The driving training profession is about to go through the greatest change since that driving test was introduced in 1935; whether you think you will not be affected and therefore are not interested, that’s your choice. However you will be affected, changes that the check test affect us all. Do we know exactly what’s planned? The answer is No, this is because DSA are playing there cards very close to their chest. Even the examiners who will carry out the new Standards Check (SC) only started their training in October 2013.
You may have read in last months e-newsletter that the element on ‘Risk Assessment’ carry’s an automatic failure should you not reach a predetermined score. You may have been exemplary in the other sections but you still fail.
So what happens if you fail your SC, another go; well that’s OK but again if the registrar gets his way this could come at a further cost of somewhere round £120. Are you aware that there is nothing in the regulations that gives the ADI three attempts to pass either the CT or SC; the registrar is well within there remit to start removal from the register for one substandard CT/SC. It should be further noted that should the registrar deem your level of instruction a danger to the public he could suspend you and start the removal procedure.
The time is now to ask your national association what they are doing to challenge any changes that could have potentially damaging consequences for your livelihood and business.
What’s your national association doing for you?
Do you received regular updates of all matter concerning our profession or do you not care? We know from a recent email from DSA that they received 1600 responses to the consultation, that’s less than 3% of the ADI’s on the register. We are aware that some of the responses were from organisations so the 1600 is not the total from ADI’s. Why such a low response? Is it apathy because DSA will do as they like irrespective of the result of the consultation or do you just not care, in which case you deserve all we get.
Either change they way your association represents you or change associations.