Monthly Archives: June 2020

June 26, 2020
Mogg lets cat out of bag on training

Mogg lets cat out of bag on training

Leader of the House announces driver and rider training to resume from 4 July in England.

Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg has announced in parliament that all driver and rider training can resume from 4 July.

He was responding to a question from Greg Smith, MP for Buckingham. Mr Rees-Mogg described driving instructors as the “unseen engines of the country” and said:

“From the 4th July I am happy to say that people will be able to take driving lessons on a motorcycle or in a car, lorry or bus and there will be a phased approach to resuming practical testing so learners have the opportunity to practice before taking a test.”

NASP will be briefed fully later today on plans to resume testing and a full announcement from DVSA is expected imminently.

The DVA in Northern Ireland has announced a phased return for driving tests and MOTs. We will update you with the position in Wales and Scotland as soon as the information is available.

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June 24, 2020
Driving Lessons and Tests Could soon resume – as soon as the 6th July 20

 

The coronavirus, once an “aggressive tiger” of a disease, has weakened and become more like a wild cat, according to a top Italian doctor.  Professor Matteo Bassett said he is convinced the virus is changing in severity” and patients are now surviving infections that would have killed them before.  And if the virus’s weakening is true, covid – 19 could even disappear without a vaccine by becoming so weak it dies on its own, he claimed.

Notwithstanding, when lessons and tests resume, learners’ drivers face new measures to help protect them, their instructors, and examiners from the spread of coronavirus.  Test centers will be issuing examiners with personal protective equipment (PPE) including gloves and face masks and they will be given training on cleaning equipment such as sat navs and tablets. You should also expect social distance measures to be in place at test centers.

Britannia Driving School will also be providing instructors with PPE and will mandate instructors to thoroughly clean all touch points on their car between lessons.  Also, Instructors will ask all our customers to declare that they are symptom free before they step inside the car.

For Now, we cannot book a new driving test and when booking resumes drivers with a previous test date will be given priority.  Britannia Driving School is aiming for July 6 as a provisional date for when driving lessons can resume.  Obviously, pupils and our driving instructors will require the ability to plan; previously ‘test ready’ pupils without lessons for up to 3 months will require at least a couple of lessons prior to their driving test

In a world where we are not all able to pile onto public transport, being able to drive is a lifeline many wish they had.  Hopefully, it will not be much longer before our instructors are able to provide their vital service to enable people to get about independently.

There is no doubt that Britannia Driving School has an important role to play in the weeks and months ahead to get pupils ready for their driving test safely and quickly. We have the commitment and the capacity to continue to support our instructors and pupils.

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June 19, 2020
Changes to practical driving tests.

Practical driving tests are to be very different from the norm,Driving instructors will face a number of changes when lessons and tests can begin again after being postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.The Government has issued new guidance ahead of test centres reopening in the coming weeks – but as of yet no date has been set.

But updated government guidelines published this week suggest ways that instructors and examiners can keep themselves and their pupils safe once things do get up and running again.

 

The letter, written by Gareth Llewellyn, chief executive of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to driving instructors, said that civil servants are currently reviewing the guidance for driving examiners about carrying out tests.

This includes things like the personal protective equipment they need to wear, how they might greet candidates and how to properly clean equipment such as sat navs and tablets

The letter said masks and gloves have been ordered for all driving examiners, but there has been a delay in obtaining them because of wider shortages.

The agency, which is in charge of carrying out driving tests and approving people to be driving instructors, also warned that social distancing measures might limit the number of tests it can carry out in the coming months.

Currently all driving tests have been put on hold – meaning driving instructors, who are not employed by the government, have also been unable to work.

The Driving Instructors Association currently recommends that instructors should only give training in a car to key workers preparing for an essential driving test, such as emergency workers.

Of course all our instructors at Britannia Driving School are eager to get back on the road to get their pupils back up to test standard and we will be following the guidelines to the letter.

 

 

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June 17, 2020
Are you waiting to take your practical driving test?

