In a press release issued on 18 June 2008, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) have stated that due to "an error in regulations" dating back to November 2005, approximately 270,000 driving test candidates who booked their driving tests to take place on a SATURDAY were overcharged.
The DSA state that they will be writing to all those affected to apologise and to offer a refund, but that anyone wanting further information in the meantime can ring them on 0191 201 4098 and talk to an advisor.
The press release reads as follows;
"DSA Press release - SATURDAY DRIVING TESTS
SATURDAY DRIVING TESTS
The Driving Standards Agency is writing to learner driver candidates who have booked practical tests on a Saturday since November 2005, to offer a refund for overpayment of fees caused by accidental overcharging and to apologise for the error.
We are taking this action because of an error in regulations made on 1 November 2005 which had the unintended consequence of removing the differential between normal weekday hours and Saturday charges for taking a test.
The refund offered is the premium paid for a Saturday test, currently £10.50 for a car test.An amending regulation has now been laid in Parliament to reinstate in law the intended differential in fees. The Agency is obliged to recover administrative costs through fees, including the extra costs of Saturday operation, for example in overtime. Tests booked from 7 July onwards will be charged at the intended Saturday rate of £67.00.
The Driving Standards Agency apologises for the error and is contacting all those affected, but customers can speak direct to the Agency’s advisers by calling (0191) 201 4098 if they want information in the meantime. DSA believes around 270,000 candidates will be affected."
Source: DSA Press Release - Saturday Driving Tests
Thursday, 19 June 2008
Monday, 9 June 2008
Increase in Practical Test "Vehicle Safety Questions" (Show-Me-Tell-Me) from 01 July 2008
From 01 July 2008, six additional "Show-Me-Tell-Me" questions will be introduced to the Practical Driving Test.
The 13 current questions remain and test candidates will still only be asked 2 out of the 19 questions.
The additional questions are as follows;
"Show me how you would clean the windscreen using the windscreen washer and wipers
Show me how you would set the demister controls to clear all the windows effectively, this should include both front and rear screens
Show me how you would switch on the rear fog light(s) and explain when you would use it/them. (No need to exit vehicle)
Tell me how you make sure your head restraint is correctly adjusted so it provides the best protection in the event of a crash
Show me how you switch your headlight from dipped to main beam and explain how you would know the main beam is on whilst inside the car
Tell me how you would know if there was a problem with your anti lock braking system"
Full details of the existing and additional Vehicle Safety Questions can be found at the Driving Standards Agency website as follows;
Vehicle Safety Questions
The 13 current questions remain and test candidates will still only be asked 2 out of the 19 questions.
The additional questions are as follows;
"Show me how you would clean the windscreen using the windscreen washer and wipers
Show me how you would set the demister controls to clear all the windows effectively, this should include both front and rear screens
Show me how you would switch on the rear fog light(s) and explain when you would use it/them. (No need to exit vehicle)
Tell me how you make sure your head restraint is correctly adjusted so it provides the best protection in the event of a crash
Show me how you switch your headlight from dipped to main beam and explain how you would know the main beam is on whilst inside the car
Tell me how you would know if there was a problem with your anti lock braking system"
Full details of the existing and additional Vehicle Safety Questions can be found at the Driving Standards Agency website as follows;
Vehicle Safety Questions
Wednesday, 7 May 2008
Driving Test Fees Increasing AGAIN
The DSA Business Plan 2008/2009 has outlined proposals to increase the Practical driving test fee for cars to £64.00 (daytimes)/£76.00 (evenings & weekends) in 2009.
See my previous blog entries for my thoughts on the massive price hikes in the cost of driving tests since 2007 already...
I cannot comment further at this stage...for once in my life, words completely fail me :(
See my previous blog entries for my thoughts on the massive price hikes in the cost of driving tests since 2007 already...
I cannot comment further at this stage...for once in my life, words completely fail me :(
Tuesday, 22 April 2008
DSA Stop Issuing "Proper" Theory Test Pass Certificates
Theory Test pass certificates have been scrapped.
From 01 April 2008 the DSA stopped issuing separate Theory Test certificates. They now merely print the test pass number on the bottom of the computer generated results page that the test centre staff give to Theory Test candidates before they leave the test centre.
The Theory Test pass certificate used to look OK. It looked like a "proper" certificate and for many people gaining a pass and having a certificate to mark their achievement was tangible evidence that they'd succeeded and was rightly something for them to be proud of.
