Newslink June 2013

MSA Newslink June 2013

MOTOR SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION

Issue 252

The ADI’s Voice

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Clock ticking on major reforms to L-test industry

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Sources claim unique ‘window of opportunity’ as Government looks for non-partisan legislation to fill Parliamentary time As this issue of Newslink went to press, the MSA was eagerly awaiting news of two key reforms proposed for the driver testing and training industry.

The Government has promised to release its Green Paper on driver training before the end of spring – officially, May 31. In a pre-release briefing it was suggested that ideas being considered included a minimum learning period before candidates could sit their driving test, enabling learner drivers to take lessons with ADIs on motorways and increasing the probationary period for new drivers from two years to three – an extension of the New Drivers Act. In addition, officials have suggested the Government is looking at making the L-test even more rigorous and creating new incentives to encourage new drivers to take further training post-test – the so-called Pass Plus II. However, this is not the only news on reform: expected too is the next stage in the reform of the Department for Transport’s executive agencies, covered by the Motoring Services Strategy, which has hinted at a major shake-up of the DSA, the DVLA and other bodies, as well as a decision on whether or not to remove the language support offered to non-English-speaking candidates in the driving tests.

“As we reported in our March and April Busy workload? Stephen Hammond looks likely to be one of the few ministers kept busy as the Government winds down to the 2015 general election

issues, this industry is standing on the cusp of some momentous changes, potentially,” commented MSA general manager John Lepine. “But the key word is ‘potentially’. We have heard rhetoric such as we heard earlier this year before without it being carried through, but there have been a number of indicators that the Government wants to put down a marker in this area.”

However, the rumours coming out of both the DfT in London and the DSA in Nottingham are that major changes are highly possible – although a cynic might suggest that political logic, rather than an overwhelming desire to improve road safety, is the key driver behind the reforms. As one Whitehall observer put it, “The coalition government is uneasy about pushing highly politicised legislation through Parliament in 2014-15 as we run up to the next election. It creates a unique window of opportunity to bring forward legislation on more non-partisan matters that won’t threaten the coalition, such as road safety. Reforming the L-test and executive agencies would fit the bill nicely.”

Whitehall observers believe that the Government is already winding down its legislative programme, despite the next election being nearly two years away.

It was interesting to note how light Parliament’s caseload will be in 2013-2014 – a fact noted by a number of political commentators after the recent Queen’s Speech contained only 19 bills, some of which impact solely on the devolved assemblies or were carried over from the previous year’s parliamentary sesssion.

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msa’s general manager elected as EFA President MSA General Manager John Lepine mbe has been elected as President of The European Driving Schools Association (EFA).

The post is a huge honour for both John and the MSA, and places the association at the heart of the debate on road safety and driver training and testing across Europe.

John was elected at an EFA delegates meeting in Sopron, Hungary last month to lead the driving instructors’ group for a three-year term. He will be supported by two vice-presidents during his period in office: Cathy Bacon, chair of IDIA, the association for driver trainers in Ireland and previously EFA’s 2nd vice-president, who becomes 1st vice-president, and Manuel Picardi, CEO of UNEASCA, the national union of driving schools in Italy, who will be 2nd vice president.

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Contents

This issue: ADIs should stop trying to be good it’s time to be great!

Big support for minimum learning Road safety charity Brake has called on Government to implement proposals to establish a minimum learning period after its own research found overwhelming support for the idea among the general public.

Philip Burman urges all ADIs to stop aiming for a mediocre ‘good’ and instead aim a little bit higher and look to be great – ready to reap the rewards when the economy picks up!

News, page 4

Coaching/CPD, page 20

More Halfords sign up for tests

Time EU cracked whip on injuries

The DSA has given the green light for four more Halfords stores to host driving tests.

The four stores are in Hemel Hempstead, Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester, East Kilbride and Bromsgrove in the West Midlands.

L-tests have begun already at the Ashton-under-Lyne branch.

The European Commission has published its First Milestone towards a Serious Injury Strategy, which it hopes will help develop ways to co-ordinate cross-border programmes to improve road safety and reduce injuries as a result of road traffic incidents.

News, page 5

page 8

Questions over new weight rules

BBC investigates licence confusion

Recent issues of Newslink have carried several stories on the new rules being introduced from September on driving tests in B+E licence categories – for towing laden trailers.

But our correspondents have criticised the new rules as being both unfair and illogical.

Out-of-date photocard driving licences – and the confusion over how to deal with drivers in possession of them – has reached the attention of the national media after Radio 5 Live’s Adrian Goldberg Investigates looked into the issue last month.

News, page 14

News, page 6

Editor: John Lepine MBE t: 0161 429 9669 e: john.lepine@msagb.co.uk mail@msagb.co.uk f: 0161 429 9779 Motor Schools Association of Great Britain Ltd (MSA), 101 Wellington Road North, Stockport, Cheshire SK4 2LP The paper for this magazine has been sourced from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources. See www.pefc.org

Coaching/CPD:

Encourage pupils ‘to scale ladder’

With client-centred learning feedback is used to raise the client’s self-awareness of their strengths, limitations and development needs; also of how their thoughts and feelings impact on their behaviour.

Sue McCormack, page 18

Comment:

No, really, it did get lost in the post Will the DSA believe you when you say your next check test summons never arrived and it must have been lost in the post? And why has a judge evoked the Human Rights Act when passing judgement on an ADI’s livelihood?

John Lepine, page 12

Production editor: Rob Beswick t: 0161 426 7957 e: rob@chambermediaservices.co.uk beswick@cssystems.net

Newslink is published monthly on behalf of the MSA and distributed to MSA members throughout Great Britain by Chamber Media Services, 4 West Park Road, Bramhall, Stockport, Cheshire SK7 3JX

Advertising contacts: Joanne Cantwell t: 0161 432 9717 e: joanne.cantwell@hotmail.com

Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material contained within this publication, neither the MSA nor the publishers can accept any responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors in either advertising or editorial content.

Colin Regan t: 01925 468403 e: colinregan001@yahoo.co.uk

02 n JUNE 2013 n MSA NEWSLINK

Views expressed in Newslink are not necessarily those of the MSA.

©2013 The Motor Schools Association of Great Britain Ltd. Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden without express permission of the editor.

Remember when...:

We continue our look back through the Newslink archives and ask - what was so bad that we splashed a single word to describe it on our front page headline?

Newslink review, pages 24-25

Regional news:

Online sites are still cashing in

On arrival at my driving test centre recently, I saw a sad-looking gentleman leaving the building on foot, writes Terry Pearce. I was curious what had happened and luckily, when I returned home, my curiosity was answered as he telephoned to book a lesson.

page 30

I led the way, DSA

So obviously somebody at DSA does read MSA Newslink! In last December’s issue I wrote that I was not best pleased to receive nothing other than a nominal fleet check test for the £120 I pay to be on the DSA Fleet Register, writes Rod Came

page 32

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The MSA

The MSA: here to

you

You’re priority is your pupils, training them to be the safest drivers they can possibly be...

...but at the same time you’ve got to keep an eye on the business, making sure the new pupils are rolling in and you’re prepared to grasp new opportunities when they come along...

And for many ADIs, even franchisees, you’re doing this mostly on your own, without anyone to support you.

That‘s where the MSA comes in.

Our team is committed to being your support service, providing you with all the information, practical advice and training opportunities you need to stay at the top of the ADI profession.

We’re the MSA and we’re committed to supporting you Whether you need help with CPD, support in a problem with the DSA, the peace of mind that the MSA’s professional indemnity insurance gives you, or you just want to take advantage of our great money-saving offers through our many partners, then the MSA is there for you.

Think of us as your own support service...

And all for around 15p a day!

Membership benefits: All the news you need... keeping you informed through our industryleading monthly membership magazine Newslink, our website and regular membership contact through emails, texts and our many social media outlets.

Professional support...

Who do you turn to if you’ve got a problem with the DSA? Your boss - but you’re a one-man band... your trades union... but you’re not in a union... that’s where the MSA comes in, to advise and support you

Representing your views...

The MSA represents driver training at the highest levels of Government, with regular meetings with key officials at the DSA and other agencies, including the DVLA, the DfT and local government bodies

Professional indemnity insurance... £3m cover for your business... and £5m third party liability cover give you peace of mind should a pupil or member of the public take legal action against you as an ADI through your job.

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News

Clock is ticking on major reforms to industry High speed: The controversial HS2 project is likely to be one of the few pieces of legislation to excite the political chattering classes in the next two years, leaving space for ‘less controversial’ reforms such as driver testing and training and the fate of the motoring services agencies

Continued from page 1 » » » Among those bills remaining of national significance, many are fairly innocuous: gambling reform, a new audit framework to replace the Audit Commission and an uncontroversial bill on the European Union.

Two others concern the building of High Speed 2 – admittedly a controversial topic but one that has acquired cross-party support, despite deep misgivings within the Conservative Party.

There’s little else to get excited about – or, more crucially, to create divisions between the coalition partners – and this lack of new legislation lends weight to the theory that the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats are already planning for the run-up to the next election.

However, the Government cannot be seen to put politics on hold between now and 2015 and ministers are actively seeking issues on which they can legislate without threatening to open divisions.

“If we assume that the Government is not going to put all legislation on hold for 12 months once the bills in the latest Queen’s Speech are enabled,” said John Lepine, “ministers will be looking round for legislation that is ‘non-party political’ for 2014-15. No party has a firm position on driver training and any reforms are hardly likely to shake the coalition, so legislation on an issue such as driver testing and training, and the reform of the Government’s motoring services, would fit the bill. The coalition will be doing important work without threatening major divisions within Government. It will also give the two current ruling parties space to criticise each other in a bid to set out their positions before the next election without bringing the administration to its knees.

“While as ADIs we want Government to put road safety at the top of its legislative agenda, the fact is it rarely does. However, on this occasion, there is a chance that our aims and those of the Government could coincide, and that’s why we hope talk of reform is not hot air this time: it may result in action.”

Indeed, without wishing to make the Government sound like Baldrick – ‘I have a cunning plan...’ – the lack of reforms earlier in the life of this Government, despite bullish speeches by the then road safety minister Mike Penning on issues such as trainee licences and learners on motorways (November 2011), could have set this situation up a long time ago. Experienced DSA watchers were puzzled that a minister could make so many definitive statements without doing anything concrete to back his words up. Perhaps the Government, realising that it would need uncontroversial measures for the end of its time in office, has kept road safety issues on the backburner deliberately, ready to use them to flesh out its limited parliamentary timetable for 2014-15.

Whatever the reason, we expect an announcement in early June followed by a burst of frenetic activity. DSA officials state that a brief consultation period over the

summer could see a bill being prepared as early as autumn, reaching the House in 2014 and the statute book in 2015, before the current Government steps down in May 2015.

How radical the bill will be waits to be seen but there is a clear head of steam gathering behind issues such as minimum learning periods – despite its flaws - and graduated licences.

However, the MSA remains highly critical of what national chairman Peter Harvey MBE labelled as “training for training’s sake” when he met DfT officials in March to discuss the reforms.

“There is little point learning to drive for a minimum of 12 months if the learning isn’t structured and of quality,” he told officials. “We need learners to be following a syllabus, which ties in to the DSA’s own National Standard for Driver and Rider Training. Without that the learning could be of little value,” he added.

Newsinbrief

Taunton GVTS to close The DSA has announced that the last day for bus, lorry and car-and-trailer driving tests at Taunton goods vehicle testing station (GVTS) will be Friday, 30 August.

No new permanent site has been named as a replacement but the DSA commented: “We’re working hard to find a permanent site for lorry, bus and B+E (car with trailer) practical driving tests.” In the meantime, DSA will: provide extra vocational tests at Exeter and Bristol; offer B+E trailer tests on the motorcycle manoeuvring area at Taunton multi-purpose test centre from 1 July (following a successful trial at Gloucester); and allow two driver training companies in the Taunton area to host testing for their customers on their own sites.

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Brake poll finds support for minimum learning Road safety charity Brake has called on Government to implement proposals to establish a minimum learning period after its own research found overwhelming support for the idea among the general public.

Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, even under-25s were in favour, despite being the age group most likely to be affected.

The survey, by Brake and Direct Line, revealed that 84% of drivers agree we need a minimum learning period, with 69% of drivers under-25 in favour. Brake is also calling for post-test restrictions on novice drivers, such as a zero tolerance drink-drive limit and a bar on late night driving and carrying friends as passengers.

The survey also found: n Widespread support for a range of post-test restrictions, including 70 per cent support for a zero-tolerance drink drive limit for novice drivers, and 63 per cent support for this from drivers under 25. n Nearly nine in 10 (88 per cent) think there should be a minimum number of hours of supervised driving for learners, with six in 10 (58 per cent) thinking this should be at least 35 hours. n Nine in 10 (90 per cent) want mandatory lessons on motorways and in difficult conditions for all learners.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive, Brake, said: “The Government has an opportunity to make a real difference to road safety and save a lot of young lives through reforming our driver licensing system.

“Evidence on how to reduce young driver crashes is very clear; by introducing a system of graduated licensing we can expect to make real inroads into this horrific problem.”

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News

More Halfords stores sign up as DTCs The DSA has given the green light for four more Halfords stores to host driving tests.

The stores are in Hemel Hempstead, Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester, East Kilbride and Bromsgrove in the West Midlands.

Tests will be held at the Hemel Hempstead store from June 12 on Wednesdays and Friday, while Ashton-under-Lyne testing will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays from June 4. The Bromsgrove store will host its first tests on June 19, with Wednesday and Friday its designated days for tests.

Testing will start at East Kilbride on June 24, every Monday and Thursday.

Road safety minister Stephen Hammond commented: “We are pleased to be working with Halfords to provide a more local service for driving test candidates in even more areas.

“This is a great example of working with private sector

partners to provide an important local service that is convenient as well as cost-effective”.

Halfords commercial director Paul McClenaghan said: “Halfords is already a local destination for motorists, who come to us for a diverse range of automotive products and services.

“We’re always seeking new ways in which to enhance our offer, so working with the DSA is a natural fit for the business and extends the help we are able to provide to motorists”.

Cheadle Fire Station signs up for L-tests Cheadle Fire Station in Stockport, Cheshire, is the latest non-DSA body to agree to host L- tests.

