AI Solutions: Insult to Driving Instructors

AI Solutions: Insult to Driving Instructors: I have to say I'm horrified by the new IAM promotional leaflet which says all driving instructors teach to pass a test, I also th...

Insult to Driving Instructors

I have to say I'm horrified by the new IAM promotional leaflet which says all driving instructors teach to pass a test, I also think it's a bit rich considering this leaflet promotes an advanced test that you can 'fast track pass' so isn't that training to pass a test?  It's insulting to all of us who work hard at promoting road safety and train learner drivers, developing their life skills and encouraging responsibility.

They insinuate that you have no idea how to handle a car, only an IAM observer can teach that skill, because obviously nobody trains a learner to do so, but they will teach you to find out what you and your car are capable of. That wasn't my experience when I took my IAM test.

The booklet says that volunteers give up their time to train you for a test, hmm, and are highly skilled, I wonder how the driver trainers who work with a green badge view those who have an in house certificate that could have been awarded over 30 years ago?

Driver training is changing, regulations are changing, do we believe they will be heavyweight enough, the potential is there but only if run by the private sector, Government departments are cutting to the bone which in turn carries a risk for us all, the forecast for small businesses are poor with the DFT stating that sole traders are less likely to be successful as a business, with micro businesses lasting little over two years.

The potential for a new business to survive in the current economic climate is poor, however, the economy is definitely moving in the right direction with more money being spent overall. If a business survives five years then it has a great chance of being around for an extra five years, if it's limping then it's likely to run out of steam.

This isn't good news for driving instructors, particularly as the business support structure is now in place for small businesses which have 9 or more employees, as they are more likely to survive so more deserving of financial support it seems. The more established smaller companies have the advantage of recommendation, but starting from scratch right now is not an easy path.

With companies such as IAM damming our work, it only helps to crucify the sole trader.

AI Solutions: Road Charging

AI Solutions: Road Charging: The DFT pushed out a consultation for The Road User Charging Scheme. How many actually knew about it? This consultation has impact on ...

Road Charging

The DFT pushed out a consultation for The Road User Charging Scheme. How many actually knew about it? This consultation has impact on every resident in the UK, so why are so many consultations being pushed through, with the get out clause ' The department was keen to receive the views of as many people as possible' to do this they provided three ways of responding, online, via email and by letter. Which is acceptable, if anyone knew about it.

I consider myself to be very up to date with developments across all Government departments, and always take part but I must have blinked and missed this one, yet as a driver trainer who uses the roads for work and as a life and executive coach who travels to clients I view this consultation to be quite important. I wonder how many other road users missed the boat? Well with 37m driving licences registered in the UK and with a huge response of 60 people, yes that's 60, I get the feeling this was a welcome level of response after all.

So if 85% of 60 which is 53 agree then no contest. It wasn't quite a whitewash, but almost, with 34 agreeing with the proposals and 18 disagreeing, which equals 52, we have to assume the other 8 found the seven questions too taxing. It seems that the toll at Dartford came up in the responses too, and that is hardly a surprise, also hardly surprising is the fact that it was outside of the scope of this consultation to deal with a charge at the crossing. So exactly what is a road user charging scheme consultation if it doesn't cover road charging?

So start saving your pennies, the brush about to sweep clean the future of the driver, will use tax payers money to install cameras, as the London congestion charge, and we had better be ready to pay to use our pot holed, uneven, congested roads.

AI Solutions: Politics and Driving

AI Solutions: Politics and Driving: Isn't it strange how the two seem worlds apart until an election is in sight. Never before have there been so many consultations,...

Politics and Driving

Isn't it strange how the two seem worlds apart until an election is in sight. Never before have there been so many consultations, but then I guess never before has there been a back office running the country, and since March 2013 they have had plenty to get their teeth into.  With a suspected date of 2015 for all public services to be supported by private money time is tight. This is also the most stealth like secretive campaign I can remember.

How strange that the press is not interested, or have they been hushed up, after all look at Julian Assange, and of course the Levison enquiry, do we want it both ways? Freedom of the press but with no freedom of the press. What constitutes importance and what is classed as scandal. I think whichever category the public have the right to know.

Take us back 100 years, and news was something shared on doorsteps, heard on the radio, gossip and hearsay. Of course we still have gossip and hearsay, but we also have more political power as part of a 28 member state, anyone who thinks we have sold out to the EU have missed the point, EU membership creates power it doesn't reduce it, because anything unpopular can of course be blamed on legislation that is out of our hands.

