DSA opening hours: Christmas and New Year

DSA will close at times over Christmas and New Year, but its online services will be available as normal.

DSA will be operating a normal service up to and including Tuesday 24 December.

However, DSA’s online services will be available throughout Christmas and the New Year. You’ll be able to:
book and manage your theory or practical driving test
use the DSA online business service
use instructor services

Changing or cancelling a test

If you want to change the date of your test or cancel it, you must give at least 3 clear working days’ notice or you’ll have to pay again. Sundays and public holidays don’t count as working days.

Find out more

Making the grade. Make your view count on how ADIs are professionally evaluated

The DSA have asked us to feedback views from trainers on a new grading system for ADIs. With the advent of the new Standards Check in 2014, comes the opportunity to develop a new grading methodology.

We'd like your ideas and inputs on this one. Click on this link for a very short survey (only 6 questions!), and the results will be fed directly into the DSA, as they consider the options ahead of introducing the new Standards Check itself this coming April.

Some voices (and national associations) within the industry are calling for a simple pass or fail system, where only the fact of whether you have passed or failed would be made public. But does such a system offer an opportunity to reflect the higher standards of those instructors who would naturally wish demonstrate they are not only meeting the standards, but exceeding them?

Is there a more effective way of communicating to the public that there are various standards and levels of quality within in driving instruction?

It has been further suggested by those in favour of a mere pass or fail system that perhaps the actual mark an instructor gains could also be made public (at the instructors own discretion) but would that add any real value, especially as many customers will not be aware of what that mark means (the status quo), and it depends on the instructors own communication of that mark for them to get the message (and when the regulator will only confirm a pass or fail status, will that communication be seen as mere marketing spin by the individual instructor?). Would a publicly available grade or band, ratified by a government agency, be a better way for both trainers to demonstrate their quality, and be a more official rating system for the public to trust in than pass rates, testimonials, unofficial ratings and instructor's own say-so?

Fifty shades of grade

We're not suggesting a myriad and complex grading system but rather than pure black and white, would it better instead to develop a system which reflects higher standards, if we as a profession are truly committed to raising the standards? Many other, familiar educational systems could be utilised and these are already widely recognised and understandable to both pupils, parents, employers, companies and other customers. A fail is a fail, and perhaps needs little other communication, but is just passing a good enough bar to reach for? How about pass, merit, distinction? Or similar to the Ofsted inspection system within general education: grade 1: (outstanding); grade 2 (good); grade 3 (requires improvement); grade 4 (inadequate)? There are even systems used widely in employee appraisals in companies across the UK which could be considered using terms such as Top, High, Performing, Developing, Low. Or are there other systems you could suggest which would be effective in reflecting varying levels of quality and professionalism?

Give us your views now and help shape change on how we rate ourselves, and perhaps better communicate to the wider world the level of our professionalism. 

Top December offers for DIA Training Courses

It's been a great year for our CPD programme, with more members gaining qualifications in our Diploma in Driver Education and we've had a great response to our new courses, DIAmond Coaching & First Aid for Road Users. We're delighted that more driving instructors are engaged in developing their careers, so to celebrate this fact and to help those who want to prepare for 2014, we're offering fantastic Christmas and New Year deals. For DIA Members - until the 31 January 2014 we are offering: Free entry to CPD Programme (worth £30) 10% off DIA courses (excluding DIAmond Certificate in Coaching) 20% off when you purchase the following four Diploma for Driver Education modules in one transaction, saving you £96! - Award in ADI Knowledge - Award in Business Knowledge - Award in Vehicle Knowledge - Award in Driving Theory We've received some glowing reviews for the Diploma for Driver Education, so please click here to read some top comments. If you would like any further information or would like to discuss the courses in more detail please contact training@driving.org. If you would like to join the DIA or view all the benefits available feel free to call 0208 686 8010 or view our benefits online via driving.org

DVLA cuts unnecessary red tape for motorists

Motorists will no longer need motor insurance policies to be checked when getting their vehicle tax.  The change, announced today by Roads Minister Robert Goodwill, is part of a package of measures to get rid of unnecessary red tape.

