Grumbles from the Gearbox
Positive Driver/Rider Education
Proposal for Positive Driver/Rider Education
I have been involved in driver/rider education for many years, and I have concluded that, currently, driver/rider education after they pass the test is very negative.
The reason I say this is through my experience of delivering diversionary courses, based on comments by many participants, mainly “why do we have to commit an offence to receive education?” “It would be more beneficial to have received an education to prevent us from committing an offence.”
Having considered this for some time, I feel the opportunity has arrived to make changes to the driving licence to enable education to become part of retaining a licence, compulsory rather than voluntary as it is presently. This idea may already be under consideration by the road safety industry?
The structure is already in place via UKROED (UK Road Offenders Education), changing this acronym to UKRSED (UK Road Safety Education). Presently, on average, every year, 2 million licence holders attend a diversionary course, and there are about 2.3 million licence renewal requirements under the 1997 Drivers Act. It does not take a genius to work out which group would benefit most from education.
In 2030, the major change will occur, whereby the transition from petrol and diesel will begin to change, towards all new build vehicles being zero-emissions by 2035. This is a perfect opportunity to change the driving licence conditions to include compulsory education as part of the 10-year renewal of the photocard licence.
The process for this change would need to be commenced as soon as possible to enable the rule changes to begin on the 1st of January 2030.
My suggestions on how this can be potentially achieved are:
- As soon as possible, put this idea forward to the DFT and road safety organisations such as Brake, Roadar, IAM, ROSPA, Roadsmart, to name but a few.
- Begin the process of changing the remit of UKROED education post-offending to UKRSED pre-offending education.
- Set a timeframe whereby the changes can be implemented – my suggestion would be:
- 31st September 2029 – the legislation changes and groundwork for the theory courses are completed to enable the licence holders to start the process of booking and completing the course prior to their respective renewal date in January.
- 2030 to 2040 – The majority of licence holders would have completed the renewal, and the process begins again.
- In conjunction with the education, the eyesight check and photo ID update could be included with the renewal.
NB Professional drivers could use the educational courses as part of their CPC requirements.
New drivers that pass the test from January 2028: will need to have to complete the course 5 years after passing the test or have a driving assessment (2028 to 2030 – new drivers act + 3 years), at the 10-year anniversary, complete the educational course and every 10 years thereafter.
Licence holders 70: The requirement of renewing the licence every three years would eventually be unnecessary due to the ongoing educational programme.
Licence holders committing driving offences: The NDORS scheme can still exist as part of UKRSED, depending on the severity, but includes a driving element (as per the Safe and Considerate Driving course). If a second offence occurs within that 10-year period, then the privilege of the licence is suspended for a period, and a driving assessment is required to have that privilege reinstated.
THE QUESTION IS, ARE WE SERIOUS ABOUT IMPROVING OUR ROAD NETWORK, OR ARE WE JUST PAYING LIP-SERVICE TO THE IDEA?
David Bowie for ADIs, ADIs love David Bowie, Space Oddity for ADIs, a song for adis,
There are ADis, PDIs, driving schools, and learner drivers jumping up and down celebrating the news this week that the dvsa have employed Kainos(???) to develop a new booking system for them. I really must thank the dvsa for the email that I, along with thousands of my ADI colleagues, received on 1st September telling us of their plans for the future. Thank you to the dvsa for your email this week, highlighting the decision to do something about your inability to run an appointment booking system, and 'up your exhaust pipes' to all those who have criticized us at the AADI for taking the dvsa to task for their continuous failings for the past 2.5 decades. If you don't like what we have to say, feel free to walk on by and read another item, perhaps the Dandy or Beano. At least we stick up for our colleagues and will continue to do so. AADI has continually called on the dvsa to employ someone who knows what they are doing Considering the 'digital expert' the dvsa recruited as the current CEO, who, despite her wealth of experience and expanding the digital department exponentially within the clubhouse to a whole new level, is unable to solve the issue of keeping a simple diary of just 7 appointments per day for each examiner. Just think of what a good comedy writer could make of this!! Nah, who would believe it? Millions of ££££s spent updating, modernising, and digitizing, and we are far worse off than we were 20 years ago. At this rate, by 2030, we will be giving arm signals again. AADI advised bringing in experts in running appointment booking systems for several years, such as Tesco, Amazon, and Sainsburys, which were all suggested repeatedly. eg, Tesco utilizes a combination of in-house development and third-party suppliers for its home delivery appointment booking system. They and others have a ready-made solution, just needing to expand and adapt the system from a 3-week diary to a 6-month diary. They run a complex system from customer selecting and ordering (by almost as many customers in a single week - Tesco 1.1 million in 2022 - as the dopey dvsa serves in a year ) through selection by a picker, packing into delivery vans with all the routes individually organised, and then the drivers delivering to our doorstep. The dvsa customers arrive at their appointments at designated times with static locations, a piece of cake for them to advise on. They'd probably do it over a coffee and a bacon sarnie before 11.0am and be home to make the next delivery for a happy customer. Rosie Thew arrived and said that she would reduce the waiting lists from 12 to 6 weeks in 2005. Roll on to 2013 when she left, and No Change, still around 12 weeks - abject failure. I won't even mention the two bozos before her who thought it would be a doddle to do the job, one even told me in front of 60 other ADIs that he just needed 3 or 4 months to learn the job, both left to fail elsewhere, allegedly ..... passport office and Atom spring to mind. Whilst Rosie was in office, I was running a campaign, supported by hundreds of ADIs and examiners, asking the dvsa to do random checks on candidates' insurance when attending for the test. It would have given a last chance to reinforce the learning that you need insurance to drive. It would have cut back on non-ADI-supported tests and kept the examiners and the public safer. Even the ABI supported it, offering to assist the dvsa to set it up as they were amazed that it was not already done as standard practice. It was refused, and the reason given was that examiners were too thick to check the ADIs' insurance details. WTF. No wonder the examiners hated the bosses so much when they were held in such contempt. Since dear old Rosie, we have had a bunch of geezers who have seemingly enhanced their salary and pension ratings whilst either doing a hatchet job to cut back overheads and save money, or just kept the seat warm rolling bogeys to flick out the window at those lower down the pile whist they pass the time before the next incumbent who wanted to sit in the big chair and planned their next move up through the civil service, doing diddly sqwat for the customers, you and I, along with our pupils. Who will do the driving tests? September opens with the dvsa email promising the earth but forgetting to mention, well, for a few days anyway, they have no examiners!! Considering the continued failure to recruit and retain examiners due to the low salary, the responsibilities, and the dangers of their role, along with the lack of support from the upper reaches, who is going to conduct the driving tests? We have a colleague