Newslink March

msagb.com 

Newslink 

The Voice of MSA GB 

Issue 362 • March 2023 

‘Now is the Spring 

of our discontent’ 

Examiners plan rolling programme of 

strikes for 10 days in March – as DVSA 

admits it’s still a long way from hitting 

nine-week L-test waiting time target 

MSA GB Annual 

Report 2021-22: 

find it inside 

We work for all Driver Trainers. Want to join? SAVE £25 – see pg 47 for special offer

Welcome 

For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com 

ADIs are still busy, despite 

the economic downturn 

Colin Lilly 

Editor, MSA GB Newslink 

Recession, cost of living crisis. These are 

words that, not too many years ago, 

would have been worrying to driver 

trainers. In the past, our levels of 

business have been adversely affected by 

such events: anything like high interest 

rates or high unemployment could 

seriously reduce our pupil numbers. 

When the household budget was 

strained the wife/son/daughter’s driving 

lessons were often the first to be cut 

back. There were periods when trainers 

were taking a second job, or giving up all 

together. 

One of the most negative outcomes of 

this was that it often provoked a price 

war, making what little business was left 

even less profitable. 

But now we have lesson prices much 

closer to what should be charged for our 

skills and services, considering the value 

added to a person’s life. 

On this occasion, however, while all 

these pressures are going on around us, 

we have been able to maintain our work 

levels. The phone still rings, pupils are 

maintaining their lessons and those who 

pass are being replaced. 

All this is due to a number of factors. 

Weeks off the road during the Covid era 

could have been disastrous, but the 

support for businesses and pupils being 

furloughed, and thus maintaining their 

savings, meant that when possible, our 

businesses were able to restart almost 

where they were before lockdown. 

The other effect of lockdown was that 

a reserve of new pupils built up, all 

anxious to start lessons. 

But with ADI numbers at a low level 

compared with recent years, there is a 

frustration building among potential 

learners. Many, unable to find an ADI, 

are resorting to asking a member of the 

family to teach them. About half of the 

pupils who come to me following test 

failures have been taught in such a 

fashion to a reasonable standard and 

would easily have passed a test 20 years 

ago, but not in the modern environment. 

A pupil of mine told me of a friend 

that, despite never having driven, passed 

their theory test and then went on to 

book a practical test. Hearing of long 

waiting lists, they managed to book a 

test slot that was available in just eight 

days. They have four hours of lessons 

booked. That’s totally unrealistic. 

I know the DVSA and DfT would be 

unwilling but there needs to be controls 

See page 14 for important 

details of the MSA 

Conference and AGM 

put in on short notice bookings. Perhaps 

any requests should be supported by an 

ADI’s approval. Now that is an idea to 

consider. 

On some occasions when I visit the 

driving test centre it looks like half of 

the candidates are private runners. 

Some, before they leave the test centre, 

are clearly going to fail, and that is the 

case when they return. 

The driving test backlog has provided 

more support for keeping business levels 

high. 

There is another significant push factor 

creating more business. The economic 

downturn has impacted on bus services, 

particularly in rural areas, and as 

services have declined, so more people 

are realising that in order to get to work 

or college they need to drive. This is 

counter, of course, to the local authorities 

encouraging people to use public 

transport. It’s a quite reasonable aim but 

does, currently, fly in the face of reality. 

For the first time in my 45 years in the 

profession, negative effects in the 

economy have been a benefit. Long may 

our profession prosper! 

Welcome to your 

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COVER STORY 

More bad news on 

L-test waiting times 

as the PCS confirms 

more strikes in March 

– and threatens more 

industrial action 

throughout the year 

See page 10 

NEWSLINK n MARCH 2023 03

Contents 

10 

Motorbike instructor 

rules tightened up 

12 

18 

News 

DVSA report 

DVSA chief executive Loveday Ryder 

paints a rosy picture as she reviews 

performance in 2022, though not all 

ADIs agree with her conclusions – Pg 6 

All out ... again 

March will see up to 10 days of strikes 

by examiners as industrial action 

intensifies – with the threat of more 

unrest to come later in the year – Pg 10 

22 

New Highway Code 

hasn’t helped us! 

Photo checks come in on tests 

Examiners will now cross-check DVLA 

photo files before taking candidates out 

on test, in a bid to crackdown on test 

imposters – Pg 9 

NASP report – ORDIT reform? 

The latest meeting between DVSA 

officials and NASP finds new impetus 

for reform to ORDIT, while a consultation 

document finally breaks cover – Pg 12 


The Voice of MSA GB 

The Motor Schools Association 

of Great Britain Ltd 

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recently qualified ADIs throughout Great Britain by: 

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permission of the editor. 

04 NEWSLINK n MARCH 2023


Another award 

for Peter Harvey 

MSA GB national chairman Peter Harvey 

MBE received the Services to the Driver 

Training Industry Award at the The Intelligent 

Instructor Awards 2023 last month. 

The news comes a handful weeks after he 

received a similar accolade at the DIA Awards. 

Peter said he was humbled by the 

recognition, which comes as he prepares to 

stand down as MSA GB National Chairman 

after 28 years. 

In announcing Peter as its recipient the 

awards hosts hailed him as an “outstanding 

ambassador for our industry” and someone 

who is “as knowledgable about driver training 

and road safety as he is approachable.” 

“Peter goes out of his way to help other 

ADIs, and many will want to join us in paying 

tribute, because of the help they have 

received from him during their careers.” 

The Intelligent Instructor awards named Bil 

Plant as National Driving School of the Year, 

and Steph Coulson was the Driving Instructor 

of the Year. 

Richard Storrs, founder of Intelligent 

Instructor, said “it shouldn’t be 

Keep in 

touch 1 

If you have updated your 

address, telephone 

numbers or changed your email 

address recently, please let us 

know at head office by emailing 

us with your new details and 

membership number to 

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If you can’t find your 

membership number, give us a 

ring on 01787 221020. 

Keep in touch: 

Just click on the icon 

to go through to the 

relevant site 

2 

underestimated how important driving 

instructors are when it comes to turning new 

drivers into safer road users,” adding that “we 

are proud to reward the very best instructors, 

driving schools and suppliers within the 

industry, from right across the country. 

“This industry is often overlooked and 

unrewarded, and it shouldn’t be underestimated 

how important this industry is to 

helping make new drivers safer road users.” 

Follow MSA GB on social media 

Keep in 

contact with 

the MSA 

MSA GB area contacts are 

here to answer your queries 

and offer any assistance 

you need. Get in touch if 

you have any opinions on 

how MSA GB is run, or wish 

to comment on any issue 

affecting the driver training 

and testing regime. 

n National Chairman: 

Peter Harvey MBE 

natchair@msagb.com 

n Deputy National 

Chairman: 

Mike Yeomans 

deptnatchair@msagb.com 

n Scotland: 

Steven Porter 

chair.os@msagb.com 

n North East: 

Mike Yeomans 

chair.ne@msagb.com 

n North West: 

Graham Clayton 

chair.nw@msagb.com 

n East Midlands: 

All enquiries to 

info@msagb.com 

n West Midlands: 



n Western: 

Arthur Mynott 

chair.ow@msagb.com 

n Eastern: 

Paul Harmes 

chair.oe@msagb.com 

n Greater London: 

Tom Kwok 

chair.gl@msagb.com 

n South East: 

Terry Cummins 

chair.se@msagb.com 

n South Wales: 



n Newslink: 


editor@msagb.com or 

rob@chambermedia 

services.co.uk 


News 

DVSA focused on the waiting times – 

and changes to test delivery 


addressed ADIs in her latest Despatch 

blog post at the start of February, in 

which she set out her plans for 2023. 

Many members will have read it, but we 

are aware that not everyone picks up on 

the DVSA’s social media 

communications, and so we have 

decided to publish it here, as it contains 

some very important messages 

regarding the future of driver training 

and testing. 

We have also added some of the 

comments expressed by ADIs, as well as 

MSA GB comments. 

LR: In this blog post, I want to update 

you on what’s coming up in 2023, 

including continuing our work in bringing 

driving test waiting times down, the 

launch of our new campaign website, 

investing in our people and new 

technologies, and more. 

Continuing our work to reduce 

waiting times 

LR: 2022 was difficult for many of us 

and we know that driving test waiting 

times are affecting ability to take on new 

customers. We have been working with 

NASP closely to listen to your views, and 

we’ll continue to do this. 

Much of our work will still be focused 

on bringing test waiting times down to 

nine weeks. Although we made 

significant progress last year, there is still 

much work to be done. There are many 

projects and activities that are all 

contributing to this. 

MSA GB says: Readers will recall that 

we openly challenged the DVSA’s 

prediction that waiting times would be 

down to nine weeks by December as 

highly unlikely, and warned that 

‘over-promising, under-delivering’ would 

be a foolish way of getting ADIs on side. 

We take no comfort in the 

acknowledgement that we were right, 

but have to now ask, if the existing 

steps haven’t improved the situation on 

L-test waiting times, why should a 

firmer application of the same strategy 

provide better results? 

With scores of young would-be 

learners coming on stream every day, 

the position looks to us as if we are in 

for a never-ending period of longer test 

waiting times. The simple truth is, the 

backlog of potential candidates denied 

the chance of taking their test for 12 

months due to the pandemic are only 

just clearing the system, and they are 

immediately being replaced by the 

thousands of teenagers who started 

learning to drive in the immediate 

aftermath of the pandemic and who are 

now ready for tests. 

If we are in a position where, barring 

an unlikely set of circumstances, the 

L-test waiting time will always be higher 

than 10 weeks, the DVSA needs to 

come out and say that now, so everyone 

is aware of the situation. It would be 

better to work to standardise 

waiting times across the 

country rather than 

keeping on claiming it is 

in sight of hitting a target 

that it can never achieve. 

Look out for our Ready to 

Pass?’ new and improved 

campaign site 

LR: Please take a look at our new 

‘Ready to Pass?’ website. The new site’s 

better functionality will make it easier for 

you to find and access resources that will 

help you and provide bespoke content 

spaces for each of our audiences. 

We will also be running a trial to boost 

our campaign communications by 

working with an external media agency. 

This is so that our messages can be seen 

more often and in more places by learner 

drivers and help encourage them to 

check that they are completely ready 

before taking their test. 

Transforming the driver services 

delivery model 

LR: We’re creating a modern, flexible 

driver testing service that will look at 

different ways to deliver driving tests. 

This will allow us to see whether we can 

be less dependent on a fixed estate and 

react where the road and traffic 

conditions near a centre have evolved 

and no longer provide the best 

environment in which to assess a 

candidate’s ability to drive. 

We recently began trials at two driving 

test centres Doncaster and Birmingham 

(Kings Heath) to see whether there is 

potential for the practical test to be less 

dependent on fixed estate and building 

on current and future technologies. 

A new approach to training 

We’re supporting training organisations 

to carry out effective manoeuvres tests 

and reintroduce training for new 

delegated vocational examiners for 

resilience and flexibility. We’ll 

also explore conducting driving 

tests from locations other 

than our driving test centres. 

We want to explore the 

benefits to you and your 

pupils of having more flexible 

Loveday Ryder 



Your responses ... How ADIs 

responded to the blog ... 

The DVSA is looking at changes to its 

fixed estate test centres 

options of where candidates can sit their 

tests. 

MSA GB says: Flexibility in delivery to 

take into account changing circumstances 

is always welcome but it can’t come at 

the expense of stability. We can see the 

attraction for the DVSA of dispensing 

with the fixed estate but it does throw 

up a number of problems: Where do 

pupils/trainers wait? What facilities are 

available to candidates? 

Changes to the assessment process for 

ORDIT 

LR: We will be increasing the number 

of examiners who can do Official Register 

of Driving Instructor Trainer (ORDIT) 

assessments for both new applicants and 

current members whose registrations 

have lapsed. 

We will also be updating the 

assessment process to continue work to 

raise professional standards and ensure 

learner drivers (and instructors) have 

access to the highest quality tuition 

possible. 

MSA GB says: ORDIT has felt unfit for 

purpose for some time. We would 

welcome positive changes to this scheme. 

Continued on page 8 

On ORDIT... 

...To be honest it would be a much 

more satisfactory if DVSA steps away 

from ORDIT altogether. DVSA could 

then concentrate on L tests. 

ORDIT, being totally independent, 

could focus on instructor training and 

testing, ie, ORDIT training a 

requirement for PDI from the outset, 

testing over the period of the pink 

licence by ORDIT trainer not associated 

with the sponsoring school. 

For existing ADIs, proof of attending 

ORDIT training and CPD in order to 

remain on the register. 

On waiting times... 

...Put a temporary ban on all private 

non-dual controlled cars taking the 

category B test. This way you’ll avoid 

those people who turn up but are not 

test ready and also, as you have no 

dual controls, put examiners at an 

unnecessary risk. 

If an ADI turns up, say, three times 

in a set period and it’s clear that all the 

pupils were not test-ready, then that 

ADI is banned from taking pupils to 

test for 21 days 

It’s a win-win for everybody... 

...Waiting times for driving tests in 

most major cities and large towns are 

still over six months. I don’t see any 

improvements. Some test centres in 

rural areas with very low populations 

have a short waiting time such as 8-12 

weeks which is helping to bring the 

average down but it’s very misleading. 

There is a massive black market for 

short notice tests in the big cities and 

towns which the DVSA can’t control. 

The DVSA made some efforts a while 

back after being exposed by the BBC 

news - but why did it have to take 

exposure from the BBC for them to act? 

They knew about the black market 

tests after the lockdowns. 

The DVSA talks a good game but I’m 

sorry, not enough is being done to stop 

the black market driving tests. Sort the 

root cause out – waiting times for 

driving tests and the black market will 

go away as well! 

... How about opening test centres 

that were closed in 2008 due to the 

stupid EU rules for motorbike 

emergency stop. Our local town 

Wellingborough test centre closed after 

decades of having one. Now we have 

one located at an elderly day care 

centre for two measly days a week with 

two examiners... oh, and a five-month 

waiting list. 

Return it to a proper five days a 

week/ four examiners test centre like it 

used to be PLEASE!! 

...To be entirely frank, the DVSA 

seems less than honest about waiting 

times. It claims a reduction of ‘average’ 

waiting times but it is nothing more 

than smoke and mirrors. Where is the 

proof of an actual reduction? We don’t 

see one. 

It makes no sense to keep taking on 

more and more PDIs; increasing the 

number of ADIs gets more learners into 

the system, but at a time when tests 

they need are rarer than unicorns. 

Until such time as the DVSA is on 

top of the waiting list properly, this 

situation won’t improve. 

...Here’s an idea: Stop failing good 

drivers for silly things to keep the 

examiners’ pass rates within 10% of 

the centre average. 

Maybe go easier on those examiners 

who flag up anomalies on your system 

of KPIs and they won’t feel the need to 

fail people unnecessarily. 

...Can you not make it that to book a 

test, the candidate must quote an ADI 

number? No number, no test. 

More ADIs’ thoughts on pg 8 


News 

DVSA focused on 

the waiting times 

– and changes to 

test delivery 

Continued from page 7 


writes: 

How electric and autonomous vehicles 

can affect our industry 

LR: Another area we’ll continue to look 

at is how electric and autonomous 

vehicles impact on the instruction 

delivered by ADIs and if our tests need to 

be updated to reflect any changes in 

autonomous vehicle technology. 

MSA GB says: This is not before time. 

When you consider that the majority of 

ADIs, when they change their car in the 

next three years, are likely to be looking 

for an electric/hybrid vehicle that is by its 

nature an automatic, the DVSA must 

consider whether the current testing and 

licensing regime – which can be traced 

back nearly 90 years – is fit for purpose. 

Improving access to your 

performance reports 

LR: We will be working with the 

Government Digital Service to explore an 

accessible online form to improve the 

way you can request your performance 

reports. 

We have lots to accomplish this year 

and I’m looking forward to another busy 

year working with you to improve our 

service and promote a lifetime of safe 

driving. 