The changes, which come into force from 16 December 2013, also mean that motorists will only need to tell DVLA once when they declare their vehicle off the road.  Currently, motorists who make a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) have to renew their SORN every year.  Last year, around 4 million SORNs were made, with over 1 million of those repeat renewals.

Roads Minister Robert Goodwill said:

“We want to make it as easy as possible for motorists to access government services.

“Getting rid of needless bits of paper, making changes to free up motorists’ time, while saving money for the taxpayer, is all part of our commitment to get rid of unnecessary red tape.”

The changes to insurance checks have been made possible because DVLA regularly checks existing databases for insurance under Continuous Insurance Enforcement rules.  DVLA’s records are compared regularly with the Motor Insurance Database to identify registered keepers of vehicles that have no insurance.

Ashton West, Chief Executive at the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) said:

“Motor insurance remains a legal requirement and these changes recognise the value and importance of the insurance records held centrally on the MID.  The introduction of Continuous Insurance Enforcement in 2011 was always designed to provide a more robust and technology driven solution to ensuring that vehicles have insurance in place.  The successful introduction of the new process by the DVLA and the MIB has enabled these changes to be made now, which will bring benefits to millions of motorists.”

Commenting on the changes to declaring SORN, Geoff Lancaster of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs said, “DVLA are to be congratulated for making sensible use of their technology to maintain their high standards of service while at the same time simplifying life for road users.”

Press enquiries:

All press enquiries should be directed to:
DVLA Press Office
Tel: 0300 123 0791
Out of Hours: 0300 123 2407
press.office@dvla.gsi.gov.uk
www.gov.uk/dvla

Check out our December newsletter, packed with promotions, Goodyear white paper and updates from DSA & Standards check

Click here to view our full newsletter

£99 Christmas Offer for DIA Tax Service

Want to forget about your tax return this Christmas? To take your mind off the dreaded 31 January deadline for your tax return, we’re offering a fantastic discount on our DIA Tax Service. For a fixed fee of £99* including VAT (normal cost £299) you’ll save £200 on the DIA Tax Service and we’ll prepare your accounts and tax return, calculate your tax liability, provide you with a timetable of payment, and file your tax return electronically. All you have to do is fill out a form and a simple template and then sit back and enjoy a less taxing Christmas. Want to earn a little treat this christmas? Introduce a non DIA member to the DIA Tax Service offer **(quoting you as their referrer) and we will send you a £20 mail order voucher introduction fee as an extra Christmas bonus.  The DIA Tax Service offers: Team of qualified accountants Easy to use bookkeeping template Expenses Guide Annual accounts Calculation of your tax position Timetable of your tax liabilities Filing of your Return online Year round phone and email helpdesk  Don’t delay, for a simple, quick and easy service you can trust, call DIA Tax Service on 020 8686 8010 or click here to find out more or join online. *This limited introductory offer is available exclusively to existing DIA members until 24 January 2014 ** Non-members will need to join the DIA via driving.org or by calling 020 8686 8010 to take up the DIA Tax Service.

Join online today

Direct Debit and abolition of the tax disc

The Department for Transport (DfT) made clear in its recent Motoring Services Strategy consultation that the government is committed to offering high quality and cost effective services to the public and businesses. DfT and DVLA have listened to the views of both businesses and the public to remove unnecessary burden and provide modern and efficient services to meet their needs. This includes getting rid of unnecessary paper where possible and making it easier for people and businesses to use government services.

Today (Thursday 5 December 2013), the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the government will change the law in 2014 to reduce tax administration costs and burdens associated with vehicle tax.