Hundreds of thousands of people have had their driving tests cancelled or delayed as a result of the pandemic. It has been more than just a minor inconvenience for those looking for work and caring for children, while instructors face a nervous wait to find out when and how they can return to work safely.

Natasha Wilson was heavily pregnant when she was due to take her test in April. With a three-year-old already in tow, she had been banking on passing before she had her baby.”It’s been a struggle,” said the 21-year-old from Oxford. “I’m not able to go shopping, I’ve had to get my mum to go and get it for me.”Ms Wilson, who has been learning since 2017, applied for her test at the beginning of the year. She said: “I got an email saying they had to cancel it. Now my test is on 9 July but I feel like I will fail at the moment because I have had no practice. “I’ve got two lessons booked in the week before. Passing my test would mean being able to do my food shopping, taking the kids out, going to see my mum and my family.”

In rural areas, the situation is difficult for other reasons – the government advised people to avoid public transport, so those without their own way of getting around are struggling.

George Vane, who lives in the village of Headcorn in Kent, had been due to take his test this month, but has had it postponed until August. “It’s really frustrating because it’s put a hold on being able to find work and I’m relying on my parents to drive me around,” said the 17-year-old.

“Living in the village, there’s a couple of jobs here and there, but it’s quite hard to get a proper job where I can earn enough money. Not being able to drive has hindered my chances of getting work. It’s a huge frustration.”

Abigail Showan, 17, was due to take her test on 19 March – the day her driving test centre closed.”I got an email saying it was just the tests from then on that were cancelled so if I’d have booked it for 18 March then I’d have been fine. “Abigail, from Witney in Oxfordshire, said: “I was so nervous – you mentally prepare for it so for it to be cancelled was so frustrating. “It’s been rebooked and early July is the supposed date but I’ve got no idea whether that will go ahead. “I’ve been able to go out with my parents a few times which is OK for confidence but it’s not the same as having your instructor sitting next to you.”

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) suspended all driving tests for up to three months from 20 March. It said the official number of cancelled tests was not yet available but government statistics show about 400,000 people take their practical car tests in Great Britain each quarter.

Instructors are facing numerous considerations about returning to work and have been advised by the Driving Instructors Association to check whether learners have been in contact with anyone experiencing virus symptoms, as well as asking them to wash their hands or use sanitiser before getting in the car.

They should also keep windows open for ventilation and wipe down contact points in the vehicle between lessons.

Jane Hunt,who teaches in the Wimbledon area says she will be reducing her teaching hours to make time for cleaning the car between pupils and may make lessons longer to reduce the number of people in the vehicle each day.

She is also scrapping late cancellation charges to encourage pupils to be honest if they don’t feel well or should be isolating.

“I know it’s going to impact on my business but it’s going to be about trusting each other. We will work together with our pupils in the interest of safety.

A spokesman for the DVSA said its priority was to “stop the spread of coronavirus and keep everyone safe”.

“We will continue to work closely with driving instructor associations on how and when we can resume driving tests and lessons.”

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June 15, 2020
Petrol Heads flout social distancing for illegal Car Parade.

Hundreds of petrol-heads flouted social distancing rules to watch souped-up motors parade through a Sainsbury’s car park in Leeds. Flash cars drove through the area in Alwoodley on Saturday night, with residents complaining to West Yorkshire police after roads became blocked. Officers arrived to break the gathering up but no arrests were made.

The event came after messages advertising the meet had been shared  around social media and the scene has been described as looking like a ‘car showroom’.

Social distancing rules put in place to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic specifically prohibit mass gatherings. One resident who did not want to be named said: ‘The speed some of these people going it’s a 20mph zone all around this estate.

Our neighbours who have a four-year-old were concerned about the noise these type of cars make, they are so loud.’I’m disappointed really that police blocked Homebase entrance and not Moor Allerton Centre entrance.

Sainsburys is still open and their car park is rammed. It would be great to attend the event and look at the cars but it’s not correctly organised or policed.’