Driving tests will be available from the station every Tuesday and Thursday from 25 June.

This is the second fire station to sign up as an ad hoc DTC, following

Salford Fire Station. Stephen Hammond said: “By working alongside Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service the DSA is ensuring people taking their driving test have access to a more convenient option. This partnership is a great example of how the pubic sector can

work together to reduce costs and provide a better service”.

Chair of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority, Councillor David Acton, said: “This is a really exciting partnership and an example of the service’s innovative approach to road safety.”

DSA offers online boost for ADIs

DSA has improved its online services for instructors to make them more convenient and easy to use.

The changes come as a result of feedback from representative bodies and individual members. The DSA has: - removed the 60-day expiry on passwords – from now, you can keep your password for as long as you want - introduced email confirmations to tell you your transaction has gone through, eg renewing your ADI registration ADIs can also update registration details, renew or re-register and order Pass Plus refill packs. More improvements are planned, as part of the ‘digital by default’ strategy.

ADI register guide updated The Guide to the approved driving instructor register (sometimes called the ‘ADI14’) has been updated. It is now published as a web page on the GOV.UK website, rather than as a PDF. This new format makes it easier to: - see what’s changed - click on the date at the top-right of the page to see a history of the guide - get to the information you need – use the interactive contents list - view the guide on mobile devices.

See https://www.gov.uk/guide-to-theapproved-driving-instructor-register

MSA NEWSLINK n JUNE 2013 n 05

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News

New rules over trailer testing remain loaded with confusion Recent issues of Newslink have carried several comments on the new rules being introduced from September on driving tests in B+E licence categories – for towing laden trailers. Our correspondents have criticised the new rules as being both unfair and illogical. Such has been the level of complaints that MSA general manager John Lepine has written the following letter to the DSA, requesting answers to a number of questions. We have received an initial response from the DSA to say they are looking into all the points we have raised, and they will get back to us soon. We will publish their reply when we receive it.

Dear DSA We would like to pose a number of questions about the new rules regarding laden testing.

The table below is taken from your website and our questions relate to it.

1. It is suggested that the specifications for loads that you have given are absolute and that no alteration from these specifications is possible. Is this true?

2. In some of the load requirements you state that the load should be 600kg of bagged sand or a 1,000 litre IBC. Can you

confirm that the IBC needs to be full of water?

3. A litre of water (at 4°C) weighs 1kg, therefore 600kg of bagged sand and a 1,000 -litre IBC full of water are not the same weight (latter weighs 1,000kg).

Can you explain why you have this differential?

4. It states on your website that “You can’t use any other type of load.” Can you explain why it would not be possible to use a 600-litre IBC full of water which would weigh 600 kg on a B+E test?

5. If a B+E combination is brought for a driving test with 24 bags of sand how will the examiner check the load? It is possible that the sacks could be stacked with a polystyrene block core; will examiners unload each pallet of sand to check?

6. Sand sold by builders’ merchants and yards do not carry a weight on the sack.

How will examiners check the sacks all weigh 25kg?

Laden vehicle testing: New requirements from September 2013 From 30 September 2013 vehicles used in these categories of tests must have a load as shown below.

Vehicle Vehicle or trailer Minimum Minimum load category real weight requirement B+E Trailer C Vehicle C1+E Trailer C+E Towing lorry and trailer

C+E Combination D1+E Trailer D+E Trailer

800 kg 600 kg of sand or a 1,000 litre IBC 10,000 kg 5 x 1,000 litre IBCs 800 kg 600 kg of sand or a 1,000 litre IBC 10,000 kg for lorry 5 x 1,000 litre IBCs (lorry) and and 5,000 kg for trailer 3 x 1,000 litre IBCs (trailer) 15,000 kg 8 x 1,000 litre IBCs 800 kg 600 kg of sand or a 1,000 litre IBC 800 kg 600 kg of sand or a 1,000 litre IBC

FairFuel anger at new oil price ‘fix’ claims Campaigners from FairFuel UK have reacted angrily to reports that some oil companies may have been fixing fuel prices.

EU competition authorities are investigating whether oil prices have been kept artificially high by collusion on the part of several companies.

FairFuelUK spokesman Quentin Willson said: “The sharp rises in fuel and oil prices we’ve seen recently have raised huge concerns about what is really driving them. The oil market isn’t transparent or accountable enough. There is an urgent need for a powerful and independent watchdog to ensure that there’s no market

manipulation and that UK families and businesses pay a fair price for their fuel.”

Peter Carroll, founder of FairFuelUK said, “If it is proved that the oil market has been manipulated it will be a global scandal as damaging as the recent LIBOR debacle.”

While welcoming recent falls in the cost of petrol and diesel, FairFuel UK has voiced concern over rumoured price hikes likely to arrive in the summer.

Wholesale oil prices spiked sharply in April, buoyed by increasing global demand, and it is feared this spike will feed through to forecourt prices in July and August.

06 n JUNE 2013 n MSA NEWSLINK

New rules on weight don’t add up, says Newslink

7. Why is no other weight acceptable?

8. Will the DSA consider allowing other loads to be used such as 600-litre IBCs (with water), concrete blocks, or other fixed weight items, eg, caged quarry stones, providing their weight is certified by an acceptable body?

• We will publish the DSA’s response in the next issue

Rules about the load

The load requirement is for: • bagged sand • water, in intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) which are made from semi-transparent moulded plastic usually reinforced with a wire framework The examiner may need to inspect an IBC presented as ‘load’ for test; therefore the ability to visually check it has the correct water level is most important. You can’t use any other type of load.

The load must be secured appropriately onto the vehicle or trailer.

Low emission petrol and diesel helps curb enthusiasm for electric engines Internal combustion engines are driving the drop in carbon emissions as sales of electric cars are set to fall far short of official expectations, suggests the RAC Foundation.

The Committee on Climate Change has previously said it would be “feasible and desirable”, to have up to 1.7 million fully electric and plug-in hybrid cars on the road by 2020.

But most industry analysts predict the number will be significantly lower.

However, average new car emissions in 2020 are still likely to meet the EU target of 95g/km because of the refinement of existing technologies.

Powering Ahead, a review by the consultancy Ricardo-AEA of a range of authoritative market forecasts, shows that even the more positive assessments foresee only 200,000 plug-in hybrid and pure battery-powered cars being sold each year in the UK by 2020. Some experts think sales

of these types of vehicle will actually be as low as 40,000. To put these numbers in perspective, just over two million new cars were sold in the UK in 2012, and there are about 29 million cars on the road in the UK. The report says: “In the longer term, the likely mix of technologies is extremely difficult to predict. The speed with which plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles achieve significant market shares is highly dependent on their total cost of ownership in comparison to that of more conventional alternatives.

“This is, in turn, dependent on factors such as oil prices, further battery and fuel cell cost reductions, and government policies.”

Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “It is more than two years since the government introduced the plug-in car grant.

Yet even with subsidies of £5,000 per vehicle available only 3,600 cars have been purchased.”

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News

Global road deaths hit record low The world is slowly getting the road safety message – though the disparity between rich and poor nations remains as stark as ever.

That’s according to new figures revealed by the International Road Traffic Accident Database, (IRTAD), which found that 2012 had the lowest road traffic fatalities on record.

However, performance in terms of fatalities per 100,000 population varies considerably. In particular, emerging economies facing rapid motorisation are finding their road safety measures being outpaced, according to the IRTAD Annual Road Safety Report 2013, published by the International Transport Forum.

The bulk of reductions in fatalities has benefitted car occupants. Largely due to increased passive safety features of cars, deaths among car passengers have halved in the past decade.

Results have been less positive for vulnerable road users, however.

For more details see www. international transportforum. org/2013/free-publications The European Commission has published its First Milestone towards a Serious Injury Strategy, which it hopes will help develop ways to co-ordinate cross-border programmes to improve road safety and reduce injuries as a result of road traffic incidents.

There is strong political support to take action on serious injury. In 2010 the European Commission dedicated an entire objective of its Road Safety Policy Orientations 2011- 2020 to serious injury in road traffic. In 2010 the Council underlined an “urgent need to address serious injuries, supporting the development of a common definition and agreeing to the principle of a specific quantitative target”.

In 2011 the European Parliament called on the European Commission to “quickly” come up with a target of 40 per cent reduction in the number of seriously injured on the roads and called on the Commission to establish a common definition of seriously injured in road traffic accidents.

The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has called for the EU to take action on tackling serious injury for over a decade. In its Blueprint for a 4th Road Safety Action Programme, ETSC proposed to set a target to reduce serious injury and adopt measures to accompany it.

In its White Paper on the future of Transport, the European Commission committed to following a “zero-vision” in road safety and to help in this it intends to “develop a comprehensive strategy of action on road injuries and emergency services, including common definitions and standard classifications of injuries and fatalities, in view of adopting an injuries reduction target.”

According to the latest data published by the European Commission, more than 250,000 people were recorded as seriously injured following traffic collisions in 2011

08 n JUNE 2013 n MSA NEWSLINK

Time to crack the whip over Europe’s road injuries compared with 28,000 deaths. For every road death in the EU, at least 44 road injuries are recorded, of which 10 are categorised as “serious”.

Involvement in road accidents is one of the leading causes of death and hospital admission for EU citizens under 45 years of age. The most common serious road traffic injuries are head and brain injuries followed by injuries to legs and spine.

Vulnerable road users, for example pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists or users in certain age groups – notably the elderly – are especially affected by serious road injury.

Serious road traffic injuries occur on all kinds of road, but a larger proportion of them occur in urban areas and involve vulnerable road users. On rural roads these injuries are more severe.

“The road safety community has been advocating that investing in road safety offers a great potential for saving human suffering and reallocating resources for a more productive use.”

Progress in reducing serious injuries on the roads has been slower than the corresponding figure for road deaths. Road deaths decreased by 43 per cent between 2001 and 2011 and serious injuries by 36 per cent according to EC figure There is a strong economic case to include the prevention of road traffic

deaths and serious injury on the EU’s health agenda as well as its transport one.

In the last decade the annual socioeconomic cost of road traffic injuries is estimated to be equivalent to around two per cent of GDP, 250 billion EUR in 2012 of which serious injuries account for around one quarter.

Recommendations to the EU: n Curb illegal and inappropriate speed, which will reduce injury severity in all kinds of collisions. n Contribute to the development of harmonised standards for Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) systems towards eventual universal fitment. n Aim for a 100% use of seat belts on front and rear seats, of helmets for PTWs and child restraint systems. n Adopt legislation to ensure that every new vehicle has, for all occupants as standard equipment, an enhanced seat belt reminder system with audible and visual warnings. n Fight drink driving and drug driving. n Provide a common framework for the assessment and rehabilitation of traffic offenders as a recognised collision prevention measure. n Introduce uniform standards for alcohol interlocks programmes in Europe, and provide assistance to reduce the workload for those countries that wish to introduce the technology without having the appropriate legal framework. n Support police enforcement of laws governing speed, drink and drug driving and the wearing of helmets for PTWs.

n Improve vehicle passive and active safety. n Make roads and roadsides more protective and forgiving. n Countermeasures should also include injuries leading to permanent impairment such as whiplash. ETSC supports the need identified by the European Commission to improve anti-whiplash systems ETSC (2008) Reining in Whiplash. ETSC also support the implementation of autonomous emergency braking targeted for reducing whiplash injuries in low speed crashes.

Studies have shown that such emergency braking technology reduces crashes with 20-25 per cent and injuries with more than 60 per cent at speed limits below 50 km/h.

Yearly more than a million European citizens report whiplash symptoms from rear-end collisions making up 65 per cent of all injuries in road traffic. For example, in modern cars on the Swedish market, whiplash injuries account for approximately 50 per cent of all injuries leading to permanent impairment. Usually, whiplash symptoms are of short duration, however, up to 10 per cent of car occupants reporting whiplash symptoms will be saddled with life-long problems.

Thus tackling whiplash is a clear priority within the response to the serious injury.

ETSC is also calling for Member States to adopt maximum 30km/h in residential areas and areas with high levels of pedestrians and cyclists and maximum 50km/h in urban areas.

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News

MSA general manager elected as President of European ADI group Continued from page 1 » » » Speaking after the election John Lepine said: “I would first like to pay tribute to my predecessor, Gerhard von Bressendorf (Germany), who has guided EFA so magnificently, and to the retiring 1st vice president, Lars Gunnarson (Sweden). They, together with Cathy, have done a fantastic job of leading EFA over the past ten years.

“Their work has ensured that EFA is not only a widely respected organisation throughout Europe but that it is also widely consulted by the organisations of the EU on driver testing and training issues, including the EU Presidency, its Parliament and the Commission.

“I am hoping to build on that work.

There is talk of a 4th EU transport directive to cover driver trainer qualifications, and there is clearly much to do to improve driving standards and road safety, as well as improve the economic viability of driving schools and instructors throughout Europe.”

He added: “This is clearly a huge honour

About EFA n EFA represents the interest of its members with all European authorities, institutions and organisations, concerned with: driving instruction, driving instructor training, driver improvement, further education of novice drivers, environmentally friendly driving and all questions concerning road safety. and responsibility that I have been given and I look forward to working on behalf of all European driving schools and driver trainers. It is a job that complements my work in Britain and in no way will interfere with the day-to-day management of the MSA.” Over recent years many pieces of legislation that have directly affected MSA members have emanated from the EU. Road safety is clearly an area where cross-border co-operation and legislation is vital, with so many European citizens

n EFA has 25 member associations from 24 European countries: Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Cyprus; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Great Britain; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Luxembourg; Moldova; Netherlands; Norway; Portugal; Slovakia; Spain; Sweden and Switzerland. now moving freely across the continent to live and work in other countries.

“It is impractical to look to standardise the driving test but it will be an EFA target to raise the standards required across Europe to that of the highest possible,” said John. “I also think we need to work harder on improving links between cross-border enforcement agencies over driving licences. There is clearly a problem with drivers in one country being banned for driving offences but details of that ban not being passed on to the authorities in

another. If a driver living in one country is prosecuted for drink-driving, that information has to be passed on to the authorities in his or her state. That it isn’t at present makes a mockery of the theory that the European Union works as one on issues such as road safety.”