DVLA will offer motorists the ability to spread their vehicle tax payments should they wish to do so. From 1 October 2014 motorists will be able to pay vehicle tax by direct debit annually, biannually or monthly. There will be no additional handling fees for annual payments but to limit the impact on the public finances there will be a small surcharge of 5% of vehicle tax for biannual and monthly payments. This is half of the 10% surcharge that is currently applied to 6 monthly tax discs and which has been in existence for a number of decades.

Also from 1 October 2014, the paper tax disc, first issued on 1 January 1921, will no longer be issued and required to be displayed on a vehicle windscreen. Vehicle tax will still need to be paid but with DVLA having a digital record of who has and has not paid, a paper tax disc is no longer necessary as proof that vehicle tax is paid. The vast majority of motorists pay their vehicle tax with latest figures confirming that over 99% of motorists’ tax their vehicles on time… Most on-road enforcement action is now based on using Automatic Number Plate Readers. These cameras use the number plate rather than a visual inspection of the tax disc. The police also have access to DVLA records via the police national computer. There are significant savings for fleet operators and other businesses from not having to handle the administration of tax discs.

Read about the Autumn Statement here

DIA Reviews Goodyears White Paper

Driving Safety First

Improving Road Safety For Novice Driver

Goodyear EMEA

After carefully reviewing Goodyear's white paper Howard Redwood, Carly Brookfield and Mike Frisby delivered the following responses:

This report, published 28th November 2013 by Goodyear, is a bit of a mixed bag. Essentially the report is talking about road safety taking evidence from sources across Europe advocating the Graduated Driving Licence (GDL) scheme. This is a rather reactive scheme placing emphasis on safety after the learner has already received the negative influences.

One thing the DIA is pleased to see is that Goodyear are open to seeing a much better structured road safety message placed in schools and a system of engaging the parents more proactively in the learning through the parents potentially being offered development in road safety. This could certainly help remove what is generally considered as one of the main negative influences – where parents put their out-of –date techniques on show, trying to influence their so called, ‘correct way of driving’ on their young.

The report, quite rightly highlights, that some of the behaviour patterns by young, inexperienced drivers, could be due to influences from the ‘urgency in modern day life’ for this age group. Every thing is at their finger-tips – mobile communication, music, social media – it is all they know. This exasperates their distraction from the road. Perhaps the manufacturers of this equipment may have a responsibility to their safety too.

Howard Redwood, Road Safety Specialist

"Not a True Representation of the UK Driver Instructor Community"

The statistics showing support for GDL from the driving instructor community are somewhat skewed as only a relatively small proportion of UK instructors were ultimately surveyed for this report. Only c.2000 instructors responded to the survey Europe wide with a much smaller response rate from the UK, which is a shame as this would have been a great opportunity to get a wider input from driver trainers. A much more comprehensive survey, designed to gauge understanding and attitudes towards GDL amongst the driver trainer community, has been undertaken by DIA in the past 6 months and includes the responses from over 5000 trainers in the UK alone. Our report, to be published in the next month,  will focus on measures which tackle education at a much earlier stage in novice driver's development, a move away from the stable door after the horse has bolted measure that GDL effectively is.

Carly Brookfield, Head of Marketing

Our findings concluded that the majority of ADIs in the UK were not in favour of GDL

Parent involvement is being suggested by the Goodyear report, however, only in an accompanied practice and post test accompanying capacity as part of a GDL approach (replacing the trainer) before the driver is allowed to go solo, again with no professional trainer intervention. It makes no mention of any upskilling of the accompanying driver, therefore how will this improve the standard of the new driver. The post test accompanying of a parent will probably be seen as a burden by both parent and new driver and as further ferrying around of their children. The likelihood is the new driver will drive to a friends or party and when Mum/Dad return later to collect them, the parent will drive them home. This action will just be a continuation of the parent/taxi partnership!

With no valid additional driver development involving a professional coach/mentor the inevitable outcome (crashing) is likely only to be delayed. This is not a solution to the problem, simply a delaying process.

