DVSA - Diary Of An ADI

The Undriveables

20/09/2014

A new series of The Undriveables started on ITV this week. You can catch it for the usual limited period on the ITV Player (you’ll have to put up with the adverts).

This first episode featured an older guy who was actually pretty much typical of his age group, and who responded well to instruction once his faults were corrected. He passed his test after the week-long session. The episode also featured a middle-aged woman who was a different matter altogether.

Just the act of driving a car induced fits of severe trembling (and I mean she was in absolute panic). At one point, and for almost no apparent reason, she had to stop and be physically sick. In another segment she was driving perfectly well, then suddenly panicked and had to stop again. When she took her test it was abandoned. It appears that she hit a kerb hard, then went to pieces again.

As an aside, I once had a middle-aged pupil who simply couldn’t coordinate the clutch, brake, and gas pedals. She couldn’t steer a straight line and change gear at the same time. And whenever traffic lights changed suddenly in front of us she’d slam on the brake and stall the car. She had the attention span and spatial awareness of a gnat! I had tried to persuade her to switch to automatic lessons quite early on because of finances and these pedal issues – and it was clear that they weren’t going to easily go away – but she had bought a manual car already and was adamant that she wanted to pass a manual test. As a result, she was with me for over two years and took over 100 hours of lessons. However, near the end of that time I discovered that she’d sold the car and so I started on at her again about learning in an automatic, explaining that she was still a long way from test standard. I enlisted the help of her son, and we finally persuaded her. She took a further two years, another 100 hours, and 7 driving tests before she eventually passed (she’d still be taking lessons now if she’d stuck with manual). I calculate that she had spent over £5,000 by the time she passed.

I have to admit that I was worried about her. She’d always stayed in touch, and credited me with having taught her to drive. But the thought of her driving alone filled me with horror. I advised her to get a car as soon as possible because she really didn’t want to let her driving get stale (actually, we got on well enough for me to be much more frank about it than that, but this is the general gist).

More than a year later she called me out of the blue. She’d bought a car and wanted some refresher lessons in it. She wanted me to provide them.

I remember that I was just about as scared as I’d ever been each time I took her out. Even with just the brake and gas pedals to worry about she frequently got them mixed up, and on one occasion we arrived back at her house, drove slowly up her driveway, and almost went through the fence and into the the back yard. Within a fortnight of buying the car and driving to work in it, she’d hit her wrought iron gates while reversing out three times (the resulting garage repairs amounted to 70% of the car’s value). She had to get a neighbour to put it in her driveway each evening, and work colleagues to back it out of wherever she’d parked it when she finished work. I subsequently heard from someone who knew her that she’d got rid of the car because she couldn’t afford to run it.

My point here is that there are some people who simply should not – ever – drive, and they are a danger to themselves and everyone around them when they do. Passing a driving test is no guarantee that someone is a good or capable driver. In fact, there are many thousands of people out there who have passed tests, but who are not competent drivers. They’re the ones you see driving slowly, or at a constant 40mph through 30, 40, 50, and NSL zones. They’re the ones who habitually switch lanes at the last minute, or who drift between lanes on roundabouts. They have virtually no awareness or understanding of lane divisions or direction arrows. And they do not learn from their mistakes because they are in a complete and terrified daze most of the time. Unfortunately, there is no law preventing them from driving – and nothing that says an ADI should tell them the truth.

I think the lady in this first episode of The Undriveables is a prime example of this. She simply should not go anywhere near a car if she is going to react the way she does – not unless she gets some serious medical or psychiatric help. You see, if she had passed her test, she is almost certainly still going to react in the same extreme way to situations when she is out on her own (or with her two boys in the car). The possible outcomes don’t bear thinking about.

On the programme itself, you have to accept that it is heavily edited for TV purposes. However, there was a lot of evidence of parking on yellow lines and pavements from what I saw. Apart from that, the ADIs featured didn’t do themselves any great disservice. It will be interesting to see subsequent episodes, because the trailers I’ve seen suggest that some of the later featured drivers are typical examples of people who failed the Big Brother auditions.

DVSA Alert: Latest Statistics Published

12/09/2014

DOAADI

DVSA, News

The DVSA has released the latest statistics for 2014 covering check tests and the new standards check.

The key points of the period between 7 April and 30 June are:

2,520 standards checks carried out

pass rate was 81%

24% of ADIs achieved Grade A, 57% achieved Grade B

I note that in some quarters, the usual agitators have suddenly become expert statisticians again as they dismiss these figures without having a clue what they actually mean.

