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News DVSA focused on the waiting times – and changes to test delivery DVSA chief executive Loveday Ryder 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 06 NEWSLINK n MARCH 2023
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com 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 NEWSLINK n MARCH 2023 07
Page 1: msagb.com Newslink The Voice of MSA
Page 4 and 5: Contents 10 Motorbike instructor ru
Page 8 and 9: News DVSA focused on the waiting ti
Page 10 and 11: News 10 days of strikes set to swee
Page 12 and 13: News DVSA plans for flexible test g
Page 14 and 15: News Conference 2023 moves online -
Page 16: News BHS launches campaign as Highw
Page 19 and 20: For all the latest news, see www.ms
Page 23 and 24: MSA GB ANNUAL REPORT 2021-22 MSA GB
Page 47: For all the latest news, see www.ms

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