The report focuses on how training needs to targeted correctly and what aspects of skills development should be included in the package. There is little acknowledgement of attitude and behaviour development being part of the role of the trainer.

My view is that whatever the content of a skills test, candidates will be able to achieve success with or without a trainer. this is clearly not why young drivers are getting it wrong post test and therefore the reasons for their crashes need to be addressed as part of the overall education process. We need to develop a new culture towards the use of the road by all who use it. Peers setting the example to young people (parents and other family members, other drivers, friends) need to be educated and reassessed as well. New drivers are currently being introduced to the road system from an early age in the back of the car and gaining experience from incompetent peers. They are then released when they pass the test into an already broken system.

Mike Frisby,  DIAmond Chief Examiner

HMRC updates for December

Welcome to your December 2013 Key Messages

Chancellor’s Autumn Statement: 5 December 2013

Find all the information on George Osborne’s Autumn Statement   

Free help from HMRC on Small Business Saturday 7 December 2013

As part of the first ever Small Business Saturday new businesses can get help by taking part in one or more of the four free live tax webinars (online presentations) on offer from HMRC on 7 December. The programme of webinars, which runs between 10am and 5pm, is aimed at new businesses and people thinking about starting up in business. Each live webinar lasts an hour and gives the opportunity to ask questions.

Campaign to support businesses was announced on 6 November 2013

In December a cross-government strategy on small business support will be published. The Business is GREAT campaign is part of the strategy and is aimed at the 4.9 million small businesses in the UK. The announcement will detail a number of ways in which businesses can be helped to establish themselves and encourage growth by improving access to finance and help to export and innovate.

National Insurance Contributions (NICs) cuts introduced in April 2014

Across the UK 1.25 million small businesses and charities will benefit from the new Employment Allowance on employer NICs to be introduced in April 2014.

National Minimum Wage: Rogue businesses named and shamed!

From October 2013 employers who fail to pay the NMW will be named and shamed under revamped plans to make it easier to clamp down on rogue businesses.

Credit/Debit transactions tracked by HMRC

A new crackdown on tax evasion will make information on all credit and debit card payments to UK businesses available to HMRC for the first time.

Stay Safe Online help

Cyber crime and security is something which affects many small businesses. Over the last year alone 87 per cent of small businesses suffered a cyber security breach at an average cost of between £35,000 and £65,000. There are some simple things you can do to stay safe online and you may also find these external links useful; however they are not under HM Revenue & Customs control and it is not responsible for their content

Reporting change

Just a quick reminder on how and when individuals and businesses should report changes in their circumstances to HMRC.

Driving Instructors teaching over 70's are needed for CB Films

CB Films are a London-based documentary production company, the result of a merger between Cicada and Bellwether films, with over 20 years of award-winning factual production experience behind us.

We are looking to speak to people who are in their 70s and above who are learning to drive, and also drivers in the same age group who have been advised to do a refresher course in order to maintain their license, or whom are undertaking extra training of their own choice.

Our project wants to explore how important it is for older drivers to be behind the wheel, the challenges they face and what it means for those who may be less mobile. Working closely with mobility charities, we’re very aware of how driving within this age group can be a lifeline and a route to independence.

If you are an instructor who works closely with people of the above description, we would love to hear from you (and them!).

We are at early developmental stages with interest from major broadcasters.

At this stage we are just looking to speak to people about their experiences on camera – this is not for broadcast and there would be no obligation to take part in any filming at a later date.

If you think you work with someone who would be interested in sharing their experience with us, please contact Rowan as soon as possible:

rowan@cbfilms.tv
02072664646

New Transport Agency Name Announced

New Announcement from Mark Magee

The new agency will be called the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), which reflects its responsibilities for setting, testing and enforcing driver and vehicle standards in Great Britain.
There will be a gradual introduction of the new agency name ahead of the formal launch of the new agency in April 2014, with no change to the level or quality of services during the transition period.