DVSA Alert: Clarendon Street Test Centre Closes, Watnall Re-opens

08/08/2014

DOAADI

Driving Tests, DVSA

This email alert from the DVSA states that tests will cease to be conducted out of Clarendon Street as of 29 August 2014. However, Watnall will now re-commence conducting car tests as of 15 September 2014. The email says that tests will be available every day.

I didn’t do any tests out of Clarendon Street, but my understanding was that they only did them two days each week. I could be wrong, but that was certainly the original plan when the scheme was first trialled.

I think I’ll open betting on how long it takes for the Watnall residents to start complaining about all the learners who will undoubtedly be flocking back there! I’m sure there will be notices on the wall for ADIs to ignore asking them to avoid certain locations within a fortnight. Mind you, the only bad thing about Watnall for me is that there’s nowhere to get a decent coffee or something to eat. Oh, two things. The waiting room is uncomfortable, too!

Modernising Driver Training Consultation

19/07/2014

DOAADI

ADI, DVSA, Training

The DVSA has reported its findings and conclusions following the consultation earlier this year into modernising driver training. The details of the outcome are as follows:

The government introduced a simpler grading structure for approved driving instructors (ADIs) on 7 April 2014.

The government has also decided to:

take steps to help ADIs publish and publicise their grade

look at the options for replacing the ADI part 3 test with one that uses the same criteria and marking system as the ADI standards check

continue to look at the possibilities of introducing a vocational qualification, while making sure that concerns raised can be addressed

talk to the driver training industry about how we can best reform the trainee instructor licence

start work on an online booking service for ADI standards checks

consult separately about changing the ADI fee structure

change the law so an ADI can ask for their name to be removed from the ADI register

provide the option for an ADI to take an ADI standards check to renew a lapsed registration, after talking about the practical implications of this with the ADI national associations

not pursue the introduction of fines (called ‘civil sanctions’) that the ADI Registrar could issue to ADIs for the time being

The grading structure is obviously already implemented – apart from the information in the embedded link in the quoted text above, I wrote about it back in March.

Of those yet to be implemented, the wording of the first one is interesting. It’s being interpreted ambiguously by many of the radical rabble-rousers out there. If you look at it objectively, what the DVSA is saying is that they will “help” ADIs publish and publicise their grade. They don’t actually say that they ARE going to publish them whether ADIs like it or not, yet it is that threat – which first surfaced several years ago – and I think it is that earlier proposition which prevents many of the radicals seeing this current statement for what it is.

The second one is also interesting. Recently, some crackpot had concluded on a forum that I had declared somewhere that they had replaced the PST marking sheets. Actually, I had said nothing of the kind – what I had said was that in view of the changes to the Check Test, with it becoming the Standards Check and all, with the integration of CCL topics within that I couldn’t imagine that the Part 3 test would remain as it was. I simply pointed out that if the PST sheets changed, I would obtain copies and provide them for download. So I think this particular outcome vindicated my comments completely, though anyone with an ounce of common sense would have realised the Part 3 was going to have to change. Whether it does or not even after this is another matter – there’s a General Election next year, and all of this may end up swept into the gutter.

There’s further talk of reforming the trainee (pink) licence. Previously, the talk was of getting rid of it completely, though this has been scaled back to merely “changing” it. It’s still as far away from actually changing as it was three years ago. And as I say, there’s an election next year.

All the other stuff is fairly niche, and doesn’t really affect most instructors (well, not unless they’re fully paid-up unionistas, in which case every syllable and letter has to be nit-picked to death).

On a different note, it’s worth looking at some of the responses which are quoted verbatim in a separate document accessible from the findings link. Apart from the appalling typing, grammar, and spelling, I couldn’t believe one response to the issue of vocational qualifications. The respondent has written just short of 6,000 words in his reply! Others have used the opportunity to have a go at the DSA/DVSA. I love this one:

The current system is useless

Bless. I bet it took him all night to write that, and no doubt he had help! But it illustrates why the DVSA is sometimes reluctant to listen to “the industry” or “the associations” if this is the kind of input they’re going to get. The current system isn’t useless. It could be better, but no one knows how at the moment – after all, Mr “the current system is useless” is typical of those who propose alternatives simply by virtue of opposing the current state of affairs.

Examiner Strike 10 July 2014

03/07/2014

DOAADI

Driving Tests, DVSA

Look! It’s from 2014. We’re not in 2014. It’s an old story.

