his/her test cancelled at the last minute by the dvsa. This causes huge distress for the candidate and the 6 month wait plus added expense that could be so easily avoided with a bit of high tech input and improve the poor customer service you are inflicting on your customer- the candidate.

&

Grumblers email address

There is now an email address for the Grumbler.... thegrumbler@theaadi.co.uk so you can drop a line if you have a question you'd like to ask, or a story/information to provide/pass on (in total confidence of course so dvsa employees, civil servants and employees of the dark empire, need not worry). Trolls will be ignored as usual and deleted by my pet Ork.

As usual, if there is anything that you see is incorrect or, plain wrong, I apologise, and if you drop a line via the Contact Us page it will be edited.