With the question of Europe a highly contentious one at present in the UK, could we be seeing the MSA being drawn into a political wrangle over European influence? “I can’t see anything other than positives from our relationship with EFA. What is important is that the UK’s acknowledged leadership in road safety matters gives us tremendous influence in Brussels and Strasbourg, and that EFA, under Gerhard’s shrewd leadership, is a body that Europe’s leaders trust and listen to on matters involving driver testing and training. I will do all that I can to deepen this relationship and use our influence to improve driver standards across Europe – which can only be beneficial to the UK as a whole.”

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Comment: DSA

Good feedback for online system format is mobile-friendly.

The main changes include adding more information about the role and powers of the ADI Registrar. It confirms that the Registrar is acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport when asking: n to give information to register or stay on the register n make decisions about your registration.

There are also links to read about certain topics in detail, such as the ADI Part 1 test and separate guides about things like the ADI voluntary code of practice and the rules for observing driving tests.

ROSEMARY THEW Chief Executive, DSA

L

aunched in October 2012, DSA’s online business service allows business customers and ADIs to book and manage multiple tests online. The online business service has now been available for several months, with more than 2,900 businesses registered to use it.

The benefits include: n viewing all test slots available without entering candidate details n setting up favourite test centres and quickly checking their availability n being able to manage instructor availability n setting up alerts for cancellations at selected test centres n making and managing multiple bookings easily The service is available seven days a week, from 6am until midnight, giving businesses greater flexibility to manage their bookings and track their business more efficiently.

Feedback from users has been very positive.

Comments on social media include: “The test booking service is working like a dream... one of the best things I’ve ever done for my pupils.”

“I use it and find it very straightforward. Quicker than typing in pupils’ details, then own details for payment.”

“Can’t praise it enough. Would encourage all ADIs to sign up.”

“Been using the new OBS system for a few months and it’s brilliant, we use it for trainer booking for LGV tests so we can book tests in advance and name them as and when required, but

First Car

A great success: Feedback on the new ADI online booking service has been very positive

I also love the fact that I can book learner tests with just a driving licence number in a fraction of the time.”

If you’re not already registered to use this service, visit GOV.UK to make sure you don’t miss out on the benefits it offers.

Updated guide

The guide to the approved driving instructor register – sometimes called the ADI14 – has been updated.

The guide has now been published as a web page on GOV.UK website, rather than as a PDF. This makes it easier to: n see what’s changed n get to the information you need n find out what the acronyms mean by hovering over them n view the guide on mobile devices – the new

From July a new issue of First Car magazine will be handed out at practical test centres. This issue will include information and features for new young drivers on important road safety and driving issues, such as advice on car insurance and how to avoid dangerous situations.

This follows the success of the glovebox edition for theory test centres.

The feedback on this issue was excellent and led to requests from candidates and driving examiners to publish a practical version. First Car has been working closely with DSA and a new issue of the magazine for theory test centres will also be distributed from June 2013.

‘Stay in Control’

A new THINK! road safety campaign encouraging motorcyclists to improve their defensive riding skills was launched recently by the Road Safety Minister Stephen Hammond.

The ‘stay in control’ campaign – developed with motorcycle industry partners – advises motorcyclists to ride defensively and take further training to sharpen their skills.

Promotional material will be distributed to hundreds of motorcycle dealerships and retailers across the UK. The campaign will run throughout the peak riding season this spring and summer, when, historically, the number of motorcyclists killed and seriously injured on the roads increases.

DSA updates theory test software for learners New editions of official Driving Standards Agency (DSA) theory test software for car drivers now include more help than ever for learners preparing for their test.

The theory test is an important part of the learning-to-drive process. It allows candidates to demonstrate that they have a clear understanding of the rules of the road and that they recognise their responsibility as a road user. To really benefit from taking the test, candidates need to develop a deep understanding of driving theory – especially since the live test questions are no longer published.

DSA’s official publishing partner, TSO (The Stationery Office), has been working with educational specialists and subject matter experts to enhance the theory test products and develop them into valuable learning tools for car and motorcycle test candidates. Following the success of the revamped theory test books which published last autumn, the best-selling

10 n JUNE 2013 n MSA NEWSLINK

software range has also been updated. The Official DSA Theory Test for Car Drivers DVD-ROM still includes hundreds of official theory test revision questions, covering the same topics as the actual test, but the real value comes from the background information which has been added to the study section.

Learning your way

The DVD-ROM encourages candidates to follow a three-step learning process: study, practise, test yourself. Recognising

that people learn in different ways, the study section caters for different learning styles.

Each section includes lots of photos and diagrams to illustrate key points, definitions to describe tricky words and top tips to highlight important information. The learning experience is multi-dimensional, with links to online videos and interactive activities where candidates can learn more and a voiceover option to help those who learn best by listening. There are also tips on how to study, aimed at providing learners with all the support they need to prepare for their test.

The theory is linked back to practical driving skills, with a summary of what learners need to do, know and understand to meet the National Driving Standard for each topic and ideas for what the learner can practise and discuss with their driving instructor.

Self-assessment is made easy with clear

progress tracking throughout each section.

Feedback is also provided on which topics need more revision to bring the learner up to test standard and make them safe on the road.

Once the learner is confident on each topic, they can take mock tests. They are just like the real thing and will give candidates an idea of whether they have the right level of knowledge and understanding for the actual test.

Alternative formats

The DVD-ROM is available as a standalone product, compatible with both PC and Mac (ISBN 9780115532597) and is also available as part of The Official DSA Complete Theory Test Kit (ISBN 9780115532603) and The Official DSA Complete Learner Driver Pack (ISBN 9780115532627). A downloadable version is coming soon.

See tsoshop.co.uk/dsa or call 0870 850 6553 to order copies.

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Comment: Letters

JOHN LEPINE MBE General Manager, MSA

‘I never got the letter’ or ‘the letter’s in the post’ are two sides of the same coin, I suppose. The cynics among us roll our eyes and mutter about ‘letters always find me’, or ‘that’s the excuse I give when I forget to send someone a birthday card’.

The reason I start by saying this is that a failure to receive the letter asking an ADI to attend for a check test is probably the most often-used excuse when it comes to appealing against removal from the ADI Register for failing to attend a check test. As you might imagine, the appeal body the Transport Tribunal tends not to believe ADIs when they say “I never got the letter”.

However, not all cases are the same and one ADI who appealed to the Transport Tribunal earlier this year on the grounds that he failed to receive two letters did win his appeal. This particular ADI had been on the ADI Register since at least 1985 and had attended numerous check tests in the past.

In this case the ADI was invited to attend a check test but did not reply and did not attend. On a second occasion a few months later he was invited to attend another check test and did not reply and failed to attend. As you might expect the Registrar then made moves to remove him from the Register for failing to attend a check test.

In his summing up of the case the Tribunal Judge stated: “In my view the Registrar is entitled to assume, until the contrary is asserted, that a letter once posted will reach the address to which it is directed in the ordinary course of the post.”

But he went on to state: “It is important to remember that registration as an ADI is a ‘possession’ covered by Article 1 of the First Protocol to the convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. That it turn means that before removing the name of an ADI from the Register the Registrar must consider whether or not it is in the public interest to do so.

“That requires the Registrar to achieve the right balance between maintaining public confidence in the Register, by ensuring that those on it are appropriately qualified and ensuring that the process of maintaining the Register is conducted fairly.

Where the circumstances clearly show that the actions or inaction of an ADI amount to a refusal to undergo a check test it is clearly in the public interest to remove that person’s name from the Register because in those circumstances the Registrar cannot be satisfied that they continue to have the necessary ability and fitness to give instruction.

“At the other extreme, where it appears that an ADI has a reasonable explanation for failing to attend for a check test, it seems to me that it will be difficult to show that removal is in the public interest.

“The Appellant has asserted that he did not receive either of the letters requiring him to undergo a check test. The question is whether it was fair and in the public interest, having regard to all the circumstances of this case, to treat his non-attendance as a refusal to undergo a check test. In my view the answer has to be ‘No’. The reason is that once all the surrounding circumstances are taken into account it is not sufficiently clear that the Appellant was refusing to take a check test as opposed to being unaware that he was required to attend for such a test. For these reasons the appeal is allowed.”

So next time someone says “I never got the letter” consider, as the judge did, that they just might be telling the truth.

12 n JUNE 2013 n MSA NEWSLINK

Newslink Postbag. We welcome contributions from our members. Would all contributors please remember that Newslink cannot publish letters anonymously. Pen names will be used to protect the identity of the author if necessary. Please address all correspondence to The Editor, Newslink, 101 Wellington Road North, Stockport, Cheshire SK4 2LP. Letters can also be sent by email, to mail@msagb.co.uk

Aggressive ambulance proves that not all blue light drivers are angels Dear Sir, Having read the article in April’s issue about the use [by emergency vehicles] of emergency lights and sirens to intimidate drivers into clearing a path for the fire engine at a junction, it was reassuring to read the follow-up in May’s issue from the ex-fire officer and the quote “don’t push other cars out of the way, but if they do clear a path, take advantage”. A reasonable attitude under the circumstances, in my opinion.

However, if only all emergency response personnel had the same attitude. I had the recent misfortune to be stopped at a red light where there was a metal barrier on either side which prevented any significant steer to the side to clear a path. In the distance I could hear the siren of an ambulance approaching from behind.

The ambulance driver had two choices: to approach the lights and wait behind me until a path could be made, or approach the junction from the right-hand side of the road. Despite the sirens, the oncoming traffic continued through the junction so the ambulance driver opted for the safer approach of staying on the correct side of the road. I steered as much to the left as I could and as close to the junction white line as I could.

Unfortunately this didn’t create sufficient space to allow the ambulance to proceed.

As frustrating as this must have been for the ambulance driver, his behaviour was aggressive and unhelpful. He moved so close to my rear bumper I was sure he was going to nudge me and my rear view was of the front of his vehicle only. In my right mirror I could see him shouting and shaking his fist at me. Even with all my years of driving experience I felt intimidated enough by his actions to move beyond the red light and the white line to the very edge of the cross section.

Had the traffic from the side directions paid any notice of the siren and stopped at the junction, I may have opted to turn left through the red light to clear the path. However, the traffic had not ceased and I was not

prepared to add risking safety to breaking the law. The lights did change shortly after that and the ambulance was able to get on its way. I admit to being somewhat shaken by these events and was glad that it was me driving and not a pupil.

I toyed with the idea of complaining but opted not to, given that the emergency services have a tough job to do in often very difficult situations. However, it did prompt me to hypothetically ask a police acquaintance how one would go about reporting such a situation. His response surprised me much more than the actual event. He first asked why I would want to complain when he was ‘only doing his job’. His second response was nobody would take me seriously unless there had been a collision.

So, although I hope the ambulance driver got to his destination in time to make a positive difference, to the ex-fire officer from Edinburgh, if only they were all like you!

I would prefer that my name not be disclosed.

MSA member Dear Sir, The recent debate in Newslink over the conduct of blue light drivers has been interesting and clearly highlights that a change in the law is needed.

Would it not be sensible for the courts to waive their right to prosecute a driver caught speeding/going through a red light, etc, if it can be proved that they did so to clear the way for an emergency vehicle? After all, I believe that all emergency vehicles are fitted with telemetric devices, so it should be easy to prove if a motorist uses that defence in a court of law. I am in no way condoning going through red lights but it seems stunningly unfair to charge a driver who is simply acting out of a feeling of their civic duty to assist the authorities.

G. Lowe, Leeds

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DSA’s laden trailer move is trash

Dear Sir As the wife of an ADI I get to read your magazine as well as my husband, and I read the letter from Mr Steve Thomas regarding the loading of trailers in the May issue with some interest. I totally agree with his letter. All we seem to get from the DSA is more costly outgoings every year. It cost us an awful lot to purchase our trailer, as it did our tuition car and all the other things that this occupation seems to entail. Yet when a reasonable question as Mr Thomas asks is put to them they cannot be bothered to find a solution.

I would love to hear one day that something is in the favour of the ADI, not the DSA. I think they think we are all living the life of a millionaire. Wish we were.

Linda de Koning, Sleaford, Lincs The Editor writes: We certainly agree that there are questions to be answered on this issue. See pg 4 for more details

Series is another BBC blunder Dear Sir, The BBC seems to work hard at creating titles for programmes which are sensationalistic and likely to turn away viewers with a sensitive disposition. I refer to Barely Legal Drivers.

Those who did view the programmes would be preoccupied with the concern that the BBC could spend money on buying a car for one driver who was

Comment: Letters marginally less bad than the other. In the interest of road safety each contestant deserved driving lessons, although judging from their lack of basic driving knowledge it should not have been advanced lessons. Here was a case to highlight the need for continuous driver development.

A serious programme on driving should include a section on how passengers can contribute to their own safety by assisting the driver through calmly giving directions clearly and in good time and not distracting him or her by suddenly slamming their seat back.

Instead what this series highlighted was the problem that almost every young driver had, in each of the six programmes, in dealing with motorway situations and navigating in these high speed environments.

The case was eloquently made for driving lessons on motorways for all learners; with this evidence the Government must now surely listen.

Stanley McWhirter, Edinburgh

Cutting role play is an unfair move Dear Sir, This is a question about the new Standards Check which I hope will be published in Newslink as I have heard numerous ADIs talking about this subject.

The DSA will now conduct the new Standards Check from April 2014 to replace the current Check Test.

However, they are removing the role play option that we currently have available on the Check Test where an ADI is unable to provide a pupil.

I personally have no problem with this but think the role play option should stay for a number of reasons.

First, what if an ADI is not working at the time of the test and cannot provide a pupil? Does this mean the test

will not go ahead? What effect will this have on the ADI? Second, what if the pupil cancels at late notice and again the ADI is unable to provide a pupil?

Also, if an ADI prefers to opt for role play then surely they should still be given the choice?

Role play is, after all, a core part of the Part Three ADI test so why not on the new Standards Check?

What is the MSA’s view on this subject?

Nick Bower, Crawley, West Sussex Editor replies: Details of the proposed new standards check were discussed at all the MSA regional AGMs in the Autumn last year, and the subject of the new standards check was also mentioned at this year’s MSA National Conference.