An alert from the DVSA advises candidates who have tests booked on Thursday, 10 July 2014 to turn up as normal. The PCS union hasn’t had a strike for a while, so it’s making up for lost time with one now.

Remember that not all examiners are members of PCS, and not all those who are are stupid enough to get involved with strikes. Based on past experience, your test is most at risk if you live in a place where unions and strike action are still part of people’s normal lives (i.e. north of the Midlands).

Obviously, you could cancel your test right now and rearrange it for a different date. However, if your test IS cancelled then it will automatically be rearranged at no cost to you. Mind you, that won’t stop you losing time off work, nor will it enable you (or your instructor) to claim for the cost of the lost lesson/car hire – the DVSA seems to have sneaked that one in without much of a fanfare:

You can’t claim for:

the cost of driving lessons or training courses that you took before your test appointment

In the past, I’ve never had a problem claiming my pre-test lesson fee back if the DSA (as it was) screwed up – it’s only happened a few times, in any case. This wording suggests I might now. So we’re all being potentially inconvenienced one way or another.

Thanks a lot, PCS, you fossils.

Cost Of Theory Test To Fall By 25%

23/06/2014

DOAADI

ADI, Driving Tests, DVSA, News, Transport

They put this out for consultation a few months ago. Amongst various things, they were asking for opinions about cutting the price of the Theory Test, which currently costs a mere £31 (well, a bit more if you’re stupid and pay for it via a scam site).

In my response, I made it clear that as far I was concerned the current price was fine as it was. Unfortunately, someone somewhere is after votes for next year’s General Election and dropping the price is the chestnut they were going to roast come hell or high water. The “consultation” was just a pointless exercise to show that they “listen” to the public.

As you can see in the DVSA email alert I linked to above:

The cost of the driving theory test will be cut by 25%, saving learner drivers over £100 million over the next 9 years.

Let’s just set the record straight here. That “£100 million over the next 9 years” is going to be split between around 13 million tests. It isn’t going to save ANY learner more than £8 for each time they attempt the test. That doesn’t look anywhere near as vote worthy, does it? A mere £8 versus £100 million. It’s also going to be phased, with £6 coming off this October, and another £2 next year.

And don’t even get me started on how it doesn’t save anyone anything if they never had to pay the higher fee in the first place. That’s like saying that when I go out and buy a pocket calculator for £5, I am saving over £80 because of how much they used to cost when they first came out. I’m not saving anything.

The real point is that the theory test lasts about 90 minutes, which breaks down to around £21 per hour. Allowing for building rent, systems maintenance, staff salaries (at least two staff), and so on, it is hard to see how the test can possibly be maintained for even £21 an hour, let alone £15 instead. I know enough about outsourcing to understand the true costs involved, and someone somewhere is ultimately losing money on this – or they will if the market shifts unpredictably in the medium term future.

Alastair Peoples can go on forever about having “secured” a lower price for the outsourcing contract (from which one must conclude that Pearson VUE has lost the contract, or else what the hell were they charging for up until now?) It is Stephen Hammond – LibCon Transport Minister – on a vote hunt which is at the root:

We want to keep costs down for all motorists – that’s why we have frozen fuel duty – and by reducing the cost of the theory test we will save aspiring motorists around £9 million annually.

As I say, it’s total bollocks. No one is saving “£9 million annually”. Each learner will save a mere £6 (going up to £8 in 18 months’ time) each time they take a test – and even then, if they turn 17 after the price falls, they have saved NOTHING. The only positive thing is that someone somewhere else is going to have to squander £9 million less than they have been doing previously.

PoliceWitness.com – An Update

29/05/2014

DOAADI

ADI, Archived, Driving Tests, DVSA, News

As of June 2019, this article has received a few hits. Please note that it is an old post and is not relevant any longer. DVSA allows recording of tests using dashcams now (but still not the audio). Indeed, I often use dashcam footage to show pupils where they went wrong. However, the original post is still of interest because of what was being advised at the time I wrote it. Namely, covert recording of tests at a time when DVSA (or DSA as it was) did not allow it.

Back in February I commented on a story that had come through on the newsfeeds concerning advice from PoliceWitness.com. The company sells in-car cameras, and in a story published in Fleet News, it was stated:

Learner drivers are being encouraged to film their driving tests, covertly if necessary, by PoliceWitness.com.

Earlier today, I received an email from PoliceWitness.com. The full text is as follows (with their permission):

Dear Sir,

I am writing with reference to your post on your website, diary of an adi: https://www.diaryofanadi.co.uk/?p=14855 which states that PoliceWitness.com has given irresponsible advice about filming driving tests.

