Newslink December final

msagb.com 

Newslink 

The Voice of MSA GB 

Issue 371 • December 2023 

The burning issue 

Why do cars catch fire... and 

how can they be prevented? 

NASP vows to keep 

up pressure on TIP 

and waiting times 

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 

We need a focus on safe driving, 

not on the race to book a test 

Welcome to your 

digital, interactive 


Colin Lilly 

Editor, 


As we approach the end of 2023, I suspect 

that most driver trainers’ main wish for 2024 

is a reduction in driving test waiting times. 

I first became an ADI in 1978 and at that 

time the waiting list was six to nine months, 

with some London centres over a year. The 

number of people applying for a test had 

increased since 1977 and there were not 

enough examiners coming from the Driving 

Examiners’ Training Centre at Cardington. 

The delays meant that pupils would apply 

for a driving test on their first lesson, and as 

the average number of hours needed to pass 

a test at that time was 20-25, it fitted nicely 

with the list. However, at that time it was 

possible to book more than one test per pupil, 

so another test was booked for a month later 

as this was the wait required after failing. 

This was an insurance to avoid pupils who 

failed getting caught up in the waiting list 

backlog and having to wait another six 

months for another. Applications were made 

by post and any change of date required a 

phone call – or ten! 

Of course, double applications only made 

the list longer, but needs must. 

Within a couple of years industrial action at 

DVLA meant that very few licences were 

being processed. Up to this time provisional 

licences were renewable every two years and 

some pupils had to delay their test because 

their licence had lapsed. 

Early computerisation of the system 

meant that drivers could not have two tests 

booked in the same category. This ended the 

‘double booking’ ploy but ironically, also 

massively reduced the driving test waiting, to 

six to eight weeks. That was much easier for 

the trainers to plan test dates. 

At present we have long test waiting times 

at the majority of centres. If tests could be 

booked beyond 24 weeks, then many would 

be longer. 

We know that the embryo of the waiting 

list was the Covid lockdowns but its 

continuation for over three years is 

concerning. 

I feel we should have some sympathy for 

the DVSA as it is a victim of the modern 

world. By bringing warrant holders back to 

every day testing it is not ‘business as usual’. 

Perhaps the provision of assumed easy 

access via the internet has backfired. This 

has allowed technology through apps and 

BOTs to acquire access easier than any 

individual ADI or learner can. 

The real downside of the current situation 

has diverted the goal of new drivers from 

learning to drive safely to a competition to 

book a test. Pupils so desperate to book tests 

as soon as possible has led to unprepared 

test candidates and wasted tests, late 

cancellations and failures to attend. 

This is a long way from the profession I 

entered 45 years ago. We need to drag it back 

to a focus of safe driving. 

See a pale blue box in any article or 

on an advert? It it contains a web 

address or email, it’s interactive. Just 

click and it will take you to the 

appropriate web page or email so you 

can find more details easier. 

You’ll also find these panels across 

the magazine: just click for more 

information on any given subject. 

To get the 

full story, 

click here 

How to access this 

magazine 

You can read Newslink in three ways: 

Go online and read the interactive 

magazine on the Yumpu website; or, 

if you would like to read it when you 

don’t have a mobile signal or WiFi, 

you can download the magazine to 

your tablet, PC or phone to read at 

your leisure. Alternatively, a pdf can 

be found on the MSA GB website, at 

www.msagb.com 

Follow the link 

MSA GB sends 

you to access 

Newslink, 

and then just 

click Download 

(circled above) 

to save a copy 

on your device 

MSA GB Office Christmas opening hours 

All members should note that the MSA GB head office will close for the 

Christmas break on Wednesday, 20th December at 12noon, re-opening 

on Tuesday, 2nd January, at 9am. 

We would like to wish all our staff, members, their families and all in 

the ADI community a restful and peaceful Christmas, and wishing 

you all a Happy New Year. 

COVER STORY 

Why do cars 

catch fire – and 

will the presence 

of more EVs on 

the roads make 

the probem 

better, or worse? 

See page 20 

NEWSLINK n DECEMBER 2023 03

Contents 

10 

18 

14 

17 

13 

ORDIT applications paused as 

DVSA focuses on L-tests 

No risk to trainers’ registrations, even 

if they are about to expire, the DVSA 

confirms – pg 6 

Union wants tighter minibus rules 

The NASUWT teaching union is calling for 

exemptions that allow schools to run 

minibuses without a full operator’s licence to 

be scrapped – pg 10 

08 

More fun and games on the 

Clevedon beach front 

After the wiggly lines we’re back to how 

we were in Clevedon - just £1.6m poorer 

– pg 12 

We’ll keep pushing... 

NASP representatives offer ADIs a 

round-up on what’s new and a Q&A 

session, vowing to keep up pressure on the 

DVSA over waiting times – pg 14 

Getting to grips with your 

TIP data is half the battle 

Steve Garrod offers some pointers on 

what to look for, as TIP is a blizzard of 

information – pg 18 

Conference round-up 

Reports from the area conferences and 

AGMs as MSA GB maintains its democratic 

roots and puts its members in charge 

– from pg 30 


The Voice of MSA GB 

The Motor Schools Association 

of Great Britain Ltd 

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Although every effort is made 

to ensure the accuracy of 

material contained within 

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GB nor the publishers can 

accept any responsibility for 

the veracity of claims made 

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advertising or editorial content. 

©2023 The Motor Schools 

Association of Great Britain 

Ltd. Reproducing in whole 

or part is forbidden without 

express permission of the 

editor. 

04 NEWSLINK n DECEMBER 2023


MSA GB Board 

of Management 

National Chairman & 

Area 2 - East Coast Chair 

Mike Yeomans 

7 Oak Avenue, Elloughton, 

Brough HU15 1LA 

T: 07772 757529 

E: mike.yeomans@msagb.com 

AREA 1 

Vice Chairman 

Peter Harvey MBE 

T: 01505 814823 

E: peter.harveymbe@msagb.com 

Area 1 – Scotland & 

Northern Ireland 

Chair: Steven Porter 

18 Heron Place, Johnstone 

PA5 0RW 

T: 01505 345372 or 

07747 600672 

E: steven.porter@msagb.com 

Area 3 – London & South East 

Chair: Tom Kwok 

52B Sutton Road, Muswell Hill, 

London N10 1HE 

07956 269922 

E: tom.kwok@msagb.com 

How MSA GB 

is organised, in 

four AREAS 

AREA 4 

AREA 2 

AREA 3 

Area 4 – West Coast & Wales 

Chair: Arthur Mynott 

9 Hagleys Green, Crowcombe, 

Taunton TA4 4AH 

T: 01984 618858 

E: arthur.mynott@msagb.com 

Keep in touch 

If you have updated your address, telephone numbers or 

changed your email address recently, please let us know 

at head office by emailing us with your new details and 

membership number to info@msagb.com. 

If you can’t find your membership number, give us a ring 

on 01787 221020. 

Follow MSA GB on social media 

Just click on the icon to go 

through to the relevant site 


News 

MSA GB Annual Conference 2024: 

Prices and venue announced 

Time to get the weekend 

cleared.... 

Venue and pricing 

details released. 

See pg 24 for more 

details and first news 

DVSA closes applications for 

ORDIT trainer and renewals 

If you are looking to renew your driving 

instructor trainer (ORDIT) registration, note 

that the DVSA is not accepting any more 

applications until April 2024. 

This may have caused concern to some 

trainers whose registration lapses before 

then, as usually you have to do this every four 

years, before your ORDIT registration runs 

out. 

However, the DVSA has confirmed that no 

trainers will be removed from the register. 

If you want to renew your registration 

before 31 March 2024, you can wait until then 

to book your re-assessment. 

Update for Know Your Traffic Signs 

Know Your Traffic Signs has been updated, 

making it an even better info resource that 

every ADI should have in their glovebox. 

The latest edition has guidance on clean air 

zones and ultra low emission zone and low 

emission zones in London; tunnel restriction 

codes; parking places for electric taxis; bus 

gates; share space and parallel crossings. 

It also has updated guidance and signs for 

road charging, rising bollards, pedestrian and 

cycle zones, road works; and bridge height 

warning signs, as well as guidance specific for 

Scotland and for Wales. 

As well as accessing the 

PDF free of charge on GOV. 

UK, you can also buy the 

Know Your Traffic Signs 

book from the Safe Driving 

for Life shop. 

Use code FO35 to get 

35% off until 31 December 

2023, meaning the book 

costs £3.24 plus shipping. 

At all other times, you can use code ADI1 to 

get 25% off anything you buy from the Safe 

Driving for Life shop. 

Blackpool DTC to 

extend stay at the 

Castle until January 

The DVSA has announced that Norbreck 

Castle Hotel will remain its base in 

Blackpool for all testing until the end of 

January 2024. 

The lease at the former DTC in the town 

expired on May 26, and the switch to the 

hotel was meant to be for a short duration 

while a new permanent home was found. 

However, the DVSA has confirmed that 

the relocation will continue for a little 

longer, with all tests based there until 

Friday, 26 January 2024. 

As a reminder, the address for the 

temporary centre is: Lancastria Suite, Rear 

of Norbreck Castle Hotel, Queen’s 

Promenade, Norbreck, Blackpool FY2 9AA. 

As before, examiners will meet 

candidates at their cars at the time of the 

test. The car park must not be used for 

candidates to practise parking exercises. 

ETSC targets improved 

motorbike safety 

The European Transport Safety Council is 

hosting a half-day event focused on 

improving motorbike safety across 

Europe. 

To be held on 13th December, from 

10am 12.30pm, the event includes 

presentations on reducing road deaths 

among PTW users, the future of 

motorcycle safety, ABS on bikes, training 

standards for new riders and gaps in 

motorbike safety from a rider’s 

perspective. 

The event is free and can be accessed 

by clicking HERE. 

BBC’s One Show pays tribute to Lou 

Hampshire-based ADI and charity fundraiser 

Lou Walsh was honoured in a special tribute 

on the BBC’s The One Show on 3rd 

November. 

Lou – who tragically died on 25th August, 

after suffering from a brain haemorrhage, at 

the age of just 50 – had helped raise 

hundreds of thousands of pounds for the 

BBC’s Children in Need charity appeal, by 

organising nine Big Learner Relays over the 

years. 

This year would have been her tenth, but it 

was cancelled in the wake of her untimely 

death. 

One Show presenter Alex Jones paid a 

short tribute to Lou during a slot promoting 

this year’s appeal, acknowledging all her hard 

work over the years and passing on the 

BBC’s own condolences to her family. 

It was a moving tribute, and proved once 

again how Lou’s legacy was felt far beyond 

the ADI community. 



Brave mum joins police campaign to reduce 

road casualties among young riders 

A bereaved mum has team up with Cheshire 

Police to launch an emotive new campaign 

with the aim of reducing the number of young 

people killed or seriously injured on the roads, 

particularly in motorcycle collisions. 

Harry Abbey was riding to work on his 

motorbike in July 2021 when he was involved 

in a serious collision. He died at the scene; he 

was just 19. 

Now, Harry’s mother Bev and his three 

siblings have bravely opened up on the 

impact losing Harry has had on them, with 

the hope that it stops any other family from 

having to go through the same pain and 

heartbreak. 

The video has been released on Cheshire 

Police’s social channels and will be used in 

schools and colleges across the county. The 

full version is available on the Cheshire Police 

website. 

Bev Abbey, Harry’s mother, said: “Losing 

Harry has been one of the most traumatic 

experiences of mine and my family’s life. That 

pain, it doesn’t go away, it will be there all the 

time – you just make more room for it and 

learn to live alongside it. 

“I want young people to know that they 

have a responsibility for not only their own 

lives, but a responsibility to come home – 

back to the people that love them.” 

Bev has also given Harry’s bike to the 

constabulary to be used by the roads 

education team. 

PC Darren Daniels, road safety education 

officer for Cheshire Constabulary, said: “I 

attend schools and colleges across the 

county all the time, educating and 

encouraging young people on how to stay 

safe while driving their cars or riding their 

bikes – yet serious and fatal collisions still 

happen. 

“We want young people to understand that 

they are not invincible, and their life matters. 

“It matters to those who are left behind 

dealing with the consequences and I hope 

that by Bev bravely sharing Harry’s story – 

and using his bike as an educational tool – we 

can make a real difference and help to reduce 

the number of young people who are 

needlessly killed on the county’s roads.” 

You can see the 

video by clicking 

on this panel 


News 

Grants boost for road 

safety projects 

The Road Safety Trust has announced the 

second set of projects which have 

received funding through its 2023 Small 

Grants Programme. 

The Small Grants Programme funds 

local projects with a practical focus that 

‘show a proposed link to reducing 

casualties’. 

In total, six projects have been awarded 

funding through the 2023 funding round, 

which ran earlier this year. 

The recipients include: 

n University of the West of England 

(UWE Bristol)’s small scale trial to test the 

effectiveness of implementing centre line 

removal (CLR) on roads with 20 and 

30mph limits when it comes to reducing 

speeds. 

It will take place in small town and semirural 

settlement areas within East Lothian 

Council’s local highway network. The trial 

seeks to understand the potential for CLR 

as a low cost intervention in support of 

the growing introduction of 20mph speed 

limits across the UK. 

n National Young Rider Forum is to run 

a project to improve the hazard perception 

skills of motorcyclists, in order to help 

them avoid collisions. 

Traditional car-perspective hazard 

tests do not appeal to motorcyclists, as 

they do not reflect the typical hazards 

that riders face on the roads. 

Therefore, this project will create a 

hazard test that is filmed from the 

perspective of a rider on a bike, providing 

more relevant hazards. 

The resultant test will be shown to 

riders of varying experience and crash 

history. Example clips will be used by the 

National Young Rider Forum on their 

website to engage young riders with 

hazard perception, and will also be put out 

through social media. 

n Nottingham Trent University is 

looking to create a cost-effective and 

innovative tool for on-road tractor 

assessments and training, to improve 

driver skills, and ultimately reduce 

collisions. A 360-degree hazard test using 

footage recorded from tractors on real 

roads will be compiled in collaboration 

with The Farm Safety Foundation (FSF). 

‘Do it for Dave’ is the cry as Fire & 

Rescue teams back Biker Down 

Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service has 

launched a new campaign to increase uptake 

on the Biker Down training course. 

Biker Down, which is run by 20 Fire and 

Rescue Emergency Services across the UK, 

is for bikers of all ages and experience, and 

teaches practical skills on what to do in the 

event of a crash, including essential first aid, 

how to protect the scene of a crash to ensure 

safety is maintained, plus tips on conspicuity 

and how to avoid the dreaded SMIDSY 

syndrome (Sorry mate, I didn’t see you). 

The course covers: 

n Crash scene management – advice from 

emergency service personnel on how to 

protect a casualty and other road users who 

may have stopped to assist. 

n Casualty care – a motorcycle-specific 

input, looking at basic lifesaving skills such as 

CPR, airway management and helmet 

removal (when & how). 

n The science of being seen – a session 

looking at conspicuity issues and the classic 

SMIDSY situations. 