Few, if any, objections were raised at the prospect of dropping role play from check tests. However, it is difficult to counter the argument that role play is a core part of the ADI Part 3 test.

What do other readers think?

Ad hoc test centres make fools of DSA Dear Sir, Recent issues of Newslink have carried numerous references to the new ad hoc driving test centres, in places as diverse as Asda and Halfords, even a fire station. If we can hold tests in such places, why did the DSA spend so much money on the MPTCs? Why did it feel the need to ‘gold plate’ this piece of EU-led legislation when no other country in the whole of the EU did the same? Isn’t the agency simply guilty of wasting public money during a time of austerity?

E. Chapman Aylesbury

MSA NEWSLINK n JUNE 2013 n 13

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News

BBC turns its spotlight on expired licence confusion Out-of-date photocard driving licences – and the confusion over how to deal with drivers in possession of them – has reached the attention of the national media after Radio 5 Live’s Adrian Goldberg Investigates looked into the issue last month.

During the programme – for which the BBC’s researchers interviewed the msa’s publishers, Chamber Media Services, for background details – the show’s presenters spoke to Michael Pace, a solicitor specialising in motor law who has also contributed to Newslink articles over recent issues. The radio show became interested in the issue after the DVLA admitted that well over two million people now held out-of-date driving licences and were at risk of prosecution.

On the broadcast Mr Pace reiterated his view that the police were incorrectly prosecuting offenders. Some police forces treat minor discrepancies on driving licences, such as an out-of-date photo or incorrect address, as a Section 87 offence rather than a Section 99 offence, he told the programme.

On the question of insurance Mr Pace stressed that neither should invalidate a licence in the eyes of the law. The actual offence committed is failing to notify the DVLA of up-to-date information, contrary to section 99.5 of the Road Traffic Act.

A driver could still face a fine, but should not receive points on his or her licence. It also should not mean that their insurance was invalidated and they were driving without insurance.

Shortly after the programme, the courts came to a similar conclusion after two cases were dropped against drivers incorrectly charged with not keeping their driving licences up to date.

Both were facing a hefty fine and points on their licences before the ruling, which came

“It’s not just police officers; now it’s the CPS and even the courts who are prosecuting the wrong offence.” after an earlier admission by the courts that “many more” have been wrongly convicted in the past.

Mr Pace, partner and head of motor law at solicitors Andrew and Co in Lincoln, said that while the courts’ decisions were welcome, the fact that both had reached that stage proved the confusion had reached the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), too. “It’s not just police officers; now it’s the CPS and even the

courts who are prosecuting the wrong offence.”

In one of the two recent cases, a motorist had been charged with driving otherwise in accordance with a licence and no insurance.

The prosecution arose after the defendant was involved in a minor road incident to which the police were called. On checking the defendant’s driving licence, it was discovered that the photo was more than 10 years old and that her address was also out of date.

Mr Pace entered pleas of not guilty before the court formally acquitted his defendant. At the same time, another defendant whose case had been adjourned pending the outcome of this case had his prosecution withdrawn by the CPS. Pace said that when he first entered the not guilty pleas, the court observed that “an awful lot of people” had been found guilty over the years for the same offence and had therefore been wrongly convicted. “They’re charging an endorsable offence when the correct offence is not endorsable,” he added.

Chief Superintendent Irene Curtis of the Police Superintendents’ Association said: “We need to get this right; the last thing we want to do is alienate and punish members of the public who have made a minor mistake with disproportionate action.”

Inbrief Confidence in car buying...

The world’s largest used vehicle wholesaler, Manheim, has claimed that conditions in the UK automotive market are the most positive it has seen in four years. During the first four months of 2013 the volumes of used vehicles sold through Manheim’s auctions have risen by nearly 20 per cent.

Higher consumer demand for new and used vehicles has led to a stronger than expected performance for the first four months of 2013 across the entire automotive market.

Private buyers bought more new vehicles than fleet buyers, with a 32 per cent increase during April 2013 compared to April 2012.

... and technology A survey of 1,000 new car buyers in the UK has revealed that 96.5 per cent of consumers believe that new accident prevention technologies will make driving safer, with almost 40 per cent saying the technologies would improve safety considerably.

Women feel pain of EU insurance ruling Women’s car insurance costs rose in the first three months of 2013 but men saw prices fall, according to the latest Confused.com car insurance price index.

In the first three months of 2013, the average cost of a comprehensive car insurance policy for women rose by 2.3 per cent. However, for men, the price of a policy fell by 1.8 per cent.

This is according to the latest quarterly Confused.com/Towers Watson car insurance price index. The index looks at more than four million quotes to see what prices drivers have been getting when shopping around for car insurance.

As had been widely predicted, it seems that female drivers have paid the price of a decision made more than two years ago by the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

Traditionally, because women have fewer road accidents than male drivers, car insurance for women was cheaper as they were less likely to make a claim. So if an insurer was presented with a male and female driver with the same car, location, mileage and so on, the female would typically have received a cheaper insurance quote than the male.

But the ECJ ruled that taking gender into account when calculating insurance prices was illegal discrimination.

The European Union, which is bound by the court, said that insurers had to stop this practice by 21 December 2012. As a result, insurance firms were recalculating prices to level out the difference between

14 n JUNE 2013 n MSA NEWSLINK

men and women ahead of the ruling coming into force.

The average cost of comprehensive car insurance for men is £748, compared to £721 for women – a £27 difference.

Gemma Stanbury, head of car insurance at Confused.com, said the EU ruling had affected car insurance prices for both men and women. “With the EU Gender Directive coming into effect late last year, it’s clear to see that the insurance industry has reacted to the change in legislation over the last quarter – and that women have experienced the greatest

increases to their car insurance premiums.” n One new company that is starting to provide some succour to female motorists on insurance is Drive Like a Girl, a telemetrics-based insurer launched in January.

The brand was established to help careful female drivers beat the gender directive. It promises to give money back after three months to anyone who has ‘driven like a girl’. The youngest drivers could get as much as 17 per cent back,

and it claims to have handed back more than £51,000 to its first 500 customers in recognition of their sensible driving.

85 per cent of the 500 earliest customers are getting money back, with 60 per cent receiving their own maximum discount at an average of £137 each.

One-in-four customers received more than £150 back. Some seven per cent, mostly younger motorists, got more than £250 as their three-month discount.

The quality of driving is assessed using data sent back by the telemetrics box installed behind the dashboard at no extra cost when people buy policies.

21-year-old Gemma Taylor, from Leeds, heard about drive like a girl just after she passed her driving test in January via comparison site Moneysupermarket.

“It really didn’t worry me having a box in the car, as it enables me to have an affordable price for my car insurance against others that were on offer. What really tempted me was the three-month discount. It allows me to prove that I am a safe driver and to then get money back.

By driving safely, I have now qualified for over £300 back which is fantastic.”

“We are delighted that so many of our customers have earned these rewards.

Because they have driven safely, we are less likely to have to pay claims so we can help them control their motoring costs,” said Drive Like A Girl’s Charlotte Halkett.

“If they keep up the good work they could save even more when they renew.”

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News

Alloygators snaps up new product award AlloyGator, a patented alloy wheel protection system, has won the prestigious and coveted Auto Express ‘Best Product of the Year’ award, beating over 750 other products assessed and tested by Auto Express over the last 12 months.

AlloyGator is a supporter of the MSA, and attended conference this year to promote the product to members.

The unique AlloyGator system, which is 100% designed and manufactured in the UK, provides car owners with unrivalled protection against scuffs, scratches and other wheel and tyre damage.

Made of super tough nylon for superior protection in all conditions, AlloyGator will extend the life of alloy wheels, saving time and money on expensive repairs. Designed in partnership with industry professionals, the AlloyGator alloy wheel protection system is technically proven, and has undergone a rigorous MIRA testing and development process.

The AlloyGator sits between the alloy wheel and the tyre, not only protecting the alloy wheel but also enhancing its appearance – the system is available in nine different colours, silver that can make the rims / wheels look larger, black for discreet protection or red, blue, yellow, pink, green, orange and white to add styling to the alloy.

Curt Rathbone of AlloyGator commented, “What makes the Auto Express Award so fantastic for us is that when we originally launched AlloyGator some three years ago, Auto Express didn’t give us such a good product test review.

“However, we listened to their comments and the comments of our customers, made the necessary changes and it has paid off. We are so proud to have won.’’

AlloyGator has seen significant growth in 2011/12, with the company doubling its UK sales revenues year on year.

Curt continued: “Our research indicates that 80% of vehicles under five years old now have alloys, a figure that we expect to continue to rise as more and more new vehicles are being fitted with alloys as standard. We know only too well that the current economic climate means that people are keeping their cars for longer, so fitting a set of AlloyGators will ensure that the car looks better for longer, too.’’ n Alloygators cost £59.95 for a set of five for DIY fitting or an SRP of £95.95 for a set of five AlloyGators including fitting by an approved AlloyGator fitter.

Want to know more?

For more information on Alloygators see www.alloygator.co.uk or to see the product in action see http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=-ITp2f0nNis

MSA NEWSLINK n JUNE 2013 n 15

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News

Insurance: where do you start?

BG Insurance offers some advice for ADIs looking for new policies The market is flooded with insurance providers specialising in various fields, and while you may have your own preferred insurer, you will be only too aware of what everyone is offering to entice you to insure through them. It could be a new customer discount, cashback or a UK call centre, as well as something as ‘simples’ as a stuffed meerkat toy.

You can’t go about your daily routine without being reminded about insurance, be it on the TV, in a magazine, online and even when you are paying for your groceries or booking your holiday.

How customers buy their insurance

Over 1,000 companies are authorised to write general insurance business in the UK, employing around 290,000 people and contributing almost £10.4 billion in taxes, plus a further 2,000 registered brokers providing and selling policies. The UK insurance industry is the third largest in the world and the largest in Europe and is therefore an essential part of the UK’s economic strength.

Over recent years consumers have been encouraged by advertising to ‘shop around’ and look for the cheapest prices. Price, for some, might be the most important element in any purchasing decision, particularly in these tough economic times, however, many fail to consider what it is they are buying. Is the product suitable for their needs – and are the service standards provided the ones the customer wants?

It is best practice to carry out some simple research, so consider what it is that is important to you.

Price is by far the most common demoninator, more so if you fall between the ages of 25-34 according to statistics produced by the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA). As for the various other factors, the list is endless and can range from an excess applied following a claim, through to whether or not a courtesy vehicle is included in the event of an accident.

It is also worth checking that your policy covers use of your car by learner drivers on their driving tests.

On the topic of motor insurance, which is very closely aligned with driving school insurance, insurers have made a collective loss over the last 17 years, paying out more in claims and expenses than they received from customer premiums. In total insurers paid out £12.1 billion in UK motor claims in 2011. This all adds to the challenge for the insurer to be able to offer an affordable premium while making a profit themselves. However, it is not all doom and gloom for them, and the insurance

Where do customers buy their insurance from?

8% 31% 40% 12% 8%

industry faces the same challenges as every other industry in being able generate profits.

Most insurers specialise in certain sectors of the market, targeting a specific demographic, however it is not always clear who their policies are aimed at so, if you contact an insurer who doesn’t specialise in covering individuals or businesses with your profile, you may get an uncompetitive rate.

As the appointed insurance partner of the MSA, BG Insurance endeavours to provide each and every member with a quote for cost-effective and suitable driving school insurance. To achieve this BG Insurance works with a number of insurers with the intention of providing you with choice in terms of price, cover and service.

What makes BG Insurance different from others?

Most brokers work with the same insurers – it just depends on what commercial arrangements that they have in place with them, what customer profile they choose to target, and essentially how they intend to engage with their customer. BG Insurance’s unique selling points, some of which are exclusive to MSA members, are as follows: Replacement dual control vehicle The terms of some policies mean this service is only available in the event of a non-fault accident, however as a BG Insurance customer, whether you are at fault or not, you will be supplied with a dual control vehicle. This would be transported to your home address in a timely manner, reducing the risk of lost appointments through reduced continuity of service at no extra cost to you.

Issue resolution and information service BG Insurance endeavours to treat all of their customers with the highest level of professionalism, customer service and support that can be offered, and as an MSA member you can benefit further through access

n Utilities/Retailers/ Affinity Groups n Brokers n Company Agents n Banks/Building Societies n Direct to your regional chairman and MSA head office who can liaise with BG Insurance senior management directly on your behalf to resolve any issues, or simply to offer insurance advice.

Not just a driving school insurance provider BG Insurance can also arrange insurance for the following: n Private car n Household n Commercial van n Liability n Business n Excess protection n Legal expenses n Breakdown n Key return service In addition to all of that…

There’s a five per cent discount on all Zurich Insurance driving school policies for MSA members.

Zurich is an international insurer and BG Insurance is pleased to have negotiated terms on behalf of the MSA that will benefit all MSA members. While BG Insurance cannot guarantee Zurich will provide the lowest price for each quote provided, it can guarantee a comprehensive policy specially designed for the driving school market.

BG Insurance employs over 70 staff and service over 20,000 policyholders across various product lines. There are plans to grow the business in the future putting BG Insurance in a stronger position to negotiate better terms with our insurance partners.

So when your insurance policy is due for renewal, any insurance, contact us, you never know what BG Insurance might be able to do for you.

Want to know more?

Dedicated MSA Member freephone 0800 804 7481.

Alternatively, for an instant online quote on car, van and household insurance visit us online at www.bginsurance.co.uk.

Young drivers urged to avoid false economies As the Government considers whether to tighten the regime for new drivers, driving instructor vehicle providers Hitachi Capital Driving Instructor Centre (HCDIC) is urging young drivers to consider more than the cheapest route to getting behind the wheel.

Candice Walters, Hitachi Capital Driving Instructor Centre head of sales said: “We completely sympathise with young drivers or their parents who in this tough economy may find it difficult to fund driving lessons.

With the possibility of extra or tougher L-tests in the future as a result of the Government’s current review of driver testing and training, it is likely that further lessons will be required. As a result some learner drivers may start to look for cheaper lessons to cover the additional costs.

