I’m copying and pasting from the AJNC with permission.

I appreciate all of your support during this difficult time.

Lessons are on hold until the government consider it safe for us to resume.

Here is some important information for frontline, in this case nhs workers. They have priority in test bookings. And I hate the term customer.

GUIDANCE TO INSTRUCTORS DELIVERING TRAINING TO CRITICAL WORKERS FROM NASP

The three joint associations of NASP have put together some advised guidance if you have customers who are granted a Critical Worker practical test with the DVSA.

You will need to take your candidate out in preparation for the test as you normally would, as always you should use your professional judgement when deciding how many lessons, and for how long.

Firstly, you should appreciate that all Critical Workers will not necessarily be granted a critical worker test and we would advise that you do not give training until your customer actually has a practical test confirmed by DVSA, those are at the ,moment only being given to front line NHS, Police & Fire Service personnel, that may change as time goes on and we will keep you updated.

We have already published the operating procedures that volunteer DVSA examiners will use when conducting a test and have reiterated some of those below, this list is not exhaustive, however hopefully covers all you will need to consider before taking on any Critical Worker training before a test.

• Make sure your customer has checked with DVSA at:
critical.worker.driving.test@dvsa.gov.uk  to ensure they will be granted a practical test
• Check with pupils before each lesson to ensure they have not been exposed, or are experiencing symptoms which could be related to Covid 19, or have travelled recently from a region severely impacted
• You should note, that any test booked will be carried out with a volunteer examiner as they will have to break the social distancing rules and check where the test is actually booked, do not assume it will be at the customers usual test centre
• We would suggest you wear suitable safe clothing when giving lessons/training, the examiner has been advised to wear long sleeves and full-length trousers
• Your customer will be asked on arrival at the test centre to wash their hands before the test will start, please advise your customer not to shake hands with their examiner
• In these unusual times, you should consider wearing gloves and the examiner will, however you should be aware that some people are allergic to latex based materials, always ask first
• If you or your customer present for the test with any clear symptoms, excessive coughing, high temperature etc, the examiner will refuse the test and another test will be rebooked. If during the test, any of these symptoms present themselves, the examiner will terminate the test
• All the normal procedure will be carried out on the test as it normally would following the DT1 guidance
• You will not be invited to travel in the back of the test or be involved in the debrief at the end
• You should ensure your customer, that everything the examiner uses before, during and at the end of the test has been thoroughly cleaned and will be before each test
• We would advise you to continue with the earlier guidance we gave regarding using antibacterial hand gel and wipes to ensure you keep clean all areas, you or your customer touch
• During the test, the examiner may ask you to take off any roof board you may have, this is simply to avoid abuse from other members of the public. The examiner will supply a pair of L plates if you don’t have any, preferably marked with NHS above the L

A key worker trainer register will shortly be available providing certification for driver and rider trainers to be able to display whilst training, as well as allowing members of the public, police etc. to check with the register that the trainer is indeed carrying out essential training. Trainers applying for certification will have to complete a short online course and theory test on safe training protocols, designed to mitigate the risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19, as well as provide evidence they are training key workers.

We hope this gives you some useful advice, please Stay Safe

Under current social distancing laws and essential journeys only in effect with fines of up to £660 for being out in quarantine without good reason. Even my wife as a key worker now has to have a letter from her employer stating her reasons,

Driving lessons are on hold until we are told by the government that we may resume.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.

https://apple.news/AS9OkKUQlT2CHHzF8Fnkfjw

Following a loophole in the law that allows the use of mobile phones by a driver not using data or a cellular network (no calls, texts or social media) the government is set to make law on the “touching of mobile devices illegal”. After a case of “videoing a crime scene” was declared not  illegal the government has started proceedings of make touching mobile phones against the law. Hd cameras are being installed throughout he country to battle the crime.

Not 1, 2 or 3 after the red. The van still charges in while we’re in the middle of the junction trying to turn right. Traffic had begun to move in the adjacent direction but…

He couldn’t possibly have looked. Telemetry on the camera showed -2g in braking to deal with thisDarwin Award candidate 30 to 20 in the blink of an eye. Best watched on the big screen.

If you’re one of the few people that decide to take your driving test in your own car there’s a few things you might want to look into 1st.

Make sure any and all recalls are up to date. If your car has an outstanding recall your examiner may not take you out.

Make sure you car is fit for purpose.

No 2 seaters, mechanically sound and all tyres to meet the legal minimum tread requirements.

Insurance, are you actually insured for test? Unlikely as this is specialist insurance nog usually covered by social and domestic pleasure policies.

Tax and Mot must be up to date

insane parking skills shown in St Helens!! Why didn’t I think of that? Oh yeah because I actually care about what I do.

In 2013, then named DVLA conducted a survey into safe driving v’s hours behind the wheel. They found that candidates with 20 or less hrs tended to crash in the first few weeks, 30 within months, 40 within the first 6 months. Their £8m survey came to the conclusion that with 62 hrs plus plenty of private practice resulted in very few crashes indeed.

In short then, more experienced novice drivers cost less in the long run through insurance payouts, time of work and as most newly passed drivers insure themselves “third party,fire and theft” they’d have to pay their own car repairs.

Fast forwards a few years and the figures get further apart, most blame this on the “the school child can’t fail so the teacher does it for them” culture that seemed to be happening. So when a candidate is put into a situation where they have to do the work and can’t be carried? A skills deficit isn’t the best way forwards.

DVSA, the insurance companies and various bodies from the driving Industry got together and formed the new driving test with heavy bias on parking manoeuvres and DISTRACTION. These distraction techniques were designed for real world driving where a child, a friend would turn on the stereo, start a conversation, play games on their phones, use of their own sat nav etc. This way the newly qualified driver would be prepared. This of course means more time behind the wheel. Adding two more real world manoeuvres was next on the agenda one of which would be used without warning during the sat nav part of the test all the while asking the candidates to use various controls on the car suck as de misting windows or cleaning the screen. There’s another blog on her containing all the show and tell.

So what’s the end result? Most candidates pass as a safe driver between 40-60 hrs depending on age. 17 year olds learn much quicker than those in their 40’s. In short, it’s not the quickest thing in the world but I can’t put a price on the safety of my children when they come to drive, to me they are priceless and my world.