You can read the full announcement here.

DSA and VOSA will be incorporated within the new agency and the new branding will reflect this until their services and trading funds are brought together over the next financial year.

We want to keep costs to a minimum, so the new branding will be phased in gradually. ADIs’ and PDIs’ badges do not need to be replaced. They must still be displayed in your windscreen as usual at all times while you are operating as a driving instructor.

Any other DSA documents will still be valid until further notice.

For the time being, the official title of ADIs is still ‘Driving Standards Agency Approved Driving Instructor’. The Department for Transport has launched a consultation on the changes that need to be made to legislation to reflect the new name. We’ll let you know when this will change.

You can still access all of DSA’s online services in the usual way from GOV.UK.

Mark

Mark Magee  |  Registrar & Director

Driving Standards Agency  |  Regulation, Standards and Development

Standards Check Professional Development Day, a sell-out success!

We had a fantastic Professional Development Day (PDD) at the stunning Heritage Motor Centre in Warwickshire on 18th November, as we delved deeper into the forthcoming Standards Check and helped delegates better prepare for delivering on the National Standards in their every day work. The Check itself then becomes more of a mere snapshot of your usual high performance, than a nail-biting cross examination of your competence.

Alastair Peoples, Mark Magee
being question by Mike Frisby, DIA

We also received the latest industry updates delivered by expert speakers from the DSA, Alastair Peoples, new CEO of DSA & VOSA and Mark Magee, ADI Registrar. Mr Peoples also set out his vision for the DSA and plans for future development. Visit our Youtube channel here to see more of these speeches and highlights from the day. Driving Instructors were also able to voice their concerns and questions on the latest Standards Check and find out more about the criteria for examiner assessments.

The day consisted of five top interactive workshops that guided driving instructors through the different criteria of the DSA Standards Check Form SC1, ensuring all delegates felt confident and prepared, especially with the ability to ask questions when needed.

We also trialled out a new 'In-car Coaching' workshop, thanks to Hitachi for providing the cars, which received great feedback as it enabled people to experience peer assessments, free pointers on their teaching approach and an insight into client centred learning. These sessions were led by renowned driver coaching experts, including Ian Edwards and Louise Walsh that run the DIA Certificate in Coaching.

Louise Walsh reviews how the in-car coaching worked on the day: "I thought that it was a success. I was skeptical if I'm honest but with the freedom to be a little bit individual depending on the needs of the group in the car was good. The feedback was encouraging and it made my day when one ADI whispered in my ear "best session of the day, thank you". I was surprised how little understanding many had and the lack of ability to make even a very basic session 'client centred'... Yet many thought they were!"

We also held a new workshop from Goodyear Tyres that greatly impressed our delegates, as they produced an interactive workshop demonstrating tyre performance during different weather conditions. This workshop, entitled ‘Winter Tyres; Dispelling the Myths,’ aimed to banish the misconceptions around Winter tyres and provide delegates with a deeper knowledge on what a Winter tyre is and why the UK weather makes them more necessary than you might think.

Commenting on the day, Goodyear brand manager Michelle Fisher said: " We gained some valuable insights from working with driving instructors during these workshops. They provided us with great feedback and many suggestions as to how we can improve education around the need for Winter tyres with a broader audience. The commitment from driving instructors to continuously learn and educate themselves in order to educate others really stood out . We look forward to working with delegates in the future on our shared aim to improve education for drivers and road safety in the UK."

Specsavers eye tests

Champagne Prize from
Face for Business

We would also like to take the opportunity to thank sponsors Specsavers and Face for Business for producing engaging exhibition stands at our event. Heaps of ADI's took part in Specsavers eye test and had an 100% pass rate, which shocked and delighted Suzanne Randall who took the tests. Face for Business provided free trials for their telephone service and a bottle of champagne!