The Theory Test requires study and self-motivation. The test isn't so simple and straightforward that "everyone passes first time" - far from it, many people fail - so why does a Government agency treat laudable success with what amounts to derision?
This time last year it cost £21.50 to take the Theory Test. This increased to £28.50 in September 2007 and on 01 April 2008, a mere seven months later, the price increased again, this time to £30.00.
An increase of £8.50 - 39.5% over the course of a year. That's a big increase.
One can only assume that the "proper" Theory Test pass certificate has been abandoned in a cost-cutting measure...I would say perhaps that's fair enough, after all thrift is a virtue - if it weren't for the recent massive increases in the test fee...
How can they justify charging people more but giving them less?
It smacks of penny-pinching in the worst possible way...
Monday, 14 April 2008
Your Driving Licence - Look After It!
I had a phone call today from someone saying she'd lost the "letter" that came with her driving licence and was it important...closer questioning revealed that she had lost the paper part of her licence....this is bad...this is not something you want to do...no, really, I'm not joking...
Those of us who deal with learner drivers on a daily basis have come across this time and time again. People (especially teenagers) get their provisional driving licence and eagerly grab the plastic photocard bit for use as ID to get into pubs, clubs etc and ignore the boring paper bit it's stuck too...BAD MOVE...THE PAPER BIT IS IMPORTANT SO DON'T LOSE IT, THROW IT AWAY OR DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN PUT IT SOMEWHERE VERY SAFE...
Why?
I'll tell you why...
Both the photocard and paper counterpart constitute your driving licence and they should ideally be kept together.
You should take good care of your driving licence as it is an important document and is widely acceptable as proof of identity - losing or throwing away the paper part of your driving licence could easily leave you vulnerable to identity fraud...
YOU MUST PRODUCE BOTH THE PAPER AND PHOTOCARD PARTS OF YOUR DRIVING LICENCE WHEN YOU TAKE BOTH THE THEORY AND PRACTICAL DRIVING TESTS - IF YOU DO NOT PRODUCE BOTH PARTS OF YOUR LICENCE YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TAKE EITHER TEST AND YOU WILL LOSE THE FEE YOU HAVE PAID FOR THE TEST.
You must replace your driving licence if it has been lost, stolen, defaced or destroyed.
Both the photocard and paper counterpart constitute your driving licence and they should ideally be kept together.
You should take good care of your driving licence as it is an important document and is widely acceptable as proof of identity - losing or throwing away the paper part of your driving licence could easily leave you vulnerable to identity fraud...
YOU MUST PRODUCE BOTH THE PAPER AND PHOTOCARD PARTS OF YOUR DRIVING LICENCE WHEN YOU TAKE BOTH THE THEORY AND PRACTICAL DRIVING TESTS - IF YOU DO NOT PRODUCE BOTH PARTS OF YOUR LICENCE YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TAKE EITHER TEST AND YOU WILL LOSE THE FEE YOU HAVE PAID FOR THE TEST.
You must replace your driving licence if it has been lost, stolen, defaced or destroyed.
You must also replace your whole licence if you've lost either the paper counterpart or the photocard.
You can apply for a replacement driving licence online, by telephone or by post.
Fee For A Replacement Driving Licence
The fee for a duplicate driving licence is £17.50
How To Apply For A Replacement Driving Licence
The DVLA accepts the following forms of payment for online or phone applications; Visa, Eurocard, Mastercard and Maestro.
Apply for a replacement driving licence online
Telephone - 0870 240 0009 (Monday to Friday 8.00 am - 8.30 pm or Saturday 8.00 am - 5.30 pm)
For full details of how to apply for a replacement driving licence, please see DirectGov-Duplicate driving licence, replacing if lost, stolen, defaced or destroyed
You must also report any changes affecting your driving licence to the DVLA such as change of address, change of name etc - for more details, please see DirectGov - Change of name and address on your driving licence
Wednesday, 9 April 2008
Driving Instructor Testing (check tests)
A couple of days ago someone found one of my websites using the search term "how often do driving instructors get tested ". I do give the answer there, but it's somewhat buried in a mass of other information and having looked round the internet, there seems to be a lack of information that answers that question properly. Hopefully this will help the next person wanting to know :)
Once the third and final part of the Approved Driving Instructor qualifying exams is successfully passed you must pay the registration fee (currently £300.00) and apply to join the Driving Standards Agency Register of Approved Driving Instructors . Your registration will last four years, then you will have to pay again.