Videos show sports cars can be seen driving at high speeds in the car park and there were also been reports of speeding in the area, which has a speed limit of 20mph.

West Yorkshire Police officers were at the scene blocking the entrance for further vehicles.

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June 10, 2020
A Fifth of drivers struggle to get behind the wheel after lockdown

The average UK car is driven more than 7,000 miles per year – or an average of 583 miles per month, according to MOT data.

But a survey of 2,000 motorists  has revealed that over the past 28 days the average driver has covered just 90 miles – with 30 per cent driving 25 miles or fewer. With so few driving, 18 per cent have struggled to get back to normal behind the wheel of a car.

Of those who have found it difficult getting used to being back on the road, 28 per cent had stalled their car, 21 per cent had scraped their wheels on the kerb and more than one in five have forgotten to indicate.

Young woman with hands on eyes sitting depressed in car

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June 8, 2020
DVLA to extend photocard licences.

    • Drivers with photocard licences due to expire between 1 February and 31 August 2020 have been granted an extension
    • Licences are automatically extended by seven months from the date of expiry 
    • Impacted motorists will be sent reminders ahead of their new renewal date
    • It only applies to photocard renewals that expire after 10 years
    • If a driver’s entitlement to drive is due to expire or they have lost or had their licence stolen, they will need to apply for new ones online.

Drivers with a pink plastic photocard driving licence that’s due to expire will be granted a seven-month extension, the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency has confirmed today.

Those with photocards expiring between 1 February 2020 and 31 August 2020 will automatically have their licence renewals extended from the date of expiry and can now carry on driving safe in the knowledge they’re still legal.  The move comes as the government agency has been struggling to process requests during the pandemic, stating on its website: ‘It’s taking longer than usual to process driving licence applications because of coronavirus.’

Normally drivers are required to renew their photocard licence every 10 years, and bus and lorry drivers every five years. However, lockdown has slowed the DVLA’s capacity to process applications from motorists as – like many businesses – its workforce is mainly operating remotely from home.

It had previous warned drivers in April that those using its services should expect ‘significant delays’ during the coronavirus crisis.

The extension has been granted thanks to new EU regulation which means photocards that expire between 1 February and 31 August 2020 will be automatically extended for a further seven months from the date of expiry. To ensure motorists don’t forget, they will be sent a reminder to renew before their seven month extension ends.

The extension only applies to photocard renewals after 10 years when a new photo of the driver is required – with renewals costing £14 online, £17 by post or £21 at the Post Office (or free if you’re over 70 years old).  The DVLA’s online services to renew a driving licence entitlement or replace lost or stolen photocards will continue to operate as normal, it has confirmed.

This will also be the case for learners who could soon pass their driving test and be eligible for a full licence after tests were cancelled for three months from 20 March due to the virus.

However, with tests – in theory – able to restart on 20 June, driving instructors have said there has been no clear guidance or instruction about when they can return to work safely.

Julie Lennard, chief executive at the agency, said: ‘This extension will make it easier for drivers who need to update their photocard licence with a new photograph.

‘This means as long as they have a valid licence, drivers will be able to continue to make essential journeys.’The extension is automatic so drivers do not need to do anything and will be sent a reminder to renew their photocard before the extension ends.’

This change will be introduced from 4 June 2020.

This is Money has received emails from readers concerned that they have already applied for a licence renewal via post, having sent their expiring licence to the DVLA head office in Swansea though not had it returned.Failure to update a driving licence can result in a fine of £1,000 and up to six penalty points on a licence.

We asked a DLVA spokesman to clarify what this would mean for these individuals.

‘The seven month extension will apply whilst we process any paper applications,’ they said.

‘Providing their entitlement to drive is still valid, drivers with a seven-month extension period will not be committing an offence.’

Commenting on the extension, RAC spokesperson Simon Williams said: ‘Given the restrictions in place presently, a temporary extension to renewing a photocard licence due to expire seems like a sensible step which will have very few negative consequences and is likely to be welcomed by those drivers affected.’

