Newslink November
Motor Schools Association of Great Britain members magazine; driver training and testing; road safety; general motoring
Motor Schools Association of Great Britain members magazine; driver training and testing; road safety; general motoring
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msagb.com<br />
<strong>Newslink</strong><br />
The Voice of MSA GB<br />
Issue 370 • <strong>November</strong> 2023<br />
The question of<br />
colour blindness<br />
How it affects drivers – and why you<br />
need to be aware of its possible impact<br />
We work for all Driver Trainers. Want to join? SAVE £25 – see pg 39 for special offer
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com<br />
I’ll vote for better driving and<br />
road safety: who’s with me?<br />
Welcome to your<br />
digital, interactive<br />
<strong>Newslink</strong><br />
Colin Lilly<br />
Editor,<br />
<strong>Newslink</strong><br />
In the August issue of <strong>Newslink</strong> we predicted<br />
that road safety was about to become a<br />
political issue. In late September, just before<br />
the Conservative Party Conference, the<br />
Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak announced that<br />
the Government were about to launch a<br />
programme to curtail what he described as<br />
the ‘War on Motorists.’<br />
What makes motorists a special case? Is<br />
the hierarchy of road users in the Highway<br />
Code just a myth?<br />
A war has not been formally declared. Are<br />
these motorists who are feeling victimised<br />
the ones with little regard for the safety of<br />
others, who refuse to adapt their driving<br />
habits, or have no respect for regulations?<br />
Such an announcement seemed a bit<br />
bizarre in the wake of the recent report of a<br />
10% year-on-year rise in road fatalities.<br />
Many of the drivers who advocate<br />
freestyle driving probably never consider the<br />
safety implications or the effect on others; it<br />
is merely their own agenda.<br />
The announcement was probably provoked<br />
by the Welsh 20mph debate. The fact remains<br />
that amid all the protests and protestations<br />
of non-compliance, the average speed in<br />
Wales has fallen by 2.3 mph during the first<br />
month of operation. Even this small amount<br />
can have influence. As a parent and grandparent<br />
I compare this to a child that<br />
grudgingly complies.<br />
Within days the DfT published a policy<br />
document laying out future plans about Low<br />
Traffic Neighbourhoods, 20mph limits, bus<br />
lanes and enforcement.<br />
The policies merely seeks to placate those<br />
that politicians perceive as the majority view.<br />
Faced with a survey most people will give the<br />
answer they feel follows the current trend.<br />
When a political party sets its manifesto,<br />
they will present the policies that they feel<br />
will achieve the most votes. On motoring<br />
issues, it is a simple choice of safety or<br />
convenience. We may come to see what the<br />
public truly sees as important.<br />
Global warming is an impending threat that<br />
is a reality. While the British motorist is not<br />
solely responsible for the situation, every<br />
little helps. Rolling back on policies that<br />
should have a positive influence is not helpful.<br />
I live in a low lying area that it is estimated<br />
will be flooded by rising sea levels by 2050.<br />
As our house is one metre above sea level, I<br />
can see this will be a tad inconvenient.<br />
One would like to think that come the<br />
general election, political parties’ policies will<br />
reflect the common good. Policies formed in<br />
response to anarchy just deal with the vested<br />
interest.<br />
As always this was written not reflecting<br />
support for any political party, but from the<br />
point of view of an organisation with a strong<br />
interest in promoting road safety and safe<br />
driving.<br />
• More on Wales: pg 16<br />
See a pale blue box in any article or<br />
on an advert? It it contains a web<br />
address or email, it’s interactive. Just<br />
click and it will take you to the<br />
appropriate web page or email so you<br />
can find more details easier.<br />
You’ll also find these panels across<br />
the magazine: just click for more<br />
information on any given subject.<br />
To get the<br />
full story,<br />
click here<br />
How to access this<br />
magazine<br />
You can read <strong>Newslink</strong> in three ways:<br />
Go online and read the interactive<br />
magazine on the Yumpu website; or,<br />
if you would like to read it when you<br />
don’t have a mobile signal or WiFi,<br />
you can download the magazine to<br />
your tablet, PC or phone to read at<br />
your leisure. Alternatively, a pdf can<br />
be found on the MSA GB website, at<br />
www.msagb.com<br />
Follow the link<br />
MSA GB sends<br />
you to access<br />
<strong>Newslink</strong>,<br />
and then just<br />
click Download<br />
(circled above)<br />
to save a copy<br />
on your device<br />
MSA GB Annual Conference 2024:<br />
Prices and venue announced<br />
Time to get the weekend<br />
cleared....<br />
Venue and pricing<br />
details released.<br />
COVER STORY<br />
The issue of<br />
colour blindness<br />
and how it can<br />
impact on drivers<br />
Full story,<br />
see pg 22<br />
See pg 26 for more<br />
details and first news<br />
NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023 03
Contents<br />
06<br />
Paradise... but<br />
for whom?<br />
08<br />
13<br />
Where are<br />
you going,<br />
my deer?<br />
22<br />
Get money off your fuel bill<br />
with special MSA GB deal<br />
Looking to cut your costs? Then save<br />
up to 10p per litre of fuel with an<br />
MSA GB fuel card – pg 06<br />
Waiting times... explained<br />
Ever wondered what the methodology<br />
was behind the DVSA’s definition of<br />
an L-test centre waiting time? It’s<br />
explained here... – pg 10<br />
Call for mandatory training<br />
for all van drivers<br />
European road safety group wants<br />
white van man to be trained: could it<br />
come to the UK, too? – pg 14<br />
Where Wales leads...<br />
Road safety expert asks people to get<br />
behind Wales’s new lower urban<br />
speed limits, as first data shows<br />
public is slowing down – pg 16<br />
It’s good to talk – but do it<br />
constructively<br />
Steve Garrod on how the narrative<br />
used during feedback can make or<br />
break a learning outcome and really<br />
get the message across – pg 20<br />
What red light ...?<br />
Do you check your pupils for colour<br />
blindness when you first take them<br />
out on a lesson? – pg 22<br />
<strong>Newslink</strong><br />
The Voice of MSA GB<br />
The Motor Schools Association<br />
of Great Britain Ltd<br />
Head Office:<br />
Peershaws,<br />
Berewyk Hall Court,<br />
White Colne, Colchester,<br />
Essex CO6 2QB<br />
T: 01787 221020<br />
E: info@msagb.com<br />
<strong>Newslink</strong> is published monthly on behalf of the MSA GB<br />
and distributed to members and selected recently<br />
qualified ADIs throughout Great Britain by:<br />
Chamber Media Services,<br />
4 Hilton Road, Bramhall, Stockport,<br />
Cheshire SK7 3AG<br />
Editorial/Production: Rob Beswick<br />
e: rob@chambermediaservices.co.uk<br />
t: 0161 426 7957<br />
Advertising sales: Colin Regan<br />
e: colinregan001@yahoo.co.uk<br />
t: 01942 537959 / 07871 444922<br />
Views expressed in <strong>Newslink</strong> are not necessarily those<br />
of the MSA GB or the publishers.<br />
Although every effort is made<br />
to ensure the accuracy of<br />
material contained within<br />
this publication, neither MSA<br />
GB nor the publishers can<br />
accept any responsibility for<br />
the veracity of claims made<br />
by contributors in either<br />
advertising or editorial content.<br />
©2023 The Motor Schools<br />
Association of Great Britain<br />
Ltd. Reproducing in whole<br />
or part is forbidden without<br />
express permission of the<br />
editor.<br />
04 NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com<br />
MSA GB Board<br />
of Management<br />
National Chairman &<br />
Area 2 - East Coast Chair<br />
Mike Yeomans<br />
7 Oak Avenue, Elloughton,<br />
Brough HU15 1LA<br />
T: 07772 757529<br />
E: mike.yeomans@msagb.com<br />
AREA 1<br />
Vice Chairman<br />
Peter Harvey MBE<br />
T: 01505 814823<br />
E: peter.harveymbe@msagb.com<br />
Area 1 – Scotland &<br />
Northern Ireland<br />
Chair: Steven Porter<br />
18 Heron Place, Johnstone<br />
PA5 0RW<br />
T: 01505 345372 or<br />
07747 600672<br />
E: steven.porter@msagb.com<br />
Area 3 – London & South East<br />
Chair: Tom Kwok<br />
52B Sutton Road, Muswell Hill,<br />
London N10 1HE<br />
07956 269922<br />
E: tom.kwok@msagb.com<br />
How MSA GB<br />
is organised, in<br />
four AREAS<br />
AREA 4<br />
AREA 2<br />
AREA 3<br />
Area 4 – West Coast & Wales<br />
Chair: Arthur Mynott<br />
9 Hagleys Green, Crowcombe,<br />
Taunton TA4 4AH<br />
T: 01984 618858<br />
E: arthur.mynott@msagb.com<br />
Keep in touch<br />
If you have updated your address, telephone numbers or<br />
changed your email address recently, please let us know<br />
at head office by emailing us with your new details and<br />
membership number to info@msagb.com.<br />
If you can’t find your membership number, give us a ring<br />
on 01787 221020.<br />
Follow MSA GB on social media<br />
Just click on the icon to go<br />
through to the relevant site<br />
NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023 05
News<br />
Get 10p off every litre of fuel<br />
with special MSA GB deal<br />
MSA GB understands that the cost-ofliving<br />
crisis is putting many ADIs under<br />
considerable financial pressure,<br />
particularly with the cost of fuel and<br />
insurance, two of our biggest costs, rising<br />
so quickly.<br />
So to help alleviate some of the burden<br />
on our members, we’re thrilled to<br />
announce a brand-new partnership with<br />
Fuel Card Services.<br />
A fuel card from MSA GB partner, Fuel<br />
Card Services can provide huge benefits to<br />
businesses that use vehicles on a daily<br />
basis:<br />
n Cutting fuel costs - save up to 10p per<br />
litre and get a consistent price.<br />
n Increased security - fuel cards are a<br />
safer alternative to carrying cash and<br />
eliminate fraud.<br />
n Streamline admin - HMRC compliant<br />
invoices, no receipts, one neat invoice and<br />
a dedicated account manager.<br />
n Tighter control of business expenses<br />
- view transactions and reports online 24/7.<br />
n Increased flexibility for refuelling<br />
across a huge network.<br />
n Fleet convenience - a quick and<br />
convenient way for fleets to refuel.<br />
There are a range of fuel cards available<br />
on the market and for your business to<br />
truly benefit from investing in fuel cards,<br />
you need to choose the right one for your<br />
businesses’ requirements.<br />
FUEL CARD SERVICES offers a large<br />
choice of networks from leading brands,<br />
such as BP, Shell, Esso and UK Fuels, so<br />
you can decide which networks you wish<br />
to include on your business account.<br />
Fuel Card Services and MSA GB are<br />
helping to deliver cost savings to<br />
members throughout the country.<br />
For more details and to obtain a fuel<br />
card through MSA GB, go to our website at<br />
https://msagb.com/members/<br />
member-discounts/<br />
Current prices<br />
The RAC’s latest pricewatch on fuel shows the average price of a litre of unleaded is<br />
now 155.27p - down slightly on mid-October<br />
The supermarket average is 152.89p and the motorway average is 179.29p.<br />
For diesel the average is 162.05p, the supermarket average is 159.76p and the<br />
motorway average is 184.73p<br />
Driving test centre update<br />
Skegness driving test centre<br />
The temporary relocation of Skegness driving test centre<br />
has been extended, as repairs are continuing at the<br />
permanent centre on Heath Road.<br />
As a result driving tests will continue to operate out of<br />
the Vertigo Stadium at Wainfleet Road until further notice.<br />
The address for the temporary centre is: Vertigo<br />
Stadium, Wainfleet Road, Skegness, Lincolnshire PE25<br />
2EL.<br />
Examiners will meet candidates at their cars at the time<br />
of the test. The car park must not be used for candidates<br />
to practise parking exercises.<br />
Carlisle driving test centre<br />
ADIs in the Carlisle area will be interested to know that<br />
their local driving test centre at Port Road, Carlisle was<br />
temporarily closed due to health and safety reasons.<br />
As this issue of <strong>Newslink</strong> was being published the DVSA<br />
said it would re-open on Sunday, 29 October.<br />
Shock to the system as EV<br />
sales push up insurance costs<br />
A huge rise in premiums has seen the average cost of car insurance hit a<br />
record of £924 a year, according to new figures from Confused.com.<br />
Prices are up by £338 on 2022 – indeed, they are up an astonishing<br />
£148 from June this year.<br />
Confused.com says the rise in sales of electric cars is a factor in the<br />
price increase.<br />
With higher prices than their petrol or diesel equivalents, along with<br />
more advanced technology and equipment included, garages and repair<br />
specialists say EVs are more expensive to repair or replace than petrol or<br />
diesel cars.<br />
Electric cars also generally have quicker acceleration than other<br />
vehicles, so could appear riskier to insurers.<br />
The strong used vehicle market is another variable, according to<br />
Confused.com. With second-hand vehicles keeping their value for longer,<br />
if a driver has an accident and their vehicle is a write off, this now costs<br />
insurers more to pay out.<br />
06 NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com<br />
Sad news as former MSA GB Member of the Year,<br />
Clive Snook, dies, aged 68<br />
Colin Lilly<br />
Editor, <strong>Newslink</strong><br />
As always it is with regret that we inform<br />
members of the passing of a former MSA GB<br />
Member of the Year.<br />
Clive Snook from Shaftesbury passed<br />
away on 7th October, aged 68.<br />
Clive was a stalwart member of MSA GB<br />
for many years. In 1978 he was instrumental<br />
in the formation of the then MSA Western<br />
Region and was its first Deputy Chairman and<br />
Treasurer. He was also Chairman for two<br />
years in the 1990s. He was ever present at<br />
meetings throughout the region, often<br />
organising the welcome desk, and was active<br />
within driving instructor groups in Wiltshire<br />
and Dorset. He was also an ever-present at<br />
MSA national conferences throughout the<br />
80s and 90s.<br />
Sadly, following a severe stroke in 2000,<br />
Clive was forced to give up driving and driver<br />
Clive with<br />
his wife,<br />
Muriel. The<br />
couple were<br />
jointly<br />
named<br />
‘Member of<br />
the Year’ in<br />
2001<br />
training. Driving was a passion for him. As well<br />
as running a driving school he also drove<br />
coaches on a part-time basis.<br />
Clive was cared for by his wife, Muriel, and<br />
despite these challenges he continued to<br />
attend meetings in a wheelchair and perform<br />
his MSA roles. It was in recognition of their<br />
service, despite these difficult circumstances,<br />
that the couple were jointly awarded the MSA<br />
Member of the Year trophy in 2001.<br />
Unfortunately, as a result of his stroke,<br />
Clive developed vertigo which made it<br />
difficult to travel so took on a less active role.<br />
He remained for a number of years as<br />
regional treasurer and Vice-Chairman.<br />
In recent years, regrettably, his health<br />
deteriorated.<br />
Clive’s funeral will be held on Monday,<br />
<strong>November</strong> 6 at 11am at the Salisbury<br />
Crematorium, Barrington Rd, Salisbury SP1<br />
3JB, followed by a wake at the Milford Hall<br />
Hotel and Spa, 206 Castle Street, Salisbury<br />
SP1 3TE.<br />
Anyone is welcome to attend, but it would<br />
be helpful to confirm your attendance with<br />
his widow Muriel on 01747 855091.<br />
I will be attending along with the MSA GB<br />
West Coast and Wales Area Chairman, Arthur<br />
Mynott, as representatives of the<br />
association and to convey MSA GB’s deepest<br />
condolences.<br />
Clive Snook, died 7th October 2023. RIP
News<br />
Scotland to look at<br />
following Wales<br />
A one-day conference in Edinburgh next<br />
month will discuss the national 20mph<br />
limit set by Wales in September and plans<br />
for rolling out 20mph in Scotland by 2025.<br />
Organised by 20’s Plenty, the event<br />
takes place at the City of Edinburgh<br />
Council Chambers on December 7.<br />
Wales became the first UK country to<br />
adopt a default 20mph speed limit in<br />
September, with most 30mph roads<br />
switched to the lower limit.<br />
It followed four years of work between<br />
the Welsh Government and local<br />
authorities, police and road safety experts<br />
to design a change in law.<br />
Delegates will hear from Lee Waters MS,<br />
Wales’ deputy minister for climate change,<br />
and Kaarina Ruta, transport assistant,<br />
Welsh Local Government Association.<br />
The Scottish Government has committed<br />
to giving all appropriate roads in built-up<br />
areas a speed limit of 20mph by 2025.<br />
The agenda also features presentations<br />
from the 20mph cities of Edinburgh and<br />
London, as well as from Scottish Borders<br />
Council. The European Transport Safety<br />
Council will give an international<br />
perspective on 30km/h (18.5mph) limits,<br />
while public health professionals will<br />
highlight the influence of street speeds on<br />
the public’s health.<br />
Start’s the star for<br />
roadside rescue<br />
The latest Which? survey of breakdown<br />
cover firms has named Start Rescue as<br />
best for customer satisfaction, as well top<br />
for the best value for third-party<br />
breakdown in the UK.<br />
“We’re thrilled with the results of the<br />
Which? survey,” said Lee Puffett,<br />
Managing Director of Start Rescue. “Being<br />
recognised by the largest independent<br />
consumer body in the UK for the fifth year<br />
in a row is an amazing achievement.<br />
“This is the mark of quality and great<br />
value offered by our breakdown cover. I’m<br />
so proud of our whole team as they have<br />
earned this incredible feedback.”<br />
Which? team said: “Start Rescue<br />
reaches 72% of people in less than an hour<br />
and has the highest customer score of any<br />
third-party provider.”<br />
The survey also praised the level of<br />
cover offered with all of its policies.<br />
Paradise isle – for beach lovers,<br />
walkers and learner drivers<br />
And the prize goes to... the Isle of Benbecula.<br />
Now, given the photo above, the question<br />
is, what is the prize for? Most beautiful place<br />
in the UK? Place in the UK that most closely<br />
resembles a tropical island paradise? Nearest<br />
dead-ringer for the Seychelles?<br />
While all three are arguably correct, the<br />
correct answer is, ‘the place in Great Britain<br />
with the highest L-test pass rate.’<br />
In the year 2022-23, the Isle of Benbecula<br />
saw a staggering 85.7% of candidates pass<br />
