News from the DSA

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.

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.

DSA website has moved to GOV.UK

Posted on by Nick Zapettis

GOV.UK is the new place for corporate and policy information from DSA and the Department for Transport (DfT).

DSA, DfT and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), along with 2 of DCLG’s public bodies, have become the first central government organisations to move their corporate and policy content onto the new GOV.UK website – the new single home for all government services and information.

Simpler, clearer, faster

The Inside Government section on GOV.UK makes it simpler, clearer and faster to find out:

  • how government works
  • what the government is doing
  • how you can get involved

GOV.UK will continue to link to existing services such as the test booking services with the old colour schemes; these will be updated shortly.

New web addresses

All web addresses have been redirected, so you don’t need to update your bookmarks, but you might want to make a note of the new addresses:

The Inside Government section of GOV.UK has been designed to make government information more easy to find and more transparent for the user. For the first time, you can begin to find out what’s happening inside government all in one place, and in a clear, consistent and transparent format.