If you missed out; Plans will be announced soon so keep and eye out and to guarantee yourself a place add yourself to our reserve list by emailing lyndanazer@driving.org. We will offer early bird tickets at £69.00 to Members and £79.00 to Non-members before they go on sale.

November's Member of the Month

Ricky receiving £25 Voucher

It was lovely seeing Ricky Cox again as he popped in to receive his £25 voucher for being our November Member of the Month.

Why he was nominated

Ricky got in touch with the DIA due to a number of issues he was experiencing with his franchise and spoke with Olivia Baldock who dealt with his case. After offering him advice and support about what he could do next, he left his franchise and wrote to Watchdog and the Trading Standards.

Ricky learnt the hard way that you need to double check T & C's before signing up with a franchise but he recently joined the AA and is now really happy. So we're delighted with his result and that he shared his story with an article for our Driving Instructor Magazine. When we caught up with Ricky to tell him the good news we found out that he used to be a hypnotist!... read his full interview here

Ricky told us that "I can use this opportunity to say thank you for the help and support provided from the DIA team for sharing this story". Ricky was delighted to receive a £25 gift voucher from the DIA and will spend it on a DIAmond Advanced Test. Congratulations and look out for who's next for December's Member of the month.

Do you know a fellow DIA member that deserves some recognition? Then please send nominations to feedback@driving.org and your reasons why.

Ricky also featured in our Driving Instructor Magazine issue 11

Latest Announcement on ADI Standards Check on Standard Operating Procedure

We are pleased to announce that the new Standard Operating Procedure for the Standards Check due in April 2014, is now available to download from GOV.UK.

This documentation should provide you with further information as to how the Standards Check will operate in practice and is the new procedure that DSA examiners are currently being trained in to deliver the new assessment. To ensure you understand it fully, download  the SC1 form and the reflective log from the links embedded in the main document.

The new document will replace the current ADI 1 Standard Operating Procedure and is an essential read for all ADIs to help prepare you to meet the new standards and the criteria for the Standards Check itself. 

A copy of the DSA National Driver and Rider Training Standards, the standards on which you will be assessed, should also be read in conjunction with this documentation and these can be obtained through the GOV.UK website also.

Free Roadshows this Week in Maidstone, Portsmouth and Exeter

Are you a Driving Instructor down south? We have some fantastic roadshows this week as we are in Maidstone on the 11th, Portsmouth 14th and Exeter on the 19th of November.

This Autumns topic is all about managing money and providing top tips and techniques to help manage the financial aspects of a driver training business.

This will also provide the opportunity for instructors to get involved in relevant debates, discussions and network with likeminded fellow professionals.

So if you need to sort out your taxes and want to learn some handy tips on how to save on your tax return then this short and snappy presentation from our highly qualified accountant is a must. This will also give you the chance to meet the super friendly and dashing Mike Frisby, DIAmond Chief Examiner from the DIA, so grab your free place now by going to driving.org or calling 020 8686 8010

Places still available at Exeter, 14 November!

We also have a great roadshow offer for our Tax Service:
Receive a full year off your membership if you take up our Tax Service before the 30 November


Service includes:
- A fixed fee to complete your tax return
- A free tax review
- Year round phone and email helpdesk

Don't leave it too late to complete your Tax Return and do it with our expert advice to ensure an efficient and economical service.

November Newsletter

Click here to view our latest November Newsletter. It's packed full of industry news, great promotions and new features such as 'Member of the Month'. 

Carly Brookfield, Head of Marketing, DIA, Shares all on New DSA CEO, Alastair Peoples.