What did participants say? “I thought the 

course was excellent and I very much 

appreciated it. I even had a chance to put a 

little part of it into practice yesterday when 

one of my ride-out team broke down and I 

managed to get the guys who had stopped 

with him to move their bikes which were not 

in the best place – just round a corner. A 

small thing that I might not have thought of 

without your insight.” 

The Leicestershire campaign - dubbed ‘Do 

it for Dave’ – tells the true story of Dave, a 

real biker who suffered a sudden cardiac 

arrest while riding his bike. 

He survived thanks to the assistance of 

Peter, Tim, Paul and Susie – all of whom had 

been on a Biker Down course. 

The Leicestershire campaign was launched 

at the Motorcycle Live show in November, 

and featured an interview with Dave, who 

said: “Without their help the doctors have 

told me I wouldn’t be here, pure and simple.” 

You can find out more here: 

https://tinyurl.com/3htnwexa 

And to find out more about the course see: 

https://www.roadwise.co.uk/bikerdown/ 

Theory test pass rate dips below practical 

The BBC has reported that a learner driver 

failed their theory test 59 times before 

passing recently – at a total cost of £1,380. 

The learner, who has not been identified, 

did most of their tests at the Redditch theory 

centre. 

Others who struggled with the test include 

a learner in Hull who failed 57 tests, and one in 

Guildford who fell short 55 times. 

However, such struggles are not new: the 

Representatives 

from 

Leicestershire 

Fire & Rescue 

Service launch 

the ‘Do it for 

Dave’ campaign 

at Motorcycle 

Live 

record for attempting the test is believed to 

be held by a 28-year-old who passed in 2012 

– at his 93rd attempt. 

The story comes amid growing concern 

over the plummeting pass rate on the theory 

test. As recently as 2008 the pass rate stood 

at 65 per cent, while the latest figures 

suggest it is now just 44 per cent. 

Ironically, that puts it below the current 

L-test pass rate. 


News 

Union joins parents in calling for tighter rules 

on teachers in minibuses, not relaxing them 

Teachers should not be allowed to drive 

school and college minibuses without formal 

qualifications or statutory safeguards, a 

teaching union has said. 

The NASUWT teaching union is calling for 

exemptions that allow schools and colleges 

to run minibuses without a full operator’s 

licence to be scrapped to prevent further 

tragedies on the road. 

The call came ahead of the 30th 

anniversary of a minibus crash on the M40 

near Warwick that claimed the lives of 12 

schoolchildren and their teacher. 

Pupils from Hagley Roman Catholic High 

School in Worcestershire – and their teacher 

Eleanor Fry, who was driving at the time – 

were killed when their minibus crashed on the 

way home from a concert in London on 

November 18, 1993. 

Liz and Steve Fitzgerald, whose daughter 

Claire was one of the pupils who died in the 

crash, are also calling on the Government to 

address safety concerns. 

The parents are campaigning for the 

Government to legislate for best practice 

which would mean all schools with minibuses 

to have an operator’s licence. 

In a joint statement they said: “We are 

looking for support from Government to 

redress this inequality in safety for young 

people and teachers alike urgently. This is a 

matter above politics, it is a matter of life and 

death.” 

Currently, school staff in the UK can be 

asked to drive minibuses with just a car 

driving licence. 

The NASUWT is calling for the Section 

19/22 exemptions, which allow schools to 

operate minibuses without a full public 

service vehicle (PSV) operator’s licence, to be 

withdrawn. 

This would mean that all drivers of 

minibuses would need to have formal 

qualifications and statutory safeguards on 

driving would be in place, the union said. 

Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT general 

secretary, said: “Many parents will be 

horrified to realise that 30 years after this 

appalling tragedy, school minibuses are still 

being driven by teachers without full minibus 

driving licence qualifications or without 

statutory safeguards in place. 

“It is still the case that teachers can do a 

whole day of teaching pupils and then drive 

A police officer inspects floral tributes 

to the victims of the M40 minibus crash 

and supervise pupils, sometimes for many 

hours. 

“We are calling on the Transport Secretary 

to close this loophole in the regulations, bring 

in statutory safeguards and ensure that all 

drivers of minibuses have formal 

qualifications. 

“Thirty years on from this tragedy, the 

most appropriate way to honour the memory 

of the victims is to do everything possible to 

ensure such a terrible accident doesn’t 

happen again.” 

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the 

Association of School and College Leaders 

(ASCL), said: “School minibuses are essential 

in being able to provide a range of activities to 

pupils but the law as it stands is complex and 

C1, D1: what are they? 

C1: With a Category C1 Licence drivers are 

able to drive an LGV of between 3,500kg 

and 7,500kg. You can also add a trailer of 

no more than 750kg. This vehicle is 

commonly known as a 7.5 ton, Class 3 or 

C1, and is typically used for making local 

supermarket deliveries, or removals. 

D1: People who hold a D1 licence can drive 

minibus-style with no more than 16 

passenger seats, and a maximum length 

of 8 metres. 

in need of review. 

“The Royal Society for the Prevention of 

Accidents advises that anyone who operates 

a minibus service to carry passengers has a 

duty of care under health and safety law to 

take all reasonable precautions to ensure that 

it is operated safely, and it recommends that 

all minibus drivers should receive specific 

minibus driver training.” 

The call also comes as road safety groups 

have voiced alarm that the Government 

intends to relax the licensing rules on C1 and 

D1 licensing. 

One MSA GB member told Newslink: “This 

smacks of the way the Department for 

Transport scrapped B + E licence testing, for 

towing trailers. That licence category was 

brought in for a reason, because it was clear 

that people were passing their driving test 

and then towing a trailer, without taking any 

additional training to cope with the different 

challenges involved. 

“That decision may well come back to bite 

the Department for Transport; scrapping C1 

and D1 licence categories could also lead to an 

increase in road fatalities.” 

A Government spokesperson said: “Every 

death on our roads is a tragedy and we 

continue to work tirelessly to improve road 

safety for all users. 

“We provide guidance to schools and local 

authorities on driving school minibuses and 

we continue to work with the sector on 

promoting road safety.” 



Scotland sends tough message to pavement parkers 

A public information campaign has been 

launched in Scotland to make people aware 

that they could soon be fined for parking on 

the pavement. 

The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 bans 

pavement parking, double parking and 

parking at dropped kerbs, with exemptions 

designated by local authorities – for example 

to ensure safe access for emergency 

vehicles. 

However, while it has been in law since 

then, penalties have been rare. But from 

December 11, local authorities will begin 

enforcing the law vigorously, with fines of up 

to £100, reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days. 

The new campaign includes radio, outdoor 

and social media advertising, highlighting the 

dangers pavement parking poses to 

pavement users, forcing them to take 

unnecessary risks by moving around the car 

and onto the road. 

Fiona Hyslop, Scotland’s minister for 

transport, said: “The message here is clear: 

pavement parking is unsafe, unfair and illegal, 

and you could be fined up to £100 for it. 

“Local authorities can begin to issue fines 

from December 11, so this campaign is really 

important to make sure everyone in Scotland 

is aware that enforcement is coming. 

“We’re highlighting the danger that illegal 

pavement parking poses to pavement users, 

and in particular those with mobility issues or 

visual impairments, or parents pushing prams 

and buggies. 

“Scotland is the first of the four nations of 

the UK to make pavement parking illegal 

nationwide. This change in legislation is a step 

towards developing communities that are 

better able to support active travel, building 

on the work that is already underway to 

reduce emissions and helping us meet our 

world-leading climate change targets.” 

Mike Harrison has been a wheelchair user 

following a cycling collision 17 years ago. He 

said the news that pavement parkers were to 

be punished was “about time.” 

He said: “Vehicles on the pavement can be 

just a nuisance – or a severe obstacle. It 

increases my journey time, I’m often in 

danger of scratching my hands on a wall, or 

vegetation sticking out makes it difficult to 

get past. 

“Sometimes there is no way you can 

squeeze past, so you have to enter the road, 

and of course, you’re more vulnerable there, 

particularly with traffic coming bahind you. 

“The new enforcement will make it clear to 

people what is required and will make 

journeys safer and more convenient.” 


News 

Clevedon goes back to how it was 

– just £1.6m lighter in the wallet 

Colin Lilly 

Editor 

MSA GB Newslink 

The controversial sea front road markings in 

the North Somerset town of Clevedon has 

once again hit the headlines. I have written of 

this saga a number of times during 2023. 

For new members and those unfamiliar 

with the story, this involves a change to the 

road layout and markings which came into 

place on the sea front despite opposition 

from various quarters. It involved a reduction 

in the number of parking places, their 

relocation into a ‘central lane’ (see photo), the 

installation of a two way cycle lane and some 

bizarre wavy road markings. 

It caused uproar at the time, and much 

confusion and criticism. Eventually, in 

September, the council employed an 

independent consultancy, Audit West, to 

review the scheme and other changes in 

nearby areas, including the introduction of 

one-way streets. The scheme initially was 

estimated to cost £200,520. By the time the 

scheme was completed, along with changes 

and modifications along the way, it came in at 

£1.3 million – a mere £1.1 million over budget. 

In November the council agreed to the 

consultant’s recommendations. 

They would remove the two-way cycle 

path and replace it with a contraflow cycle 

path to the eastern side of The Beach (the 

sea front faces west). 

The parallel parking would go, to be 

replaced by angled, sea-facing parking on The 

Beach. The irony of this is the removal of 

angled parking in the first place was probably 

the most controversial part of the scheme, as 

it had been a very popular feature for 

decades. 

In addition, a coach pick-up and drop-off 

point, and loading bay, would be introduced, 

as would a pedestrian crossing on The Beach. 

The mini roundabout on The Beach would 

change but the one-way system, 20mph 

zone and changes to the other roads in the 

area would stay. 

The changes are estimated to cost 

£375,000, and will be made during 2024. 

So, a scheme, which few outside the 

council supported, will end up costing around 

£1.6 million, to create something that already 

existed anyway apart from the introduction 

of a one-way system and a 20mph zone. 

What a happy council taxpayer am I! 

In the 1950s this could have been the 

subject of an Ealing comedy, unfortunately 

the title a Comedy of Errors has already been 

taken. 

When the scheme is returned to its former 

state, I will provide a photo in Newslink. 

Driver with 46 points avoids a ban 

Colin Lilly 

A driver from Bath who was caught speeding 

15 times on the same road in less than four 

months, amassing 46 points in the process, 

has escaped a ban after magistrates accepted 

his plea that losing his licence would have a 

detrimental effect on his family. 

Daniel John Bennett’s 46 points are almost 

four times the usual number that would lead 

to disqualification. 

The offences were committed on Lansdown 

Lane, Bath between March 12, 2023, and June 

28. He was caught travelling at between 28 

and 32 mph in what is a 20mph zone. 

To put this in context, Lansdown Lane is a 

hill on the edge of Bath which was the site of a 

four-fatality crash in 2015 involving a 

runaway 32-tonne tipper truck. A local 

four-year-old girl and three occupants of a 

car from Wales were killed. 

Addressing the concerns of local residents, 

the local authority introduced a number of 

traffic management features, including a fixed 

speed camera and a mobile camera site for 

those who thought it was okay to increase 

speed when outside the camera zone. 

Instead of the ban, the magistrates gave 

him three points for a combined 14 of the 

offences and four points for the 32mph 

offence. He was also fined £769 and ordered 

to pay a victim surcharge fee of £308 and a 

contribution of £95 towards prosecution 

costs, making a total court bill of £1,172. 

But the magistrates stepped back from 

their right to disqualify him after hearing how 

a ban would impact on his family. 

Drink-driving rules blurred 

The British Medical Association president 

has warned that the trend for larger and 

stronger alcoholic drinks means that “just 

having one” before you get behind the 

wheel is now too dangerous. 

Sir Ian Gilmore pointed out that when 

drink-driving rules were introduced, the 

idea you could have “one or two drinks was 

common”. But he cautioned that back in 

the 1970s a 125ml glass of 9 per cent wine 

was the usual measure, and beer was often 

3-4 per cent proof. Today wines of that 

strength are “virtually unheard of” and are 

served in 250ml glasses, while the trend 

for stronger ales means many beers are 6 

per cent proof. 

These bigger measures and stronger 

drinks have blurred how many units can be 

consumed, Sir Ian said, so the only safe 

option is to have none. 



PCS ballot could derail DVSA 

L-test waiting time strategy 

MSA members will be concerned that the 

PCS union is currently balloting its driving 

examiner members on further industrial 

action in the new year. 

More than 1,900 members working for the 

DVSA are involved in the latest postal ballot, 

which will run until noon on December 13. 

The issue at stake is what the PCS has 

claimed to be an attempt by the DVSA to erode 

examiners’ terms and conditions by the way it 

has introduced the driver services recovery 

programme – the scheme by which DVSA 

hopes to reduce the L-test waiting times. 

The PCS said: “The DVSA is willing to 

jeopardise members’ safety, terms and 

conditions and the standards of safety that 

driving tests require to recover the backlog of 

tests that was their making. That’s why we 

want members to say ‘Yes’ to industrial action.” 

PCS complaints 

PCS is demanding written confirmation 

that there are no plans to introduce an 

eight-test day, the withdrawal of the cluster 

5-over-7 contracts, and the creation of 

acceptable overtime incentives and a new 

remuneration package to reward staff for 

their efforts during the recovery period. 

PCS also demands the return of driving 

examiner line management for certain staff 

and the removal of same grade peer-to-peer 

management, as well as a binding 

The European Transport Safety Council has 

welcomed the support of MEPs for 

improvements to the way dangerous driving 

is enforced across EU Member States. 

The MEPs backed a European 

Commission proposal to extend the scope of 

existing rules on cross-border enforcement 

of traffic penalties, and a new law which 

would see driving disqualifications issued in 

one Member State apply in all other EU 

countries. 

UK road safety groups said the moves 

were a sensible step in the right direction, 

but would not protect the UK roads from 

dangerous European nationals who were 

banned in their home nations as no 

reciprocal agreements of this kind are in 

memorandum of understanding on job and 

role security; and an agreement for a joint 

PCS and DVSA review and update of the lone 

working policy and processes of risk 

assessments. 

Some of its members were quoted on the 

PCS website as saying they felt strongly 

about voting Yes. 

One examiner, named as ‘Gary’, said: “I feel 

strongly about voting yes. I, like the 

overriding majority of my colleagues, are 

concerned about the test backlog and we 

have been working hard to try and get 

waiting lists down to a reasonable level since 

Covid. But the DVSA has now implemented a 

recovery plan, which not only doesn’t 

address the problem, but significantly and 

adversely affects staff from all parts of 

DVSA.” 

His colleague, ‘Caroline’ , said that she felt 

“this agency has changed for the worst over 

the last few years. It is clear that road safety 

and the well-being of staff do not appear to 

be on the list of priorities for this agency.” 

She adds. “Those in the decision-making 

roles seem unaware what the role of a driving 

examiner involves and that we should be 

providing an environment of safe driving for 

all.” 

The result of the ballot should be known 

before Christmas, with any strikes likely to 

take place at the end of January 

place between the UK and the EU since 

Brexit. 

MEPs are also backing penalties to be 

viewed as cross-Europe sanctions for ‘hit 

and run’ crashes, dangerous overtaking, 

wrong-way driving, use of an overloaded 

vehicle and some other offences. 