their L-test. Pretty good, seen as the<br />
average for GB as a whole is 48.4 .<br />
We’re actually doing the Isle of Tiree a<br />
disservice here, as it too could boast an<br />
85.7% pass rate, but that mark was set<br />
against just seven tests all year, where as the<br />
Isle of Benbecula saw a whopping 84 tests<br />
taken during the same period, so that’s why<br />
we’re giving it top spot.<br />
Clinching the bronze medal was Inverary,<br />
at 84.3%, from 89 tests.<br />
At the other end of the scale a newcomer:<br />
Swindon LGV centre, which had a pass rate of<br />
just 17.8%, far lower than the rest of the LGV<br />
cohort. As far as L-tests are concerned,<br />
Speke in Liverpool was the lowest performing<br />
centre, at 29% passes (on 8,382 tests).<br />
Second lowest was Doncaster Legacy<br />
Centre, at 32.5%, on a curious 314 tests. Erith<br />
in London was third bottom, with 34.5% of<br />
tests ending in a pass, closely followed by<br />
Wolverhampton and Wednesbury (35.3 and<br />
35.7% respectively).<br />
As a whole there were 1,688,955 tests in<br />
2022-23, with a 48.4% pass rate.<br />
Manual still has upper hand on autos –<br />
but only just, as EVs lead the charge<br />
The manual gearbox is still the most popular<br />
choice among those looking to buy a new car<br />
– but only just, as auto boxes are now<br />
favoured by 47% of motorists.<br />
For generations the autobox was the poor<br />
relation when it came to transmissions, with<br />
few motorists opting for one over a manual.<br />
But a YouGov poll commissioned by The<br />
Motor Ombudsman has revealed just how<br />
close the gap between the two now is: 53%<br />
of motorists would opt for a manual gearbox<br />
if they were to buy a new car within the next<br />
12 months, just edging out automatics.<br />
This is a clear result of the popularity of<br />
electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids.<br />
Of those who stated a preference for a<br />
traditional stick shift, the most cited reason<br />
for doing so was this was how they learned to<br />
drive. Over a third (39%) of manual fans also<br />
stated that being in control of their own gear<br />
shifts can offer a greater level of driving<br />
enjoyment for the ‘purists’ than an auto box,<br />
especially in a high-performance car, and<br />
this type of transmission makes it easier to<br />
change gears in anticipation of the volume of<br />
traffic ahead (34%).<br />
Furthermore, for nearly one in three people<br />
(28%), price would also sway respondents to<br />
go manual, as models can be sometimes be<br />
cheaper than those with an auto gearbox.<br />
08 NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023
News<br />
DVSA offers a new take on what<br />
a L-test waiting time really is...<br />
On October 24, DVSA published its latest blog on the driver training and testing sector, in the wake of its plans<br />
to add an extra 150,000 L-tests in a bid to reduce waiting times. Its author, John Selbey, tackled the complex<br />
question of ‘What the driving test waiting time actually means...’ Many MSA GB members will have read the blog<br />
but we’re publishing it here to ensure the information reaches the widest possible audience.<br />
With many learner drivers waiting longer<br />
than we’d like to take a driving test, there’s<br />
obviously a lot of interest in driving test<br />
waiting times and what we are doing to<br />
reduce them.<br />
In the last few weeks, the DVSA has asked<br />
all eligible managers and administrative staff<br />
back on the front line to carry out driving<br />
tests full time. They’ll do this until the end of<br />
March 2024 and it will create about 150,000<br />
extra driving tests, helping to reduce driving<br />
test waiting times.<br />
We’re often asked by learner drivers,<br />
driving instructors and the media for the<br />
latest driving test waiting time.<br />
In this article I want to explain how we work<br />
out the driving test waiting time we report<br />
on, and how it’s just part of a range of<br />
measures we look at.<br />
What the waiting time figure means<br />
As at 16 October 2023, the current national<br />
average car driving test waiting time is 18.8<br />
weeks.<br />
But to be very clear, that does not mean<br />
that every learner driver in Great Britain is<br />
going to have to wait 18.8 weeks between<br />
booking and taking their test.<br />
As well as the national average, each<br />
driving test centre also has its own waiting<br />
time.<br />
The figure we report is how long it is until at<br />
least 10% of the weekly appointments are<br />
still available to book.<br />
Let’s look at an example.<br />
If we have a test centre where there are<br />
175 tests available each week, the waiting<br />
time is the first week when 18 or more<br />
appointments are still available to book.<br />
(see Table 1)<br />
In this example you can see that it’s nine<br />
weeks until 18 or more appointments are still<br />
available. So the waiting time here is nine<br />
weeks.<br />
But you can see that there are still 68<br />
appointments available in the weeks before<br />
then – so many people would not be waiting<br />
nine weeks, and some would only need to<br />
wait two weeks (as there are four tests<br />
available in just a fortnight’s time).<br />
Why waiting times can suddenly change<br />
The booking window for driving tests is a<br />
rolling 24 weeks. Each week, we add a new<br />
week’s worth of tests.<br />
We also add tests as and when they<br />
become available. For example, if a driving<br />
Table 1<br />
examiner is going to transfer to another test<br />
centre in four weeks’ time, appointments<br />
with them are added.<br />
Let’s take that same example from before,<br />
and now add another driving examiner from<br />
week five onwards.<br />
That driving examiner will do 35 tests a<br />
week when they join. So our test centre will<br />
have:<br />
n a 175 appointment capacity each week<br />
for weeks 1 to 4<br />
Week number Number of tests still Total number of tests<br />
available to book<br />
in the week<br />
1 0 175 0.0%<br />
2 4 175 2.3%<br />
3 6 175 3.4%<br />
4 4 175 2.3%<br />
5 14 175 8.0%<br />
6 12 175 6.9%<br />
7 13 175 7.4%<br />
8 15 175 8.6%<br />
9 19 175 10.9%<br />
This test centre therefore has a nine-week waiting list<br />
10 NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com<br />
Week number Number of tests still Total number of tests<br />
available to book<br />
in the week<br />
1 0 175 0.0%<br />
2 4 175 2.3%<br />
3 6 175 3.4%<br />
4 4 175 2.3%<br />
5 49 210 23.3%<br />
6 47 210 22.4%<br />
7 48 210 22.9%<br />
8 50 210 23.8%<br />
9 54 210 25.7%<br />
This test centre therefore has a five-week waiting list<br />
n a 210 appointment capacity each week<br />
from week 5 onwards<br />
The waiting time is now the first week from<br />
now where either:<br />
n 18 or more appointments are still<br />
available to book (weeks 1 to 4)<br />
n 21 or more appointments are still<br />
available to book (week 5 onwards)<br />
See Table 2<br />
As you can see, there are now only five<br />
weeks until 21 or more appointments are still<br />
available. So the waiting time has become 5<br />
weeks.<br />
Now these are quite simple examples, and<br />
in reality it’s not quite as simple as that, as<br />
things are constantly changing. But they<br />
should give you a better insight into how<br />
driving test waiting times work.<br />
Tracking waiting times across the country<br />
We track the number of driving test<br />
centres that have waiting times in different<br />
bands.<br />
For example, as at 16 October 2023 we<br />
had:<br />
n 36 test centres with a waiting time up to<br />
9 weeks (14.8% of all test centres)<br />
n 103 test centres with a waiting time<br />
between 10 and 23 weeks (42.4% of all test<br />
centres)<br />
n 104 test centres with a waiting time of<br />
24 weeks (42.8% of all test centres).<br />
Other measures of driving test availability<br />
We also measure and track the percentage<br />
of all the appointments in the booking<br />
service within the next 24 weeks that are still<br />
available to book.<br />
For example, at 24 April 2023, 5.9% of<br />
tests within the next 24 weeks were still<br />
available to book. As at 16 October 2023, that<br />
had increased to 11.5%.<br />
Forward bookings<br />
As you’d expect, we also track the total<br />
number of bookings. At the end of<br />
September 2023, there were 566,245 driving<br />
tests booked within the following 24 weeks.<br />
Since <strong>November</strong> 2022, the Department for<br />
Transport has been publishing this figure on a<br />
monthly basis to help us be more transparent<br />
as part of their faster indicators of transport<br />
activity.<br />
In the spreadsheet you can download from<br />
the DfT, this number is called ‘forward<br />
bookings’.<br />
Some people assume that when that<br />
figure increases, it’s bad news for waiting<br />
times, as more people are waiting. That’s not<br />
necessarily the case.<br />
More capacity means more forward bookings<br />
Our priority at this time is to reduce driving<br />
test waiting times, while upholding road<br />
safety standards.<br />
To increase the number of available test<br />
slots we continue to:<br />
n carry out tests outside of regular hours,<br />
including at weekends and on public holidays<br />
n buy back annual leave from driving<br />
examiners<br />
n invite recently retired driving examiners<br />
to return to work<br />
Since April 2021, the measures we have put<br />
in place to reduce waiting times for our<br />
customers, plus the ongoing recruitment of<br />
driving examiners, is creating more than<br />
40,000 extra car test slots each month on<br />
average.<br />
As we recruit more driving examiners and<br />
as more eligible managers and administrative<br />
staff test full-time, our capacity to provide<br />
tests increases. This means that we can fit<br />
more people in within the next 24 weeks. So<br />
a higher number of ‘forward bookings’ means<br />
our capacity has increased.<br />
You’ll then hopefully see this in the months<br />
that follow in the number of tests that we<br />
carry out.<br />
I hope this helps you to understand driving<br />
test waiting times a little better, and also<br />
helps you to correct any misunderstandings<br />
you encounter in the future.<br />
Wot, no comment!<br />
It is customary, at the end of all DVSA blogs,<br />
for ADIs to be given the opportunity to leave<br />
comments on what they have read. DVSA<br />
tells us that this facility is eagerly pored over<br />
by management as it gives them an instant<br />
snapshot as to whether their new policy is<br />
being well received within the ADI<br />
community, and that future policies can be<br />
built on the comments expressed.<br />
Interestingly, however, for this blog the<br />
following note was added at the foot:<br />
About commenting on this blog post<br />
We know that there are lots of different<br />
views about driving test waiting times.<br />
We’ll only publish new questions and<br />
comments that are about how driving test<br />
waiting times are calculated.<br />
We cannot answer individual questions about<br />
the latest driving test waiting times. The<br />
driving test booking service will always have<br />
the latest information.<br />
This is not about censoring your views. It’s to<br />
make sure comments keep on topic and help<br />
to answer any questions about how driving<br />
test waiting times are calculated.<br />
0<br />
Comments left as of<br />
October 27 at noon:<br />
NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023 11
News<br />
Warning that new EV prices could soar<br />
next year unless trade rules relaxed<br />
Electric vehicle (EV) buyers face a £3,400<br />
price hike from the start of next year unless<br />
post-Brexit trade rules are delayed, an<br />
automotive industry body has said.<br />
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and<br />
Traders (SMMT) has called on the UK and EU<br />
to postpone the implementation of tougher<br />
rules of origin requirements on EV batteries.<br />
Tariffs of 10% are due to be imposed on<br />
exports of electric cars between the UK and<br />
EU from January 1 if at least 45% of their<br />
value does not originate in the UK or EU.<br />
Manufacturers will struggle to meet that<br />
threshold as battery production within<br />
Europe has not increased as quickly as<br />
hoped.<br />
The SMMT estimated the tariffs could<br />
result in an average price rise of £3,400 on<br />
EU-manufactured pure battery electric<br />
vehicles bought in the UK.<br />
Nearly half (49%) of all pure battery<br />
electric vehicles bought by UK buyers are<br />
from the EU.<br />
The SMMT said conventional petrol and<br />
diesel vehicles would escape tariffs, which<br />
would “have the perverse effect of<br />
incentivising the purchase of fossil fuelpowered<br />
vehicles”.<br />
It described a three-year delay in<br />
implementing the new rules of origin<br />
requirements as “a pragmatic solution” as it<br />
would allow time for European battery<br />
production to ramp up.<br />
SMMT’s chief executive Mike Hawes said:<br />
“UK automotive is a trading powerhouse<br />
delivering billions to the British economy,<br />
exporting vehicles and parts around the<br />
world, creating high value jobs and driving<br />
growth nationwide.<br />
“Our manufacturers have shown incredible<br />
resilience amid multiple challenges in recent<br />
years, but unnecessary, unworkable and<br />
ill-timed rules of origin will only serve to set<br />
back the recovery and disincentivise the very<br />
vehicles we want to sell.<br />
“Not only would consumers be out of<br />
pocket, but the industrial competitiveness of<br />
the UK and continental industries would be<br />
undermined.<br />
“A three-year delay is a simple, commonsense<br />
solution which must be agreed<br />
urgently.”<br />
A Government spokesperson said: “We<br />
need a joint UK-EU solution to avoid<br />
consumers facing tariffs on electric vehicles<br />
from 2024 which do not apply to petrol and<br />
diesel cars.<br />
“We have raised this with the European<br />
Commission and are ready to work with them<br />
to find a solution within the existing structure<br />
of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The<br />
UK remains one of the best locations in the<br />
world for automotive manufacturing.”<br />
Sunak blamed as private EV sales hit a slowdown<br />
The boss of car dealership Vertu Motors has<br />
said the Government’s “confusing messaging”<br />
on net zero targets is partly to blame for<br />
cooling demand for electric vehicles.<br />
Robert Forrester, chief executive of Vertu,<br />
said retail demand has been “muted”<br />
following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s move<br />
to push back the ban on the sale of new<br />
petrol and diesel cars in the UK from 2030 to<br />
2035, as well as cost-of-living pressures.<br />
Mr Forrester said the Government has<br />
caused confusion by announcing soon after<br />
delaying the ban that it will still impose<br />
stretching targets for car manufacturers to<br />
achieve specific zero emissions vehicle (ZEV)<br />
sales targets.<br />
More than a fifth (22%) of new cars sold by<br />
manufacturers in the UK next year must be<br />
zero emission, under the new rules, rising to<br />
80% in 2030.<br />
Mr Forrester said manufacturers are<br />
resorting to discounts and offers to try to<br />
boost flagging demand.<br />
He said: “Increased supply of new electric<br />
vehicles from manufacturers is evident while<br />
retail demand remains muted.<br />
“The Government’s confusing messaging<br />
may further contribute to this.<br />
Royal accolade for Euro safety project<br />
The groundbreaking Road Safety Exchange<br />
project, celebrated as a catalyst for lifesaving<br />
initiatives across Europe, from<br />
Norway to Greece, is to receive one of the<br />
highest accolades in the road safety field –<br />
the prestigious Prince Michael International<br />
Road Safety Award, presented by His Royal<br />
Highness Prince Michael of Kent.<br />
This recognition underscores the project’s<br />
impact on enhancing road safety.<br />
Congratulating the project partners, HRH<br />
Prince Michael of Kent said: “In 2012 I was<br />
very pleased that the ETSC was among the<br />
award winners for their Road Safety<br />
“Manufacturers are therefore seeking to<br />
stimulate retail demand for these vehicles<br />
through the offer of discounted prices and<br />
supported finance rates.<br />
“These market dynamics combined with<br />
the ZEV mandate have the potential to<br />
disrupt the recovery of the new car market in<br />
the next few years.”<br />
Recent industry figures from the SMMT<br />
showed retail sales of battery EVs fell 8.5%.<br />
But fleet sales are up 64.8% in the year to<br />
August, thanks to companies incentivising<br />
staff to buy them through salary sacrifice<br />
schemes.<br />
Performance Index at that year’s ceremony.<br />
“That is why I am very pleased to present a<br />
second award to the ETSC this year,<br />
alongside the European Commission and<br />
Parliament, for their innovative EU Road<br />
Safety Exchange.” Road Safety Exchange will<br />
receive the award next month, in London.<br />
12 NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com<br />
Don’t veer for the deer, is the official advice<br />
Drivers should be on the lookout for deer on<br />
the roads in coming weeks, as the nights<br />
close in and the mating season gets under<br />
way, says GEM Motoring Assist. Deer are<br />
most active at dawn and dusk, it added.<br />
Estimates from the RSPCA indicate that up<br />
to 74,000 deer are killed each year in road<br />
collisions, with an annual human death toll<br />
from deer collisions of between 10 and 20<br />
and around 450 serious injuries. The total<br />
vehicle repair bill from deer collisions is<br />
estimated at more than £17 million.<br />
GEM chief executive Neil Worth says:<br />
“Woodland, parkland and hillside areas<br />
present the highest risks of a deer strike, but<br />
you should expect to encounter deer on any<br />
suburban or rural road.<br />
“We endorse the advice provided by the<br />
British Deer Society: don’t veer for deer, as<br />
by changing your direction quickly, you<br />
increase the risk of colliding with another<br />
vehicle or losing control and leaving the<br />
carriageway. Rather, if you spot a deer or<br />
other animal on the road ahead, stay in<br />
control, reduce your speed as much as<br />
possible and steer straight.”<br />
The deer breeding season lasts until<br />
early-mid <strong>November</strong>.<br />
GEM offers six simple tips for drivers to<br />
reduce risk from deer collisions:<br />
n Take note of deer warning signs. These<br />
are placed in locations where wild animal<br />
crossings are likely, so keep your speed down<br />
and be ready to encounter a deer at very<br />
short notice.<br />
n Be particularly watchful at dawn and<br />
dusk, when deer are most active.<br />
n If you spot one animal, it’s likely there<br />
may be others following, so don’t speed up<br />
