Newslink March

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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!
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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