Newslink April marketing special

Members’ section
NASP: The National Associations
Strategic Partnership
Alongside the other major ADI representative
bodies, MSA GB is a member of NASP: the
National Associations Strategic Partnership.
NASP holds regular meetings with senior
personnel from the DVSA to discuss the
current position in the driver training and
testing sector, to seek views and offer advice,
and discuss how policy was impacting on
driving standards and L-test outcomes.
The most recent meeting took place on 11th
March, via Teams, with a focus on the
continuing fight to bring L-test waiting times
down.
At the meeting the DVSA revealed:
n Nearing end of six months recovery
period. Some warrant holders will be returning
to normal duties after end of March (as
reported to the MSA Conference, see from
page 14)
n National average waiting times for
L-tests were down, to 16.1 weeks through
February. The north of Great Britain was
recovering more quickly than the south. In
Scotland, north-east England down to
Lincolnshire the average waiting time was 12.5
weeks. In north-west England, including
Manchester, Wales, and down to
Gloucestershire, waiting times were 15 weeks.
In Nottingham, M1, Oxford, Cambridge and a
belt running from Norfolk to Penzance, the
position was worse, around 19 weeks, and
there was continuing high demand in M1
corridor area into SE England. In London and
south-east England is was 21-22 weeks.
n The DVSA was actively seeking
volunteers from among its examiners to move
from driving test centres with lower L-test
waiting times to ones in high wait areas.
n Forward bookings have fallen to 507,293,
with a sustained dropping off for bookings
since October. These have been continually
falling each month. Panic buying of tests was
not fully over but customer behaviour is
starting to change.
At the time of writing there were 127,000
available tests in system to book, though
these were not evenly distributed across the
country.
n The DVSA is conducting around 44,000
tests a week. In July 2023 it was 33,000.
It was forecast that there would be two
million tests held this year – comfortably a
record high.
Recruitment
The DVSA was still looking to recruit more
examiners. It had 170 available posts -
proportionally in line with recovery and will be
newcomers will be posted where they are
most needed. Response has been positive.
ADI Registrar
The volume of new applications to become
ADIs is not reducing. Over 100% more
applications than previously - now 41,000 on
the Register with 4,000 trainee licence
holders. The DVSA is still receiving around 700
applications per month for trainee licences
- previously 250 per month. This has been
challenging, with no let-up for 18 months.
In February 2024 there were 1,675 new ADI
qualifications and 722 trainee licences.
ADI Examiner Update
n There were 5,727 Part 2s from
September 2023 – February 2024 - again, a
record number. Previously were 500 a month.
Currently delivering to capacity at three times
the normal.
During the same period there were 4,637
Part 3s.
n However, the DVSA conducted only 863
Standard Checks. Each one was with an ADI
who had registered poor scores on the TIP
evaluation of pupils’ driving test record, had
qualified recently or had failed a Standards
Check.
n A six-week course was starting on 8
April for six new examiners. There will be nine
examiners within three months giving an
extra 150 tests per week.
n Resources will be focused on Part 2s and
3s and then Standards Checks, focusing on
areas with highest needs
n NASP asked if people are booking early
because of lack of Part 2 and 3 tests. This is
happening and means they will cancel tests,
which will have detrimental effect on whether
they get more than one trainee licence and
take slots away from those who are ready.
NASP suggested it’s happening because
people are scared their two years will run out
and asked if there are messages for trainees.
DVSA replied, making sure they are prepared
is the best message.
n NASP said if a trainee is on “Book to Hold”
they can take Part 3 if theory is running out,
but they can’t have more than one test
booked at a time.
DVSA stated, the window is still 12 weeks
and priority will be given to those with Part 1
expiring, as well as those who came on the list
first. Some test centres have different needs.
If the demand for Part 2s and 3s is lower there
will be more Standard Checks.
Ready2Pass? and communications
n NASP asked for an update in relation to
Ready2Pass regarding trainees. DVSA stated
work had been started on this, however is
currently paused. Supporting messages and
PDI guidance is now being issued on a weekly
basis.
n NASP queried ADI qualification test
results emails update. It was explained that
these will be reviewed once warrant card
holders return from testing.
Policy update
n DVSA driver policy team is currently
focusing on driver policy priorities and has
started designing a long-term recovery
roadmap
30 NEWSLINK n APRIL 2024