So how come driving has become so political. Let me start with my favourite complaint, the length of the consultation period. Six weeks, when we could have had twelve, released at the busiest time of year, which also happens to be holiday time, so two weeks in the sun and back to hundreds of emails, the one most likely to be overlooked is the unassuming DSA consultation. Does this contravene the code of practice, erm, well, this was careful because the code of practice is actually a guideline, it's not legislation, it's a PR exercise in what sounds good.  Having a web based forum, ask Mark Magee, can be a great lever as it complies with the code of practice, so a sweetener. A not so good sweetener as it allocated very little time for any real q&a. No CCL there then.

The few interested parties, which includes national associations have a duty to their members to encourage taking part in the consultation, and to take their views forward, that is not the views that they believe they should have but the views they really have.  Too many say what they think others want to hear and not what they truly believe, until the ink is dry and the writing is on the wall, then it is too late.

Changes to any practice is unpopular, of course, we are creatures of habit and dislike change, but this time it's change that makes a real difference, and because in the past change was so slow and never quite made it past the first fence, we don't believe it, so why now, why should we think anything will be different? Because I am most possibly the most cynical of people, probably because my specialist subjects were politics and the health service, however this time it honestly is different.

Never have our futures been decided by private sectors before, and our opinions and decisions rushed through by back office workers, sitting on the warm seats from their redundant public service workers. The NHS is heading the same way, yet their consultations have a longer period, totally eight weeks, in my opinion twelve would be better but the apathy amongst the public means most won't answer and our futures will be decided for us.

So what do I get for my money? I pay the ConDems to run my country, to spend my money wisely and to make life easier for us all, so why am I not getting value for money? Why am I stamping on political doorsteps trying to get the date for the consultation extended, when most probably don't care anyway, because I believe in fairness, and this is absolutely not fair.

Who are the future driving instructors? Trained by larger companies, so goodbye to the small business sole trader, does anyone who wants to have a career in the driver training industry in future years have any say? Ask one member of the public, any member of the public about this consultation and they will have no idea what you are talking about, as with the NHS consultation, the HMRC consultations etc etc

It's about time the press stopped stalking celebrities and got their teeth into what really is going to hurt us all, the future of this country, and the mess it will be in if just one private company goes bust and we lose their financial input - dangerous ground - unrealistic expectations.


copyright 2103 Anne Green, this blog may not be reproduced in part or full without written permission of the author

AI Solutions: Saving Lives

AI Solutions: Saving Lives: How do full licence holders feel about having their driving assessed? Surprisingly in research carried out by Central Driver Traini...

Saving Lives

How do full licence holders feel about having their driving assessed?

Surprisingly in research carried out by Central Driver Training Limited the majority feel this is a good thing, a range of people were asked, this included learner drivers, company drivers and members of the public, yet more than 80% were in favour, interestingly over 60% felt the group that they did not fall into should be tested first.

So, how does our driving equate with the rest of Europe? The UK have some of the safest roads in the World, and the safest in Europe, so we must be doing something right, so why does such an in depth change seem to be on the horizon.  Pressure from our European counterparts is the first reason, there seems to be no scale for better performing countries, rather a median scale, with the result being a level ground. This would of course be difficult to achieve, with some of the newer EU members needing more time to re-educate, and catch up with the education some countries, particularly the UK, Sweden and the Netherlands, have had in place for years. Croatia, the newest member, has some way to go in this field.

Road safety figures across the EU are at an all time low, fuel and insurance is expensive, traffic has fallen slightly year on year, more people have the work from home option, and some of the bigger companies transport employees in coaches. Yet still we as a country are pressing ahead with the biggest shake up for the driving public since 1935.

The national Standard for Developed Driving Competence, is the first step towards skills maintenance, so just lightly dropped into legislation without too much press attention, yet that would interest the media purchasing public, then of course we have the amendment to the road traffic act which covers compulsory surrender of non photo card licences, with a renewal cost of course.

So why do we have no idea about these potential changes, as once the legislation is in place the fight for change is harder.

Well, from a driver trainer perspective skills and knowledge can only be good for everyone, to expect to raise the standard so that there are no more crashes is, however, unrealistic, as there will always be the human factor.

From a tax payer point of view, why is my money being spent on this, when fatality figures are on the decrease, insurance costs are keeping the traffic volume down, poor employment levels is making fuel unaffordable. I want my money spent on areas that desperately need it, health, education and Policing.