on the Isle of Arran who has been told that they cannot get an examiner to go there to conduct tests anymore. It is 2 days with an overnight stay on the island, and the roads are an absolute doddle - no traffic lights or roundabouts to worry about. No heavy traffic or crowds of pedestrians, the population is only 4,600, a lovely little trip every few months, but nobody to do it. No Standards checks for over a decade. Our colleague has had enough and is probably retiring this year, but a PDI he is trying to help is unable to book his P3. Who needs ADIs, if there are no examiners to test the pupils? Why are the CEO and the senior team still in post? The email arrived a couple of days ago listing job vacancies. It is for examiners and absolutely staggering; they are looking to recruit examiners for 181 DTCs. Assuming at least one for each DTC, we need more than that locally. So, let's say an average of 1.5 for each DTC, this takes us to 272 examiners needed. Who the F*^* ate the last lot they allegedly recruited? Is retention that bad, and can they not see the issue before them? What happened to the dvsa charter and their service promise? Can you even find it? Comments received from colleagues this week since the dvsa email of the 1st September The situation is dire across the UK, and the dvsa has its head up its exhaust pipe. "The DVSA have always blamed COVID, ADIs who don't prepare pupils properly, who then fail and need more tests, ADIs who buy up slots and then sell them at extortionate prices, the Bots of private companies buying up electronically tests slots, and anyone else they can think of, save, they refuse to accept responsibility for their own failures, some of which are the industrial actions taken by the work force, due to lack of support, poor salaries/pensions, bullying, lack of prospects. I'm sure you get the idea?" ............... "Loveday RYDER holds full responsibility, given she was appointed to the top position (CEO) in November 2020, so coming up for FIVE YEARS, during which time she has been responsible for the test wait times getting longer and longer." ................ " My pupils are having difficulty getting tests, I have a backlog awaiting a test date, this costs them money taking lessons to keep “hot”. ............... "Looking at the history of the DSA/DVSA from 2005 through to the current day - 20 YEARS; it has been mismanaged and left to rot with leaders who were failures in their own right, given they could not stop the rot from the day they each took office." .............. "My pupil is taking a weekly lesson (he is a competent driver), certainly ready for test, but if this situation continues He will be bankrupt." ................ "It is fair to say WHEN things will get better, given the last two decades has been an absolute disaster, with headless chickens running the roost. We can't even say IF this new company Kainos who the DVSA say they are bringing in to "help build and develop a new, improved driving test booking system," which was announced in a GOV.UK blog post on September 1, 2025. The DVSA also say, "This initiative is part of the DVSA's ongoing efforts to combat issues like test-buying bots and improve the overall customer experience for learners and instructors." Well if you believe this, then good luck. I'm afraid I just do not have any good news for you, as I honestly believe you and I will be retired before anything positive comes from this announcement, given it took NATS ten years to get a computer system that worked to control aircraft approaching and flying over the UK .............. We are all interdependent on each other, but I feel as an ADI ignored, unsupported, and alone from my governing body. That is why I am leaving the profession. ............... 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.
It would seem that it is not just our industry that reads what we publish here, and it is nice to know that our efforts are appreciated. Many thanks to the author who wishes to remain anonymous. (We understand your pain and frustration) "I just wanted to write to you about your open letter to the government about the state of the DVsA. I myself have unfortunately had cause to engage with them within recent memory, and the experience left a sour taste in my mouth to say the least. The theory test is unfit for purpose. Especially the alleged hazard perception test, which seems to do an extremely poor job of gauging a candidate's ability to spot hazards, punishing observant and experienced drivers. Hazard perception should be for the practical examiner to gauge. I for example have experienced "developing" hazards in my lessons, and handled the situation well (no accidents occurred, despite the real potential). Admittedly I approached my driver training journey in a slightly different order, having had plenty of lessons before I even thought to book my theory (I considered it prudent to establish I could in fact handle a vehicle before wasting everyone's time on the theory), but it's curious that I was at the point my instructor was more than comfortable with my driving, only to hit the unexpected brick wall of a soulless government computer application to tell me in essence I am beyond unfit to be behind a wheel. Unfortunately I've sat the theory test THREE times due to fails caused by the 'HPT'. After the third fail on top of the other issues with state of driver certification presently, I've decided to put the whole pursuit on hold for the sake of my mental health and bank balance. This segways into the other issues. It seems like a massive conflict of interest for the government to both handle the testing, but also collect revenue directly from it. I need not point out how it's profitable for the state then to charge a fee for the privilege of resitting a fail-prone "test", which seems to behave more in practice like a bandit machine at a casino. May the odds ever be in your favour... Then there's the pressure from the time limitation upon a theory test pass certificate. With the state of practical test booking being in the total disaster it is, every candidate faces the real prospect of the theory certificate expiring before they can get a practical test and pass. The amount of pressure and stress being piled upon learner drivers is not remotely conducive to gauging their ability to drive under normal, fair circumstances, and certainly seems completely unfair for what should be a fairly routine process and part of modern life. Does the government not like having plenty of qualified drivers whom they can squeeze all sorts of taxes and dues from over a lifetime? Apparently not. If only we could believe that road safety was their only, real concern... I haven't even touched on the on-mass test resellers, who only make the issue worse in the grand scheme while charging even more money from a "captive audience". Anyway, point is I just wanted to write to say I am glad there's some sort of body related to all this that is speaking out, speaking sense, and speaking up for learner drivers. This entire issue has low awareness or priority, and granted there are plenty of other bigger issues for governments and the country as a whole, but this issue could in time become extremely toxic to the economic and mental well-being of the country. Driving is an economically essential act in a modern economy. People may not be noticing its effects biting too hard right now, but unless something changes, we will all start to notice it. Already there are public transport companies that are struggling to find qualified drivers to run their services, which many people who can't drive ironically rely on. Logistics. First responders. All aspects of the economy are and will continue to be impacted. Thank you again for speaking up about these issues, which are so frequently ignored by the government and maybe the wider public. - Mr S" Published unedited. .............. Our favourite bits. "I just wanted to write to say I am glad there's some sort of body related to all this that is speaking out, speaking sense, and speaking up for learner drivers." #dvsa and "Thank you again for speaking up about these issues, which are so frequently ignored by the government and maybe the wider public." Thanks again, Mr. S, and you're welcome; it's what we do.