and assume the danger has passed.<br />
n Remember the importance of always<br />
being able to stop in the distance you can see<br />
to be clear ahead. But also be ready to react if<br />
a deer leaps out right in front of you<br />
n If a collision with the animal seems<br />
inevitable, then the safest option is to strike it<br />
while maintaining full control of your car.<br />
Always look out for traffic behind you. If you<br />
need to stop then use your hazard lights to<br />
warn other vehicles.<br />
n If you hit a deer, or you come across an<br />
injured deer, stop somewhere safe and report<br />
the collision to the police, who can organise<br />
professional veterinary assistance.<br />
NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023 13
News<br />
ETSC joins in demands for van<br />
drivers to face mandatory training<br />
The European Transport Safety Council<br />
(ETSC) has joined a number of other<br />
transport groups in calling on the EU to<br />
include additional professional training for van<br />
drivers, similar to the requirements imposed<br />
on bus and coach drivers, in its next round of<br />
reforms to driver licences.<br />
The road safety groups say the growth in<br />
small vans on European roads is so great that<br />
the introduction of mandatory training for all<br />
professional van drivers “is essential”.<br />
While the introduction of such mandatory<br />
training would not impact on Great Britain, as<br />
we are outside the EU, the difference in<br />
licensing could cause problems for van<br />
drivers operating in Northern Ireland who<br />
cross the border into Ireland, and would<br />
increase pressure on Westminster to<br />
introduce similar rules here.<br />
The move was prompted by the revelation<br />
that 11% of all road deaths in Europe, which<br />
equates to 2,630 lives, result from crashes<br />
involving vans each year. 39% of the deaths<br />
were pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.<br />
The increasing use of vans can be<br />
attributed to various factors, including higher<br />
demand, daytime urban operations,<br />
nighttime deliveries, and the surge in online<br />
shopping. Unfortunately, the pressure to<br />
meet market demands, intense competition<br />
in the transport industry, and a lack of<br />
stringent regulations have contributed to<br />
poor working conditions for van drivers,<br />
posing significant safety risks.<br />
A critical issue highlighted in the letter is<br />
the relatively lenient regulations applied to<br />
vans weighing less than 3.5 tonnes compared<br />
to HGVs, where operators and drivers are<br />
required to obtain Certificates of Professional<br />
Competence (CPCs).<br />
However, van fleets can operate under<br />
lower standards, and only LGVs exceeding 2.5<br />
tonnes and operating across EU borders will<br />
be subject to EU rules for driving and resting<br />
times by 2026. The vast majority of van<br />
traffic operating within national borders will<br />
not be impacted by this change.<br />
That’s why the organisations have called<br />
for comprehensive training for professional<br />
van drivers, covering safe loading and<br />
unloading, cargo securing, reversing, fatigue<br />
prevention, journey planning, and adherence<br />
to traffic rules.<br />
The ETSC wants the current requirements<br />
for bus and truck drivers, which include<br />
professional driver training, to be extended to<br />
cover van drivers, including those who may<br />
be self-employed or owner drivers.<br />
This could be achieved as part of the<br />
proposal from the European Parliament to<br />
establish a B+ category with a separate<br />
requirement for CPC-type training for N1<br />
vehicles used for professional purposes.<br />
The organisations also express their<br />
disagreement with the European<br />
Commission’s proposal to increase the<br />
permissible mass of a ‘B’ category vehicle<br />
from 3.5 to 4.25 tonnes.<br />
Citing a recent report from the VIAS<br />
Institute in Belgium, they argue that larger<br />
and more powerful vehicles are having an<br />
increasingly adverse impact on road safety<br />
for pedestrians and cyclists.<br />
Warning that LHVs<br />
could wreck the<br />
roads as firms look<br />
to use mega trucks<br />
The European Transport Safety Council<br />
(ETSC) has warned politicians to think<br />
carefully before allowing large articulated<br />
lorries, also known as LHVs, megatrucks,<br />
or gigaliners, to be more widely on<br />
Europe’s roads, stating safety concerns.<br />
LHVs are classified as truck and trailer<br />
combinations that are 25.25 metres long,<br />
which is nearly nine metres longer than<br />
typical lorries in Europe. They can weigh<br />
up to 60 tonnes – rather than the<br />
maximum 44 tonnes in the UK.<br />
These vehicles are equivalent in length<br />
to six passenger cars and weigh as much<br />
as a fully loaded Boeing 737-300.<br />
An initial impact assessment suggested<br />
allowing LHVs could reduce road deaths,<br />
but ETSC took the opposite view, citing<br />
serious concerns about the impact of<br />
LHVs on road safety. While they have<br />
been permitted under certain conditions<br />
until now, they are not allowed to cross<br />
borders – a condition ETSC said should<br />
remain.<br />
One significant concern is that LHVs<br />
may hasten road infrastructure<br />
degradation, leading to more frequent<br />
maintenance and safety issues. They also<br />
require adapted infrastructure, which<br />
poses challenges in work zones, parking<br />
areas, resting areas, and more. Existing<br />
truck safety facilities, including barriers,<br />
ramps, and lay-bys, are not designed for<br />
LHVs.<br />
Fire safety in tunnels is also a concern<br />
with LHVs potentially blocking traffic<br />
lanes in roll-over crashes. The impact<br />
resistance of barriers on bridges crossing<br />
above railways may also be insufficient to<br />
prevent a collision between an LHV and a<br />
train. LHVs can also have difficulty with<br />
junctions and might encroach on<br />
pavements or cycle paths during turns.<br />
14 NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com<br />
Self-assessment deadline: fewer than 100 days to go<br />
The deadline’s coming... for self-assessment.<br />
The HMRC has sent a reminder out for the<br />
start of <strong>November</strong>, reminding ADIs that there<br />
are now fewer than 100 days to go before the<br />
deadline for self-assessment forms to be<br />
completed and filed with HMRC.<br />
But while January 31, 2024 is the deadline,<br />
there’s nothing to stop you from sending it in<br />
early!<br />
Filing your return early means you can find<br />
out how much you owe, and help you budget<br />
and plan for your payment. And if you’re due a<br />
HMRC help<br />
HMRC has organised another series of<br />
webinars to help self-employed business<br />
people with their expenses. The free-toview<br />
sessions include lots of advice that will<br />
be crucial as we move towards the selfassessment<br />
deadline (see above)<br />
Business expenses for the self-employed<br />
During the webinar the HMRC team will:<br />
n show you what are allowable business<br />
expenses<br />
n cover the most common business<br />
expenses<br />
n look at simplified expenses<br />
n discuss record keeping<br />
n help you enter accurate figures on your<br />
tax return.<br />
You can register for the webinar by clicking<br />
HERE.<br />
Car expenses for the self-employed<br />
Using your own car for business? We’ll tell<br />
you about:<br />
n business journeys<br />
n capital allowances<br />
n how to work out simplified and actual<br />
cost expenses<br />
n leasing a car and personal contract<br />
purchases.<br />
You can register for the webinar by clicking<br />
HERE.<br />
HMRC is also running some short videos<br />
available on HMRC’s YouTube channel,<br />
including:<br />
n What expenses can I include in my Self<br />
Assessment tax return?<br />
n Claiming motoring expenses if you’re<br />
self-employed.<br />
You can find them by clicking HERE for the<br />
self-assessment expenses,<br />
and by clicking HERE for the motoring<br />
expenses.<br />
refund, you can claim it back sooner.<br />
HMRC spokesperson said: “If you’ve<br />
already sent your return and paid, thank you.<br />
You don’t need to do anything else.<br />
“But we want to help you get your tax<br />
return right. There’s lots of support available:<br />
n A YouTube video offers key advice (click<br />
here to view)<br />
n HMRC’s digital assistant, forums, social<br />
media to ask questions and find answers<br />
(click here to view)<br />
• Step-by-step guide to check what you<br />
need to do to file your first tax return (click<br />
here to view)<br />
“ HMRC added: We’ll keep sending you<br />
reminder emails until you file your return. ”<br />
You have been warned!<br />
MSA GB adds: It’s not too late to contact<br />
our approved accountancy services, FBTC,<br />
who can take away much of the pain of filing<br />
your self-assessment form for you. Find out<br />
more by contacting them via the contact<br />
details below, or see the MSA GB website.<br />
NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023 15
News<br />
The debate on the wisdom of the 20mph speed limits in Wales rumbles on. Here, in an opinion piece<br />
originally published on the Road Safety GB website, Gary Digva, founder of Road Angel, says it is<br />
disappointing to see “such a pushback on life-saving policies such as 20mph speed limits”, in an<br />
impassioned defence of the new policy. Read on to learn why he is such a supporter of the new limits<br />
This policy will make a<br />
difference – and where<br />
Wales leads, the rest of<br />
the UK should follow<br />
With the mounting evidence that the<br />
transition to 20mph limits will improve road<br />
safety and save lives, it is a shame there is so<br />
much uproar in the motoring community.<br />
The latest Government figures show that<br />
for the year ending June 2022, 29,742 people<br />
were reported killed or seriously injured on<br />
Britain’s roads, an increase of more than<br />
2,000 from the previous year.<br />
There were also 1,711 fatalities deaths on<br />
British roads last year, which was an increase<br />
from the year previous.<br />
Road fatalities and casualties are on the<br />
rise, and the introduction of 20mph roads<br />
across the UK could save hundreds of lives a<br />
year. Road safety should be the top priority<br />
with the high rate of deaths and serious<br />
injuries on Britain’s roads.<br />
Pedestrians are also proven to have a much<br />
higher chance of survival if hit at 20mph with<br />
a 2.5% chance of death, compared to 20%<br />
when travelling at 30mph.<br />
In 2021, Spain rolled out a national 30km/h<br />
(18mph) speed limit on most urban streets<br />
after the percentage of vulnerable road traffic<br />
“Spain saw a 20 per cent<br />
mortality rate decrease after<br />
implementing the lower speed<br />
policies, so there is substantial<br />
evidence that this will work to<br />
make our roads safer, and<br />
potentially save hundreds of<br />
lives a year...”<br />
victims exceeded the percentage of people<br />
killed while in vehicles.<br />
Spain saw a 20 per cent mortality rate<br />
decrease after implementing the lower speed<br />
policies, so there is substantial evidence that<br />
this will work to make our roads safer, and<br />
potentially save hundreds of lives a year.<br />
The World Health Organisation and the UN<br />
General Assembly also support the transition<br />
to 20mph streets, calling on policymakers to<br />
act for low-speed streets worldwide,<br />
agreeing it is the right speed limit for people<br />
and traffic to mix safely.<br />
Despite this, there is growing opposition<br />
against the introduction of 20mph speed<br />
limits. The Welsh implementation has<br />
sparked a lot of debate across the UK, and a<br />
petition opposing the new 20mph default<br />
speed limit has had a record-breaking<br />
number of signatures.<br />
It’s important that drivers understand the<br />
new 20mph policies are not anti- motorists,<br />
they are anti-death.<br />
Introducing the default speed limit on<br />
residential roads and busy pedestrian roads<br />
will reduce collisions between vehicles and<br />
vulnerable road users, and make them safer<br />
for playing, walking and cycling.<br />
Ultimately, the higher the speed, the<br />
higher the chance of being involved in an<br />
accident due to increased braking distances<br />
and shorter reaction times.<br />
Not only does lowering the speed limit<br />
reduce the impact force of a collision but it<br />
also dictates if a driver is able to stop in time<br />
to avoid a crash.<br />
It is disappointing to see that there is such<br />
a pushback on life-saving policies when they<br />
could save hundreds of lives each year.<br />
Although the changes may seem<br />
inconvenient to people in a rush, these<br />
policies will ultimately save lives and should<br />
be considered more seriously across the<br />
whole of Britain.<br />
16 NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com<br />
What’s your view?<br />
How others in the road safety community have<br />
responded to Wales’s ambitious policy<br />
One English ADI contacted MSA GB with his<br />
thoughts after being exposed to the 20mph<br />
limits for the first time...<br />
I have to be honest, I am a fan of 20mph<br />
zones in the right places – I just don’t think<br />
Wales’s blanket approach is the correct way<br />
to go about reducing casualties and<br />
improving road safety.<br />
With every road safety policy there has to<br />
be a balance, between keeping people safe<br />
and keeping the road network moving. I fear<br />
that, in places, this policy is tipped too far in<br />
favour of the road safety angle, where it does<br />
not need to be.<br />
As a case in point, two weeks ago I spent a<br />
lovely weekend in the foothills of Snowdon.<br />
The journey from South Manchester took me<br />
past the edges of Wrexham and then on to<br />
Lake Bala, using in parts the A5, A494 and<br />
other minor A roads and B roads.<br />
As anyone who has been through this part<br />
of the world will know, many of these roads<br />
pass through small villages and towns. In<br />
some places the 20mph limit felt appropriate,<br />
as we were going through heavily built up<br />
areas, near shops and schools where<br />
vulnerable pedestrians were present.<br />
But in others it was clear that the road was<br />
Comments from Road Safety GB website<br />
n This is not the solution to the problem.<br />
Slow down the traffic raise the air pollution in<br />
the area. Also if we reduce the speed limit to<br />
0mph, then the road accident problem solved,<br />
no accidents, we saved the world! Really?<br />
n Mr Digva’s argument is seductive, but I<br />
think it is a little early to refer to a “life-saving<br />
policy”.<br />
PACTS is about to wave the ‘LUSTRE’<br />
report at (road safety minister) Richard<br />
Holden. One statement from it:“…the effect<br />
of introducing 20mph speed limits without<br />
physical measures (ie, sign only) has a<br />
significant effect (a reduction of approx 12%)<br />
on slight casualties but the effect on fatal and<br />
serious casualties is uncertain.”We need to<br />
know why that is, before we continue with<br />
the current willy-nilly approach.<br />
n 20mph on every road in a built-up area is<br />
a through route and that interaction with<br />
pedestrians crossing it were rare. In those,<br />
slowing from 40mph down to 20mph felt like<br />
a crawl. I can see it impacting heavily on<br />
journey times.<br />
Don’t get me wrong: 20mph is plenty - but<br />
only in some areas. This blanket approach<br />
– even if the Welsh Government offers the<br />
chance for councils to keep limits higher to<br />
accommodate local conditions – feels too<br />
restrictive and likely to cause inconvenience.<br />
Is that an issue? It’s an interesting debate.<br />
There is an argument that making life a bit<br />
inconvenient for everyone is a price worth<br />
paying if you save a single child’s life every<br />
year. I’m susceptible to that argument,<br />
having worked in road safety for many years.<br />
But I go back to my earlier point: road<br />
safety is a balance. Driving at 5mph would<br />
near-guarantee no road traffic fatalities – but<br />
that would be going too far, even for the most<br />
zealous anti-car campaigners.<br />
So is 20mph in some places. It’s not my<br />
country, but from the outside looking in, this<br />
is a retrograde step that will damage travel<br />
and hurt the local economy.<br />
It might save a life, though, but surely there<br />
is a way to do so without killing the economy<br />
at the same time?<br />
a backward step, it’s fine near schools and in<br />
areas of high volumes of pedestrians but<br />
even then it should be time sensitive. As for<br />
the other roads, keep it at 30mph.<br />
n Life and death is a matter of risk and<br />
balance. 20 mph speed limits are already<br />
adversely affecting bus services in areas<br />
where they are imposed.<br />
30 mph is a much more realistic speed limit<br />
in urban areas. We can’t let Twenty’s Plenty<br />
rule the country.<br />
n This is road safety gone ludicrous, albeit<br />
with the best of intentions, partly because if<br />
you (a) do not have the agreement of those<br />
concerned and (b) if it can’t be universally<br />
enforced, and consistently, then it just<br />
encourages an abuse of the law and can,<br />
therefore, ultimately counter-productive. I<br />
will await the usual negative comments.<br />
Public is still<br />
sticking to<br />
the lower limit<br />
says Agilysis<br />
The new default 20mph speed limit in Wales<br />
continues to bring about a reduction in speed,<br />
data from Agilysis shows.<br />
Agilysis sampled routes in Cardiff and<br />
Wrexham a month on from the introduction<br />
of the 20mph limits on September 17.<br />
As reported by BBC News, it found speeds<br />
had dropped by 2.3mph.<br />
However, this compares with a fall of<br />
3.1mph in the first week of the new limit,<br />
when Agilysis carried out a more widespread<br />
study.<br />
The analysis also showed speeds of the<br />
fastest drivers – the top 15% – dropped by<br />
4.9mph after the first week but this had<br />
changed to only a 3.8mph reduction last<br />
week.<br />
Richard Owen, chief executive officer of<br />
Agilysis and the report’s author, said: “The<br />
evidence on this smaller sample of roads<br />
indicates there is no room for complacency.<br />
“Although the majority of motorists are<br />
sticking to the limit, there will be concerns<br />
about the minority who haven’t adjusted<br />
their speed choices enough.<br />
“Understanding which roads are seeing<br />
lower levels of compliance could be critical in<br />
targeting education and enforcement to<br />
achieve better compliance.”<br />
The new analysis involved TomTom data<br />
covering approximately 10,000 vehicle<br />
movements along B4487 Newport Road in<br />
Cardiff and A5152 Chester Road in Wrexham.<br />
