Author: Nick Zapettis

Driving instructor criminal record check changes

Posted on by Nick Zapettis
From 17 June 2013, DSA won’t be sent a copy of your instructor’s criminal record check when they’ve applied for it.

This means that they’ll be the only person who gets a copy of the certificate.

DSA will still see an electronic record of whether their criminal record check has anything recorded on it or not, but won’t be able to see what’s actually listed on it.

Send your certificate to DSA

DSA will write to the instructor to ask them to post their certificate if it has anything listed on it. They must send the original – they can’t send a copy. This will then be returned to them.

Their application to become an approved driving instructor, renew their registration or re-register could be delayed if they don’t send their certificate as soon as DSA asks for it.

But they don’t need to send their certificate unless DSA tells them to.

Old and minor offences

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has announced that it will be removing certain specified old and minor offences from criminal record certificates from 29 May 2013.

The filtering rules and the list of offences that will never be filtered have been published by DBS.

Updated guide to the ADI register

Posted on by Nick Zapettis
The ‘Guide to the approved driving instructor register’ (sometimes called the ‘ADI14’) has been updated.

The guide is now published as a web page on the GOV.UK website, rather than as a PDF. This new format makes it easier to:

see what’s changed – click on the date at the top-right of the page to see a history of the guide

  • get to the information you need – use the interactive contents list on the left of the page
  • find out what acronyms mean – just hover over them to see what they stand for
  • view the guide on mobile devices – the new format is designed to be mobile-friendly

Main changes

We have added:

  • more information about the role and powers of the ADI Registrar
  • links to read about certain topics in more detail, eg the ADI part 1 test
  • separate guides about things like the ADI voluntary code of practice and the rules for observing driving tests so they’re easier to find in search engines like Google

The guide also confirms that the ADI Registrar is acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport when they:

  • ask you to give information to register or stay on the register
  • make decisions about your registration

Driving test candidates warned on vehicle recalls

Posted on by Nick Zapettis

Some vehicles are being recalled by manufacturers and can’t be used for driving tests until they’ve been checked and fixed if necessary.

A vehicle can be recalled by the manufacturer if it has a known safety fault. 

There has been a worldwide recall of some vehicles because of concerns about potentially faulty passenger airbags.

DSA has published a list of affected vehicles and information about what to do if you’re affected.

 

National standards for driving updated

Posted on by Nick Zapettis
DSA has published updated versions of some of the national standards for driving.
advice on eco-safe driving:

Learning to drive syllabus

The learning to drive syllabus has also been updated so that it’s more readable and user-friendly.

Government to overhaul young driver rules

Posted on by Nick Zapettis
The government has announced plans to overhaul young driver rules to improve safety and reduce insurance costs.

Among the proposals being considered are:

  • a minimum learning period
  • driving practice on motorways, in poor weather conditions and during darkness
  • more rigorous testing in preparation for driving unsupervised
  • longer probationary periods
  • incentives for post-test training

The government is also considering improving the training of driving instructors and giving parents and young drivers advice on choosing an instructor.

ADI check test to be replaced from April 2014

Posted on by Nick Zapettis
The ADI check test will be replaced with a new ‘standards check’ from April 2014.
training’ in 2011. It sets out the skills, knowledge and understanding that you need to be an effective trainer.The new check will assess how well you meet the standard, which is why it’s being called a ‘standards check’.New standards check

We want the examiner to assess whether your instruction helps a person to learn in an effective way. So, during the standards check, the examiner will observe you giving a normal lesson to a real pupil.

There’ll be a new assessment form which will have 3 assessment areas:

  • lesson planning
  • risk management
  • teaching and learning strategies

The form will give you clear and specific feedback about your strengths and areas where you can develop your competence.

You’ll get more information about the new standards check over the next few months.

Booking standards checks

The proposed consultation on modernising driver training will ask for views on making the standards check booking process fairer.

Options include:

  • an online booking facility
  • whether you should pay a separate fee for the standards check

A separate fee would be in line with the government’s ‘user pays’ principle. It would split the single registration fee into separate fees – one when you register, and one when you book the standards check.

New rules for drivers on eyesight and epilepsy

Posted on by Nick Zapettis
Revised minimum driving licence standards for eyesight and epilepsy will apply under new rules announced by Road Safety Minister Stephen Hammond.

