ADI - Diary Of An ADI

Test Centre Closures: PM Questioned

16/02/2011

From the Kirriemuir Herald – the Prime Minister has been challenged over planned closures of the Forfar and Arbroath test centres.

I’m not exactly sure what the beef is.

Commenting on the closures Mr Weir said: “It is completely unacceptable that the Driving Standards Agency can act in this high handed and undemocratic way.

“They simply announced the closure of the centres in a letter about the opening of the new multi-purpose test centre in Dundee. There was no consultation with either the community or the instructors affected by the move.

So? That’s exactly what happened around here when West Bridgford and Gedling closed, and Colwick MPTC took over. Parking and access to both West Bridgford and Gedling TCs was appalling and moving to the MPTC has turned out to be great – although that’s not how ADIs viewed it at the time (big surprise there, then).

Arbroath, Forfar, and Dundee are each about 15 miles apart – so those who previously took tests in Arbroath or Forfar will simply have to travel 15 miles to Dundee. Compare that with the cost of maintaining two additional test centres and there’s no comparison.

The politician involved (Mike Weir) appears to have a much bigger issue on his mind. He talks of “localism” and “consultations” with the local community. And, of course, this is Scotland we are talking about – so the chances of positive discrimination in one form or another is a card he can play.

A quick look at the Google images for the three locations show that both Arbroath and Forfar TCs are located in narrow streets in residential areas – just like West Bridgford and Gedling were. A look at the Dundee image shows a wide open industrial area – just like the Colwick MPTC location. The Dundee MPTC opens on February 28th, which means it has been purpose-built: planned as a direct replacement for Arbroath and Forfar, and also covering the Dundee area.

Mr Weir has the additional lever in that Mickey Mouse – sorry, I mean the Prime Minister of this joke government – is hell bent on reversing everything that was ever decided under Labour.

They should all get a life.

EDIT 18/02/2011: An update to this story – a stay of execution is granted to Arbroath TC.

If Mike Weir gets his ridiculous way on this, I want West Bridgford and Gedling back – and the Colwick MPTC converting back to a fly-tipping site.

EDIT 22/02/2011: According to The Courier newspaper, a “one year reprieve” has been granted to the test centres. The wording allows all concerned parties to pretend that they have won.

Reading between the lines, though, and the test centres are still likely to close – it’s just that the government is going to take a year to “consider” it:

Mr Weir had been verbally assured by UK transport under-secretary Mike Penning that the centres would not be shut while the matter was being considered, and that promise has now been cemented.

That part I’ve emboldened is the key phrase. The article continues:

He said, “The DSA have assured me that the two centres will remain open for at least a year whilst all options are looked at for delivering the service in Arbroath and Forfar. The strong campaign, locally and in Parliament, has clearly forced a major rethink in how the DSA are looking at local test centres and I will be keeping up the pressure to try and ensure that we continue to have testing facilities locally.”

Mr Weir claimed the extension would provide “breathing space” and time for discussion.

It’s not quite the same as a reprieve, is it? And a tacit admisson, perhaps, that they are going to close at some point from Mr Weir? The DSA replies:

…”We will be continuing to use the test centres at Arbroath and Forfar for another year while we consider all options for service delivery in that area.”

Seeing as the new MPTC was due to open very soon (so has obviously been partly built, or at least planned to building point), the DSA has now been forced into a money-wasting situation by Mr Weir and those ADIs who couldn’t accept change.

And speaking of wastes of money, the following comparison of phrases in the article is interesting:

A campaign was mounted by a group of driving instructors who claimed they, and their students, stood to lose thousands of pounds if the centres were axed.

Arbroath councillor David Fairweather helped the instructors’ group to set up meetings and stage a protest outside the test centre in the town last month.

I wonder how much that cost? As much as keeping two small test centres open instead of moving to a single purpose-built one? It’s just a case of the tail wagging the dog. ADIs are experts at that sometimes.

Of course, the main protagonists hail it as “a u-turn”.

Football Stars Worst Drivers

16/02/2011

DOAADI

ADI

Another Autoblog story – football stars top the league of “bad drivers”.

I’m not completely clear on why this is considered “news”. It’s more a statement of the obvious – and it has more than a few links with the previous story from Autoblog about young male drivers’ insurance premiums.

According to findings by insurance firm elephant.co.uk, 28.9 per cent of professional footballers – almost one in three – have flouted the rules of the road and paid the price with points, fines or worse still, bans.

OK, OK. So it’s from an insurance company engaged in promoting itself with one of those daft surveys, but it is still an interesting topic (for a few minutes, anyway).

All it requires is the application of a little logic:

stupidity, immaturity, and an inflated ego are key factors in accidents among young males
footballers are usually young and immature
footballers have bags of money
footballers have huge egos
footballers by stupidly fast cars

There’s not much point going on, is there? Like I said, it’s just stating the bloody obvious.

Women’s Insurance Set To Rocket?

16/02/2011

DOAADI

ADI

I saw this story in Autoblog. There is a discrimination hearing next month at the European Court of Justice.

