LATEST NEWS

24/04/2009 : Learning to Drive - Report on Consultation

09/04/2009 : Organisations and drivers need to review their mobile phone policies.

07/04/2009 : New website address for DSA services

02/04/2009 : DSA test fee increases

19/03/2009 : Major Initiative to Reduce New Driver Deaths and Injuries in the UK DIA’s 14,500 members to psychometrically profile learner drivers

2 STRIKES AND YOU ARE OUT !!

ADI Check Tests and Data Protection

The DIA received two notices on 4 February 2009 from Charles Morton, Registrar of Approved Driving Instructors.

The first is in relation to changes to the ADI Check Tests. These changes are to come into effect on 1 March 2009. The second is regarding Data Protection and Identify Theft. We strongly urge you to read both notices and take note as they concern all registered instructors.See below

DATA PROTECTION AND IDENTITY THEFT - LICENCE DETAILS.

DSA has an obligation to hold the most accurate information as possible about itscustomers. It also has an obligation to help in the fight against identity theft and illegalinstruction.

As part of our registering process we check application details against the DVLAdatabase. In many cases the information applicants have provided does not matchthat held on the DVLA database. In order to ensure that we hold the most accurate and upto date information as possible we will no longer accept initial applications to the registeruntil the personal details provided match with those held at DVLA. This includes name,driver number, date of birth, gender and address. If the information on an applicant'slicence is out of date or inaccurate then they must ensure DVLA is updated.

This will help in the fight against fraud and further ensure the integrity of the ADIregistration process.

This new requirement and procedure will be publicised in the February issue of Despatch.

ADI CHECK TESTS

Action taken with those that fail to attend a check test

I am sure you will share my concern that although we issued over 27,000 check testinvitations between 1/l/08 and 31/12/08, we were only able to conduct just under 14,000check tests. Out of the 13,000 tests that didn't take place, 2,051 ADI’s simply didn't botherturning up for the test and failed to make any contact with us to tell us.

I have decided that in order to make more efficient use of examiner resource and toensure the standards of ADI’s are maintained, if an ADI fails to attend a check test withoutgood reason I will immediately require them to attend a test (a ‘Registrar's Requirement’).If they subsequently fail to attend this test they could have their name removed from theRegister.

I have asked Ian Taylor, our National Driver Training Assessment Manager, to implementthis new procedure for all check test appointments scheduled from 1 March 2009. ADIswill be advised of this in their letter of invitation.

Nominated test centre for ADI check test

As part of the application process for registration and re-registration ADI’s are asked tonominate the driving test centre where they would prefer to take their check test. Wesubsequently arrange for an examiner to be available at that centre to conduct their test. Ifthere is not a suitable examiner permanently based at that centre we arrange for anotherto travel to conduct the test.

Under our restructuring programme, test centre managers (TCM’s) are now moreaccountable for the delivery of all of the tests conducted at their centre. This has meantthat there is a requirement for them to be at their centre for most of the time, thusrestricting the opportunities for them to travel to other centres to deliver the different teststhat they may be trained to conduct.

We currently have a number of TCM’s who are trained to deliver ADI check tests butbecause of the above, can currently only check test those ADI’s who have identified theTCM's centre as their nominated centre.

We are aware that ADI’s may use more than one test centre especially in areas wherethere are a number of centres in close proximity. We believe that it is not unreasonable tocall an ADI who has presented a pupil for test at that centre for a check test there. I havetherefore decided that we will make use of the technology available to us that will identifyall ADI’s using a particular centre and then book the check tests for those that are dueaccordingly. In these cases it will not be an acceptable reason for the ADI to cancel thetest on the grounds that it is not their normal centre.

We believe that by making these changes we can continue to build on the improvementsthat we have made in the number of check tests conducted by making better use of thetrained resources without interrupting the work currently being undertaken by test centremanagers. Making such efficiencies in the process will of course help to keep registrationfees to a minimum.

There are no legal requirements for check tests to be conducted in a particular place butwe will continue to try to call ADI’s at a centre that is convenient for them.

I have asked Ian to implement this change with effect from 1 March 2009.