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Online hub to help learner drivers ahead of law change

Learning to drive and want to boost your confidence and driving skills on a motorway? Then why not prove it by testing your skills on a free online driving hub. The DrivingHub is being launched to help people improve learner drivers’ safety awareness in the run up to a law change on June 4. The law change will mean that for the first time learner drivers that are ready to take their test will be allowed to have motorway driving lessons with an approved driving instructor using a dual controlled car displaying L plates. Any motorways lessons will be voluntary and it will be up to the instructor to decide when the learner is ready to drive on a motorway. On behalf of Highways England, DIA designed the branding, website and e-learning platform for the project, as well as developing learning content for pupils, trainers and anyone supporting the learning…Read More

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DIA GDPR Guide 2018

Data protection law has changed. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (Regulation (EU) 2016/679) is a regulation by which the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission intend to strengthen and unify data protection for all individuals within the European Union (EU). Any company, big or small, will need to be aware of the new regulations regarding the secure collection, storage and usage of personal information and how they relate to their business. But the good news is that the GDPR recognises that smaller businesses require different treatment to large or public enterprises. Read our GDPR Guide to help you get your head around all of the updates made. We have also compiled a list of some useful links from the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) for you to look at. While this is not an exhaustive list, the aim is to point you in the right…Read More

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How MOT changes will affect the driving test

From Monday 4 June 2018 you won’t be able to use vehicles (except motorcycles) for practical driving tests if they: are displaying an engine malfunction indicator lamp (MIL), or a MIL that doesn’t work, or have inoperative reversing lights (if the vehicle was first used after 1 September 2009) This is in line with the changes to the MOT test introduced on 20 May 2018 when any inoperative MIL or MIL that shows there is a malfunction is now classed as a major defect. If the MIL illuminates part-way through a test and the vehicle appears to be performing normally with no obvious signs of malfunction, then the test should continue. The driving instructor or accompanying driver should then be informed upon return to the test centre. Inoperative reversing lights have also been added to the reasons for a MOT failure for vehicles first used after 1 September 2009.

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Changes to the Theory Test to be introduced

The driving Theory Test questions are changing to make the test more accessible for everyone, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has announced. The agency have teamed up with the British Dyslexia Association, the British Deaf Association and other stakeholders to make the test more accessible for candidates. The revised questions in the theory test will be introduced on 1 May 2018 and will be in plainer English. DVSA believe this will give everyone who is capable of being a safe and responsible driver the opportunity to pass their driving tests – both theory and practical. DVSA has rephrased all of the ‘continuation’ questions in the test. This type of question asks the candidate to choose an answer from a list, to complete a sentence. The DVSA are changing the wording so that the candidate has to pick a statement to answer the question instead, which will make it…Read More

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Examiners prescribed tablets

DVSA have published their digital strategy for 2018 to 2022, which sets out their plans as they work to become a digitally enabled organisation.   In the paper, published this week, DVSA indicated how they plan to better meet the needs of all their users and stakeholders. To help meet the needs of ADI’s the digital strategy states that they will: make sure it’s easy to understand the end-to-end journey of becoming a driving instructor, what you need to do, and in what order improve our digital services to apply to become a driving instructor, get a trainee driving instructor licence, book and manage the tests you need to take to qualify, and then register when you’ve successfully qualified make it easier to update and manage your ADI registration once you’re qualified, including being able to record that you follow the ADI code of practice and your commitment to continuing professional…Read More

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DVLA Digital Services new vehicle enquiry service now live

DVLA’s online vehicle enquiry service, ‘Check if a vehicle is taxed and has an MOT’ has now reached live status! Try it out for yourself here. While the service is fully up and running, DVLA Digital Services are continuing to add new features and improve the user experience. Please don’t hesitate to provide feedback to help them build the best service for you. Read the full blog article on GOV.uk.

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Data protection and the use of in-car cameras

You can apply existing guidance from the ICO surrounding the use of surveillance cameras to the use of in-car cameras. We’d urge you to read through the ICO’s ‘Data protection code of practice for surveillance cameras and personal information’. A lot of the information covered holds true for in-car cameras, such as rules surrounding data retention and disposal. Your students and/or employees entrust you with their personal information. The law on data protection outlines what you should do when you collect, use, store or do anything else with people’s personal data. Have you registered your business under the Data Protection Act? The Data Protection Act requires every data controller who processes personal information to register with the ICO. If you haven’t already, register or check if you need to here.    

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Sign up to the new trainer booking agreement

In the latest DVSA blog post, Mark Winn informed you about the changes coming to the trainer booking service, from 3 April 2018. To make sure you can continue to book tests using the service, you’ll need to sign up to the new agreement on GOV.UK. You’ll need to do this after 2pm on 3 April 2018. If you haven’t signed up by 11:59pm 7 April 2018, you won’t be able to book anymore tests until you sign up. If you have any questions, then contact customerservices@dvsa.gov.uk.

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Booking your standards check online

From 3 April 2018, you’ll be able to book your standards check on GOV.UK. When your standards check is due, the DVSA will send you a reminder letter. You’ll then need to book your standards check online within 14 working days. You’ll get a link to the online booking system in your letter, so you can book a test at a time and location that suits you. This will make it quicker and easier for you to book your standards check.