If the paper part is removed an instructor ability to assess the pupils entitlement will be removed. It was suggested at the meeting with the DSA that maybe a pupil would be required to sign a disclaimer, stating that they are not banned and therefore entitled to drive that class of vehicle.
My question is would this be acceptable to the police as the instructor had took all reasonable steps to ensure the pupil was not banned? I should add the insurance company that I use stated that they would not be happy with a disclaimer system?
There reply;
My understanding is that the removal of the counterpart will only occur if and when the DVLA have a computer/internet link for the public and others who need to check eligibility such as hire companies etc. This being the case there isn't an issue. I think we would agree that self declaration isn't good enough.
What might have to happen is your instructors will need to take a licence number and then back at home check DVLA. The driving instructors association need to consult DVLA regarding the options.
I hope this is helpful
Regards
Jerry
Jeremy Moore
Police Liaison Officer to
ACPO/DfT/HO Road Crime
(NDORS Strategic Manager)
One of the other national associations has recently received a reply to a question they posed on this subject; the reply they received is;
The photocard licence was introduced in 1998 to comply with the second EC Directive on Driving Licences. The Directive did not permit the recording of endorsements and provisional entitlement on the photocard itself so the paper counterpart was introduced to allow information specific to drivers in Great Britain to be displayed.
The paper counterpart proved to be unpopular with motorists and other customers, and following a public consultation in 2004, legislation was introduced in the Road Safety Act 2006 that will allow it to be abolished. In order to do this by 2015, an electronic system is currently being developed to provide electronic access to relevant stakeholders and drivers themselves.
Currently it is possible to use an expensive phone number to contact DVLA on licencing issues, but they will not divulge information about another persons licence without them being present and giving permission.
DSA will have to have a scheme in place to check a candidate’s licence before the start of a practical test. Whether this is just a bar code scanner or some other device we don’t know at the present.
So maybe after the removal of the paper part we either make a expensive phone call, take the pupil to the test centre or have access via a computer to check the pupils entitlement to drive. Which ever way this goes it will mean the instructor will incur costs.
This change, when it happens could result in problems for driving instructors. Failure to check properly will mean your insurance is void, and could lead to the instructor being prosecuted; this will then mean the Registrar will get involved, so it’s a vicious circle.
What is your association doing about it?