This can be done through the form of a PDI test, to see if they have reached a good standard to give paid instruction to a learner driver? Why are they not asking for the forms which prove they have the extra training during the PDI licence, why are they not asking for the forms which say they have had more training between each part 3 test, if they are not successful on an attempt? After all a pink badge costs a lot of money, what is that money for?
Have the DVSA and the associations come up with a better alternative? It was suggested that in the future all PDI's giving paid tuition should have a fully qualified ADI sat in the back of the car on EACH and EVERY lesson.
I believe this to be unworkable, and an ill though out suggestion; this means that the ADI is going to claim all the fee for the lesson, leaving the PDI without any form of income. How does the PDI then pay for the franchise, as many PDI's work this way? How many pupils will want 2 people in the car all the time? What about the ADI's own pupils, when do they fit them in?
Surely you cannot expect a trainee instructor to work for nothing, and before some people say trainee doctors and nurses do, well no they don't, they get bursaries and grants to help them.
We cannot let the trainee licence to be taken away from the PDI, it's such a valuable contribution to their training, we also cannot be allowing the trainee licence to be abused as it is. The answer is not to penalise the trainee, but to ask searching questions of the standard of the trainers, the training schools, plus the regulation and quality assurance of the trainee licence by the people who issue it, the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency. Where does the standards part come into it here?
Tony Pearson
DSA ADI Dip Di
DIA Masterdriver
BARSA Gold Award