16 n JUNE 2013 n MSA NEWSLINK

“At HCDIC, however, we believe this may be a false economy. There has been an increase in the number of driving instructors on the road thanks to the rise of franchised driving schools and individuals made redundant joining an industry that has proved to be robust, all contributing to reduced average lesson prices.

“While we welcome new instructors to the industry, it’s important that learner drivers don’t just consider price in their decision of instructor. Instructor experience, how comfortable you are in their presence and their teaching methods should all be considered before assessing price.

“We’re not being dramatic when we say good instructor can be the difference between life and death.

“According to the Association of British Insurers,

one-in-eight drivers is under 25, but they account for a third of people who die on UK roads. Due to this, it’s imperative that young drivers choose an experienced instructor who will improve their driving ability and boost confidence, not because they are the cheapest available instructor.

“Any extra testing or strengthening of the L-test that the Government may choose to implement are in everyone’s interests with a goal of reducing the number of accidents on the road through increased awareness amongst new drivers.

“We would say to any young driver considering their choice of instructor: is it really worth saving a few pounds on a cheaper, inexperienced instructor when an experienced instructor may teach you a lesson that one day saves your life?”

everything you need‌ and more!

From the market-leading Contract Hire specialists

www.hcdic.co.uk

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Hitachi Capital Driving Instructor Centre

Call: 01162 888288

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Email: sales@tdic.co.uk

29/04/2013 16:06

Towards CPD: Client-centred learning

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Encourage your pupils to ‘scale the ladder’ So far in this series of training articles on delivering client-centred learning I have looked at rapport, listening and questioning skills, writes Sue McCormack.

This month I will look at feedback. Developing feedback skills in your customers is the key to safe driving. This is the most important skill; the whole point of building rapport, actively listening and asking effective questions is to develop the clients’ ability to feedback to themselves how they are getting on.

W

ith client-centred learning, feedback is used to raise the client’s self-awareness of their strengths, limitations and development needs; also of how their thoughts and feelings impact on their behaviour.

For this to be effective the instructor needs to be able to develop the client’s ability to set their own benchmark, against which they can measure their performance. This process takes more or less time depending on the level of independent thinking the client is capable of.

For example, when someone asks you, ‘Would you like tea or coffee?’ what is your response?

Some people will say, ‘Whatever is easiest for you’.

This is often a conditioned and polite response but it betrays the fact that some people find it difficult to make choices. Being able to make choices, recognising consequences and understanding the impact that choice will have on you, as an individual, is the result of effective self-evaluation skills – the ability to give oneself feedback.

When you ask your client how something went, the response may well be, ‘I’m not sure.’ This is not necessarily the time to dive in and give your opinion on how it went. I cannot stress enough how important it is to develop self-evaluation skills through the process of feedback. In my opinion a newly-qualified driver’s inability to self-evaluate

18 n JUNE 2013 n MSA NEWSLINK

leads to crashes. Developing in your clients the ability to consider how their driving is coming along, and giving them the skills to do so once they have passed their driving test, will enable them to recognise a near-miss and reflect on this, in order to take steps to prevent it from happening again.

If someone blasts their horn at you how do you feel? Some people will feel a surge of rage, which will consume them for moments, and during that time they could make decisions that are fuelled by their anger. In extreme cases, these decisions result in examples of road rage. Other people feel immediately embarrassed and assume they have done something wrong. This embarrassment is also consuming and may lead to decisions that are less than safe, such as sudden braking or swerving without checking the mirrors. Still others may feel fear, again resulting in unsafe actions as a result.

Do you know how you respond? Do your customers know how they will respond? Do they understand how their feelings affect their thought processes and therefore their actions?

Understanding how our emotional state motivates our behaviour is the first step to anticipating the likely consequences of the choices and decisions we make. Knowing how to manage our emotions so that the choices we make are safe is the result of feedback and self-evaluation.

Making mistakes while learning to drive

provides an ideal context to develop self-evaluation skills. With traditional instructor-led driver training we focus on the core competencies of fault identification, fault analysis and fault remedy. By dealing with faults and through repetitive practice we bring people’s driving up to a satisfactory level so that they can take and pass the practical test. On a behavioural level this works very well but it doesn’t take into consideration the fact that our thoughts and feelings drive our behaviour. A learner driver behaves in a certain way because they will be rewarded by their driving instructor and allowed to go for their driving test. However, this behaviour will not necessarily remain in place and when put under different pressures – driving unsupervised – the now newly-qualified driver will drive in a certain way according to their beliefs and motivation – and not because their driving instructor told them to.

So how can we develop self-evaluation skills in our clients? I am going to take a brief look at Reflection and Scaling.

Reflection is arguably the most important process we can use because it reinforces learning and helps it to become long-lasting. It is through reflection that we can learn from our mistakes and move forwards. Some people reflect formally by writing everything down and by keeping reflective diaries; others just spend a few moments thinking about what happened and breaking the whole thing down in their minds. An important part of reflection is to consider how you were feeling and what you were thinking because both feelings and thoughts play a part in the behaviour that is displayed. Developing these skills of reflection in your clients is about encouraging them to think about a piece of their driving and looking at what happened. They may need to draw a diagram or go back and look at the scene; they may need to drive the same route again or they might benefit if you

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drive. Ask them what they were thinking at that precise moment and then ask them what they were feeling. These questions help them analyse their actions and encourage them to take responsibility and put strategies in place to develop.

Great reflective questions for developing feedback skills are: n What just happened? n What were you thinking? n How were you feeling? n What do you need to do next time to develop? n What help do you need from me? n How will you know when you have succeeded?

Scaling is a means of reflection and a powerful feedback tool because it develops self-evaluation skills and keeps the responsibility for the learning process sitting firmly with the person doing the learning, rather than the person doing the teaching.

It doesn’t matter what the scale is. It can be a ladder drawn on a page or a set of steps; it can be a numerical scale from 0 to 10 or one to five; it can be a ruler held in your hand or theirs. The important thing is that the limits are defined. For example, ‘On a scale of 0 to 10, where 10 is very good and 0 is rubbish, where would you put yourself regarding the bay parking you just did?’

The answer they give also does not matter – there is no need for you to comment. The next question is about their evidence for putting themselves at this point – encourage them to look for positive evidence. Even if they gave themselves a 1 they have at least got off the ground so you can ask, ‘What was good enough to make you give yourself a one?’

The next questions are: ‘So where would you like to be?’; ‘How will you get there?’; ‘Do you need any support from me?’; and ‘How will you feel when you have got there?’

Towards CPD: Client-centred learning These questions keep the responsibility sitting with the client and you are just there to facilitate the process. When practised often enough, scaling becomes a feedback technique they can take away and apply in their driving once they have passed the driving test.

Scaling can be used very effectively on feelings.

For instance, in the following scenarios: n How tired / confident / stressed / focused are you on a scale of 0 to 10?’ n ‘Describe a situation where you are at a much better point on the scale’ n ‘What do you need to do to get there?’ n ‘How can I help you?’

Also, scaling works very well when giving feedback on the use of the controls, for example: ‘On a scale of 0 to 10, where 10 is amazingly smooth and 0 is horrendous, where would you put yourself with the last gear change?’

‘Okay, so you say you are a three, next time aim for a four.’

As far as client-centred learning and coaching are concerned it is not constructive or helpful to

constantly be throwing away words like ‘Excellent’, ‘Well done’, ‘That’s great’. These do nothing to develop self-evaluation skills in your clients and often silence is far more powerful. They need to know how to congratulate themselves on their strengths and to also be able to identify their weaknesses and have the skills to develop and improve. Your job is to help them set a benchmark, by which they can measure themselves.

At times it is necessary to give praise, especially with someone who is not very good at evaluating their own performance because this helps them set their own benchmark. You should, however, cut back on the praise you use as soon as you notice the time is right because you are restricting their self-evaluation processes by constantly chipping in with your opinion. Easing them into the process of self-evaluation so that they can take full responsibility once they have passed their driving test will help keep them safe for life.

In my next article I will be looking at the use of intuition in coaching.

About the author:

Susan McCormack has been in the driver training industry for over 25 years as an ADI, instructor trainer and producer of training materials, and has an MSc in Driver Behaviour and Education from Cranfield University. She is a director of Tri-Coaching Partnership Limited, which delivers driver training and coaching courses to all driver trainers. In particular, the company offers a BTEC Level 4 and Level 3 in Coaching for Driver Development, as well as a two-day course called ‘aCCeLerate’. Visit the website for further information: www.tri-coachingpartnership.co.uk. Susan can be contacted on 07817 646970.

MSA NEWSLINK n JUNE 2013 n 19

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Towards CPD - Developing your skills

It’s time to go from ‘good’ to

U

nless you possess a completely ostrich-like approach as an ADI, you will no doubt be aware of the vast amount of information which has been flying around over the last few years regarding CPD. There have been articles and adverts galore about meetings, courses and seminars, all apparently designed to help us improve our ability to teach people to drive.

Did you gloss over these things when you saw them?

Maybe you gave it some serious thought for a while, but left it at that. Or perhaps you were one of those who made the effort and actually attended a particular gathering.

In any event, whichever scenario fits and whatever your views are about both additional training and the DSA’s new ADI Standards Check, I’m sure most ADIs already consider themselves to be good instructors. But I have some important information if you place yourself within this category. I want to explain why you should not bother being a good instructor, how I belatedly reached this conclusion and the tactics you ought to adopt for dealing with pupils from now on.

During the 1980s, in addition to working for a driving school, I held a part-time position for the (now long defunct) Inner London Education Authority. For several evenings each week I visited various council-run youth clubs to give driving tuition. One member – I’ll call him Andy – said he was also taking driving lessons with a local ADI. This left me perplexed, as while he obviously had ability his standard of driving was far below what could be expected for the amount of tuition he said he had had.

Shortly afterwards I bumped into his instructor at a test centre. He was a gentleman who had been in the business for a very long time. I told him I was giving lessons to his pupil via the youth club, and mentioned Andy had not reached an acceptable level despite plenty of practice. I asked if he knew of anything which might account for this.

In a remarkably matter of fact manner he simply said “I don’t teach them. I just let pupils drive round and pocket their money”. It must have been the incredulous look on my face which caused his sudden change of mood. With a

20 n JUNE 2013 n MSA NEWSLINK

It’s time for all ADIs to forget those plans to become a good instructor, says Philip Burman, and set the bar a little higher wagging finger pointed directly at me, he raised his voice and launched into a heated defence of his position. “I’ll tell you something. For years and years I gave blood, sweat and tears to get my learners up to standard, believe you me! Did I ever get any thanks? Did I? No, of course I didn’t! All I got were cars that had their guts ripped out and then I had the expense of replacing them. Take my advice and do what I do. I have a much easier life now.

You’ll agree with me once you’ve spent a few more years in the job – just you wait and see!”

At the time I was staggered by this, and it must have left its mark for me to so clearly recall this conversation. Not only that, his thoughts would come to mind on those (fortunately rare) occasions when, for example, a pupil I had worked exceptionally hard with jumped out of the tuition car after passing their test and went off without showing the merest hint of gratitude.

The message this ADI so unmistakably conveyed was ‘Don’t bother trying to be a good instructor’. But what do you think? Should we make the slightest effort to do a good job when our hourly rate seems so low, in fact minuscule compared to many other professions? Wouldn’t we be far more content if we accepted his counsel as sound words of wisdom and did likewise?

Here’s my view. But first a confession – and I want to be perfectly frank. To those who may have read my articles in previous issues of Newslink I sincerely apologise. In the past I suggested – in no small measure – that we endeavour to become good instructors. I believed that passionately. But I’ve come to see this advice was quite wrong, and I deeply regret ever having advocated such an idea. With my whole heart I now accept that we should not contemplate being good instructors. Not under any

circumstances.

One thing I stand by is the need to continually develop our skills. If this sounds contradictory let me enlighten you. I follow my own advice by constantly seeking for information and ideas which have the potential to help me. This often involves looking outside the ADI industry, of course – where in terms of teaching and marketing there is much useful material waiting to be discovered by the inquisitive mind. A few months ago I came across a rather compelling book by an American author called Jim Collins. He is a highly regarded commentator on business strategy. You’ll do well to pay close attention to his findings.

F

rom an extensive amount of detailed research conducted over several years he concluded that for genuine success we should not try to be good at what we do. The reason is simple. Being good stunts further growth! How come? Once a level which can be described as ‘good’ is reached, most go no further. The tendency is to stay put. There’s a distinct lack of motivation to continue to improve – to stand out from the crowd – to excel and become truly great in whatever line of activity it happens to be. Stuck in a rut is one way to put it, I suppose. Jim Collins describes this phenomenon so well when he states ‘good’ is actually the enemy of ‘great’.

Pause for a moment and allow this essential gem of knowledge – that good is actually the ENEMY of great – to sink in. And this is so obvious, when you consider it.

For instance, in any field you can think of, how many good businesses do you know? Probably plenty. But how many really great businesses can you name? That’s a bit harder to

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answer in any quantity, isn’t it?

I have known numerous instructors during my career. In my opinion a few were great and only a small minority seemed poor. Possibly the DSA grading system reflects this belief. Yes, the majority were good. Good but not great. Resting on your laurels – your achievements as an ADI so far – should never be enough in such an important role.

As far as we are concerned as individuals, let’s resist the satisfaction of being labelled among the many as just another good instructor, when instead the recommendation as one of the minority of GREAT instructors – possibly the only one in your area – can be applied as a genuine fact!

N

ow let’s consider Andy’s instructor.

Don’t you agree that following his advice would be total madness? Not only is it a wholly unethical mode of behavior towards pupils, it would be pure monotony for us too! I recall a pupil asking if I got bored driving round all day. I agreed if I was doing that, then yes, boredom might well result. But teaching all day?

Working out how each individual learns best?

Using new procedures such as coaching? All fascinating stuff! Time flew by and often lessons were over far too soon for me.

Whatever your current level of knowledge and skill, are you prepared to leave your comfort zone?

Maybe you are. Or maybe you don’t believe in becoming more proficient. If so, that’s up to you.

However, if this is the case, please realise you are being hypocritical. Why? Because you tell pupils they need more lessons when necessary. Can you honestly say you have nothing more to learn? So the same principle should apply shouldn’t it?

Towards CPD - Developing your skills “And what would you prefer to be known as – a good instructor or a great instructor?”