So, just maybe, before the political broom sweeps everything clean for privatisation, can I have a say?

AI Solutions: Shaking up the Process

AI Solutions: Shaking up the Process: Wow, the education reforms are very thorough, all qualifications must have depth be recognised by a University, or be a vocational qualifica...

Shaking up the Process

Wow, the education reforms are very thorough, all qualifications must have depth be recognised by a University, or be a vocational qualification from a business with 5 employers registered with Companies House that is at least as large as an A Level.

This follows on from the problems met by AQA and Edexcel for allowing weak qualifications through for the price of an accreditation. It's also about time that something solid was decided upon, and does away completely with degrees that have no substance nor any future career prospects. They must have external assessment and grading which is an expensive issue for smaller educational companies.

Also the first step towards a DSA qualification for driving instructors, which has been on the table for years, that will be robust, two years of study and be a usable qualification, to fit in with the criteria listed, that of course opens the way for delivery by the big organisations who can meet the requirements and the funding. This is bad news for the small provider of training, but does tie in with the consultation paper.

For other career paths including those just about to move into their GCSE years, the timing is on target, as September 2014 will be just one year in and as these qualifications primarily are to help 16 - 19 choose a career path this can only be a good thing.

Matthew Hancock said

'So for the first time we will ensure that exam boards list the employers or universities which support their courses. Only these stretching, strong courses will count in league tables.'

 

About time too, here is to better educational choices and away with excuses for education that are not academically sound.

AI Solutions: NHS Reforms...

AI Solutions: NHS Reforms...: It's a very full email box today, consultations for driving instructors, which has become a hair pulling exercise, Ministry of Ju...

NHS Reforms...

It's a very full email box today, consultations for driving instructors, which has become a hair pulling exercise, Ministry of Justice consultations, and now NHS consultations, I haven't even opened the HMRC one yet!

So, there are about 64 million people in the UK, all entitled to treatment under the NHS, UKIP hit a nerve and the public responded by asking for the end to health tourism, rightly so, I broke a tooth while on holiday and it cost me 120Euro to fix, nobody is going to pay that for me, and of course being a cancer patient nobody wants to insure me.

So we are all grateful for the NHS and what it provides, despite the fact that prescribed drugs are generic and we are prescribed the cheapest option or the best deal from the drug company for the NHS at that time. The thought that we may be limited to doctor visits sticks in my throat, for years I rarely saw my doctor, I have had eighteen months of poor health where I have had to visit the doctor almost so often she doesn't even need to look at my notes any more. No money will see an increase in misdiagnosis, because if you have to pay (I'm sure I've already done the paid bit in the last 30 years), but can't then what?

Those on benefits will see us pick up the doctors bill and those on a low wage will have to suffer in silence - great idea - not!

The NHS consultation covers migrants abusing the health service, the ink is probably dry but the questions have to appear to be asked, at what point are we as a nation of tax payers heard? We won't be. Pushing through all of these consultations, or attempts that appear to ask for our views, are the steps taken by Arvato Bertelsmann before we are sold out to the highest bidder.

Are we all so lazy that we will just accept what the future holds, the response to all of the consultations are poor, the media isn't picking up on it and these changes are not making national press or pleading for us to take part, why? The answer is in the controlling body.

AI Solutions: Voluntary code of practice? Hmm

AI Solutions: Voluntary code of practice? Hmm: The Government today issued a new voluntary code of practice https://www.gov.uk/adi-voluntary-code-of-practice Seems a little in d...

Voluntary code of practice? Hmm

The Government today issued a new voluntary code of practice

https://www.gov.uk/adi-voluntary-code-of-practice

Seems a little in depth for a voluntary code?

Advise a pupil when to apply for a theory test, well that's sensible except many have already taken one prior to lessons, advise a pupil when to apply for a practical test, yep most ADI's do that too, however to me there is a critical mistake in this line

'they will advise a client when to apply for their theory and practical driving tests, taking account of local waiting times and forecast of the client’s potential for achieving the driving test pass standard'

So teaching to pass a test then?

Endorsed by the national associations, so they do believe we should be teaching for a test pass, and so do the DSA based on this code, so where in this is safe driving for life, NDRS, driver responsibility, this is quality control, trading conditions, customer service.

So if we were to believe for one moment that coaching, or coaching styles have been taken on board by the DFT, then why does the contract, say the instructor agrees, but there is no facility for the client agrees? Two way street, a coaching contract requires trust, openness and commitment from two parties not one.