MEPs also want offences to be followed 

up more quickly by the home Member 

States once a penalty has been issued to a 

foreign resident driver. 

Unfortunately MEPs failed to agree to 

tackle the critical issue of penalty points. 22 

out of 27 EU Member States now have these 

systems, which discourage dangerous 

driving. ETSC says it’s essential that drivers 

also face these non-financial penalties when 

MSA GB commented: “We were hoping 

that the DVSA plan to reduce test waiting 

times had been approved by all stakeholders 

in the DVSA – including the examiners’ union. 

“There seems little point in the DVSA 

adding 2-300 new examiners to the roster as 

part of its post-Covid plan if it is then going to 

lose 1,900 examiners on a number of days 

through strike action, effectively undoing any 

improvements in the waiting times. 

“Once again it looks like ADIs and their 

pupils will be caught between this bickering 

couple. ” 

MEPs look to enforce driving bans across borders 

they commit traffic offences abroad. 

They also failed to address what to do 

with bans for speeding via the points 

system. 

The ETSC said that in principle, driving 

bans resulting from speeding should 

universally apply in other Member States. 

Ellen Townsend, Policy Director of ETSC 

commented: “Overall, today’s votes in the 

European Parliament are a positive step for 

road safety that could further cut the 

number of foreign-registered drivers that 

currently get away with dangerous driving 

outside of their home country. 

“There can be no justification for letting 

foreign-registered drivers off the hook 

while locals follow the rules.” 


News: NASP Q&A 

NASP pledges to keep pushing DVSA to 

improve training, and booking system 

MSA GB National Chairman Mike Yeomans 

joined fellow NASP representatives Carly 

Brookfield from the DIA and Lynne Barrie of 

the ADI NJC to answer ADIs’ questions in a 

special online Q&A session last month. 

The event’s focus was very much skewed 

towards the ongoing problems with L-test 

waiting times, though other issues were 

covered, including whether the Part 3 and 

Standards Check remained fit for purpose 

and concerns over an increase in imposters 

taking tests on behalf of others. 

After the DVSA’s major announcement in 

October that all staff who held an L-test 

warrant card would be transferred from their 

usual roles to testing duties in an attempt to 

blitz the backlog, it was disappointing that so 

far, no firm data had been released from 

DVSA as to how this approach was faring. 

Carly Brookfield suggested that the initiative 

may not be bearing fruit at the moment, “as 

I’m sure we’d have had a press release 

outlining the improvements by now if it was 

having a marked effect.” 

But the three NASP representatives 

agreed that it was a huge effort by the DVSA, 

and it was effectively increasing the examiner 

headcount by 230 - which could add up to 

150,000 extra test slots by the end of March, 

when the initiative is scheduled to end. 

The release of pent-up demand post- 

Covid, plus driving examiners’ recent 

industrial action, had increased waiting times, 

but another huge factor was the change in 

learners’ behaviour when it came to booking 

L-tests. Worried that they will struggle to 

get a test when they were ready to take it, 

many were booking one as soon as they 

started lessons, increasing demand and 

unbalancing the entire system. 

As of November 13 there were 562,296 

L-tests booked up to the end of the test 

booking window of 24 weeks - but within 

that same timeframe there were as many as 

82,000 tests available. 

The problem for many ADIs was that those 

tests were not necessarily available in their 

local test centres: there were still too many 

centres with 20+ week waiting times, while 

others had a little better availability. 

Lynne Barrie pointed out that in her local 

area, most new test bookings being made 

now were for April and May, but ADIs just 20 

miles away were reporting availability much 

sooner. 

Another concern was that this huge 

change in booking habits appeared to be 

increasing the number of ‘no shows’ and late 

cancellations as learners realised they had 

little chance of passing. 

Lynne commented that at her local DTC 

recently, she had seen five examiners going 

out for tests but two sitting idle because their 

tests had been cancelled last minute. 

Everyone hopes this new strategy is a 

success – though if it does succeed, it would 

beggar the question, why wasn’t it tried 

earlier? 

ADIs were told the DVSA was pulling out all 

the stops to cut waiting lists as soon as 

pandemic restrictions relaxed – so why wait 

two years to try this strategy? 

There was praise for the Ready to 

Pass campaign - with the 

suggestion that the DVSA should 

run a follow-up publicity drive to 

highlight the problems created by 

failing to show for tests, and using 

third party booking apps 



Ready to Pass 

The DVSA’s Ready to Pass campaign was 

praised for raising awareness of the standard 

candidates needed to reach for their test, but 

Carly Brookfield suggested a follow-up 

campaign was needed to highlight the 

problems created by failing to appear for 

tests and using third party booking apps - 

even going as far as suggesting that learners 

could be sanctioned for failing to attend 

numerous times, perhaps by not allowing 

them to book a test for a period. 

“We need a tough and direct message to 

get out there, to stop people paying over the 

odds by booking tests through apps... 

perhaps we need to block people out of the 

system if they ‘fail to appear’ for tests several 

times,” suggested Carly. 

The clear problem was those running the 

bots were several steps ahead of the DVSA; 

“it’s a sad fact that the digital criminals are 

always ahead of the rest of society.” 

Mike Yeoman said his area of Hull was 

constantly receiving requests for lessons 

from people outside the area, and such 

moves were undermining the business model 

of being able to book L-tests. 

Focus on L-tests 

Switching all warrant card-holding staff to 

cover L-tests had led to the cancellation of 

many Part 3 tests, ORDIT assessments and 

Standards Checks. On the latter, only those 

ADIs who had previously failed a Standard 

Check, or whose pupils’ test performances 

were causing concern, would now receive one 

for the time being, and it was highly unlikely 

that any other Standards Checks would take 

place before the start of April. 

The same was true of ORDIT assessments, 

but anyone whose ORDIT registration was 

due to lapse needn’t worry, as this pause in 

activity would not lead to them losing their 

position on the ORDIT register. 

One online participant asked the NASP 

representatives if they considered the 

Standards Check and ADI Part 3 exam old 

fashioned and entirely in keeping with the 

modern demands placed on an ADI. NASP 

agreed it seemed dated, and the DVSA was 

concerned about the quality of training some 

new PDIs were receiving. Unfortunately the 

current situation meant it was impossible to 

do anything about it: any reforms of the 

system had been placed on the backburner as 

the DVSA sought to tackle test waiting times. 

TIP initiative 

The DVSA’s Test Information Programme 

(TIP) was reaping some benefits: it was 

becoming clear that a small number of ADIs 

were bringing learners to test who were not 

up to the standard, with Lynne Barrie saying 

that there were some ADIs with a 90 per cent 

test failure rate. These instructors were now 

being identified, and would receive a 

Standards Check. 

However, NASP still believed that the 

timing for bringing in TIP was poor, given 

L-test waiting times. While it was easy for 

the DVSA to say learners shouldn’t have a 

test unless they were clearly ready to pass, it 

was difficult to convince a pupil to cancel a 

test when they knew the waiting time at 

their local DTC was as high as five months. 

The DVSA has tweaked the parameters on 

the TIP after pressure from NASP, and fewer 

ADIs were now falling into the ‘concern’ 

category over their pupils’ L-test 

performance. The number of ADIs in this 

category had fallen from 10,000 – a quarter 

of the Register – to 4,000. NASP would 

continue to keep a sharp eye on how TIP was 

working. 

Testing and training reforms 

There was a certain amount of frustration 

creeping in to NASP’s conversations with the 

DVSA over reforms to its tests and processes. 

Continued on page 16 


News: NASP Q&A 

Continued from page 15 

The usual refrain that legislation was 

required to alter, for instance, Parts 1, 2 and 3 

of ADI qualifying seemed a little weak - in 

Carly Brookfield’s words, “we’re getting sick 

of the excuses for not making qualifying 

better aligned with the Standards Check and 

the client-centred learning that is expected.” 

There was still too much emphasis in the 

Part 3 exam on fault spotting: “This is not 

coaching, or client-centred learning.” 

Mike Yeoman suggested that what was 

needed was a fresh look at the L-test – “to 

move it away from a fault-based assessment, 

which it is at the moment, to a more 

expansive drive in which candidates can gain 

marks by handling situations well.” 

Lynne Barrie agreed that the current test 

“doesn’t always bring out the best elements 

of your pupil’s ability.” 

Trainee licences 

NASP has raised the issue of trainee 

licences being extended, as accessing Part 3 

tests was becoming difficult. From the start 

of Part 1, trainees have two years to book 

their Part 3 test, but while that timeframe 

was fair in normal circumstances, with fewer 

Part 3s available now, some trainees are 

starting to struggle to find a test before their 

two-year qualification period expired. 

So far the DVSA has not intimated it would 

relax this timeframe, but NASP would keep 

pushing for it. 

Changes to the qualification system 

Looking ahead to how the system could be 

reformed in the future, it was suggested that 

the DVSA may not be the best organisation 

to run the training and monitoring process of 

ADIs. “Perhaps it should simply focus on 

testing,” was one suggestion, “and leave 

professional qualifications and subsequent 

assessments to outside bodies.” 

On examiner quality, the DVSA is aware 

that some of its examiners are not of the 

standard required and it is looking into the 

issue – in some areas, “different standards 

seem to be being applied on tests.” 

Pass Plus - future initiatives? 

One questioner asked whether Pass Plus 

could be made mandatory – or is it now 

out-dated? 

With learners now allowed on motorways 

and fewer insurance companies recognising 

Pass Plus with lower premiums, it seemed 

unlikely that Pass Plus would become 

mandatory. 

However, a DIA-led project called 

Milestones could lead to major changes in the 

“Mike Yeoman suggested that what was needed was a fresh look at 

the L-test – ‘to move it away from a fault-based assessment, which 

it is at the moment, to a more expansive drive in which 

candidates can gain marks by handling situations well.’ 

Lynne Barrie agreed that the current test ‘doesn’t always bring out 

the best elements of your pupil’s ability.’ 

way people learned to drive, said Carly 

Brookfield. Milestones was a modular 

programme in which learners worked through 

a pre-planned curriculum in stages, in a 

graduated learning process. This would then 

be followed by an L-test, and rounded off by a 

post-test module. 

The DVSA is awaiting results from the trial, 

to gauge its effectiveness. 

Digital dilemma 

Returning to L-test bookings, could the 

DVSA create its own app to counter the bots, 

asked one ADI? Carly said that the DVSA was 

not digitally proficient enough to do so; it’s 

booking system was creaking at the knees 

already, and she wondered what had 

happened to Loveday Ryder’s promise on 

taking over at the agency, of securing 

funding for a comprehensive overhaul of its IT 

systems. The need to build a booking system 

that works for ADIs and pupils was a priority. 

SEN in theory test centres 

Another questioner asked if NASP could 

press the DVSA to allow learners with SEN to 

access theory test centres before their test, 

to familiarise themselves with the lay-out 

and format prior to a test. Some pupils with 

SEN struggle to adapt to new settings and 

environments. 

Mike Yeomans said work was underway to 

do something on this: “I know the DVSA is 

working on a video explaining the theory test 

process, but that work has been held up by 

the focus on L-test waiting times.” 

B + E tests 

The removal of B + E testing still rankled 

with some on the Q&A, and it was suggested 

that the DfT now had its beady eye on D1 and 

C1 testing too. NASP had lobbied hard to 

prevent the removal of B + E testing, and had 

then worked to create the ‘Safe towing’ 

accreditation, but there were still major 

concerns that the loss of B+ E testing could 

create road safety issues in the future. 

It was particularly frustrating that B + E 

tests had been sacrificed to provide extra 

LGV test slots, but the alleged demand for 

these appears to have been over-estimated. 

Test imposters 

The increase in people taking driving and 

theory tests on behalf of others was a 

concern, said NASP. It was suggested that 

people guilty of such frauds be blocked out of 

the booking system for a period, as they were 

clearly exhibiting risky behaviour in this 

regard which would possibly be carried over 

into their driving at a later stage. 

“People who make bad choices to commit 

an L-test fraud are likely to make bad choices 

on the road, too.” 

Driver training syllabus 

One questioner asked if NASP agreed with 

the current driver training syllabus? Not 

everything, which was why NASP is 

constantly pushing the DVSA to make 

improvements and would continue to do so. 

Improving driver standards and road safety 

was a constant fight that NASP would 

continue to lead. 

Sharing TIP data 

There was concern that ADIs’ TIP data 

could be published by the DVSA at some 

point in the future, in an attempt to help the 

public identify the best-performing ADIs. 

Lynne Barrie pointed out that many ADIs had 

concerns over such data being released 

without their consent; if an ADI wanted to 

publicise their L-test results, that was for 

them, but not all wanted to do so, particularly 

those ADIs who specialisied in training more 

challenging pupils. 

Finally, the panel was asked why it had not 

simply rejected the TIP initiative when it was 

first brought in? NASP had pushed back 

against the DVSA’s plans, but it had felt like a 

fait accompli when it was introduced as it had 

the backing of the Government. It was felt 

that TIP would help protect the public from 

poor-performing ADIs. “We will have to show 

that TIP is providing a lot of bad data before 

the DVSA would contemplate scrapping it,” 

was the verdict. 

However, NASP was getting results on TIP: 

Mike Yeomans pointed out that it was 

pressure from NASP that had forced the 

DVSA to adjust the parameters under which 

ADIs were classed as a cause for concern. 



Shock tactics won’t make young 

people drive safely, survey finds 

ADIs who use shock tactics to get over the 

dangers of reckless driving to their pupils are 

probably wasting their time, a new survey 

has found, as it does little to improve safety 

and may actually make things worse. 

The study, carried out by Dr Elizabeth Box, 

research director at the RAC Foundation, 

found such approaches can prompt defensive 

or even hostile reactions, particularly among 

young men. They are also likely to experience 

optimism bias about their own capabilities 

and the scale of their risk exposure. 

The study found that, rather than stating 

the dangers, a more interactive approach is 

better, where the facts about road safety are 

shared and young participants are 

encouraged to come to their own conclusions 

about what good driving behaviour looks like. 

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC 

Foundation, said: “In a world where young 

drivers are bombarded with numerous 

influences, we must harness the power of 

evidence-based interventions, behavioural 

theories, and psychological insights to create 

programmes that resonate with their needs 

and the realities they face. 

“This report underscores the importance 

of moving beyond traditional approaches, 

such as ‘shock and tell’ testimonial events, 

which may yield strong reactions but often 

fail to leave a lasting impact.” 

Dr Box’s report, Empowering Young Drivers 

with Road Safety Education, found that 

improving road safety was best by using 

interventions based on research evidence 

and behavioural theory rather than intuition 

and personal knowledge. Road safety 

education needs to be subtle and 

sympathetic to the physiological changes 

young brains are going through, and young 

people’s attitudes to risk. 

Her research included a project called 

DriveFit which consisted of a 40-minute film 

followed by a 45-minute online workshop 

two weeks later. 

The film features expert guests in a talk 

show-style format offering information, 

demonstrations and tips about how young 

drivers can understand the implications of 

risky driving behaviour such as speeding, 

tiredness, mobile phone use and intoxication. 

The workshops then allow young people to 

discuss the film and extract relevant learning 

for their own personal situations. 