Right now you might have time to study, but possibly feel you can’t afford to lay out for further training. We know the current economic situation is dire. Remember though, things are cyclical.

Sooner or later the economy is bound to pick up as it always does. When this happens make sure you are able to command a premium lesson fee – which let’s face it, will be a reward well-deserved for those who can do a great job. So if you imagine the price of improvement is an expense too far, think what you’re losing and ‘do the maths’ as they say. How costly is it for you not to have the ability and therefore the confidence to charge more per lesson – perhaps even a lot more?

As I said, when things improve and more people take lessons, make sure you’re positioned in the only place where it makes sense to be – selling a top-quality service to those pupils who are eager to learn and are happy to pay the rates you charge because they know it makes complete financial sense to be in the hands of a great instructor.

So in the words of Jim Collins I now invite you to forget ‘good’ and take the decision to become great! Don’t doubt your potential either! Jim

Collins says ‘greatness’ is a matter of choice.

Obviously it’s a question of attitude then. Do you possess the attitude which can lead you to become a great instructor? It’s not difficult. Just as you teach a learner from novice to test standard, you can go from good to great the same way – step by step by step. Take action and make the right choice right now! Do whatever you can to progress as an ADI. Read CPD manuals, attend courses or seminars and commit to your own programme of continual self-improvement.

I hope you are determined to put your head above the parapet and take steps to become a ‘great’ ADI. If you’re not yet convinced, consider the following. Next time you go on holiday do you want a good holiday or a great holiday? Should you or a loved one require medical attention, given the choice, do you want a good doctor or would you prefer a great doctor? Do you want your children or grandchildren to have a good education with good teachers – or a great education with great teachers? And what would you prefer to be known as – a good instructor or a great instructor?

ADI reviewers wanted

Finally, I’d like to ask you a big favour. I have spent the last 18 months both re-writing and adding new titles to my CPD manuals. They are exactly what are needed for learner-centered teaching, becoming a great instructor and getting an excellent DSA grade. They will be sold at around £47 each, which blowing my own trumpet I believe is exceptional value. But I would like them to be reviewed by my peers. If you are prepared to give me an honest assessment to use on my website, I am happy to let you have them free of charge. If you are interested in completing a review, please email me ASAP at phil@ukinbox.com Finally, why not visit Jim Collins’ website? Better still, get his books. Either way I’m positive it will change your thinking just as it did mine! Jim offers free access to videos, audios, articles and tools at http://www.jimcollins.com

MSA NEWSLINK n JUNE 2013 n 21

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New products and competitions

Great new book asks even experienced ADIs some searching questions How 2 Become a Driving Instructor

“

The first paragraph of this excellent new guide, written by Bill Lavender, states: “Becoming a qualified Driving Instructor is much more than starting a new job; it is about learning the skills of a new profession. An Approved Driving Instructor’s job is to teach people to drive safely and to prepare them for their driving tests. This involves not only giving instruction, but also monitoring the learner, the road and other vehicles very carefully.

“Learner drivers do not make deliberate mistakes. They are likely to make fewer errors where the instructor is fully in control of the learning environment by giving the correct level of tuition.”

While obvious to a qualified ADI this is clearly good advice for someone thinking about a career as an instructor. With a forward by former DSA Chief Driving Examiner Robin Cummins OBE the book goes on to discuss what the attractions of being a driving instructor are, the roles and responsibilities of the job, and guides potential ADIs through chapters on what the work is like, how to make a living and how to plan your business.

In a chapter titled “How to get more out of your new qualification” Bill discusses a variety of ideas including qualified driver training, becoming fleet qualified and advanced and corporate driver training.

The second part of the book is taken up with a series of appendices that include lesson plans and

diagrams, a list of useful contacts and recommended publications for driver trainers.

If you buy this book for a friend or family member make sure you read all these appendices before you pass it on; there is some really useful stuff here, not just for prospective driving instructors but also for current ones.

I particularly liked the Useful lesson hints; one example question that caught my eye was “What signal could you give here? I don’t think I have ever said ‘could’, only should or would. I’ll remember next time.

You can order this book, priced £17 plus p+p, on line at http://www.how2become.com/ driving-instructor/

Competition time The publishers have kindly given Newslink two copies of this great book to give away in our free-to-enter, members-only competition.

To enter, simply email your answer to the question below to mail@msagb.co.uk, adding your name, address and MSA membership number. Please put HowTo in the subject line. The first two correct entries out of the hat on 17 June will receive a copy of How to Become a Driving Instructor.

The question is: How many Twitter followers does MSA GB have? a) Around 500 b) Around 1,000 c) Around 1,500.

If you buy this book... make sure you read all these appendices before you pass it on; there is some really useful stuff here, not just for prospective driving instructors but for current ones...”

Win this handy new in-car charging device

As a driving instructor you will spend most of the day in your car, so keeping your mobile devices charged is essential. However, one problem many ADIs find is that their tuition vehicle has only one power outlet for recharging purposes, forcing you to juggle devices that need a power boost.

But thanks to an ingenious new device that problem has been solved. The Innergie mMini DC10 is a sleek charging solution that lets you charge two devices at once while on the road, giving you power when and where you most need it.

This handy new gadget simply plugs into the power socket in your car but because there are two USB ports you can plug in two devices at the same time, allowing you to charge your phone as well as your GPS, eBook or tablet, making sure key devices are permanently charged.

Simply plug in, drive off and let your devices recharge safely.

For just £19 it’s the perfect car accessory for your mobile office. To learn more about Innergie and its line of lifestyle energy products, visit www.myinnergie.com.

22 n JUNE 2013 n MSA NEWSLINK

And you can win one in our easy competition!

And what’s even better, the MSA has been given an Innergie mMini DC10 and dual power cord by the product’s manufacturers, which you can win in our simple and free-to-enter competition.

To enter, simply email your answer to the question below to mail@msagb.co.uk, putting Innergie in the subject line and remembering to include your name, address and MSA membership number.

The first correct entry out of the hat on 17 June will receive a mMini DC10 and a dual power cord.

The question is: How many Facebook likes does MSA GB have? a) Around 500 b) Around 1,000 c) Around 1,500.

Great product: The Innergie mMini DC10 (above) and in action (below)

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Newslink review: 250 issues on

‘Lamentable’ sums up ADIs’ feelings as the 1990s close

L

n December 1999:

ast month, to celebrate Newslink reaching 250 issues, we began a stroll through our archives, looking back at the major news stories and key events that we’ve covered in the first 50 editions of our membership magazine.

This month we look at issues 51-100. Beginning in April 1996, we start our journey with a major row over a poorly thought-out piece of Pass Plus marketing that led to a fulsome apology from the DSA. Subsequent issues were dominated by more arguments, as the agency that ran the industry was heavily criticised for falling standards of customer service. In many ways, this was the DSA’s darkest hour: its much-vaunted new computerised booking system collapsed, a new L-test was widely derided as not being bold enough – and the least said about mock L-tests conducted by examiners, the better.

The bad blood culminated in one front page headline which summed up things for many ADIs: Lamentable.

Even good news came at a price. When it was suggested that log books could be used to chart pupils’ progress through the learning to drive ‘syllabus’, the industry was genuinely excited. Today we’re still waiting for that official confirmation.

Join us as we look back through the modern history of our industry – and see if you can spot the issues and stories that are still dominating our pages to this day.

The last issue of the 20th Century and we ended on a depressing note, as the Transport Select Committee described the performance of the DSA as ‘Lamentable’.

It poured particularly vicious scorn on its booking system: “The standard of the DSA computerised test booking service is appalling... the recent debacle over test bookings... caused considerable disruption to the driver training industry.”

n July 1996 n April 1996:

Storm as DSA ‘endorses’ budget-price lessons!

The DSA stumbled into a major row with MSA members after unveiling its new marketing video for Pass Plus to our Annual Conference. As well as appearing to endorse BSM after the national school’s logo featured prominently in some shots of the film, the members’ fury was stoked even further as the camera lingered over the words ‘Lessons from £6.99’ on the tuition car used.

ADI Registrar Brian Austin launched a stout defence of the video – ironically shown to conference as a ‘treat’ for delegates – but by the time his boss addressed conference later in the day, the damage was done and members were in full revolt.

Chief executive Bernard Herdan accepted that the video could not stand and offered to edit the offending shots out – a move which placated a somewhat uproarious conference but caused considerable bad blood between members and the agency for some months.

Dangerous loophole causing MP concern MP Graham Allen called on the Government to close a “dangerous loophole” which allowed drivers from Europe who had been banned in their own countries to drive on Britain’s roads. “It is time for a Europe-wide recognition of bans imposed in individual countries,” he said.

Government rejected the idea, however: Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, Steven Norris, said the idea had been discussed in Europe but “member states had rejected the idea as impractical”.

n September 1996

Pass rate stats: why so low?

In these days of the Freedom of Information Act, obtaining previously unreachable official statistics and data is commonplace, but back in 1996 any morsels of information offered to the public were to be poured over and assessed in microscopic detail.

So when the MSA obtained pass rates for driving test centres we splashed the news on the front page. While the overall success rate was 46 per cent, there were alarming variations, with some DTCs reporting successful pass rates in the 70 per cent mark, while others were nearer 30 per cent. Robin Cummins, chief driving examiner, had asked the MSA why there was such a variation amid a general concern over low pass rates – were ADIs to blame, as some suggested? We mounted a stout defence of ADIs, calling for all driving test candidates to be signed off as good enough to take a test by an instructor prior to them applying for a test.

“While ADIs have no control over when their pupils take a test, they cannot be held responsible for their pass rates,” we said.

24 n JUNE 2013 n MSA NEWSLINK

Code of conduct... and trainee licences n November 1996:

A new ADI industry Code of Conduct is agreed with the DSA. It was a first attempt to codify a series of rules for instructors to follow, and was a plan endorsed by the MSA.

n April 1998:

We were back on familiar territory in April 1998: a call to scrap trainee licences. When the DSA launched another consultation document on the administration of the ADI Register, we took the opportunity to reiterate our policy for their repeal. “We feel compelled to repeat exactly the same response we made to a previous Register Review in 1994. We believe that trifling with the minutiae of this system is a waste of time and that the trainee licence system is no longer necessary, particularly since the advent of ADITE, and should be scrapped forthwith.”

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Newslink review: 250 issues on

Examiners into commercial arena with ‘mock tests’ n February 1997: Another row is brewing: the DSA announces plans to launch ‘mock’ driving tests, with learners paying £28.50 for the privilege of sitting besides an examiner to have their driving assessed, only to be told if it was good enough he or she still hadn’t passed...

It was clearly the silly season at the DSA... and the MSA’s membership was furious, seeing this as an attempt by the DSA to dip its toe into commercial areas previously the remit of ADIs.

By April that same year, however, the plan had been dropped. Speaking at that year’s conference Bernard Herdan announced the idea had been shelved: we headlined the story as ‘It’s a U-Turn: Please don’t mock!’

A mockery: How Newslink covered the story in February (left) and how it ended up by the April.

By this time the MSA had a new publisher, hence the new look, utilising the MSA’s new logo

Big tick for PassPlus n August 1998

In May ’98 the MSA was fighting a losing battle against the new Registrar’s plans on marking the ADI check test. With three ‘core competencies’ to be graded, the MSA had called for the ADI’s average over the three to constitute their grade. The DSA had decided to use their worst grade – so an ADI scoring a ‘6’ in two of the competencies assessed, but a ‘3’ in the third, would receive a Grade 3, rather than a ‘5’ as the MSA believed was more fair.

We also discovered that the DSA was concerned about falling numbers of pupils coming forward for the L-test. It was writing to learners who had passed the theory test but had not applied for the practical test, reminding them that the theory test was only valid for two years. ADIs were suffering from a dip in customers, too.

Good news in 1998: Pass Plus is popular, we reported, with an increase of 100 per cent in new drivers taking up the post-test training scheme. Insurers were offering one year’s no claims bonus free to all successful candidates.

Worryingly, take-up was still firmly in the single percentage points, but as the number of pupils was falling, it was a good sign that interest in Pass Plus was holding up so well.

n August 1997:

Logjam over log books... while Maureen makes her TV bow Here’s a good idea: Log books. You can use them as a guide to pupil progress, with the ADI signing off manoeuvres and parts of the L-driver ‘syllabus’ as the correct standard is reached.

When it comes to the L-test itself, the examiner can simply refer to the log book, see that the pupil has reached a specific standard and can ignore those manoeuvres, taking it for granted that the ADI is right and allowing the examiner to concentrate on assessing the candidate’s actual driving instead.

We were so excited about this idea back in August 1997...

Also on the front page, something of a landmark in UK social history. One of the very first reality TV show stars was unveiled, Maureen from the BBC’s The Driving School. A surprise hit with viewers, it sent producers and researchers scurrying off to find more subjects on which to base the new fad of ‘fly on the wall’ documentaries, and helped change our TV screens forever. Thanks for that, Maureen.

MSA is looking after L-test examiners n July 98

The MSA stepped in to provide health and safety advice to the DSA in order to protect the agency’s examiners after a report into sickness and absenteeism record found that a lack of dual controls in cars used on L-tests was a major contributor to their inability to work through injury.

DSA chief executive Bernard Herdan seemed ready to back our plan when he said: “We need to make sure our staff work in the safest possible environment...” . .. but then flinched when we suggested: “Why not insist that only cars fitted with duals can be used on L-tests?”

Ringing the changes

DSA confusion over rating

By September 1999 the DSA was ready to ring the changes on the L-test. A new consultation document was asking whether it was time for ‘higher speed driving’ on dual carriageways to be brought in, at the expense of assessing technical manoeuvres such as the reverse round a corner. A fall in pass rates was predicted.

n October 99

February 1999: Exciting news: the DSA had confirmed a May 4 start for the new L-test, with more emphasis on driving, longer test routes, more flexibility for testing standard manoeuvres and test failure for 15 driver errors.

Sadly, there was still no sign of ADIs signing off log books – but a new computerised booking system had been introduced, to much fanfare ... sadly, though, by June we were wishing they’d never bothered, as the system collapsed, leaving ADIs scrambling round trying to cobble together L-test dates for their pupils.