This compared with a much larger sample<br />
of nearly 30 million vehicle movements in<br />
Wales in the week after the new limit came<br />
into effect.<br />
NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023 17
News<br />
More than 600,000 drivers face ban<br />
with ‘one touch of their phone’<br />
More than 600,000 British drivers face<br />
disqualification with “one touch of their<br />
phone”, a road safety charity has warned.<br />
Analysis of data obtained by IAM Road<br />
Smart found that 547,287 drivers had six<br />
points on their licence as of August 5, and a<br />
further 94,088 had nine points.<br />
The punishment for illegally using a mobile<br />
phone behind the wheel was toughened in<br />
2017. Those caught face six penalty points<br />
and a £200 fine. Drivers who accumulate 12<br />
or more points within three years are usually<br />
handed a six-month ban.<br />
Varying amounts of points are handed out<br />
for motoring offences, such as three for using<br />
a vehicle with defective brakes, between<br />
three and six for speeding and 10 for<br />
drug-driving.<br />
The number of drivers with six and nine<br />
points on their licence was 6% and 8% higher<br />
than a year earlier respectively.<br />
The figures are based on analysis of a<br />
response to a freedom of information request<br />
to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency<br />
(DVLA).<br />
Virtually all hand-held use of mobile<br />
phones on Britain’s roads is banned. A<br />
loophole allowing drivers to escape<br />
punishment for hand-held phone use if they<br />
were taking a photograph or playing a game<br />
was closed by new legislation in March last<br />
year.<br />
Department for Transport statistics show<br />
22 people were killed and a further 148 were<br />
badly hurt in crashes on Britain’s roads in<br />
2022 where a driver using a mobile phone<br />
was a contributory factor.<br />
IAM RoadSmart director of policy,<br />
campaigns and standards Nicholas Lyes said:<br />
“It is astounding that there are more half a<br />
million drivers just one touch of their phone<br />
away from a driving ban.<br />
“Anyone with six points on their licence<br />
that is tempted to text or take a selfie on<br />
their phone is not only risking a ban but is a<br />
potential danger to themselves and other<br />
road users.<br />
“A pinging phone can be a massive<br />
distraction, so it is best to put it out of sight,<br />
out of reach and on silent.<br />
“Drivers with any number of points on<br />
their licence – but especially those with six<br />
or nine – should not only evaluate their<br />
driving skills but think about the risk a driving<br />
ban could have on their livelihoods.<br />
“Thankfully, education and training courses<br />
can play a role in making people safer drivers,<br />
along with changing behaviours and<br />
attitudes.<br />
“There is a widely held suspicion that<br />
driving standards are deteriorating.<br />
“The worrying jump in the number of<br />
people with points on their licence should be<br />
a wake-up call to the Government to roll out<br />
new enforcement measures and publish their<br />
updated road safety strategy.”<br />
Some cyclists frequently use footage<br />
recorded by their head cameras to report<br />
illegal mobile use to police.<br />
Michael van Erp, who runs the Cycling<br />
Mikey YouTube channel, said he has reported<br />
1,555 drivers for motoring offences since<br />
2019, resulting in a total of 2,161 penalty<br />
points being handed out.<br />
n MSA GB members are reminded that ADIs<br />
can lose their licence to teach driving after<br />
obtaining six points on their licence. Pupils<br />
should be reminded that under the New<br />
Drivers Act, they would also lose their<br />
hard-won licence if caught using their phone.<br />
US regulators look at self-driving cars after crashes<br />
US regulators are investigating General<br />
Motors’ Cruise autonomous vehicle division<br />
after incidents where self-driving cars did<br />
not use proper caution around pedestrians.<br />
The National Highway Traffic Safety<br />
Administration (NHTSA) said the reports<br />
involve automated driving system equipped<br />
vehicles encroaching on pedestrians on or<br />
entering roads, including crossings.<br />
This could raise the risk of a vehicle striking<br />
a pedestrian, which could result in severe<br />
injury or death, according to the NHTSA.<br />
The NHTSA’s Office of Defects<br />
Investigation (ODI) said that it has received<br />
two reports involving pedestrian injuries from<br />
GM’s Cruise vehicles.<br />
It has also identified two additional<br />
incidents from videos posted to public<br />
websites. The office said the total number of<br />
relevant pedestrian incidents is unknown.<br />
The ODI said its investigation is looking at<br />
causal factors that may relate to ADS driving<br />
policies and performance around pedestrians,<br />
and to fully assess the potential safety risks.<br />
In August, GM agreed to cut its fleet of San<br />
Francisco robo-taxis in half as authorities<br />
investigated two crashes in the city. The state<br />
also asked for a reduction in the time a Cruise<br />
vehicle can be without a human driver after<br />
one collided with an emergency vehicle.<br />
18 NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com<br />
There’s a light on - and now I understand<br />
how hybrid electrics really work<br />
Rod Came<br />
MSA GB London<br />
& the South East<br />
It was on a Sunday a few weeks back. The<br />
sun was shining from fairly early in the<br />
morning, the forecast was wall-to-wall<br />
sunshine all day, just the opportunity we<br />
needed for a day out.<br />
A 20-odd mile drive to a place we had<br />
visited before, also favoured by others which<br />
made it a convivial meeting location, but not<br />
crowded.<br />
We set ourselves up, unfolded the chairs<br />
from the back of the car and sat down to<br />
enjoy the ambience of the place. It was really<br />
relaxing. To stop the car getting too hot I left<br />
the tailgate up and the front windows open.<br />
Oh what bliss!<br />
We were there about six hours, quite long<br />
enough to regain our equilibrium, be happy<br />
and think that all was right with the world.<br />
Chairs and picnic hamper returned to the car,<br />
wife installed in the passenger seat (she likes<br />
to knit when I am driving, takes her mind off<br />
the excitement you know), ready for the<br />
return home.<br />
I rather like the car. It’s a Toyota RAV4<br />
Hybrid, quite big, 2.5-litre petrol engine and a<br />
small electric motor. The best part is it gives<br />
me 53.5mpg and it goes rapidly when you put<br />
your foot down with the economy button<br />
switched off.<br />
Well, it usually does. On this occasion it<br />
didn’t. Pressing the START button did not<br />
result in the chorus of beeps with an<br />
instrument panel lit up like Blackpool seafront<br />
on a dark night – instead nothing, absolutely<br />
nothing.<br />
If we were in my 52-year-old Morris 1000<br />
Traveller I would immediately diagnose the<br />
problem as a flat battery, but in an 18-month<br />
old car, no way.<br />
Where’s that book they give you that tells<br />
you how to drive the thing? You know, the<br />
manual. On page 1348, paragraph 19(a) it<br />
states ‘the battery is located in the rear of<br />
the vehicle on the right under a cover’. Well<br />
so it might be but I couldn’t get to it, no tools.<br />
Nothing for it but to call the cavalry,<br />
otherwise known as the recovery service.<br />
After just over an hour our hero, a knight in<br />
shining armour hidden under blue overalls,<br />
turned up. By this time most other people<br />
had gone home, we were somewhat solitary.<br />
Our hero drove toward us, coming down on<br />
the driver’s side, but did not stop. Instead he<br />
circled round the back then parked on the<br />
passenger side facing forward, as were we.<br />
Bit odd I thought, I wonder why.<br />
“They tell me it won’t start”, he says.<br />
“That’s right, there’s no ignition lights and the<br />
brakes are locked on.” “OK, open the bonnet”<br />
I’m starting to think that this guy knows<br />
something I don’t know. He takes the cover<br />
off a black box which reveals all sorts of<br />
electronic gizmos that have no place in a car,<br />
plunges his voltmeter into this mass and<br />
announces that it shows only five volts when<br />
it should read 12/13.<br />
A pair of old fashioned jump leads are<br />
produced, the red one is connected to a<br />
terminal in the box of tricks, the other to a<br />
convenient bolt head, while the other end is<br />
plunged into a socket on the front of his<br />
Transit.<br />
“OK, start it up.” I am bemused but do as<br />
I’m told. A press of the START button reveals<br />
the Blackpool illuminations along with sound<br />
effects, including that of the engine starting.<br />
Oh joy!<br />
The explanation: because it is a hybrid<br />
vehicle it has two batteries. The big one<br />
provides power to the electric motor, which<br />
assists the petrol engine, thus the economy.<br />
The other one, the small one, possibly the<br />
size of a AAA, provides current to the starting<br />
circuit, the instrument panel and the<br />
ancillaries such as the interior lights when a<br />
door is open. It does not have the capacity to<br />
provide lights for SIX hours. I have to ask,<br />
why not?<br />
Although I had not heard of this before he<br />
told me that it is a regular occurrence which<br />
he has to deal with several times a week. So<br />
be warned. The call out was nearly £60. A<br />
good day out? Well, I learned something new,<br />
so maybe it was.<br />
“Because it is a hybrid vehicle<br />
it has two batteries. The big one<br />
provides power to the electric<br />
motor ... the other, possibly the<br />
size of a AAA, provides current<br />
to the starting circuit, the<br />
instrument panel and the<br />
ancillaries such as the interior<br />
lights when a door is open. It<br />
does not have the capacity to<br />
provide lights for SIX hours...”<br />
The Rav 4 hybrid engine layout<br />
NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023 19
Towards your CPD<br />
It’s good<br />
to talk<br />
Steve Garrod looks<br />
at how best to deliver<br />
feedback - with the<br />
emphasis, as ever,<br />
on painting a positive<br />
picture to your pupil<br />
Giving feedback is a way of boosting a<br />
learner’s confidence and motivation and<br />
reassuring them that they are making<br />
progress towards their goal. All learners need<br />
to know how they are doing and what they<br />
are doing well and what they need to improve<br />
on. Your feedback should help them to<br />
understand these points.<br />
Think about the last time you gave<br />
feedback to a learner. Was it positive,<br />
negative or a bit of both? (be honest!) Make a<br />
few notes before reading any further.<br />
Feedback should be a two-way process,<br />
allowing time for discussion to clarify points<br />
and for pupils to play an active role in fault<br />
identification, analysis and remedial action<br />
(which used to be known as the Core-<br />
Competences). This may mean you need to<br />
pull up to ensure that what is being discussed<br />
is of value and effective.<br />
For example, if a fault happens on the move<br />
a reassuring tone, a well-timed question or a<br />
‘mental marker’ will help you both to<br />
remember a key point for discussion once<br />
you have pulled over, eg, “Do you need to<br />
signal?”<br />
Once you have time to discuss this point in<br />
more detail you could ask your learner, “Why<br />
do you think I asked you about the signal on<br />
the High Street?”<br />
A mental marker is similar to ‘flagging a<br />
question’ on the theory test, because it<br />
allows you to return to or recall a situation<br />
once there is time to discuss it more detail,<br />
for example if your learner stops too close to<br />
the car in front in a queue, you may mention<br />
something about that car, eg, what the driver<br />
is doing or a sticker on the back.<br />
Just the other day we were following a car<br />
with a sticker in the rear window proudly<br />
displaying ‘I’d rather be watching Charlton<br />
Athletic’. We briefly reflected on just how bad<br />
this poor chap’s life had become. Once you<br />
have had time to pull up to discuss<br />
performance, you can refer to the car before<br />
explaining the fault.<br />
There are times, however, where it would<br />
not be suitable to ask a question, eg, in the<br />
middle of a busy crossroads. In this case it<br />
would be safer to say that a fault has been<br />
made and you will need to pull over as soon<br />
as possible to discuss this. This may sound<br />
negative but, as was pointed out to me in a<br />
recent ORDIT observation, old methods do<br />
still have a place in modern teaching.<br />
The skill of an instructor is to grade the<br />
seriousness of the fault and decided on what<br />
action to take, eg, if no other road user is<br />
affected by it then it could possibly be<br />
discussed at the time of it occurring such as<br />
positioning while waiting to emerge with no<br />
following traffic. This way your pupil can see<br />
where they have incorrectly positioned<br />
before being guided into the correct position.<br />
We often think of feedback as being oral,<br />
but it can be our body language, facial<br />
gestures, such as smiling, raising eyebrows, a<br />
nod of the head, hand gestures, sighing or<br />
tone of voice.<br />
The point we are making here is that<br />
anything you do or say while teaching can be<br />
interpreted as feedback (both positive and<br />
negative). Often how you say something is<br />
more effective than what is being said and<br />
non-verbal communication can be just as<br />
reassuring as saying ‘well done’ or ‘good<br />
decision’.<br />
There are a few things to remember when<br />
giving feedback to make sure your feedback<br />
remains effective:<br />
Feedback is for the benefit of the learner,<br />
not the instructor! Therefore, think about the<br />
impact it will have on the receiver. Will it have<br />
the effect you want?<br />
Try to give feedback as soon after an<br />
activity as possible to prevent the positive<br />
points being forgotten. The longer you leave<br />
it the greater the chance of only being able to<br />
recall the negative points.<br />
With faults come risks and it is essential<br />
that the risk, danger or disadvantage of the<br />
identified fault are discussed.<br />
Most people respond to something<br />
encouraging; therefore, it makes sense to<br />
start with something positive.<br />
This suggests that you have observed the<br />
whole performance and not just looked for<br />
faults.<br />
20 NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com<br />
When giving negative feedback try to link<br />
it using ‘however’ rather than ‘but’, to<br />
something positive and encourage your<br />
learner to analyse their own faults and find an<br />
alternative way of doing things, eg, “Your<br />
speed on approach to the junction was good,<br />
however, did you notice your road position?<br />
(for example, if their road position was too far<br />
to the right).<br />
If they have realised that you could then<br />
add, “Why do you think that happened?” or<br />
“What is the risk of doing that?”<br />
(Some learners feel that ‘but’ is a negative<br />
expression, where as ‘however’ is positive, it<br />
depends on your point of view. One could<br />
argue that ‘however’ is just a longer way of<br />
saying ‘but’!)<br />
Keep feedback in the ‘here and now’ and<br />
don’t bring up old faults, eg, “I noticed that<br />
you are having problems with…” and not,<br />
“That’s a constant fault of yours”.<br />
All feedback should be constructive, even<br />
positive feedback. If you say “Well done” say<br />
what was well done, and why it was well<br />
done.<br />
Finish all feedback on a high, if you have<br />
encouraged your learner to analyse his or her<br />
own mistake (such as understeering at the<br />
junction) then give praise for working it out.<br />
Even the worst of drivers can feel motivated<br />
if you have guided them to finding a solution!<br />
Encourage refection, eg, “How do think<br />
that drive went?” “How could you make that<br />
easier for yourself next time?”<br />
It is just as important for learners to be<br />
able to give their own feedback to you. This<br />
could help you identify a more productive<br />
way to teach them. As an example, “how was<br />
today’s lesson? Is there anything I could do to<br />
help you more effectively?”<br />
Avoid stereotyping learners, eg, “Large<br />
people always struggle with reversing”<br />
Don’t overdo the praise and avoid using<br />
superlatives, it sounds a bit sickly! “Fantastic<br />
gear change, excellent mirror check!” is way<br />
over the top. An example of this happened to<br />
me when I had to ring my bank and was<br />
congratulated on remembering my date of<br />
birth.<br />
During the next week or so, try to think<br />
about your feedback and see if it makes a<br />
difference with your pupils.<br />
We’d also like to hear your feedback about<br />
if what we write in this publication works!<br />
Finish all feedback on a high, if you have encouraged your learner to<br />
analyse his or her own mistake (such as understeering at the junction)<br />
then give praise for working it out. Even the worst of drivers can feel<br />
motivated if you have guided them to finding a solution!<br />
NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023 21
Towards your CPD: Colour blindness and driving<br />
What red<br />
light?<br />
The peril of driving when<br />
you are colour blind<br />
Most of us take many things for granted, all<br />
of which we should feel blessed about. For<br />
example, the ability to see the world’s beauty<br />
in all its different colours.<br />
This might be normal for you, but people<br />
with colour blindness have difficulty<br />
distinguishing colours correctly without<br />
wearing colour-blind glasses. But since there<br />
is a lack of awareness around colourblindness,<br />
there is a chance that you might<br />
not know about this issue or have some<br />
misconceptions.<br />
Proper knowledge of this topic is essential<br />
for ADIs if we are to understand and<br />
empathise with colour-blind people. It is<br />
possibly more common than you think; colour<br />
blindness (colour vision deficiency, or CVD)<br />
affects approximately 1 in 12 men (8%) and 1<br />
in 200 women in the world. That adds up to<br />
around 200 million people around the globe,<br />
or three million in the UK.<br />
It’s important to understand that there are<br />
different causes of colour blindness. For the<br />
vast majority of people with deficient colour<br />
vision the condition is genetic and has been<br />
inherited from their mother, although some<br />
people become colour blind as a result of<br />
diseases such as diabetes and multiple<br />
sclerosis, or they acquire the condition over<br />
time due to the ageing process or medication.<br />
Colour blind people are usually ‘partially’<br />
