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News The natives are getting restless in Bromley... MSA GB stepped in to fight ADIs’ corner after their training practices were criticised in an article in the Daily Mail. The paper sounded like it was definitely on the side of residents when it talked about a “constant stream of learner drivers plaguing the streets” of the Park Langley area of Bromley, south-east London, saying learners were making the locals’ lives hell with “with terrible three point turns, parallel parking and reversing around corners.” What’s worse, these actions were taking place in an area that has “tree-lined roads where the detached houses fetch over £1 million each.” Heaven forbid that mere ADIs should enter such beautiful areas... Residents also complained about increased pollution through ADIs and pupils “parking outside their detached houses with their engines idling.” The residents’ association even wrote to one driving school asking them to choose other roads to give locals a break. One resident claimed that on a recent walk they saw at least 20 learner vehicles pass by in half an hour. Thankfully, the paper had the good grace to contact MSA GB to get the ADIs’ side of the row, and Peter Harvey was happy to oblige – and fair play to the Daily Mail for publishing his defence. He pointed out that: “There are no regulations that restrict driving instructors from going where they want as long as it’s legal. “Lots of people will say that although they are a pain when they are there, they are actually quite good for looking after people’s properties, as burglars are less likely to want to get caught somewhere where there are constantly cars around, so some may actually think it’s a good thing. “If there is a test centre somewhere nearby, instructors tend to use some areas more - if instructors are using it, it’s because examiners are too. “It might be a bit annoying, but everyone has to learn to drive. And there’s so much traffic around now that these quiet roads are actually quite rare.’ Bromley does have a test centre, but it is on the other side of the town. Werner Schluep, of the Park Langley Residents’ Association, which led the complaints against the ADIs, said they had tried to address the issue. “We have noticed learner drivers in Park Langley for many years now,” Mr Schluep told the Daily Mail. “I guess there is nothing wrong with it per se, but I am constantly amazed at the sheer numbers around here. “Some days I see more learner drivers Left, a screen shot from the Daily Mail website showing some images that accompanied the article. What is interesting in the three shots is that each one shows a single ADI car, with no evidence of ‘multiple driving school cars operaing in the area’. than I do normal vehicles. “They’re queuing up at junctions and you have to avoid them while they are doing their three-point turns. It can be very frustrating.” What to do if you are approached by residents Stories such as this one surface from time to time – usually in the leafy suburbs, like Bromley. As Peter Harvey correctly pointed out, there is nothing wrong with learners practising in any particular area on the road – but common sense should tell instructors not to over-use some areas. MSA GB says: …“While it is rare to see ADIs banned from particular areas – we know it does happen with private spaces, such as car parks – residents who get upset by the presence of too many driving school cars can make life uncomfortable for learners, particularly those beginning their learningto-drive journey, as many of those using the roads around Bromley may very well be. “Such roads as those in Park Langley are great for learners when they start learning the basics, so we appreciate why ADIs use them. But we always ask memebrs to use common sense when selecting a training area; if you arrive at a favourite spot to practise a right reverse or parallel park, to find a number of other instructors in the area, delay that practising regime for the time being and move on to other tasks. “It’s also good to find spots a long way from DTCs, and to have a number of spots up your sleeve you can use, if one you like looks busy.” 14 NEWSLINK n FEBRUARY 2024
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com Test centre changes The DVSA has announced a number of changes to driving test centres Crawley test centre: temporary closure While refurbishment works are being carried out at Crawley driving test centre (DTC) on Brighton Road, the DVSA will temporarily be operating out of the Broadfield Community Centre, Holyrood Place, from Monday, 4 March to 16 April. Eastbourne test centre: temporary closure While refurbishment works are being carried out at Eastbourne DTC on Wartling Road, the DVSA will temporarily be operating out of Sovereign Harbour Community Centre, Pevensey Bay Road . This will be from Monday, 14 June to Monday, 25 July. Hinkley test centre: temporary closure While refurbishment works are being carried out at Hinkley DTC on Brookside, all tests will temporarily be operating out of Automotive Transport Training on Jacknell Road, Hinkley LE10 3BS from Monday, 11 March to Monday, 9 April. Mill Hill test centre: temporary closure Mill Hill driving test centre (DTC) on Granard Business Centre, Bunns Lane will be closed from Monday, 9 May to Monday, 20 June. Tests will run from Church House Service Offices at 120 Bunns Lane, Mill Hill NW7 2DZ during this period. Yeovil test centre: temporary closure Yeovil driving test centre (DTC) on Abbey Manor Business Centre, Abbots Meade will be closed from Monday, 24 