Is Too Much Being Asked of Driving Instructors? Navigating Expectations, Realities, and the Road Ahead Driving instructors occupy a unique and pivotal position in society. They are not simply teachers of a technical skill; they are mentors, guardians of public safety, and, often, sources of emotional reassurance for nervous learners. But in recent years, as the world has become more complex and driving culture more nuanced, many have begun to question whether too much is being asked of us. Let's explore the evolving role of the driving instructor, the growing expectations placed upon them, and whether these demands risk overwhelming the individuals entrusted with guiding new drivers safely onto our roads. The Expanding Role of the Driving Instructor At its core, the role of a driving instructor is to equip learners with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to operate a vehicle safely and responsibly. Traditionally, this meant teaching learners how to control a vehicle, interpret road signs, follow traffic laws, and develop defensive driving habits. However, as society and the automotive landscape have evolved, so too have the responsibilities of instructors. Today, driving instructors are expected to keep abreast of constantly changing laws and regulations, adapt to new vehicle technologies (such as hybrid and electric vehicles), and understand the growing influence of digital navigation systems. Moreover, with the increasing diversity of learners—ranging from teenagers to elderly adults, from neurodiverse individuals to those with language barriers—the ability to tailor instruction to a wide spectrum of needs is essential. The Emotional Load of Instruction Beyond the technical, the emotional demands on driving instructors have also increased. Many learners approach driving with significant anxiety or past trauma, including the poor teaching skills of others, requiring instructors to serve as calm, patient, and supportive presences. This emotional load can be significant, often involving the management of stress, fear, and even anger within the confines of a moving vehicle. Instructors are called upon to be motivators and therapists as much as teachers, instilling confidence while maintaining safety. Safety and Legal Responsibilities Driving instruction carries inherent risks. Instructors must be ever-vigilant, ready to intervene at a moment’s notice to prevent collisions or correct hazardous behaviour. They bear legal responsibility for the actions of their pupils when on the road, and any incident—no matter how minor—can have serious consequences for both their professional standing and personal well-being. In addition, driving instructors often find themselves being the first point of contact for new drivers encountering the law. They must be knowledgeable about procedures for reporting medical conditions, navigating insurance requirements, and explaining penalties related to infractions, all the while ensuring their learners remain compliant with the latest standards. The Impact of Societal Changes Several wider societal changes have contributed to the increased expectations placed on driving instructors. For one, the proliferation of advanced driving technologies—such as lane assist, adaptive cruise control, and emergency braking—necessitates continual research for instructors themselves. They are expected to master a range of systems and explain both their advantages and potential pitfalls to learners. Furthermore, the increasing emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility means instructors must accommodate a broad range of physical and cognitive abilities. This inclusivity is admirable and necessary, but it can add layers of complexity to lesson planning and delivery, requiring specialised training or equipment for those who wish to specialise in this field. The growing pressure to pass driving tests, often tied to employment prospects or life milestones, and long delays in booking driving tests, can also place instructors in the role of life coach, responsible not only for teaching but for managing expectations and disappointment. Economic and Logistical Challenges The logistical and economic realities of the profession are rarely acknowledged by the wider public. Driving instructors typically work long, irregular hours to accommodate the schedules of their clients, including evenings and weekends. Mainly self-employed, which means managing their own marketing, finances, and continuing professional development alongside delivering lessons. Rising fuel costs, vehicle maintenance, insurance premiums, and the need to invest in up-to-date vehicles and learning materials all combine to create significant financial pressures. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated these challenges, with very long waiting lists of 6 months, postponed tests, and new hygiene protocols becoming the norm. Training and Regulation Becoming a driving instructor is itself a challenging process, involving rigorous testing of driving skills, instructional ability, and knowledge of the Highway Code, etc. Continued registration depends on compulsory periodic assessments, and poor pupil performance on the day can reflect badly on an instructor’s reputation and business. In some regions, the regulatory burden has increased, with new requirements for background checks, safeguarding training, and ongoing professional development. While these are essential for public safety, they add to the workload and stress for instructors, who must constantly balance the demands of their profession with their own well-being. Are Expectations Realistic or Excessive? Given the ever-increasing demands on driving instructors, it is reasonable to ask whether society is expecting too much. On one hand, the stakes of road safety are undeniably high. The responsibility for preparing new drivers to navigate the complexities of modern traffic cannot be lightly borne. On the other hand, the multitude of roles now expected of instructors—educator, mentor, psychologist, legal advisor, and business manager—does seem to stretch the bounds of what one professional can reasonably provide. Many instructors report feeling undervalued and overwhelmed, with little support from governing bodies (dvsa) or the public. Burnout is a real risk, and high turnover rates threaten the quality and continuity of driver education. The profession faces an ongoing challenge to attract and retain skilled instructors* amid mounting pressures, which has resulted in a significant drop of around 15% in the number of qualified instructors . Even the BBC have c ommented on the lack of driving instructors . Perspectives from the Road Testimonies from instructors themselves shed light on the daily realities of the profession. Most will describe immense satisfaction in seeing anxious learners blossom into confident drivers, recognising the vital importance of their work. At the same time, they express frustration at external pressures—such as unrealistic parental expectations, bureaucratic hurdles, and the sometimes volatile nature of pupils. The joy of teaching is often tempered by the weight of responsibility and the unpredictability of the job. Supporting Driving Instructors If too much is indeed being asked of driving instructors, what can be done to support them? Potential solutions include: • Providing better access to mental health resources and peer support networks • Ensuring fair compensation that reflects the demands and risks of the profession • Streamlining regulatory requirements and offering clear, consistent guidance with a realistic reduction in waiting lists for both ADIs themselves and their pupils • Investing in ongoing training and professional development, especially around new technologies and diverse learner needs • Raising public awareness of the challenges faced by instructors, fostering greater empathy and respect Conclusion The role of the driving instructor has never been more complex or more critical. As society continues to evolve, so too will the expectations placed upon those who teach the next generation of drivers. While it is essential that instructors are well-trained and held to high standards, it is equally important that their workload remains manageable and their contributions are recognised. Only by acknowledging and addressing the pressures they face can we ensure a safe, sustainable, and rewarding future for both instructors and the countless learners who depend upon them. *T he number of Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) on the UK register has dropped by approximately 15,000 from 2000 to 2025, from about 44,626 in 2000 to just over 38,000 by 2025. This represents a significant decline, with the total number falling by over 6,000 between April 2011 and April 2024 alone. 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 and it will be edited.