ADIs’ thoughts on the DVSA Despatch blog 

On Standards Checks 

A CPD approach instead of Standards 

Checks would be a far better and more 

productive way of raising standards. 

On getting test data to ADIs... 

If our badge is on display and 

therefore recorded on the test, wouldn’t 

it be easy enough to email me a copy of 

the marks, too? 

You say it’s the pupil’s test but if I’m 

being assessed too, then surely I should 

have a right to know the result? 

Fixed estate 

Moving away from fixed-estate 

testing is one of the best ideas. 

Examiner cohort can then rise and fall 

with demand. Remote working is 

accepted these days and customers 

expect services to “come to them”. 

Cost savings should be appreciable, 

perhaps allowing more flexibility in 

staff numbers or other perks to reduce 

churn. 

Black market tests 

The black market for tests was a 

problem well before Covid. I’d like to 

see some honesty – realistic figures that 

are clearly indicating how many more 

tests above ‘normal’ have been provided 

in order to get the waiting list down. 

I feel the DVSA forget we closed our 

businesses for nine months. It’s still a 

struggle to balance work and income. 

We need to know how to adjust our 

businesses long term and account for 

how long this wait will continue. 

Threats from the Information 

Commissioner are not going to stop 

people selling tests at £100 a time. 

You used to give out weekday tests at 

short notice. This would create some 

movement in the system, but I’ve seen 

these are being given away months in 

advance. 

This gives the ‘driving test dealers’ 

time to soak up all the dates in advance 

and sell on at a premium. 

If tests came out at shorter notice 

dealers would have less time to react to 

the market. Maybe you need to 

consider drip-feeding tests. Why load 

up multiple dates all at once? 

Give independents a chance 

I’d even suggest you try to give 

something to the independents who are 

competing with the larger schools who 

can book more tests with more licences 

and also pay staff to sit at a computer 

all day. 

Give us a trainer booking service. 

Allocate half the tests a month that we 

provide the details two weeks before 

the test. 

Two quick solutions to waiting times: 

1. Cease all check testing and divert 

examiners to doing learner tests. Check 

tests are stressful and pointless. 

2. Allow instructors in particularly 

high waiting time areas (cities) to be 

able to issue test pass certificates if 

candidates pass a mock test. 



Photo checks to be used 

to combat L-test fraud 

The DVSA has added a new measure in 

its bid to combat L-test fraud by ensuring 

that driving examiners are able to see a 

high resolution copy of the candidate’s 

provisional licence image on their tablets 

at the start of a test. 

This will allow examiners to confirm 

the candidate’s identity and prevent any 

attempts at driving test fraud. 

The images are supplied by the DVSA’s 

sister agency the DVLA from those sent 

by learner drivers when they apply for 

their provisional licence. 

They will be only made available to 

examiners for the start of the test and 

will be kept securely at all times. 

Further upgrades will be added to the 

app used by driving examiners to do tests 

this spring to help them spot candidate 

fraud and record suspected illegal 

activity. 

The development comes at a time 

when cases of L-test fraud are said to be 

at an all-time high, with around 1,000 

cases reported each year. 

One imposter admitted to police that 

she had taken the L-test 150 times on 

behalf of other people, earning between 

£7-800 each time for a pass. 

Inderjeet Kaur was sentenced to eight 

months in prison after 63 cases were 

proven. Kaur, from Swansea, was happy 

to travel as far as Nottingham and 

London to take the test on behalf of 

women mostly of South Asian descent 

who didn’t have a good grasp of English 

and had previously failed their test. 

The judge at her case believed she had 

made as much as £120,000 during her 

criminal career, which lasted five years. 

James Hartson, prosecuting, said the 

case had led to “hundreds of women 

taking to the road who were ill-equipped 

and ill-prepared to drive safely.” 

DVSA staff are trained to spot 

imposters, with Kaur being investigated 

after examiners said she appeared “far 

too relaxed” to be taking her L-test, and 

was far too good on the test to be a 

nervous candidate. 

Examiners will now have 

access to the most up-todate 

photo of each 

candidate to check their 

identity before the L-test 


News 

10 days of strikes set to sweep away 

gains in reducing L-test waiting lists 

Just when we hoped we were getting on 

top of the L-test waiting times... 

...the PCS union confirmed that 

driving examiners would be taking part 

in a rolling programme of strikes over a 

10-day period through March – and 

there could be more industrial action for 

the rest of the year, too. 

More than 1,600 PCS members will 

be involved in the forthcoming strikes, 

which start on March 6 and run through 

to March 28. 

They are part of the union’s national 

campaign on pay, pensions, redundancy 

terms and job security, and comes 

after similar action by examiners at the 

turn of the year. The strikes so far have 

caused significant disruption and cost an 

estimated £2.8m in lost driving test 

revenue. This amounts to around 45,000 

lost L-tests – or approximately three per 

cent of all L-tests conducted annually. 

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka 

said the decision to launch the latest 

wave of strikes was not taken lightly, but 

the unwillingness of the DVSA and 

Government to engage in meaningful 

dialogue with the union had forced its 

hand. “The government must put forward 

concrete proposals to resolve this 

dispute,” he said. “The more ministers 

choose to ignore members’ concerns over 

low pay, the more angry our members 

become. 

“We cannot ignore the cost-of-living 

crisis. Ministers must resolve this dispute 

by putting money on the table.” 

The strike actions began last year when 

PCS held a ballot of members over a 

series of issues, including pay, pensions, 

jobs and redundancy terms. With a 

turnout of 50 per cent in 124 employer 

areas, it delivered an 86.2 per cent vote 

in favour of strike action – the highest 

percentage vote in its history, PCS said. 

The PCS wants a 10 per cent pay rise 

for driving examiners as well as 

improvements to pensions, job security 

and no cuts to redundancy terms. 

The PCS added: “The problem we 

have is the Government isn’t talking to 

us. We’ve made it clear we are open to 

negotiation but no-one from Government 

is prepared to discuss these issues in 

meaningful manner. 

“The only offer we have had is that the 

Government might be able to promise 

more money next year, but that’s no good 

for our members. They need their income 

to rise now, in the face of huge increases 

in their cost of living. 

“If you look at the position across the 

public sector, the Government is being 

totally intransigent. 

“Further strikes will, sadly, happen 

after March unless things change in 

their negotiating position.” 

A DVSA spokesperson said: “DVSA is 

working hard to keep any disruption 

caused by industrial action to a 

minimum, so as many much-needed 

appointments will go ahead as possible. 

“We are putting in place contingency 

measures and are sorry for any 

inconvenience. 

“We are advising all customers to turn 

up for their appointment as usual. L-test 

customers who have an appointment on 

a day when industrial action is taking 

place will be contacted directly with 

further information if their driving test is 

affected. However, should they wish to, 

they can rearrange or cancel their 

booking in line with our usual policy.” 

What ADIs will find alarming is that on 

February 24 the PCS announced that a 

new ballot will be held on further 

industrial action. 

The current strikes are part of the 

six-month mandate the law allows after 

the vote on this issue in November; a 

further postal ballot will be held from 

March 20-May 9 which, if examiners 

back the union, could mean a further six 

months of industrial action. 

Mark Serwotka said: “We’re sending a 

very clear signal to ministers that we’re 

not backing down in the pursuit of a fair 

deal for our members. 

“The pressure is building on ministers. 

They must talk to us, listen to our 

concerns. They know we’re looking at 

escalating our strike action beyond May, 

unless they make concessions. 

“Our members deserve a fair pay rise 

and we will not stop our campaign until 

ministers put money on the table.” 

What we say: 

MSA GB sees no winners in this 

dispute. Government and DVSA come 

out as ignoring public sector workers, 

and examiners look uncaring as to the 

impact these strikes have on learners. 

But we do see the losers, very clearly. 

They are our pupils, who have the 

chance to take their L-test snatched 

away from them, causing huge stress 

and incvenience, and our ADI members, 

who see more disruption to their 

livelihoods after two years of Covidrelated 

problems. Remember, examiners 

were paid in full during Covid; ADIs, 

while receiving support frmo the 

Government, did not. 

It is encumbent on all parties 

concerned to get around the negotiating 

table and resolve this dispute. PCS 

claims that the Government is reluctant 

to enter into talks at all is incredibly 

worrying and frustrating. 



DVSA launches new theory app 

DVSA’s official publisher, The Stationery Office (TSO), has 

launched an updated version of the theory test kit app. 

The app is a great resource to help your pupils learn the 

Highway Code and prepare for their theory test. It’s available 

to download on both Android and iOS devices. 

The updated app includes: 

• Measure of test readiness – helping learners know when 

they’re ready to take their real test. 

• Timed mock tests 

• Links out to DVSA Ready to Pass campaign – combining practical and theory tests 

• Has a fresh new design – making it easier for users to navigate the app 

The app also includes all the official revision questions, interactive hazard perception 

clips to help your pupils get ready for their test and a digital copy of The Highway 

Code. 

The price of the app is still £4.99 and it is available on both Android and iOS 

platforms. 

If pupils already have the app, they can check their devices’ app store to make sure 

they have updated it to the most recent version. 

Waiting room 

gone for a Burton 

Due to refurbishment work at 

Burton-on-Trent driving test centre, 

the waiting room facilities will 

continue to be unavailable until 

Wednesday, March 8. 

Temporary toilet facilities will still 

be provided until then. 

ADIs are requested to arrive at 

least five minutes before their 

pupil’s test and wait in their car. 

The driving examiner will come to 

your car at the time of the test. 

The DVSA has already contacted 

affected candidates, but if you have 

booked their test for them, please 

let them know. 

Help your pupils find a great 

car insurance deal and 

earn yourself £50! * 

Adrian Flux Insurance Services have introduced a driving 

instructor referral scheme, whereby driving instructors can 

earn up to £50* for each policy taken out by their pupils. 

How does it work? 

1 

You will be allocated a unique 

reference number, (“i”Number) 

2 4 

You will be sent a batch of 

personalised cards to hand out 

to your pupils 

3 

When your pupils call 0800 587 5291 

for a quote we’ll ask for your i Number 

We’ll pay you up to £50 for each 

new policy sold by your referral 

Start earning today, click here to email your enquiry 

adrianflux.co.uk/di 

Authorised & regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority *Referral rates may vary. 

The £50 fee is based on the pupil taking out a 12 month comprehensive policy. 


News 

DVSA plans for flexible test gather pace, 

while NASP asks for ORDIT overhaul 

Report of joint meeting of the National 

Associations Strategic Partnership (NASP 

with DVSA, held on February 7 at 

Berkeley House, Bristol 

The quarterly meeting was attended by 

several senior members of DVSA and all 

the NASP associations. The following is a 

summary. 

The purpose of this meeting was to: 

• DVSA to review and provide update 

on the previous action points 

• DVSA to provide NASP with an 

update on driver recovery, driver policy, 

ADI registration, ADI examinations, 

Ready to Pass? campaign, PDI 

advertising and messaging, ORDIT 

update, Part 3 and entry level PDI, Pass 

Plus and LGV licence evidence 

documentation. 

DVSA confirmed that they will resolve 

the outstanding actions relating to the 

organisational chart and contacts list that 

NASP had previously requested, and the 

proposed appointment of a relationship 

manager for NASP to work more closely 

with before the next meeting. 

DVSA updates 

Previous action points: NASP has 

concerns on tribunal decisions taking a 

long time for their members. DVSA 

stated it was out of its control but one 

NASP association had an apology from 

the judge on the length of time taken for 

a decision. NASP will monitor this in the 

coming months. 

Driving test recovery 

DVSA confirmed 695,000 extra tests 

have been created as a result of 

measures taken by DVSA to reduce 

driving test waiting times. 

- Recruiting new driving examiners had 

created 300,000 slots 

- Conducting out of normal hours 

testing through overtime, including at 

weekends and on public holidays, had 

created 190,000 slots 

- Asking colleagues who are qualified 

to carry out driving tests, but do not do 

so as part of their normal duties, had 

created a further 120,000 slots 

- Converting any unsold motorcycle 

tests and vocational tests to car tests 

seven days before the test appointment, 

had led to 58,000 tests 

- Buying back annual leave from 

driving examiners had created 20,000 

slots 

- Inviting recently retired driving 

examiners to return to work had created 

7,000 slots 

DVSA confirmed driving test recovery 

has been impacted by industrial action 

and the retention of driving examiners 

due to retirement and natural turnover. 

The agency is considering using driving 

test appointment availability data to 

provide better indication of waiting times. 

This will also help DVSA to identify the 

areas where more training is necessary 

and additional examiners are required. 

NASP voiced concern that test waiting 

times would now not improve until late 

summer or beyond. 

A discussion followed on numbers of 

examiners due to retire and how the 

waiting times could possibly be 

improved. One suggestion was for ADIs 

to be able to swap tests that they have 

booked with other instructors without 

having to phone to do so, as it is time 

consuming. DVSA said they had not 

taken this into account and it may 

consider for the future. 

Transformation of test delivery 

DVSA is piloting a ‘flexible driving test 

service’ and how the driving test process 

might change in the future with the 

development in technology. A number of 

locations have been confirmed and will 

be revealed soon. 

The pilot will involve non-testing 

locations such as community buildings or 

sports and retail centres and will be 

evaluated. 

Those wishing to read more on this 

can read it by clicking the panel. 

Click here for details 

Agile test delivery 

NASP welcomed the plans to develop 

test centre delivery, to make it more agile 

and resource efficient. 

They raised a concern that the plan to 

‘share’ facilities with third party owned 

sites may give the agency less control of 

test facilities and could lead to churn of 

centres if the third-party owners of the 

sites decided to end the arrangement, etc. 

DVSA is mindful of this risk and would 

be working to build relationships with the 

partners where that wouldn’t be such a 

vulnerability. 

NASP asked for assurance that all new 

sites will have toilet facilities for their 

customers. DVSA agreed that that would 

be part of the search criteria. 

Driver policy 

DVSA is giving examiners access to 

photographs of candidates from the 

DVLA records (see page 11), to help 

identify imposters. The feedback from 

examiners who have been trialling the 

new feature has been positive (this 

service was rolled out to all examiners in 

the week of 13 February 2023). 

DVSA explained the changes to OBS 

terms and conditions and asked NASP 

for feedback on the changes. 

NASP asked again about long awaited 

results of the consultation. DVSA 

confirmed that the results will be 

published in the very near future and 

discussed with NASP ahead of being 



published. *(see note at foot) 

DVSA gave an update on DBS/ 

instructor application volumes and what 

links should be used to obtain the correct 

checks. NASP gave feedback on what 

would help direct them and their 

members to the correct place. 

ORDIT 

DVSA gave an update on ORDIT and 

the work that has gone into updating 

this. It was discussed and there are 

further updates to come. 

NASP said the whole qualification 

process should be overhauled and an 

opportunity taken to improve standards. 

NASP also asked for clarification on how 

the training notes for ORDIT trainers can 

be discussed during an engagement call 

and if they are still actually viewed prior 

to the assessment on the ORDIT test day. 

DVSA updated on PDI advertising and 

what should and should not happen. 

NASP voiced their concerns with 

examples of replies to members from 

DVSA which were contradictory. DVSA 

will have another look at wording to 

make sure it is clear. 

NASP asked whether newly qualified 

ADIs came under the TIP triggers for 

their first Stands Check. DVSA aims for a 

check to take place within the first 12 

months, but if TIP indicators give cause 

for concern they can be prioritised. 

ADI Examiners 

DVSA updated on the demand for Part 

2 and 3 tests and the impact this was 

having on standard checks. They are 

starting to look to retrain some examiners 

to help with the Parts 2 & 3 backlog. 

Test centre open days 

DVSA explained test centre open days 

were put on hold due to industrial action 

but will start being held again. 