The final decision is expected on 1 March, and could see the gap closed between the prices male and female drivers pay for their insurance. The 17-22 age bracket is set to suffer the most, with prices for female drivers currently over £1,000 less than their male equivalents.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens. Personally, I find any form of discrimination abhorrent – positive discrimination especially so. I had a skinful of it when I was in the rat race.

Also interesting is this:

Spokesman for the AA, Ian Crowder, said that the traditional difference between the two genders was based on statistical evidence.

“It is not that women have fewer accidents, it is that men are more likely to take risks and have a catastrophic crash,” he said. “The typical one is where a young man is showing off to his mates or his girlfriend.”

He said The AA has already had two claims from male teenagers in excess of £5m this year for crashes where serious injury or fatalities involved.

Talk about conflicting information. This is the first time I’ve heard this used as a reason why male drivers’ insurance is high, and also the first time I’ve seen anyone officially admit women don’t have fewer accidents.

Driving Test: Welsh Pass Rates

16/02/2011

DOAADI

ADI, Driving Tests, DSA

Here’s an interesting article forwarded to me by a reader of the blog. It’s from WalesOnline .

Apparently, the lowest driving test pass rate (Rhyl) during 2009/10 was 38.4%, but the highest (Llandrindod Wells) was 73.3%. The figures have been uncovered by a Plaid Cymru politician – Chris Franks – whose argument appears to be that the people in North Wales can’t possibly be half as good as those in South Wales. He says:

While the DSA say that pass and fail rates among individual examiners are analysed, there must be an issue when pass rates vary so much – from under 40% to more than 70%.

I don’t believe that learner drivers in North Wales are any worse than those in Mid or South Wales, despite the figures.

He has a point. But the DSA is damned if it does, and damned if it doesn’t.

They have recently introduced a new statistical model to their monitoring of examiner performances. I wrote about it in this article, and then in this further article. People on the forums were wetting themselves over the prospect of something else to snipe at the DSA with.

As far as the average ADI is concerned, variable pass rates are bad. Trying to make them consistent is bad, but leaving them alone is also bad. Making the test harder is bad, but making it easier is bad, too.

Confusing, isn’t it?

If you want to understand the thought process of the typical ADI, look no further than the image above. And then just extend it to politicians.

New Driver Killed In Belfast

14/02/2011

DOAADI

ADI

This story caught my eye in the Belfast Telegraph. A 22 year old man was killed in a car crash on Sunday in Limavady.

He had only recently passed his driving test.His three teenage passengers sustained only minor injuries.

At the moment, enquiries are still continuing, so it would be wrong to speculate about the cause of this specific incident (and the Police are looking for another car which may have been involved). However, just looking at the basic details – new driver, car full of teenage mates… it’s exactly what the DSA on the mainland has been concerned about.

No one is saying that all new male drivers drive recklessly. But they are nowhere near as skilled as they think they are when they pass, and having three passengers with the same attitude in the car at the same time is bound to result in even greater impaired reaction on the part of the driver in the event of an emergency situation arising.

It really is a classic situation, though. Last year one of my 17-year old pupils passed his test, and was out driving within an hour. Later that afternoon I went round to pick up one of his friends for his lesson. I pulled up outside and the lad who’d passed earlier rolled up a few minutes later in his car with my next pupil and two other passengers from his school. And where had they been? McDonalds. You can set your watch by them, they’re so predictable.

At the moment, it seems that people are trying to dump responsibility for this problem at the feet of the driving instructor.

However, the problem lies with parents and society – not driving instructors. And even then, you have to ask if it is actually possible to change something – the often-unpleasant and surly attitude of the juvenile human male – which no one else has succeeded in changing in all of recorded history.

The Highs And The Lows

13/02/2011

DOAADI

ADI

My diary is full at the moment – in fact, it has been for quite some time, so I’m not knocking it.

But one thing anyone entering this business needs to be aware of is how quickly things can change. A good example being today.

I started with 6½ hours booked.

I was on my first lesson this morning – a two hour one – when a text comes through. When we pulled up I had a glance and noticed it was from my next pupil – he wanted to drop the lesson down to an hour because he was going somewhere. He lives a long way out, and an hour isn’t enough to do anything useful, so I suggested we just postpone it until next week’s lesson. Then, 20 minutes before I set off for my third lesson another text came through – she can’t make it and wants to rearrange for a night in the week (which I can do). Then I went to my last one and it turned out his mum had forgotten to tell him (he is a special needs pupil). There’s no way I’m letting him drive if he’s not prepared, especially in the rain, so that one went as well.

To be fair, I don’t get many of these because I make it clear it’s my livelihood as well as their driving lessons, and they all understand. But every now and then one crops up.

AA Now Running BSM

10/02/2011

DOAADI

ADI

I was looking at the PWC website and found the following FAQ letter sent to BSM franchisees as part of the takeover:

Questions and Answers- BSM Instructor Franchise

Franchise Agreement

Q Due to Acromas now owning BSM will I have to change my Franchise to the AA?