Steve Gooding added: “The findings 

presented echo a growing consensus that 

“This report underscores the 

importance of moving beyond 

traditional approaches, such 

as ‘shock and tell’ testimonial 

events, which may yield strong 

reactions but often fail to leave 

a lasting impact.” 

our approach to road safety education must 

evolve. It is not enough to impart information 

about risks; we must also empower young 

and pre-drivers with cognitive skills, hazard 

perception abilities, and the capacity to make 

safe choices in the face of distractions, peer 

influence, and fatigue. 

“The DriveFit intervention case study 

included in the report, which recently 

received a Prince Michael International Road 

Safety Award, demonstrates that thoughtful 

design and assessment can yield positive 

results. While the improvements may be 

modest, they represent the important 

incremental steps that lead us towards safer 

outcomes for this at-risk group.” 

Let’s talk about speed, says Brake as deaths rise 

Road safety charity Brake has called for a 

national conversation on speeding in the way 

people did about drink-driving after DfT 

statistics revealed a 10% increase on road 

deaths in 2022. 

Crucially, road deaths caused by drivers 

exceeding the speed limt were up by 20%. 

Brake made its call as the UK marked 

National Road Safety Week in November. Its 

own survey found that while overwhelmingly 

drivers supported local speed limits, a third 

admitted speeding and 40% said they 

thought going over the speed limit “by just a 

bit” was okay. 

While there has been controversy over 

speed limits being reduced from 30mph to 

20mph in built-up areas in Wales, two-fifths 

agreed with the lower limit. 

Ross Moorlock, interim CEO at Brake, said: 

“Road death is sudden. It’s traumatic. It 

sends shockwaves across families, schools, 

workplaces and communities. This year, we 

have already supported more than 1,500 

people affected by road crashes through our 

National Road Victim Service. 

“Today, five people will be killed on our 

roads. And tomorrow, another five won’t 

make it home to their families. And so on, and 

so on, until we all say ‘Enough!’ and start 

taking responsibility for each other’s safety 

on the road. 

“The speed we choose to drive at can 

mean the difference between life and death. 

Our speed dictates whether we can stop in 

time to avoid a crash, and the force of impact 

if we can’t stop. This Road Safety Week, 

whoever you are, and however you travel, I 

urge you to join the conversation and talk 

about speed. Please talk to as many people 

as you can to find out why, when five people 

die on our roads every day, so many of us 

still choose to drive too fast.” 

The charity wants a national conversation 

on speed, to raise awareness of the dangers 

of excessive and inappropriate speed, and 

challenge drivers who people still think it is 

acceptable to drive faster than the limit. 


Towards your CPD: L-test data 

Steering a path through 

the TIP minefield 

Understanding the ADI Driving 

Test Data Report, which is 

available to all ADIs by clicking 

on the link at the end of this 

article, forms an essential part 

of our CPD, but only if what is 

being recorded is understood. 

Steve Garrod takes a closer look 

The first thing to say on your L-test data 

report is that like a lot of things in life, some 

headings are easier to interpret than others. 

For example, ‘Use of Mirrors’ before 

‘signalling’, ‘changing direction’ and ‘changing 

speed’ can be easier to understand than 

‘Steering’. 

It is important to point out, however, that it 

is making effective observation rather than 

looking at the mirrors that is marked, and 

changing speed means accelerating as well 

as slowing down. Changing direction is often 

marked when candidates are moving back to 

the left after passing a bus or a delivery van 

which is about to, or in the process of, moving 

off, as well as checking to the right before 

passing them. 

The reason for using ‘Steering’ as an 

example is because it was the subject that 

brought up more questions than any other 

heading at a recent Standards Check 

workshop. Steering can be quite difficult to 

interpret unless present at an end-of-test 

debrief. ‘Steering’ could mean not steering 

correctly at junctions, eg understeering or 

oversteering (not steering enough and 

maybe entering a side road on the wrong side 

of the road, or steering too much and having 

problems with straightening up having 

turned). 

But ‘steering’ can also be mixed up with 

‘Meeting Traffic’ or ‘Adequate clearance’. For 

example, if a candidate leaves it late to steer 

around a parked vehicle having given way to 

an oncoming vehicle, then this is marked as a 

steering fault. If you are conducting a mock 

test, then think about how you would debrief 

the fault. “You left it late to steer around the 

parked vehicle, causing you to steer onto the 

other side of the road due the lack of 

available space to turn’. When teaching we 

like to see our clients steer on a shallow angle 

past a parked vehicle wherever possible to 

reduce the amount of space needed on the 

opposite side of the road. 

Steering can also mean clipping or 

mounting the kerb or pavement when 

turning left or pulling up by the side of the 

road. From a teaching point of view, you could 

ask how to avoid this fault and the answer 

would normally be to steer later, when 

turning left, or straightening up earlier when 

pulling up next to the kerb. 

Interestingly, when pulling up, if the 

pavement is mounted but the fault is 

corrected and the car comes to rest with all 

four wheels on the road, then this is a 

steering fault, but if a wheel is left on the 

kerb, then this is marked as ‘Position for 

normal stops’ 

Steering can also be marked when 

cornering – for example, if a driver is too 

close to a kerb or too near the centre of the 

road. It can be mistaken for road positioning, 

but if the position was correct upon entering 

the bend, then you need to ask yourself how 

the fault could be corrected. If a solid white 

line crossed or straddled, then a fault would 

be recorded under ‘Road markings.’ 

Likewise, when turning right, if a driver 

goes past their point of turn, which is often 

caused by focusing on oncoming traffic and 

steering late, this is marked as a steering 

fault. 

Sometimes it can be tricky to assess a 

steering fault if a candidate approaches a 

junction too quickly. If it results in entering 

the side road on the wrong side of the road, 

then it could be marked as ‘steering’ as the 

effect of the fault was to steer onto the 

wrong side of the road, even though the 

cause of the fault was the speed on approach. 



It is one of those situations where if one of 

these faults has already been marked as a 

serious fault, then the other fault may be 

marked. 

Contrary to belief, the method of steering 

is not marked unless it causes a problem. So, 

if someone crosses their hands while 

steering it is only marked if there is a problem. 

It may not be how we like to see someone 

steer, and it should be pointed out to the pupil 

why we teach the ‘Pull Push’ method, as it is 

considered to be a safer and more efficient 

method of steering. In much the same way as 

we teach ‘Handbrake, then neutral’ when 

coming to rest. It encourages the driver to 

stop before selecting neutral, but so long as 

we have come to rest, selecting neutral 

before applying the handbrake is not a fault. 

As for myself, I always encourage my learners 

to come to rest, then take a deep breath 

before saying ‘Hhhhhhaaaaaandbrake’! 

Another heading that can cause confusion 

is ‘Controlled stop’. It is only the stop itself is 

marked, either not quick enough or not 

keeping the vehicle under control. Failing to 

check blind spots correctly after the stop is 

marked under ‘Move off safely’ and not under 

the Controlled stop. 

Other control faults are Accelerator. This is 

not often marked but generally refers to 

erratic use, such as not accelerating 

smoothly, of failing to come off the 

accelerator when changing gear. If the engine 

“Contrary to belief, the method 

of steering is not marked unless 

it causes a problem. So, if 

someone crosses their hands 

while steering it is only marked 

if there is a problem....” 

is revved at a pedestrian crossing, then it is 

marked under ‘Pedestrian crossings’, and if 

used too harshly then it could be recorded as 

a fault under ‘Eco safe Control’ or use of 

speed. This is the same for a ‘Footbrake’ fault. 

Late braking is marked in the ‘Eco safe 

planning’ box, then as a footbrake fault after 

that. Other footbrake faults could be stopping 

too short of a Give Way line, meaning the view 

into the new road is restricted. 

Clutch faults are rare because coasting is 

recorded under ‘gears’ as the gears are not 

properly engaged. Clutch faults are usually 

recorded for not pressing it down sufficiently 

when stopping, and subsequently stalling. 

A gear fault, particularly changing to a 

lower gear, is associated with lack of forward 

planning, especially when going up a steep 

hill. Allowing the engine to labour often leads 

to a rushed gear change and subsequent 

incorrect gear selections, such as 4th gear 

instead of 2nd gear. 

Driving in too low a gear for too long with 

the engine over-revving could be an Eco safe 

fault, and then a gear fault. 

The final heading in this section is 

‘Handbrake’. This could be for not applying it 

properly when coming to rest and allowing 

the car to roll backwards, or applying it when 

not fully at rest. It can be marked if it is left on 

having moved off, although this fault would 

initially be recorded under ‘Moving off 

control’. 

I hope this has helped to demystify how 

some of the faults are recorded, but it is no 

substitute for either going out on a test or 

listening to the end-of-test debrief. 

Below you’ll find the link for your form. I 

wish you all a very happy festive or holiday 

period and we’ll be ready to go in the New 

Year! 

Click on this panel 

to go to your TIP 

data 

NEWSLINK ■ DECEMBER 2023 19

Towards your CPD 

Car fires: A 

burning issue 

Why do cars catch fire? Tom 

Harrington takes a look at the 

reasons behind car fires, how 

they can be prevented and 

whether having more electric 

vehicles on the road will make 

the problem better -or worse 

How likely is your car to catch fire while you’re 

driving it? 

It’s the stuff of nightmares – seeing smoke 

or flames appear as you are inside a moving 

vehicle. Thankfully, it’s not very likely. 

Despite the number of combustible 

materials that comprise a vehicle, most 

drivers won’t ever experience a spontaneous 

vehicle fire, and modern manufacturing has 

meant that vehicle fires on the road have 

dropped significantly in the past couple of 

decades. 

Even so, a report into car fires in Ireland 

found that Irish fire brigades attended over 

2,300 vehicle fires in 2019, and the AA 

reported 1 or 2 vehicle fires a week affecting 

traffic on Ireland’s main routes between June 

2020 and June 2021. Not all of these turn into 

fully-fledged fires – some are stopped 

quickly, and others are false alarms. 

A Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) spokesman told 

us that “quite often steam from a car’s 

radiator or dust from the safety airbags can 

be mistaken for smoke.” 

That said, better safe than sorry – you 

should treat any steam or smoke as a 

potential fire until you’ve confirmed it’s not. 

Causes of car fires 

Arson: The biggest cause of vehicle fires 

attended by fire brigades is arson or 

vandalism of parked vehicles. Dublin Fire 

Brigade has said that most of the car fires 

they attended in 2020 were due to arson, 

echoing comments made by by James Long, 

an Irish lecturer and President of the Society 

of Automotive Forensic Engineers, who said 

most fires he has investigated have had a 

deliberate cause. 

Figures for the UK show that around half of 

all vehicle fires between 2015 and 2020 were 

“deliberate”, and that’s before you count 

accidental fires caused by human activity. 

Spontaneous fire: This would be the kind 

of fire that would have most instructors 

worried: could my car burst into flames? 

While obviously a big problem, it’s 

relatively rare for a vehicle to catch fire while 

you’re driving ‘spontaneously’, although they 

do happen. A study by the US National Fire 

Prevention Association found that the most 

common cause of ‘highway fires’ – nondeliberate 

vehicle fires on the road or at the 

roadside – was mechanical faults, accounting 

for around half the highway fires in the US 

between 2013 and 2017. Electrical faults 

caused another fifth. With improvements in 

manufacturing and tighter regulations on 

roadworthiness, though, this type of fire is 

getting rarer – the US study shows they have 

dropped by 80% between 1980 and 2019. 



Collisions: Fires can also result from 

collisions, especially if the vehicle is badly 

damaged and fuel leaks on to hot 

components. DFB say that this is also, 

thankfully, rare: “Modern car design takes 

into account collisions, and as such, [they are] 

designed to prevent fire following a collision.” 

The data from the US showed that only 4% 

of car fires on the roads were caused by 

collisions, but those tend to be serious – 

two-thirds of deaths associated with car 

fires happened when there had been a 

collision first. 

Batteries (for EVs): While electric vehicles 

do not run the risk of fuel leaks, there is still a 

combustion risk from lithium-ion batteries, 

especially at hot temperatures. Fires caused 

by or affecting the battery of an EV may need 

different treatment, and a damaged battery 

could reignite hours later if it retained a 

charge. 

Tyres: Tyres can also catch fire and are 

particularly hard to put out. Poorly inflated 

tyres rubbing against a solid surface on the 

chassis can reach ignition temperatures, or a 

failed brake lock system can cause heat too. 

Surprising other causes: James Long 

identified some surprising causes of vehicle 

fires, too. For instance, those slovenly drivers 

who throw a cigarette stub out of their 

window can get their just desserts if it is 

sucked back in as the vehicle moves and may 

smoulder in the backseat without a driver 

noticing. This form of instant justice has 

become less likely in recent years, however, 

with flame-retardant seat covers a legal 

obligation for manufacturers, but it could 

cause a problem if there were papers or some 

other flammable material on the back seat. 

Another odd one comes from fallen 

autumn leaves or branches under a vehicle in 

a parking spot, which can be drawn into a 

vehicle’s catalytic convertor as the driver 

starts the engine. Similarly, debris on the 

roadway can get caught in wheels or axles 

and cause friction fires – this can be a cause 

of truck fires, according to the Australian 

Road Transport Suppliers Association. 

Can a parked car catch fire? 

An extremely rare but possible cause of a 

fire in a parked vehicle is refracted sunlight 

from a reflective object – a non-tinted 

pocket mirror left on a seat, for example, or in 

a really unusual case, a bottle of water. This is 

unlikely to develop into a full fire, given that 

seat covers must be flame-retardant, but 

could burn holes in upholstery if left 

unchecked. Particularly true if the object that 

channels the light into a flame is sat on 

combustible materials. 

What do I do if my car catches fire or I see 

smoke while driving? 

Stop, pull into a safe place, get all 

passengers out of the vehicle and call the 

emergency services. As James Long points 

out, “the electrical system can get 

compromised in a fire and that could affect 

your central locking”, so you don’t want to 

delay leaving the vehicle. 

If it’s safe, you could use an extinguisher to 

tackle a small external fire, but don’t put 

yourself at risk – as DFB remind us, “a car 

can be replaced, you can’t”. 

Long also advises against opening the 

bonnet if smoke is coming out, as you could 

inadvertently make matters worse by 

introducing more oxygen to the flames. 

Step away from the live lanes once you get 

out of the car, and get behind a crash barrier 

if there is one because other drivers may not 

see you with smoke or flames in their line of 

vision. 

Stay well away from the vehicle – both 

DFB and James Long cite toxic chemicals as a 

risk to those near car fires, especially if the 

refrigerant or other fuels start to burn, and 

there is a danger of injury from smoke 

inhalation. 

One thing that is unlikely to happen is the 

Hollywood-style explosion; rather “tyres can 

pop, and boot/bonnet struts can fire off like 

missiles”. 

It’s a good idea to get as far as you can 

away from the vehicle, as there have been 

recorded cases of gas springs shooting from 

the car. 

If you can see or smell fuel after a collision, 

it’s best to err on the side of caution and 

move away from the vehicle too. 

It’s also worth telling the emergency 

services what type of vehicle it is from the 

offset and if you were carrying any 

flammable cargo that would require different 

treatment. 

