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Questions from the floor
Nick and John were more than
happy to answer questions from
the floor. Below are just some
of the many topics covered
Q: ADIs were concerned that the TIP
programme was not acknowledging the
candidate’s ADI if the test took place in the
pupil’s own car.
A: This is easily rectified. If your car isn’t
available, tell the examiner beforehand the
ADI number, or get your pupil to do so if you
are not attending. Before the test!
learners fail a test and be back three weeks
later for another go. And as he said, “there are
fails… and there are fails…”
Q: Is there anything we can do about L-test
‘no show’ candidates?
A: This is very frustrating; there is nothing
worse than knowing you have a big waiting
list and examiners sat around doing nothing
as their candidate has failed to show. The
DVSA text reminder service has proved
useful in reducing no shows, or to convince
people to cancel and swap their test if they
realise they aren’t ready near the date.
Q: Does the DVSA record car registration
numbers for TIP scores?
A: They don’t usually but the DVSA does
have the facility to do so. Usually it occurs
only if there are concerns over candidate
standards.
Q: Can we link CPD taken to our TIP data, if
that is going to set when Standards Checks
take place?
A: At the moment this doesn’t happen, but
a wider point is that Nick and John would like
to see the narrative change around Standards
Checks. “We don’t see the Check as a
negative. It is an opportunity to showcase
how you are fairing as an ADI and your skills.
Think of it as a positive.”
On CPD: “use the engagement call to talk
about your CPD”.
On Standards Checks: “the DVSA has a
regulatory function that is important, but
sees it as opportunity to keep an eye on
overall standards.”
Q: If a pupil complains to the DVSA about an
ADI not allowing them to take their driving
test because they are not ready, what would
the DVSA say? Whose side would you be on?
A: We are very much on the ADI’s side in
such a case. We would ignore such complaints.
It is your job to know when a pupil is ready.
Q: Could the DVSA run more road safety
campaigns? They were always very
successful in the past
A: The DfT runs road safety campaigns,
and at the moment the focus is on the Think
campaign. We are running the Ready To Pass
campaign.
DVSA is always keen to promote new
John Sheridan: After being
an examiner in Lichfield
for the past few months, I
can tell you, there are
fails... and there are fails...
educational campaigns, particularly targeted
ones. For instance, data had showed that a
growing number of drivers from the West
Midlands’ Asian community were reluctant to
wear a seatbelt. A campaign fronted by local
voices had helped highlight this.
John Sheridan brought the conference’s
attention to Drive fast, Die Young (see pg 8).
This is a film that should be viewed by all
learners, he said. It is an excellent account of
the consequences of a high-speed crash, and
how easy it is for young and novice drivers to
be drawn into bad habits and reckless
behaviour by peer pressure.
Q: Why didn’t the DVSA predict that there
would be a rise in L-test demand post-Covid?
A: We know the demand is still too high and
it is still our priority. We have added 150,000
tests - a huge number - and would continue
to do all we could. Post Covid it was difficult to
respond any quicker than we did. It takes a
long time to train a new examiner.
John Sheridan pointed out that if there
were no fails there would be no waiting lists.
As an examiner he had witnessed several
Q: Are you going to do anything for PDIs who
fear they will run out of time to take their
Part 2/3 (as a reminder, PDIs have only two
years to have booked their Part 3 from the
moment they pass their Part 1)
A: Our hands are tied; the need to pass the
Part 3 within two years is in the regulations,
so changing it would require parliamentary
approval, and it is unlikely time would be
allocated for it. We would stress that you
don’t need to have passed your Part 3 within
two years, just have a Part 3 test booked
before the two years is up. The test itself can
be months later.
Q: What is the DVSA’s view on graduated
driving licences?
In many respects this is not our sector, but
we know from talking to colleagues in
Northern Ireland, where graduated licences
do exist, that they can be burdensome and
restrictive.
However, we’re happy to keep an open
mind, and anything that can be proven to
improve road safety would be supported. It
does need to be balanced and thought
through, to avoid unintended consequences.
Q: Can we sanction candidates who don’t
show up, perhaps by charging them more?
Great idea but we can’t as the test fee is laid
down in parliamentary regulations.
Q: Why allow L-tests in DTCs that are clearly
miles away from their home?
It’s about personal choice; candidates can
book a test wherever they like. Ironically, it is
good to encourage a test in an area that they
don’t know, to avoid learning the test route
by rote.
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