DIB-UNITE and DIDU (Delivering Information, Developing Understanding), are gravely concerned over the way a Code of Practice has been developed and then presented to the DSA as a document that purports to support the interests of Approved Driving Instructors (ADI's) when in effect it does nothing of the sort. In its original format it was dictatorial, oppressive and an affront to the integrity of hard working ADI’s who in the main have very few complaints made against them to the DSA relative to those made against examiners.
The Code of Practice (CoP) is a document that both organisations (independently) have been advised to stay well clear of, as it is too woolly and open to misinterpretation. No where does it spell out that it is voluntary; no where does it say what sanctions will be imposed should an ADI find themselves in breach of it; no where does it outline any defined meanings of the words used that needed explanation.
It refers to two other documents, National Driving/Riding Standard and the UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing (CAP Code). It is thought that the vast majority of these document are not known about as a result of the said documents have not were not made public when said ADI’s trained to become instructors nor that the DSA has made any attempts to advise of said documents should form a part of an ADI’s business plans in their advise to becoming an ADI (ADI14).
It is considered that should an ADI sign up to the CoP then most instructors would almost certainly be in breach of it because they may not be compliant with the above two documents and would therefore be in breach by default.
This is an ill conceived document, written by people who do not have the appropriate legal standards of knowledge to implement such a document. It is also believed that if the DSA had power to have imposed such a document, (something we believe has been wanted for many years), they would have gone ahead laid down the legislation before the Minister for his/her approval many years ago. At least the one they currently have on the DSA/UK.GOV web pages is marked as voluntary, which has not attracted much support for reasons we believe is plainly obvious to the average, intelligent Instructor.