A fire in an electric vehicle usually needs 

more water than an ICE one, and their 

An apology 

In the November 

issue, we neglected 

to acknowledge 

Tom Harrington as 

the author of the 

piece we published 

on colour blindness. 

Apologies, and glad 

to put that oversight 

right in this issue. 

batteries need careful treatment, as they 

have been known to suddenly reignite hours 

later. (See next page for more) 

How do you prevent a car fire? 

Keeping on top of your vehicle’s 

maintenance and getting it serviced regularly 

is the best way to avoid a spontaneous fire, 

given that around two-in-three roadside fires 

are caused by mechanical or electric faults. 

Never ignore a warning light on your 

dashboard; if your vehicle is part of a product 

recall, don’t wait to return it. You might avoid 

some short-term inconvenience, but it could 

result in a much larger problem or even 

serious injury if a fire broke out. 

The older your vehicle is, the more 

important it is to keep on top of your 

maintenance. 

In the US, roughly three-quarters of the 

fires attributed to faults in 2017 involved cars 

that were at least ten years old. Also, some 

faults develop over time rather than 

suddenly, especially if caused by fraying 

electrical wires, insulation or rubbing of fuel 

lines. 

This means a regular service might catch 

the issue before it catches fire. The AA offers 

an approved car service from trusted garages 

around the country. 

Hybrids – the worst offenders 

A recent study by US insurer, Auto 

Insurance EZ found that hybrid cars had the 

worst fire record, while EVs were the least 

likely type of car to catch fire. 

Hybrid cars had 3,474.5 fires per 100,000 

sale; petrol cars had 1,529.9 fires per 100,000 

sales and EVs had just 25.1 fires per 100,000 

sales. 

The primary cause of fires in EVs are 

batteries, according to AutoinsuranceEZ. 

There were 82,000 Hyundai Kona EVs in a 

fire risk recall in the US because of the 

battery. 

Continued on page 22 


Towards your CPD 

Continued from page 21 

In the US a major recall of the Chevrolet 

Volt EV entailed 70,000 vehicles. And what 

about hybrid recalls because of battery 

problems? There were 27,600 Chrysler 

Pacifica vehicles recalled because of fire risk. 

And there have been a total of 4,500 vehicles 

recalled for batteries being a fire risk among 

the following ranges: the BMW 530e, 

xDrive30e, Mini Cooper Countryman AII4 SE, 

i8, 330e, 745Le xDrive and X5xDrive45e. 

Electric car fires 

So, although EVs catch fire far less 

frequently than hybrid or petrol cars when 

they do, it’s a different type of fire due to 

lithium-ion batteries, AutoinsuranceEZ 

reported. EV fires are significantly harder to 

put out, and firefighters need special training 

to do so. This is because the lithium-ion 

batteries are essentially a fuel source so the 

fire can burn for hours and be very difficult for 

firefighters to cool down. 

Over-charging and high temperatures are 

risks for lithium-ion battery fires. 

Tips to prevent battery fires in EV vehicles 

One of the main triggers for battery fires is 

high temperatures. This is of great 

importance in countries like Australia, with 

extreme summer temperatures. If an EV 

battery is exposed to extreme temperatures 

– 50 deg C + – then exothermic reactions 

On December 7, 2022, 

several electric vehicles 

being transported by 

truck went up in flames 

on the M1. 

can get triggered and generate more heat. 

Also, charging at high temperatures can lead 

to a gas generation that can ultimately lead to 

the car catching fire. 

It is advised to avoid parking in direct 

sunlight or leaving your EV in hot 

surroundings. Keep batteries in cool, dry 

areas with adequate ventilation. 

Don’t overcharge: The EV should be 

unplugged before the battery is at full 

capacity. It is also dangerous for battery 

health to leave it completely drained. 

Batteries should be charged when they are 

between 20-80 per cent capacity. 

Damage from the road: Potholes, rocks, or 

other debris from the road can be very 

dangerous for batteries, with side impacts or 

underside punctures posing a great threat. 

Damaged batteries should be taken 

immediately to a qualified electrician. 

Let the EV cool down: Don’t start charging 

as soon as the car stops because the 

lithium-ion battery is very hot. Let the 

system cool down before you plug it in. 

Finally: The story goes that a motorist 

whose car caught fire, ran to a house and 

asked an elderly lady for some water to put 

out the fire. The lady replied – “Hot or cold”? 

Never leave your Chevy Volt parked upside down ... 

Much of the debate around electric vehicles 

catching fire stems from 2012, when US 

crash investigators were left baffled after 

two unattended Chevy Volts caught fire and 

burned down garages within weeks of each 

other. 

A little history is in order. At the time the 

NHTSA was putting the Chevy Volt through 

crash simulations. In one test, a Volt was 

subjected to a side impact and a simulated 

roll. The Volt was then placed outside in an 

inverted position with a fully charged 

battery. Though it is standard practice to 

remove the energy in the form of gasoline 

from a test vehicle, the Volt was left fully 

charged in the inverted position. Days later, 

the Volt battery caught fire. 

The NHTSA then ordered three batteries 

from Chevrolet. They began a series of 

impact tests on the independent batteries 

outside of the vehicles. The first battery 

produced no thermal action. The second and 

third caught fire. A report was released to the 

public and within weeks two garage fires 

were reported simultaneously, one in 

Connecticut and one in North Carolina. It 

would be reported months later after a 

thorough investigation that neither of the 

Volts nor the EVSEs was deemed responsible 

for the fires, but the media damage was done 

and the narrative began that EVs are 

susceptible to catch fire. 

So, which vehicle is more likely to catch 

fire, and are their fires equal? Maybe the 

closest we have to an answer is data 

provided by Steven Risser, senior leader for 

Battelle, a non-profit research and 

development firm, and one of the leading 

experts on the risk of fires in electric 

vehicles. 

Steven said: “The propensity and severity 

of fires and explosions from lithium-ion 

battery systems are somewhat comparable 

to or perhaps slightly less than those for 

gasoline or diesel fuels, according to an 

in-depth investigation in 2017.” 

Tesla claims that gasoline powered cars 

are about 11 times more likely to catch fire 

than one of its cars, and it can back that stat 

up: its 500,000 EVs produced globally have 

covered accumulative 10 billion EV miles, and 

according to Elon Musk, there have been just 

five fires per billion miles for Tesla. Most Tesla 

fires occur after high-speed violent crashes. 

It’s also worth noting that the number of 

Tesla fires have been reduced since it added 

additional metal plating to protect the 

battery. Steven Risser added that a little 

more data is needed but for the time being, it 

appears that time and data are tracking in 

EVs’ favour. 

When so-called legacy manufacturers 

reach a point where their profits depend on 

EV sales, then maybe we will get the rest of 

the data that EV enthusiasts suspect: that 

this has been ‘fake news’ from the start. 



Navigating the digital roads: A guide for ADIs on 

getting social media to work in your favour 

As members of the Motor Schools 

Association of Great Britain (MSA GB), we 

recognise the importance of embracing 

digital platforms to educate our students, 

elevate our profiles, and stay abreast of 

industry updates, including valuable insights 

from MSA GB. 

The power of social media for ADIs 

Social media has become a dynamic tool 

for driving instructors to engage with their 

students, showcase their expertise, and keep 

up with industry trends. Here’s how you can 

lever social media to drive success in your 

driving instructor business: 

1. Educate Your students 

- Share informative and visually appealing 

content, such as road safety tips, driving 

techniques, and updates on driving 

regulations. 

- Create short video clips demonstrating 

common driving scenarios or providing 

tutorials on specific manoeuvres. 

2. Raise Your profile 

- Showcase your achievements, 

certifications, and positive reviews to build 

trust with potential students. 

- Share success stories and testimonials 

from satisfied students to demonstrate your 

teaching prowess. 

3. Stay informed with industry news 

- Follow MSA GB on social media platforms 

to stay updated on the latest industry news, 

regulations, and educational resources. 

- Engage in discussions with fellow 

instructors, exchanging insights and best 

practices. 

4. Promote special offers and discounts 

- Use social media to announce 

promotions, discounts, or package deals to 

attract new students. 

- Encourage current students to share 

your posts, expanding your reach within their 

social networks. 

5. Interactive learning opportunities 

- Host live Q&A sessions, allowing 

potential and current students to ask 

questions directly. 

- Run polls or quizzes to keep your 

audience engaged and test their knowledge 

of road rules. 

6. Consistent branding 

- Maintain a cohesive brand image across 

all social media platforms, including a 

professional profile picture, a concise bio, and 

consistent messaging. 

- Use branded visuals and colours to 

create a sand trustworthy online presence. 

Tips for social media success 

1. Choose the Right Platforms: 

Select platforms that align with your 

target audience. Instagram and Facebook are 

popular choices for visual content, while 

Twitter is excellent for real-time updates. 

Share informative 

and visually 

appealing content in 

your online 

activities, such as 

road safety tips, 

driving techniques, 

and updates on 

driving regulations. 

2. Content calendar: 

Plan your posts in advance using a content 

calendar. This ensures a consistent flow of 

valuable information and prevents sporadic 

updates. 

3. Engage with your audience: 

Respond promptly to comments and 

messages. Engaging with your audience 

builds a sense of community and trust. 

4. Hashtags: 

Research and use relevant hashtags to 

increase the visibility of your posts. This can 

attract potential students interested in 

learning to drive. 

5. Analytics: 

Monitor the performance of your posts 

using analytics tools provided by social media 

platforms. Adjust your strategy based on 

what resonates most with your audience. 

By incorporating social media into your 

driving instructor business, you not only 

enhance your teaching capabilities but also 

contribute to the broader community of 

driving instructors. 

Stay connected, stay informed, and drive 

success through the digital avenues available 

to us. 


Members’ section 

MSA GB Annual Conference 2024 

It’s a case of all roads lead to Telford as we head to Shropshire 

for the MSA GB Annual Conference 2024. 

To be held from March 22-23 at the stunning Telford Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort 

in Shropshire, it promises to be the ideal mix of information, debate, advice, 

education, networking and fun, as the MSA GB membership comes 

together to learn more about, and discuss, the big issues of the day. 

We are in the middle of confirming our keynote presenters, but we can 

guarantee an exciting and knowledgeable roster of high-profile names from 

the DVSA and driver training and road safety communities. 

Bookings are open now. Just click on the link below to book. See the price list 

below, with day, day/night and full weekend packages available. 

We have endeavoured to keep our prices as low as possible while providing a high-quality 

weekend, and the Telford Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort has more than enough to keep nondelegate 

partners happy, with a superb swimming pool and spa, golf and other attractions 

on site, as well as having the beautiful Severn Valley and iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site 

of Ironbridge Gorge on its doorstep. Even better, we have arranged a special MSA GB 

Conference discount on all spa treatments and golf fees! 

Please note: All prices below are EARLY BIRD prices, and will be held until January 20. 

After that date, some prices may rise. 

https://msagb.com/msa-gb-national-conference/ 

Full Conference packages 

Two nights’ accommodation and breakfast, Friday & Saturday 

evening meals, Saturday lunch, Conference delegate ticket 

Single booking: 

£275 

Couple sharing (with non-delegate ticket): 

£385 

* Non delegates receive lunch 

on the Saturday 

Telford Hotel, 

Spa & Golf 

Resort 

One-day Conference packages 

One night’s accommodation and breakfast, Friday OR Saturday 

evening meals, Saturday lunch; Conference delegate ticket 

Single booking: 

£165 

Couple sharing (with non-delegate ticket): 

£235 

Conference day delegate 

* Non delegates receive lunch 

on the Saturday 

Conference delegate ticket for Saturday Booked after January 20 

If booked before 

£49 

January 20 ... 

£59 

Thinking of bringing 

the family? 

There are other options available during 

Saturday should you wish to make this a 

family weekend and bring the children. 

You can find full details at: 

https://msagb.com/msa-gb-nationalconference/ 



Congratulations, James! 

Congratulations to James Waller, who 

was the winner of the MSA GB’s recent 

prize draw to win an AlcoSense 

Breathalyser. 

James said: “I was really shocked but 

pleased to get the call from Peter Harvey 

saying that I had won. I’ve only ever won one 

other prize draw, so it was a great surprise to 

have won this time.’ 

James joined MSA GB after seeing several 

positive reviews on a local ADI forum. He was 

initially just looking for public liability 

insurance, but over time has come to enjoy 

the many other benefits associated with MSA 

GB membership, including our extensive 

driver training programme, news round-ups, 

Newslink and the exclusive content on the 

MSA GB App. 

James has had his own driver training 

business since 2016, and since 2021 has 

worked full-time as an emergency response 

driving instructor for the Norfolk Fire and 

Rescue Service. 

Prior to that, he was a police officer for 22 

years, where he spent 10 years as a driving 

instructor for the Norfolk Constabulary. 

AlcoSense: Every ADI should have one handy 

Peter Harvey 

I would like to offer my congratulation to 

James Waller on being the winner of our prize 

draw for a breathalyser kindly donated by 

AlcoSense. 

When the one I was asked to try arrived, it 

was well packaged, includes the required 

batteries, five mouthpieces and full 

instructions. The Excel version is very easy to 

use, with a simple menu, and can be adjusted 

to suit the country you are in depending on the 

legal limit there. 

Once set up, the breathalyser gives a very 

clear reading in traffic light colours, making it 

easy to follow. 

Green, as you would expect, tells you you 

are okay to drive. 

Amber advises you that alcohol is present 

but you are below the limit you entered at set 

up – though it is so important to check what 

the limit is in the country you use it. 

Red is pretty self-explanatory – Don’t 

drive. 

The set is very compact, about the same 

size as a mobile phone but a little deeper. It is 

ideal for eliminating any concerns you may 

have the morning after – or for your pupils. 

The Excel model costs around £100 and can 

be viewed: https://alcosense.co.uk/ 

alcosense/alcosense-excel.html 

There are several other options available 

ranging from single use kits for around £6 up 

to £250, Now we are all getting back into 

travelling, one of these may be an ideal gift for 

someone you know. 

Even better, go through the MSA GB 

website at https://msagb.com/members/ 

member-discounts/ 

to secure your member discount. 

Get 10p off every litre of fuel with 

special MSA GB deal 

The cost-of-living crisis is putting many 

ADIs under considerable financial pressure, 

and nowhere is it felt more than through 

the rising cost of fuel. 

So to help alleviate some of the burden 

on our members, we’re thrilled to 

announce a brand-new partnership with 

Fuel Card Services. 

A fuel card from MSA GB partner, Fuel 

Card Services can provide huge benefits to 

businesses that use vehicles on a daily 

basis: 

n Cutting fuel costs - save up to 10p per 

litre and get a consistent price. 

n Increased security - fuel cards are a 

safer alternative to carrying cash and 

eliminate fraud. 

n Streamline admin - HMRC compliant 

invoices, no receipts, one neat invoice and 

a dedicated account manager. 

n Tighter control of business expenses 

- view transactions and reports online 24/7. 

n Increased flexibility for refuelling 

across a huge network. 

n Fleet convenience - a quick and 

convenient way for fleets to refuel. 

There are a range of fuel cards available 

on the market and for your business to 

truly benefit from investing in fuel cards, 

you need to choose the right one for your 

businesses’ requirements. 