Someone totally missed the point with this code, it needs to go to the shredder and start again.

AI Solutions: Why Bother?

AI Solutions: Why Bother?: It seems, from asking around, that driving instructors have little or no interest in the future of driving instruction despite it being...

Why Bother?

It seems, from asking around, that driving instructors have little or no interest in the future of driving instruction despite it being their livelihood. The feedback so far has been, they will do what they want anyway, it doesn't matter what we want or say, to, it won't actually happen.

If that really is true why are some fighting so hard to get ADI's to sit up and listen. Probably because there is a huge percentage that honestly have no idea about any political change or requirement, that have no contact with other instructors nor read the poor excuse for a newsletter, Despatch, so few in fact that having asked some instructors if they are going to respond to the consultation which has an unusually short time span, have replied, what consultation what is it about.

Surely, bearing in mind this is an important issue, the DSA/VOSA/Government should make sure this receives media coverage, why is it such a closed shop? Where are the posters at the test centre spelling out the importance of this? It's bordering on neglectful.

I'm a little shocked that the associations are not rallying the instructors, after all most have a database of ADI's, running an association is not just about how popular you are, or recruiting new members, it's about being seen to mean the essence behind the organisation, to want to change the future of driving instruction for the better. Curtailing to political pressure is not the way forward at all. 

If, as with most consultations, 1% respond, then the powers that be should contact all ADI's just as they would for a check test and ask for their opinions, the only reason this is not happening is because it costs money, the DSA have not reached their £2m surplus target, yet the instructor is paying their money for a green licence which should also see some kind of responsibility towards the client, information.

The claim is that stake holders have been extensively consulted but they are not the ones that will be affected in the long term.

Some proposals are excellent, green badge requirements for everything driving related, about time too, a formal qualification not from the DSA but regulated by OFQAL is good news too, and probably most likely as the DSA are on the way out, their future has been described by the DFT as uncertain.

The bad bits, out weigh the good, and really does need some level of, stand up and be counted, or rue the day it was ignored and left to someone else to sort out.

AI Solutions: Test Passes

AI Solutions: Test Passes: It seems there is a little improvement in pass rates for part two tests over the last few months, with just over half of those who too...

Test Passes

It seems there is a little improvement in pass rates for part two tests over the last few months, with just over half of those who took a test passing, however, it seems that males are still dominant in the group who take the most instructor qualifying exams.

The practical driving test is still at a very low 47% overall, with males passing 1 in 2 tests and girls less than that, so there has been little improvement or change to practical driving test pass rates, and of course demand which is at an all time low.

The 17/18 age group are the majority group for taking tests and have a higher pass rate than their older counterparts. Interestingly the aged 80 group has a 100% pass rate, maybe that's because there was only one, as over a million licence holders are in the over 80 age group, they make up quite a large number of active drivers on our roads, with 3 being over the age of 100.

There are 1,000 less instructors on the register compared to a year ago, with numbers being very low at entry, over 500 new applications were refused, the number of ADI's actively taking part in CPD has risen by 1500 making the figure nearly 8,000 so it seems those who have chosen to ride out the tough economy are spending time on educational benefits for themselves.

Theory tests are still showing a majority group as 17/18 but the figures are still reasonably consistent after that age group up to the age of 27 then they start to decrease, with girls having the distinct advantage over boys for pass rates in this test.

As there are fewer applications to become an ADI, the overhaul of the system seems an expensive exercise, the DSA/VOSA or whomsoever they shall be called believe that the low pass rate is due to the training procedure, and in some cases it is, but it also in how driving instruction is packaged, many enquiries start with, I can drive so it can't be that difficult to teach someone, and some of the advertising for this is to blame for a misconception at the start. The money would be better spent on an information process superior to the one currently available.  I see PDI's on a regular basis who had no idea what to expect, their registration process started by the provider, and a lack of research on their part is evident too.  I wonder how many would have continued with the process if they had been fully aware of what it entails.

Some say the pass rate is low because the training they receive is poor, in some cases that is true, but not more than 50% which is what the figures suggest, we run a free drop in session for PDI's to ask questions and to pick up information, regardless of who their training provider is. More free services by those who can offer their time would make for a better instructor community.

As road safety figures see the best numbers we have ever seen and the fact that we are World leaders in road safety, we should be proud of the service we provide, I'm not sure that some of the proposals is for the good of the ADI, or that they will make a difference to already falling fatality rates, which was the aim when this came about in 2000.