I wanted to take the opportunity to clear up any confusion and thought it would be useful to update you on our recent correspondence with Alastair Peoples, the Chief Executive of the DVSA.

On your website you state “PoliceWitness is getting itself into a very muddy area, since unless an examiner gives permission such recording could be a breach of the Data Protection Act”.

When we contacted Alastair Peoples and asked about the DPA and filming of driving tests, his reply was “…You suggested that we have used the Data Protection Act as the reason why we do not allow the filming of driving tests. This is not the case. While it is true there are data protection issues associated with the recording of tests, the main reason we do not allow tests to be recorded is that a single video camera mounted in a test car could not provide an accurate record of everything that happened on test”.

We have had several subsequent letters from Mr Peoples who has recently advised, and I quote “As you may appreciate, there are many issues to take into account when considering the recording of driving tests. For many years, our position has been – aside from a few very exceptional circumstances – that we did not allow the recording of live tests. This policy developed largely from our concerns that the recording of tests from inside a vehicle could have been a breach of the Data Protection Act. We were also concerned that footage from a single, internally-mounted camera could not show a true representation of events both inside and outside the vehicle. There is also the possibility that a recording could be altered to show something different from what actually happened.

We are, however, aware that times change and cars that are fitted with cameras, telematics systems and other forms of recording devices for insurance purposes are becoming more common. It is difficult to foresee how we could exclude vehicles with these technologies from

testing, neither would we wish to do so. We are committed to working with stakeholders to design a modern and relevant driver training and testing regime that delivers safe and responsible drivers and riders. It is clear that the current position on the recording of driving tests needs to be reviewed and we are currently looking into that. During that review the safety of test candidates, examiners and other road users, and the integrity of the driving test must take priority. Once we have completed our review we will publicise the outcome through the usual communication channels”

As a driving instructor (are you based in Nottingham?) I thought you might be interested to hear about the driving test review that is underway and to hear how PoliceWitness.com is supporting many DI’s who have dash cams installed, not only to protect themselves on the road but to use them as a training tool for their pupils.

I hope you have found the update from Mr Peoples useful and would be interested to hear your thoughts on the matter.

Kind regards,

Paul
Customer Services

With a proven track record of holding bad drivers to account, we have been instrumental in changing driving standards for the better.

Our most significant step forward of late has been to secure genuine insurance reductions for those using a dash cam.

Unlike many insurers that merely use ‘x% off’ as a marketing message, we’ve gone straight to an underwriter who already recognised and understood the benefits of a dash cam during a claim.

As such we guarantee to reduce our members insurance costs. Even beating the likes of Direct Line and Aviva. An announcement will follow.

In my response, I included an email I received from DSA (now, DVSA) in February this year, which I also include in full, below (I have underlined the significant portions):

Dear [DOAADI]
Thank you for your email of 3 February about using video equipment to record a practical driving test. I appreciate you bringing this matter to our attention. I have informed our relevant departments who will also investigate further if necessary.

We do not allow people to record driving tests as images and/or audio recorded consist of, in most cases, the personal data of the examiner. This means that the images or recordings are subject to the Data Protection Act (DPA).

The fact the act is employed means that the Approved Driving Instructor must ensure the processing of this personal data is ‘Fair’ and they satisfy certain conditions that allow processing in this way. They must take account of the privacy and wishes of the person whose being filmed, especially when an individual objects to filming. Based on this, we made the decision to prohibit the filming of tests, owing to the data protection issues involved.

It is within the examiner’s rights to stop a test if they become aware of someone filming the test without the agency’s permission. If it becomes apparent that filming equipment is active either in a test vehicle or externally, the examiner should politely ask for the equipment to be switched off. If this request is not complied with the test should be terminated.

If a test is terminated because of filming the candidate would lose their fee. If a test is filmed covertly and the examiner did not know, then all DPA laws would apply. Our position is still that we do not allow tests to be recorded because of the DPA protection implications. If a test is filmed we would not view the footage unless it is deemed to have involved criminal activity, in this instance we would send the film directly to the Police.

You can find further information here.

This is not to say that vehicles fitted with CCTV etc will be refused for test. However, the equipment must be turned off while the test occurs.

Yours sincerely

Customer Support Correspondence

Customer Operations
[old DSA email address no longer correct]

As you can see, there is a discrepancy here. Alastair Peoples says one thing, whereas the DSA part of the new DVSA says another. However, the fact remains that – at present – DVSA does not allow any form of recording to take place during tests, and I maintain that it is – at present – irresponsible to advise covert recording of driving tests.

