As ADI’s we try to teach the pupils everything we can for the roads. Sadly we can’t give them years worth of experience or hindsight. New driver, 17, dies in crash with girl- friend and best friend on mountain ‘racing road’
Rhodri Miller & girlfriend Alesha O’Connor die along with
best friend Corey Price when they smash into oncoming car
in Brecon Beacons three days after he passes test
A teenager passed his driving test just three days before he
was killed along with his girlfriend and best friend in a crash on a notorious mountain pass used for road racing.
Rhodri Miller, 17, was driving with his girlfriend Alesha O’Connor and best friend Corey Price, both 17, when they smashed into an oncoming car.
A-level pupil Rhodri was celebrating passing his test on Tuesday by going for a “cruise” with friends in his green VW Golf on Friday night as part of a convoy of six cars before the road smash.
His friend Corey was a promising young footballer who trained with the Cardiff City Football Academy.
The crash also claimed the life of 68-year-old Margaret Challis, who was a front seat passenger in an black Volkswagen Golf estate that collided head-on with Rhodri’s green Volkswagen Golf.
Five teenage boys, aged 17 and 18, were arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving on the notorious stretch of the A470, which sweeps through the Brecon Beacons National Park. Dyfed Powys Police said they have been released on bail pending further inquiries.

The article speaks for itself.
Schoolboys aged 13 and 14 killed in car crash and their driver, 21, who ‘picked them up without their parents’ permission af- ter offering friends lifts on Facebook’
George Wharton, 14 and Rhys Baker,13 died after the crash and two other 14-year-olds suffered life-threatening injuries.
Tom McMeekin, (pictured) named as the 21-year-old who was driving
the blue Citroen, remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Police are investigating claims Mr McMeekin was operating an unli- censed taxi after offering friends lifts at rates ‘cheaper than a taxi’ on Facebook.
Tom McMeekin, 21, was driving the car when it crashed into a tree. He remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition
No one has been arrested in connection with the incident which took place in Morley, West Yorkshire, on Saturday afternoon.
Today a relative of the younger of the pair described his death as ‘such a shock’. Two other teenagers, named locally as Kameron Walters, 14 and 15-year-old Joshua Van Veen, remain in critical condition in hospital.

A new law giving motorists 10 minutes grace in council owned spaces in England has been passed.

Drivers in England will get 10 minutes’ grace before being fined if they stay too long in council- owned car parking spaces, the government has announced.
It is one of several changes, expected to take effect later this month, which include new restrictions on the use of CCTV cars issuing automatic fines.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said he wanted to end the “war on drivers”
But councils said many already allowed 10 minutes’ leeway and raised concerns about the safety of other changes.
According to figures from the RAC Foundation, councils in England made a combined surplus of £667 million from their on and off-street parking operations in 2013-14. By law, any surplus councils make from parking fees must be ploughed back into transport projects such as road improvements. Westminster Council, which made a £51m surplus from parking fines, said it already applied a “common-sense approach to parking”.

The Dsa and vosa combined into Dvsa. As such the are advertising for examiners and roadside inspectors. See below

Please also note that the DVSA are seeking to recruit new examiners for the following areas:

Aberdeen, Bristol, Caernarvon, Chelmsford, Dover, Edinburgh, Gillingham (Kent), Glasgow, Gloucester, Inverness, Ipswich, Kilmarnock, Leeds, Leighton Buzzard, Llantrisant, Oxford, Pontypool, Poole, Potters Bar, Romford, Royston (Hertfordshire), Swindon, Wrexham

You will find all the details of recruitment below.

Have a good, safe and enjoyable weekend,

Barbara

Barbara Trafford
Managing Director
The ADI Federation Ltd
www.theadifederation.org.uk
adi logo
We’re recruiting Vehicle Examiners across Great Britain. The deadline to apply is Wednesday 1 April 2015.