Alastair Peoples

Having worked with a lot of new CEOs, across a variety of both public and private sector organisations over my 20+ years in business, I was probably surprisingly more cynical than those other Association heads in the room last Wednesday (when we met Mr Peoples, our new regulatory Chief at the DSA) who've had their reasons to doubt the DSA's leadership over the many years that they've worked in the driver training profession. Whilst I don't have the history of disappointment my colleagues have experienced through successive regime and regulator changes in the industry over the years, I do have the experience as a Communications professional (especially one who's prepped many a new CEO or Minister going into a room with a new set of stakeholders or employees for the first time) to spot spin with no real substance, promises made to improve relationships with no real intent to follow through. 

However, I was pleasantly surprised. Mr Peoples began by establishing his credentials in the driver training sector, having been an Examiner at one time - unlike his predecessor he does have some useful on the ground experience of the services he is now responsible, and the customers (both the trainer and the pupil) he is keen to improve DSA services for. He also gave us an honest and open appraisal of the challenges faced with VoSA, the agency he has managed for the last 7 years and which he now has the mammoth task of merging with DSA. I'm impressed with the strategic approach he took to tackle those issues at VoSA and the hard decisions he had to take to steer an agency with severe financial issues (a deficit of £47 million) and vast operational challenges back to health. Setting VoSA an ambitious, but not unrealistic, five year development plan, in year 4 he'd brought the agency back to financial health (by streamlining operations, making key efficiency savings by using outsourcing and working closely with private sector operators) and vastly improved the operations of the agency, increasing its ability to deliver. 

Annual DSA Meeting with National Driver Instructors Associations  

He was keen to impress upon us, that although he will now embark upon designing a similar five year business plan for the development and improvement of DSA, the agency does not have the same level of problems he faced at VoSA. And in many respects he acknowledged the agency operates well. However, he was keen to have a continuing and open dialogue with key stakeholders like the National Associations and their membership as to what could be improved. Even cynical moi felt he was genuine in that desire to build a better relationship with driver trainers in order to both develop the profession, and what it offers to its customer, as well developing what the DSA offers to both the trainer and the pupil. 

Whilst he listened intently to the challenges and issues we as associations felt were posed by the agency to our professional members (and took away 'to-do's' for himself, Registrar Mark Magee and Chief Examiner Lesley Young, to focus on), he didn't shy away from turning some of those challenges back to us, and from setting us new ones. I'm personally a big fan of that approach, and my colleagues at the other National Associations (bless them for their patience) did have to put up with me as Chair for most of the AM, throwing challenges back to ourselves as to how we could help resolve problems in the profession, rather than looking for someone else to equally blame and make responsible for the solutions. We did, however, collectively come up with more positive and proactive ideas by working this way, than previous meetings I've attended in the industry where some would rather sit, complain and blame than empower themselves to find and present solutions, focus and progress. 

As he builds his business plan, Mr Peoples asked us to put our heads together and come up with one big idea or initiative we felt would really improve DSA's provision to either trainers or our pupils. Now, that's not to say they're not interested in progressing a number of key initiatives we clearly need to them to focus on, or resolving a number of key issues we already know and constantly point out need more work. The focus here though is to seize an opportunity whereby we can really make a big impact or a sea change. 

The National Associations will meet again over the next few months, and continue to get our heads together regularly in the long run, indeed we proposed the creation of a new National Associations Steering Group at this meeting and my colleagues at the other associations willingly embraced the opportunity to work together more regularly and more effectively. The 'one big idea' will be firmly on our agenda at these meetings, and at DIA generally. In fact DIA was already thinking along the same lines, with the drafting of a report in response to the forthcoming Green Paper having been a key focus over the last few months, in which we detail the views of over 5000 driver and rider trainers on how we should develop learning to drive and propose solutions as to how we believe we can create positive change (we will release that report to members, key policy makers like DfT/DSA, the media and other stakeholders shortly, watch this space). 