The current situation in relation to the Proposed changes for the over-70s in obtaining their driving licence every three years, are just that; Proposals! As I go to press with this article, NOTHING has changed, you can still SELF-DECLARE your status. In August 2025, the UK government stated it is considering tougher rules for drivers over 70, potentially including mandatory vision and cognitive tests as part of a new road safety strategy expected to be published in the Autumn of 2025 As you will know, the current system relies on drivers self-declaring their fitness to drive when renewing their license every three years after the age of 70. However, concerns exist about this system's effectiveness, and calls have been made for stricter measures. While the government hasn't yet published the full strategy or explicitly confirmed parliamentary approval for specific legislation mandating medical assessments, it has been indicated that such proposals are being considered by the Transport Secretary and would be subject to consultation before implementation. In the meantime, drivers are still legally obliged to inform the DVLA of any medical conditions that could affect their driving and adhere to current license renewal requirements These checks are reported to go beyond the standard declaration and may involve assessments by a GP or optician, particularly for those with a history of certain medical conditions. The aim is to ensure continued road safety by confirming drivers are still fit to operate a vehicle. Proposed key changes for drivers over 70 could include: • Enhanced Medical Self-Declaration: Drivers will need to provide more detailed medical information, including confirmation of recent eyesight tests and disclosure of any new health conditions that could affect driving. Mandatory GP or Optician Involvement: Drivers with a history of conditions like stroke, epilepsy, or severe vision impairment may need to submit a medical professional's confirmation before their license renewal is approved. • Stricter Vision Standards: Vision tests will be more rigorous to ensure drivers meet the required standards. • Regular Health Check-ups: While there's no upper age limit for driving, regular health check-ups with a GP are recommended to assess fitness to drive. Renewal Process • Online Renewal: Drivers can renew their license online using their Government Gateway ID on the gov.uk website. • Paper Application: Drivers can also renew by post using the D46P form, which is automatically sent 90 days before their 70th birthday, or the D1 form, available at most Post Offices. • No Retesting Required: Drivers do not need to retake their driving test, but they must make a health declaration. • Three-Year Renewal: Licenses must be renewed every three years after the age of 70. So, what could the Cognitive assessments include for the over-70s? Well, there are a few that can and often are used; • Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), • Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), • Mini-Cog, St. Louis University Mental Status Examination (SLUMS), and • Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS). • Addenbrook’s Cognitive Examination (ACE-III): • The 5-Cog There are many more, however, the below explains what the above six entail • MoCA - A widely used tool for detecting mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease, known for its sensitivity in identifying early cognitive issues. • BIMS - A brief cognitive assessment often used in clinical settings. • MMSE - A frequently used, but potentially less sensitive, test for cognitive impairment and dementia screening, assessing orientation, memory, and other cognitive functions. • Addenbrook’s Cognitive Examination (ACE-III) - A cognitive screening tool that assesses multiple domains like language, memory, and visuospatial skills. • The 5-Cog - A group assessment tool for cognitive functions, consisting of five subtests. I have worked with the MoCA system on several occasions, and it can help improve memory. This link will outline what is under consideration and some examples of the actual assessment. MOCA NOTHING is going to change without an act of Parliament OR a Statutory Instrument being signed by a Minister, AFTER some form of consultations. Watch this space.
The latest email from the dvsa misinformation or what? Strange email to all on the register On the 31st July 2025, the DVSA sent an email to ALL ADIs and PDIs across the UNITED Kingdom, about the PVG – Protection of Vulnerable Groups (SCOTLAND) Act 2007, which was written as if it was a requirement for ADIs and PDIs in England and Wales to amend their records, by saying, “ DVSA has now updated its registration system on GOV.UK to allow all instructors in the UK to update their records and provide PVG details.” What they have failed to do is to make it crystal clear that this ONLY applies to ADIs and PDIs who work with those specific groups of pupils in SCOTLAND ! It will be of note that this legislation is for SCOTLAND and does not include England and Wales, which is confirmed by the following - and in their own words: “In Scotland, the Protecting of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme became a legal requirement for individuals working in regulated roles with children or protected adults, effective April 1, 2025. This means anyone carrying out such roles must be a member of the PVG scheme. The Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 is the legislation behind this change, aiming to enhance protection for vulnerable groups and simplify the disclosure process according to Disclosure Scotland.” There is absolutely nothing in this Scottish legislation that makes it a requirement for ADIs and PDIs in England and Wales (unless they want to work over the border in beautiful Scotland) to join the PVG system given England and Wales has the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), which was established in the UK on December 1, 2012 and was created through the Protection of Freedom Act 2012 by merging the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). It is clear to those of us who have read this email carefully, the DVSA has written the email as if it is now a legal requirement for all UK ADIs and PDIs to join the PVG system using the statement highlighted above. One must ask, when did the DVSA take on the powers of Parliament? The PVG scheme is not a general requirement for ADIs and PDIs in England and Wales, as is reported in a professional Magazine called the ‘Driver Trainer’ (for professional drivers and rider trainers), who say that: “The DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) has updated its online registration system to include PVG details for instructors in Scotland, reflecting the new legal requirement for the PVG scheme,” and “While the PVG scheme is mandatory in Scotland, the DVSA's update allows instructors across the UK to add their PVG details, but it only applies to those working in Scotland.” However, the DVSA email, which has been sent out across the UK, gives the impression that every ADI or PDI must join this PVG register, which, in my humble opinion, is not true. There is so much information available on the internet that specifically outlines what the PVG system is all about, where it originated from, and to whom it applies to in law. We at The AADI are not alone in thinking that the DVSA are overstepping their authority by intimating, or even suggesting it is a legal requirement to join this PVG register. Given the way it has been written and the fact that it has been sent to everyone on the register, it implies it is compulsory. Which, by the way, will cost you £59 (initially), or £18 if you are already a PVG member. If English and Welsh ADIs and PDIs don't need to join this register, WHY was it sent to everyone? Why would we want to spend money to join it if we are not going to be going over the border to work in Scotland, when it is totally unnecessary, given the DBS system does exactly what it was set out to do back in 2012? 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.