DFT/163/15/DVSA Vehicle Examiner
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)

Closing date: 1 Apr 2015

Reference number
1446114
Salary
£24,122 – £25,328
Grade
Executive Officer
Post type
Permanent
Business area
Other
Type of role
Engineering
Operational Delivery
Other
Working pattern
This/these jobs are full time and not suitable for part time or job share applicants
Hours
37
Number of posts
28
Location

Town/City

Aberdeen, Bristol, Caernarvon, Chelmsford, Dover, Edinburgh, Gillingham (Kent), Glasgow, Gloucester, Inverness, Ipswich, Kilmarnock, Leeds, Leighton Buzzard, Llantrisant, Oxford, Pontypool, Poole, Potters Bar, Romford, Royston (Hertfordshire), Swindon, Wrexham
Site

See Postcode list.
Region

National
About the job

Job description
This vacancy is now open at Stage 4 – External recruitment

The purpose of the role is to:

Contribute to the maintenance and improvement of road safety and environmental standards.

You may be required to:

• Carry out roadside inspections of all types of vehicles to ensure compliance with relevant legislation at fixed enforcement sites, other roadside locations, coach parks, motorway service areas, or as part of a DVSA/Police mobile patrol.
• Carry out inspections of all types of vehicles at DVSA or other third party locations to ensure compliance with relevant legislation for the purposes of annual test, other specialist schemes and operator licensing.
• Compile reports, collect evidence and where necessary issue prohibition notices, fixed penalty notices, test certificates, other test documentation and immobilise vehicles which on occasions may involve handling cash.
• Inspection of vehicles that have been involved in a collision, other accident or in connection with an alleged safety defect.
• Instigation of prosecution or other enforcement action against operators and drivers who break relevant regulations.
• Prepare case papers and recommendations on investigations for the instigation of court proceedings.
• Present cases at Magistrate’s Court in England and Wales and in Scotland instigate proceedings for a trial in a Sheriff court, on behalf of the Secretary of State.
• Give evidence at Court and Public Enquiries as witness
• In Scotland prepare case papers for the Procurators Fiscal.
• Supervise and monitor the MOT testing scheme, investigate complaints and prepare reports and recommendations on potential disciplinary action.
• Carry out inspections on all types of vehicles to ensure compliance with relevant legislation in respect to the MOT testing scheme.
• Carry out mystery shopper investigations.
• Inspect proposed testing stations, offering advice and guidance in line with DVSA policies.
• Carry out investigations on behalf of the Traffic Commissioner with regard to operator’s maintenance arrangements and standards.
• Carry out inspections of all types of vehicles to ensure compliance with relevant legislation for the purposes of operator licensing.
• Prepare reports and case papers and present evidence at Public Inquiry.
• Develop and maintain good relationships with customers, trade associations, Police, other enforcement agencies, solicitors and Procurators’ Fiscal.
• Answer technical queries from customers, offering advice, guidance and education as required.`
• Take responsibility for the H&S of yourself and others, at non DVSA sites, escalating potential unsafe practices and acting on actual breaches of H&S procedures.
• Assure compliance with Health and Safety standards (for example ensuring locations meet with acceptable standards on a daily basis).
• Occasional management of the station/area team, finance and other resources including monitoring the station/area performance against agreed targets and conducting tier 1 quality control checks.
• Assist colleagues by carrying out other related activity (at or below your current grade) that you have the skills and training to perform, as directed by local management; includes exercising powers to stop if accredited.
• Contribute to the continual improvement of working practices as part of DVSA’s Business Excellence
• Keep up to date with procedural, technical and IT developments relating to the job role (such as relevant legislation and DVSA policy).
• Actively research information through the guidance and procedures available when faced with queries, before requesting advice and answers from others.
• Participate in training to develop skills, knowledge and service standards
• Seek and act upon feedback from colleagues across DVSA
• Participate in the continual improvement of working practices.
• Ensure adherence with DVSA’s IT and data handling policies, of self and colleagues
• Keep up to date with procedural, technical and IT developments relating to the job role (such as relevant legislation and DVSA policy).