colour blind, in that they can see colours but<br />
struggle with particular ones: red, green or<br />
blue light (the primary colours). The two<br />
major kinds are those who have difficulty<br />
distinguishing between red and green, and<br />
those who have difficulty distinguishing<br />
between blue and yellow.<br />
Why does it happen?<br />
Eyesight is controlled by rods and cones. In<br />
the most basic sense, rods are responsible<br />
for our ability to see at night, while cones<br />
allow us to see colour during the day. In cases<br />
of colour blindness there is often a loss or<br />
limited function of the protan, or red cone,<br />
and the deutan, or green cone. This is<br />
referred to as red-green colour-blindness.<br />
Anomalous trichromasy is a mild form of<br />
colour deficiency when one or more of the<br />
three cones in the eye have altered light<br />
sensitive pigments whose peak sensitivity is<br />
shifted. This impairment includes the most<br />
common types of colour blindness,<br />
protanomaly and deuteranomaly, or<br />
red-weakness and green-weakness,<br />
respectively. In people who have<br />
protanomaly, they see shades of red, orange,<br />
and yellow as shades of green. Conversely,<br />
people who have deuteranomaly vision sees<br />
those shades shifted towards the red end of<br />
the colour spectrum.<br />
As you might imagine, someone who has<br />
these vision impairments might have some<br />
trouble when it comes to differentiating the<br />
colour of traffic lights...<br />
The problem on the road<br />
Think about those colours for a second, as<br />
far as driving is concerned. Struggle to<br />
distinguish between red and green... well<br />
that’s going to make traffic lights challenging,<br />
22 NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com<br />
isn’t it! Green, Amber, Red...… three-colour<br />
traffic lights are now a daily part of every<br />
road user’s life. But how do colour-blind<br />
drivers cope? Many have trained<br />
themselves to associate the location of<br />
the light with the action that light<br />
dictates. For example, when a<br />
colour-blind person sees that the<br />
bottom light is illuminated, they<br />
know that space is associated<br />
with ‘green’ which means go<br />
when driving. (Provided it’s safe<br />
to do so. Ed.) While this method is<br />
effective, it does require a number<br />
of steps before the brain can send<br />
the signal to actually go. Do you<br />
have a pupil who always hesitates<br />
at traffic lights, when it is clearly on<br />
green? Have you asked what their<br />
colour vision is like?<br />
One way to test for colour blindness is<br />
to take the Ishihara test . This is a colour<br />
vision test for detection of red-green colour<br />
deficiencies by your optician. You can get<br />
simple Ishihara plates to test your pupils in<br />
your car. A smart move could be to get some<br />
and have them in the car for the first lesson<br />
with every new pupil.<br />
Driving and colour blindness: other issues<br />
Driving is more difficult for many people at<br />
night, as depth perception is more limited, as<br />
is the ability to distinguish colour.<br />
It’s important to keep your eyes at their<br />
peak level of functionality and avoid looking<br />
at a GPS/sat nav screen, dashboard, or other<br />
car’s headlights for prolonged periods of<br />
time. Doing so can quickly fatigue your eyes,<br />
further limiting your ability to see the road<br />
ahead.<br />
Certain glasses make you think you see<br />
better, but are actually blocking more light.<br />
Prescription glasses have anti-reflective<br />
properties that allow more light in, causing<br />
your eyes to adjust with the amount of<br />
sunlight rather than harshly as your vehicle<br />
moves in and out of sunlight.<br />
Keep your eyes moving. Eyes at rest can<br />
become focused on one item and cause you<br />
to stare, missing an important road sign or a<br />
block in the road ahead.<br />
Familiarise yourself with the location of<br />
the lights, and teach your brain to associate<br />
that location with the driving action (stop,<br />
slow down, or go). Through practice, you’ll be<br />
able to master your driving reflexes and<br />
safely handle the roads!<br />
The biggest problem has always been the<br />
traffic light colours and even if some<br />
countries have made the first steps towards<br />
supporting new projects, only a few of them<br />
actually made a significant progress in this<br />
matter. The solution, however, might be<br />
entitled Uni-Signal, a project proposed by<br />
Yanko Design. Uni-Signal is based on a simple<br />
idea: every single colour will come with a<br />
unique standardised shape and thus allow<br />
colour blind people to understand the<br />
significance of the light at any given moment.<br />
So red could be set on a square, triangle used<br />
for amber and a circle for green, for instance.<br />
However, while this could lead to an<br />
improvement in road safety, in practice it<br />
would takes years to change every traffic<br />
light, at considerable cost. With roads in<br />
desperate need of repair and maintenance,<br />
blowing the highways budget on new traffic<br />
lights doesn’t seem that sensible for a<br />
problem that may not be too much of an<br />
issue.<br />
Can it be treated?<br />
Because the vast majority of colour vision<br />
problems are something we are born with,<br />
there is no treatment for colour deficiency.<br />
Those with the condition will find that they<br />
can adapt to it to some extent but may not<br />
be able to pursue professions where accurate<br />
colour vision is required. A pilot is one –<br />
though not an ADI, interestingly enough,<br />
despite the question mark it places on your<br />
ability to respond promptly to traffic lights, or<br />
even distinguish them in some cases.<br />
There is help available, however. Many<br />
computers and phones now have settings to<br />
help people with colour vision deficiency, and<br />
‘‘<br />
One way to test for<br />
colour blindness is to<br />
take the Ishihara test.<br />
This is a colour vision<br />
test for detection of<br />
red-green colour<br />
deficiencies by your<br />
optician. You could keep<br />
some Ishihara cards in<br />
your car to act as a guide<br />
before your first lesson<br />
with a new pupil... it’s<br />
always good to know if<br />
they have a problem ...<br />
by investing in some good quality lighting it<br />
can help your colour vision at home.<br />
Diagnosis/treatment/future treatments<br />
If you have trouble seeing certain colours,<br />
or one of your pupils does, it’s best to speak<br />
to your optician. They can test to see if you<br />
have a colour deficiency. You’ll likely be given<br />
a thorough eye exam and shown specially<br />
designed pictures made of coloured dots that<br />
have numbers or shapes in a different colour<br />
hidden in them. If you have a colour vision<br />
deficiency, you’ll find it difficult or impossible<br />
to see some of the patterns in the dots.<br />
While there are no treatments for most<br />
types of colour vision difficulties, it can be<br />
brought on by taking certain medicines or<br />
eye conditions. Discontinuing a particular<br />
kind of medication may improve your colour<br />
vision.<br />
Another option is to wear a coloured filter<br />
over eyeglasses or a coloured contact lens,<br />
which can help enhance your perception of<br />
contrast between the confused colours. But<br />
such lenses won’t improve your ability to see<br />
all colours. Generally speaking, colour blind<br />
glasses are only suitable for red and green<br />
colour blindness. After wearing the glasses,<br />
you can see the shape of the test map, which<br />
can help patients improve their ability to<br />
distinguish colours. Wearing colour blind<br />
glasses can make the original blurred colour<br />
blindness clearly identified, so as to help<br />
patients correct the disorder of colour vision.<br />
Continued on page 24<br />
NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023 23
Towards your CPD: Colour blindness and driving<br />
Pass it to the bloke in red...<br />
Continued from page 21<br />
If patients are troubled by colour blindness,<br />
they can wear colour blind glasses to<br />
compensate for the problem, which generally<br />
will not affect their daily life.<br />
Some rare retinal disorders associated<br />
with colour deficiency could possibly be<br />
modified with gene replacement techniques.<br />
These treatments are under study and might<br />
become available in the future.<br />
Conclusion<br />
Colour vision deficiency – also known as<br />
colour blindness – is a condition which limits<br />
a person’s ability to recognise and<br />
differentiate between different colours. It<br />
does not stop you from driving, and most of<br />
the estimated three million sufferers in the<br />
UK will also hold driving licences.<br />
But because so much of driving is linked to<br />
coloured signs, drivers who are colour blind<br />
need to take extra precautions. They have to<br />
respond differently to the colour sequence of<br />
traffic lights, for instance, and not rely on a<br />
burst of amber and then green light to know<br />
it’s time to go.<br />
Rather, their signal to move off if safe to do<br />
so is more understated and possibly harder<br />
to spot.<br />
When we teach pupils to understand traffic<br />
signs we get them used to the different<br />
shapes of the signs, and what they mean. We<br />
say, for instance, that road signs in the shape<br />
of an equilateral triangle are designed to warn<br />
you about the road layout or any hazards that<br />
lie ahead, such as sharp bends.<br />
But note that they almost always have a<br />
red border; if your pupil struggles to see red,<br />
then that crucial piece of evidence as to what<br />
this sign is saying is lost to them.<br />
Similarly, circular road signs give orders<br />
which must be followed. But those warning<br />
circles are always encased in red, too.<br />
Remember too that we teach pupils that<br />
blue circles usually give a positive instruction,<br />
such as ‘turn left ahead’. Again, if a pupil can’t<br />
Team sport administrators have often been<br />
criticised for not taking into account the<br />
difficulties colour blind fans have in following<br />
the action when teams play in clashing kits<br />
- as far as colour blind people are concerned.<br />
The photo far left shows two players from<br />
the Switzerland v Cameroon match at the<br />
Qatar World Cup in 2022; the photo to its<br />
right shows how the players looked to<br />
someone who struggles to differentiate<br />
between red and green.<br />
The Football Association in England have<br />
tried to counter this by launching a campaign<br />
to encourage teams to be more aware of the<br />
difficulties that kits in some colours can<br />
create. Above, the photo left is of modern<br />
kits, with their ‘colour blind alternatives’ to<br />
the right<br />
pick out the colour blue, a bit of your<br />
guidance is lost on them.<br />
In short, there’s nothing to say you can’t<br />
drive while colour blind, but there is a chance<br />
you may struggle in some scenarios if you<br />
are not careful.<br />
Possibly a bigger problem comes when<br />
driving at night, when there is a link between<br />
a driver’s colour blindness and their lack of<br />
depth perception, which is important in<br />
calculating distances.<br />
THE COLOUR VISION STANDARD<br />
A colour vision standard was introduced in Britain for bus drivers in<br />
the 1930s soon after traffic lights came into use, but was abandoned<br />
after Norman’s investigation was published in 1960. Various<br />
European countries have or have had colour vision standards for<br />
drivers of motor vehicles but the EU, in its endeavours to set up a<br />
Europe-wide driver’s licence, seems to have no plans to introduce<br />
one or even an inclination to discuss it.<br />
However, 40 US States have a colour vision requirement, as does<br />
the US Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the<br />
body that regulates interstate commercial motor transport.<br />
It requires its medical examiners to state whether the applicant has<br />
the ‘ability to recognise the colours of traffic signals and devices<br />
showing standard red, green, and amber’ but does not seem to have<br />
a defined test procedure to assess this.<br />
There is doubt whether the FMCSA ‘standard’ for colour vision of<br />
drivers in the US is effective: its handbook for medical assessors<br />
observes that ‘true color perception deficiencies are rarely<br />
disqualifying’.<br />
24 NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com<br />
Why it pays to stay local<br />
Sometimes there are things out there that we take for granted... until they are gone, when we wished we’d supported<br />
them more vigorously. That thought comes to mind among many in the ADI community who are members of local ADI<br />
associations and groups. Being an ADI is often a lonely one-person band business, and it is easy to become isolated<br />
from your fellow professionals. That’s where local groups come in, offering a handy forum for your concerns,<br />
grievances and to offer support. One such member who truly values the connections he has with his local group is<br />
DAVE ALLEN (pictured), who is a member of the BIRMINGHAM APPROVED DRIVING INSTRUCTORS group.<br />
Here he explains why he’s proud to be a member of his local association, and the benefits he gains from it.<br />
I want to make you aware of local driving<br />
instructor associations and the benefits of<br />
joining them.<br />
Let’s start with what local ADI<br />
associations are. These are groups of driving<br />
instructors which are either fully qualified or<br />
in the process of qualifying as a driving<br />
instructor.<br />
The local ADIs generally have monthly<br />
meetings where they invite a speaker to<br />
deliver a presentation relevant to our<br />
industry. The speakers who are invited to<br />
these meetings have in the past consisted of<br />
members of the DVSA who conduct or<br />
manage local driving tests, or ADI Part 2 and<br />
3s.<br />
Once with us they can provide us with info<br />
on any relevant changes within our industry.<br />
At our association, as with many others,<br />
we also hear from speakers who are industry<br />
specialists, who can provide information and<br />
advice on how to run our businesses more<br />
effectively, by using best business practices,<br />
or keep us up-to-date on the latest learning<br />
techniques that improve the quality of our<br />
instruction. There’s a win-win knock-on<br />
effect with this, in that we in turn deliver<br />
pupils to our local driving test centre with a<br />
better chance of passing, improving our test<br />
centre pass rates, and we also see a spike in<br />
recommendations from happy pupils.<br />
Many local ADI associations also have<br />
social media groups, where the members can<br />
communicate between each other via<br />
WhatsApp or Facebook groups.<br />
With the L-test waiting times still<br />
worryingly large, local ADI groups can be a<br />
real help in swapping test slots between<br />
pupils, particularly when you know one of<br />
yours won’t make the grade but another ADI<br />
has a pupil who is ready to take their test.<br />
We can also pass on pupils to other<br />
members as well, when you either can’t cover<br />
the area they want lessons in or they require<br />
the car to have a specific type of<br />
transmission (the pupil wants auto when you<br />
drive a manual).<br />
You can even look at using your local ADI<br />
group for mock tests; rather than you taking<br />
the pupil out, get a ‘stranger’ to do so, to<br />
better simulate the conditions of the test<br />
itself.<br />
However, one of the most important<br />
reasons to join an association is to show that<br />
you are not alone ,with nobody to ask for<br />
advice or help, as you can feel isolated if you<br />
have nobody to turn too.<br />
They can also provide a bit of a boost to<br />
your social life. You’ll have seen in the pages<br />
of <strong>Newslink</strong> that many ADI associations have<br />
social evenings and nights out, to breed a<br />
feeling of camaraderie among instructors.<br />
What does it cost?<br />
To join a ADI association costs a very small<br />
of money, normally a yearly fee or a single<br />
meeting attendance fee or a combination of<br />
both. These fees pay for the meeting venue<br />
room hire and costs of running specialist<br />
training days or mileage paid to trainers who<br />
deliver these workshops.<br />
The local associations are run by<br />
volunteers who don’t get paid for helping out.<br />
Interested in getting involved?<br />
We have a list of ADI groups who have<br />
made themselves known to the MSA GB on<br />
pg 27; have a look to see if there is one in your<br />
area.<br />
Failing that you will often see details of ADI<br />
groups advertising in your local driving test<br />
centre.<br />
Being an ADI can be a lonely business; by<br />
coming together we can gain and share<br />
knowledge, improve ourselves as instructors<br />
and give a better service to our pupils.<br />
Left, members of the Angus Driving<br />
Instructors Association (ADIA) group pose<br />
for a photo after a recent meeting. At the far<br />
right of the photo is MSA GB deputy<br />
chairman Peter Harvey, who had been invited<br />
to address the meeting on the latest news<br />
from the DVSA. MSA GB officials are happy to<br />
attend local ADI groups, to facilitate<br />
information sharing within the driving<br />
instructor community<br />
Photo: Fiona Thomson, PDI<br />
NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023 25
Members’ section<br />
MSA GB Annual Conference 2024<br />
It’s a case of all roads lead to Telford as we head to Shropshire<br />
for the MSA GB Annual Conference 2024.<br />
To be held from March 22-23 at the stunning Telford Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort<br />
in Shropshire, it promises to be the ideal mix of information, debate, advice,<br />
education, networking and fun, as the MSA GB membership comes<br />
together to learn more about, and discuss, the big issues of the day.<br />
We are in the middle of confirming our keynote presenters, but we can<br />
guarantee an exciting and knowledgeable roster of high-profile names from<br />
the DVSA and driver training and road safety communities.<br />
Bookings are open now. Just click on the link below to book. See the price list<br />
below, with day, day/night and full weekend packages available.<br />
We have endeavoured to keep our prices as low as possible while providing a high-quality<br />
weekend, and the Telford Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort has more than enough to keep nondelegate<br />
partners happy, with a superb swimming pool and spa, golf and other attractions<br />
on site, as well as having the beautiful Severn Valley and iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site<br />
of Ironbridge Gorge on its doorstep. Even better, we have arranged a special MSA GB<br />