In October 1999 we returned to a favourite story: what‘s the best way to grade an ADI? We asked because conflicting messages were emanating from central Government, one suggesting ‘league tables’ for ADIs pass rates should be advertised, while other Government sources stated that “in the event of an ADI failing his or her check test, and them being removed from the ADI Register, their L-test pass rate record should not be taken into account during any appeal.”

So what is it to be, DSA? Check tests, pass rates... or should we link ADIs with former pupils’ driving offence records and/ or KSI statistics? And should we do the same but for examiners?

MSA NEWSLINK n JUNE 2013 n 25

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News

Safer 16 year olds – or a case of pedestrians under threat?

When is a car not a car? When it’s a very car-like quadricycle, as John Lepine finds out

T

he light quadricycle: fantastic idea, looks cool. But with a price tag similar to a basic Fiesta or Corsa more than a bit pricey.

And then there is the little matter of licensing – 16-year-olds can drive one on their own or with a passenger without having any training whatsoever in any four-wheeled vehicle. That is the bottom line for “light quadricycles” which have been available to drive for holders of full AM category licences since the licence changes in January this year.

I had the opportunity to drive an Aixam Coupé, a French-built, right-hand-drive light quadricycle round the streets of London in May. It might be officially described as a ‘quadricycle’ but from the outside looks like any one of the many urban street vehicles that have become so common in recent years, such as the Smart car, Toyota Aygo or Hyundai i10. Nice seats, great visibility, automatic transmission, stylish interior.

But it is important to remember it is not a car – or at least, not as we know it.

Light quadricycles don’t have engine capacity restrictions as mopeds do so the Aixam Coupe is fitted with a 400cc twin cylinder diesel engine which produces loads of torque that a smaller engine would be unable to achieve. This torque is delivered through the use of a belt-drive system, sometimes called a continuously variable transmission. Older readers may remember the DAF Variomatic, which was a similar concept.

26 n JUNE 2013 n MSA NEWSLINK

This transmission makes the vehicle extremely easy to drive.

Jump in and start the engine – flipping heck – it is a bit noisy and just a bit lumpy. To anyone used to driving a car, the Aixam Coupe will feel strange, however. It has a very simple gear lever layout – on reflection I’m not sure I should call it a gear lever, perhaps direction changer would be a better label.

You move it forward to go forward, back to go backwards with neutral in between. Two pedals in the footwell and all-in-all it is a far simpler process than the foot and hand co-ordination required to change the gears on a moped.

Gear changer forward, release the handbrake, gentle acceleration and we are off. Well, no, not quite, getting used to the drive system, particularly at low speed, took a bit of getting used to but once mastered off we went.

I only drove the vehicle for around 15 minutes on roads close to London Bridge. I actually drove through the famous Borough Market but no time to stop for gourmet treats. In that environment the maximum available speed of just less than 30 mph was ample. The vehicle handled well, was simple to drive, both forward and in reverse. The brakes were excellent and I felt safe and secure, if a little deafened by the engine noise.

For a qualified car driver who is only ever going to drive short distances in areas with a maximum speed limit of 30 mph, then this is an ideal little run around. On the other hand, however qualified a driver might be, I think driving this vehicle at under 30 mph, its maximum speed, on a dual carriageway at night in the pouring rain is probably a collision waiting to happen.

The real concern, of course, is that the Aixam is,

as with similar quadricycles, legal for a 16-year-old child to drive, despite them only having previously trained and tested on two wheels.

I have no doubt that such a child would be safer in a quadricycle on roads with low speed limits than if riding a moped. On higher speed roads I am not so sure mopeds are easier to miss than what is effectively a small car. There is also the danger the young person might put pedestrians in and the havoc they may cause in traffic.

Will 16-year-olds driving quadricycles be a problem? There will probably not be many of them, with the need for them to have a full AM licence, it is worth noting that candidates cannot be tested in these vehicles, they must pass the AM test on a moped.

This will involve obtaining a provisional licence £31, CBT at a cost of around £125, a theory test at £31, Practical module 1 (off-road) test £15.50 and Practical module 2 (on-road) test £75, plus, of course, some training. Crucially, add to that the cost of the quadricycle. Prices depend on specification but start at a little over £10,000. With those costs I don’t think our roads will be flooded with them.

You would hope, however, that the Government will be keeping the use of quadricycles under review.

Sadly, it may require a high-profile collision to concentrate the minds of politicians on these vehicles.

In the meantime the MSA is talking to the European Quadricycle League (EQUAL) about them providing any purchasers who only hold an AM licence with a course of training with an ADI, in order that young riders can familiarise themselves with four-wheel driving as opposed to twowheel riding under the expert guidance of an ADI.

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Membership offers

Save cash the Eezi way with the MSA Register now at www.MSA.eezibuy.co.uk and start saving money on key business products and services In the current economic climate, it is vital all businesses make sure they are getting the best value for money possible on the products and services they buy.

To help ADIs maximise their spending power, the MSA has teamed up with EeziBuy to deliver real cash savings on your business expenses through its exclusive group discount scheme.

The MSA EeziBuy service is your shortcut to saving you time, money and aggravation, leaving you to get on with running your business, satisfying your customers and generating income.

Benefits: Your business convenience store - MSA EeziBuy provides you with a one-stop-shop for a wide range of common business expenses saving you time and aggravation.

You can save money on everything from printing, software, energy, hotels, legal services, mail, office supplies and telecommunications.

Plus many more!

Easy to use - designed for simplicity, MSA EeziBuy allows you to get on with managing your business.

Free of charge - as an MSA member it doesn’t cost you a penny to use MSA EeziBuy, so give it a try.

You’ve nothing to lose and much to gain.

Special Offers - check out our Special Offers page where you can pick up some great deals and discounts.

Members have the advantage as Halfords offers major discounts on MoTs and servicing MoT prices slashed and 15% discount on servicing at Halfords MSA members are reaping the benefit of the association’s tie-up with Halfords Autocentres, which delivers major savings across a range of products and services.

MSA members and their families are now able to access exclusive discounts on servicing and repairs at over 265 Halfords Autocentres nationwide.

Members will receive • 33% off an MoT • Up to 15% off servicing • 5% off repairs Plus a FREE 15-point check!

These translate into major savings, with over £35 off a major service and £18.10 off an MoT. MSA national chairman Peter Harvey commented: “I am delighted we have formed this partnership agreement with Halfords Autocentres. They are a trusted, well-known national brand, and with 265 centres around the country most members are within easy reach of one.

“What is particularly pleasing is that this partnership delivers real value for money to our members at a time when I know many of them are struggling with the economic downturn.

“By having your MoT and your major annual service at a Halfords Autocentre, members will save over £50 a year. When you consider that MSA membership is only £57 a year, this single deal virtually justifies paying for your annual membership on its own.”

It is hoped that this deal will be extended in the future to include discounts off purchases from Halfords stores, too.

Halfords Autocentres is the largest car service network in the UK. It currently has around a one per cent market share of the estimated £9bn car aftercare market.

It is a well-known, well-liked and trusted brand, and its role at the heart of the motoring community has been acknowledged recently by the DSA, with the agreement for some of its larger store to host driving tests. As this deal is extended, ADIs in some parts of the country will find themselves visiting Halfords on a regular basis.

How to use MSA EeziBuy Register at www.MSA.eezibuy. co.uk/register/php. Your MSA membership will then be verified and you will receive access to the portal within 48 hours. Once you have received confirmation of your registration, go to www.eezibuy. co.uk/MSA/log_in.php then simply click the ‘Offers’ button and choose the category(s) of interest from the black navigation bar – click on the categories and start saving money! We hope you find it beneficial. Any questions please email PartnerSave at enquiries@partnersave.co.uk or call 01524 782830.

28 n JUNE 2013 n MSA NEWSLINK

The company’s unique selling point is delivering a quality service that you would expect from a national organisation, but without the costs often associated with services at the main franchised dealerships.

It also does not compromise manufacturers’ warranties and is carried out by staff who have had the latest training using the most up-to-date technology.

This balance of franchise-quality service and competitive pricing is attractive to business customers such as ADIs, and the Autocentres are big enough to handle multi-car fleets, too.

A spokesman for Halfords Autocentres commented: “We are delighted to enter into this agreement with the MSA, which we hope will really benefit its members.

“With a growing and ageing car parc and cars lasting longer than ever, the need for car servicing is assured in the medium to long-term.

“We have a long heritage of dealing with retail customers.

Halfords Autocentres is the UK’s leading MoT, car service, repairs and tyres specialist, and we have an unrivalled team of experts dedicated to our customers and their cars.

“We strive to provide a reliable garage that can do every job, provide good value, and we’re supported by a national network of wholly owned garages. Our staff are knowledgeable and approachable and they’ll advise you honestly about your car. We are the only chain of garages that have more ATA trained mechanics than any other independent garage group.”

It’s a level of service that has clearly gone down well with the British public. 92 per cent of its customers either agreed or strongly agreed with the statement that they were satisfied with their experience (at Halfords), with 91 per cent saying they would revisit a Halfords Autocentre again.

Home page: The special MSA page on the Halfords Autocentres website.

More offers are available online

How to take advantage of this offer

Just go to www.halfordsautocentres.com/msa for full details of the discounts available, to find your nearest Halfords Autocentres and see what other services the company offers.

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Membership offers

Safeguard your family now!

Financial security for your loved ones in the event of your death - with cover at a special rate Through the MSA’s relationship with HMCA, we are able to offer the following exclusive offer for members.

hmca Term Life plan: Financial security for the whole family

Ensure that there will be enough money available for your family to pay the urgent bills if you die suddenly from any cause.

Safeguard your family now by joining the HMCA Term Life Plan.

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Aged between 18 and 60 years.

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Acceptance is usually without a medical examination and depends upon the replies you give to the questions on your application.

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If you have not smoked any form of tobacco during the last 12 months you qualify for special reduced rates.

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The plan is a ten-year term life plan which provides £25,000 in the event of death due to any cause.

This plan has no surrender value or investment content. Cover of up to £100,000 is available on request, subject to underwriter’s approval.

• HMCA is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (reference no.

307587) and has been providing these services to membership groups for over 30 years. Key benefits above are correct as at 01/01/2013.

For more information see the special website for MSA members: www.hmca.co.uk/msagb.htm or telephone 01423 866985

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Regional view:

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» » » The MSA’s nationwide network of editors with the news and opinions that matter at local level

Online booking sites still happy to cash in on the unwary TERRY PEARCE

Editor, West Midlands

On arrival at my driving test centre with a pupil recently, I saw a sad-looking gentleman leaving the building on foot. I was curious what had happened and luckily, when I returned home, my curiosity was answered as he telephoned to book a lesson.

I discovered that he had been confused by an internet booking site and thought that he was paying more to include a car for his test. Obviously no car, so no test, hence his dejected appearance.

I decided to go online to see what these unofficial practical test booking sites are offering.

They are certainly clearer than a couple of years ago, when I first wrote about them. They make it reasonably clear that they’re charging around £20 for their services and even have a link to the DSA site, so my question is, why do people use them?

One answer might be the offer of a second test for free. For a £20 fee it sounds very tempting but if

you read the small print you discover that getting the second free test is extremely difficult or nigh-on impossible!

The first site I looked at stated the following: “To qualify for our free practical driving re-test you need to provide us with a physical copy of the original failure sheet. The free re-test does not apply if you failed your exam due to a serious or dangerous hazard fault, or if you failed the eyesite test”.

Therefore, the only way to get a free test if you failed is by gaining 16 or more driver faults without a serious or dangerous one, too. Not that likely, but they do not appear to be doing anything illegal!

The next site stated: ‘You must provide us, by email, with a scanned copy of your failure sheet, demonstrating that you failed due to no more than two MINOR faults.

‘IMPORTANT: This guarantee will not apply where your failure is due to any major fault, and applies to a single re-booking ONLY (it does not cover second and subsequent failures)’.

I assume by major fault they mean serious or dangerous and by minor they mean driving faults, so unless I am missing something it is impossible to qualify for a free retest. I have passed the address of the site onto the DSA Fraud and Integrity team, hopefully that is one site that they can do something about.

I also had a quick look at the theory booking sites. On one the only way to obtain your free test was by not scoring under 42. Candidates obviously

fail on 42 but it cuts the odds of getting a free test down quite considerably.

Getting back to the person phoning me for a lesson, he noted my phone number from my headerboard, which is clear and easy to read. Why instructors do not use them to get business is a mystery to me.

One of the items in the recent Government consultation document on driver testing and training that worried me was extending the New Drivers Act to three years.

A pupil who passed a few years ago said that she would not be buying a car for three years as she was going to university, but she added that when she does drive gaining more than six points will not affect her.

If I was an unscrupulous instructor I would advertise this fact to candidates in the sixth forms encouraging them to learn when they are 17. It is not how long they have had a licence but how much they drive. Like most good ideas there is always a down side!

Any views on any news? Get in touch. I can be contacted on 024 7633 5270, terry@terrypearce.co. uk or 20 Brownshill Green Road, Coventry, CV6 2DT.

New Drivers Act on the agenda at West Midlands meeting

Contact e: terrysom@ aol.com t: 02476 335270 a: 20 Brownshill Green Road, Coventry CV6 2DT

MSA West Midlands held a very successful garage meeting at Renault Birmingham on 23 April, writes Terry Pearce.

Our first speaker was John Sheridan, DSA Area Operations Manager. John has been an examiner for 28 years and manages 169 people. He outlined his new role, the various changes that have been made and the planned changes to come into the industry, such as the Standards Check as a replacement for the Check Test. This will be brought in in April 2014 and the examiners will be retrained to get the new skills required for it.

He recommended that we print off the National Standards, which were published in 2011. As the DSA website states, “it sets out the skills, knowledge and understanding that you need to be an effective trainer”.

Among various items mentioned was the pass rate, which has gone up by five per cent, but the demand for tests is in decline. He also talked about the iPad, the use of which was being trialled for marking L-tests.

30 n JUNE 2013 n MSA NEWSLINK

One question that was asked was about having to have a pupil for the standards check, as role play will no longer be permitted. It was suggested by the audience that we have a reserve but being a cynic what if the reserve is also unavailable, then what?