NASP asked whether there was a 

standard operating procedure to be used 

to make sure there is standard approach 

to inviting external organisations to 

attend the events. DVSA suggested 

creating one, to ensure the requirements 

for test centre open days are clear and 

that branding, messaging and 

educational focus is clear and consistent 

across all test centres. 

NASP suggested that DVSA should 

consider engaging with local 

communities via test centres in areas 

with higher fail rates and higher car 

related accidents and fatalities. 

DVSA to share test centre open day 

blog posts for ADIs with NASP to review. 

Ready to Pass? campaign 

DVSA confirmed that the updated 

Ready to Pass campaign website had 

gone live. The agency also provided 

feedback on the webinar run by the 

Warwickshire Road Safety group and 

said it plans to develop a proposal for a 

DVSA-run ‘Ask the Expert’ Q&A webinars 

DVSA plans to share facilities with third 

party owners for L-tests was a 

concern... but it assured NASP that 

toilet facilities would be part of the 

search criteria... 

What can an observer sat in the 

back of the car during a test do? 

Take notes is one thing – though a 

guidance message is on its way to 

ADis and examiners 

for learners and their parents 

DVSA said it would like more ADIs to 

offer mock tests and if adding it on the 

‘find you nearest’ website or running 

mock test webinars would be beneficial. 

NASP believes mock test training 

should be part of the qualifying process 

and included by trainers. 

Clarification was given over what an 

observer sitting in the back of a test was 

allowed to do, and that this did include 

being able to take notes. DVSA will 

produce a guidance message for ADIs 

and examiners soon. 

AOB 

NASP raised concerns over the CEO’s 

recent letter and blog posts to ADIs; this 

had been received negatively by many 

ADIs. Given the current state of L-test 

waiting times, this was not the time to 

be sending out an email that appeared to 

be just celebrating DVSA successes. 

NASP gave feedback from their 

members on the remarks in the letter 

about bringing pupils who are ready for 

test. 

NASP asked for an update on Pass 

Plus. DVSA confirmed people are still 

doing this, but far fewer. It is on a to-do 

list for revamp and the entire package 

will be reviewed. 

Finally, NASP asked for their previous 

queries on examiner uniformity and 

quality assurance to be looked into. 

* Editor’s Note: The mystery of the 

disappearing consultation 

NASP is pressing for details on the 

consultation held in January 2022, on 

new L-test measures. 

The consultation included ideas such 

as extending the period that unsuccessful 

car candidates must wait before applying 

for another car test, extending the period 

in which a cancelled car test will result in 

a lost test fee, and changing the eyesight 

test so it can be carried out in any light 

conditions. 

We will let you know when the results 

are found! 


News 

Conference 2023 moves online – 

but will still deliver great CPD 

MSA GB Conference 

Time: 10am - 1pm, 

Date: 11th March 

via ZOOM 

Cost: Free of charge 

With regret, we have had to take the 

decision to move our face-to-face 

conference, AGM and awards this year 

to an online event. 

If you would like to attend the virtual 

event, it will take place between 10am 

-1pm on the 11th March, via ZOOM. 

Please contact us at info@msagb.com 

with the email address you would like 

us to use, and we will send you the 

joining instructions nearer the time. 

Apologies for the obvious 

disappointment in not having a face-toface 

event, but it seems that in this 

post-COVID era, there is still a preference 

for online rather than in-person events of 

this kind. 

We are also very aware of how busy 

many of you are at this time, which has 

no doubt influenced some members. 

A great opportunity for CPD and 

to learn more about what’s 

happening in the industry 

Please be reassured that despite 

moving to a virtual format, this is still an 

incredible opportunity to hear the latest 

industry news and harness the 

knowledge of our expert line up of senior 

DVSA and industry representatives. 

Our speakers will offer an in-depth look 

at the current issues facing the driver 

training and testing sector as we all 

wrestle with increased L-test waiting 

times, new technology and changes to 

the way we teach driving, and the 

expectations that come with that. 

SPEAKERS 

DVSA – Peter Hearn 

Peter Hearn is the 

Director of Operations 

(North) at the DVSA 

in May 2017. He had 

been covering the role 

since April 2017 and had 

been Acting Director of Operations for all 

of DVSA since July 2016. 

Peter previously held positions at the 

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency 

(VOSA). 

As director he is responsible for 

delivering driving test and vehicle testing 

services in the North East, North 

West, West Midlands, Scotland and 

Wales. 

He will give us an updated 

presentation on where DVSA are at 

the time, followed by an open 

question time session. 

Peter will be 

accompanied by other 

senior DVSA personnel. 

Confident Drivers – 

Kevin and Tracey Field 

(right) 

Kevin and Tracey Field 

from Confident Drivers are 

leading industry experts, helping anxious 

drivers transform their feelings about 

driving and get back on the road through 

driving confidence coaching, stress 

management techniques and online 

driving confidence courses. 

If you are an ADI who would like to 

offer mindfulness and stress 

management resources to your pupils to 

help manage their nerves, this should 

not be missed. 

Kevin is a personal development 

coach, NLP practitioner, and a grade A 

ORDIT registered instructor. 

Tracey is a mindfulness teacher 

qualified in stress management 

techniques and recently 

completed her 

psychology degree with 

The Open University. 

Together they have 

combined their skills 

and knowledge and 

applied them to 

driving anxiety, 

stress and nerves. 

Kev and Tracey 

run training 

courses for ADIs 

who want to 

understand more 



about how to help their nervous students 

and are regular speakers at driver 

training industry events, as well as being 

the hosts of The Driving Confidence 

Podcast. 

Tri-Coaching Partnership Ltd 

– Graham Hooper 

Graham is a coach and mentor to 

driver trainers and is passionate about 

road safety and using 

coaching for driver 

development to make 

a difference to ADIs / 

PDIs and their 

clients. 

He has been an ADI 

and trainer for 28 years 

and has invested heavily 

in his own CPD. He is co-managing 

director of Tri-Coaching Partnership, the 

number one supplier of ADI CPD. 

His presentation will show the four 

fundamental skills that an ADI/PDI 

should have to make feedback an 

effective learning tool, and how feedback 

is used to be client centred and on point. 

These key skills show how without 

effective feedback, both you and the 

client can get lost on the journey of 

learning. 

We hope to see you – online – on the 

11th March, from 10am 

Want to know more? 

You can find out the latest on 

the Conference by visiting our 

website, at msagb.com 

Details of the AGM agenda and 

the Conference programme can 

also be found at msagb.com 

TO REGISTER TO ATTEND, 

email us at 


You will then be sent the link to 

the Conference 

Warning as DVLA slips behind 

on driving licence applications 

following a medical condition 

ADIs who have been forced to 

surrender their driving licences 

because of a temporary medical 

condition have been warned they face 

a lengthy wait before their application 

is processed by the Driver and Vehicle 

Licensing Agency (DVLA). 

The agency is currently failing to 

meet its own relaxed targets on 

processing applications as it struggles 

to get its customer service standards 

back on track after the pandemic. 

While its target – which before the 

pandemic was set at four weeks to 

handle a request for a driving licence 

to be returned after a medical issue – 

was pushed back to handling 90 per 

cent of cases in 90 days, it is only 

achieving this in just over 60 per cent 

of cases. Some applicants have 

complained of the DVLA taking up to 

six months to review a driving licence 

application, with drivers being left in 

the dark as contacting the DVLA staff 

can be challenging at times. 

A spokesman for the Heycar 

website, which launched the 

investigation, said the problem of slow 

processing of medical licence 

applications was having a severe 

impact on those affected. “These 

drivers are often over 70, living in 

remote areas, who rely on their cars 

as a vital lifeline to attend medical 

appointments, do their shopping or to 

visit friends and relatives. 

“While some may be able to drive 

while their application is being 

processed, not all can.” 

Reasons for th DVLA’s problems 

centre on an increasingly fractious 

relationship between management 

and staff. One spokesperson for the 

PCS union, which represents many of 

the DVLA workforce in Swansea, said 

morale was low and that all 

management suggestions were now 

being treated with acute suspicion. 

Recent industrial action as part of the 

PCS union’s national pay and 

conditions dispute have not helped 

the situation either. 

Driving medical checks were 

“deprioritised” by the Department of 

Health and Social Care (DHSC) during 

the pandemic, and as recently as 

January 2022 few were being 

processed. 

The unavailability of experts to give 

opinions on complex medical 

conditions is also causing difficulties. 

To help reduce waiting times, the 

DVLA has added new online services 

and opened customer service centres in 

Swansea and Birmingham which are 

focused on medical applications. In 

addition, from July last year, the law 

was changed to enable healthcare 

professionals other than doctors to 

complete DVLA medical questionnaires. 

One of the other problems the DVLA 

has had in responding to queries from 

the public is that it has invested 

heavily in Chatbot services to speed 

up customer contacts – but medical 

queries cannot be answer this way. 

Notifiable medical conditions for 

which drivers need to re-apply for a 

driving licence include: diabetes (or 

taking insulin); epilepsy; glaucoma; 

heart conditions (including atrial 

fibrillation and pacemakers); sleep 

apnoea; strokes; and syncope 

(fainting). 


News 

BHS launches campaign as Highway Code 

revision fails to reduce horse incidents 

The British Horse Society (BHS) has used 

the first anniversary of the major revision 

of the Highway Code to appeal for more 

consideration to be shown by vehicle 

drivers to horse and riders on the roads. 

In the 2022, the revised Highway Code 

pressed the need to do more to protect 

vulnerable road users, particularly 

pedestrians and cyclists. 

But equally, horses and riders had a 

more powerful presence in the Code than 

previously, with three curcial changes: 

• The introduction of a Hierarchy of 

Road Users stated that those in charge of 

vehicles that can cause the greatest harm 

in the event of a collision bear the 

greatest responsibility to take care and 

reduce the danger they pose to others. 

In this, equestrians are viewed 

alongside cyclists, pedestrians, and 

motorcyclists in this new hierarchy. 

• Guidance on the safe passing 

distances when overtaking or approaching 

horses was confirmed. The Code’s guide 

is for cars and vans to pass horses and 

horse-drawn vehicles at speeds under 

10mph and allow at least two metres 

space. 

• Inappropriate speeds must be 

avoided, as they are intimidating and 

deter people from riding horses. 

Despite this new guidance in place, 

however, the number of road incidents 

involving horses continues to rise, with 

two horses killed on Britain’s roads 

already in 2023. 

This follows the 68 equine deaths 

logged via the BHS’s ‘Horse I’ app in 

2022, with an additional 125 injured 

along with 139 riders. 

In total the equine charity received 

details of 3,552 equine-related road 

incidents over the past year, which is a 

notable 21 per cent increase on the 

number reported in 2021. 

To combat this worrying trend, BHS 

has launched a new campaign to raise 

concern and is calling for urgent action, 

expressing fears that too many drivers are 

not aware of the guidelines in place. 

Through this campaign and its key 

messages, BHS hopes to: 

• Drive greater awareness of the 

Highway Code changes 

• Raise awareness of why it’s so 

important to pass horses safely 

• Reduce the number of incidents 

involving horses on UK roads. 

The call to action: 

A spokesperson said: “At the BHS, we 

continue to inform drivers and create 

‘‘ 

68 equine deaths were 

logged via the BHS’s ‘Horse 

1’ app in 2022, with an 

additional 125 being injured. 

There were 129 riders 

injured, too 

‘‘ 

awareness about how to safely pass 

horses on the roads through our Dead 

slow campaign. 

“The key messages of ‘Dead Slow’ 

reinforce the Highway Code changes, 

recommending four steps for drivers when 

passing horses on the road: 

If I see a horse on the road then I will … 

• Slow down to a maximum of 10mph 

• Be patient – I won’t sound my horn 

or rev my engine 

• Pass the horse wide and slow, leaving 

at least 2m distance 

• Drive slowly away 

We are also encouraging all riders, and 

the wider public, to continue to report 

incidents through our Horse I app or at 

horseincidents.org.uk. 

The more incidents that are reported, 

the more the BHS can do to protect the 

rights of horse riders on Britain’s roads. 

The general public can also donate to 

the BHS to help support future equine 

safety projects. 

To learn more visit www.bhs.org.uk 


News 

DVSA tightens up rules for bike 

trainers’ standards checks 

New requirement for DBS 

checks to bring them in line 

with ADIs, and trainers will 

have to teach more than one 

rider on their standards check 

The DVSA has announced two changes 

to motorcycle trainer assessment and 

authorisation as part of its strategy 

continually raising the standards of 

motorcycle instruction. 

The changes, which come into force 

from April 3, are: 

• Introducing basic Disclosure and 

Barring Service (DBS) checks for new 

and existing motorcycle trainers 

• Requiring trainers to teach a 

minimum of two pupils during their CBT 

(compulsory basic training) standards 

checks. 

DBS checks 

From April 3 all motorcycle instructors 

must get a basic DBS check when they 

renew their existing licence. Anyone 

applying to become a motorcycle 

instructor for the first time will need to 

get a basic DBS check when they apply. 

Basic DBS checks are available from 

GOV.UK. 

Chief Driving Examiner and Head of 

Rider Policy, Mark Winn, said: “The 

requirement for a basic DBS check brings 

motorcycle instructors more closely in 

line with approved driving instructors for 

cars, who are already required to have a 

DBS check as part of their registration 

process. 

“It will provide greater assurance that 

people working in motorcycle training 

and those who are approved or 

authorised by DVSA are suitable to work 

with the public, teach pupils of all ages 

and uphold the integrity of the register.” 

A basic DBS disclosure currently costs 

£18 in England and Wales and £25 in 

Scotland. 

DVSA will contact instructors when 

their certificate is due for renewal. The 

instructor will then need to obtain a 

basic DBS disclosure certificate and send 

it to DVSA electronically along with their 

renewal application. 

Those applying for registration must 

tell DVSA about any previous offences or 

convictions as part of their application. 

Previous minor offences do not 

automatically stop someone from 

becoming an instructor, 

Even a more serious offence 

committed as a young person or young 

adult many years ago might not prevent 

someone automatically from becoming 

an instructor. The Rehabilitation of 

Offenders Act must be considered, 

and each case will be considered 

individually. 

You can read more about 

DBS checks in England and 

Wales HERE; and for 

Scotland HERE. 

Mark Winn 

Standards checks 

The other change sees all CBT 

standards checks being required to 

include at least two pupils. 

The DVSA says it is making this 

change to reflect real-life training, as 

most motorbike training courses involve 

small groups of 2-4 pupils rather than 

one-to-one training. 

Exceptions may be made in 

circumstances where one-to-one training 

is required (for example, where 

candidates have additional needs). 

Mark commented: “Most courses are 

structured around a 4:1 and 2:1 ratio; 

yet our analysis of planned standards 

checks show these are typically 

conducted at a 1:1 ratio and with 

a repeat trainee on an 

automatic machine. 

“It is only right that the 

instructor’s ability to train 

more than one trainee at 

the same time forms part of 

the standards check. 

“That’s why, from April 3, 



‘‘ 

The standards check will not 

be considered acceptable if 

there is only one trainee and 

will be treated as a failed 

standards check... 

‘‘ 

“Most 

courses are 

structured 

around a 

4:1 and 2:1 

ratio”, as 

this course 

is at 

Camriders... 

all standards checks must include at 

least two pupils. Unless our records 

show the ATB routinely structures their 

training courses on a 1:1 ratio, or a 

trainee drops out part way through the 

course, the standards check will not be 

considered acceptable if there is only one 

trainee and will be treated as a failed 

standards check.” 

Motorbike instructors are authorised to 

teach up to four pupils during elements A 

to D of CBT, and two pupils on road 

during both CBT and direct access 

scheme training. 

Mark added: “If the trainer can show 

there is a clear reason for only having 

one trainee it will be taken in to account. 

So, for example, if the trainer is working 

with a candidate with additional needs or 

a bike breaks down part way through the 

training course, the 1:1 standards check 

can be accepted. 

