under the Act namely that, as a general rule, Fixed Monetary Penalties, Variable Monetary Penalties and Restoration Notices will only be applied to larger companies rather than to Small and Medium Enterprises who might feel less equipped to challenge the basis for such sanctions.
If you belong to another national association checkout their opinion on this matter, you will be surprised as we have it good authority that two of the national associations are in favour of the Registrar having these powers.
Maybe the time is right to consider which association you belong to.
Qualification Process & Vocational Qualifications
For sometime now there have been calls from within the profession to end the trainee licence scheme for PDI’s in its present form. Whist the DSA has considered this it would have financial implications for them.
The profession consider with justification that the current trainee licence scheme is abused. It is used by some as a means to earn money and not used for its intended purpose of training. Currently PDI’s are having 2 or more training licences, the Registrar has stated that he will tighten up on issuing second or third licences, to date we have no evidence this has happened.
Some unscrupulous driving schools have tied PDI’s to contracts which means they (the PDI’s) have no option but to work all hours just to satisfy their contractual obligation with regards to their franchise fees. Training seems to take second place to earning money.
So the system does need changing but to what.
DSA are proposing that the whole qualification process goes to an outside accredited awarding organisation. Does such an organisation exist?
There are many educational institutions that will feel they would want to
get involved. However driving instructions is not like any classroom based subject. The moving environment of the vehicle needs special consideration, not only have you the movement of your vehicle but also the interaction with other road users.