Driving test changes have instructors terrified + examiners striking?

I made a video about this last week which I deleted because I thought I had got it wrong. Surely they couldn't be bringing in such stupid changes that punish honest driving instructors and will make learners even more nervous on their driving test? Well actually, it's far worse than I thought!

The chart below shows what will trigger a driving instructor being retested:

Average number of driving faults per test - 5 or greater
Average number of serious faults per test - 0.5 or greater
Percentage of driving tests where the driving examiner had to take physical action - 10% or higher
Driving test pass rate - 55% or lower

Chapters:

0:00 - Driving test changes
0:50 - The main change
1:37 - What the new indicators are
2:28 - Instructor indicators on driving test
3:50 - Requirements for this system
4:16 - Learner drivers, how do you feel?
5:13 - Phone call with the standards check examiner
5:51 - How to get around this

#drivingtest #drivingtestuk #drivinglesson

[adisoutheast]

As an ADI I thought the whole point of a standard check was to asses our teaching standards, not using pupils test results. This only shows what they (the pupil) are capable of on a certain day under extreme pressure. We have no idea what pressures pupil are under on test day. Maybe a promise of a new car by mum or dad, a promotion at work or loss of a job if they fail. Why should we be measured(graded) on their performance and not our own.
I’m a grade A 51/51 ADI yet I still have pupils who fail their test on subjects they have safely demonstrated time and time again before test day . I always ask all of my pupils who fail, what did they do wrong on the test and when they tell me I then ask and what should you have done, in the 17 years I’ve been an instructor the pupil had never given me a wrong answer. To me this shows, I have taught them correctly, they understood the training and have the correct knowledge, for reasons only they know they didn’t deliver on the day.
This new process I believe is just the Dvsa praying that driving instructors will be so scared of having to carry out standards checks more often that the instructor will hold pupils back until they believe absolutely the pupil will pass with no more than 4 minors, By doing this we will carry the can for the mess the test waiting times are in, as many instructors will not put pupils forward as early as they would do normally, thus extending the time a pupil is in training and taking the pressure off the waiting times. The pupils I feel will start to aim their frustrations at the Instructors and not the Dvsa. It’s a fine balance between teaching the pupil to a high enough standard to pass a test and the pupil getting value for money with a reasonably amount of lessons. Nobody wants to pay for any more hours of training than they need to pass the test.
However I can see why instructors would hold back pupils who they feel require more time and training to reach a maximum of 4 minors, how can we justify this to a pupil if the pass mark is 15 minors.
IIt would be interesting to see the Dvsa publish how many hours it thinks a new beginner would need to reach a standard of 4 minors on a driving test, I bet it wouldn’t be recommending 40 hours. How many drivers out there on the roads today could even pass a current driving test, never mind with as little as 4 minors. The pass mark for an ADI part two is only 6 minors, are we going to be required to teach learner pupils to part two standards, really!!!!
I for one will be removing my badge as of tomorrow from my window as a matter of principle on all learner tests, I’m all for standards checks and my ability being assessed, that’s on me. But don’t judge my standards by the way others perform.

[Zoeyw]

Wow 😮, this is awful, just gonna have to do my absolute best . I can’t these new changes stop me, I’m so close to the finish line 🏁

[AhmedMohammadali-pnud]

This is ridiculous, because even a good driver could make fault .

[slade]

These rules have obviously been made up by someone who has never been in a car with a learner. I find that the poor instructors in my area are never at the test centre they take money off pupils for a year and then drop them just before their test. Anyway out comes the badge.

[stdrive]

Your ADI badge must only be on display when you're giving paid tuition but a driving test is not tuition so it's perfectly legal to do this. I had my badge stolen a few years ago and when I rang the DVSA to get a new one they reminded me that I could only do tests without a badge on display and I'd have to teach for free (or not teach) until my new one came. It only cost £3 and arrived in 3 days so it wasn't an issue.

You may want to reconsider using your ADI number when booking tests if you are worried about data being used but they have said that it is only the badge on display in the car that triggers the recording of information. Some ADI's are unaware that their badge shows two numbers: an ADI number and a certificate number.

