Category - News

In the absence of any proper news – and when you consider the area in question, the lack of proper news isn’t all that surprising – This Is Cornwall is wetting its pants over the supposed “fact” that “the Westcountry has better L-driver pass rates.”

Every time some junior wannabe hack gets hold of the latest pass rates, it’s like they’ve never seen anything remotely like them before. If only they’d compare new data with old data, and understand that unless pass rates jump by 5% or more, and keep jumping in the same direction, there’s nothing to actually report.

In actual fact, pass rates for the Westcountry have increased by less than 1% since last year. Statistically, the national pass rate has been flat for the last three years, varying by about plus or minus 1% (statistically insignificant). So, the Westcountry’s pass rate has also stayed flat. Nothing has actually changed, in spite of the ravings of This Is Cornwall’s junior staff!

What is really funny, though, is this quote taken directly from This Is Cornwall’s article:

Christine [surname removed in this copy], of [name removed in this copy] School of Motoring in Paignton, said higher pass rates in the Westcountry could be down to a "better class of instructor".

She said: "The test is becoming much harder to pass, which should ultimately lead to safer drivers on the roads."

What nonsense. Why do people make these ridiculous comments and allow their names to be tagged on to them?

If you look at maps of the area in question there is one motorway which never quite gets there, and literally a handful of A roads in the whole of the two counties. It is out in the sticks and is affluent, and it is always these kinds of places – where electricity hasn’t quite reached, and where livestock can still be voted in as Mayor – which usually have the highest figures. Urban conurbations and places with  high immigrant populations – all the normal places, really – often have lower ones.

I hardly think Fate, in Her infinite wisdom, would have decreed that all the best instructors should be down in Devon and Cornwall, where there are more sheep than humans. She would more than likely have distributed them evenly around the country. Higher – and only slightly higher at that – than national average figures are almost certainly down to something a little more fundamental.

It is hardly surprising that the area has slightly higher than national average figures – i.e. it isn’t as challenging and it doesn’t have “national average” population demographics.

I wrote about this way back in August 2010, when it was announced that private wheel clamping was to be banned. It just goes to show how long it can be between something “going to happen” and it “actually happening”.

The DSA has just issued this alert which says that the ban will come into force on 1 October, 2012. So, more than two years after it “going to happen”!

In effect, this will ban most clamping and towing by anyone other than the police, local authorities, government agencies such as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) – plus other bodies acting in accordance with statutory or other powers, such as railway stations and airports.

So City Estates – the crooks who have been clamping all and sundry near the Colwick Test Centre – will finally have that shady source of income cut off.

That Jurassic outfit, PCS, has got more strikes planned for Friday, July 13th. This alert from the DSA urges candidates to turn up as normal.

Not all examiners are idiots – they aren’t all members of PCS for a start, and even if they are they won’t necessarily get involved in antiquated and childish strike action.

From what I’ve seen, almost no tests get cancelled in Nottingham, whereas further north at some centres ALL tests were cancelled the last strike (from what I heard). Make of that what you will about the northern mentality.

If you’ve got a test booked, keep your fingers crossed. If you get cancelled, just bite your lip and hope the idiots grow up soon.

According to this alert from the DSA, Halfords has been selected as a preferred partner for delivering driving tests from places which don’t have a full blown test centre of their own. Partnerships are also being investigated with the Fire & Rescue Service and various universities.

It’s worth pointing out the lead-in comment:

Driving tests could soon be available from branches of Halfords under plans announced today (10 July) by Road Safety Minister Mike Penning.

Note the use of the words “could” and “soon”. You will recall, perhaps, that last year we were told that we “could soon” be able to take learners on to motorways (as early as this summer). We don’t appear to be anywhere near that happening – all these proposed changes are is a huge exercise in creating pseudo-jobs for government officials.

The email says:

The scheme focuses on 21 locations, centred around 5 different areas across the country:

• Glasgow
• Kettering
• Manchester
• Watford
• Worcestershire

Can you imagine how many people are involved in administering this? However, the email adds that tests from these locations are expected to commence in the autumn, but what it doesn’t mention is how soon the places where the absence of a test centre is arguably a real issue will also get the facility. All of the places mentioned are bloody large urban conurbations (not sure about Worcestershire) where there are already test centres available at reasonable distances. At no time has there been a situation where you had to travel 100 miles to do a driving test in places like Manchester and Glasgow (there are at least 3 or 4 centres at each of those locations)!

I wonder if this was Mike Penning’s own idea… or his daughter’s! I don’t have a problem with it as such. Just the politics behind it.

Incidentally, it’s hilarious to see the same people who complained about test centres closing – the same ones who also moan about everything the DSA does – now whining like children about tests being conducted from Halfords’ car parks. Oh, it’s not fair, there should be an office, and toilets, and a four star restaurant, and landscaped gardens…

I tell you, some ADIs are not a full shilling.

Are (is) Halfords offering driving tests now?

Really, someone asked that question – and I know for a fact that they were a driving instructor!

NO. The DSA is looking to conduct tests from Halfords premises. Halfords staff will NOT be involved, and tests will still be conducted by DSA examiners. You will NOT be able to book your test through Halfords.

The DSA is getting a test centre for free now, isn’t it?

I don’t think for second that Halfords is turning over part of its car park in the areas involved for free. I think this accusation comes from people who have a very strange agenda of their own to pursue, and who lack the intelligence to think it through properly!