PDI training, is it up to the job? Should it be better monitored, and why do so many PDIs complain about their training? Why is the failure rate so high? PDI Training. I was recently contacted by a PDI ( I am going to use the male gender for simplicity and no other reason) who had been referred to me for help as his final exam, P3, was rapidly approaching, and he was concerned about his skill sets having failed it twice, so he was on his last chance. I spoke to him on the phone for a couple of weeks, an hour at a time, and set him some goals to achieve. The main objective was to check out his own driving and to make sure that it was up to the required standard for an ADI P2 exam, and if possible, to aim for the ‘Roadcraft’ standard, as a target level. Normally, I do not involve myself in instructor training, but have noticed, on occasion when asked to help out, that once a trainee has passed the P2, they let their driving slip back to a lower standard and are then unable to pick up on learner errors as they accept a lower standard from themselves and then these errors become the norm. After these calls, we met up a couple of weeks ago to see how he was doing and to assess his teaching style and technique. His driving was questionable, and that’s being polite about it. Why do people work so hard to get to this level and then let it all slide back? I don’t get it? It is the same with comments that I see on social media from qualified ADIs giving advice contrary to that in our ‘bible’, the Highway Code, as if they have never read it. It is our bread and butter stuff, our basics, and the foundation of what we do, and yet it is disregarded as if it did not exist! Training His training had been with a very large national company, and it had been deplorable. I am not writing about the content here, as I was not a witness to it, but the attitude of his trainer was bordering on the criminal. The trainer was so aggressive, shouting at the PDI during lessons and in front of others in the car. There were two in the car at the time, doubled up. When the PDI brought their own pupil, they were shouted at, with their pupil present in the car. This, for me, goes beyond being unprofessional and bordering on harassment/bullying. This is criminal behaviour. How do these people keep their jobs and are allowed to continue in our profession? This is nothing new! It is, sadly, quite common and must not be allowed to continue; it is a big slight on our profession This PDI was afraid of his old trainer and dreaded the sessions. How is this a good learning environment, and why do PDIs not speak out as they have nothing to lose and all to gain? All of us on social media see the many comments about their training from PDIs and the trainers that they have. They attack the schools that are running the courses almost daily, and yet nothing is done about it. Where are the dvsa in all this? Why do we see no comment from them, and why is it not policed more vigorously, or do they check at all, as they are the ones who issue the crappy ORDIT training standards that all these people shout about, and the skill levels that they have? Also, do these schools have no internal standards checks or complaint procedures to follow? Cowardice Shouting at your pupil, whether they be a learner, a PDI, or in any learning environment, is BULLYING, nothing more, nothing less. Shouting at your pupil and humiliating them in front of others is abuse of position and the action of a COWARD and COWARDICE in its purest form. It is outlawed in other industries and is subject to serious penalties, if not instant dismissal and possible prosecution, along with destruction of reputation. Yet the dvsa and these so-called training schools allow it to continue, or do they even investigate complaints? After failing and not wanting to go back to the trainer from hell, the PDI sought help locally and contacted a newly qualified ADI, of just 3 years experience, who was doing their best setting up their own school, so only able to give minimal help with minimal experience and nothing in training PDIs, apart from their own PDI learning experience. We now have the partially sighted leading the blind through a minefield. Not a good combination at the best of times. Flexibility To me, this is the greatest tool we have in our toolbox, and it is crucial to what we do. We have a one-to-one teaching environment, and that is as good as it gets when teaching. I did, for a few years, stand in front of classes at a local college, teaching driving theory, and I know the difference. I have stood in front of local ADI associations and given presentations to groups of my peers. I know how important the 1-2-1 session is; it is the gold standard for teaching and developing pupils. We are lucky. Flexibility never came into conversations with his previous trainers. He was completely rigid in his approach with zero flexibility. If something came up, he could not deflect from the track he was on, and hence, for the exam was missing teaching opportunities by the score, and nothing was really achieved. What is the point of setting up a goal for the lesson and allowing all else to go by unnoticed, just so you can focus on the goal that's been set? The goal is to teach, and if you are not seeing what is going on in front of you, you are not teaching, and the enforcer is going to pick up on it immediately. Sadly, this seems to be a common issue in the comments I see on social media for failing at P3 and Standards Check. Teaching and Communication Because of all that had gone before, there was a serious lack of skills displayed. The biggie for me was FEAR. He was afraid of little old me! This came from his experience with his earlier trainer. I remember when I started, especially approaching the exam, I felt that they would know so much more than I, and I would be their inferior. This caused him to speak quietly and in low, hidden tones that I had difficulty hearing. This, of course, may be due to me being an old fart and possibly going deaf, as my wife claims, but I think not. He needed to raise his tone and volume to sound more confident to help with the communication. You cannot be shy when teaching 1-2-1. Be assertive, never aggressive. My mentor at the time, a friend, told me to go for it on the day and act as if I knew everything and was the boss in skill sets, knowledge, etc. He didn’t quite word it like that; he was a lot blunter, but it was what he meant, and for me, it was great advice. It helped to hugely reduce the fear factor. Remember: KNOWLEDGE:- make sure you know your stuff, read the books, and absorb the content, not Dtc waiting room or social media BS . Then show what you are made of. If you don't know the answer, say so and check for the next lesson; don't make it up and lie. SIMPLICITY:- keep it simple and uncomplicated. You don't need big, flashy folders and gadgets. FLEXIBILITY:- be ready to change and adapt as needed for the pupil or situation in hand. Choice of pupil for the exam He had been advised to use an experienced pupil who was test-ready standard. Why? I questioned this as I have never used a test-ready pupil, as it gives me so little material to work with, and possibly no opportunity to show my teaching skills. What happens if the pupil drives perfectly and makes no mistakes? What do you do then? Do you play music to pass the long silences and hope the Enforcer sitting in the back sings along with you, or play ‘I spy’? From a straw poll of colleagues, I asked the same question, and the overwhelming response was to take a mid-range pupil; this gives more flexibility and teaching opportunities in the lesson. There’s that word again. FLEXIBILITY Teaching aids. The poor bloke took out an impressive pack of teaching aids, beautiful folders with expensive-looking pictures and diagrams, with all you could wish for to show your pupil. Unfortunately, though I love these impressive-looking and beautifully edited folders, I feel they display far too much information in one go and overload the pupil’s brain in the early stages. I would use it for a test-ready pupil to reinforce the teaching I had already done. Like the teacher in school, I prefer to start with a blank, or basic sheet, then build up to the ‘big picture’ as I go along. This allows the pupil to absorb the information gradually, at a pace they can cope with. 1-2-1 teaching again. I introduced the sketches I use and showed how I develop the ‘big picture’ gradually. SIMPLICITY I firmly believe that you can do more with a whiteboard or a blank sheet of paper, making life simpler in the learning process. My sketches are in pen/pencil and laminated in a folder, or in the door pocket to be taken out, expanded/written/drawn on as needed, then wiped clean, ready for the next pupil. My chuffedness was overflowing when he turned up on his second lesson with his version of my sketches and used his teaching skills instead to build the 'big picture'. So much simpler and easier to explain. SIMPLICITY Why do PDIs buy all this expensive kit that only goes into the recycle bin if they fail to qualify, as so many do, when all that is needed is simplicity ? You are being examined on your teaching skills, your ability to impart your knowledge to another human being, not on your posh folders. Ok, once you have qualified and want to invest in the posh books, and some have fantastic pictures to show off, yes, go for it, after all, you can claim it back on expenses, but use them at the right point in the lessons, do not swamp your pupils with information too early on. It confuses more than it teaches. Conclusion The training that many of our PDIs get is superb and cannot be seconded, but there is so much dross out there that needs to change. How, I don’t know, as it is not a sector I have been hugely involved in, just helping out on occasion, but the stories I hear are truly awful, and our industry, along with our governing body, should be ashamed of itself. Why is there no body (dvsa) that oversees the PDIs' issues? Why is there no one that the PDI can go to? (dvsa) Like you, I see a lot of advertising on some ADI associations for PDI training, but do they monitor what is going on in their name? After all, they are running the advert, and taking money for advertising, often from members, and have a moral responsibility, I believe, to the PDIs whom they will be trying to recruit as future members. Why SHOUT? When you SHOUT, you have lost the argument, you lose the respect of the person you are allegedly teaching, and you set a shocking example for them to follow. It is negative, soul-destroying, and cowardly. When you shout, unless for safety, you’re a bully and a coward! If you feel the need to comment on your own experience, drop me a line. It is confidential, the replies come directly to my inbox, nobody else, and I will not disclose your information to anyone. You will have complete anonymity. He passed this week! 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. www.theaadi.co.uk
Regularly we all see comments and attacks on the cost of driving lessons. The defence offered by many in the industry is that our, the ADI's costs, have gone up, just the same as everyone else and we cannot afford to absorb it. Sound familiar? Yep, it is the same old line trotted out by everybody hit with rising costs. But, with driving lessons, the AADI, unlike other associations, think we should be putting forward a different point of view. Cost of the car Have you considered the true value of the lesson? Have you thought what it really costs to run a car? Because, if you can not afford 2 to 3 hours of lessons per week, it is unlikely you can afford to keep a car on the road that is safe to drive. You can cut costs if you are a mechanic, or mechanically minded and can do some DIY but the underlying cost will always be there. Even if your parent, or bestie can do a few jobs for you. Buying the car Let's say you have £2,000 saved up in the bank. If that took you a year, that is £40 per week then there are the running costs which are , very roughly: Fiesta, (as an example) for road tax. Say £200/year +MoT £55 £5 per week I've rounded them off for simplicity. Fuel assuming you will be driving very carefully with a light foot £25 per week Local run around & no festival trips Insurance if you are lucky and live in a 'safe area' £2,000 £40 per week £160/month - (£250 more likely £3000pa) Tyres, oil, servicing, bits and bobs for the car £1,000 £20 per week no serious parts & labour needed (air fresheners, seat covers, car wash & cleaning bits if doing it yourself, not the car wash, breakdown cover) Total cost so far after the £2,000 outlay is:- £90 per week If you take the average UK lesson, at date of publication, as £40/hr that is just over 2 lessons per week. If you are buying a car for a greater amount then the loss is even higher as the vehicle will lose at least 20% of its value as soon as you start the engine as the new owner, and so much more if a brand new model off the forecourt. If mum and dad bought the car for you, then you have to think of what the next one is going to cost and start saving ready for that day when it comes. Unless mum and dad have deep pockets and you don't piss them off before then. Remember to add £40/week saving for the next vehicle. New total:- £130 per week or, 3 lessons at £40/hour Because we do not look at the true overall picture we do not see the actual cost of driving. It is not cheap, it is not a right, it is a privilege that we have to pay for. Those driving lessons that you have been complaining about now don't seem so unreasonable, do they? When you add in the cost of the ADI (Approved Driving Instructor) sitting next to you, teaching you a new skill for life, as the dvsa like to push it. I think of us more as a teacher who is going to help you reach your goals, make you independent, possibly help you to get a job. Hopefully, instill in you the right attitude to keep you, your passengers, who will be your colleagues, loved ones, and all those around you on the road safe for a long and happy life ahead. We are there to support you through the process, take as much of the stress of learning to drive away, and most importantly, keep you safe when things go wrong. That moment when the proverbial hits the fan because some idiot thinks they know better than you or I, take a stupid risk that needs us to step in and protect you and keep you safe. When you consider the cost of the lesson against the costs of a haircut, new manicure, tops, trainers, jeans, concert tickets etc, etc., that you will continue spending money on for the rest of your life. The lessons cost is a once in a lifetime expense that can give you so much, time and time again, hopefully lasting into your 70's. Mum's and Dad's and the cars you buy The opening pic at the top of the blog is aimed at you. There is a very nicely wrapped shiny new car but if you hover over it with your cursor, finger on the phone or tablet you will see what looks like a knackered old banger. It has the note, 'please do not put your child in a wreck of a car, buy them something decent'. So often over the years I have been teaching I have pulled up to pick up my pupil and they jump in pointing to a heap of a car that is going to be theirs. Some of them have been absolute s***heaps that are passed being used for anything other than banger racing. I kid you not, the house has been worth 0.5million+, parents cars - nice and shiny worth thousands, sometimes tens of thousands to go on the school run, or Tesco's and they buy a death trap for the child they have cared for, worried about, lost sleep over and cherished for almost the last 2 decades! What on earth are you thinking about? It is a heap of scrap that you would not be seen dead in and yet it is OK for your child to, and I quote, "get experience in because they are bound to have a few bumps and scrapes in the first year" . Just think about what you are saying, do you think it is OK thinking? You could so easily be spending so much more on the nice big shiny black limo with a wooden box in the back containing your child on the way to the cemetery because the banger that was 'OK for them to use' did not offer enough protection, or the brakes and tyres were not good enough. The example I gave above is a true one, but not the worst. A pupil wanted to show me the car she had waiting for her and asked if I knew how to fit a brake light bulb. When I saw the car I was stunned - it was shocking. Not only the bake light bulb, but the rear wiper had strips hanging from it where the rubber had split. The tyres, 2 were illegal a third almost, and the door did not close without slamming. I was afraid to check anymore but pleaded with her not to drive it until it had at least a new MoT. So, please, please, from all of us ADIs because we care about your child, buy something that is decent, with good tyres, brakes and safe for your child to use. If it is better, then logically they will be more careful as they don't want to scratch it and therefore they will be safer coming home to you at night. Thank you for taking the time to read this and if you have any comments, then drop us a line. 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.
