MSA Newslink November 2021

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‘‘ Madison’s
DVSA needs better
understanding of dealing
with SEN, deaf and disabled
candidates (hidden and
visible). Empathy is missing
sometimes...
‘‘
What’s the next big thing that’s going
to transform driver training/ testing.
Hmmm, quite a few things come to
mind. Looking at all the changes that
we have had in recent years,
independent drive, SatNav, Show me
questions on the move, manoeuvres
changing. It’s been a lot and now with
governmental changes in 2030 with the
move heading to EVs and hybrids, there
will be more. The training of pupils will
change and I presume the driving test
may need to be altered to accommodate
those changes.
Look at the tell me questions for
example. 10/15 years time pupils will
say “Dipstick? Oil? What?...” It’s all
changing.
Now there is talk of digital licences …
everything is going online. That’s
actually a scary thought.
Electric cars, yes or no and why?
Electric cars I’m in full agreement
with, however, they do have their own
issues.
The next generation is committed to
tackling climate change. They’re far
more clued up than we are or have ever
been. We (and last generations) created
it, they’ll be left to fix it and big changes
are coming. Glasgow is hosting COP26
this month, history will hopefully be
made if all agree to revise their NDCs
(nationally determined contributions)
keeping in line with a 1.5C target
(Global temperature levels). Emissions
must be reduced by 45 per cent by
2030, hence the Governments push for
EVs and Hybrids.
In saying this, though, EVs and
Hybrids do have their own pollution
issues. They don’t emit exhaust fumes
but they do use batteries which can
emit toxic fumes. Most electricity used
to power electric vehicles is generated
from non-renewable energy resources
which can have a negative impact on
both our health and the environment. It
can take up to 12 hours to charge
depending on battery size so while
savings are made on petrol and diesel
costs, we’ll see significant increases in
our electricity bills.
Think of our current predicament
regarding gas and electricity and you
have to wonder, how will all this play
out?
How can we improve driver testing and
training in one go?
Only allow ADIs to book tests with
minimum hours training set by DVSA ,
allow pupils to ask one question to the
examiner at the end of their test.
Who/what inspires you, drives you on?
My deaf pupils are one. They are just
amazing. So many barriers yet they
carry on.
In addition, my ADI friends. As one of
my friends said recently, ‘teamwork all
the way’. Everyone has been affected by
this pandemic, but in our industry we
were told this and that was happening
and we need to adapt, we don’t get
training for the changes, we don’t get
support. We have to “figure” things out.
No other industry works that way.
What keeps you awake at night?
Watson snoring. Just in case you were
wondering, that’s my dog
No one is the finished article. What do
you do to keep on top of the game?
Constant CPD. SC courses, BSL
courses, reading/ researching, talking to
people that have had years of experience
dealing with physical disabilities.
What’s the daftest/ most dangerous
thing that’s ever happened to you while
teaching.
Most scariest moment? Being driven
at a brick wall six months into the job.
Funniest? Signing ‘Risk’ to my pupil
on my Standards Check and she kept
giggling. The sign also means ‘Fetish’
with a different facial expression, so had
to hastily explain to my SE she wasn’t
laughing at ‘risk’, rather at it’s double
meaning.
When or where are you happiest?
Bar Vali, in Lanzarote, Mojito in hand.
If you had to pick one book/film/album
that inspires, entertains or moves you,
what would it be?
Oh now, that’s difficult. Probably a
book. Larry Hagman’s autobiography,
Hello Darlin’ had me laughing from start
to finish.
Michelle Obama’s autobiography
Becoming was very interesting.
first solo drive
in the dark
You never stop learning, says ROD
CAME, as my granddaughter,
Madison, who I taught to drive, found
out when she made her first solo
night-time drive...
I started to learn to drive before I was
17 by driving around my grandad’s
fields, then I went out on the road.
It was scary at first but after a few
lessons I started to get the hang of it.
After more than a year I passed my
driving test, in October 2021.
I go to school in Ashford and have
part-time job there but live in Brede,
about 25 miles away. I have often
driven from Ashford to Brede and the
other way by various different routes
which I have got to know quite well,
and in all different weather conditions.
Apparently, we have covered about
2,000 miles on lessons.
A week after passing my test I had
to drive home from work in the dark
– on my own. I’ve done it before, but
not by myself. Not to worry, it will be
OK.
I chose the easiest route, across
Romney Marsh to Rye and then to
Brede, a road I know well.
Going across the Marsh was all good,
the traffic was light but it was very dark
and raining hard. When I got to Rye the
road I wanted was closed, as it often is,
so I took a diversion into Deadman’s
Lane, which we have done before.
Deadman’s Lane is one-way and
very narrow, with only enough room to
pass pedestrians, there was a car in
front of me and two behind. A car
came in the wrong direction and
wouldn’t reverse, so we all had to
reverse up into the main road. It has
never happened to me before.
I went from Rye along the country
road to Broad Oak. Brede. It’s about six
miles long and roughly halfway I came
round a bend to find a deer standing in
the road. It was just standing there and
wouldn’t move. I’ve never seen one
before although my Nan has warned me
about them, and wild boar. Eventually it
sauntered off and I drove home. You
just couldn’t make it up. I was glad to
get home that night.
Grandad says you never stop learning,
I learned a lot on that drive I can tell you.
NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2021
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