We'll keep you appraised of our thoughts on this, but in the meantime I'd you to think about the big, impactful changes which could be made to either improve the way DSA works, or how we work as a profession (i.e. it could be the way we train and qualify as driver/rider trainers, or the way learning to drive is taught, examined and monitored on the whole). My challenge to you is much the same as Mr People's to us - think big, and communicate what big change you want to see happen, mindful of making a good business case for the change. We can all dream big but the biggest challenge is making the big dreams work in reality. Email me at carlybrookfield@driving.org with your thoughts and ideas. 

We look forward to hearing more on Mr People's vision for the DSA and driver training profession at our Professional Development Day in the next few weeks. Those attending, start thinking of your big ideas and questions for him now. If you haven't managed to get a ticket (as sadly due to the popularity of this event we have now sold out, though similar workshop events are planned for early next year) we're looking to film his and Mark Magee's session and will publish that to the website after the event but please also send me your ideas and questions in advance. We'll cover more of his presentation at the event, and of our first meeting with him, in the December issue of Driving Instructor.

New Twitter Support Service from the DSA

We've been asked to share the following information from Mark Magee, Registrar

"From Monday 4 November, DSA’s customer support team will start trialling an alert service on Twitter for test slots cancelled due to bad weather. The trial will cover driving test centres in the Sector 5 area (North East England and North Cumbria) using the Twitter account name @DSA_HelpMe.

Those test centres involved in the trial will be promoting the service from a poster on the DSA noticeboard and by word of mouth from examiners.

The service will work as follows:

·         local examiners will identify test slots cancelled due to bad weather

·         the Twitter team will issue a tweet of the test centre(s) and slot time(s) affected, asking ADIs and candidates to keep checking the Twitter feed for further updates

·         the tweet will include a hashtag of the relevant driving test centre, for example, #LongBentonDTC

Should the trial prove successful, the team will start to roll it out nationwide. It’s expected to last a month, however it may need to be extended should the team not get the chance to test the procedure (due to milder weather than expected).

We would encourage ADIs to follow the @DSA_HelpMe Twitter account and would appreciate your support in advertising this.

Thank you

Mark

Mark Magee  |  Registrar & Director

Driving Standards Agency  |  Regulation, Standards and Development

Great Feedback for First Aid Course in October

Ian Rose, who runs the course, is a Health Care Professions Council registered Paramedic and a director of the Essential Training Organization Ltd. Ian gives us a little snippet of how the two day course runs and we got some top feedback too.

"The DIAmond / ETO roadside first aid course started at 9.00am on Tuesday and all the candidates introduced themselves to each other. We then started the course discussing communication with patients; we then worked our way through scene management and hazardous chemicals. We had a break for coffee and tea and carried on with patient response levels and unconscious casualty assessment. This was a largely practical part of the course and contained much mirth when the candidates practiced the skills they were learning. 

After a very enjoyable lunch the candidates continued with wounds and bleeding which again was 
practical and there were some very interesting uses of wound dressings and triangular bandages. 
This finished the first day. 

On the second morning we looked at fractures, amputations crush injuries and chest injuries, which 
took all morning. We then combined the candidates with a group of trainee ambulance technicians 
to practice crash helmet removal and immobilisation in a car. The DIA candidates and the trainee 
ambulance crews interacted extremely well and developed a mutual respect.

Resuscitation and medical emergencies completed the training and all seven candidates had an 
enjoyable two days during which they learnt many valuable life saving skills."

Feedback:

Kevan Chippindall-Higgin told us that "As a first aid instructor trainer, I was very impressed with the course because it was given by an experienced paramedic, which makes all the difference. I would strongly recommend it to anybody, not just instructors."

Sue Vernon also told us that "The trainer’s expertise and experience as a professional paramedic shone through, even though the presentation was relaxed and chatty. Backing up the information with real life stories from his work made the theory come ‘alive’ and helped us to remember important points. I’ll probably never forget that one has to check whether there was a pillion rider in any motorcycle accident - come on the course to find out why!"

To sign up for our next course email us on training@driving.org or call 0208 686 8010. Next dates are the 16th & 17th of January 2014.