march to Monday, 8 May, with tests operating out of the Kensington Suite, Abbey Manor Business Centre on Preston Road, Yeovil BA20 2EN Coventry test centre: temporary closure Coventry driving test centre (DTC) on Bayton Road, Exhall will be temporarily closed from Wednesday, April 10 to Wednesday, May 22. During that period tests will be run from Nuneaton, Rugby and Warwick DTCs. Their addresses are: Nuneaton: 54 Vernons Lane, Nuneaton CV10 8AA Rugby, 66b Somers Rd, Rugby CV22 7DH Warwick, Ground Floor, Wedgnock House Wedgnock Lane, Warwick CV34 5AP Nuneaton test centre temporary closure Nuneaton DTC on Vernons Lane will close temporarily from Monday, February 5 to Friday, March 1. During that period tests will be conducted from Coventry Driving Test Centre, Bayton Road industrial Estate, 42 Baton Road, Coventry CV7 9EJ Middlesbrough test centre temporary relocation While refurbishment works are being carried out at Middlesbrough driving test centre on Maxwell Road the DVSA will operate out of South Tees Business Centre, Puddlers Lane, Middlesbrough TS6 6TL. This will be from Saturday, 24 February to Saturday, 7 April. Please note entrance to the building and customer parking is at the front of the Odeon Cinema, and candidates will be met in the foyer. Popcorn can be purchased while you wait. West Didsbury test centre temporary closure While refurbishment works are being carried out at West Didsbury driving test centre on Christie Way, West Didsbury M21 7QY, testing will be operating out of Key House, Unit 7, Christie Fields, from Monday 19 February to Monday 1 April. Bury St Edmunds test centre temporary relocation Bury St Edmunds driving test centre on St Andrew’s Street will be closed from 14 March to Friday 3 May, with tests run from DB Conference Rooms, Kempson Way, Bury St Edmunds IP3 7AR To get to the new DTC: Exit A14 Bury East at Junction 44 and follow the sign to the Moreton Hall area. Head up Bedingfield Way (past Sainsbury’s) until you reach the top of the hill. On your right you will see a John Bank’s Honda garage. Take the fourth exit (Kempson Way). The DB Conference Rooms is part of the Denny Bros Group and is the last building on left before the roundabout. Meet and greet will take place at the car park and candidates should wait at their vehicle for test start. Do not to use the car park for practice purposes. There will be no weekend testing during this period. In all cases, the DVSA has contacted candidates affected by this temporary relocation. However, if you have booked a test on behalf of your pupil, please let them know about these changes. Concern escooter injuries are being under reported PACTS has published a new report looking at the use of e-scooters, after finding that over 300 casualties reported to hospital after collisions. However, there appears to be huge discrepancies between the data on e-scooter casualties captured by hospitals and the police, amid claims that the number of injuries caused by these vehicles is widely under reported. PACTS says: “Knowing how many people are injured in road traffic collisions is important. It means that, for any form of transport, the risk of harm to the driver or rider and the risk of harm to other road users can be better understood. “Official data for all road traffic casualties are based on police records. It has long been accepted that comparing official police data on the number of people presenting at hospital with an injury from a road traffic collision, with hospital data, highlights discrepancies.” PACTs found that: n Fewer than 10% of casualties with injury from a collision involving an e-scooter presenting to emergency departments were recorded in the official data; n Only around a quarter of those most seriously injured in collisions involving e-scooters were recorded by both the police and at hospitals. PACTS says that all collisions resulting in injury should be reported to the police to allow for a clearer picture to develop over the safety impacts of their usage. PACTS has called on the DfT to: n Improve the means of recording e-scooter casualties by updating guidance to rental operators; and, n Issue clear information to the public about the obligations of reporting road traffic collisions to the police, including those involving e-scooter. Margaret Winchcomb, PACTS Deputy Executive Director, said: “It is essential that the methods for measuring e-scooters’ hazard to riders and danger to other road users are consistent and robust so that safety is adequately understood. “The Government should improve and widen the way injuries from e-scooter collisions are recorded.” NEWSLINK n FEBRUARY 2024 15
Page 1: msagb.com Newslink The Voice of MSA
Page 4 and 5: Contents 06 28 08 17 11 Here we go
Page 6 and 7: News New numbers for 68 DTCS Member
Page 8 and 9: News Wales’ public health body ca
Page 10 and 11: News The truth is out there... DVSA
Page 12 and 13: News Soaring insurance costs risk k
Page 16 and 17: News It’s all the best from MSA G
Page 18 and 19: Spotlight: Compulsory CPD For many
Page 20 and 21: Members’ section MSA GB Annual Co
Page 22 and 23: Members’ section MSA GB membershi
Page 24 and 25: Members’ section MSA GB launches
Page 26 and 27: Members’ section New membership s
Page 28 and 29: Towards your CPD Changing driver be
Page 30 and 31: Road safety news Euro road safety c
Page 32 and 33: Area News The idea of young LGV dri
Page 34 and 35: Area News Too fast, or not fast eno
Page 36 and 37: Special feature The Community Off-r
Page 38 and 39: Members’ discounts Members’ dis

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