There are a number of issues that Alastair Peoples does not seem to have considered in his comments to PoliceWitness.com. Concerning DPA, there is the fact that the majority of test candidates are under the age of 18 (and a large proportion of those are female). The Protection of Children Act (1978) was amended in 2003 to apply to anyone under the age of 18, and so the routine recording of 17-year olds will definitely raise questions – or, at the very least, put the person making such recordings in a very risky position – should the person being filmed raise any objections. I’m not saying it would definitely be in breach of the DPA and associated laws, but it is clearly sailing bloody close to the wind. Also, the inside of a tuition vehicle is not a “public place”, so as I said in that earlier article, it’s a very muddy area – and one that is best kept out of by instructors,

Furthermore – and irrespective of any possibility that recordings can be amended to show something different to what actually took place – in order for a bona fide recording to show all of the necessary information for an appeal over a test result, it would have to have been made from several simultaneous camera angles. To cover all possible situations, you would need forward- and rear-facing footage, footage from at least one camera either side of the car, and close-ups of both the examiner and the candidate. All of these channels (at least six) would have to be synchronised. Only then could you begin to address the usual “but I did check… oh no, you didn’t” claims when someone fails. And it would still need lengthy expert assessment to decipher what was going on. Mr Peoples doesn’t seem to have considered that – or how much it would cost DVSA to wade through the inevitable deluge of unfair claims that would ensue.

And yes, there is the risk of footage being edited to bolster any claim, though this is the least of any problems that might arise from allowing tests to be recorded.

You also have to remember that both VOSA and DSA have a long history of “looking into things” – and an equally long history of actually doing bugger all about any of them in the end. For Alastair Peoples to say something like this now – less than a year away from a General Election – is typical. It is likely we will have a new government this time next year, and in the meantime the existing one will be more concerned about not losing votes than it is about changing things which won’t win any. In any case, the uncertainties over the legal situation mean that changes to the Law are likely, and that means consultations. All of this is even less likely to happen inside any reasonable time frame.

I have no problem with PoliceWitness.com selling cameras for the purposes of combatting theft and fraud, but driving tests are not conducted fraudulently, give or take a few high-profile cases every few years. Advising covert recording of something which is already expressly forbidden is a bit of a contradiction in terms.

This article is getting a a fair few hits from Theory Test Pro, and an article of theirs which give 5 reasons why ADIs should use a dash cam. All of the reasons are sound – and not one of them involves recording driving tests.

As I have written before, I use a camera for training purposes – I’ve experimented with several – but recording tests is something I would never do, even if it was allowed. [EDIT 2019: I am a steaming hypocrite! I forgot I actually wrote those words until just now. Since DVSA started allowing it, I initially didn’t record tests. But then I got a camera which starts up as soon as the car is started, and I didn’t want to keep removing it, so I left it in. It’s turned out to be a Godsend in helping pupils understand what they did right/wrong on test]. There is simply no need. And there is no need for any of the many hundreds of other people who take tests daily to record theirs, either. There’s even less need for them to be egged on by someone who sells cameras on the premise that they’re being cheated out of test passes.

It must be stressed that DVSA does not object to dash cams being fitted. However, driving tests cannot be recorded [that is no longer correct in 2019, or for the last couple of years]. People seem a little confused by this, and seem to assume having the dash cam at all is a problem. It isn’t.

This article has been getting a few hits during the summer from a forum dedicated to one particular dash cam. The thread that is triggering the interest has two posts of note.

One ADI comments that he has forgotten to switch his camera off a few times on test, and that the footage makes “interesting viewing”. This is a fairly ambiguous comment – it may mean just what it says (though you can sit in on test and see exactly the same “interesting” things), or it could mean that the ADI in question disagrees with what he has seen.

However, all ambiguity is removed by another poster, who comments:

I bet they do make interesting videos! I may have to “forget” to switch mine off during test!

Regular readers will know that I often refer to the attitudes of some ADIs, and how this us-and-them approach to the DVSA doesn’t do anyone any favours. Deliberately suggesting that DVSA rules are going to be broken – and the current rule IS that no videoing of tests is allowed – is… well, you can work it out for yourself.

I’m sure some people become ADIs just to cause trouble. There is no need whatsoever for 99.9% of tests to be recorded, and the remaining 0.1% is insufficient (and insignificant enough) to justify that they should be! The DVSA is NOT routinely doing anything that warrants covert filming, and it is nauseating to keep hearing camera vendors, disgruntled pupils, and even ADIs suggest that they are.