Conference discount on all spa treatments and golf fees!<br />
Please note: All prices below are EARLY BIRD prices, and will be held until January 20.<br />
After that date, some prices may rise.<br />
https://msagb.com/msa-gb-national-conference/<br />
Full Conference packages<br />
Two nights’ accommodation and breakfast, Friday & Saturday<br />
evening meals, Saturday lunch, Conference delegate ticket<br />
Single booking:<br />
£275<br />
Couple sharing (with non-delegate ticket):<br />
£385<br />
* Non delegates receive lunch<br />
on the Saturday<br />
Telford Hotel,<br />
Spa & Golf<br />
Resort<br />
One-day Conference packages<br />
One night’s accommodation and breakfast, Friday OR Saturday<br />
evening meals, Saturday lunch; Conference delegate ticket<br />
Single booking:<br />
£165<br />
Couple sharing (with non-delegate ticket):<br />
£235<br />
Conference day delegate<br />
* Non delegates receive lunch<br />
on the Saturday<br />
Conference delegate ticket for Saturday Booked after January 20<br />
If booked before<br />
£49<br />
January 20 ...<br />
£59<br />
Thinking of bringing<br />
the family?<br />
There are other options available during<br />
Saturday should you wish to make this a<br />
family weekend and bring the children.<br />
You can find full details at:<br />
https://msagb.com/msa-gb-nationalconference/<br />
26 NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com<br />
Area meetings and training events<br />
Scottish Area Annual<br />
Conference & AGM<br />
Date: Sunday, <strong>November</strong> 5<br />
Venue: Castlecary House Hotel<br />
Time: 9.30am-4.30pm<br />
Cost: £50 members; £55 non-members<br />
This year’s MSA GB Scotland annual training event is being held at the<br />
Castlecary House Hotel on <strong>November</strong> 5. It is a full day event, with a<br />
break for a two-course lunch. Fee includes refreshments and all papers.<br />
Our speakers this year are being finalised, however, confirmed<br />
already are Peter Hearn, DVSA area manager Northern, Kev and Tracey<br />
from Confident Drivers, Stewart from Bright Coaching, who will cover<br />
driver psychology and behavioural change, and Peter Harvey MBE will<br />
do his usual update of our industry. Each speaker will end with a Q&A<br />
session, and we hope to confirm some more speakers in the coming<br />
weeks. In addition we will also have some trade stands offering<br />
discounts to those who attend.<br />
This is always an excellent event, and we look forward to you joining<br />
us on <strong>November</strong> 5.<br />
The Castlecary House Hotel is located just of the M80, on Castlecary<br />
Road G68 0HD.<br />
You can puchase tickets by<br />
clicking this panel, or by<br />
calling 01787 221 020<br />
West Coast & Wales<br />
Area Meeting<br />
Date: Thursday, <strong>November</strong> 9<br />
Venue: Gloucester Robinswood Best Western Hotel<br />
Time: 9.30am-4pm<br />
Cost: £45 non-members<br />
MSA GB West Coast & Wales is hosting an all-day<br />
training event on Thursday, <strong>November</strong> 9 at the<br />
Best Western Hotel, Gloucester.<br />
We are pleased to announce that the speakers<br />
now include DVSA Chief Executive Loveday Ryder,<br />
who will address the meeting by video link. Ms<br />
Ryder will be joined by a number of other speakers, including:<br />
n Matt Cleevely, Cleevely Electric Motors, who will make sure cars<br />
are available for test drive.<br />
n Alan Gott, FBTC Accountancy, Making tax digital, and more<br />
n Haydn Jenkins, Disability Driving Instructors<br />
n Mike Yeomans, MSA GB National Chairman, who will be conducting<br />
the AGM.<br />
n Peter Harvey MBE, MSA GB Vice Chairman.<br />
You can book on this event by<br />
emailing Arthur Mynott at<br />
arthur.mynott@msagb.co.uk<br />
Online Area Training Events, Autumn 2023:<br />
East Coast and London & the South East<br />
This year, as well as the two in-person events<br />
in Scotland and the West Coast, we are also<br />
running two online events. You are welcome<br />
to attend any of the events.<br />
Our Area Events are a great way to keep<br />
abreast of the latest driver trainer news and<br />
industry developments, but we know that it<br />
can be difficult to find the time to attend our<br />
in-person events.<br />
We also know that sometimes you may<br />
want to attend an event outside of your area,<br />
but it’s just that bit too far to travel.<br />
So, this year we are trialling two online<br />
events for the London & South East and the<br />
East Coast which will be conducted via the<br />
ZOOM platform.<br />
The details of each event can be found<br />
right; for further information contact the area<br />
chairman of the meeting you would like to<br />
attend.<br />
LONDON & SOUTH EAST<br />
Date: Sunday, 12th <strong>November</strong><br />
Time: 4pm – 6pm<br />
Venue: Online<br />
Speakers:<br />
n Tom Kwok – London & South East Chairman<br />
n Peter Harvey MBE – MSA GB Vice Chairman<br />
To secure your place, please email:<br />
tom.kwok@msagb.com with your details.<br />
Discounted<br />
training<br />
Sign up for discounted standards check<br />
training sessions with the award-winning<br />
Knowledgeable Instructor Training.<br />
COURSE DATES<br />
20th <strong>November</strong>: Southend<br />
21st <strong>November</strong>: Cambridge Shelford<br />
Rugby Club, Great Shelford, Cambridge<br />
CB22 5JJ<br />
1st December: Pontefract The Hut<br />
Kershaw Avenue, Castleford<br />
TIME FOR ALL EVENTS:<br />
8.45am – 4.30pm<br />
COST: These workshops should be £115,<br />
but MSA GB has negotiated a £16<br />
deduction for Members, bringing the<br />
cost down to £99.<br />
Please book this directly through the<br />
website www.adikit.co.uk/courses/<br />
book using the code MSA-16.<br />
NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023 27
Members’ section<br />
MSA GB launches new partnership with insurer to<br />
keep you on the road when things go wrong<br />
MSA GB partners with AI<br />
Insurance Solutions Limited<br />
to provide members with dual<br />
control cars for when things<br />
don’t quite go to plan.<br />
A critical service to driving instructors is the<br />
provision of a dual-controlled replacement<br />
vehicle for non-fault and fault accidents.<br />
But in recent months we have had several<br />
calls from MSA GB members across the<br />
country who have been let down by their<br />
insurance company not being able to supply a<br />
dual-controlled vehicle when they have had<br />
an accident.<br />
They report that they are usually offered a<br />
replacement vehicle but not one with dual<br />
controls – which isn’t a lot of good when<br />
running a driving school.<br />
MSA GB steps in<br />
Understanding the stress and the<br />
detriment to your business this can cause,<br />
we are pleased to announce that we have<br />
formed an exclusive agreement with AI<br />
Solutions Ltd to supply a replacement vehicle<br />
to you should the need arise.<br />
This means that MSA GB members will be<br />
able to obtain both a replacement manual or<br />
automatic dual-controlled car for both fault<br />
and non-fault accidents, without the need to<br />
buy an extra insurance policy to cover the risk.<br />
The cost of using this new service is zero.<br />
You don’t need to register or buy an<br />
insurance policy.<br />
If you need to use the service the cost of<br />
your replacement vehicle will be charged<br />
either to their insurance policy or yours,<br />
depending entirely on who is at fault.<br />
Additionally, if the vehicle needs to be<br />
recovered, this also will be charged to the<br />
appropriate insurer.<br />
However, we must stress that this does<br />
not impose any restrictions on where you get<br />
your vehicle repaired.<br />
The FCA states under ‘treating customers<br />
fairly’ that - ‘a policy-holder does not have to<br />
use the services of their broker or insurer but<br />
can access any service they choose without<br />
their instructor insurance policy being<br />
invalidated.’<br />
So, in the event of an accident you simply<br />
need to contact The AI Insurance Solutions<br />
Emergency (AIIS) assistance line on 01945<br />
425211. AIIS will then inform your insurer and<br />
organise for your replacement dual controlled<br />
car to be delivered to your chosen location as<br />
soon as possible.<br />
If your vehicle is drivable and legal<br />
post-event, then it is best to arrange a<br />
delivery to the body repairer at an agreed<br />
time. If the vehicle, however, is not drivable,<br />
then AI Solutions will ensure that it is<br />
delivered to the most convenient location for<br />
you.<br />
Sadly, statistically, road traffic crashes do<br />
happen, and we cannot prevent you from<br />
being involved in one.<br />
However, with this new agreement we<br />
hope to ensure that any impact to MSA GB<br />
members is kept to a minimum.<br />
How it<br />
works...<br />
n A prompt and<br />
courteous reporting<br />
process 24 hours a day<br />
n To be taken to a safe<br />
place/home if your car<br />
is not drivable<br />
n A replacement dual<br />
controlled car on same<br />
day as accident<br />
reported, if before 2pm<br />
(in Scotland, this may<br />
take up to 24hrs)<br />
n The vehicle will be of<br />
a similar size<br />
n Regular updates on<br />
your vehicle’s repair<br />
28 NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com<br />
FAQs on the new membership service<br />
Q: How do I use the service?<br />
A: You just call AIIS’s emergency<br />
assistance number on 01945 425211.<br />
Q: What will the service cost me?<br />
A: Just the cost of a call.<br />
Q: Should I notify my insurance company?<br />
A: Absolutely, although AIIS will also talk to<br />
them to confirm hire provision and, where<br />
appropriate, details of the repairer.<br />
Q: What if my vehicle is not drivable?<br />
A: AIIS will recover the vehicle to safe<br />
storage and get you home or to a<br />
nominated location.<br />
Q: Is this an insurance product that I need<br />
to purchase?<br />
A: No, the service is provided to you on a<br />
no-cost basis.<br />
Q: What if my vehicle is drivable?<br />
A: AIIS can arrange for an estimate to<br />
completed and deliver the car to the<br />
repairer to ensure that you are mobile<br />
throughout the process and that there is<br />
no loss of income.<br />
Emergency crash protocol: What to do if you are involved in a crash<br />
In the event of a crash, call 01945 425211 to use the AIIS offer<br />
More MSA GB membership offers<br />
and discounts - see pg 38-39<br />
NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023 29
Members’ section<br />
New membership service: Find My Local<br />
MSA GB Instructor directory launched<br />
Cut through the competition<br />
by advertising your skills on<br />
MSA GB’s own ADI directory<br />
With the DVSA (https://tinyurl.com/<br />
4b3t9a9e) reporting a 24 per cent increase in<br />
the number of new driving instructor<br />
registrations in 2022/2023, compared to<br />
2020/2021, our industry is set to become<br />
even more competitive as driving instructors<br />
do battle to gain the attention of those<br />
wanting to learn to drive.<br />
To help MSA GB members cut through the<br />
industry noise and raise their profile, we’re<br />
delighted to announce the launch of our<br />
online ‘Find My Local MSA GB Instructor’<br />
directory, which will be proudly displayed on<br />
the MSA GB home page and on the MSA GB<br />
App.<br />
Once live, this new directory will be easily<br />
accessible by the public, who can use our<br />
simple search engine to source a driving<br />
instructor in their local area, who suits their<br />
learning needs.<br />
For MSA GB members it couldn’t be simpler<br />
to input your details and make sure you stand<br />
out from the crowd. We’ve included several<br />
opportunities for you to highlight any special<br />
skills or teaching experience that you may<br />
have, for example teaching pupils with<br />
disabilities or those who are particularly<br />
anxious drivers.<br />
To upload your profile onto the MSA GB<br />
directory, all you need to do is:<br />
n Log into the Member Area<br />
n Look to the left of the page and scroll<br />
down until you see three blue arrow tabs.<br />
n Click on the tab - ‘Add Directory listing’<br />
n You will then be taken to the following<br />
page:<br />
n Input your details and upload your photo<br />
(adding your photo is optional)<br />
n Once you’ve inputted all your details,<br />
check that all your information is correct<br />
n Tick the box if you agree to share your<br />
details on the website. Please note if you do<br />
not tick the box your details will not appear<br />
on the on the Find My Local MSA GB<br />
Instructor directory.<br />
n Click submit – and your done!<br />
This is just one of the many fantastic<br />
benefits that MSA GB members get to enjoy<br />
with their membership, which also includes:<br />
n PI & PL Insurance cover totalling £10<br />
million.<br />
n Legal & Technical Advice<br />
n Member Representation<br />
n Access to a wealth of exclusive<br />
information and downloadable resources<br />
n Member Discounts<br />
n Our monthly digital industry magazine<br />
- <strong>Newslink</strong><br />
n Comprehensive driving school cover.<br />
We hope registering is a straightforward<br />
process, but if you need any assistance, or<br />
have any queries, don’t hesitate to contact<br />
our membership team on info@msagb.com<br />
or 01787 221 020<br />
30 NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023
ADI groups and associations<br />
MSA GB is proud of its long-standing links with many local ADI<br />
groups around the country. Many are small, dedicated to driver<br />
training in one city, town or even focused on a sole DTC, but all<br />
work tirelessly to improve the work of being an ADI. This can<br />
be in representing ADIs’ interests and views to your DVSA area<br />
manager, offering an ADI’s voice to local authorities and town<br />
planners, or by simply providing a network within which ADIs can<br />
find help and advice from their fellow instructors. After all, for<br />
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com<br />
many ADIs working as sole traders, being a driving instructor can<br />
be a lonely task: local ADI groups help stop it feeling quite so much<br />
that it’s ‘you against the world.’<br />
From this issue onwards <strong>Newslink</strong> will be publishing a list of local<br />
ADI groups and associations. We will only publish those groups<br />
who let us know they are happy to be included in our list, however,<br />
so if you would like to see your details here, please contact Peter<br />
Harvey at peter.harveymbe@msagb.com<br />
Aberdeen and District Driving Schools<br />
Association<br />
Secretary: Derek Young<br />
T: 07732 379396<br />
E: derekyoungcreel@aol.com<br />
Meets quarterly February (AGM), May,<br />
August and <strong>November</strong>.<br />
Cost £35 per annum<br />
Angus Driving Instructors Association<br />
Secretary: Frances Matthew<br />
T: 07703 664522<br />
E; francesmatthew@hotmail.co.uk<br />
This group holds six meeting per year<br />
(usually one week after the Scottish<br />
committee meeting)<br />
Cost £20 per year.<br />
Aylesbury Vale Driving Instructors<br />
Association<br />
Chairman: Sue Pusey<br />
T: 07780 606868<br />
E: AVDIA@btinternet.com<br />
Meetings are first Wednesday of every<br />
month at Church of the Holy Spirit,<br />
Camborne Avenue, Aylesbury, HP21 7UE.<br />
7.30pm start.<br />
Guest speaker every other month,<br />
refreshments provided.<br />
Annual fee £30. First meeting free as try<br />
before you buy.<br />
Birmingham Approved Driving Instructors<br />
Contact: Dave Allen<br />
T: 07939 627493<br />
E: Daveallen1999@googlemail.com<br />
Cornwall Association of Approved Driving<br />
Instructors (CAADI)<br />
Secretary: Rachael Lloyd-Phillips<br />
E: rachael@oneandallsom.co.uk<br />
This group meets via Zoom on the 3rd<br />
Monday every other month at 7.30pm.<br />
City of Dunfermline and District ADIs<br />
Secretary: Gail Pilch<br />
T: 07817 661450<br />
E: dunfermlineadisecretary@outlook.com<br />
Meetings are bi-monthly, at<br />
Dunfermline Northern Bowling Club, Dewar<br />
Street,<br />
Dunfermline KY12 8AD<br />
Glasgow & District Driving Instructors<br />
Association<br />
Contact: Bryan Phillips<br />
T: 07989 339 646<br />
E: bryan.phillips@hotmail.co.uk<br />
Meet on the last Sunday of the month,<br />
once every quarter, at<br />
The Fort Theatre, Kenmuir Ave,<br />
Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, G64 2DW.<br />
Joining fee: £15 per year<br />
Hinckley & District Driver Trainers<br />
Association (HDDTA)<br />
Chairman: Barrie Pates<br />
T: 07914 408 739<br />
E: haddta@yahoo.com<br />
Hull and East Riding Driving Instructors<br />
(HERDI)<br />
Contact: Andrew<br />
T: 07754542993<br />
E: herdi.rsa@gmail.com<br />
Lanark Driving Instructors<br />
Secretary: Sandra Smillie<br />
T: 07975 147150<br />
Meet quarterly from March which is our<br />
AGM<br />
Why join a local association?<br />
See pg 25 for some reasons why<br />
If you want to see your local ADI group listed in this index,<br />
contact Peter Harvey on peterharveymbe@msagb.com<br />
South Warwickshire Association<br />
of ADIs (SWAADI)<br />
Contact: Andy Thomas<br />
T: 01926 717230 / 07900 673634<br />
E: artommo@hotmail.com<br />
We meet at 8.30pm every third Monday of<br />
the month except August and December<br />
(no meetings) at The Windmill Inn,<br />
Tachbrook Rd, Leamington Spa CV31 3DD,<br />
Rolls and snacks are available for a small<br />
charge and membership is £25 a year and<br />
includes a monthly newsletter and addition<br />
to a WhatsApp group for local issues/<br />
traffic updates, etc.<br />
Swindon Driving Instructors Association<br />
(Swindon DIA)<br />
Contact: Sandra Jill Richens<br />
T: 07795 006015<br />
E: SJRichens@btinternet.com<br />
Taunton Association Driving Instructors<br />
See Facebook page – search ‘Taunton ADI<br />
& PDI Forum’<br />
Wirral Association of Professional Driving<br />
Instructors (APDI)<br />
Chairman: Brian Murray<br />
T: 07810 094332<br />
Secretary: Richard Gillmore<br />
T: 07790 193138<br />
E: wirral-apdi@hotmail.co.uk<br />
W: wirralinstructors.co.uk<br />
Meet monthly on the first Thursday of the<br />
month (except January and August)<br />
at Heswall FC, Brimstage Road, Heswall,<br />
Wirral CH60 1XG<br />
Further information and to join, please visit<br />
the website.<br />
NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023 31
Area News<br />
20mph might look good on paper, but it’s<br />
an unnecessary hindrance on the road<br />
Arthur Mynott<br />
MSA GB<br />
West Coast & Wales<br />
In September, Wales switched to a default<br />
20mph speed limit in built-up areas, and you<br />
will have read some thoughts from Welsh<br />
ADIs in the October issue.<br />
This month I thought I would offer my<br />
thoughts on 20mph zones, not least because<br />
they are increasingly cropping up around<br />
England, and Scotland is seeing more<br />
pressure to introduce them, too.<br />
Please note that these thoughts are my<br />
own personal ones and not necessarily those<br />
of the MSA GB.<br />