“The rest of the standards check will 

stay the same, with trainers being 

marked on the same 17 areas of 

competence as they are now. ”

News 

ET is alive and well and running the 

traffic department in Clevedon... 

Colin Lilly 

Editor, MSA GB Newslink 

A 

Last month we looked at the wavy road 

markings that had appeared in Clevedon, 

North Somerset. You may recall that the 

story gained some traction in the 

mainstream national media, too. 

Well, here’s the update. The wavy lines 

remain but there have been more bizarre 

happenings. 

I thought I would return to view the 

recent developments. I was pleased to 

see workmen’s huts, barriers and cones 

were gone. Good, I thought, we now 

have the finished project. 

The wavy lines remain (Photo A, on 

this page) but these have now been 

joined by a large blank circle at the road. 

(Photo B, on the facing page). 

Locals have been having a field day on 

social media, likening it to a crop circle 

left by aliens. Some other suggestions 

include a sumo wrestling ring, a folk 

dance area and a site for a hot tub. 

I am tempted to go along with the first 

suggestion and that the aliens have 

already landed and infiltrated the minds 

of local traffic engineers, with the aim of 

introducing the road system used in their 

galaxy. It’s all a precursor for an invasion! 

If anyone finds these photos 

unbelievable I must confess to using 

Photoshop to remove a smiley face 

someone had painted on it. 

When questioned by a resident about 

the markings a North Somerset Council 

spokesperson is reported to have said: 

“The circle was in place by Tuesday 

morning and is a part of a new 

roundabout layout which will help control 

the flow and speed of traffic. 

“A ‘buff’ surface will be applied to the 

circle in the spring, which vehicles will 

be able to drive over.” 

I feel the definition of roundabout has 

become a little cloudy here. There is little 

room for anything larger than a bicycle to 

go around the circle, perhaps someone 

mistook diameter for radius. 

When asked about the lack of Give 

Way signs and markings, the 

spokesperson added that the drivers 

should treat the new roundabout layout 

like any other, by giving way to other 

road users. 

So when is a roundabout not a 

roundabout? 

No worries; less than 48 hours after I 

took these photos a crew of workman 

arrived at dead of night to burn these 

‘‘ 

Locals likened the blank 

circle to a crop circle left by 

aliens... perhaps they are 

introducing the same road 

system as they have on 

their own planet... 

‘‘ 

makings off – something which probably 

did wonders for the new surface. 

(Photo C. published by the local Save 

Our Seafront campaign, on the facing 

page) 

Immediately after the markings were 

replaced by mini-roundabout centre 

markings – but still no Give Way lines. 

(See Photo D) 

Maybe next month I will have another 

tale from the bizarre town I used to call 

home. 

On a serious note, often I find it 

difficult to write articles such as this one 

in fear of the libel laws. I always think of 

libel as not necessarily untrue but 

something which can be facts presented 

in a way that may be unpalatable to the 

subject. Am I upsetting the council by 

lampooning them? It is not helped by the 

fact that my Council Tax contributes to 

this farce... so I deal with it by using a 

little humour. 

CONTACT 

To comment on this article or any other 

issue surrounding driver training and 

testing, contact Colin via 

editor@msagb.com 



B 

C 

The evolution of road 

traffic marking chaos. 

Top, Photo B shows 

the empty circie 

painted on the road in 

the style of a miniroundabout... 

Photo C, council 

workmen pay a visit 

in the dead of night to 

remove it... 

and Photo D, after all 

the fuss, what looks 

like a small but 

standardised 

mini-roundabout ... 

D 

New rules on 

scooters call 

The European Transport Safety 

Council (ETSC) and the Parliamentary 

Advisory Council for Transport Safety 

(PACTS) have set out what they say 

should be a minimum safety standard 

for powered scooters. 

Included in the new strategy is a 

20 km/h factory-set speed limit, larger 

wheels, a ban on passengers and 

pavement riding, compulsory helmets 

and a minimum age for riders of 16. 

The report is in response to the 

rapid growth of e-scooter usage over 

the last five years, and an associated 

increase in deaths and serious 

injuries. It takes into account a wide 

body of data, hospital studies, vehicle 

safety testing and research from 

across Europe and beyond. 

The regulatory picture for e-scooters 

is currently mixed, with considerable 

variations across Europe in rules on 

minimum age of riders, maximum 

power and speed, use of helmets and 

other aspects. The report also calls for 

common technical standards to be 

introduced as far as possible. 

The most important two regulations 

would mandate a minimum riding age 

of 16, or an age limit aligned with the 

minimum age for riding a moped; and 

for helmets to be compulsory. This is 

already the case in Denmark, Finland, 

Greece and Spain, while seven other 

European countries that allow children 

to ride scooters require helmets. 

There should also be a ban on 

riding with passengers, on pavements, 

while using a handheld mobile phone 

and under the influence of alcohol or 

drugs. 

PACTS and ETSC point out that 

many of its existing recommendations 

for safety improvements for vulnerable 

road users, such as 30 km/h speed 

limits, separated networks of cycle 

lanes, low traffic zones and higher 

levels of enforcement, will benefit all 

road users, including e-scooter users. 

CLICK HERE for more details on 

the report 


News 

Police nab ADI for using phone on lesson 

Another ADI has risked his livelihood 

after police spotted him on his mobile 

phone while conducting a driving lesson, 

resulting in this tuition car being pulled 

over and a traffic offence report being 

handed out. 

The incident took place on January 31 

in Salford, Greater Manchester, after 

police spotted a white Toyota being 

driven by a learner while the ADI was 

using his handheld device. 

To make matters worse, the instructor 

was so “engrossed in his mobile phone 

call”, police said, that he failed to spot 

the officers’ visual request for him to 

stop, and they were forced to add a little 

‘light music’ to the air to grab his 

attention. 

Greater Manchester Police issued a 

Traffic Offence Report (TOR) for using his 

mobile phone while supervising a learner 

driver on a lesson. 

After the car was stopped, the police 

published a picture of it next to an officer 

– proof that there can be such a thing as 

bad publicity. 

In a post, GMP Traffic said: “The 

instructor of this learning vehicle was so 

engrossed in his mobile phone call he 

failed to notice the #RPTF patrol on 

Great Clowes Street. 

“Luckily his student did and kindly 

pulled over. 

“Instructor issued with TOR for using a 

mobile phone under tuition.” 

The incident provoked a spot of 

outrage from the safe drivers of Greater 

Manchester, who posted on the 

Manchester Evening News’ Facebook 

page a number of unflattering comments. 

One wrote: “People are paying good 

money for inferior services! This 

instructor needs his licence rescinding!” 

Another said: “This is a duty of care 

towards his or her pupils, disgusting 

behaviour”. 

There was – possibly predictably – a 

chance for others to pile in with tales of 

poor behaviour by ADIs, some 

unconnected to this incident. “So many 

instructors I see doing this. I would be 

fuming if I was paying them to play on 

phone”, one said. 

One said: “I had a driving instructor 

who fell asleep. He only woke up when I 

went round a bend too fast and the car 

swung round the corner. Then on top of 

that, said he didn’t know where he was 

in the area...” while another person 

claimed she had spotted her ADI 

“speeding down the road to get to his 

next lesson, miles over the speed limit.” 

Clearly, there’s a warning here about 

how ADIs conduct themselves – and with 

a headerboard and decals, it’s not like 

the public won’t know who you are! 

High price tag putting still public off buying EVs 

A Government survey has found that a 

significant majority of people believe 

battery electric vehicles are too expensive 

to buy – with many also having concerns 

about the lack of charging provision. 

The National Travel Attitudes Study 

(NTAS) found that while only four per 

cent of respondents currently own or 

have use of a plug-in vehicle, 57 per 

cent report that they are fairly likely or 

very likely to purchase or lease one in the 

future. 

When it comes to the present, 80 per 

cent believe that battery electric vehicles 

are too expensive to buy, while 59 per 

cent say that there are not enough public 

electric vehicle chargepoints. 

The Government is keen to encourage 

the UK to switch to electric 

vehicles. It is banning the 

sale of new petrol and 

diesel cars from 2030. 

The survey shows 55 

per cent support or 

strongly support the UK 

Government’s action to 

increase the proportion of 

electric vehicles sold by 

manufacturers. A majority (72 per cent) 

believe that electric vehicles are ‘greener’ 

than petrol or diesel equivalents. 

The most popular factors that would 

encourage the public to buy an EV 

included lower initial purchase 

cost (76 per cent), lower 

running costs (75 per cent) 

and convenience of recharging 

(67 per cent). 

More local chargepoints (58 

per cent) and environmental 

benefits (57 per cent) were also 

popular factors. 


MSA GB ANNUAL REPORT 2021-22 

MSA GB Annual Report 2021-22 

Peter Harvey 

mbe 

National Chairman 

MSA GB 

Dear member 

I am delighted to present the 

association’s Annual Report for the 

year 2021-22. Long-standing 

members will recall that previously 

this report has been sent to you as a 

standalone publication, but this year 

we thought it easier and more 

efficient to send it to you as a 

separate section of Newslink. 

On these pages you’ll find all the 

information you need about the 

association’s year, as well as details 

of how we are looking to reorganise 

the association to ensure it is a 

better fit for the times we live in. 

If you have any questions about 

this report, please contact either 

myself or your area representatives 

(see panel on page 29). 

The MSA GB Board 

The MSA GB Board of Management 

is made up of the elected 

representatives from each of the 

areas and nations of Great Britain. 

At a meeting held prior to the 

national AGM, the Board elects a 

National Chairman and Deputy 

Chairman. The Board met several 

times during the year under review, 

once on a face-to-face basis, 

however mainly online because of 

concerns over Covid-19. 

Board of Management (directors) 

n Chairman: Peter Harvey MBE 

n Deputy Chairman: Geoff Little 

(West Midlands) 

(until February 2022*) 

n Steven Porter (Scotland) 

n Arthur Mynott (Western) 

n Graham Clayton (North West) 

n Terry Cummins (South East) 

n Mike Yeomans (North East) 

n Paul Harmes (Eastern) 

n Kate Fennelly (East Midlands) 

(Retired November 22) 

n Tom Kwok (Greater London) 

Board members were paid an 

attendance allowance of £100 for 

each half-day during which they 

were engaged on MSA GB national 

business, except for Sundays. 

Administration 

The Board appoints staff to 

administer the association. Up until 

the end of June 2022, that had been 

Kingston Smith Associates 

Management, who took care of the 

daily running and administration of 

the association at our Head Office in 

St Albans. In July 2022 the Board 

decided to employ CJAM Associates 

to manage the day-to-day running 

of the association from its head 

office in Colchester. 

The association has continued to 

use several external organisations to 

assist with various tasks including 

legal advice, publishing, IT and 

printing and accountancy. 

Finance 

The Board would like to thank the 

accounting team at Saffron 

Accountancy Services Ltd for their 

help and assistance. in producing 

this year’s accounts. They are printed 

on pages 31 and will be published as 

usual on www.msagb.com 

Membership League 

The MSA GB Recruitment league 

table is based on net percentage 

membership growth/retention over 

the year and awards the Ron 

Feltham Memorial Cup to the best 

performing region. 

Congratulations to MSA GB 

Eastern who head the table for the 

year under review (see table, next 

page). 

MSA GB Scotland won the John 

William Parker Memorial Cup as 

runners-up in the membership 

growth retention table. 

This year the Ian Scoular Shield for 

recruiting the most new members 

in the region was won by MSA GB 

Scotland. 

Subscriptions 

The association continues to provide 

information, representation, services 

and support to members at a 

subscription within the financial 

reach of all ADIs. 

MSA GB membership 

subscriptions have not risen since 

August 2017. The standard fee for 

cheque, debit or credit card payers 

remains at £70. 

There is a discount for those 

members opting to pay by direct 

debit and we are encouraging more 

to sign up to the direct debit system. 

The Board will consider the 

subscription rates again during the 

current year. 

Continued on page 24 

* Our dear colleague Geoff Little died in February 2022. A memoriam note can be found on page 30 



Recruitment Tables 

Recruitment/Retention 

Winner, the Ronald Feltham Memorial Cup 

Eastern 

Runner Up, the John William Parker Memorial Cup 

Scotland 

East Midlands 

Western 

South East 

North West 

West Midlands 

North East 

Greater London 

New members recruited 

Winner, the Ian Scoular Memorial Trophy 

Scotland 

North West 

South East 

Eastern 

West Midlands 

Greater London 

East Midlands 

North East 

Western/South Wales 

Publications 

The Board decided to keep our 

flagship membership magazine, 

Newslink, in a digital format, to 

ensure a regular flow of information 

to members during what has been a 

very difficult time for the profession. 

The board made the decision to 

continue the excellent services of 

Chamber Media Services (CMS) to be 

our official publishers of Newslink 

and other publications in a digital 

format this financial year. 

Copies of Newslink are hosted on 

the Yumpu digital media website 

from where members can read the 

latest news and features in an easily 

accessible format, or download a 

copy. A copy is also made available 

on the MSA GB website. 

The Board would like to place on 

record its sincere thanks to our 

publishing team for all their hard 

work. A special thanks, too, to all our 

advertisers who have continued to 

maintain their support for our 

publications over the past 12 difficult 

months, and to all our contributors 

and editors from the regions and 

nations of the MSA GB who work so 

hard to make Newslink such a great 

read. 

Digital media 

The Board has continued to review 

the MSA GB brand to ensure it is 

fully integrated into the digital 

24 

marketplace. 

The Board remains keen to 

maintain access to MSA GB 

information and services across a 

wide variety of platforms. 

Our website – www.msagb.com 

– has continued to be popular with 

members. The site is regularly 

updated, and the Board of 

Management have had it totally 

renewed and updated during this 

financial year. 

The board decided to introduce 

the MSA GB App for all instructors to 

download at either Google Play or 

App Store, to ensure that the correct 

current information is with our 

members as soon as its possible. 

Some parts of the App are available 

only to MSA GB Members, however, 

non-members have the opportunity 

to join via the App if they so wish. 

Social media 

The association continues to be 

active across a variety of social media 

platforms and we continue to 

expand our ‘likes’, ‘followers’ and 

‘friends’ year on year. 

Email 

With our expansion in the digital 

marketplace, it is even more 

important we have your up-to-date 

contact information. The Board 

requests members to help 

themselves by ensuring they keep 

MSA GB informed by letting us know 

if you change your email address or 

your telephone number. 

Contact us at info@msagb.com or 

01787 221020. 

Emails and our App continue to be 

a popular way through which 

information is passed on to 

members. 

Organisations 

The MSA GB has continued to be 

members of the Parliamentary 

Advisory Committee on Transport 

Safety (PACTS) and the Royal Society 

for the Prevention of Accidents 

(RoSPA). 

Throughout the pandemic, MSA 

GB representatives have attended 

various, meetings and seminars in 

digital format, spoke at numerous 

events to promote the MSA GB and 

kept instructors informed at local 

events wherever possible, through 

what has proved to be extremely 

difficult times for everyone in the 

driver training profession. 

EFA 

During the year under review, MSA 

GB has continued its membership of 

the European Driving Schools 

Association (EFA). Representatives 

from MSA GB attended delegate 

meetings on a virtual platform. 

NEWSLINK n MARCH 2023


National Associations 

Strategic Partnership (NASP) 

Leading the MSA GB 

The major driver trainer 

representative bodies have 

continued to collaborate through 

NASP to work on behalf of the 

profession and tackle the many 

complex issues affecting the driver 

training industry during the 

pandemic. 

MSA GB takes its turn on a 

rotational basis to chair NASP and 

has worked closely with the DVSA, 

DfT and other Government bodies 

over the past year, ensuring 

members received up-to-date 

information with the current 

situation. However, we are 

disappointed with the lack of flow 

from these agencies on some 

occasions, especially with their lack 

of ability to reduce the test waiting 

times across the majority of the 

country. 

Annual Conference 

Unfortunately, the MSA GB’s 

National Annual Conference and 

Training Day 2022 had to be 

cancelled. 