FUEL CARD SERVICES offers a large 

choice of networks from leading brands, 

such as BP, Shell, Esso and UK Fuels, so 

you can decide which networks you wish 

to include on your business account. 

Fuel Card Services and MSA GB are 

helping to deliver cost savings to 

members throughout the country. 

For more details and to obtain a fuel 

card through MSA GB, go to our website at 

https://msagb.com/members/ 

member-discounts/ 



MSA GB launches new partnership with insurer to 

keep you on the road when things go wrong 

MSA GB partners with AI 

Insurance Solutions Limited 

to provide members with dual 

control cars for when things 

don’t quite go to plan. 

A critical service to driving instructors is the 

provision of a dual-controlled replacement 

vehicle for non-fault and fault accidents. 

But in recent months we have had several 

calls from MSA GB members across the 

country who have been let down by their 

insurance company not being able to supply a 

dual-controlled vehicle when they have had 

an accident. 

They report that they are usually offered a 

replacement vehicle but not one with dual 

controls – which isn’t a lot of good when 

running a driving school. 

MSA GB steps in 

Understanding the stress and the 

detriment to your business this can cause, 

we are pleased to announce that we have 

formed an exclusive agreement with AI 

Solutions Ltd to supply a replacement vehicle 

to you should the need arise. 

This means that MSA GB members will be 

able to obtain both a replacement manual or 

automatic dual-controlled car for both fault 

and non-fault accidents, without the need to 

buy an extra insurance policy to cover the risk. 

The cost of using this new service is zero. 

You don’t need to register or buy an 

insurance policy. 

If you need to use the service the cost of 

your replacement vehicle will be charged 

either to their insurance policy or yours, 

depending entirely on who is at fault. 

Additionally, if the vehicle needs to be 

recovered, this also will be charged to the 

appropriate insurer. 

However, we must stress that this does 

not impose any restrictions on where you get 

your vehicle repaired. 

The FCA states under ‘treating customers 

fairly’ that - ‘a policy-holder does not have to 

use the services of their broker or insurer but 

can access any service they choose without 

their instructor insurance policy being 

invalidated.’ 

So, in the event of an accident you simply 

need to contact The AI Insurance Solutions 

Emergency (AIIS) assistance line on 01945 

425211. AIIS will then inform your insurer and 

organise for your replacement dual controlled 

car to be delivered to your chosen location as 

soon as possible. 

If your vehicle is drivable and legal 

post-event, then it is best to arrange a 

delivery to the body repairer at an agreed 

time. If the vehicle, however, is not drivable, 

then AI Solutions will ensure that it is 

delivered to the most convenient location for 

you. 

Sadly, statistically, road traffic crashes do 

happen, and we cannot prevent you from 

being involved in one. 

However, with this new agreement we 

hope to ensure that any impact to MSA GB 

members is kept to a minimum. 

How it 

works... 

n A prompt and 

courteous reporting 

process 24 hours a day 

n To be taken to a safe 

place/home if your car 

is not drivable 

n A replacement dual 

controlled car on same 

day as accident 

reported, if before 2pm 

(in Scotland, this may 

take up to 24hrs) 

n The vehicle will be of 

a similar size 

n Regular updates on 

your vehicle’s repair 



FAQs on the new membership service 

Q: How do I use the service? 

A: You just call AIIS’s emergency 

assistance number on 01945 425211. 

Q: What will the service cost me? 

A: Just the cost of a call. 

Q: Should I notify my insurance company? 

A: Absolutely, although AIIS will also talk to 

them to confirm hire provision and, where 

appropriate, details of the repairer. 

Q: What if my vehicle is not drivable? 

A: AIIS will recover the vehicle to safe 

storage and get you home or to a 

nominated location. 

Q: Is this an insurance product that I need 

to purchase? 

A: No, the service is provided to you on a 

no-cost basis. 

Q: What if my vehicle is drivable? 

A: AIIS can arrange for an estimate to 

completed and deliver the car to the 

repairer to ensure that you are mobile 

throughout the process and that there is 

no loss of income. 

Emergency crash protocol: What to do if you are involved in a crash 

In the event of a crash, call 01945 425211 to use the AIIS offer 

More MSA GB membership offers 

and discounts - see pg 38-39 



New membership service: Find My Local 

MSA GB Instructor directory launched 

Cut through the competition 

by advertising your skills on 

MSA GB’s own ADI directory 

With the DVSA (https://tinyurl.com/ 

4b3t9a9e) reporting a 24 per cent increase in 

the number of new driving instructor 

registrations in 2022/2023, compared to 

2020/2021, our industry is set to become 

even more competitive as driving instructors 

do battle to gain the attention of those 

wanting to learn to drive. 

To help MSA GB members cut through the 

industry noise and raise their profile, we’re 

delighted to announce the launch of our 

online ‘Find My Local MSA GB Instructor’ 

directory, which will be proudly displayed on 

the MSA GB home page and on the MSA GB 

App. 

Once live, this new directory will be easily 

accessible by the public, who can use our 

simple search engine to source a driving 

instructor in their local area, who suits their 

learning needs. 

For MSA GB members it couldn’t be simpler 

to input your details and make sure you stand 

out from the crowd. We’ve included several 

opportunities for you to highlight any special 

skills or teaching experience that you may 

have, for example teaching pupils with 

disabilities or those who are particularly 

anxious drivers. 

To upload your profile onto the MSA GB 

directory, all you need to do is: 

n Log into the Member Area 

n Look to the left of the page and scroll 

down until you see three blue arrow tabs. 

n Click on the tab - ‘Add Directory listing’ 

n You will then be taken to the following 

page: 

n Input your details and upload your photo 

(adding your photo is optional) 

n Once you’ve inputted all your details, 

check that all your information is correct 

n Tick the box if you agree to share your 

details on the website. Please note if you do 

not tick the box your details will not appear 

on the on the Find My Local MSA GB 

Instructor directory. 

n Click submit – and your done! 

This is just one of the many fantastic 

benefits that MSA GB members get to enjoy 

with their membership, which also includes: 

n PI & PL Insurance cover totalling £10 

million. 

n Legal & Technical Advice 

n Member Representation 

n Access to a wealth of exclusive 

information and downloadable resources 

n Member Discounts 

n Our monthly digital industry magazine 

- Newslink 

n Comprehensive driving school cover. 

We hope registering is a straightforward 

process, but if you need any assistance, or 

have any queries, don’t hesitate to contact 

our membership team on info@msagb.com 

or 01787 221 020 


ADI groups and associations 

MSA GB is proud of its long-standing links with many local ADI 

groups around the country. Many are small, dedicated to driver 

training in one city, town or even focused on a sole DTC, but all 

work tirelessly to improve the work of being an ADI. This can 

be in representing ADIs’ interests and views to your DVSA area 

manager, offering an ADI’s voice to local authorities and town 

planners, or by simply providing a network within which ADIs can 

find help and advice from their fellow instructors. After all, for 


many ADIs working as sole traders, being a driving instructor can 

be a lonely task: local ADI groups help stop it feeling quite so much 

that it’s ‘you against the world.’ 

From this issue onwards Newslink will be publishing a list of local 

ADI groups and associations. We will only publish those groups 

who let us know they are happy to be included in our list, however, 

so if you would like to see your details here, please contact Peter 

Harvey at peter.harveymbe@msagb.com 

Aberdeen and District Driving Schools 

Association 

Secretary: Derek Young 

T: 07732 379396 

E: derekyoungcreel@aol.com 

Meets quarterly February (AGM), May, 

August and November. 

Cost £35 per annum 

Angus Driving Instructors Association 

Secretary: Frances Matthew 

T: 07703 664522 

E; francesmatthew@hotmail.co.uk 

This group holds six meeting per year 

(usually one week after the Scottish 

committee meeting) 

Cost £20 per year. 

Aylesbury Vale Driving Instructors 

Association 

Chairman: Sue Pusey 

T: 07780 606868 

E: AVDIA@btinternet.com 

Meetings are first Wednesday of every 

month at Church of the Holy Spirit, 

Camborne Avenue, Aylesbury, HP21 7UE. 

7.30pm start. 

Guest speaker every other month, 

refreshments provided. 

Annual fee £30. First meeting free as try 

before you buy. 

Birmingham Approved Driving Instructors 

Contact: Dave Allen 

T: 07939 627493 

E: Daveallen1999@googlemail.com 

Cornwall Association of Approved Driving 

Instructors (CAADI) 

Secretary: Rachael Lloyd-Phillips 

E: rachael@oneandallsom.co.uk 

This group meets via Zoom on the 3rd 

Monday every other month at 7.30pm. 

City of Dunfermline and District ADIs 

Secretary: Gail Pilch 

T: 07817 661450 

E: dunfermlineadisecretary@outlook.com 

Meetings are bi-monthly, at 

Dunfermline Northern Bowling Club, Dewar 

Street, 

Dunfermline KY12 8AD 

Glasgow & District Driving Instructors 

Association 

Contact: Bryan Phillips 

T: 07989 339 646 

E: bryan.phillips@hotmail.co.uk 

Meet on the last Sunday of the month, 

once every quarter, at 

The Fort Theatre, Kenmuir Ave, 

Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, G64 2DW. 

Joining fee: £15 per year 

Hinckley & District Driver Trainers 

Association (HDDTA) 

Chairman: Barrie Pates 

T: 07914 408 739 

E: haddta@yahoo.com 

Hull and East Riding Driving Instructors 

(HERDI) 

Contact: Andrew 

T: 07754542993 

E: herdi.rsa@gmail.com 

Lanark Driving Instructors 

Secretary: Sandra Smillie 

T: 07975 147150 

Meet quarterly from March which is our 

AGM 

South Warwickshire Association 

of ADIs (SWAADI) 

Contact: Andy Thomas 

T: 01926 717230 / 07900 673634 

E: artommo@hotmail.com 

We meet at 8.30pm every third Monday of 

the month except August and December 

(no meetings) at The Windmill Inn, 

Tachbrook Rd, Leamington Spa CV31 3DD, 

Rolls and snacks are available for a small 

charge and membership is £25 a year and 

includes a monthly newsletter and addition 

to a WhatsApp group for local issues/ 

traffic updates, etc. 

Swindon Driving Instructors Association 

(Swindon DIA) 

Contact: Sandra Jill Richens 

T: 07795 006015 

E: SJRichens@btinternet.com 

Taunton Association Driving Instructors 

See Facebook page – search ‘Taunton ADI 

& PDI Forum’ 

Wirral Association of Professional Driving 

Instructors (APDI) 

Chairman: Brian Murray 

T: 07810 094332 

Secretary: Richard Gillmore 

T: 07790 193138 

E: wirral-apdi@hotmail.co.uk 

W: wirralinstructors.co.uk 

Meet monthly on the first Thursday of the 

month (except January and August) 

at Heswall FC, Brimstage Road, Heswall, 

Wirral CH60 1XG 

Further information and to join, please visit 

the website. 

Why join a local association? 

Local news, local input – a local voice... 

If you want to see your local ADI group listed in this index, 

contact Peter Harvey on peterharveymbe@msagb.com 


Area news 

Great conference leaves us in the know 

on EVs, tax, disabled drivers and DVSA 

Arthur Mynott 

MSA GB 

West Coast & Wales 

The MSA GB West Coast & Wales Area 4 

Conference and AGM took place at the 

Gloucester Robinswood Hotel, Gloucester on 

Thursday, 6th November, and our audience of 

ADIs were treated to a wide range of excellent 

presenters relevant to our industry. 

The day started with a welcoming speech 

from yours truly, and then I introduced our 

first speaker, Matt Cleevely from Cleevely 

Electric Vehicles, a local garage company 

which kindly supplied a couple of EVs for test 

drives on the day. 

Matt was a mine of information on electric 

cars, their servicing, repair and the many 

different makes and models. He discussed 

many of the myths surrounding these 

vehicles, answering lots of questions from 

the audience. He was so enthusiastic about it 

even I was almost inclined to buy one! 

This was followed by a presentation from 

Alan Gott of FBTC Accountancy Services, the 

MSA GB recommended accountants. I had 

met Alan earlier this year and asked if he 

would like to come to our event to talk about 

‘Making Tax Digital’, so the seed was sown. 

Alan introduced himself by saying he was 

from FBTC but was going to talk about 

making tax digital, and not his company. He 

said that he was a Geordie through and 

through but had left his cloth cap at home, 

and he was a self-confessed ‘tax nerd’! 

Alan explained how Making Tax Digital 

would affect us as driving instructors when it 

eventually comes in, such as submitting 

quarterly accounts as well as annual 

accounts, the fines you would get for not 

doing so on time plus the apps and software 

you would need to do this. 

He explained everything we needed to 

know in easy-to-understand terms and 

answered lots and lots of questions from the 

audience. It was a shame when I had to ask 

him to finish because of time restraints but 

he and his colleague Jason stayed for the rest 

of the day to enjoy the other speakers, and 

were on hand to answer more questions. 

After a short refreshment break our next 

speaker was Haydn Jenkins from Disability 

Driving Instructors. Many of you will have 

heard about this excellent organisation, 

which offers driving lessons to people who 

are mildly or severely disabled, are hearing 

impaired or suffer from other cognitive 

disabilities. 

Haydn showed us a host of pictures of the 

various driving aids available to disabled 

drivers, such as the hand accelerator/brake 

control and the ‘lollipop’ control on the 

steering wheel, among others. 

I was intrigued by the fact that there are no 

wires on the lollipop; it was connected via 

Bluetooth to a panel behind the dashboard, 

the wonders of modern technology. 

Haydn closed his presentation by showing 

a video of a woman with no arms driving and 

steering her car with her legs. 

Disability Driving Instructors is always on 

the look-out for new instructors throughout 

the country as its aim is to provide a suitably 

qualified instructor within a radius of 40-50 

miles from any disabled driver. If you are 

interested in finding more about them then 

please contact me on my details below, and I 

will pass on your details. 

AGM 

Following Haydn’s presentation, we held 

our AGM which was conducted by MSA GB 

National Chairman Mike Yeomans. The Area 

Committee were elected to their previous 

positions. 

Following the AGM we held a minute’s 

silence in memory of Clive Snook, the former 

MSA GB Western Chairman and long- 



Arthur Mynott makes a 

presentation to Colin Lilly 

in recognition of his hard 

work for the MSA GB 

standing committee member who passed 

away recently (see November Newslink), and 

also for the late Lou Walsh, the Hampshirebased 

ADI and prolific fundraiser for BBC’s 

Children in Need. 

This was immediately followed by a 

presentation to Colin Lilly to mark his many 

years as Chairman in the previous MSA 

Western area, along with flowers delivered to 

his home for his wife, Rosemary (see panel). 

Peter Harvey and Loveday Ryder 

After a delicious two-course buffet lunch 

we resumed the afternoon’s activities with a 

presentation from Peter Harvey MBE. Peter 

gave an update as to what is going on in our 

industry, any changes we need to be aware of 

and any links that would be of use to us. 

This was immediately followed by the DVSA 

Chief Executive Loveday Ryder appearing via 

a video link. We originally had the DVSA 

driver training policy adviser, John Sheridan 

booked to attend but he had to withdraw 

owing to the DVSA switching all senior 

examiners to conduct driving tests in order to 

bring the waiting times down. 