Additional Information:

Please note – for the post at Swindon, the successful candidate will be based in Calne. For the post in Oxford, the successful candidate will be based in Bicester.
• There will be a requirement to work outside of normal office hours, usually with prior notice.
• Vehicle Examiners may be required to take enforcement action against individuals, which can, on occasion lead to confrontational situations.
• There will be extensive training on all aspects of the role.
• IT skills play a significant and increasing role for a Vehicle Examiner, who are issued with laptop computers.
• Extensive driving is required to carry out Vehicle Examiner activities.

Whilst part of a team, managed by a Senior Vehicle Examiner, a Vehicle Examiner is responsible for managing and prioritising work that has been allocated to them.

The Departments’ policy allows civil servants who are in their probation period to apply for vacancies.
Civil servants are able to apply for vacancies provided they do not have any active formal penalties imposed for attendance, performance or discipline.
As of 1 April 2014, Vehicle & Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and Driving Standards Agency (DSA) merged together to form the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

We will improve road safety in Great Britain by setting standards for driving and motorcycling, and making sure drivers, vehicle operators and MOT garages understand and follow roadworthiness standards. We will also provide a range of licensing, testing, education and enforcement services.

Please also refer to the full role profile attached and ensure the evidence in your application meets the requirements of the role. Applicants should use the technical framework on Civil Service Learning, the Civil Service Competency framework PDF document and the grade advertised, to refer to the competency definitions.
Person specification
Evidence on the 3 competencies of the DVSA Technical Framework, ie
1. Up to date and in-depth knowledge of vehicles as applies to HGV, PSV, cars or light commercial vehicles.
2. Has experience of undertaking an examination of a vehicle’s components and/or systems to determine:
a. Compliance with legislation or test standards and/or
b. Serviceability.
3. Use of relevant documentation or IT to aide decision making regarding condition and serviceability or to determine a course of action.
Business area
Operations Directorate
Licenses
Full current UK driving licence
Qualifications
Please see list of acceptable qualifications
Competencies
You will be asked to supply evidence of meeting these competencies when you apply.

Technical competency
Which of the listed qualifications do you have?
Experience in the repair, maintenance or inspection of one of the following:-
HGVs/LGVs/PSV’s/Cars/Motorcycles
Has experience of undertaking an examination of a vehicles’s components and/or systems to determine:
1. Compliance with legislationor test standards and/or
2. Serviceability
Benefits

Pensions
For successful candidates, pension scheme’s are available.
Benefits
Besides the rewarding nature of the job itself, the benefits that come with it are excellent. The package includes generous holiday entitlement, attractive pension options, flexible working and other policies to enable a good work/life balance, including beneficial childcare arrangements. You’ll also benefit from our commitment to nurturing and developing talent.
Allowances
Recruitment Retention Allowance £2950
Shift Allowance for Dover £8216
Shift Allowance for South Mimms £7899
London Weighting Allowance for Purfleet and South Mimms £4000
Additional Recruitment Retention Allowance for Aberdeen post £2500

Things you need to know

Security
If you are a successful candidate you will be expected to undertake Basic Checks.
Nationality statement
Candidates will be subject to UK immigration requirements as well as the Civil Service Nationality Rules, located at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules. The most up-to-date information on the requirements of working in the UK can be found at https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas/.
Selection process details
The selection process will comprise an assessment event with one or more exercises. Further details will be provided to those who are invited to assessment.

Please be aware that you could be tested against any aspect of the role profile throughout the selection process. An initial sift may be conducted.

Candidates should be advised that it is DfT policy not to provide feedback at sift stage for any vacancies. There is no right to appeal at sift stage.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme and Definition of Disability:

Disability under the Equality Act 2010 defines a person as disabled if “they have a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term (has lasted, or is expected to last, for at least 12 months) adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day to day activities”. Such adverse effects may arise from external barriers experienced by people with impairments. Examples of people who may be covered include those whose mobility is affected, for example, by arthritis; those whose speech, hearing or eyesight are affected; those whose memory or ability to concentrate, learn or understand is affected by dyslexia; those who have mental health issues such as depression; and those who have chronic conditions such as diabetes or asthma. These examples are merely illustrative – please refer to the definition of disability under the Equality Act if you have questions about whether you are covered by the Act: https://www.gov.uk/definition-of-disability-under-equality-act-2010
We guarantee to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post at the application stage of the process. We are committed to the employment and career development of disabled people. To show this we use the Disability Symbol awarded by the Employment Service.
Reserved status
This is a Non Reserved post and is therefore open to UK, British Commonwealth and European Economic Area (EEA) Nationals and certain non EEA members
Eligibility
Our department’s policy allows applicants who are in the probation period to apply for vacancies.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. Applications from the UK Reserve Forces are welcome, as we aspire to be a model employer of those who serve their country. We also offer a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for disabled applicants who meet our minimum selection criteria. We will not tolerate any form of discrimination.
Commissioners statement
The Civil Service recruits by merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.
School leaving age statement
Candidates will be subject to UK school leaving age legislation.
Apply and further information

Contact point for applicants
Cheryl.Fitzgerald@vosa.gsi.gov.uk
Sift/interview dates and location
Within 2 working days of submission of your application you will receive a link to complete the next stage of the application process which is a Situational Judgement Test (SJT).

Deadline for completion of SJT is 10th April 2015.

Interviews expected w/c 27th April 2015.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
Further information
Please note new entrants are expected to start on the minimum salary. Existing civil servants applying on promotion will have their pay determined under promotion rules based on their current salary.

Please note, Sifting will be carried out based on the location preference stated in your application.

The Agency may appoint more than one successful candidate should a similar post become available during the recruitment process.

Please note:

• When you reach the declaration section of the application form you will be presented with a list of statements to read and agree to. If you tick to agree the statements then click the ‘continue’ button your application will then be submitted. No changes can then be made to your application form.

Candidates are asked to spend a few minutes completing the Media Options form attached to the advert and return it to DFTMedia@dvla.gsi.gov.uk

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Submission statement
Candidates must complete their probationary period unless the recruiting department states otherwise. We will only accept paper applications from those who have a disability that prevents them from applying online. Once you submit your application it cannot be changed. We will not accept late applications.

Get your test changes/bookings done before the times below or wait until Monday.

DVSA logo
Planned maintenance this weekend for some DVSA online services
This weekend some of DVSA’s online services won’t be available because of planned maintenance.
You won’t be able to use the following services from 9:00 am Saturday (14 March) until mid afternoon on Sunday (15 March):

book and manage your practical driving test
DVSA practical test business service
ADI online services (eg. renew or update your registration
record Driver CPC training you provide
check your Driver CPC periodic training hours
upload delegated examiner records
We’re sorry for any inconvenience this causes.

Online theory tests

The onlilne theory test booking service won’t be affected. You and your trainees will still be able to book and manage your theory tests as usual.

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This email was sent to simon.ballinger@sky.com using GovDelivery, on behalf of: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency · Berkeley House, Croydon Street · Bristol, BS5 0DA · 0300 123 9000 Powered by GovDelivery

Congratulations Jack H. on passing your driving test today. Just 7 minors. You also hold the record for me nagging you to do your test on consecutive weeks haha. Well done fella.

The blackpool evening gazette has interviewed one if the local instructors in the new test trial. I will be writing a report in the page itself soon. In the mean time read on. Resort is in gear to trial driving test changes
Published: 18 February 2015

2 comments
Losing your ‘L plates’ is every learner driver’s dream, but major changes could be on the way for the driving test – with Blackpool one of the first test centres to trial the measures.

Plans to overhaul the driving test have been revealed by the Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency – with the resort’s test centre at Warbreck Hill Road one of 20 throughout the UK picked to trial plans to revamp the practical exam.

John Guest, chairman of the Blackpool and District Approved Driving Instructors Association, said the new measures would be introduced for some drivers in April and continue until the end of the year.

He added: “We were asked earlier on this year by the Driving Standards Agency if we would be interested in trialling the changes.

“Instructors met last month to vote on implementing the plans. If learner drivers pass the test it will count as a full pass.

“It is hoped the changes will focus on more realistic, everyday manoeuvres.”

Features of the new test include the pupil following a pre-set satellite navigation guided route and the turn in the road and reverse round a corner taken out of the syllabus completely.