The board decided to hold a virtual 

AGM on 19th March 2022. This was 

very successful, with Driver & Vehicle 

Standards Agency’s Peter Hearn, its 

Director of Operations, Chris Howes, 

Driver Training Policy Specialist, 

Nigel Robinson, ADI/CBT 

Enforcement Delivery Manager, and 

well-known ADI and ADI trainer Bob 

Morton all giving excellent 

presentations to the large audience 

of attendees. 

Members’ Insurance 

MSA GB still holds Public Liability 

Insurance in the sum of £10,000,000 

and Professional Indemnity 

insurance in the sum of £5,000,000 

for the MSA GB and for MSA GB 

members engaged in any driver 

training that they are qualified to 

deliver. 

The current policy is provided by 

Presidents of the Council of The 

Motor Schools Association 

1935-1939 J Woodhouse-Oakley 

1939-1946 Activities suspended 

1946-1955 Col H Atherton 

1955-1957 C Tetlock 

Chairman of the Motor Schools 

Association of Great Britain 

1957-1958 H Sands 

Hiscox and expires on 29th June 

2023; MSA GB will renew this policy 

on the due date or purchase a new 

policy with similar cover. 

• The Public Liability Insurance 

protects members where a third 

party makes a claim, caused by the 

negligence of a member, for 

personal injury or damage to 

property, not belonging to the 

member, when outside the car. 

• The Professional Indemnity 

Insurance covers MSA GB members 

in case of action taken against them 

by a third party for professional error, 

negligence, or omission in the 

professional advice they give to the 

public. 

Call MSA GB on 01787 221020 or 

see www.msagb.com 

Advice 

During the year under review there 

has been a continuing demand 

from members coming forward for 

help and to receive advice on a wide 

variety of matters, not least how to 

handle the extremely long waiting 

times for driving tests across the 

country. 

In Memoriam 

Sadly, over the year under review, we 

lost a number of dear friends, 

including Peter Barnes, (North West) 

and Doug Birch (Western). It was 

Chairmen of the Motor Schools 

Association of Great Britain Ltd 

1958-1960 S A Pearce 

1960-1963 A M Clare 

1963-1967 F Spencer-Tucker 

1967-1973 Capt G E Melville 

1973-1975 K Leigh 

1975-1978 R Matthews 

1978-1980 B E Rogers 

1980-1982 C Westaby 

1982-1989 Mrs E L Blair 

1989-1995 R T Feltham 

1995- P J Harvey MBE 

also with great sadness that we 

informed members of the death of 

Geoff Little, Chair of MSA GB West 

Midlands and the association’s 

Deputy National Chairman, who 

passed away in February 2022. 

Geoff was a tireless servant to this 

association and is sorely missed by 

all his many friends within the ADI 

community. More on Geoff on page 

30. 

Our deepest sympathies go out, 

too, to all those members who have 

lost loved ones throughout the year. 

The Future 

The MSA GB Board of Management 

is committed to providing members 

with the best possible information, 

representation, services, and support 

to help members prosper personally, 

professionally and commercially. They 

have introduced many exclusive 

discounted services for members 

and will continue to add to those 

available at www.msagb.com 

The MSA GB Board of 

Management will do all it can to 

continue to help and offer advice to 

members during the years ahead. 

On behalf of the MSA GB Board of 

Management, Peter J Harvey MBE, 

Board Chairman 



Trophies, awards and 

honorary members 

Every year MSA GB awards a number of trophies to its regions, nations and members. 

With the re-organisation of the association, this will be the last time we record many of these 

regional details, but we thought it was appropriate to acknowledge them for one last time 

Regional recruitment trophies 

Regional recruitment trophies are awarded to the area/nation with the best net percentage membership growth/ 

retention over the year in review. From 1984 the winning area/nation received the North West Salver; this was replaced 

in 2011 with the Ron Feltham Memorial Cup. 

North West Salver 

1984 North West 



1987 West Midlands 


1989 Eastern 

1990 East Midlands 

1991 Western 

1992 Greater London 

1993 Scotland 

1994 North East 

1995 Scotland 

1996 Eastern 

1997 Western 

1998 South Wales 

1999 South East 








2007 Scotland 

2008 Scotland 

2009 Western 


Trophy retired 

Ron Feltham Memorial Cup 


2012 Scotland 

2013 Scotland 


2015 Eastern 



2018 Scotland 


2020 Scotland 


2022 Scotland 

2023 Eastern 

Ian Scoular Memorial Shield 

Introduced in 2016, this is awarded to 

the area or nation with the most, new 

members recruited over the past year 

2016 Scotland 


2018 Scotland 

2019 Scotland and South East 

2020 Scotland 



2023 Scotland 

Runners-Up Cup 

The Runners-Up trophy is awarded to the area that comes second in membership, based on the criteria as 

outlined on facing page. Introduced in 1994, it was originally known simply as the Runners Up Cup. This trophy was 

retired in 2005, to be replaced the following year by the John William Parker Memorial Cup. 

Runners’-Up Cup 


1995 Western 


1997 Eastern 

1998 Western 

1999 Western 

2000 Western 




2004 Eastern 

2005 Scotland 


John William Parker 

Memorial Cup 




2009 Eastern 



2012 Eastern 

2013 Western 



2016 Scotland 


2018 Western 





2023 Scotland 

26 



MSA GB Member of the Year 

1983 Richard Woolnough Eastern 

1984 Matt Blair Scotland 

1985 Pip Pilcher South East 

1986 John Palmer Greater London 

1987 Jon Gross West Midlands 

1988 Fiona Hutchinson Scotland 

1989 David Dunlop Kidd North West 

1990 Doug Ollerenshawe Greater London 

1991 Terry Charnock North West 

1992 Jim Fegan Scotland 

1993 Brenda Ross Greater London 

1994 Roy Norman Eastern 

1995 Paddy Irving North East 

1996 Linda Harrington South Wales 

1997 Tricia Owen West Midlands 

1998 Neil & Christine Peek Eastern 

1999 Terry Cummins South East 

2000 Peggy Hutchings Western 

2001 Clive & Muriel Snook Western 

2002 Roy Appleby North East 

2003 John Gough Eastern 

2004 Ron Feltham Greater London 

2005 Allan Edwards South East 

2006 Lew Lambert Eastern 

2007 Denise Simpson North East 

2008 Tom Kwok Greater London 

2009 Doug Andrews Eastern 

2010 Ian Scoular Scotland 

2011 Alex Brownlee Greater London 

2012 Mike Longbottom North West 

2013 Cos Antoniou Greater London 

2014 Bob Butterworth North East 

2015 Dave Pepperdine East Midlands 

2016 Arthur Mynott Western 

2017 Ralph Walton West Midlands 

2018 Cheryl Andrews Greater London 

2019 Terry Pearce West Midlands 

2020 Janet Stewart Greater London 

2021 Bryan Phillips Scotland 

Editor of the year 

Our Editor of the Year award is presented to the regional/national editor 

whose contributions to MSA GB publications deserved special recognition. 

Harry Sands Memorial Trophy 

1985 John Lepine North West 

1986 Bob Matthews Scotland 

1987 Phil Whitehead Eastern 

1988 Denis Phillips South East 

1989 Norman Gregg Greater London 

1990 Mike Collins West Midlands 

1991 Eric Verity Greater London 

1992 Peter Pritchett Western 

1993 Stewart Izat Scotland 

1994 John Lomas North West 

1995 Denis Griffin West Midlands 

1996 Jill Callaghan Eastern 

1997 Jill Callaghan Eastern 



2000 Lionel Jordan Greater London 



Denis Phillips Memorial Trophy 

2002 David Pepperdine East Midlands 

2003 Colin Lilly Western 

2004 Rod Came South East 

2005 Mark Harford Scotland 



2008 Mike Bassett South East 

2009 Tony Phillips Greater London 

2010 Tony Phillips Greater London 

2011 Phillip Jones & Mike Yeomans North East 


Jon Gross Memorial Trophy 

2012 Colin Lilly Western 





2017 David Pepperdine East Midlands 



2020 Karen MacLeod Scotland 

2021 Guy Annan Western 

Honorary Members of MSA GB 

1985 Pat Murphy MBE 

1985 Connie Murphy 

1992 Pip Pilcher 

1992 David Dunlop Kidd 

1992 Bob Matthews 

1994 Gerry Regan 

1994 Bob Williams 

1995 Betty Blair 

1998 Hywel Kirkhouse 

1998 Ron Feltham 

2002 James Fegan 

2006 David Rogers 

2008 John Myers 

2008 Terry Charnock 

2009 Carol Lepine 

2014 John Lomas 

2017 Roy Appleby 

2018 Karl Satloka 

2019 Rod Came 

2019 John Lepine MBE 

2020 Colin Lilly 

2020 Rod Tipple 

2020 Robert Baker 

2020 Steven Sentence 



MSA GB Area representatives 

MSA GB is run by its Board of Management, which is made up of the elected representatives 

from each of the areas of Great Britain 

Area 1 – Scotland & Northern Ireland 

Steven Porter 

18 Heron Place, Johnstone PA5 0RW 

T: 01505 345372 or 07747 600672 

E: steven.porter@msagb.com 

Area 2 – East Coast 

Mike Yeomans 

7 Oak Avenue, Elloughton, Brough HU15 1LA 

T: 07772 757529 

E: mike.yeomans@msagb.com 

Area 3 – London & South East 

Tom Kwok 

52B Sutton Road, Muswell Hill, London N10 1HE 

07956 269922 

E: tom.kwok@msagb.com 

Area 4 – West Coast & Wales 

Arthur Mynott 

9 Hagleys Green Crowcombe, Taunton TA 4 2AH 

T: 01984 618858 

E: arthur.mynott@msagb.com 

Area 1 – Scotland & Northern Ireland Committee 

Chairman: Steven Porter 

E: steven.porter@msagb.com 

T: 07747 600 672 

Dept Chair & Glasgow Branch: Bryan Phillips 

E: bryan.phillips@hotmail.co.uk 

T: 07989 339 646 

Vice Chair: Alex Buist 

E: alexbuistabuistjuslearn@aol.com. 

T: 07966 366410 

Committee: 

Bob Baker 

E: robert.baker16@btopenworld.com 

T: 07971 801150 

Aberdeen Driving Schools Group: Grant Sheen 

E: grant@testing-times.com 

T: 07881 339166 

Editor, Treasurer & Angus Driving Instructors Group: 

Brian Thomson 

E: brianthomson1306@gmail.com 

T: 07775 727603 

Secretary & Lanark & District Instructors Group: 

Judy Hale 

E: Judy@wundawheels.co.uk 

T: 07834 539692 

Inverurie Driving Instructors Group: 

Alan Gray 

E: alan@agdrivingacademy.co.uk 

T: 07814 059597 

Area 2 – East Coast Committee 

Chairman: Mike Yeomans 

E: mike.yeomans@msagb.com 

T: 07772 757529 

Deputy Chairman/ Area Treasurer: Paul Harmes 

E: admin@paulharmesdrivingschool.co.uk 

T: 07743 232864 

Secretary: Yasmin Ajib 

E: yasmin0786@hotmail.co.uk 

Editor and editorial co-ordinator 

Andrew Burgess 

E: fleetcardrivertrainer@gmail.com 

T: 07754 542993 

Vice Chair: Karl Satloka 

E: karlsatlokawrdt@btinternet.com 

T: 07885 325115 

28 



Area 3 London and 

South East Committee 

Chairman & Treasurer: 

Tom Kwok 

E: tom.kwok@msagb.com 

T: 07956 269922 

How MSA GB 

is organised, in 

four AREAS 

Deputy Chairman: 

Terrence Cummins 

E: terence.cummins@btinternet.com 

T: 07719 697881 

AREA 1 

Secretary: 

Ari Ahmed Kawani 

E: ariahamed@live.co.uk 

T: 07774 545333 

Editors: 

Janet Stewart 

E: janetslittlecar@btinternet.com 

07900 881756 

AREA 2 

Bob Page 

E: 777bobpage777@gmail.com 

T: 07930656052 

Committee: 

Alex Brownlee 

E: eyedriveschool@gmail.com 

T: 07836 763603 

Cheryl Andrews 

E: cheryland85@hotmail.com 

T: 07884 073565 

Ruth Kingsley 

E: ruthk4ds@gmail.com 

T: 07941 982005 

Pankaj Desai 

E: pkdesai36@gmail.com 

T: 07958975127 

AREA 4 

Area 4 West Coast and Wales Committee 

Chairman: Arthur Mynott 

E: arthur.mynott@msagb.com 

T: 07989852274 

Deputy Chairman: Chris Truesdale 

E: arc.angel@live.co.uk 

T: 07803 580885 

Vice Chairman North: 

Graham Clayton 

E: Graham.clayton4@virginmedia.com 

T: 07710 541462 

AREA 3 

Treasurers: 

North Geoff Capes 

E: geoff.at@btopenworld.com 

T: 07976 965372 

South Nick Tapp 

E: niktapp@hotmail.co.uk 

T: 07900 900678 

Editor: John Lomas 

E: johnstardriving@hotmail.com 

T: 07796 091767 

Vice Chairman South: Colin Lilly 

E: cglilly@btinternet.com 

T: 07768367056 

Committee: Mike Buggins 

E: mikebuggins@gmail.com 

T: 07763553045 

Secretary: Kris Ford 

E: kristhebizz@aol.com 

T: 07977 778259 

Pat Rowell 

T: 07850 484227 



Useful numbers 

MSA GB 

01787 221020 

DVLA 

Driver enquiries 0300 790 6801 

Vehicle enquiries 0300 790 6802 

Road Safety Organisations 

IAM RoadSmart 0300 303 1134 

RoSPA 0121 248 2000 

PACTS 020 7222 7732 

MSA GB Recommended Insurers 

Breakdown, Health Cover, etc. 

HMCA 01423 799949 

MSA GB Recommended Accountants 

FBTC 0344 9842 515 

CONTACTING THE DVSA 

Customer booking service 

Theory & Practical Tests: 0300 200 1122 

When you call DVSA’s customer service centre, make sure 

you use the fast-track service. It’s easy to use and it’ll save 

you time! 

FOR ADI USE ONLY: Call 0300 200 1122 

When the voicemail activates, dial 25. You will be 

answered and asked for your ADI reference number. 

If it is not an ADI calling the operator won’t accept the 

call. Please note, you should not give this information to 

pupils or members of the public. 

If you wish to email and your question is ADI/PDI 

related, you should email PADI@dvsa.gov.uk 

or if a general enquiry, contact: 

customer.services@dvsa.gov.uk 

If you would like to receive a copy of your driving test fault 

analysis date, email: 

adi.enforcement.analysis.request@dvsa.gov.uk 

if you have a theory test enquiry email: 

theorycustomerservices@dvsa.gov.uk 

Memoriam 

As ever, the MSA GB’s Annual Report 

is a point at which we pause and 

remember those members and 

friends we have lost in the past 12 

months, and grieve for their passing. 

We send our heartfelt condolences to 

their family and friends. 

One special member whose death 

came during the period covered by 

this report is Geoff Little. Geoff, who 

passed away in February 2022, aged 

74, was one of the foundation stones 

on which much of this association’s 

work was built. 

He became chair of the West 

Midlands region in 1990 and held that 

post until his death. 

In 1995 he became the association’s 

national deputy chairman, faithfully 

supporting the work of Peter Harvey 

through good times and bad. 

Geoff was a hugely likeable man, 

someone of great good humour and 

30 

boundless commonsense. 

He was dedicated to 

improving road safety 

through exceptional driver 

training, and his school, in 

Bedworth, became a byword 

for excellence. 

Geoff was a well-known figure 

within driver training and testing 

outside the confines of MSA GB. He 

attended countless meetings over 

the years with the DSA/DVSA, and 

was a leading light of the Institute of 

Master Tutors of Driving (IMTD). 