Loveday couldn’t attend in person due to 

other commitments that day but asked if she 

could appear via video link, which was set up 

by Peter Harvey, Mike Yeomans and I. We 

were all ready to go when the time arrived, 

with the use of two laptops, a projector and 

screen, and it went ahead without a hitch. 

Loveday spoke about, among other things, 

why the reduction in waiting time for tests 

hasn’t been as quick as she predicted at our 

conference last year. Her aim is still to reduce 

the average waiting time to seven weeks. 

The failure to hit this target was blamed on, 

in varying degrees, strike action, sickness 

and a change in the public’s test-buying 

habits since the pandemic. Now senior 

examiners who held a testing warrant card 

were delivering driving tests the waiting 

times were starting to come down at various 

locations throughout the country, and she 

was optimistic that this would continue over 

the coming months. 

Afterwards, Loveday was happy to answer 

an array of questions from the audience, who 

were very appreciative for her presentation 

that day. 

I ended the day by thanking all the 

speakers for the day, the hotel for the use of 

their facilities and the delicious buffet, and 

wished everyone a safe journey home. 

When I finally got home, I sat down on my 

sofa and went ‘PHEW’, relieved that 

everything had gone well, and then opened a 

deserved can of cider – what else for a West 

Country boy! 

Get in touch 

Arthur Mynott 

arthur.mynott@msagb.com 

07989852274 

An editor’s thanks 

Colin Lilly 

Editor 

MSA GB Newslink 

As Arthur mentions in his article left, I 

received some gifts at the recent 

Conference to mark my time with MSA GB 

in the Western region. 

I did not anticipate the gifts, as I stood 

down as Chairman during the time when 

Covid was disrupting so many of our 

normal proceedings. 

I was proud to serve for 30 years as 

Regional Chairman of the MSA GB 

Western Region. I am a proud West 

Countryman and have always been keen 

to promote both road safety and the 

careers and work of driving instructors. 

Becoming Editor of Newslink has been 

an excellent opportunity to pursue the 

latter and further my writing as a regional 

editor for 30 years. 

My wife Rosemary, who has supported 

me throughout this time, was very 

grateful for the flowers and I greatly 

appreciated the presentation of the wine 

carafe at the meeting. Of course, I must 

express my gratitude to the regional 

committee members over the years, and 

members across the region. 

Thank you, everyone! 


Area News 

The tech is catching up at pace but 

it can’t replace the driver just yet 

Janet 

Stewart 

London & the 

South East 

Blind spot lights 

MSA GB Area 3’s conference and AGM took 

place on 12th November, and while it was a 

little disappointing that a few people who had 

booked on failed to attend, it was still a very 

worthwhile and informative event. 

It was led by our Chairman, Tom Kwok, with 

his usual enthusiasm. He went through the 

five top reasons for failure of the Standards 

Check. Briefly, they are as follows: 

Failure to adapt the lesson plan. When 

appropriate the lesson plan needs to be 

changed to help the pupil work towards their 

learning goals. Commonly, the ADI will try to 

stick to the plan, ignoring faults, change the 

plan when it is not necessary to do so or not 

discuss changing the plan with the pupil. 

Inappropriate teaching style. This could be 

giving unnecessary briefings, not matching 

the Q & A to the pupil’s ability, or failing to 

notice that the pupil is not comfortable with 

the teaching style. 

Failing to encourage the pupil to take 

responsibility for their own learning. There 

must be a client-centred approach, with the 

pupil analysing mistakes with the help of 

appropriate Q & A. 

The instructor needs to listen carefully to 

the pupil’s answers. 

Appropriate feedback. The pupil should be 

given appropriate and timely feedback, not 

ignoring faults that do not relate to the lesson 

plan. Where possible feedback should be 

given at the time and on the move, not 

retrospectively. 

Adequate feedback on safety-critical 

incidents. The ADI must not overlook or 

ignore a safety-critical incident. Such 

incidents must be analysed in depth ensuring 

the pupil’s understanding. 

The situation should be replicated as soon 

as possible to ensure learning has taken 

place. 

After Tom’s presentation, MSA GB National 

Chairman Mike Yeomans delivered a very 

interesting presentation on Advanced Driver 

Assistance Systems (ADAS). 

I am sure that I am not alone in having a car 

that is capable of doing far more than I am 

aware of. Many of us pick up a new car and 

don’t go much beyond checking where the 

headlamp control (and the high beam) is, and 

what sort of speeds the windscreen wipers 

can manage. 

We then struggle to set up our phones and 

spend a frustrating time trying to programme 

in our favourite radio stations. 

Or is it just me? 

One of the most common systems in cars 

is a collision avoidance sensor. When the 

vehicle is getting too close to, say, the one in 

front, many cars will now come up with a 

warning on the dashboard, possibly sound an 

alarm and then brake on the driver’s behalf. 

This is really helpful in unexpected situations 

but can be very disconcerting for a learner 

who has not been told about this in advance. 

Adaptive cruise control is a bit ‘marmite’. If 

the car has to slow down for any reason the 

car will then accelerate back up to the set 

speed and it will often do this very quickly, 

taking the driver unawares. 

However, it will enable the driver to keep to 

a safe distance on a motorway and, coupled 

with lane keep assist, is leading to a reduction 

in rear end shunts. 

Some cars now have a blind spot light in 

the corner of the door mirror. This will 

activate when another vehicle is in the blind 

spot, giving a warning of encroachment that 

the driver may not have seen. This is 

particularly useful at night when the light 

coming on is more noticeable. One of the 

latest systems is fatigue detection. A sensor 

notices when the driver’s eyes seem to be 

drooping or lacking movement, indicating 

lack of attention. 

Park assist is now quite common and can, 

on some vehicles, be activated by phone. 

Auto-park is the only adaptation not 

currently permitted on driving tests. We are 

also moving towards interactive traffic lights; 

connectivity will tell the car that the lights are 

going to change. 

It should be borne in mind that these 

systems act as a ‘smart co-pilot’, 

complementing but are not replacing the 

skills of the driver. From April 2024 all 

European cars will have to have Intelligent 



“Advanced Driver Assistance 

Systems act as a ‘smart co-pilot’, 

complementing – but not 

replacing – the skills of the driver” 

Speed limit recognition 

Speed Awareness, so that the car will 

respond to speed limits. 

It is my understanding that the driver will 

be able to override this. 

For more information go to https:// 

adashub.co.uk. It gives a clear and concise 

over-view and explanation of all these 

technologies. 

Peter Harvey 

Peter Harvey, MSA GB National Vice- 

Chairman, addressed the subject of ADIs and 

the DVSA and where we seem to be as 2023 

draws to a close. First, he talked about the 

sorts of complaints that are made about 

ADIs, starting with a reminder: you must not 

use a tablet or mobile phone for conducting a 

mock test and certainly not for any other 

reason! The driving test examiner is in a 

different relationship vis-à-vis a learner and 

is not supervising and, therefore, can use a 

tablet for marking. 

Touching the pupil and bad language are 

obviously unacceptable. It is easy to forget 

how much harm social media can do. Having a 

few drinks can end up on Facebook. The 

public will complain to the DVSA, noticing 

that, for example, the ADI was seen drinking 

coffee while on a lesson. Our colleagues will 

tell learners to complain about an experience 

they have had with another instructor. Eyes 

and ears are everywhere these days and we 

need to be totally professional at all times. 

In the event of a complaint the ADI will be 

interviewed and required to give a full 

explanation of the event. If the ADI is 

convicted of anything, they should tell the 

DVSA straight away, and explain and 

apologise. Do not wait for them to come to 

you. 

DVSA are now checking that your green or 

pink certificate remains in the window until 

the car is safely parked in the test centre car 

park and the ADI has left the vehicle. Some 

ADIs who intend to remove their badge 

before the test are taking it out too early. 

An ADI may fail a Standards Check twice 

and get a third attempt, but no more than 

that. 

The DVSA’s TIP (Test Information 

Programme) criteria that may trigger a 

Standards Check have been amended and 

the five indicators are: 

n Average number of driving faults being 

six or more. 

n Average number of serious faults per 

test being 0.55% or above 

n Physical action taken by the examiner 

being above 10% of all tests 

n Pass rate less than 55% 

n Fewer than five L-tests per year. 

About 4,200 ADIs are hitting these trigger 

points. ADIs can check their own status by 

going to https://tinyurl.com/yvw4mtml. 

The data analysis is available immediately and 

it is an automatic system. 

The future 

Peter then went on to talk about the future 

and what we might expect to see from the 

DVSA. Will the number of normal stops on a 

test be reduced to one? Will there be more – 

possibly the entire test – conducted on the 

sat nav? Should the frequency of the 

emergency stop be reduced to one in seven? 

What about the future of the 20mph speed 

limit, already introduced in Wales and 

possibly going to be introduced in Scotland? 

How about a limit of 25mph? 

Other issues in the melting pot are how 

long a learner should have to wait after failing 

a test before they can re-apply; should it be 

28 days? The current marking system is fault 

based with the examiner deciding on the 

seriousness of the fault. Should a more 

holistic view be taken, with positive rather 

than negative marking? 

Most test centres are in areas of high 

“It is easy to forget how much 

harm social media can do ... 

eyes and ears are everywhere 

these days and we need to be 

totally professional at all 

times...” 

population density. Should there be more 

scope for driving on rural roads? What about 

commentary driving? 

If a driving test is cancelled by the DVSA a 

pupil may claim two hours for the hire of the 

car (but not for tuition) and, where 

appropriate, loss of half a day’s salary. 

It was also stressed how the MSA GB 

Chairman sits on NASP (the National 

Associations Strategic Partnership) 

committee along with the heads of the DIA 

and ADINJC. They have regular meetings with 

DVSA, and frank and open discussions do 

take place. 

If we, as ADIs, want something to change, 

we need to speak up and let our 

representatives know what we would like 

them to put forward. 

The afternoon/early evening concluded 

with the first Area 3 AGM for which, in the 

absence of the Secretary, I also took the 

minutes. 

I ended up with nine pages of notes to 

type up – no sympathy expected! 


Area News 

Scotland AGM: Another Great Meeting 

Brian 

Thomson 

MSA GB Scotland 

When around 70 people congregate at Castle 

Cary Hotel for a Sunday morning meeting it 

can only mean one thing: Yes, it’s MSA GB 

Scotland’s training and AGM. 

The event actually starts on the Saturday 

afternoon with committee members 

gathering to discuss, plan and set up what we 

can in preparation for the members and some 

non-members (not for long though) arriving 

the next day, eager to hear what’s going on 

in our industry, and what changes are 

heading our way. 

The doors open to attendees at 9am for a 

prompt 9.30am start, and it’s great to see 

people arriving well before then just to get 

‘booked in’ and meet other members for a 

good catch-up. 

On arrival, it’s collect your named lanyard 

from Jean Harvey’s table – she’s got finding 

your badge down to a seamless art ... it’s all 

down to laying them out alphabetically! – 

collect a conference pack containing flyers 

from meeting sponsors, the agenda for the 

day and some goodies from MSA, get your 

name marked off the attendance sheet and 

you’re free to go and find a table. 

Theme for the table names this year was 

classic cars, Anglias, Cortinas, etc. 

The meeting itself was opened bang on 

time by the Scottish chairman Steven Porter, 

who offered everyone a warm welcome and 

ran through what the day was to hold. 

First up was Stuart Lochrie of Bright 

Coaching, who offered what was just the first 

in a number of excellent presentations. He 

had the audience doing their morning 

exercises and explaining various coaching 

techniques available. 

Next up was Carol Mackie from AI 

Insurance solutions Ltd. Her presentation 

was very much from the heart as far as what 

she could and would do to assist MSA GB 

members with any issues regarding obtaining 

a replacement dual controlled car if their own 

was off the road after an accident. 

After a break the audience were treated to 

the training duo of Kev and Tracey Field from 

Confident Drivers. Again they had the room 

involved in discussions, questions, and even 

re-inventing the wheel as we know it. 

Just before the break for lunch, 

presentations were put on hold to allow the 

Annual General Meeting to take place. Steven 

Porter read out his chairman’s report for the 

year before handing over to Mike Yeomans, 

(MSA GB National Chairman), to preside over 

the nominations of the Scottish committee 

for the next 12 months. 

Steven Porter was voted in as chairman for 

another year, with Bryan Phillips voted in as 

deputy chairman and as editor. 

I will take on the roles of secretary and 

treasurer. 

One of my duties was to read out a note 

from Shelagh Oakes who informed the 

committee that she would be retiring and 

giving up her membership of the MSA GB 

after 34 years. 

Peter Hearn, DVSA 

After a hearty lunch it was the turn of 

Peter Hearn, who is the DVSA’s Area 

Operations Manager North. The audience had 

plenty of questions for him, with information 

“After a break the audience were 

treated to the training duo of Kev 

and Tracey Field from Confident 

Drivers... they had the room 

involved in discussions, with 

plenty of questions...” 



Above, Carol Mackie 

Top, from left, Bryan Phillips; 

Stuart Lochrie using Judge 

Dredd in his presentation; 

and discussions in the room 

From left, Malcolm Smith, 

ADI Enforcement, Peter Hearn 

and Peter Harvey 

on the new Highway Code and test waiting 

times among them. Between Peter and the 

other Peter (Harvey) they kept the 

discussions going with a bit of humour and 

lots of audience involvement. 

This was followed by Peter Harvey MBE, 

who gave the room some insights into what 

has changed recently – and what could be 

changing in the future. 

Peter finished off his presentation with an 

emotional thank you to MSA GB members for 

a gift of an Edinburgh stay and attendance to 

the Military Tattoo for him and Jean, to mark 

him standing down as National Chairman. 

He handed the close of the day over the 

deputy chairman, Bryan Phillips ,who gave 

thanks for all attending and wished everyone 

a safe journey home. 

Steven Porter 

makes a point 

– or kicks off 

the Karaoke... 


Area News 

Great conference proves the need 

for ADIs to get together 

John Lomas 

MSA GB 

West Coast 

& Wales 

It was great to attend the MSA GB West 

Coast & Wales conference in Gloucester 

last month. It attracted a reasonable 

audience and as you will have read in 

Arthur’s report on page 30, those present 

were able to hear a series of great 

presentations, including Matt Cleevely 

from Cleevely Electric Motors, Alan Gott 

from FBTC and Haydn Jenkins from 

Disability Driving Instructors. 

As ever, the highlight of these events 

tends to be the interaction with the DVSA, 

and after Peter Harvey had brought us up 

to date on the latest news, Loveday Ryder 

joined us by video link. 

Ms Ryder apologised for the absence of 

DVSA representatives but at the same 

time, I think most people there appreciated 

that what ADIs want at the moment is 

everything possible to be done in order to 

bring the waiting lists down to a more 

acceptable time gap. 

It was lovely to watch Arthur Mynott 

make a belated presentation to Colin Lilly in 

recognition of his long service to the West 

Country Region including being its 

Chairman previously. 

At the AGM all officers for the area were 

returned to office without challenge, but I 

should remind everyone that none of us 

are getting any younger, so do please 

consider whether you might have 

something to offer in the future. 

With such a large area committee 

meetings are held over Zoom so do not 

involve the travel which they used to. 

