Category - DSA

Driving Examiner Jailed For Taking Bribes

26/10/2012
DOAADI
ADI, DSA, News

This is a very old story. DSA is now DVSA.

This story came in on the newsfeeds. It reports that ex-driving examiner (he’s an “ex” because of the case), Richard Cwierzona, took bribes from candidates in exchange for test passes.

He also attempted to obtain “dates” from female pupils in exchange for test passes. One woman claimed that he offered to pass her in return for oral sex.

Police believe that there could be “hundreds of illegal drivers” on the roads as a result of his actions. However, only 57 people with suspicious results could be traced. The DSA revoked 39 of those and apparently sacked him when his actions were discovered.

Cwierzona apparently made at least £4,500 in bribes between September 2009 and September 2010, at which point he was sacked. But it seems that this had been going on since  2002. He was suspended in 2007 for offering to take a bribe, but as it was his word against the candidate and her driving instructor he was reinstated in 2009 (you can imagine union involvement in there somewhere judging from the time span).

Cwierzona was jailed for two and a half years.

Andy Rice of the DSA said:

Fortunately these cases are very few and far between but I am pleased with the sentence as it acts as a deterrant (sic) to anybody else thinking of acting this way in the future.

The DSA is as disgusted as anyone else – but I notice that there are some people – instructors included – out there already trying to twist it otherwise with their racist twist on the subject.

You’d be surprised how many people find this site as a result of Google queries on how to bribe examiners. It should be pointed out, however, that several of Cwierzona’s victims – it was always Cwierzona who initiated the offer – refused.

DSA Advice: Roundabouts

18/10/2012
DOAADI
ADI, DSA, Transport

The DSA has sent out one of its periodic advice emails. This one concerns roundabouts.

When reaching the roundabout you should:

  • give priority to traffic approaching from your right, unless directed otherwise by signs, road markings or traffic lights
  • check whether road markings allow you to enter the roundabout without giving way. If so, proceed, but still look to the right before joining
  • watch out for all other road users already on the roundabout; be aware they may not be signalling correctly or at all
  • look forward before moving off to make sure traffic in front has moved off

Rule 185

I’ve given a lot of advice on how to handle roundabouts, including the non-existent 12 o’clock rule and also the Nuthall roundabout in Nottingham, and one of the main points to be aware of is that they’re not all the same and you cannot apply the exact same detailed procedure to every one you ever encounter, particularly when it comes to lane choice and signalling.

The DSA’s advice is written in a level of detail (i.e. not too much) so that it applies to all roundabouts for all normal drivers.

Once again, the amateur Sherlock Holmes’ out there (all driving instructors, obviously) are waffling on about the picture of that green car turning right and being shown in the right-hand lane – even though the green arrows show that it can exit in either lane (which it can).

What they all miss is the fact that the roundabout in the picture has two lanes on every entry, and this defines two lanes on the roundabout itself. It would be far more risky for anyone turning right to change lanes on most roundabouts part way through, and especially so for learners and inexperienced drivers (of which there are far more than the average amateur Sherlock Holmes realises, and some of those are a lot closer to home than he thinks).

So the position of the green car in the right-hand exit lane is actually the safest option – unless you’re a super-duper advanced-driving expert who doesn’t need to follow road markings or use signals merely because you read it in Roadcraft once!

Addendum: If you don’t like receiving these DSA advice (or other) emails – which it appears some don’t – then there is an absolutely clear link on each one which says “Unsubscribe”. Subscribing to them in the first place required a very deliberate act on the part of the subscriber. It stands to reason that unless the DSA is employing psychics now, unsubscribing will also require a very deliberate counter action on the part of that same subscriber!

Of course, if you don’t get them sent to you anymore then there’ll be nothing to complain about in future…

DSA Test Bookings Scuppered By Thieves

11/10/2012
DOAADI
ADI, Driving Tests, DSA, Training

This is an unusual one!

The DSA has sent out an alert advising that it is not possible to book a practical driving test either by phone or online due to the theft of cables at BT.

I am assuming that this means someone has stolen cables which connect the DSA to BTs services (like nicking lead off church roofs or copper cables at railway signal boxes).

The fault is estimated to be fixed by tomorrow (12 October 2012).

Update: A new alert advises that BT won’t fix the fault until 13 October 2012 (Saturday).

Update: A new alert advises systems are all back up as of 12 October 2012.