He joined the IMTD in 1996 and 

had spells as vice chair and chairman 

before being made President in 2011, 

a role he held until 2021. 

In 2018 he was made an Honorary 

Life Fellow, and in September of last 

year, in what turned out to be his 

last appearance at an event with his 

fellow driver trainers, he received a 

Geoff Little 

Lifetime Achievement Award. 

He loved chatting to 

people and learning their 

stories – Geoff was very 

much a people-person. At 

conference he loved nothing 

better than to pass the time 

away with his fellow ADIs, sharing a 

laugh and a joke about the profession 

over a beer and crafty cigarette. 

My abiding memory is Geoff is of 

a cheerful, resolute and honest man 

who would always go the extra yard 

for his fellow ADIs. 

He was devoted to the MSA GB and 

there are countless instructors and 

members out there who benefitted 

from his advice and guidance. 

Above all he was a thoroughly 

decent man, and it was a privilege to 

have known him. 

Peter Harvey 



Financial report 

The Motor Schools 

Association of 

Great Britain Ltd 

Report to the directors on the 

preparation of the unaudited 

statutory accounts of The Motor 

Schools Association of Great 

Britain Ltd for the year ended 30 

November 2022 

In order to assist you to fulfil your 

duties under the Companies Act 

2006, we have prepared for your 

approval the accounts of The Motor 

Schools Association of Great Britain 

Ltd for the year ended 30 November 

2022 which comprise of the Income 

and Expenditure Account, the 

Balance Sheet and the related notes 

from the company’s accounting 

records and from information and 

explanations you have given us. 

As a practising member firm of 

the Association of Chartered 

Certified Accountants, we are 

subject to its ethical and other 

professional requirements which are 

detailed at http://rulebook. 

accaglobal.com/ 

This report is made solely to the 

Board of Directors of The Motor 

Schools Association of Great Britain 

Ltd, as a body, in accordance with 

the terms of our engagement letter 

dated 26 January 2023. Our work has 

been undertaken solely to prepare 

for your approval the accounts of 

The Motor Schools Association of 

Great Britain Ltd and state those 

matters that we have agreed to state 

to the Board of Directors of The 

Motor Schools Association of Great 

Britain Ltd, as a body, in this report, 

in accordance with the 

requirements of the Association of 

Chartered Certified Accountants as 

detailed at http://www.accaglobal. 

com/factsheet163. 

To the fullest extent permitted by 

law, we do not accept or assume 

responsibility to anyone other than 

The Motor Schools Association of 

Great Britain Ltd and its Board of 

Directors as a body for our work or 

for this report. 

It is your duty to ensure that The 


Britain Ltd has kept adequate 

accounting records and to prepare 

statutory accounts that give a true 

and fair view of the assets, liabilities, 

financial position and surplus of The 


Britain Ltd. You consider that The 


Britain Ltd is exempt from the 

statutory audit requirement for the 

year. 

We have not been instructed to 

carry out an audit or a review of the 

accounts of The Motor Schools 

Association of Great Britain Ltd. For 

this reason, we have not verified the 

accuracy or completeness of the 

accounting records or information 

and explanations you have given to 

us and we do not, therefore, express 

any opinion on the statutory 

accounts. 

Saffron Accountancy 

Services Limited 

Chartered Certified Accountants 

27 Chaucer Road London 

E7 9LZ 

Income and Expenditure Account 

for the year ended 30 November 2022 

For year ending 30th November 2022 

2022 2021 

£ 

Income 104,073 110,599 

Cost of sales (5,651) (4,496) 

Gross surplus 98,422 106, 103 

Administrative expenses (90,939) (89,250) 

Operating surplus 7,483 16,853 

2022 2021 

£ 

(Loss)/gain on revaluation of 

investments (1,895) 2,010 

Interest receivable - 1 

Surplus before taxation 5,588 18,864 

Tax on surplus - - 

Surplus for the financial year 5,588 18,864 



Balance Sheet 

00615026 

as at 30 November 2022 

2022 2021 

£ £ £ £ 

Fixed assets 

Tangible assets 5,735 516 

Investments 32,230 34,125 

37,965 34,641 

Current assets 

Debtors 11,872 11,816 

Cash at bank and in hand 50,774 44,069 

62,646 55,885 

Creditors: amounts falling due 

within one year (21,424) (16,927) 

Net current assets 41,222 38,958 

Net assets 79,187 73,599 

Capital and reserves 

Income and Expenditure Account 79,187 73,599 

Members’ funds 79,187 73,599 

The directors are satisfied that the company is entitled to exemption from the requirement to obtain an audit under 

section 477 of the Companies Act 2006. 

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Act. 

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with 

respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts. 

The accounts have been prepared and delivered in accordance with the special provisions applicable to companies 

subject to the small companies regime. The income and expenditure account has not been delivered to the Registrar 

of Companies. 

P Harvey, Director 

32 



Administrative expenses 

2022 2021 

£ £ 

Employee costs: Management fees 35,586 35,990 

Board, committee and regional expenses 10,126 4,700 

Insurance 22,461 20,728 

Software costs 1,926 5,764 

Travelling expenses 7,299 2,890 

Postage, courier and delivery charges 456 344 

Professional subscriptions 3,769 7,912 

Legal and professional fees 35 913 

Accountancy 3,330 3,420 

Charitable donations 50 1,000 

Bank charges 3,305 2,699 

Credit card charges 339 889 

Printing and stationery 388 50 

Telecommunications 763 1,387 

Entertaining 514 412 

Sundry expenses 11 54 

Depreciation 581 98 

90,939 89,250 

Operating surplus 5,588 18,864 


Towards your CPD 

Are you interested in 

making more money? 

It’s a simple question: are you 

interested in making more money 

in your job as an ADI? Asking 

the question is Phil Burman 

We teach driving to earn our living. So 

the title of this article is something I’d 

like you to seriously consider. Whether 

you are new to the industry or not, you 

may well ask, who am I to offer my 

opinions about how ADIs should operate, 

so I’ll briefly give you a few personal 

details. 

I have over 40 years of experience as 

an ADI, teaching learners and running a 

multi-car driving school. I owned a highly 

successful ADI training business that 

held the ISO 9001 Management System 

Standards Certificate and attained its 

Gold Award for Customer Satisfaction. 

I possess adult education teaching 

qualifications, and the DSA Technical 

Department accredited the ADI Training 

Manuals I authored. 

Unfortunately, in my experience many 

ADIs do only the minimum training 

necessary to keep their registration and 

disregard any further development of 

their skills. As a result, the average 

lesson price is too cheap, especially 

when taking into account the cost of 

tuition vehicles – whether financed, 

leased or obtained as part of a franchise. 

When I started as a trainee, lessons 

were £6.50 per hour, and the driving test 

was £6.75. Although the test lasted 30 

minutes and lessons an hour, we must 

include the time the ‘DSA’ spent on 

administration. When you compared 

these fees, I reckon we were pretty much 

on an equal footing. 

Not so today, as you well know, 

because the DVSA test fee is virtually 

double the cost of the average driving 

lesson. Over time something has gone 

very wrong for ADIs to have lost so much 

parity. It makes me wonder why 

instructors offer such low prices, 

particularly compared to the rates other 

self-employed people charge. 

For example, I recently called a 

satellite engineer to fix a problem with 

our TV reception. It took about 30 

minutes to sort out. I thought his £48 

invoice was a fair price. The gardener 

charges £40 per hour and does a perfect 

job. Tradespeople often have a higher 

hourly rate than instructors, but with an 

ADI’s level of responsibility, I think it 

should be the other way around, don’t 

you? 

In this economic crisis we’re going 

through, you have no time to lose if you 

wish to improve your teaching ability 

– DOING SO MAY BE THE ONLY WAY 

TO INCREASE YOUR INCOME. 

Forget block booking discounts and 

special offers – working all hours for 

‘‘ 

For example, I recently 

called a satellite engineer to 

fix a problem with our TV 

reception. It took about 30 

minutes to sort out. I thought 

his £48 invoice was a fair 

price. The gardener charges 

£40 per hour and does a 

perfect job. Tradespeople 

often have a higher hourly 

rate than instructors, but with 

an ADI’s level of responsibility, 

I think it should be the other 

way around, don’t you? 

‘‘ 

peanuts is a road others might choose to 

go down. Far better to let your superior 

instructional skills stand out! Learners 

who require quality will pay for it, 

knowing they’re getting the best possible 

value. 

I recall my school days. I was in the 

bottom group for maths – the C-stream 

– the class where they sent the dummies. 

I tried hard but could never quite grasp 

what the teacher was trying to convey. 

On one occasion, he was absent, and 

we had to join the A-stream. I was 

shaking in my boots! How could I 

possibly cope at this level? But an 

amazing thing happened. I understood 

the lesson! Then I realised my lack of 

progress lay with the maths master’s 

poor teaching skills and not, as he 

frequently said, “because I was so thick”. 

To enhance your instructional 

techniques, there’s no need to jump in at 

the deep end. Start with my new book, 

The Top Ten Tips for Driving Instructors. 



News update 

DVSA tells PSV operators to 

take out seat buckle guards 

It’s a slim volume, easy to read, and 

you’ll find plenty of stuff you can 

effortlessly put into practice. 

It also includes proven advice on 

recruiting new pupils, which may soon 

become vital knowledge as more people 

tighten their belts. 

The Top Ten Tips for Driving Instructors 

is available from Kindle or Amazon. For 

each purchaser who this month provides 

an Amazon review (and lets me know), I 

have a free gift – The Accredited 

Question & Answer Techniques (as a 

PDF). Put its contents into use, and with 

less effort on your part, pupils will work 

harder and retain more information. (This 

is also available as a £4.99 purchase 

through phil@philburman.com). 

Although retired, I still care 

passionately about the appalling rate of 

new driver fatalities and serious injuries 

– over 1,500 each year, according to the 

road safety charity Brake. Help pupils 

better understand the dangers by giving 

each one my free Speed Kills leaflet. 

Send an email requesting a Speed 

Kills Master Copy to phil@philburman. 

com. Its unique format can convince new 

drivers to avoid taking the risks that kill! 

Even better, you can customise Page 1 

for your driving school (or I can do it for 

you) and print copies as required. Ask 

your pupils to give copies to their friends 

too – it could also bring in some 

welcome recommendations! 

• The Top Ten Tips for Driving 

Instructors costs just £3.97 (Kindle 

version) or £9.97 for the paperback 

edition (from Amazon), and you cannot 

fail to benefit from following its advice. 

Don’t forget to ask me for the free 

SPEED KILLS master copy leaflet by 

emailing me at phil@philburman.com. 

Do it now! 

The DVSA has issued an email alert 

to public service vehicle (PSV) 

operators to advise them not to use 

seatbelt buckle guards. 

The DVSA says there is a risk that 

the use of these guards could 

prevent the release of a seatbelt 

quickly in an emergency. 

The agency points out that fitting 

buckle guards to a seat belt 

breaches the Road Vehicle 

(Construction and Use) Regulations 

1986, regulation 48 (4). It is a 

‘deliberate and intended addition to 

the seat belt’, and is not exempt 

under regulation 48 (5) of the 

regulations. 

At this stage, DVSA is highlighting 

the potential safety issues. If DVSA 

examiners find evidence of the use 

of seatbelt buckle guards during 

routine roadside inspections, their 

first action would be to offer advice 

and guidance about vehicle and 

passenger safety. 

DVSA wants to work with 

industry to develop a solution to 

support the safe transport of PSV 

users: it has no plans to target 

enforcement action against their 

use. 

DVSA will continue to work with 

stakeholders, including the 

Departments for Education and 

Transport, schools, local authorities 

and parents so everyone affected 

can be confident about using 

transport services safely. 

Great plan, says GEM - now let’s 

see the fruits on the roads 

Road safety and breakdown 

organisation GEM Motoring Assist 

has welcomed the announcement 

from the Home Office that roads 

policing is included in its Strategic 

Policing Requirement. 

The document sets priorities that 

all police forces must address, and 

GEM chief executive Neil Worth said 

it was “an excellent development 

which is long overdue.” 

“Roads policing has been in 

decline for too long. We supported 

the Parliamentary Advisory Council 

for Transport Safety (PACTS) 2020 

report that was the first to call for 

the inclusion of roads policing in the 

Strategic Policing Requirement 

(SPR). It is great to see that these 

efforts have finally paid off. 

“Some 1,700 people die on UK 

roads each year. The government 

needs to reverse the long-term 

decline in roads policing and take 

immediate steps to make our roads 

safer and more secure.” 


Towards your CPD 

Getting the right angle on 

reversing techniques 

Steve Garrod considers 

the key elements required 

when teaching reversing 

Last week I conducted some ADI Part 3 

training with a local PDI. When I got into 

the car I noticed that the dashboard, 

windows and doors were festooned, or 

perhaps I should say ‘littered’, with a 

range of coloured markers. 

When I enquired why they were there 

(although I could guess) I was told that it 

was for his pupils to line up with the 

various points of turn for manoeuvring 

and road positioning. This is not 

uncommon as I often see coloured dots 

strategically placed in other training cars. 

As I said to the chap, it’s like asking 

your learner to sit in your driving seat 

without adjusting it and expecting them 

to be able to operate the controls 

effectively, regardless of their height and 

size. 

Yes, it is important for all learners to 

recognise points of turn and how to 

position the car, but it’s also important 

that they work it out for themselves so it 

is meaningful. For example: when 

dealing with the normal road position, 

pupils should be able to identify how to 

recognise their position by using the door 

mirrors and/or looking for other clues, 

including looking where the kerb appears 

to enter the front windscreen or looking 

towards the centre of their lane, or just 

by the position of the vehicles they are 

following. 

It is often easier to see the darker 

shades of the tarmac left by the more 

worn tracks caused by other traffic’s 

wheels. 

I remember when I first started to 

teach learners how to park. I was 

teaching a musician and we had 

completed the parallel park manoeuvre, 

and I asked her how she could remember 

her points of turn. She replied that she 

counted in a ‘such and such’ beat, to 

which I replied ‘Oh, that’s good!” 

I had no idea what she meant but it 

seemed to work, so a valuable lesson 

had been learnt, which was not to tell 

people how to do things, but to let them 

make sense of things for themselves. 

Often, working on manoeuvres requires 

a bit of trial and error. Not everyone will 

see what you see and may not be able to 

steer as quickly or control the car as 

slowly as you can, so understanding 

where to start the manoeuvre and when 

and how much to turn takes time to 

understand. 

When reversing, I often say ‘think of 

the back of the car’ and ask which way it 

needs to go, towards the kerb or away 

from it? Using left and right can be 

confusing and is unnecessary; just so 

long as they know which way to turn, 

they should be OK. 

Understanding when to start turning 

on a parallel park (on street parking) 

depends on the size of the subject 

vehicle being used. (The one we are 

reversing around). Some are longer than 

others, while others are wider or 

narrower. These points of turn are just 

guidelines and should be treated as such, 

not definite turning points. They are the 

part of the manoeuvre that allows you to 

stop and check for a moment and to 

collect your thoughts and to make minor 

adjustments as required. 

Another consideration is how far from 

the kerb the subject car has been parked, 

as this will make a difference. Imagine if 

the car is about a drain’s width from the 

kerb or tightly against it: how would you 

adjust your steering? 

Making the most of driving faults is an 

important part of learning, and it can be 

easier to discuss an analyse these faults 

when parking, because we are moving so 



slowly. When teaching reverse bay 

parking, allow time for pupils to try to 

work out how to correct their position. 

For example, nobody said you have to 

reverse into the bay in one go. Think 

about how you would reverse between 

two cars; do you do it in one go or do 

you take a shunt forward to allow you to 

re-position your car before reversing 

between them? Many learners struggle to 

think which way their front wheels are 

facing, so it is often easier to allow them 

to drive forward so that they can work it 

out for themselves. 