Manoeuvres will be added to the test, including pulling up on the right and then reversing back two car lengths, as well as driving into a parking bay and then reversing out before carrying on with the rest of the drive.

One of the ‘show me tell me questions’ – also known as vehicle safety checks – will be asked at the start of the test and another while driving.

Any eventual changes to the practical test would be subject to full public consultation.

Mr Guest said the trial tests, organised by transport consultancy group TRL, will not apply to every pupil, but likely a mix of ages and backgrounds. He added: “Driving instructors who sign up to take part in the trial will not see all pupils involved.

“TRL will decide which of the pupils will be suitable. This is because they need pupils in all categories – young, old, male, female, disabled, non-British.

“They seem to be saying that the main point of the new features, using a sat nav and asking questions on the move is to cause distractions which the pupil will
come across when driving alone.”
Www.Drivingtuitionblackpool.Co.Uk www.facebook.com/drivinglessonsinblackpool

Driving instructors will book pupils onto the test if they wish to take part, with those who do not continuing with the current test.

Fylde coast driving instructor Brian Marshall welcomed the plans, adding “things needed to change.”

He said: “There is only 40 minutes to assess how good a driver is.

“The theory test was changed a few years ago and I think these changes will make it more and more like real life driving.

“All driving instructors teach these manoeuvres as it is.

“Obviously these are trials but looking to the future something which could be added is regular assessments for drivers every five years to maintain standards.”

A list of banned drugs to drive on. New drug drive legislation comes into force from 2 March 2015 in England and Wales.
So long as you are following the advice of a healthcare professional and your driving isn’t impaired
you can continue to drive as usual and aren’t at risk of arrest.
In the dawn of new drug drive legislation, THINK! is encouraging people who take medicines and aren’t sure if they are safe to drive to check with their pharmacist or doctor. The new law comes into force from the 2nd March and is designed to catch people who risk other people’s lives by getting behind the wheel after taking drugs, and not those taking legitimate medicines that don’t impair their ability to drive.
The new law sets limits at very low levels for 8 drugs commonly associated with illegal use such as cannabis and cocaine. There are also 8 prescription drugs that are included within the new law. These are:
Clonazepam | Diazepam | Flunitrazepam | Lorazepam | Oxazepam | Temazepam | Methadone | Morphine
However, the limits that have been set for these drugs exceed normal prescribed doses, meaning that the vast majority of people can drive as they normally would, so long as:
they are taking their medicine in accordance with the advice of a healthcare professional and/or as printed in the accompanying leaflet their driving is not impaired
Robert Goodwill, Road Safety Minister said:
If you are taking your medicine as directed and your driving is not impaired, then you are not breaking the law and there is no need to worry. We advise anyone who is unsure about the effects of their medication or how the new legislation may affect them, to seek the advice of their doctor or pharmacist
There will also be a medical defence if a driver has been taking medication as directed and is found to be over the limit, but not impaired. THINK! advises drivers who are taking prescribed medication at high doses to carry evidence with them, such as prescriptions slips, when driving in order to minimise any inconvenience should they be asked to take a test by the police.
Professor David Taylor, Royal Pharmaceutical Society spokesperson and member of the Department for Transport advisory panel on drug driving said:
Don’t stop taking your medicines, prescribed or otherwise, if you are worried about this new law. Instead, talk to your doctor or pharmacist for information about how your medicines might affect your ability to drive. They’ll be happy to give you the advice you need to stay safe
Www.Drivingtuitionblackpool.Co.Uk