Note: Interesting to see that – in certain strata of our unfortunate society, at least – this was entirely the DSA’s fault.

DSA Advice: Waiting And Parking

10/10/2012
DOAADI
ADI, DSA, Training

The DSA has sent one of its periodic reminders about the Highway Code. This one is to do with Waiting and Parking.

Parking on hills.

If you park on a hill you should:

  • park close to the kerb and apply the handbrake firmly
  • select a forward gear and turn your steering wheel away from the kerb when facing uphill
  • select reverse gear and turn your steering wheel towards the kerb when facing downhill
  • use ‘park’ if your car has an automatic gearbox

Rule 252

 

DSA Alert: GOV.UK Replacing Directgov and Business Link

05/10/2012
DOAADI
ADI, Driving Tests, DSA, News, Training

The DSA has sent out an email alert advising of changes to it’s website services.

From 17 October 2012, GOV.UK will replace Directgov and Business Link. In other words, there will be one website instead of several, and the DSA will be part of that single site.

You can play around with the test version here. It isn’t complete, and is just for browsing.

For instructors and learners, all the relevant stuff is under the first option on the homepage >> Driving, transport, and travel.

First impressions are that it is much easier and clearer than the existing sites. Hopefully, the existing DSA stuff will have been rewritten to fit in and won’t just be the old stuff from new links.

DSA Advice: Road Users Requiring Extra Care

04/10/2012
DOAADI
ADI, DSA, Training

An email alert from the DSA, with timely advice about taking care around schools:

Near schools. Drive slowly and be particularly aware of young cyclists and pedestrians. In some places, there may be a flashing amber signal below the ‘School’ warning sign which tells you that there may be children crossing the road ahead. Drive very slowly until you are clear of the area.

Rule 208

 

New CGI HPT Clip

01/10/2012
DOAADI
ADI, Driving Tests, DSA, Training

The DSA is circulating a new early-stage clip of the soon-to-be CGI version of the Hazard Perception Test (HPT) produced by Jelly. Once again, image clarity is superb.

Of course, it remains to be seen what the “experts” have to say on the matter. In spite of being early-stage trials I’m sure that someone will argue the sun is all wrong which gives a misleading impression of the speed because of the shadows, or the pilot car is doing something it shouldn’t, or something like that. Or some crap about it “being even more like a video game” – that’s always a good position to take to show how “expert” you are on the matter.

I did notice someone saying (in derogatory response to this latest clip) that the HPT doesn’t teach pupils to look in the mirrors.

It isn’t supposed to – that’s a service that ADIs are allegedly trained to provide. The HPT is supposed to give them an idea of what hazards to look for and when. It’s supposed to get them thinking – but quite how it can do that effectively if they have negative instructors teaching them is anyone’s guess.

Being able to pass the question part of the Theory Test doesn’t prove someone has perfect understanding of the Highway Code anymore than passing the HPT part means they have perfect hazard awareness skills when they’re out in their car.

But they have to at least think – just a little bit – in order to pass at all, and their instructor should build on that during their lessons.

Any ADI who can’t get this simple relationship past the prejudices that fill their thick skulls shouldn’t be doing this job.

Latest Official Theory Test Help

30/09/2012
DOAADI
Driving Tests, DSA, News, Training

The DSA has sent out a bulletin advising of the latest study aids for the theory test.

It would appear that the changes include sections which explain in detail (using words and pictures) the key points, and advice on how to study. There are also attempts to link the material with actual on-road situations.

Prices start at £7.99 for just a downloadable PDF, but go up to £19.99 for the “complete kit”. Note that a PDF will not provide mock test functionality – it’s just a book.

This is where I have to deviate from being in full support of the package. I advise all my pupils that the only thing they need to buy is Driving Test Success. This DVD contains everything needed to pass the test. It’s price tends to vary with time – that one I’ve linked to is £10 for the 2013 edition, but the 2012 edition is only £5.99 and I’m not aware of any real changes to the test between 2012 and 2013 (the big change was between 2011 and 2012, when they stopped publishing the actual test questions).

You can also get Driving Test Success for only £0.69 (yep! Sixty nine pence) each for the questions and HPT (hazard perception) immediately for your iPhone (no Android support, it would seem). That price is limited time, and is only correct at the time of writing.

The DSA one is certainly serviceable, but it’s just a bit expensive.