It’s funny, but we don’t really think too 

much about how to steer when driving 

forward, but we do when reversing. 

I always think it is just as important to 

know how to correct manoeuvres as it is 

how to do it first time. This is because if 

something happens while they are on 

their test, they should have the 

confidence to correct it, not to say after 

they have passed their test too. 

Understanding the length of your own 

vehicle plays an essential part in 

reversing into a bay, so don’t be afraid to 

position the car for a reverse park and 

get out of the car to see where the back 

of the car is positioned in relation to the 

bay you are going to reverse in to. Also, 

making links to what has been learnt in 

other subjects will also help. 

For example: the point of turn for a 

forward bay park. Imagine turning left 

from main road into a side road. What 

would happen if you turned too early or 

late? Likewise, can your pupil link turning 

right into a side road to a forward bay 

park to the right? Where would they 

begin to turn to avoid cutting the corner? 

‘‘ 

Although both faults are 

relatively easy to identify, 

they are not always so easy 

to analyse, because they can 

often be to do with a lack of 

confidence... 

‘‘ 

The right reverse exercise (the pull up 

on the right and reverse two car lengths) 

is a good one to include in the first few 

lessons, as it will add variety to moving off 

and stopping and is a good introduction to 

reversing. After all, reversing is also a 

moving off and stopping exercise. 

Again you can link the blind spot check 

from the moving off from the left to 

moving off from the right. It shows that 

our learners are thinking about what they 

are learning and how to adapt these 

skills. 

Before we finish, a quick word about 

the turn in the road. I know it’s no longer 

a test requirement but it contains 

essential skills that will help in all 

manner of situations. 

It can also be used as a steering 

exercise for new learners. I recently had 

a lad who struggled to emerge from 

junctions while using clutch control, but 

he could move off from the kerb under 

control, so I used the dual clutch while 

he did the steering. It made a huge 

difference and it wasn’t long before he 

could deal with emerging on his own. 

The inclusion of bay parking has meant 

we can use the time wisely during our 

lessons. We can use them for feedback 

sessions on what we have been working 

on before we parked and the bay park 

doesn’t have to be the focus. 

The more someone does something, 

the less likely they are to worry about it, 

just like roundabouts. So including at 

least one manoeuvre to your lesson 

should make them seem less daunting 

on the day of the test. 


Area News 

20mph... 30mph... it doesn’t matter 

what the limit is, drivers ignore it 

Arthur Mynott 

MSA GB Western 

Hello again from the West Country. 

I have lived in the small village of 

Crowcombe in Somerset for over eight 

years and have noticed how the speed of 

traffic passing through here has 

increased in that time. 

As you turn off the main A358 at one 

end of our village you immediately pass a 

30mph sign, and the first house is about 

40 yards past this. The 30mph continues 

through until the other end, a distance of 

about half a mile, except for the area 

around the junior school and church 

where, for a distance of about 400 

yards, the limit is 20mph. There is a 

series of bends in this 20mph bit, and no 

footpath. 

I have two dogs and I take them out 

every morning before breakfast for a walk 

of around two-and-a-half miles, which 

includes going around a couple of fields 

and walking the entire length of the 

village. This activity is really important to 

me considering the sedentary nature of 

our profession and is much more 

interesting than using a treadmill at the 

gym! 

It is often dark when I’m doing this, 

especially at this time of the year, so I 

always wear a high visibility vest and 

carry a torch so I cannot be missed. The 

most dangerous part of going through the 

village is the bit by the school and the 

church as there are high walls, sharp 

bends and no footpath. Through this 

section some of the vehicles well exceed 

the 20mph limit. Many times I’ve had 

close shaves and asked them to slow 

down but it doesn’t seem to change 

anything. The route is also a short cut to 

the Hinckley Point C Nuclear Reactor 

being constructed nearby which has 

meant an increase in traffic at certain 

times of the day. When I am not working, 

I am generally later in talking the dogs 

for a walk and sometimes have the same 

predicament at the school opening and 

closing times. 

Recently I expressed my views on our 

local community Facebook page and 

asked others for their comments. An 

interesting discussion took place as to 

what could or should be done about it. 

My thoughts were that it should be a 

20mph limit throughout all of 

Crowcombe (many cars are exceeding 

the 30mph limit in the rest of the village 

also) and perhaps some speed humps 

added in the area of the school and 

church. Some agreed and some didn’t. 

It transpires that to have speed humps 

Please curb your 

speed though our 

village! 

installed you have to have streetlights as 

well, and this was controversial. There 

are currently none in Crowcombe and 

some wish to keep it that way, so the 

village maintains its dark skies status. 

We had a couple of SIDS (Speed 

Indiction Devices) placed near the school 

and church for a week which showed 

that the average speed of vehicles there 

was 25mph. The police have said they 

will only use enforcement if the average 

speed is 26mph or more! But this 

showed there was a problem, as to have 

an average of 25mph there must be some 

vehicles travelling in excess of this speed. 

My next step was to contact the local 

parish council but as I was unable to 

attend the last meeting I sent a letter 

expressing my views. 

It was discussed and they are going to 

look at it again at the next meeting which 

I will be attending. 

I will let you know the outcome next in 

next month’s Newslink. 

CONTACT 

To comment on this article, or provide 

updates from your area, you can 

contact Arthur on 07989 852274 or 

chair.ow@msagb.com 



ULEZ charges are starting to spread 

John Lomas 

Editor, MSA GB North West 

ULEZs 

I see London has expanded its Ultra Low 

Emission Zone (ULEZ) to include virtually 

all of Greater London. The news got me 

thinking about ULEZs in general. 

Obviously all the instructors who 

already operate inside this one will have 

done their best to get a car which avoids 

the charges,or keeps the penalties as low 

as possible, but what about instructors 

living and working just outside the new 

ULEZ for whom it may now be a factor? 

I did a quick ‘find your nearest’ check 

using a postcode in the centre of Epsom 

in Surrey as my address. The three 

nearest DTCs are all inside the expanded 

boundary for Greater Londons ULEZ. Are 

the pupils in Surrey going to be prepared 

to pay for the extra costs that some of 

those Surrey instructors will now incur if 

they drive older (more polluting) cars? 

Could this new ULEZ influence ADIs to 

steer clear of some DTCs inside it? 

Are there other locations around 

Greater London which will have the 

same problem? That could be towns in 

Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Bucks, 

Berkshire and Kent. 

Keyless entry 

I wonder how many of you are now 

driving and teaching in cars with keyless 

entry and driving fobs? 

Do you spend time showing your pupils 

that they do actually have a hidden key 

in the fob and the site of the hidden key 

hole, which generally in part of the 

driver’s door opener? 

At least, I should say that every keyless 

car I’ve driven has been so fitted. 

If you do have such a car, is your 

bonnet catch on the passenger side side 

wall next to the door, where it needs the 

the passenger door to be open in order to 

operate it – or the driver to be a 

contortionist? 

Well parked, mate 

No doubt, like me, you have often wondered how some people passed their tests 

when you watch them parking, and think ‘you could get a double decker or maybe a 

tank in that space.’ The good news is, not everyone is bad at parking. Feast your 

eyes on this lovely bit of ‘ambulance’ parking in Devon. Smack between the lines! 

The reason I ask is because my 

son-in-law recently had an absolutely 

dead battery on his car. 

The hidden key opened the driver’s 

door but it didn’t release the passenger 

door. Not only that but the door handles 

on the inside of the vehicle wouldn’t 

open the near side door either. 

He couldn’t reach the handle to open 

the bonnet, which meant he couldn’t get 

at the battery in order to recharge it. 

So here is a little DIY tip: using a 

battery booster/charger he rigged up a 

power plug, the type that fits in what I 

still call a cigarette lighter socket, to 

receive power rather than deliver it, and 

providing you have one which is 

permanently live it is possible with that 

device to get enough power into the 

battery to operate the other door locks. 

It is actually possible to buy a solar 

trickle charge which works the same way 

so if you have one of those it should do 

the job providing the sun is shining. 

Frozen roads in the future 

Do you ever consider the process of 

keeping the roads running during winter 

weather? If you take, for instance, a three 

or four-lane motorway, we know that the 

authorities will have salted with a single 

lane spreader or sometimes using two 

spreaders with an offset. 

Subsequent vehicle usage starts to 

grind the grit/salt into any snow or sleet 

to keep them clear, but the outer lanes 

often stay blocked. Fewer drivers venture 

into them because they are wary of using 

their normal speeds, but also because 

often deposited snow creeps from the 

central barriers towards the left, pushed 

by eddies set up be the barrier itself. 

This process gradually moves across 

the multiple lanes until eventually you 

may only have one open lane. 

Part of strategy for keeping the roads 

open assumes the passage over the cold 

road surface of vehicles running with 

HOT exhausts, which thaws the snow 

and ice. So my question is this: How 

much quicker will roads freeze and/or 

close when the vast majority of the 

vehicles passing over them are electric, 

and therefore not producing heat from an 

exhaust? 

CONTACT 

To comment on this article, or provide 

updates, contact John at 

johnstardriving@hotmail.com 


Area News 

London meeting offers some great tips 

of handling your next Standards Check 

Janet Stewart 

MSA GB Greater London 

Greater London seminar 

in Whetstone 

On 7th February MSA GB Greater 

London held another succesful ADI 

event, this time at Whetstone when we 

were joined by Teresa Alfonso, Hendon 

test centre manager, Ali Saddique, an 

ADI examiner, and Chris Zafirakos, L-test 

examiner. The evening was attended by 

more than 80 ADIs. 

After the usual introduction by Greater 

London Chairman Tom Kwok, Ali 

Saddique took the floor first to discuss 

the five main reasons for an ADI would 

fail the Standards Check: 

First: Not adapting the lesson when 

the pupil is clearly struggling with the 

task. If the fault cannot be fixed easily or 

persists, then the lesson needs to be 

changed with the agreement of the pupil. 

Do not ignore the fault and just try to 

keep going with what you had planned. 

If the fault can be sorted out easily, then 

revert to the original plan. 

Second: The teaching style needs to be 

appropriate to the learning needs of the 

pupil. The examiner does not want to see 

diagrams or hear long briefings. There is 

a ‘pretence’, as it were, that the examiner 

is joining an on-going lesson so there 

should only be brief Q & A to establish 

knowledge. 

Don’t try to show off to the examiner 

by chucking in every bit of knowledge 

you, as the ADI, have on the subject – 

the questions have to be sensible. 

Third: The examiner is looking for a 

client-centred approach. The Q & A 

techniques need to be appropriate and 

relevant. The ADI should listen to the 

pupil and make sure that they have given 

time for the pupil to answer the question 

and correct any misunderstandings. 

Fourth: Feedback should be as 

immediate as possible and not 

retrospective. The problem needs to be 

highlighted if it cannot be dealt with 

straight away. It is acceptable to stop if 

the matter is too complex to be dealt 

with on the move but wheels should be 

turning for as much of the time as 

possible. 

Fifth: There must be a proper 

conversation about any safety critical 

issues. This will usually mean stopping. 

With each of the above five points, 

common sense must prevail. If the pupil 

commits a fault that was not in the 

lesson plan, don’t try to get on so fast 

that the fault remains only half-remedied 

– the exercise may need to be repeated. 

This is about learning taking place for 

Ali Saddique, 

with other 

DVSA 

representatives 

in the 

background 

the pupil – not the ADI pushing through 

his/her plan come hell or high water. 

Likewise, if the traffic is bad, the ADI 

may have to change the route. 

The Standards Check is now only 45 

minutes, but that is from the time you 

get into the car and does not include the 

‘meet and greet’, etc. The examiner will 

tell the ADI what time they should aim to 

get back. 

After a short break for tea and biscuits 

(and fruit and chocolates), Teresa Alfonso 

spoke to us about how the driving test is 

marked. Safety comes first and finesse 

comes second. Essentially, the examiner 

is looking for deviation from the defined 

outcome. To decide on where the fault 

should be marked on the DL25 the 

examiner will consider: 

- What is the fault? 



Nearly half of drivers 

admit to speeding on 

60mph country roads 

- How did it happen? 

- What did the pupil do/not do? 

- What was the actual cause? 

This is looked at from the point of view 

of the degree of deviation, the impact on 

the safety of the drive and the effect on 

other road users. 

The categories of fault are: no fault, 

not worthy, driving fault, serious fault, 

dangerous fault. 

Teresa gave examples with graphics of 

an approach to a T-junction. 

• There is a slight judder as the pupil 

stops – no fault. 

• The pupil is right on the centre line, 

possibly slightly over – not worthy. 

• The pupil is definitely over the line 

but there is no surrounding traffic – 

driving fault. 

• The pupil has stopped on the wrong 

side of the road but there is no other 

traffic and good visibility – serious fault. 

• The pupil has stopped on the wrong 

side of the road and sightlines are 

seriously restricted – dangerous fault. 

If the risk is dangerous the examiner 

will intervene – verbally if that is 

adequate, physically if necessary. 

A habitual fault may become serious if 

it is repeated more than four times, such 

as not checking the blind spot when 

moving off. The examiner will also give 

consideration as to whether or not the 

drive was perfect before or after the 

‘‘ 

The examiner will give 

careful consideration to the 

‘16th fault’...’they have to ask 

themselves if it is justified... 

examiners are human too! 

‘‘ 

serious fault. Likewise, they will consider 

carefully whether giving the 16th fault is 

justified. Examiners are human. They 

have to remember every fault for the 

debrief and the writing up. 

Any breach of a legal requirement will 

be a serious fault. The test report is a 

legal document. The debrief is for the 

student not the ADI; the instructor needs 

to remember that they are not there to 

have a conversation with the examiner. 

Some tests will return to the test centre 

earlier than others because of the speed 

or slowness of the learner and because of 

road and traffic conditions, but there 

must be a minimum of 30 minutes with 

wheels rolling. 

This was an excellent evening in a 

packed hall and those attending clearly 

found it very beneficial. 

A sharp increase in the number of 

drivers who admit to speeding on 

60mph rural roads is “extremely 

worrying”, says the RAC. 

Nearly half (48 per cent) of the 

3,102 drivers questioned for the RAC 

Report on Motoring say they have 

driven faster than the limit in the past 

year on these roads – up from 44 per 

cent in 2021 and matching the 

highest figure ever seen, in 2016. 

Of those who admit to the offence, 

8 per cent say they do so frequently, 

while 40 per cent say they have done 

it occasionally on up to half of their 

journeys. 

Data shows that 514 people were 

killed in a total of 11,827 collisions on 

60mph non-built-up roads in 2021 – 

a fatality rate of 4 per cent, which is 

higher than on motorways, and makes 

these roads by far the most dangerous. 

The RAC wants to see the 

Government advise local authorities to 

reduce limits on the most dangerous 

stretches of rural roads “to more 

appropriate levels”. 

This idea is backed by 48 per cent 

of respondents. 

Simon Williams, RAC road safety 

spokesman, said: “The recent increase 

in the proportion of drivers admitting 

to speeding on 60mph rural roads is 

extremely worrying as more people 

lose their lives every year in collisions 

on these roads than on any other. 

“Drivers sometimes forget or 

underestimate the role speed plays in 

fatal and serious collisions as they 

tend not to see it in the same light as 

offences like drink or drug-driving or 

talking on a handheld phone. 

“While the number of fatalities on 

our roads is no longer falling, we 

certainly don’t want to see an increase 

in deaths. We think the Government 

should address the issue of fatalities 

on 60mph rural roads by advising 

roads authorities to reduce limits on 

the most dangerous stretches to more 

appropriate levels.” 


Area News 

What’s that lurking in the ‘doolie dark?’ 

Brian Thomson 

MSA GB Scotland 

As the saying goes, “every silver lining 

has a cloud”, and as we venture into the 

lighter nights it allows us to perhaps fit in 

that extra lesson to help catch up with 

the backlog, or lets us get home at a 

normal time and still have enough light 

to clean the car ready for the next day. 