In my local town, Taunton, there are only<br />
three 20mph zones, and a couple of them are<br />
in the vicinity of schools, which I completely<br />
agree with. Obviously I know where these are<br />
and don’t need to look out for them.<br />
Recently my wife and I have been away,<br />
firstly in Edinburgh for four days sightseeing<br />
and then four days in the Wirral playing golf<br />
with DIGA, the Driving Instructors Golf<br />
Association. In both of these locations we<br />
were unfamiliar with the roads. When<br />
travelling around these areas I was following<br />
the sat nav, looking out for direction signs,<br />
looking at road markings for the correct lane<br />
at the same time as keeping an eye on my<br />
speed and on some occasions missed a<br />
20mph sign. I had to rely on my knowledge of<br />
the Highway Code regarding street lamps and<br />
any relevant repeater signs to ascertain the<br />
actual speed limit, and also found myself<br />
asking my wife as another check.<br />
Now, I consider myself to be a professional<br />
driver with many, many years experience on<br />
the road and, as I have said before, I am a<br />
trainer for our Advanced Drivers Association,<br />
but I struggled on two points. First, as I have<br />
just said, if you don’t know the area then it is<br />
possible to miss the speed limit signs and<br />
second, it is quite easy to creep over the<br />
20mph limit as I found myself doing<br />
occasionally.<br />
Before now I have referred to 20mph as an<br />
“in between gear”: sometimes too many revs<br />
for second and too few for third depending on<br />
the geography of the ground.<br />
Upon leaving the Wirral, rather than take<br />
the M6/M5 to return home we took the<br />
scenic route towards Chepstow and over the<br />
first Severn Bridge. Obviously we travelled<br />
through some of Wales and in every village<br />
we went through, we were restricted to the<br />
new 20mph limits which, in my humble<br />
opinion, were unnecessary as there was very<br />
little traffic, pedestrians, etc. In many of these<br />
villages the old 30mph would have been the<br />
more appropriate speed. Several times, not<br />
just in Wales, I was tailgated when keeping to<br />
the limit and I was even overtaken on a<br />
couple of occasions!<br />
On a final note, one occasion when driving<br />
through Wales I saw a weight limit sign of 20<br />
tonnes on which the ‘t’ was very faint and<br />
could easily be mistaken for a speed sign!<br />
n Please note that there is still time to book<br />
for the West Coast & Wales Conference.<br />
There are more details below, but it is on<br />
<strong>November</strong> 9th in Gloucester.<br />
Details are on the ‘Area Meetings and<br />
Events’ page in this issue.<br />
CONTACT<br />
Arthur Mynott, Chairman West Coast &<br />
Wales MSA GB<br />
Tel: 07989852274<br />
E: arthur.mynott@msagb.com<br />
West Coast & Wales Area Meeting<br />
Date: Thursday, <strong>November</strong> 9<br />
Venue: Gloucester Robinswood<br />
Best Western Hotel<br />
Time: 9.30am-4pm<br />
Cost: £45<br />
We are delighted that DVSA Chief Executive<br />
Loveday Ryder has agreed to address this<br />
meeting by video link. Ms Ryder will be joined<br />
by a number of other speakers, including:<br />
n Matt Cleevely, Cleevely Electric Motors,<br />
who will make sure cars are available for test<br />
drive.<br />
n Alan Gott, FBTC Accountancy, Making<br />
tax digital, and more<br />
n Haydn Jenkins, Disability Driving<br />
Instructors<br />
n Mike Yeomans, MSA GB National<br />
Chairman, who will be conducting the AGM.<br />
n Peter Harvey MBE, MSA GB Vice<br />
Chairman.<br />
The price includes refreshments throughout<br />
the day and a two-course delegate lunch. Free<br />
parking is available at this hotel.<br />
You’ve still got time to get in; you can book<br />
via the MSA GB website, or by contacting<br />
Arthur Mynott at the above address.<br />
Travel advisory<br />
John Lomas writes...<br />
I mentioned in a previous <strong>Newslink</strong> that<br />
there was a possibility of diversions if using<br />
the A419-A417 when travelling to the MSA GB<br />
West Coast and Wales meeting, because of<br />
possible closures at the Golden Heart junction.<br />
We now know that there will be an<br />
overnight closure on the hill down from the Air<br />
Balloon towards Gloucester on the day of the<br />
meeting, <strong>November</strong> 9.<br />
As always with overnight closures, they<br />
should be clear by 7am but if you are coming<br />
that way it may be good idea to have traffic<br />
news on your radio, as sometimes repairs<br />
overrun.<br />
The local station is Radio Gloucester, but I<br />
can’t tell you which of their frequencies is best<br />
on the Wiltshire side of the area. (I listen on<br />
Freeview at home).<br />
If you have traffic access and diversions on<br />
your Sat Nav hopefully it will pick any<br />
problems early, but be aware that the ‘official’<br />
diversions adds about 8-10 miles to your<br />
journey, round to the North, whereas in fact<br />
the option of going Cirencester-Stroud-<br />
Stonehouse is shorter.<br />
32 NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com<br />
Remembering the importance of ‘me’ time<br />
Steven Porter<br />
Chairman,<br />
MSA GB Scotland<br />
In March 2020, I travelled down to<br />
Birmingham for the Driving Instructors Golf<br />
Association (DIGA) annual golf day, though<br />
the less said about my golf that day the<br />
better.<br />
Despite the standard of my play, the golf<br />
day out was good, with rolls in the morning<br />
and a meal afterwards, but while we waited<br />
for the prize giving there was a big golf news<br />
update on Sky News: the US Masters had<br />
been cancelled because of this new virus that<br />
was sweeping the world, coronavirus, or<br />
Covid-19.<br />
I think this is when a lot of people, and not<br />
just driving instructors, changed the way<br />
they lived their lives in many different ways;<br />
it’s definitely when I changed.<br />
Since the dreaded Covid I have looked at<br />
my life differently and I am now starting to<br />
take a lot more ‘me’ time than I ever have. As<br />
I’m sure many of you have done, I used to<br />
looked at my diary and think, ‘oh no another<br />
Bank Holiday I’ve forgotten to blank out’ as<br />
you realise you already had names in for<br />
lessons on the day. You immediately feel<br />
‘well, I can’t let them down’ as it wouldn’t be<br />
fair on the pupil, though it’s not fair on you<br />
either.<br />
This year I have changed my diary and now<br />
work roughly 9-5, occasionally slightly over.<br />
My pupils now do 1.5hr lessons rather than an<br />
hour, which reduces the running about from<br />
pupil to pupil, place to place.<br />
I have also done a lot more things I’ve<br />
wanted to do like play more golf, as I kind of<br />
need to sort my handicap out, she’s never<br />
happy but I try my best. You lot don’t know<br />
my wife so I’m safe she’ll not see this, I hope. I<br />
have, though, played some championship<br />
courses like Gleneagles I always said I would<br />
do, but never did. It’s never a good idea by the<br />
way to start par, par, par, only goes downhill<br />
from there.<br />
I’ve also got back into fly fishing; soon after I<br />
finish writing this I’m off to fish one of Scotland<br />
best trout rivers with a close friend, again<br />
something I’ve always said I wanted to do.<br />
Earlier this year I went with this same<br />
friend who I also play golf with to watch his<br />
son-in-law John McPhee race in the British<br />
Super Bikes at Donnington with my youngest<br />
son. He’s been passionately watching John<br />
race for the past few years and seen all the<br />
highs and lows he’s been through, from<br />
finishing on the podium earlier in the year in<br />
Australia to breaking his back when riding in<br />
Moto3 last year. If John didn’t have bad luck<br />
he would have no luck at all and as I write this<br />
he has parted ways with his team and fingers<br />
crossed will get a decent ride to restart his<br />
career, as he is one of the top riders in the UK<br />
at the moment.<br />
The day we went to Donnington John’s bike<br />
had a problem with the suspension and he<br />
had to ride it in the qualification round only to<br />
come off and fail to set a time, causing him to<br />
start at the back of the grid.<br />
It was a very frustrating weekend and my<br />
only thought was the poor boy was racing at<br />
his home circuit and anything that could go<br />
wrong went wrong, but he never showed<br />
anything other than professionalism when he<br />
invited us in to the pit to see him, so Robbie<br />
(my youngest) could see his bike and meet<br />
his team.<br />
He was a pure gentleman. Robbie was in his<br />
element and a bit star-struck to meet John,<br />
this guy he only ever saw through a TV<br />
screen.<br />
Later that day John, riding a bike that’s<br />
settings had not had time to be worked on,<br />
Right, John McPhee -<br />
officially much better at<br />
bike racing than Steven is<br />
at golf...<br />
came out and did himself proud to finish 18th<br />
after starting 30th, with all his loyal<br />
supporters all sitting having the odd ‘swally’<br />
of some sort, in a wee corner of the track.<br />
By the way, if anyone has a spare few<br />
hundred thousand pounds doing nothing,<br />
John could do with a sponsor!<br />
Going full circuit here (see what I have done<br />
there) I was playing golf last week at my own<br />
course with Richard Tookey, whom I last saw<br />
Golf date<br />
The Driving Instructors Golf<br />
Association will be holding its annual<br />
competition at Telford, the day before<br />
the MSA GB national conference, on<br />
Friday, March 22.<br />
If interested contact Richard Tookey on<br />
07711518877 or at r2key19@gmail.com<br />
at the DIGA golf day out back in 2020. He was<br />
up here visiting his son who lives not too far<br />
from me.<br />
We had a lovely game of golf and a good<br />
chat until on the 16th tee I gave Richard my<br />
hook which I had picked up on the 10th tee<br />
after having a glorious front nine. I think he<br />
took offence and further down the fairway<br />
tried to take me out with a wild swing of an<br />
iron and his ball whizzing past my right<br />
eyebrow. These things happen on the golf<br />
course.<br />
All kidding aside, DIGA will be hosting more<br />
golf outings in the future including the Friday<br />
before the National Conference which I intend<br />
playing (praying Richard has managed to lose<br />
my hook by then)<br />
The moral of this story is, remember<br />
there’s more to being an ADI than being the<br />
richest one in the graveyard; get out there<br />
and have some ‘me’ time.<br />
That can be anything you wish, just turn<br />
those wishes into reality.<br />
n One positive footnote: as I was preparing<br />
to submit this article I learned that John<br />
McPhee has signed up with D34G team and<br />
will see out the season on a Ducati V2,<br />
covering for Olí Bayliss who is recovering<br />
from an injury.<br />
He’s had a few rides on a much better bike<br />
and finishing 13th and 14th after jumping<br />
straight on without any serious practice<br />
sessions straight into qualifying laps.<br />
Now watch the wee man go!<br />
NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023 33
Area News<br />
Amazon looks at gifts from the sky<br />
– and from its robot fleet<br />
Janet<br />
Stewart<br />
London & the<br />
South East<br />
Listening to the radio recently, I heard that<br />
Amazon is going to start deliveries by drone.<br />
Parcel delivery from the air using drones is far<br />
from being a new idea, of course: those<br />
banged up in His Majesty’s Hotels have been<br />
receiving drugs to their accommodation in<br />
this manner for some time. Why is it that the<br />
bad guys are always two jumps ahead?<br />
Anyway, it struck me that if Amazon really<br />
wanted to be clever they would have this<br />
system in place for Christmas and have their<br />
drones looking as if they were pulled by<br />
reindeer.<br />
According to what I heard, the drones are<br />
limited as to the weight they can carry and<br />
will find a suitable spot to drop the package<br />
from no higher than 12ft.<br />
No doubt this will all come about sooner or<br />
later but I am rather more interested in the<br />
little self-driving delivery vehicles that have<br />
been trialled in Milton Keynes by Tesco (I am<br />
sure other supermarkets are available). On<br />
the face of it, this looks like a rather exciting<br />
development.<br />
The last stage of the grocery delivery is by<br />
something that looks rather like a suitcase on<br />
six wheels. These vehicles will negotiate<br />
pavements, crossing roads, stopping for<br />
pedestrians, knowing when it is safe to cross<br />
at a pedestrian crossing and managing to get<br />
up and down kerbs.<br />
They are even polite: On arrival at its<br />
destination the Starship robot says “Good<br />
morning/afternoon, here is your delivery”.<br />
What’s not to like? I have watched several<br />
demonstration videos and am attaching the<br />
link at the end of this article.<br />
Naturally, there will be those who object<br />
and, of course, I was watching promotional<br />
videos and they were not going to show their<br />
cute little vehicles going wrong, falling over,<br />
getting stuck or delivering to the wrong<br />
address – all of which happens to normal<br />
delivery vans, I might add (apart from the<br />
falling over). I will be happy to share my road<br />
space with them and I am pretty certain they<br />
will be safer than many other road users. I<br />
shudder every time I see someone walk<br />
straight out into the road in front of a vehicle<br />
with eyes glued to their phones.<br />
The Starship robots run on electricity, so<br />
they are clean. They will obviously be<br />
economically advantageous to the<br />
supermarkets and other enterprises that<br />
depend on deliveries to residential addresses.<br />
I suspect they probably don’t swear at the<br />
customers either.<br />
People will say that jobs will be lost but<br />
that has always been the case with<br />
innovation, particularly where technology has<br />
been involved with machines replacing<br />
people. The Luddites are still with us.<br />
At the beginning of his The Origin of<br />
Species Charles Darwin quoted Bacon: ‘To<br />
conclude, therefore, let no man out of a weak<br />
conceit… or an ill-applied moderation… think<br />
that a man can search too far or be too well<br />
studied… but rather let men endeavour an<br />
endless progress or proficience in both.’<br />
Off we go: The little Starship<br />
home delivery robot<br />
successfully navigates a<br />
pavement drop on its rounds<br />
in Milton Keynes. According<br />
to its inventers the robots<br />
can handle pavements,<br />
know when to cross roads<br />
safely and avoid<br />
pedestrians. How ‘idiotproof’<br />
they are – ie, can they<br />
avoid the idiots in society<br />
who think it is amusing to<br />
interact with them – is not<br />
made clear<br />
34 NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com<br />
Little star: The<br />
Starship’s route<br />
looked a little<br />
handpicked but it<br />
certainly handled it<br />
well<br />
On a lighter note, I am just back from a<br />
holiday in Morocco. I was on a small local bus<br />
which had to squeeze past a traffic ‘incident’.<br />
A taxi making very slow progress on poor<br />
roads had been hit from behind by a cyclist<br />
and the taxi number plate had been broken.<br />
Passengers and driver were out of the car,<br />
the cyclist was holding his unharmed bike and<br />
a crowd was gathering.<br />
I was sitting at the front of the bus with the<br />
driver, as is my wont, and I remarked in my<br />
very best French that the taxi only had to<br />
move a metre to let us pass easily. Oh no, said<br />
the driver, no-one must move at all until the<br />
Police arrive. One broken number plate,<br />
no-one harmed and no other damage! We<br />
proceeded and some time later saw a Police<br />
car on its way, very slowly, but with flashing<br />
lights. Job creation scheme or what?<br />
• To see the You Tube film of the Milton<br />
Keynes delivery report, see this link https://<br />
www.youtube.com/watch?v=13jqscTESNM<br />
Did you know...?<br />
The original Michelin Man was first brought to<br />
the public’s attention in 1894.<br />
As you will know, the Michelin Man is white<br />
because rubber tyres are naturally white. It<br />
was not until 1912 that carbon chemicals were<br />
mixed into the white tyres, which turned them<br />
black.<br />
The change was structural, not aesthetic. By<br />
adding carbon, tyres became more durable.<br />
At the same time Michelin began reviewing<br />
restaurants, but this wasn’t a case of<br />
promoting good eating, even for the French.<br />
Rather, it was so that more people would<br />
travel further distances in their cars to eat at<br />
these restaurants. This in turn would wear<br />
down their tyres faster and force them to buy<br />
more.<br />
The star system that Michelin uses goes up<br />
to three and is broken down by whether or not<br />
it’s worth driving to the restaurant.<br />
One star: ‘A very good restaurant in its<br />
category’; Two star: ‘Excellent cooking, worth a<br />
detour’. Finally, Three star: ‘Exceptional cuisine,<br />
worth a special journey.’<br />
You just have to factor in the extra wear and<br />
tear on the tyres as well as the bill (and the<br />
tip!)<br />
The original Michelin Man: ‘Drive further<br />
for something good to eat...’<br />
Rocket men’s genius<br />
invention: WD-40<br />
Did you know that the motorists’ Godsend, WD-40, was invented in San<br />
Diego in 1953 as a rust-prevention solvent for Atlas missile outer skins?<br />
A chemist at the Rocket Chemical Company created a compound that<br />
would prevent rust and corrosion on the Atlas. It took him 40 attempts to<br />
get the water displacing formula right, but the end result became the<br />
formula for WD-40.<br />
Once the company learned that people were using the product at<br />
home, they began putting it into aerosol cans. It first appeared on stores<br />
in San Diego in 1958. By the following year the company had nearly<br />
doubled in size, selling 45 cases a day to stores in the area.<br />
In 1961, the first truckload order was filled when employees worked<br />
overtime to produce additional concentrate to meet the disaster needs of<br />
victims of Gulf Coast hurricane Carla. WD-40 was used to recondition<br />
vehicles and equipment that had been damaged by the flooding.<br />
It made history again in 1964 when NASA used WD-40 on Friendship<br />
VII, in which astronaut John Glenn circled the Earth. In 1970, the Rocket<br />
Chemical Company was renamed WD-40 Company. In 1973, the company<br />
went public, still with only one product. The company that started with<br />
three employees had grown into a company of more than 300, with<br />
annual sales of more than $300 million.<br />
Why this popularity and fierce loyalty? Former WD-40 Company CEO<br />