They are talking about helping you in their statement because the aim of this is to raise standards. Sadly, I think it is only going to make instructors teach people to pass a test instead of how to drive properly.

[drivingwithtaz]

I’m also an ADI. We all have those pupils that can drive absolutely perfect on a lesson and then the pressure of a test turns them into jelly. Do we know dump them on the DVSA. Also we have pupils who pass 1st time with 7 or 8 minors, are they now a risk to our jobs. It’s all gone a bit crazy if you ask me 🚗

[WavScorn]

DVSA feel they're under pressure from the backlog and want to find a solution/s. But this, this is not the solution. The solution is to adjust and compensate. Not punish and point fingers

[-fx]

Instructor here, this is ludicrous.to much pressure on learners and instructors, as if our job isn’t stressful enough.it will force good instructors out of the job.I also find some of the best drivers I have trained fail miserably because of nerves, on the other hand, maniacs who are oblivious of the pressure sail through it.Its obvious to me that the people who dreamed this up have never done the job.I agree that there should be standard checks, If you fall below the standard, I think advice and training would be a good idea, not the threat of losing your lively hood.Me personally and I’m not blowing my own trumpet, my pass rate is really high as I put a lot in, don’t agree with this, and will be looking to find my taxi licence.

[myview]

Stupid rule by an incompetent DVSA.... driving instructor can’t be judged on someone else giving a test when they are sat in the test centre?
Pupils can be great drivers but can fail due to nerves or any other reason which is not connected to the ability of the driving instructor.
I think parents and pupils should speak to their MP regarding this ridiculous rule to penalise driving instructors. Because it will affect those people wanting to take the driving test.

[wesbisley]

This is crazy, us adi’s and our learners are already sick to the back teeth of waiting forever for tests and cancelled tests, this is ridiculous. Sort the backlog out dvsa instead of turning on us

[nailasajid]

Do they mark driving instructor also on learner minors on practical driving test.

[IDREES]

What about pupils with learning difficulties?they usually make many minor mistakes even when they pass.
Plus very unlikely they pass first time.

[rawdah]

Nice Video mate - I’ve heard that if your ADI badge is not present, then they will log your pass/ fail data using your car registration - is that true?

[robertbaylis]

I have a pupil on test tomorrow so I will from now on NOT be leaving my badge in the window. I wonder if there will be a change in the way examiners are checked? I doubt it. I've been doing this job for 13 years and it seems to me that the standard of marking and perception of what is serious has fallen dramatically. Also some examiners seem to be conducting tests with their own script. An example is one female examiner in the south that tells the candidate that she has brought a friend along called Julie who is going to tell the candidate where to go for some of the test. Yes she is talking about the Sat Nav. Totally inappropriate way to behave and confusing for a candidate where English is not their first language.

[tee]

Can we not all take a stand against this. Is there any group we can all join.

[dd_driving_school]

I think dvsa don't trust on their own standard, if a instructor is not on good standard why do they pass him/her.. they should do standard check but the way calculating the performance of instructors is ridiculous...

[martinkeogh]

The DVSA are making a colossal error, not only will they creat even more stress in an already unprecedented stressful situation for driving instructors, but by setting the standards for a check test so high their plan will probably backfire. If all Instructors simply left their badges in car for tests then all 40 odd thousand instructors would probably be called back for retesting… hence the DVSA would be back to square one!

[brayanmelroni]

I have a different point of view. A learner can learn from his instructor but book the test himself without affecting the carreer of the instructor. A test must not be attached to an instructor. Lerner himself can book a test without specifying instructor details.

[myview]

The public will suffer, as a driving instructor will be too afraid to take them on test if they are the nervous type of pupil.
This has not been thought through very well, how can a professional driving instructor be judged on a pupil failing which could be because of he or she is nerves. It’s ridiculous, now trying to find an instructor who will take you on test will be impossible! It’s hard enough to find an instructor in the first place. Instructors will just refuse to take pupils who are the nervous type or might be slow learners. The government need to step in DVSA are making a mess

[karlvaughan-griffin]

When do these new rules and changes come into effect? Thanks