Another email alert from the DSA linking to this part of their website .
Our aim in publishing these Standards is to contribute to DSA’s overall objective of reducing the number of people who are killed and seriously injured on our roads by describing good practice in the field of driver training as well as providing a benchmark for performance in underpinning lifelong driver development.
I think there is more to it than just this, though. I am pretty certain that this is going to be used – at least in part – for the driving test at some point in the not too distant future.
If you look at the Safe And Responsible Driving (Cat B) section, then look at Role 1, and then (for example), Unit 1.3 Plan A Journey, you will see:
Unit 1.3 - Plan A Journey
Trust me – this is remarkably like the documentation which covers TEC awards, so you can see where it might lead. The word they have used that gives it away is “underpinning” – it was much beloved by the TEC administrators I had to deal with in my previous employment.
For all my dislike of TEC certification in my previous job (it wasn’t worth the paper it was written on, and failure was impossible), if the DSA use this properly – and if they make sure failure is recognised as such – then it could have a positive effect on driving standards in future. Of course, it would also have to be compulsory – but I can’t see anyone having the guts to do that.
This is definitely one to watch.