The extension follows the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) decision to introduce an MOT test exemption for six months at the end of March to prevent motorists having to drive their cars during lockdown.

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June 3, 2020
When will driving lessons start again?

Our instructors at Britannia Driving School recommend , to pass their driving test, the average learner requires 40 to 50 hours of teaching on the road. But with the recent changes to the UK’s lockdown guidelines, when can lessons start again?

No date has been given for when drivings lessons might be able to resume.

Under the government’s new guidelines, people in England have been instructed to go back to work if they cannot work from home and it is safe to do so.

However, in the case of driving instructors, it is not possible to maintain social distancing in the car with a learner. This means driving lessons should not be conducted during the lockdown, unless it’s for key workers. Driving tests have also been put on hold for up to three months as from March 2020, driving tests and theory tests were cancelled or moved to a later date,but emergency tests are available to those whose work is critical in the coronavirus response.

A statement from the National Associations Strategic Partnership (NASP) read: “Any decision to return to on-road training needs to be carefully evaluated by each individual trainer (and training school) and all the risks considered and weighted accordingly.

“So far we have urged caution on this issue and recommended that training should be restricted to that of key workers with an essential need to acquire a new licence or develop their driving for the purposes of driving for work or for essential journeys to work locations. However we cannot make any decisions for you, NASP recommends this is done with your risk and discretion.

“What can do is offer advice and guidance on the risks associated with delivering training at this time, how to evaluate them and how to manage them. NASP will send out our updated guidelines in a few days, Nasp will be working together to deliver under gudance for the industry at large.

“However no one at this time should feel coerced into returning to training”

Driving instructors are among the professions to be hit hard by the COVID-19 lockdown as many are self-employed.

Chris Bensted, who has been an instructor for 12 years, told Kent Live: “The interesting thing about driving instructors, even in big companies is that everyone is an individual instructor.

“This means that they are a group of individual instructors who are self-employed.

“About 40% of instructors aren’t getting help and are not eligible for Universal Credit.”

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June 2, 2020
Councils to get power to fine drivers £130 for minor offences under government plans to give cyclists and pedestrians priority after coronavirus pandemic

  • Ministers have indicated that they are prepared to hand controversial powers to councils to enforce civil penalties for minor driving offences
  • Enforcing the rules is currently the job of the police but they rarely take formal action over so-called moving traffic violations
  • This could bring the whole of England into line with London where local transport officials already use traffic cameras to issue penalty notices

Motorists face the threat of new automatic £130 fines imposed by cash-hungry councils under Government plans to give priority to cyclists and pedestrians after the pandemic.

Ministers have signalled that they are prepared to give controversial powers to councils to enforce civil penalties for minor driving offences such as straying into cycle lanes or stopping in box junctions. Enforcing the rules is currently the job of the police but they rarely take formal action over so-called moving traffic violations.

But to help councils fund and operate new cycle lanes and other traffic-reduction measures after the pandemic, Ministers are preparing to hand over legal powers of enforcement to local government officials.

The change would bring the whole of England into line with London where local transport officials currently use traffic cameras to issue more than a million penalty notices every year.

Fines in the capital are set at £130 for each offence. The move would mark a retreat from the Government’s previous position when Ministers refused to hand councils such powers, fearing they would treat motorists as cash-cows.

Junior Transport Minister Baroness Vere told the House of Lords that the Government was looking at giving councils enforcement powers under the 2004 Traffic Management Act.

It comes as the coronavirus crisis prompts plans for a dramatic expansion of cycling and walking to reduce the use of public transport in towns and cities.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps recently announced a £2billion package to fund new cycle lanes, wider pavements and safer junctions, but cycling campaigners and council chiefs say tougher enforcement of traffic laws is also required.

Both groups have long lobbied Ministers to activate Section 6 of the Traffic Act, which covers relatively minor violations such as driving in cycle lanes, disregarding one-way systems or box junction markings, and failing to give priority to oncoming traffic.

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