If Buster is confused, how do you feel? If we think poor old Buster looks confused, how does the average ADI, or even the test candidate feel today given all the seemingly misleading information given out in the national media? Almost daily we see headlines in the media saying the driving test situation is in dire straits . One of my favourite bands is Dire Straits and their huge hit Money for Nothing even has a couple of lines that fit the bill here. "Now look at them yo-yos, (dvsa) that's the way you do it .................... That ain't workin' , that's the way you do it Money for nothin' ............ sums it all up perfectly. The dvsa are getting money for nothing. Their brief is to book and manage tests, to maintain standards across a very limited range of fields, advise HMG on road safety and that is about it. The dvsa give out appointments for driving tests, I'm not including the ADI check tests, qualifying exams etc, etc, just the basic driving test. When I started back in the 1980's the booking system, as I've stated before, was via a booking clerk in a regional office with a pencil, a ledger/diary and a telephone. It was simple and best of all it worked! We could swap tests about using a very simple system via snail mail and everything ran smoothly. Today we have the dvsa spending tens of millions of pounds on a digital system that needs up dating and the system closing down frequently for hours for maintenance, whereas the old pencil needed sharpening regularly and took about 15 seconds. Yes, I know, there was the rubber as well, but they lasted ages before needing replacing. Weekly we see the dvsa advertising for 'digitally skilled' staff at far higher salaries than the good old booking clerk. They are looking for managers and supervisors for just about everything you can possibly think of and still the system is useless, often unworkable at the best of times letting all their customers down. I'm waiting to see a post for Manager for Internal Flatulence and Effluent Analysis for around £45,000, plus exec comfy rolls. They cannot even find a way to make the post of driving examiners more attractive, with a better salary rate and better reasons to stay in post rather than the phenomenal attrition rate that they have. If they could retain and recruit more examiners because people wanted to do the job, the problems with the waiting lists would disappear in no time. Read on for my solution at the end - it is self financing!! In the old days, of us dinosaurs, the examiners post was a nice little earner for ex police and forces personnel. I remember taking staff from RAF Northolt in N London for a driving test and telling them to make sure that they wore their uniform for the test. I'm sure it helped with some borderline candidates who's nerves got the better of them. Ex police as examiners all over the country. What happened to these recruits as examiners. I've heard stories of examiner newbies resigning before their 1st week is up because it is too stressful and dangerous. Ex firemen included, and they come from a very dangerous job. Are examiners now expected to get into a shit heap of a car, with no dual controls and risk their lives? Apparently so. Is it now time for the dvsa to be far stricter on the cars being used for the test, or is Ms Ryder & Co. not bothered as they don't have to sit in the cars, so it is OK, examiners are cheap to replace, unlike herself?! Even this week we get the recruitment email looking for: Head of Scheduling and Account Manager (4 posts) - this includes: managing client relationships, and ensuring high performance and the delivery of objectives across both areas. Well that's a dead end job with this lot then. They need Gandalf with his bloody great stick to get that job to work. Learning & Development Driver Solutions Manager (10 posts) - handles the training and professional development of company employees. Put simply a Training and CPD Manager. Why 10 of them?? Once in the dvsa your role doesn't alter, you are a civil servant with a set duty, what is cpd for other than jobs for the boys?? Frontline Logistics Team Leader ( 1 post) - Bloody glorified Foreman, sorting a few of the lads out and making sure they have what they need to get the job done. Head of Intelligence and Targeting (7 posts) "...you will lead DVSA's intelligence strategy, ensuring our enforcement activities are driven by high-quality, actionable intelligence". Actionable intelligence from the dvsa, someone's on the whacky baccy here! Now this post has to be the biggest Oxymoron of all time, and they need 7 of the buggers. That's only 2 heads less than the Hydra of Greek mythology and one of them was immortal. Which one of the the dvsa hydra's heads is destined to be long-term with the other 6 being dropped in the mire at a later date. Plus why in the name of heaven do the dvsa need 7 heads of intelligence for just 4,600 employees when most people feel that just some logical thinking would do. Also this post carries a salary of £54,857 plus, expenses, perks, pension etc, etc. That's a total of a minimum £383,999 for just 7 people. That would pay for 14 examiners who would bring money into the coffers and not bloody waste it pontificating on their future development and pensions in expensive offices. 22 posts that cost a lot of money and don't bring a penny in, and that is just one advert! The dvsa smacks of loads of little empires growing within the dark monolith of the driving standards agency! Would anyone like to bet that the total salaries of managers at the Done Very Satisfactorily Association (DVSA) is far greater than that of the workers who actually make the money for the once profitable agency? Yes, did you know that the driver examining side was actually a profitable business as the old DSA before the pointless merger that slowly brought things down to the current state of affairs? How long can this continue in it's current form? They say that they are taking steps to put things right, but is it all flannel? The Secretary of State, Heidi Alexander MP has been given promises to reduce the waiting list to a target that was promised by the late CEO Rosie Thew, in her heyday when at the dvsa. This proved to be unachievable then when she had even more examiners and no C19 issues to contend with. The late Gwyneth Dunwoody MP who was chair of the Parliamentary Select Committee for Transport when Thew took the job, slapped her down in a committee meeting when she tried to wriggle out of a rollicking. Mrs Dunwoody pointed out that as CEO it was her responsibility for the waiting lists and to get her finger out. The same applies to you Ms Ryder . With the greatest of respect Heidi me old mate, they are pulling your ceremonial chain of office and will give you a Stately flush when the U bend is still blocked up in a years time. May I advise you, respectfully of course, that you get Ms Loveday Ryder back in before the committee and demand some answers, and as Mrs Dunwoody did, take no prisoners. If this was in the real world, outside of the civil service, with the national outcry and the uproar in the national media, a lot of it triggered by these blog pages Ms Ryder would have been sacked along with her support team. Just think of the recent Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou, who despite having won a a competition and a nice shiny cup for the display cabinet was sacked for poor performance after a couple of years in the job. What has Ms Ryder and Co achieved..........silence is the deafening roar back from the terraces. Diddly squat! Nowt! Nuffink! We now have a new website offering tests on Google claiming to be the best way of getting a driving test........and it is based in LATVIA. This is after the Diddly squat club at the Done Very Satisfactorily Association claim that they have clamped down on the booking agencies, Heaven help us all if this is progress. Honestly, this is not made up, they are useless and need to go. We have had enough. Heads must roll and purse strings need to be audited forensically with a butchers knife. A tip for Ms Ryder. If you want to recruit more examiners, make it worthwhile. Increase the test fee by £5 and pay it directly to the examiners in recognition and acknowledgement of the danger they are facing in the current climate. This is a 'special allowance' for services and danger in the role. This way it does not conflict with salary restrictions within the civil service. Recruitment would increase, retention levels would improve and the test waiting time would shrink rapidly. You may even get an honour for initiative, thanks to the AADI. How you can help. All we need now is for everyone who reads this, to copy the link and forward it on to their MP. You don't need to worry about any backlash from the dvsa as it has my name on it, not yours. They can complain to me and I'll publish their reply for all to see. 😉 So please help by sharing this everywhere you can think of. Especially on your local Facebook page, your MP's page, anywhere you think it may help us all out. Thank you for taking the time to read this and keep safe. 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.