Note this update from September 2014. DVSA will now allow insurance cameras to be fitted and running, but you still cannot record driving tests per se or any audio, nor will DVSA enter into any form of discussion about disputes arising from such insurance video footage.

My original assertion that advising people to covertly record their tests is irresponsible still stands. However, I do think DVSA has shot itself in the foot (albeit with a spud gun) over this.

I don’t think they should have changed their original stance.

Note the edits in this post. I forgot I’d written it until it started getting hits in June 2019. I have done a U-turn and record tests (but never audio). It is very useful. But note that the original purpose of the post was valid – at the time, DVSA (or DSA as it was called then) didn’t allow recording at all, and the company referred to was advising covert recording in complete opposition to that – apparently with the suggestion that test fails could be appealed.

DVSA will not entertain an appeal based on video footage for the reasons already given.

Fewer Learners Crashing On Test

30/04/2014

DOAADI

ADI, Driving Tests, DVSA, News

A reader sent me a link to a recent press release, which reports that fewer learners are having crashes while on their driving tests. I was aware of it because the author, Pete McAllister, had asked me for my opinion before it was published. I was meaning to get around to reporting on it myself, but I got side-tracked and forgot. It’s a bit embarrassing really, as the “experts within the driving instruction industry” referred to includes me!

At the time I didn’t know what the actual figures were, and my comments to Pete reflected that. In a nutshell, it all comes down to what caused/avoided the accident in the first place – was it the skill (or lack thereof) by the test candidate, lack of skill by the other driver, or a change in the behaviour of the examiners? Overall, it’s probably a combination of all of those things, but if I was putting money on it I’d bet most heavily on the examiners being more proactive in dealing with situations, though I doubt that the DVSA would admit to it.

However, once the report was published and I saw the figures, my immediate reaction was “what decline?” If you ignore 2014 data (because they’re incomplete), the car accident data look like this when you plot them on a graph.

There aren’t enough data to conclude that the trend is downwards. In fact, if I was analysing these data, the only figure I’d be interested in would be 2012 and why it was so high. Overall, the trend is more or less flat, and it certainly isn’t showing a major drop.

To be fair, though, the “massive drop” referred to is with the 2014 data, which so far sit at only 20 crashes (presumably for the first quarter). That would point to a figure of around 80 for the year. And that IS a big fall if it continues for the whole 12 months.

Assuming that the 2014 data remain as low as they currently appear to be, I honestly don’t know what has caused the fall. Certainly, nothing I’ve seen on any of my own tests can explain it. However, if you start to speculate, you need to have much more information – who were the candidates who had crashes previously, and what were the circumstances? Has that demographic changed in any way? I don’t think the DVSA holds that kind of detail.

I still favour the idea that examiners are more prepared to take action, and it would be useful to know if the number of abandoned tests has gone up in any way as a result. Maybe someone should do an FOI request to find out, because the DVSA would definitely know that.

DVSA Logo

18/04/2014

DOAADI

ADI, DVSA

For some reason, a lot of people are looking for the DVSA logo if my search stats are anything to go by. Go to the DVSA home page and it’s right there at the top.

I’m not sure if there will be a standalone logo, but some time ago there was a statement that government bodies were standardising under the GOV.UK banner, so perhaps there won’t be.

Cost Of The Theory Test To Fall?

16/04/2014

DOAADI

ADI, Driving Tests, DVSA, Training

The DVSA is asking for opinions on plans to reduce the cost of the Theory Test. Quite frankly, it is a cynical government vote-winning exercise ahead of the next General Election.

The bulletin makes what must rate as the most stupidest sales pitch imaginable:

The proposals, which could save learner drivers in excess of £100 million pounds over the next nine years…

The simple fact is that most people pay for ONE theory test in their entire life. So the real saving is actually £6. You can multiply it by any number you want, but the fact remains that the most anyone will save is £6 per test, which is nearly 17 million times less than what the government is claiming.

Those ADIs who are supporting the idea on behalf of their little darlings need to start thinking a little bit further ahead instead of pursuing a continual vendetta they don’t understand against everything the DVSA stands for. The current price of £31 for a test which lasts around 90 minutes is hardly a lot by modern standards, particularly when you consider the importance of the end product. Pro rata, it is less than the cost of a driving lesson.

Reduce it by 25% and more of the little darlings might start thinking £25 an hour for a driving lesson is too much, too.

The price is fine as it is.

Category - DVSA