My cloud is that, within reason, there’s 

not the same opportunity to get the 

students out for a ‘doolie drive’. For those 

of you reading this who hail from south 

of Reykjavik, that’s getting the students 

out when it’s ‘really’ dark on country 

roads for a night time driving experience. 

Now, I realise we are luckier than 

others in the country as we can get from 

roads with street lighting to rural driving 

in under five minutes. My most popular 

‘Doolie route’ starts with a town pick up, 

usually around 8pm, and driving out of 

the town in the street lights, as we’ll 

have done lots of times. Then it’s a 

stretch of main road where there are 

plenty of learning opportunities: a good 

chance of meeting oncoming motorists 

and showing the student where they can 

look to see the left verge using the other 

car’s lights (while warning them not to 

look at the oncoming lights). There’s also 

this thing they have to do with the dip 

switch, as most students using lights in 

the town never really have to use that 

function, and it’s something that takes a 

bit of concentration to remember. There 

have been numerous doolie drives which 

start with the prompt, “dip your lights, 

full beam” and this will continue until the 

student grasps the task in hand and 

becomes independent. However, there 

have been others I’ve been on during 

which that ‘task’ just does not compute, 

no matter how many times I say “if a car 

come towards you, remember to dip your 

lights...’ done, but then we drive on 

showing dipped lights only until the 

instruction of ‘full beam please’ comes 

from the left. (Interestingly, the car does 

have auto dip lights but that’s a function 

they are not being shown). 

So we drive about ten or so miles on 

the main A road but it’s usually not 

completely dark because of the light 

provided by other motorists coming 

towards us or overtaking (another chance 

to issue a ‘dip your lights’ warning). 

We’re now following the cat’s eyes way 

ahead, assessing the pitch of the corners 

and the gears they think they may have 

to use, until we’re reach another town 

where we turn off into the ‘doolie dark’ 

countryside. 

Now we are just driving with what we 

can see with our own car lights, but at 

this time in the evening and in the 

country roads with no footpath, the 

chance of dog walkers on the road is 

fairly high and not all are clad in 

fluorescent clothing or carrying a torch. 

It’s a good lesson about our approach 

position to a corner, explaining how it is 

slightly different from the daylight 

position when you don’t see the beams 

of light coming towards you. 

Once the students see that there is 

that pre-warning of someone coming in 

the other direction, it does calm some of 

them down and takes the scary thoughts 

of driving in the dark away. 

We drive past a very well lit dairy farm, 

at which point the student is informed 

that the farmer plays soothing music to 

the cattle to enhance their milk 

production, (nothing to do with driving 

but a life lesson not to be missed). 

So we are now into the heart of the 

country where light pollution is minimal. 

By this time the students has covered a 

few miles and I can feel most of them 



starting to relax as they read the road, 

tree line, hedge rows and seeing road 

signs from farther away than can be read 

but know they will be looking at it as 

they approach for that valuable bit of 

information. It could warn them of a 

bend, where a road narrows, deer, even 

the Give Way signs they know and love 

so well seem to spring out from nowhere, 

but they don’t get caught out the next 

time. 

My route also come out from the 

country drive on to a dual carriageway, 

letting the student get the speed up but 

still having to use this ‘dip beam, full 

beam’ thing and pointing out the different 

colours of cat’s eyes for slip roads and 

right side. As we have no motorways 

within 50 miles it’s an opportunity to 

discuss the purpose of the green ones on 

the right – something that is not covered 

in the theory test questions. 

Then it’s off the dualer at a junction 

(no slip road) and again speed 

adjustment to the country road 

conditions. Talking of conditions, this 

time of year presents an extra hazard on 

the minor country roads with pot holes. 

These rural roads are not travelled every 

day by the highways authorities so pot 

holes can be of a dangerous size. One of 

the other problems is that often these 

country roads are used by vehicles that 

don’t flinch when they hit a pot hole 

which would cause tyre or suspension 

damage to our cars. 

So, it’s almost over. Out of the country 

road, back to familiar surroundings by 

which time the student will say “oh, I 

know where I am now” and at the end 

we will reflect on how the drive went. 

Normal consensus is, it’s difficult at 

the start but they seem to settle down as 

they appreciate the difference in speed 

required from driving during daylight. 

Mostly all students find it really useful 

and thankful they did it with an 

instructor first. 

(P.S. I know it’s dark at some point in 

the spring and early summer but going 

round these roads at “silly o clock” does 

no good if we do hit a deer or pot hole 

and try and get rescued when it’s not 

necessary.) 

Workshop aims to calm 

those test nerves – 

for your pupils, and you 

MSA GB Eastern Workshop CPD/ 

Training Session 

Calming Test Nerves Workshop, with 

Diana Hall of L of a Way 2 Pass 

MSA GB members, £100 

Non-Members, £110 

Date: Friday, April 21 

Time: 9am-5pm 

Venue: Ayton House, 

11 Ayton House, Wymondham, 

Norfolk NR11 0QQ 

Every ADI knows the pupil who aced 

every lesson, only to fail their L-test. 

Why? Simply because of nerves. 

How can an ADI help pupils manage 

the nerves that ccompany every 

L-test? Well, MSA GB Eastern has 

organised a full-day workshop that can 

do just that. This Driving Test Nerves 

Specialist workshop will help you gain 

an in-depth insight into how the mind 

works, understand why pupils do what 

they do, and more importantly, how to 

deal with it! 

Learn more about: 

• Anticipatory anxiety – when 

several of the brain’s processes shut 

down, meaning learning just can’t take 

place: Learn strategies to combat it 

• How to deal with Auditory 

Exclusion – when what you say ‘goes 

in one ear and out the other’! 

• Strategies to control negative 

emotions such as fear, stress, nerves, 

panic, anxiety, intimidation 

Diane Hall: Learn 

new ways to calm 

pupils’ nerves before 

their L-test 

• Techniques to recognise 

sabotaging thoughts and behaviours 

and how to turn negativity into 

increased confidence and self-belief 

• And a 10-second technique to 

stop your pupils muddling up left and 

right! 

All instructors who attend the 

Driving Test Nerves workshop or have 

a 1-2-1 session with us will be invited 

to join our FREE Zoom meetings. 

During these sessions, Diane and the 

team at L of a Way 2 Pass offer help 

and advice from dealing with stress 

and anxiety (for you as well as your 

pupils!) through to life skills, and 

answer any questions you may have, 

or, you can just pop along for a chat! 

Do you sometimes feel more like a 

counsellor or therapist than a driving 

instructor? It’s not surprising when 

around a third of your pupils are likely 

to suffer anxiety… and, according to 

the World Health Organisation, that 

figure is on the increase 

Diane and Chris from L of a way 2 

Pass will share amazing unique 

techniques to not only help your pupils 

with driving anxiety and test nerves, 

but for your own Standards Check 

anxiety as well! This workshop gives 

you a unique insight into your pupils’ 

minds; why they behave the way they 

do, and strategies to deal with even 

the most challenging students… 

ensuring you become the ‘go to’ 

instructor 

For further information please email 

event organiser Paul Harmes via 

admin@paulharmesdrivingschool.co.uk 

or click on the panel below to book: 

Click here 

for details 


Q& A with... 

I love it when I help learners through 

their test... but I’ve had enough of the 

reckless drivers and the pot holes! 

Yasmin Ajib from MSA GB’s East Coast Area 2 

committee is the latest member to take part in our 

‘Q & A with’ feature, and she’s getting fed up with 

reckless drivers endangering her and her pupils... 

When did you become an ADI, and 

what made you enter the profession? 

I became an ADI in 2014. I have 

always had a passion for driving and 

becoming a driving instructor was the 

ideal career path for me, where I am able 

to teach people how to drive safely and 

guide them through passing their test. 

It’s a very rewarding role. 

Also, as I am able to speak more than 

one language, I can help those who have 

English as an additional language. It’s 

great knowing I can help others pass 

when they don’t feel comfortable and 

confident in speaking English. 

What’s the best bit about the job? 

Being my own boss, where I can 

choose my hours; that’s very important 

to me. 

In addition, I enjoy meeting pupils from 

different backgrounds, all of whom have 

their own individual needs, therefore 

opening my experiences of teaching 

different types of learners. 

Finally, I still get a buzz when I receive 

positive feedback from my learners. You 

can’t beat that. 

And the worst? 

Impatient drivers who hit the horn, 

overtake, speed and cause near crashes 

whenever they see a learner car. They 

tend to think they can intimidate new 

learners and scare them. It’s disgraceful. 

I really feel for my pupils when they 

are on the receiving end of it. For 

some of them it can negatively affect 

their performance and can sometimes 

put them off learning to drive all together. 

Why can’t people just be a little more 

patient? 

What’s the best piece of training advice 

you were ever given? 

The best training I received was from 

Susan McCormack when I passed my 

BTEC level four in client centre learning 

and coaching. It helped transform the 

way I worked and I’ve really enjoyed the 

difference it makes to lessons. 

What one piece of kit, other than your 

car and phone, could you not do 

without? 

Money, especially in the current 

economic and inflation rates! 

What needs fixing most urgently in 

driving generally? 

We need to find a way of encouraging 

drivers to be more patient, as per my 

previous answer. But in addition I’m 

really concerned that there are more 

people out there who are driving under 

the influence than the authorities believe. 

Also, if we’re aiming to improve the 

standard of driving, can we also tackle 

the standard of the roads at the same 

time? So many of the roads on my usual 

routes are really poor quality and in need 

of urgent repair – pot holes and cracks 

that have been present for ages but 

have not been fixed. 

What should the DVSA focus on? 

Change the marking strategy for 

standard check tests. 

What’s the next big thing that’s going to 

transform driver training/testing? 

Having to buy an electric car. 

Electric cars – yes or no? And why? 

Despite my previous answer, because 

of the current pressure on finances with 

the cost of living crisis and high inflation 

rate, I’m not going for one at present as 

it would not be affordable. 

However, in the future when the 

current crisis eases I will be swapping to 

to an electric car, as they do come with 

benefits. 

How can we improve driver testing/ 

training in one move? 

Easy; employ more examiners! 

Who/what inspires you, drives you on? 

My family, knowing how proud they 

are on how far I have come, and now 

being able to teach my own children and 

grandchildren how to drive. 

I’m also inspired to do my job by 

knowing that I am able to make a 

difference to someone. When a pupil 

passes their test, you can instantly see 

how happy they are, especially when 



they show immense appreciation. 

That’s when I know I have done my 

job properly. 

What’s the daftest /most dangerous 

thing that’s ever happened to you while 

teaching? 

It’s not one thing but the regular 

reckless driving you see when we are 

teaching is dangerous. I’ve lost count of 

the number of times people overtake my 

tuition car on roundabouts, cut us up 

and go through red lights. Everyone 

seems to be driving on the verge of a 

serious accident. 

When or where are you happiest? 

Abroad or in a new location, 

surrounded by friends or family and 

positive vibes, where I am able to relax. 

Yasmin’s big two problems: Too many 

aggressive drivers (above) ... and badly 

maintained roads (right) 


Membership offers and discounts 

Members’ discounts and benefits 

MSA GB has organised a number of exclusive discounts and offers for members. More details can be found on our website at 

www.msagb.com and click on the Member Discounts logo. To access these benefits, simply log in and click on the Member 

discount logo, then click the link at the bottom of the page to allow you to obtain your special discounts. 

Please note, non-members will be required to join the association first. Terms and conditions apply 

Ford updates special offer 

for MSA GB members 

Some exciting news for members: Ford has partnered 

with MSA GB to offer exclusive discounts on all car and 

commercial Ford vehicles. 

Take a look at the Ford website www.ford.co.uk for vehicle 

and specification information. 

For further information, to view frequently asked questions, 

to request a quote and to access the member discount 

codes, please go to the Members’ Benefits page on the MSA 

GB website and follow the Ford link. 

Please note these discounts are only available to MSA GB 

members and their immediate family if they are members 

who pay annually. 

ACCOUNTANCY 

MSA GB’s Recommended 

Accountancy Service, FBTC 

offers a specialist service for 

driving instructors. 

It has been established over 20 

years ago and covers the whole of 

the UK. The team takes pride in providing 

unlimited advice and support to ensure the 

completion of your tax return is hassle free, 

giving you peace of mind. 

MSA GB OFFER:: FBTC will prepare you for 

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soon. Join now to receive three months free. 

ADVANCE DRIVING 

AND RIDING 

As the UK’s largest 

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RoadSmart is proud to 

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MSA GB OFFER:: Get 10% off Advanced 

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CAR AIR FRESHENERS / CANDLES 

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Check our our website for 

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MSA GB OFFER:: Special discount 

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CARD PAYMENTS 

MSA GB and SumUp believe 

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Together we are on a mission to 

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SumUp readers are durable and user-friendly. 

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CPD & TRAINING COURSES 

As part of its new relationship with MSA 

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MSA GB OFFER: 20% off all Tri-Coaching 

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DISABILITY AIDS 

Driving shouldn’t just be a 

privilege for people without 

disabilities; it should be 

accessible for all and there’s 

never been an easier time to make this the 

case! MSA GB members can take advantage 

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drivers. 

MSA GB OFFER: Special Driving Instructor 

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To get the full story of 

the discounts available, 




HEALTH / FINANCE 

COVER 

The Motor Schools Association 

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MSA GB OFFER: HMCA only offer medical 

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Help your pupils private 

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MSA GB OFFER:: £50 for your first 

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PSYCHOLOGY TRAINING 

Confident Drivers has the only 

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commonly used to reduce 

stress and nerves. 

MSA GB OFFER: One month free on a monthly 

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PUPIL SOURCING 

Go Roadie provides students 

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To get the full story of 

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Membership offer 

Welcome, new ADIs 

We’ve a special introductory offer for you! 

Congratulations on passing 

your Part 3 and becoming 

an ADI. 

There’s an exciting career 

open to you from today, 

one that’s alive with 

possibilities as you build 

your skills, your client 

base and your income. 

But for all the excitement, it 

can also be challenging; who 

can you turn to if you’re struggling 

to get over key driver training issues to 

a pupil? Where can you go to soak up 

advice from more experienced ADIs? 

Who will help you if you are caught 

up in a dispute with the DVSA? If the 

worst happens, who can you turn to for 

help, advice and to fight your corner? 

The answer is the Motor Schools 

Association of Great Britain – MSA GB 

for short. 

We are the most senior association 

representing driving instructors in Great 

Britain. Establised in 1935 when the 

first driving test was introduced, MSA 

GB has been working tirelessly ever 

since on behalf of ordinary rank and 

file ADIs. 

We represent your interests and your 

views in the corridors of power, holding 

regular meetings with senior officials 

from the DVSA and the Department for 

Transport to make sure the ADIs’ voice 

is heard. 

SPECIAL OFFER 

Join MSA GB today! 

SPECIAL OFFER: Join for just £60 with your 

PI & PL insurance included immediately! 

No joining fee - saving you £25 

Call 01787 221020 quoting discount code 

Newslink, or join online at www.msagb.com 

We’d like you to join us 

We’re there to support you 

every step of the way. 

Our office-based staff 

are there, five days a 

week, from 9am-5pm, 

ready to answer your 

call and help you in any 

way. 

In addition our network 

of experienced office holders 

and regional officers can offer 

advice over the phone or by email. 

But membership of the MSA GB 

doesn’t just mean we’re there for 

you if you’re in trouble. We also 

offer a nationwide network of regular 

meetings, seminars and training 

events, an Annual Conference, and 

a chance to participate in MSA 

GB affairs through our democratic 

structure 

In addition, you’ll get a free link to our 

membership magazine Newslink every 

month, with all the latest news, views, 

comment and advice you’ll need to 

become a successful driving instructor. 

You’ll also automatically receive 

professional indemnity insurance 

worth up to £5m and £10m public 

liability insurance free of charge. 

This is essential legal protection 

covering you against legal claims 

ariving from your tuition.

Newslink March

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