How do the dvsa compare if we measure their performance up against that expected of their ADIs using their own Standards Check criteria as the basis for comparison? For those not familiar with the requirements, they can be found from the gov.uk website. SERVICE PLANNING Q. Did the dvsa identify their customers goals and needs. A. No. Despite plenty of evidence being available no appearance of a serious consideration evident. Q. Was the agreed business structure appropriate for the client’s experience and ability A. No. Totally inadequate for the client’s needs, across all divisions of driver testing and licencing and a complete failure to adjust to modern requirements. Q. Were the practice areas suitable A. No. Lack of contact at grass roots level, too much dependency on social media and digital contact. Q. Was the business plan adapted, when appropriate, to help the client’s work towards their learning goals A. No. Just plugged along with the same business plan with insufficient adaption taking place due to lack of understanding needed. RISK MANAGEMENT Q. Did the dvsa ensure that the client fully understood how the responsibility for risk would be shared A. NO. With the dvsa’s attitude of ‘It is not our fault, it’s their fault’ no level of understanding is evident from the dvsa. Q. Were directions and instructions given to the clients clear and given in good time A. NO. Usually any direction, or guidance from the dvsa was usually in response to public outcry and bad publicity in the press, BBC, ITV or Sky news broadcasts. This usually being around 2 years after the event initiating. Q. Was the dvsa aware of the surroundings and the pupil’s actions A. No. Not all as it was taking too long to adjust the focus on the long-range telescope in the lofty top floors of the dvsa establishment to be of relevance. Q. Was any verbal or physical intervention by the trainer timely and appropriate A. NO. I refer to the previous 2 answers Q. Was sufficient feedback given to help the client understand any potential safety critical incidents A. NO. Again, I refer to the previous answers in the section. There was nothing timely in the dvsa responses as all were due to external, extreme ,and persistent complaints from the public (ADIs, and learner drivers) being forced upon the dvsa by the media. Management and development strategies development Q. Was the management and development style suited to the client’s needs and service requirements A. NO. No evidence of any development to suit the client’s needs since the C19 pandemic began at 10.30am on the 23rd March 2020 and the first lockdown order was issued by HMG. There appeared to be no serious guidance or shift in management planning or development despite having months to work out strategies whilst sitting at home playing on their expensive gov.uk funded laptops as other outside organisations did. The dvsa seemed to sit back and stare at their monitors waiting for divine intervention. It was not until around 2 years later that they seemed to finally flicker back into life following the growing out cry from amongst their howling customers, both ADI and learners alike. Q. Was the dvsa encouraged to analyse problems and take responsibility for their learning A. Yes. Due to the huge public outcry due to their apparent lack of action there was no end of ‘encouragement’ by multiple outside bodies. Unfortunately, there was no responsibility taken as evidenced by their apparent lack of understanding or action taken. Anyway, it was not their fault after all, it was firstly the ADIs who were to blame for all that was wrong in misusing the dvsa booking system and messing it up, and then it was the learners who were to blame. It was certainly not the fault of the dvsa for not being able to manage a simple appointment booking system and prevent multiple bookings from being made by outside factors, who then sold on the dvsa appointments at a large profit, that they had obtained by flooding the dvsa booking system. This of course could not be the fault of the dvsa despite their vast investment in technology and technical staff to run it........a simple appointment booking system. Q. Were opportunities and examples used to clarify client’s outcomes A. Nah. No evidence found so far. Q. Was the technical information given comprehensive, appropriate and accurate A. This raised considerable laughter and amusement. Even the PCSU in their submission to the House of Commons as highlighted in the AADI blog. The PSCU asked why it was not possible to curtail test booking to ‘one test per licence number’ the dvsa reply was that ‘it was not that easy’ The dvsa bragged that they had managed to reduce the third party bookings from 20 per licence to just 5 and this is without the learner even knowing it is being done with their licence. Therefore totally inappropriate and adequate. Q. Was the client given appropriate and timely feedback. A. NO. No feedback as everything is kept from the client unless requested under an FOI and even the PCSU cannot get answers to questions asked. My MPs don’t even try. Q. Were the client’s queries followed up and answered A. No. Queries are mostly ignored or swept under the carpet. Q. Did the dvsa maintain an appropriate non-discriminatory manner throughout the session A. As previously stated above, it’s considered to be the client’s fault and not the fault of the dvsa so this is generally ignored Q. At the end of the session - was the client encouraged to reflect on their own performance A. Again, as above. It is generally the fault of the client so not considered to be something the dvsa would concern itself with. Score For those familiar with the system the ADI (driving instructor) is awarded a score for each point raised and totalled up for each section. A grade is then issued on a sliding scale of A B C. C is generally considered to be of poor quality and can be instructed by the dvsa to stop teaching and get further training. If during the Standards Check the score for the Risk Management section is considered so low the Enforcement Officer (yes that is their title) can stop the lesson at that point and order the ADI to stop teaching immediately in the interests of public safety. Review Q Did the dvsa score 7 or less on Risk Management (A 'Yes' response to this question will result in an automatic Fail) A YES .....Fail Q. At any point in the session, (March 2020 to present) did the dvsa behave in a way which put you, the clients or any third party in immediate danger, so that you had to stop the session ( A 'Yes' response to this question will result in an automatic Fail) A. Yes..... Given the number of examiners leaving the industry (attrition rate) due to age, ill health or stress levels – V – recruitment and the number of ADIs who have left the profession due to the stress levels now involved and the short ‘life span’ of newly qualified ADIs who drop out. Add to this the enormous frustration felt by the learners and their families trying to book tests. Complete failure. Q. Was advice given to seek further development A. YES YES YES YES YES Advice has been offered on numerous occasions from many sources, the AADI in particular, but as the dvsa know it all they have duly ignored everyone and like Poo Bear and Piglet have wondered their merry way off down the wood land path. RECOMMENDATION All senior management at the dvsa to be sacked for incompetence, ineptitude, lack of foresight and planning and all benefits removed. As the PCSU put it recently in part of their submission to HMG, ‘This calls into question the dvsa’s ability to serve as a regulatory body’ . If an ADI were to receive this level of a report from the dvsa itself, they would be removed from the register of Approved Instructors and need to re-qualify, that is if they were still considered to be 'Fit and Proper' to teach, the ADI would most likely not get past the initial submission to the register to even be allowed to begin training. Even whilst the proverbial ink is drying in this blog they have excelled themselves yet again. The glorious dvsa sent an email out yesterday about changes they are trialing for the driving test this contains the following: " On 6 May 2025 DVSA will begin a trial to increase the amount of time your pupils spend on higher speed roads, including rural roads, during a driving test. We know that rural roads are some of the most dangerous high-speed roads for novice drivers. The current killed or seriously injured statistics show 48% of casualties in young car driver collisions occur on rural roads, compared to 42% for other aged car driver collisions." In other words, they want to risk their own examiners lives with inexperienced drivers on our most dangerous roads with the highest KSI (killed and seriously injured) figures. HOLY smoking exhausts, are they bonkers. They cannot employ enough examiners at the current pay grade and now they are going to ask for this too!!! This is simply not possible at every test centre, so out the window goes their claim that all tests are equal throughout the UK. Expect long delays at test centres with not so many dangerous roads with high KSI figures. Also expect a loss of many more examiners, and a higher attrition rate if this is not voluntary on their part therefore creating a two tier test system. WOW what a turn around by the dvsa. Conlcusion By their own standards, for the people that they licence to deliver driving lessons in the UK, the dvsa have failed miserably on just about every measurement there is. They are unable to recruit and maintain examiners, the very front-line staff that bring in their revenue to sustain their business model. Despite the media accepting the load of nonsense about recruiting 450 new examiners, where the hell from? They have alienated just about every member of the public that has to deal with them on the driver testing and licencing side. ADIs have no faith in the dvsa management at all, we gave up years ago. The examiners morale is so low at the present it is immeasurable, they are leaving in droves, even new recruits are leaving within a week of starting. It is, allegedly, so bad that they are considering moving the goal post for the entry level to get more applicants through the doors. The customers applying for tests either as learners, truck drivers, or people wanting to qualify as ADIs are at a loss and losing money. Their business practice is an unmitigated failure and should be handed over to Tesco to run an appointment booking system that works. You simply could not make this up as the script for one of the old music hall farces with Brian Rix, and they publishing new embarrassing edicts, almost on a daily basis. The ideas coming out from dvsa towers in are so thick and fast I just cannot type fast enough to keep up with them. They've even conned, just this week already the Secretary for transport into making a fantastic statement about 10,000 extra driving tests a month how in the merry **** are they going to achieve that when they cannot get the extra 300 promised from 2 years ago, never mind the 450 promised late last year. I hope the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander MP, sacks the pigging lot of them for telling such big, ginormous porkies. 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 and it will be edited.