Dvsa vosa and the police crack down on illegal foreign cars in uk roads.
Foreign-registered vehicles being used illegally on Britain’s
roads are now being seized by some police forces that have
DVLA’s devolved powers. By law DVLA can give police the authority, under devolved powers, to remove untaxed vehicles. This was as a result of growing concerns on the number of foreign registered vehicles staying longer than the 6 month period allowed for temporary visitors to the UK.
Working with our stakeholders
DVLA’s Vehicle Policy Team established a working group in spring 2013 with representatives from the Department for Transport, Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), Motor Insurance Bureau and UK Border Force. Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) joined the group in 2014.
This allowed us to gauge the scale of the problem and improve our internal processes. We trained up a new enforcement team to deal with the offence reports more efficiently and worked with them and the police to develop a robust enforcement process. A hotlist of overstaying foreign registered vehicles was passed to the police.
A pilot exercise with 4 police forces started in April 2014. Intelligence from DVLA and police sightings of foreign registered vehicles on the road resulted in 123 foreign registered vehicles being seized and impounded over 6 weeks. Because of the positive feedback from the police forces involved, this information is now regularly provided to police forces for use on their Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. It’s now business as usual for the 6 police forces, Thames Valley, Hampshire, West Midlands, and Northamptonshire, West Mercia and Staffordshire, who have devolved powers from DVLA.
Proof of concept trial
A proof of concept trial started on 3 November 2014 to build on the success of existing compliance and enforcement processes.
Data provided by HMRC to police forces using ANPR helps the police identify and stop vehicles overstaying the 6 month exemption period. Any vehicle overstaying the period is impounded. The keeper can retrieve their vehicle by paying the release fee and surety payment (around £260) but cannot use the vehicle on the road until it is correctly registered and licensed in the UK. The only exemption is if the vehicle is being driven to a pre booked MOT appointment or any other testing appointment.
The keeper has 56 days to reclaim the surety payment once the vehicle is licensed. DVLA will also issue the vehicle keeper an out of court settlement. The amount will be £30 plus 1.5 times the outstanding vehicle tax rate for the time the vehicle has overstayed.
Failure to pay could result in the keeper being prosecuted.
Highlights of the crack down
 over 1100 vehicles have been seized since DVLA changed its enforcement process
 over 2500 offence reports have been sent to DVLA by the police
 over 1300 out of court settlement letters have been issued to foreign vehicle keepers
who have not complied
 DVLA has successfully prosecuted 120 offenders
Www.Drivingtuitionblackpool.Co.Uk

Stealth cameras are being installed all I’ve the country’s motorways. Do they violate your human rights as they’re invisible?
Critics say that the camouflage cameras enforcing a 70mph speed limit will catch drivers unawares on hitherto unpoliced stretches of motorways
Motoring organisations have reacted angrily to plans for a new generation of “stealth cameras” that are to be rolled out on Britain’s busiest motorways.
Pioneering digital technology will be used in an attempt to catch drivers breaking the 70mph speed limit,
which until recently had been ignored by speed cameras. The plan forms part of the Highway Agency’s expansion of “smart” motorways, which use a range of techniques to maximise ease the flow of traffic.
Motoring organisations say the plans will lead to thousands of drivers being handed fines and penalty points on their license for exceeding the 70mph limit. Critics have also claimed that the introduction of cameras aimed at enforcing the 70mph limit, is not about road safety but about generating income through fines.
The new devices are very small in size and painted grey, rather than the highly visible yellow cameras (a colour that has become synonymous with speed cameras since 2003). often used around roadworks, raising fears that motorists may be caught off guard. Studies have shown that as many as 95 per cent of drivers admit to breaking the limit on motorways.
The introduction of cameras on one stretch of the M25 in Kent (from 22nd October 2014) alone has led to almost 700 drivers receiving fines in little over two months.
Some cameras were installed on a northern section of London’s orbital motorway before Christmas, and more will be deployed on busy stretches of some of the most important motorways including M1, M3, M6 and M60 over the next few years.
In 2013, Patrick McLoughlin abandoned plans to introduce a new 80mph speed limit on Britain’s motorways amid fears the change would alienate women voters.
A Highways Agency spokesperson said: “Variable speed limits on smart motorways are primarily there to smooth traffic flow, reduce congestion and make journeys more reliable. “Hundreds of thousands of motorists use this stretch of the M25 every day. The vast majority are sticking to the speed limits and are experiencing better journeys as a result of smart motorways.
“There are clear signs where cameras are in place and the new cameras are more visible than the previous versions.”
Www.Drivingtuitionblackpool.Co.Uk