A The terms of this agreement are outlined to you in a letter which you will receive in the post in the next few days. Acromas will continue with your franchise agreement and be bound by its terms in every way as if it were the original party to it in place of BSM other than those terms explained in your letter. It is business as usual.

Q Are you expecting to change the cost of my franchise?

A There are no plans to change any charges or fees under your franchise agreement. It is business as usual.

Q Will I have to adhere to the AA’s code of conduct?

A You should continue to adhere to the BSM code of conduct. It is business as usual.

Q Will I be able to keep the franchise type that I am on now as it suits me – at the same price?

A Your franchise agreement will continue under the terms set out in your novation letter.

BSM Brand

Q Are you changing the BSM business to mirror the AA?

A We will be launching a consultation with employees over the future structure of the business. We cannot speculate about the outcome until this consultation has been completed.

Q Sometimes the advertising claims of both AA and BSM are conflicting – how will you deal with that for future advertising?

A Each brand will continue to run its own, unique marketing and advertising strategy.

Q Will you still be booking tests for my pupils on their behalf?

A Yes, It is business as usual.

Vehicle

Q Will you continue to provide us with Fiat cars?

A Under the acquisition agreement, BSM will continue to operate a nationwide fleet of Fiat tuition vehicles until May. The BSM fleet will then undergo a phased transition to a new Vauxhall Corsa, as committed to by BSM last year. This transition to a full fleet of Vauxhalls is expected to take place over a period of about 12 months.

Q What do I do if I have an accident?

A Please call our accident management support line on 0800 7313431

Q What do I do if I need new tyres?

A Your current supplier is ATS and this remains unchanged, authorisation to be made via BSM fleet team

Q What do I do if I need replacement glass?

A Please call your BSM fleet team who will authorise this. Your new provider is AA Autowindshields.

Q Will the livery change?

A All livery will continue to be BSM branded

Pupils

Q How will you decide whether to give pupils to me or an AA Franchisee?

A We are operating as 2 separate franchise businesses, BSM pupils will be allocated to BSM instructors as they always have been.

Q Will our pupils now have access to the AA web site?

A No. If your pupils purchased lessons through BSM then you will continue to have the same facilities available.

Q Will lesson prices remain as they are?

A There are currently no plans in place to change lesson pricing. However, it is our intention to introduce differential pricing for lessons with PDI trainees- guaranteeing learners an informed choice and discounted lesson rates if their instructor is not fully-qualified.

Website

Q What is going to happen to the BSM website?

A Yes. This will remain fully functional, ensuring we continue to acquire as many pupils as possible.

There are a couple of interesting things here. First of all, BSM remains BSM as far as the brand is concerned. However, there is to be a consultation involving the way BSM operates, and about which the AA will not speculate. Secondly, under ‘Pupils’ it is made clear that the AA intends to change the price PDIs (trainee instructors) can charge and to make it clear to new pupils whether they are being trained by a PDI or not.

Part 3 Pass Today

04/02/2011

DOAADI

ADI, Driving Tests

I hired my car out to a PDI today. He was making his second attempt at Part 3, having got 2-2 on his first.

I should point out that apart from an hour before his test, and general advice I gave him a while back, I have not had anything to do with his training. It was just the car hire.

When he came back I went to talk to him in the car as he waited for the examiner to come back out and give him his result. He told me it went terribly. He was certain he’d got 2-2 again.

The examiner came out, asked him what he’d done since his last test, and told him he’d passed with 4-4!

An Examiner’s Tale

04/02/2011

DOAADI

ADI, Driving Tests, DSA

A reader who is currently training to be an ADI sent me this link to a website created by a retired driving examiner.

It’s about 12 years old, and the main updates seem to date from around 2001. Some edits are as recent as 2009. So some of it may be a little dated, but it makes interesting reading. Most of it is still relevant.

Anyway, worth a read just for information if nothing else.

Driving Test Centres To Be Axed?

04/02/2011

DOAADI

ADI

In the news today, inflated media stories about plans to close driving test centres and move them all to supermarkets. This one from Sky News via Yahoo.

Note the wording that they “could be axed” – in inverted commas. That’s mediatalk for “we made this up to make it more interesting even though it is completely untrue to the best of our knowledge”.

Leaked documents suggest the Driving Standards Agency is looking at plans to close down test centres and use private firms as “delegated examiners”.

The new plans could see examiners based at supermarkets and community centres.

The reality of this is that the Mickey Mouse government we are currently having to put up with is forcing departments like the DSA to make major cuts. The DSA has previously closed many small town-centre branches and combined many of them to form larger MPTCs (multi-purpose test centres) – which makes sense – and it got the usual flak from people about it. Ironically, it’s always the same people who object to anything the DSA does.

Personally, I don’t like the idea of outsourcing and privatisation. It never worked before, so it can’t possibly work now – and especially not with the driving test (not if they want to make sure the test is discriminating enough to keep at least a few idiots off the roads, anyway). All you have to do is look at call centres being run by contractors, exams being marked by external agencies, and so on to see it is a non-starter.

Unfortunately, this government won’t see it like that.

Category - ADI