The changes, which come into force from 8 March, mean that there will be some changes for drivers and riders with epilepsy and to the vision standards required for driving.

Eyesight

Group 2 – Buses and lorries.

For these drivers, there will be a new relaxed visual acuity standard for the ‘weaker eye’ when each eye is separately examined. Generally eyesight can be weaker in one eye than the other.

Epilepsy

Group 1 – Cars and motorcycles.

For the first time, drivers who have only ever suffered seizures while asleep may now be considered for a licence after 1 year, instead of the current requirement of 3 years.

The new rules will also allow drivers who have only ever suffered seizures that have no impact on consciousness or the ability to act to apply for a driving licence 1 year from the date of their first seizure. Currently these drivers can only be licensed if they are free from these seizures for a period of 12 months.

Improved DSA online booking service for practical driving tests

Posted on by Nick Zapettis
DSA has launched an improved online practical test booking service that makes it simpler, clearer and faster to book and manage tests.

Improvements to the service mean that it now:

  • works better on mobile devices like tablets and smart phones
  • doesn’t ask for a theory test pass certificate number unless it can’t find one on the system
  • offers better help so users know what they need to do

Feedback from those who’ve used it so far describe it as ‘greatly improved’ and ‘user friendly’.

Try it out

To book a test, visit www.gov.uk/bookdrivingtest and to change a test visit www.gov.uk/changedrivingtest .

Six arrested in DSA fraud operation

Posted on by Nick Zapettis
The DSA Fraud and Integrity team led a raid in Greater London on 20 February as part of a joint operation with the Metropolitan Police.

It resulted in the arrest of a DSA driving examiner, an approved driving instructor and 4 candidates suspected of conspiracy to commit fraud.

As a result of this operation 100 driving licences are being revoked.

A BBC report of the arrests was broadcast on the lunchtime national news yesterday.

  Watch the BBC video  

Bringing offenders to justice

Andy Rice, DSA Head of Fraud and Integrity, said afterwards:

“Although rare, when it happens, driving test fraud is a serious offence that puts the lives of innocent road users at risk.

“We have stringent procedures in place to ensure that any fraudulent activity will be detected. As today’s operation demonstrates, we take all allegations extremely seriously and will work with the police to bring offenders to justice.

“The safety of the general public and the integrity of the driving test are paramount.”

You can report anything you know about driving test fraud to the Fraud and Integrity team on 0115 936 6051 or email integrity.team@dsa.gsi.gov.uk.

Law on driving licence exchange tightened to improve road safety

Posted on by Nick Zapettis

Foreign drivers must prove they have passed an appropriate driving test before getting a British licence under tough new rules announced by Road Safety Minister Stephen Hammond.

An inconsistency in the law meant that previously some non EU drivers were able to exchange their licence without proving that the necessary standards to drive in this country had been met.

The change in law means requests to exchange driving licences from outside the EU will only be accepted if the licence holder can prove they passed a driving test in a country where the testing standards are comparable with those in Britain.

Stephen Hammond said:

“The UK’s roads are amongst the safest in the world, thanks in part to the rigorous standards demanded by our driving test. By closing this loophole we will not only make Britain’s roads even safer, but will help tackle fraud and level the playing field for British drivers who spend time and money learning to drive at the standard required in the UK.

“It is obvious to everyone that drivers who have not been through a rigorous driving test will not be as safe as those who have. This change in the law will mean we can be sure that any foreign drivers exchanging their licence here have already passed a test of a similar standard to ours.”

Licences issued by an EU state

All driving licences issued by an EU state allow that driver to drive in any part of the EU and there is no need for them to exchange their licences. This does not apply to drivers outside Europe but arrangements are in place with 15 countries that allow drivers to exchange their licences for a Great Britain one.

They do not need to take any additional driving tests as DVLA recognise that the licence they hold proves that they have already met the appropriate standards to drive in this country.

Inconsistency in the law

But because of an inconsistency in the law, some foreign drivers were able to exchange a licence with another overseas country with which DVLA have an exchange agreement, and then subsequently swap it for a Great Britain one.

This meant that DVLA could not be sure that the driver had met the appropriate standards to drive in this country before exchanging their licence.

The law will now make clear that the licence to be exchanged will only be issued on the basis that the driver has met the appropriate standards to drive in this country.

The change in law came into force on 11 January 2013.