Gerald Schleif explained, “Unlike very few things in this world, the product<br />
actually delivers far beyond the user’s expectations.”<br />
• Editor writes: As you would expect, we<br />
watched the video Janet mentioned. It’s very<br />
interesting.<br />
As is YouTube’s want, as soon as it finished<br />
it immediately began playing the next video<br />
in the sequence, which was on a similar<br />
theme to the Milton Keynes one, though<br />
painted a rather less rosy picture of the joys<br />
of home delivery by little self-driving cart.<br />
Check it out yourself. It seems these little<br />
chaps don’t like<br />
snow. Now that’s a<br />
minor hindrance in<br />
much of the UK, a<br />
fairly big pain in<br />
northern Scotland<br />
– but a real howler in<br />
Canada, where this<br />
particular film was<br />
shot! Watch it at:<br />
www.youtube.com/<br />
watch?v=Lik2e<br />
GIgUhI<br />
NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023 35
Q & A with...<br />
A life on the road led to ... a life on the road!<br />
After a break for a few issues, we’re delighted to bring back our<br />
popular ‘Q&A with an ADI’ feature. This issue, we chat to<br />
South East-based ADI Bob Page about his life as an ADI,<br />
and his thoughts on the profession<br />
When did you become an ADI, and what<br />
made you enter the profession?<br />
I became an ADI in the 1990s after a life on<br />
the road, hitch-hiking across Europe, Asia and<br />
Africa then driving an HGV as far afield as<br />
Russia and the Middle East. When I became<br />
disaffected with living in a lorry, it made<br />
sense to teach others how to drive.<br />
What’s the best bit about the job?<br />
Best thing about the job is I like people and<br />
I like the flexibility that being an ADI brings<br />
you.<br />
And the worst?<br />
Three things come to mind: potholes<br />
– which are as bad as they’ve ever been –<br />
L-test waiting times and the perennial<br />
problem of being let down at the last minute.<br />
What’s the best piece of training advice you<br />
were ever given?<br />
My old instructor told me not to focus on<br />
when to start to get ready but rather to work<br />
on when to be ready. He was also the first<br />
person who recommended that I sit in on lots<br />
of L-tests.<br />
What one piece of kit, other than your car<br />
and phone, could you not do without?<br />
A bottle of frozen water at the start of the<br />
day. Stays nice and cool all day.<br />
What needs fixing most urgently<br />
in driving generally?<br />
What needs fixing? Driver attitudes – but<br />
how to approach that? Perhaps the<br />
Government could do more media<br />
presentations to get over safe and<br />
responsible driving messages; that might<br />
help.<br />
What should the DVSA focus on?<br />
Obviously DVSA needs to work on waiting<br />
times but I think they know that.<br />
What’s the next big thing that’s going to<br />
transform driver training/testing?<br />
Next big thing should probably be 10-year<br />
driver assessments, and tests if necessary,<br />
plus there needs to be a growing awareness<br />
of the quietness of electric cars.<br />
It’s very apparent how many pedestrians<br />
rely on their hearing to tell them a car is<br />
coming; if the car is silent they are denying<br />
themselves a crucial sense that keeps them<br />
safe.<br />
Who/what inspires you, drives you on?<br />
Most inspiring thing in the industry is the<br />
people and organisations (MSA GB, DIA, etc)<br />
who spread knowledge and information to<br />
the ADI community. I also like the many<br />
random acts of courtesy I see every day.<br />
Electric cars – yes or no? And why?<br />
Electric cars are inevitable and all we can<br />
do is prepare for their arrival.<br />
As for their technological big brother, the<br />
driverless car... well, I think I prefer to remain a<br />
Luddite!<br />
“Obviously DVSA need<br />
to work on waiting<br />
times, but I think they<br />
know that...”<br />
Favourite film: Forrest Gump,<br />
starring Tom Hanks. Pictured<br />
waiting...<br />
36 NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com<br />
“We were being tailgated by a<br />
tipper driver in an obvious<br />
hurry when my pupil hears an<br />
emergency vehicle siren...”<br />
What keeps you awake at night?<br />
All the things I haven’t done, and it’s usually<br />
paperwork!<br />
No one is the finished article. What do you do<br />
to keep on top of the game?<br />
I read trade magazines, attend CPD<br />
meetings both in person and online, and I<br />
constantly analyse my own performance.<br />
What’s the daftest/most dangerous thing<br />
that’s happened to you while teaching a pupil<br />
on a lesson?<br />
My favourite funny story is from one of my<br />
trainees when out on a test as an observer. A<br />
young guy on test was driving along Hastings<br />
sea front on a warm sunny day. All is going<br />
well when in the near distance he sees two<br />
attractive girls walking on the pavement.<br />
Now, he knows he would normally have an<br />
innocent look as he passes by them but says<br />
to himself “No, you’re on your driving test, so<br />
stick to the observations that you need to<br />
drive safely”.<br />
A minute or so passes before he is<br />
alongside and now nature takes over and as<br />
he turns his head he realises his mistake<br />
could cost him his test.<br />
What a relief, then, when he sees that the<br />
examiner is also looking to his left!<br />
Back to full concentration in less time than<br />
a legitimate observation would have taken<br />
and a lesson learned.<br />
He passed but for him and myself, the<br />
story will live on.<br />
The most dangerous moment on a driving<br />
lesson was when we were going downhill in<br />
heavy rain, down a steep hill. We were being<br />
tailgated by a tipper driver in an obvious<br />
hurry when my pupil heard an emergency<br />
vehicle siren from somewhere near. They<br />
couldn’t see the vehicle itself or the lights, so<br />
they panic and before I have time to react<br />
they jump on the brakes!<br />
I pride myself that in 20 years I’ve only<br />
shouted twice at a pupil but I did that day!<br />
“Off the brakes NOW” I roared.<br />
It worked but it remains an unforgettable<br />
moment.<br />
When or where are you happiest?<br />
Happiest when I’m swimming, fishing or<br />
dancing... but not all at the same time!<br />
If you had to pick one book/film/album<br />
that inspires, entertains or moves you, what<br />
would it be?<br />
Book: Slaughterhouse 5,<br />
Movie: Forrest Gump; and<br />
Album: Astral Weeks by Van Morrison<br />
“Next big thing should<br />
probably be 10 -year driver<br />
assessments, and tests if<br />
necessary, plus there needs to<br />
be a growing awareness of the<br />
quietness of electric cars...”<br />
Recovery safety boost<br />
after red lights approved<br />
The Government has approved the use of<br />
rear-facing red flashing lights for<br />
recovery vehicles. National breakdown<br />
provider Start Rescue said it was<br />
“excellent news - the independent<br />
recovery industry has been campaigning<br />
for this for years to keep our customers<br />
and recovery workers safe.”<br />
The use of red flashing lamps by<br />
recovery operators is part of a Plan for<br />
Drivers published by the Government. It<br />
amends legislation to permit breakdown<br />
vehicles to be fitted with rear-facing red<br />
flashing lights when recovering brokendown<br />
cars, in a bid to keep recovery<br />
personnel and stranded motorists safe. It<br />
will come into law in 2025.<br />
Police failing to charge<br />
car thieves<br />
Fewer than 7% of car thefts reported to<br />
the police result in anyone being charged,<br />
with 69% dropped because no suspect<br />
can be identified.<br />
Between 2019 and 2022, just 6.7% of<br />
the 396,000 reported car crimes resulted<br />
in anyone being charged.<br />
Dash camera specialist Nextbase,<br />
which submitted the FOI, claims a lack of<br />
video evidence is one of the key reasons<br />
why the police are unable to identify the<br />
criminals behind the wave of car crimes.<br />
Stockholm to put a block<br />
on petrol, diesel cars<br />
Stockholm is set to ban petrol and diesel<br />
cars entering its city centre to reduce<br />
pollution and cut emissions.<br />
The new regulations will come into<br />
force on December 31st 2024 – meaning<br />
that drivers have 14 months to prepare<br />
for the switch.<br />
Lars Stromgren MP, the city’s Vice<br />
Mayor, said: “Nowadays, the air in<br />
Stockholm causes babies to have lung<br />
conditions and the elderly to die<br />
prematurely. We need to eliminate the<br />
harmful exhaust gases from petrol and<br />
diesel cars.<br />
“That’s why we are introducing the<br />
most ambitious low-emission zone to<br />
date – a total ban.”<br />
NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023 37
News<br />
Members’ discounts and benefits<br />
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<br />
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<br />
bottom of the page to allow you to obtain your special discounts.<br />
Please note, non-members will be required to join the association first. Terms and conditions apply<br />
Access to a replacement dual<br />
control car after a crash<br />
EXCLUSIVE DEAL FOR MSA GB MEMBERS<br />
MSA GB has partnered with AI Insurance Solutions Limited to provide members with a<br />
replacement dual controlled car when things don’t quite go to plan.<br />
If you lose your dual-controlled tuition car in a crash, MSA GB’s new partnership with AI<br />
Insurance Solutions Ltd will have you back on the road and teaching in no time.<br />
Our exclusive agreement with AI Solutions Ltd will supply a replacement vehicle to you<br />
should the need arise – at no cost. Contact The AI Insurance Solutions Emergency (AIIS)<br />
assistance line on 01945 425211 for more details, or see pg 26.<br />
Ford updates special<br />
members’ offer<br />
Ford has partnered with MSA GB to offer exclusive<br />
discounts on all car and commercial Ford vehicles.<br />
Take a look at the Ford website www.ford.co.uk<br />
for vehicle and specification information. See the<br />
Members’ Benefits page on the MSA GB website<br />
and follow the Ford link for more details..<br />
Please note these discounts are only available to<br />
MSA GB members and their immediate family if they<br />
are members who pay annually.<br />
ACCOUNTANCY<br />
MSA GB’s Recommended<br />
Accountancy Service, FBTC<br />
offers a specialist service for<br />
ADIs. It has been established<br />
over 20 years ago and covers the<br />
whole of the UK. The team takes pride in<br />
providing unlimited advice and support to ensure<br />
the completion of your tax return is hassle free,<br />
giving you peace of mind.<br />
MSA GB OFFER:: FBTC will prepare you for<br />
Making Tax Digital and will be providing HMRC<br />
compliant software to all clients very soon.<br />
Join now to receive three months free.<br />
ADVANCE DRIVING<br />
AND RIDING<br />
As the UK’s largest road safety<br />
charity, IAM RoadSmart is<br />
proud to partner with the<br />
Motor Schools Association<br />
GB. Working together to promote and<br />
enhance motorists skills on our roads.<br />
MSA GB OFFER:: Get 10% off Advanced courses;<br />
visit www.iamroadsmart.com/course and<br />
use the code MSA10 at the checkout or call<br />
0300 303 1134 to book.<br />
BREATHALYSER KITS<br />
Protect yourself and your pupils with a<br />
personal breathalyser. We’ve teamed up with<br />
AlcoSense, the award-winning range of<br />
personal breathalysers, to offer an exclusive<br />
discount to all MSA GB members. A personal<br />
breathalyser takes the guesswork out of<br />
whether there’s residual alcohol in your<br />
system (or that of your learner driver pupil)<br />
the morning after the night before.<br />
MSA GB OFFER:: 10% off any AlcoSense product<br />
(excluding single-use disposables) – from the<br />
entry-level Lite 2 (£44.99) to the top-ofthe-range<br />
Ultra (£249.00).<br />
CAR AIR FRESHENERS / CANDLES<br />
Mandles’ handmade scented collections use<br />
quality ingredients to ensure superior scent<br />
throw from all its candles and<br />
diffusers. Check our our website<br />
for further details.<br />
MSA GB OFFER:: Special discount<br />
of 20% on all car air fresheners<br />
and refills.<br />
CARD PAYMENTS<br />
MSA GB and SumUp believe<br />
in supporting motor vehicle<br />
trainers of all shapes and sizes.<br />
Together we are on a mission to<br />
ease the operational workload of<br />
our members by providing them with the ability<br />
to take card payments on-the-go or in their<br />
respective training centres. SumUp readers<br />
are durable and user-friendly. Their paperless<br />
onboarding is quick and efficient. Moreover,<br />
their offer comes with no monthly subscription,<br />
no contractual agreement, no support fees,<br />
no hidden fees – just the one-off cost for the<br />
reader coupled with lowest on the market<br />
transaction fee.<br />
DISABILITY AIDS<br />
Driving shouldn’t just be a<br />
privilege for people without<br />
disabilities; it should be<br />
accessible for all and there’s never been an easier<br />
time to make this the case! MSA GB members<br />
can take advantage of BAS’s Driving Instructor<br />
Packages which include a range of adaptations at<br />
a discounted price, suitable for teaching disabled<br />
learner drivers.<br />
MSA GB OFFER:: Special Driving Instructor<br />
Packages for MSA GB members.<br />
FUEL CARDS<br />
Save up to 10p per litre of fuel with Fuel Card<br />
Services. Fuel Card Services offers a large<br />
choice of networks from leading brands, such<br />
as BP, Shell, Esso and UK Fuels so you can<br />
decide which networks you wish to include on<br />
your business account.<br />
MSA GB OFFER:: An MSA GB fuel card will save<br />
you up to 10p per litre.<br />
HEALTH / FINANCE COVER<br />
The Motor Schools Association of Great<br />
Britain has agreed with HMCA to<br />
offer discounted rates for medical<br />
plans, dental plan, hospital cash<br />
plans, personal accident plan,<br />
travel plan, income protection<br />
and vehicle breakdown products.<br />
MSA GB OFFER:: HMCA only offer<br />
medical plans to membership groups<br />
and can offer up to a 40% discount off the<br />
underwriter’s standard rates. This is a<br />
comprehensive plan which provides generous<br />
cash benefits for surgery and other charges.<br />
To get the full story of the<br />
discounts available, see<br />
www.msagb.com<br />
38 NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com<br />
PUPIL INSURANCE<br />
Join the Collingwood<br />
Instructor Programme and<br />
refer your pupils for learner<br />
insurance.<br />
MSA GB OFFER:: MSA GB OFFER:: £50 for<br />
your first referral and £20 for all additional<br />
referrals.<br />
PSYCHOLOGY TRAINING<br />
Confident Drivers has the only<br />
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drivers offering eight different<br />
psychological techniques<br />
commonly used to reduce stress and nerves.<br />
MSA GB OFFER:: One month free on a monthly<br />
subscription plan using coupon code.<br />
PUPIL SOURCING<br />
Go Roadie provides students<br />
when they need them, with all<br />
the details you need before you<br />
accept. Control your own pricing,<br />
discounts and set your availability<br />
to suit you. Full diary? No cost!<br />
MSA GB OFFER:: Introductory offer of 50% off<br />
the first three students they accept.<br />
QUICKBOOKS<br />
50% Discount on two<br />
packages for MSA GB<br />
members<br />
Quickbooks is offering an online<br />
50% discount for MSA GB members on two of<br />
their premium accounting packages.<br />
Essentials Package For small businesses<br />
working with suppliers. Manage VAT and<br />
Income Tax with up to three users.<br />
Plus For businesses managing projects,<br />
stock, VAT, and Income Tax. Up to five users.<br />
The packages are contract-free throughout<br />
with no cancellation fee. This exclusive<br />
member offer can only be secured by<br />
contacting our MSA GB representative at<br />
Quickbooks - Ollie Nobes, on: 07723 507 026<br />
or email: Ollie_Nobes@intuit.com quoting:<br />
**MSAGB**<br />
To get the full story of the<br />
discounts available, see<br />
www.msagb.com<br />
Membership offer<br />
Welcome, new ADIs<br />
We’ve a special introductory offer for you!<br />
Congratulations on passing your<br />
Part 3 and becoming an ADI.<br />
There’s an exciting career<br />
open to you from today,<br />
one that’s alive with<br />
possibilities as you build<br />
your skills, your client base<br />
and your income.<br />
But for all the excitement,<br />
it can also be challenging;<br />
who can you turn to if you’re<br />
struggling to get over key driver<br />
training issues to a pupil? Where can<br />
you go to soak up advice from more<br />
experienced ADIs? Who will help you if you<br />
are caught up in a dispute with the DVSA? If<br />
the worst happens, who can you turn to for<br />
help, advice and to fight your corner?<br />
The answer is the Motor Schools<br />
Association of Great Britain – MSA GB for<br />
short.<br />
We are the most senior association<br />
representing driving instructors in Great<br />
Britain. Establised in 1935 when the first<br />
driving test was introduced, MSA GB has<br />
been working tirelessly ever since on<br />
behalf of ordinary rank and file ADIs.<br />
We represent your interests and your<br />
views in the corridors of power, holding<br />
regular meetings with senior officials<br />
from the DVSA and the Department for<br />
Transport to make sure the ADIs’ voice is<br />
heard.<br />
SPECIAL OFFER<br />
Join MSA GB today!<br />
SPECIAL OFFER: Join for just £60 with your<br />
PI & PL insurance included immediately!<br />
No joining fee - saving you £25<br />
Call 01787 221020 quoting discount code<br />
<strong>Newslink</strong>, or join online at www.msagb.com<br />
We’d like you to<br />
join us<br />
We’re there to support you<br />
every step of the way.<br />
Our office-based staff are<br />
there, five days a week,<br />
from 9am-5pm, ready to<br />
answer your call and help<br />
you in any way.<br />
In addition our network of<br />
experienced office holders and<br />
regional officers can offer advice over<br />
the phone or by email.<br />
But membership of the MSA GB doesn’t<br />
just mean we’re there for you if you’re<br />
in trouble. We also offer a nationwide<br />
network of regular meetings, seminars and<br />
training events, an Annual Conference, and<br />
a chance to participate in MSA GB affairs<br />
through our democratic structure<br />
In addition, you’ll get a free link to our<br />
membership magazine <strong>Newslink</strong> every<br />
month, with all the latest news, views,<br />
comment and advice you’ll need to become<br />
a successful driving instructor.<br />
You’ll also automatically receive<br />
professional indemnity insurance worth up<br />
to £5m and £10m public liability insurance<br />
free of charge.<br />
This is essential legal protection covering<br />
you against legal claims ariving from your<br />
tuition.<br />
NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2023 39