U-Turn if you want to - the DVSA is for turning (again)

Another day and another DVSA U-Turn and more red faces from NASP.

At the launch of this petition one of the most commented points was:

"With a potential 4 month waiting list the DVSA are not reallocating its "Enforcement officers" to deliver L tests to serve the general public, but instead delivering 3 in a car "Standards Checks" (a 4 yearly test of instructors that could surely be delayed for 6 months except in extreme cases) contrary to health and safety advice."

The DVSA stated they couldn't possibly do this as Standards Checks were supposedly "vital to road safety".

Now after months with the DVSA asleep at the wheel, they've finally announced what was obvious to anyone that wasn't on a Civil Servants salary during the lockdown:

"To enable our ADI examiners to spend 50% of their time carrying out driving tests we will be cancelling all routine standards checks."

Presumably Standards Checks are no longer quite so vital to road safety, now it doesn't suit the DVSA then?

NASP by their complete silence on the issue clearly didn't know that one was coming either. 

Unbelievably after the last update where we started that the DVSA never apologise, they've finally offered a one line apology over the 2nd/3rd fiasco :-

"We are very sorry for any inconvenience this has caused for you and your pupils."

This must be a record for the DVSA, perhaps they're getting ideas from our updates?

NASP - "Your Industry Trade Association" (as we keep being told, if they repeat it enough times, they think it's be true) slammed the door shut after the horses had bolted, with a half-baked webinar pretending to challenge the DVSA on why everyone else was told before them about training and testing resuming.

To cut a long story short and spell it out for NASP, basically the DVSA couldn't care less about consulting with you, as long as you keep doing what they tell you to do and don't make a fuss.

This has then been followed up with a sternly worded email to the Chief Executive who's leaving anyway and no doubt couldn't care less.

When they get a reply containing the phrases:

"Human error" , "lessons will be learnt" ,"fast moving situation", "value your contribution to road safety" and "unprecedented times"

(If the DVSA are reading this update feel free to use those terms in your response to NASP for free)

We will all then be told by email about what a success this is for NASP and how they're continuing to consult very closely with the DVSA.

In the meantime if you're a PDI that has spent thousands on training, don't worry because the DVSA couldn't care less and won't amend the regulations to extend your two year period to take the tests in. And you're now even less likely to get a test slot anyway as 50% of Part 3 examiners time is now being used on L tests. 

And if you're on a trainee license don't bank on a second pink badge either, as despite the DVSAs "assurances" of "unprecedented times" it only takes a glance at the several decisions published on the  Transport Appeals Tribunal website to see at least 50 cases from the start of COVID containing the usual DVSA "boiler plate" text where the Registrar has refused to issue a second license to PDIs who have been unable to have three attempts at the Part 3 test.

"The Registrar’s reasons for refusal, in summary, were that:
• 6 months is a more than adequate period under a trainee licence for the Appellant to have obtained sufficient experience to undertake the part 3 test.
• It was not Parliament’s intention that trainee licences should be issued to candidates for as long as it takes them to pass the part 3 test.
• The trainee licence system must not be allowed to become an alternative to registration as a fully qualified Approved Driving Instructor"

The website only lists the decisions up to July, so it's probably double that by now.   

NASP don't seem to have mentioned this anywhere. Of course in the unlikely the event the DVSA do something about it, after the DVSA have told everyone, NASP will suddenly appear and claim it was all down to them working away in the background.

NASP always keep telling us that they are consulting away behind the scenes however they never quite mention what exactly it is they're doing, when they're doing it, and who they're talking to. It's all very secret and us plebs aren't allowed to know. Although as several recent events have shown, whatever it is they are supposedly doing obviously has no effect on whatever the DVSA decide to do and NASP seem to be the last to know.

It's becoming increasingly clear that it's always after the event that NASP try to claim the credit. They're like a football pundit predicting the result long after the match is over and everyone else knows the outcome. 

Despite being run for "our" benefit as they keep telling us, and we stand to be corrected we don't recall during any of the lockdowns in the UK, at a time when many ADIs were struggling financially, any of the members of NASP suspending fees, or adding free months to your subscription to compensate. 

"When the subs up, we don't care if you've been out of work for six months, cough up the renewal fee" seems to be to the order of the day when they are "representing" us.

The last few days have shown even more strongly why we need an independent enquiry into the DVSA and more importantly whatever the outcome of that enquiry we need a real independent body with the power to hold those who will eventually conduct driving tests and run the ADI registrar properly to account. 

Never again must we allow anything like the DVSA and NASP shambles to ruin peoples careers and livelihoods. 

Please continue to share this petition to your local groups, and learners that have been affected by this so we can effect as positive change for the entire industry.