If you have any thoughts and opinions 

you want brought forward you can also 

contact me to get them included in my 

column in Newslink. 

If you decide you might like to get 

involved on the committee, feel free to 

contact any existing committee member 

for a chat. 

I understand that there were at least 

four instructors who became new 

members at the meeting. Welcome to the 

association and I hope we will see you at 

future meetings in your local area. 

Accessibility 

Overall I thought our hosts, Gloucester 

Robinswood Best Western Hotel, did a great 

job, though with one slight criticism: there 

was no internal lift access down to the 

conference room or up to the dining room. 

As you know I am a mobility scooter user 

now, though I can still get about on my own 

two feet with care – and a stick – so could 

manage the stairs, and someone was good 

enough to carry my folded walker for the 

initial entry and final egress. The ramped 

access to the different levels was, 

according to the information I got from 

reception, outside the building and the 

weather was not really conducive for such 

use 

I have definitely been to MSA meetings in 

the past where attendees were using 

wheelchairs of varying types so they could 

have been disadvantaged by the 

arrangements. I’ve mentioned my 

difficulties to a Disability Access 

campaigning group in Gloucester, and 

hopefully the hotel will take note. 

Beware of highwaymen employed by 

councils, etc 

I return now to a topic which I have raised 

previously: vehicles carried on recovery 

transporters being charged by ANPR 

systems, who clocked the number plate 

but – obviously – didn’t have a note that 

Christmas Quiz! 

There are only two related questions to ask, but they may act as a trigger to an interesting 

conversation with a pupil. These could be learning aids – it’s all about getting them thinking! 

1) In the UK, on a two-way road, where is it a legal requirement to drive on the right? 

2) Do you know of anywhere, on a two-way road, where it is advisable to keep to the right? 

Put your thinking caps on, and if you can come up with any places in your local area, let me know at 

the email address on the facing page. I’ll give you the answer I know of in january’s Newslink. 



the user had paid the necessary fee to 

enter the zone/cross the bridge, etc. 

My previous experience was on the 

Thames Crossing but now I have seen a 

photo and newspaper article about it 

happening in the CAZ in Bristol. 

So another word of warning; if your 

vehicle has to be recovered insist that the 

recovery driver either tapes over the 

registration plate or removes it and puts it 

in the car. 

Hopefully nobody has received a 

speeding fine due to the ANPR anomaly, 

but how many have had to appeal and 

prove that they weren’t driving at that 

particular time and place? 

If it was one of you, how long would it 

take to prove to the registrar that it is an 

unwarranted charge and should not be held 

against your record? 

Editor’s note: see end of article 

Tyre safety 

Have a look at the photo at the top of the 

facing page: (no, not mine, the tyre!) 

When I saw this picture of a sockingly 

bald tyre on Facebook I thought you might 

be able to use it as a teaching aid when 

talking to pupils about tyre safety. 

It isn’t a picture from a British 

contributor; rather it comes from a road 

safety site in Zambia, called Traffic Desk. 

I have found it quite interesting because 

it’s a country that drives on the left and its 

signage is a mixture of UK-style ones with 

some local or international additions. The 

authorities also sometimes put up the 

sorts of hand-drawn diagrams of 

procedures which are very much like the 

ones many of us do (or did in my case). 

The only good news to come out of the 

pic is it’s almost good enough to check 

your parting by! 

Editor’s note: At MSA GB we’ve never 

heard of a car on a recovery vehicle 

receiving a speeding ticket, but with so 

much reliance on ‘intelligent’ technology, 

which at times we all know can be pretty 

dumb, it isn’t out of the realms of 

possibility. 

Therefore, as a reminder, if you do 

receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution 

(NIP), you can always ask to see 

photographic evidence of your 

misdemeanour. Hopefully, even the most 

stringent applier of the highway rules will 

agree you can’t get a ticket when your 

car is on the back of a trailer! 

Tragic tale of four wasted lives 

proves need for us to keep the 

focus on young drivers’ safety 

Bob Page 

MSA GB London & the South East 

Hello folks. I don’t know about you but I found 

myself profoundly affected by the death last 

month of the four teenage boys in 

Snowdonia, after they were involved in a car 

crash (see below for more details) 

Although I know nothing of the details, 

which I’m sure will all come out at the inquest, 

their deaths after the car they were travelling 

in crashed makes me think of my 

responsibilities as a driver trainer. 

Travelling home from a successful test I, 

and I’m sure many others, take time to stress 

to my new driver the need to avoid overconfidence, 

especially when carrying 

passengers. Bravado can kill. 

I feel the DVSA also does its bit with the 

Theory Test and Show me - Tell me 

components of the L-test, and also including 

more rural routes on driving tests, but at the 

risk of taking to my favourite soap box I do 

think that the Government could do more to 

get these messages out to the public via the 

media. 

Lets face it, during the 70s we were 

constantly being bombarded by positive road 

safety messages, and drink-driving, 

clunk-click every trip, etc, adverts. Why can’t 

we see similar ads now? 

As I say, I have no idea if my assessment of 

this tragic crash is correct but I hope it makes 

all of us even more aware of our responsibility 

for the future of our trainees. 

RIP boys. 

Young boys killed were ‘thriving in life’ 

The tragic news that the bodies of four young 

men from Shrewsbury – Jevon Hirst, Harvey 

Owen, Wilf Fitchett and Hugo Morris – had 

been discovered after the car they were 

travelling in crashed on an isolated road in 

Gwynedd, north Wales, will have sent a shiver 

down the spine of parents everywhere. 

It is believed their silver Ford Fiesta plunged 

off a windy country road and overturned in a 

flooded ditch. It was not known exactly when 

the fatal crash took place, but brutal weather 

in the area around the time the boys 

disappeared may have played a factor. 

So too could inexperience: the driver will 

have been only a handful of weeks from 

passing his test, and it is likely that he had not 

encountered such poor weather conditions 

before, nor the challenges associated with 

navigating narrow, winding rural roads. 

For ADIs the tragedy was a salutary 

reminder of the responsibility we carry to 

ensure not only are our charges prepared for 

the L-test, but they are prepared for posttest 

driving, too. 

MSA GB said: “Too many young people are 

involved in serious incidents in the two years 

immediately after passing their test. Often the 

factors involved include inexperience, as they 

encounter conditions that their training could 

never replicate, as well as an inability to handle 

distractions.” 

Tributes have been paid to all four, with 

them all being described as charming, 

creative, funny and gentle souls who felt 

empathy for others. 

If any good can come out of the deaths, it 

has to be that all ADIs use their fate as a 

reminder to their young charges, that they are 

not invincible and must always be aware that 

crashes such as this can be just around the 

corner. 

Left, the four young victims: RIP 


Members’ discounts 

Members’ discounts and benefits 

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

and click on the Member Discounts logo. To access these benefits, simply log in and click on the Member discount logo, then click the link at the 

bottom of the page to allow you to obtain your special discounts. 

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

Access to a replacement dual 

control car after a crash 

EXCLUSIVE DEAL FOR MSA GB MEMBERS 

MSA GB has partnered with AI Insurance Solutions Limited to provide members with a 

replacement dual controlled car when things don’t quite go to plan. 

If you lose your dual-controlled tuition car in a crash, MSA GB’s new partnership with AI 

Insurance Solutions Ltd will have you back on the road and teaching in no time. 

Our exclusive agreement with AI Solutions Ltd will supply a replacement vehicle to you 

should the need arise – at no cost. Contact The AI Insurance Solutions Emergency (AIIS) 

assistance line on 01945 425211 for more details, or see pg 26. 

Ford updates special 

members’ offer 

Ford has partnered with MSA GB to offer exclusive 

discounts on all car and commercial Ford vehicles. 

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

for vehicle and specification information. See the 

Members’ Benefits page on the MSA GB website 

and follow the Ford link for more details.. 

Please note these discounts are only available to 

MSA GB members and their immediate family if they 

are members who pay annually. 

ACCOUNTANCY 

MSA GB’s Recommended 

Accountancy Service, FBTC 

offers a specialist service for 

ADIs. It has been established 

over 20 years ago and covers the 

whole of the UK. The team takes pride in 

providing unlimited advice and support to ensure 

the completion of your tax return is hassle free, 

giving you peace of mind. 

MSA GB OFFER:: FBTC will prepare you for 

Making Tax Digital and will be providing HMRC 

compliant software to all clients very soon. 

Join now to receive three months free. 

ADVANCE DRIVING 

AND RIDING 

As the UK’s largest road safety 

charity, IAM RoadSmart is 

proud to partner with the 

Motor Schools Association 

GB. Working together to promote and 

enhance motorists skills on our roads. 

MSA GB OFFER:: Get 10% off Advanced courses; 

visit www.iamroadsmart.com/course and 

use the code MSA10 at the checkout or call 

0300 303 1134 to book. 

BREATHALYSER KITS 

Protect yourself and your pupils with a 

personal breathalyser. We’ve teamed up with 

AlcoSense, the award-winning range of 

personal breathalysers, to offer an exclusive 

discount to all MSA GB members. A personal 

breathalyser takes the guesswork out of 

whether there’s residual alcohol in your 

system (or that of your learner driver pupil) 

the morning after the night before. 

MSA GB OFFER:: 10% off any AlcoSense product 

(excluding single-use disposables) – from the 

entry-level Lite 2 (£44.99) to the top-ofthe-range 

Ultra (£249.00). 

CAR AIR FRESHENERS / CANDLES 

Mandles’ handmade scented collections use 

quality ingredients to ensure superior scent 

throw from all its candles and 

diffusers. Check our our website 

for further details. 

MSA GB OFFER:: Special discount 

of 20% on all car air fresheners 

and refills. 

CARD PAYMENTS 

MSA GB and SumUp believe 

in supporting motor vehicle 

trainers of all shapes and sizes. 

Together we are on a mission to 

ease the operational workload of 

our members by providing them with the ability 

to take card payments on-the-go or in their 

respective training centres. SumUp readers 

are durable and user-friendly. Their paperless 

onboarding is quick and efficient. Moreover, 

their offer comes with no monthly subscription, 

no contractual agreement, no support fees, 

no hidden fees – just the one-off cost for the 

reader coupled with lowest on the market 

transaction fee. 

DISABILITY AIDS 

Driving shouldn’t just be a 

privilege for people without 

disabilities; it should be 

accessible for all and there’s never been an easier 

time to make this the case! MSA GB members 

can take advantage of BAS’s Driving Instructor 

Packages which include a range of adaptations at 

a discounted price, suitable for teaching disabled 

learner drivers. 

MSA GB OFFER:: Special Driving Instructor 

Packages for MSA GB members. 

FUEL CARDS 

Save up to 10p per litre of fuel with Fuel Card 

Services. Fuel Card Services offers a large 

choice of networks from leading brands, such 

as BP, Shell, Esso and UK Fuels so you can 

decide which networks you wish to include on 

your business account. 

MSA GB OFFER:: An MSA GB fuel card will save 

you up to 10p per litre. 

HEALTH / FINANCE COVER 

The Motor Schools Association of Great 

Britain has agreed with HMCA to 

offer discounted rates for medical 

plans, dental plan, hospital cash 

plans, personal accident plan, 

travel plan, income protection 

and vehicle breakdown products. 

MSA GB OFFER:: HMCA only offer 

medical plans to membership groups 

and can offer up to a 40% discount off the 

underwriter’s standard rates. This is a 

comprehensive plan which provides generous 

cash benefits for surgery and other charges. 

To get the full story of the 

discounts available, see 

www.msagb.com 



PUPIL INSURANCE 

Join the Collingwood 

Instructor Programme and 

refer your pupils for learner 

insurance. 

MSA GB OFFER:: MSA GB OFFER:: £50 for 

your first referral and £20 for all additional 

referrals. 

PSYCHOLOGY TRAINING 

Confident Drivers has the only 

website created especially for 

drivers offering eight different 

psychological techniques 

commonly used to reduce stress and nerves. 

MSA GB OFFER:: One month free on a monthly 

subscription plan using coupon code. 

PUPIL SOURCING 

Go Roadie provides students 

when they need them, with all 

the details you need before you 

accept. Control your own pricing, 

discounts and set your availability 

to suit you. Full diary? No cost! 

MSA GB OFFER:: Introductory offer of 50% off 

the first three students they accept. 

QUICKBOOKS 

50% Discount on two 

packages for MSA GB 

members 

Quickbooks is offering an online 

50% discount for MSA GB members on two of 

their premium accounting packages. 

Essentials Package For small businesses 

working with suppliers. Manage VAT and 

Income Tax with up to three users. 

Plus For businesses managing projects, 

stock, VAT, and Income Tax. Up to five users. 

The packages are contract-free throughout 

with no cancellation fee. This exclusive 

member offer can only be secured by 

contacting our MSA GB representative at 

Quickbooks - Ollie Nobes, on: 07723 507 026 

or email: Ollie_Nobes@intuit.com quoting: 

**MSAGB** 

To get the full story of the 

discounts available, see 

www.msagb.com 

Membership offer 

Welcome, new ADIs 

We’ve a special introductory offer for you! 

Congratulations on passing your 

Part 3 and becoming an ADI. 

There’s an exciting career 

open to you from today, 

one that’s alive with 

possibilities as you build 

your skills, your client base 

and your income. 

But for all the excitement, 

it can also be challenging; 

who can you turn to if you’re 

struggling to get over key driver 

training issues to a pupil? Where can 

you go to soak up advice from more 

experienced ADIs? Who will help you if you 

are caught up in a dispute with the DVSA? If 

the worst happens, who can you turn to for 

help, advice and to fight your corner? 

The answer is the Motor Schools 

Association of Great Britain – MSA GB for 

short. 

We are the most senior association 

representing driving instructors in Great 

Britain. Establised in 1935 when the first 

driving test was introduced, MSA GB has 

been working tirelessly ever since on 

behalf of ordinary rank and file ADIs. 

We represent your interests and your 

views in the corridors of power, holding 

regular meetings with senior officials 

from the DVSA and the Department for 

Transport to make sure the ADIs’ voice is 

heard. 

SPECIAL OFFER 

Join MSA GB today! 

SPECIAL OFFER: Join for just £60 with your 

PI & PL insurance included immediately! 

No joining fee - saving you £25 

Call 01787 221020 quoting discount code 

Newslink, or join online at www.msagb.com 

We’d like you to 

join us 

We’re there to support you 

every step of the way. 

Our office-based staff are 

there, five days a week, 

from 9am-5pm, ready to 

answer your call and help 

you in any way. 

In addition our network of 

experienced office holders and 

regional officers can offer advice over 

the phone or by email. 

But membership of the MSA GB doesn’t 

just mean we’re there for you if you’re 

in trouble. We also offer a nationwide 

network of regular meetings, seminars and 

training events, an Annual Conference, and 

a chance to participate in MSA GB affairs 

through our democratic structure 

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

membership magazine Newslink every 

month, with all the latest news, views, 

comment and advice you’ll need to become 

a successful driving instructor. 

You’ll also automatically receive 

professional indemnity insurance worth up 

to £5m and £10m public liability insurance 

free of charge. 

This is essential legal protection covering 

you against legal claims ariving from your 

tuition.

Newslink December final

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