Newslink October 2021

News
Former CDE
dies, aged 72
Robin Cummins OBE
Many members will be saddened to
hear of the death of former chief driving
examiner Robin Cummins. He was 72
and passed away after a long illness.
Robin had over 10 years at the top of
the DSA, as it was then known, and
throughout that time went out of his
way to engage with ADIs up and down
the country. He was a regular attendee
of the MSA GB national conference and
would often visit smaller area meetings
to ensure he could meet with
instructors to discuss key issues both
local and national.
Always polite and respectful, Robin
knew his job inside and out and was a
constant source of common sense. He
will be best remembered for introducing
parallel parking to the L-test – though
he often joked he would also be long
remembered because, on the DL25, it
states the parking manoeuvre was ‘R +
C’. It wasn’t a reference to Rob
Cummins, rather that it could be done
‘on the road or in a car park’.
While not every decision he made or
fronted met with the approval of the
MSA GB, he always took time out to
explain the DSA’s decision and listened
to alternative views.
Even more important, he was happy
to concede when reforms were judged
to be ill-thought out and would look to
improve them.
He was awarded an OBE for services
to driver training, testing and road
safety, and in 2005 he was one of five
non-members to receive an MSA GB
Platinum Anniversary Awards to mark
his outstanding contribution to the
driver training industry.
Following his retirement from the
DSA Robin worked for BSM as a road
safety consultant, and continued to
have an involvement with the
profession via his membership of the
MSA GB East Midlands committee.
Peter Harvey said he was saddened
by news of his passing: “Robin was
quite simply one of the finest CDEs we
have ever had and a real pleasure to
work with.
“He was big supporter of the MSA
GB, as can be evidenced by him joining
when he left the DSA.
“Our thoughts and most sincere
condolences go out to his family at this
sad time.”
MSA GB to exhibit at ADI conference
Members planning to attend the ADINJC
& Intelligent Instructor National
Conference & Expo ’21 on Sunday, 10th
October 2021 should make a point of
coming over to say hello to the team
from MSA GB who will be exhibiting.
The event is being held at the Heart of
England Conference & Events Centre,
Fillongley, nr. Coventry, and as with
similar events held before the pandemic,
will feature seminars, advice on
everything from tuition plans, business
growth and the standards check,
activities and various stalls selling
training and teaching aids.
You can still book a ticket via https://
events.intelligentinstructor.co.uk
New ways for learners to
stay savvy about cyclists
Peter Harvey mbe
National Chairman
MSA GB
Bikeability Trust’s new Cycle Savvy
Driving Scheme has been extended into
2022, and will still accept applications
from ADIs to take part well into next
year.
Members may recall that MSA GB
began to get involved with the scheme
back in May when we took part in a
joint Zoom meeting with its head of
development, Benjamin Smith.
The Cycle Savvy Driving study aims to
ensure the safety of cyclists is at the
forefront of the driving curriculum by
addressing the current paucity of cycle
awareness learning resources for ADIs
and learner drivers. Free online training
is available to allow ADIs to focus their
lessons around the needs and
experiences of cyclists, with the overall
aim of educating the enxt generation of
drivers to fully appreciate that they are
sharing the road with cyclists.
So far around 1,500 ADIs have
registered to take part, which is great
news. However, organisers are hoping to
have 4, 000 involved, and with many
ADIs currently swamped by new pupils
as they endeavour to catch up with
backlogs created by pandemic
lockdowns, it was decided to extend the
pilot scheme until the end of March
2022.
If you would like more information on
the Cycle Savvy Driving, the areas in
England it covers and how to register,
see https://www.cyclesavvydriving.
co.uk/
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NEWSLINK n OCTOBER 2021