In that four year period you will also have to undergo at least one "check-test" on the quality of your instruction. This will be performed by a senior grade driving examiner (SEADI) and will consist of the SEADI either observing you during a lesson with a pupil, or, if you prefer, the SEADI can "role-play" the part of a pupil for you to teach (similar to the Part Three test).
The first check test is often referred to an an "educational" check test and is usually carried out roughly 6 months or so after you qualify.
You will have to undergo periodic check-tests as long as you are a registered ADI. The frequency between check-tests depends on what grade you achieved on the previous check-test - generally speaking, the higher the grade achieved, the longer the interval between checks. You must however, achieve a grade 4 or above.
If you don't get a standard grade 4 at your check-test, then you will be asked to take another check-test within a certain time limit. These are:
* grade 3 - further check-test with six months
* grade 2 - further check-test within two months
* grade 1 - further check-test within a month
If you're given a grade 1 after three check-tests, you will be formally told that you will be struck off the ADI Register.
Once the third and final part of the Approved Driving Instructor qualifying exams is successfully passed you must pay the registration fee (currently £300.00) and apply to join the Driving Standards Agency Register of Approved Driving Instructors . Your registration will last four years, then you will have to pay again.
In that four year period you will also have to undergo at least one "check-test" on the quality of your instruction. This will be performed by a senior grade driving examiner (SEADI) and will consist of the SEADI either observing you during a lesson with a pupil, or, if you prefer, the SEADI can "role-play" the part of a pupil for you to teach (similar to the Part Three test).
The first check test is often referred to an an "educational" check test and is usually carried out roughly 6 months or so after you qualify.
You will have to undergo periodic check-tests as long as you are a registered ADI. The frequency between check-tests depends on what grade you achieved on the previous check-test - generally speaking, the higher the grade achieved, the longer the interval between checks. You must however, achieve a grade 4 or above.
If you don't get a standard grade 4 at your check-test, then you will be asked to take another check-test within a certain time limit. These are:
* grade 3 - further check-test with six months
* grade 2 - further check-test within two months
* grade 1 - further check-test within a month
If you're given a grade 1 after three check-tests, you will be formally told that you will be struck off the ADI Register.
Saturday, 5 April 2008
Beware of unlicenced driving instructors - what to look out for...
On 26 February 2008, the BBC programme "The One Show" highlighted the fact that there is a growing problem with unlicenced instructors giving driving tuition illegally. These instructors are more often than not, untrained and their vehicles are frequently uninsured for the purposes of driving tuition which could mean serious consequences in the event of an accident...
To read a synopsis of the programme and to see an online video of the report featured on the show please click the following link - BBC - The One Show - Driving Instructors.
A driving instructor MUST have their name entered on the register of driving instructors held by the Driving Standards Agency. It is illegal for anyone other than a DSA licenced driving instructor to give driving instruction in exchange for money.
A fully qualified Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) must display their licence
(green octagon) on the windscreen of his/her tuition vehicle at all times when giving driving tuition in exchange for payment.
If the instructor is a trainee (Potential Driving Instructor/PDI), they must display their licence (pink triangle) on the windscreen of his/her tuition vehicle at all times when giving driving tuition in exchange for payment.
IF THERE'S NO LICENCE DISPLAYED ASK TO SEE IT - the instructor may simply have forgotten to stick it back on the windscreen after washing the car...or it may mean that the person you are paying to teach you is acting illegally...
You can check if someone offering driving tuition is registered at the ADI branch of the Driving Standards Agency:
Email: ADIReg@dsa.gsi.gov.uk
Phone: 0115 901 2618
To read a synopsis of the programme and to see an online video of the report featured on the show please click the following link - BBC - The One Show - Driving Instructors.
A driving instructor MUST have their name entered on the register of driving instructors held by the Driving Standards Agency. It is illegal for anyone other than a DSA licenced driving instructor to give driving instruction in exchange for money.
A fully qualified Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) must display their licence
(green octagon) on the windscreen of his/her tuition vehicle at all times when giving driving tuition in exchange for payment.If the instructor is a trainee (Potential Driving Instructor/PDI), they must display their licence (pink triangle) on the windscreen of his/her tuition vehicle at all times when giving driving tuition in exchange for payment.
IF THERE'S NO LICENCE DISPLAYED ASK TO SEE IT - the instructor may simply have forgotten to stick it back on the windscreen after washing the car...or it may mean that the person you are paying to teach you is acting illegally...
You can check if someone offering driving tuition is registered at the ADI branch of the Driving Standards Agency:
Email: ADIReg@dsa.gsi.gov.uk
Phone: 0115 901 2618
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