John had volunteered to come and talk to us in his own time and the audience showed their appreciation for his excellent presentation.

Chris Avery, the general manager for Renault Birmingham, was next to speak. He explained that his garage was not only a Renault dealership but also included Nissan and Dacia, and he gave us a thorough run-through of the three brands’ latest products.

The meeting thanked him and his team for their time, use of their facilities and the wonderful buffet they provided.

Geoff Little, MSA West Midlands chairman and deputy national chairman, was our final speaker with an update on what had and was due to

happen, which was accompanied by a very useful hand-out.

Geoff started with the recent vehicle recalls on Mazda, Honda, Toyota and Nissan cars. He then discussed the new ‘Standards Form’ and how the check is marked. There are three assessment areas on the form: lesson planning, risk management and teaching and learning strategies. The removal of role play was mentioned again along with who you can take. You can’t take an ADI, nor anyone who has passed the ADI Part 2 test.

We also had a review of proposals floated in the ‘New Driver Green Paper’. The meeting discussed the proposed minimum learning period, learners on motorways, the extension of the New Driver Act to three years, a more rigorous driving test, greater incentives to take additional post-test training and possible temporary restrictions on a newly qualified driver’s licence.

Geoff finished with the MSA services which includes discounts at Halfords and the Eezi Buy Portal via www.msagb.co.uk.

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Crossing the great divide

New Code is one-way deal John Lomas p34

Tony Phillips p36

DAVID JAMES

Editor, South Wales

A few weeks ago I had an invite to attend a Ford launch in South Wales. The company was introducing the Fiesta ST and Focus ST models and showing the value of the ‘MyKey’, a system which will enable controlled use of the car’s performance.

The reason for the South Wales event was to recognise the fact that the engines on the new models are being manufactured in Bridgend.

The MyKey system uses a second key which can be programmed by the owner and can be used to limit some performance functions, for example, the car’s top speed.

We were given the opportunity to drive the cars without any limits fitted, on the test track. We were each accompanied by a Ford approved driver.

It was a good experience and during the second lap, during which my instructor was helping me to get the most out of the car, I realised how much of a thrill speed can provide. I thought of this afterwards and realised that when I was young, most family cars had top speeds of around 80 mph – and not 130-plus, as today!

How then did the MyKey work? I spoke to a younger member (18) of our group about this and he said the Fiesta he drove had the speed limit set to 80 mph and he enjoyed the track experience and did not find the speed limiter to be a problem.

Research is showing that the area of the adult brain which deals with risk assessment does not develop fully until after the age of 23.

I used to think that young drivers can be trained

Black boxes aren’t the threat Dave Pepperdine p38

‘MyKey’ offers a way to curb reckless and vulnerable drivers to a higher standard, which will allow them to develop themselves to become safe drivers for life.

I still think a good standard of training is essential, not only to pass the test but to develop them further. As my dad once told me, we really learn to become good drivers after passing a driving test. This used to work for many of us, but the changes in road and traffic conditions do not allow this to be done so safely now.

In addition to the training, however, it seems that some sort of control will be necessary to protect the vulnerable younger age group. What form this will take has to be a matter for experts to decide.

One of the large driving schools has had some press coverage for a scheme it is selling to qualified drivers who want to teach their family members to drive.

It works by one of the school’s ADIs giving instruction and advice to the full licence holder on how they can coach their learners and what standard the examiner will require to see for success on the driving test.

I have not looked any further into this scheme. It is a business idea but I cannot see a big prospect of

work to be generated by it. It is not easy to teach learners, is it?

But the question is, is this fair on ADIs? The training needed to become a qualified ADI can be hard. The work and expense of keeping up-to-date with skills; not only training skills but also those which are needed to run a small business; they do not happen in your sleep, do they?

I have heard comments previously from ADIs that only a driving instructor should be allowed to present the learner for a test in the school car. I agree that this should be done if we are going to have a professional approach to driver training. As it is, the whole process is being run on a semiprofessional basis.

At the same time, those of us who are doing all we are supposed to do and to the best of our Contact ability, are worse off.

David James can be There has been much contacted via discussion of e: d.james869@ improvements and modernisations in driver btinternet.com or via 07733 070888 training. Until we actually see something done, there cannot be much hope for a change.

More fuel for thought on lesson prices What about fuel costs? I came across some receipts recently which showed that the price of a litre of diesel at the same filling station over a 36-month period had risen by 37%. I had immediate thoughts of why I had not increased my lesson prices over that same period. Was I losing 37% of my income?

When I did some sums and used the amount of fuel used on an average driving lesson, the increase in my costs was nearer six per cent per lesson.

This is still a loss, of course, and other price increases from maintenance and insurance, etc., must add to the losses.

The economic climate is dire for everyone but common sense must be used.

I spoke to a friend recently who told me he had a work colleague who was having a moan as she couldn’t afford driving

lessons. Her instructor was charging £22 per lesson. She was using her £400 iPhone to ring around to compare lesson prices!

I have often thought that the price of driving lessons should be regulated somehow. These thoughts don’t tend to last too long once I realised the complexity of how it could be done. Even in a small country, there can be different economic factors at work in different areas.

I still feel that there should be some sort of control, but that it can only be achieved by individual instructors and schools acting sensibly.

Competition is healthy, price fixing is not allowed as it is not fair. I feel that there is too much emphasis on price; more should be done to reflect quality and service.

Picture courtesy of Autonational Rescue

MSA NEWSLINK n JUNE 2013 n 31

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Regional News: South East

I led, the DSA followed, as fleet check test sent to the scrapheap is running the stock down prior to privatisation, just as a commercial business often does shortly before selling up. What about you?

ROD CAME Editor, South East

Contact e: camedt@one tel.com t: 01424 883333 / 07930 842833 a: Crown Cottage, Cackle Street, Brede, Rye, East Sussex TN31 6EA

“

So obviously somebody at DSA does read MSA Newslink! In last December’s issue I wrote that I was not best pleased to receive nothing other than a nominal fleet check test for the £120 I have to pay to be on the DSA Fleet Register.

Ah ha, they thought. What can we do to benefit this disgruntled ADI who has the temerity to complain about our lack of service to him for the extra money he pays us? A silvered streak of lightning flashed across the leaden sky in the vicinity of Nottingham as a brainwave, a rare occurrence in the area, struck DSA HQ. “Let’s remove the fleet check test altogether”. “What a wonderful idea. That will save us having to train up the occasional DE for the subsequent embarrassment of fleet trainers telling them how to work successfully with experienced drivers.”

So I have to ask, what is the purpose of the voluntary DSA Fleet Register? As an aside, what happened to the statutory registers for motorcycle, bus and truck trainers? It appears to me that DSA

It does appear that with all the changes either proposed or being made, driver training is being dragged into the 20th century.

It may still take several decades for it to actually catch up with modern practices others are using in the 21st century, but we live in hope. Continual professional development (CPD) was to be a giant leap forward, but as with anything beneficial, by the time DSA had finished with it CPD was no more than a mere shadow of its former self, being effectively of no benefit to anyone.

The proposed new ‘standards check’ to be introduced to replace the check test for learner teaching-ADIs appears to be a step forward, but is it? Will it be seen as being in any way different to its predecessor? Will it separate the wheat from the chaff, or will it still accept the mediocre or poor performing ADI as being satisfactory?

What appears to me to be a change that is more likely to have a result is the proposal that each standards check an ADI takes will have to be paid for separate from their registration fee. Those ADIs who are judged to be of a good standard will be checked less frequently, and those of a lesser standard will have to find the money to pay for more frequent checks in order to remain on the register.

ADI renewal is currently £300 for a four-year period. Fleet renewal is £120 for the same. The

ADI renewal includes a check test, the Fleet does not. Does it therefore follow that the cost of a check test is reckoned to be £180? Or does that figure cover two or three check tests, which includes a sum being paid by grade 5/6 ADIs to cover the extra tests for the lower grades?

If we assume that it is costed out to cover three that is a minimum of £60 per check test, which is less than a basic practical driving test, so it is likely to be more, around £90 I would suggest. That change alone is likely to have a much greater effect on reducing the total number of ADIs on the register than a poor showing in a standards check will ever achieve.

The much-heralded Green Paper setting out reforms to the driver training and testing regime contains no new ideas. It tries to be ‘all things to all men’ and fails dismally.

For example, consider the suggestions that the driving test should be made more rigorous to better prepare learner drivers to drive unsupervised, or that learner car drivers should be allowed on motorways, or they should take lessons in inclement weather and in the dark.

I have known all five DEs at a DTC abandon their candidates’ tests, some only 2-300 yards from the DTC when returning at the end of a test, because of a hailstorm. Obviously it was far too rigorous for the drivers to continue. Will that attitude change? Will tests be conducted in the dark or inclement weather? I don’t think so.

Will a driving test taken in northern Scotland or

With the best will in the world it is impossible to replicate during driving lessons all the scenarios that a driver will encounter thereafter, no matter how many lessons they may have had...”

Picture courtesy DSA, Crown copyright

32 n JUNE 2013 n MSA NEWSLINK

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Regional News: South East/Western

Charging each check test out separate from the ADI registration fee could lead to some less able ADIs leaving the industry... mid-Wales ever be the same as a test taken in central London or any other metropolis – of course not. It therefore follows that drivers tested in their respective home areas are not going to be prepared for the hazards they will meet outside of their comfort zones. No matter how many motorways they have driven on, or in whatever weather or light conditions, or country lanes in flood conditions, if they are only familiar with town driving or vice versa, they will not be prepared for the unfamiliar.

Last year I attended a police crash investigation seminar. One of the actual cases we were taken through was that of a new young driver on a country lane that was not familiar to him. There was no suggestion of excessive speed as he approached a crossroad with a main road. He did not brake but exited the junction into the path of a car approaching from his right. The vehicles collided, the new driver died.

After extensive investigation it was concluded that the new driver came round a bend shortly before the crossroad and was blinded by the sun, consequently in the restricted time he had available he did not appreciate that he was approaching a junction and took no action to comply with the Give Way sign and markings.

Could more training have helped him to avoid the situation? Would better observation and anticipation have made him realise that with the sun being low in the sky and shining on the surface of the road after the bend that he might be blinded by it, and that he should lower the sun visor?

Probably the answer is a qualified ‘yes’. But how many of us have been suddenly blinded by the sun and lost forward vision for a second or three?

Experience has probably allowed us to react more quickly than a new driver would, and thereby lies the nub of the problem.

All of us learn by experience. With the best will in the world it is impossible to replicate during driving lessons all the scenarios that a driver will encounter thereafter, no matter how many lessons they may have had as a novice driver, be it prior or post-test training.

There is only one way to gain experience and that is to get the miles under the tyres. It is widely accepted that learner drivers who have the opportunity to participate in private practice progress far quicker than those who don’t. Not only

do they have a nervous supervisor with them, usually a parent, but because they often go out on the road at different times of day they meet varying traffic conditions. Pupils who have lessons at a regular time on the same day of the week do not have even this benefit. A change of lesson time could be arranged by the ADI, but this minor alteration often cannot be accommodated in the schedule of either the pupil or the ADI. So what can be done? I don’t play tennis. I have never played tennis. My only passing interest might be when Wimbledon is on, and then only because the other member of my household finds that she has to watch every match. I watch in amazement as these world-class players frequently make a fault, sometimes a double fault, when serving. How is it that with all the training, coaching and practice they receive they are still incapable of hitting a ball with a racquet and getting it to go over a net and land in a predetermined space on the other side, every single time? They have years of experience at managing that simple feat, yet they often fail.

If we accept the above, that even experts make mistakes, what makes anybody think that new drivers should be any better at achieving a standard of excellence at a task which is infinitely more difficult? The best we can hope for is that they will improve with experience.

Having read the synopsis of the results of a survey among young new drivers in relation to car ownership and driving reported in the April Newslink, I was surprised to notice that although the cost of insurance and maintenance were mentioned as being a negative, the cost of fuel was not. What could be the reason for that, I wonder?

Included were complaints about the cost of driving lessons, also of a driving test. Nowhere did it point out that the cost of a test is about three times the average cost of a one-hour driving lesson.

But of course this survey was commissioned by the DfT, so why should they?

Like all surveys conducted with a specific purpose in mind, it came to the inevitable conclusion that want it wanted to prove (that car insurance is costly for young new drivers) was able to be proved. No surprise there then.

Conclusion – we are no wiser now than we were before.

Insurers have a stumbling block on ADIs in their 70s COLIN LILLY

Chairman & Editor, Western

My annual motor insurance renewal came round again last month. In recent years I have wanted to use a company that will continue to insure ADIs after the age of 70. Last year I had changed company because the one I was with no longer handled driving school business. The company I changed to said at that time that they would continue to insure after 70 but had in the intervening year changed their mind.

Once again I was left seeking a new company as I felt I need longer term security. My broker, BG Insurance, the MSA recommended broker, was able to find a company that currently is willing to insure ADIs well into their 70s.

I find it disappointing that I am unable to settle and establish a track record with one company. However, I am pleased with the excellent service that I received from BG Insurance.

The continuing saga does raise the question ‘why do insurance companies have such little respect for driver training?’

It seems to me that the system of using telemetrics to monitor driving behaviour in order for young drivers to keep their premiums down may be potentially an excellent scheme to focus the mind of the new driver.

However, it comprises more stick than carrot. It is all very well telling a driver that their speed is high or their braking erratic and then threaten to penalise them with an increased premium. In order to improve behaviour this should include advice or recommendation to consult a driver trainer.

I am not sure what the industry can do to improve its status in the eyes of the insurers; perhaps we can all play our part by raising the quality of new drivers.

A member recently suggested that I check out a video outlining the benefits of using the 112 emergency telephone number and how to achieve best results. The link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPZv_8dA BfU&feature=youtu.be Well worth watching. It would be too late after the event.

This year the annual regional training seminar is being held in Exeter on Monday, 11 November. We realise this is Remembrance Day and the traditional period of respect will be observed.

We are finalising negotiations with the venue and the programme is being drawn up.

Please note this in your diary as your CPD event.

Contact e: cglilly@bt internet.com t: 01934 514336 a: 7 Bampton, Tamar Rd, Worle, Weston-super Mare BS22 6LD

MSA NEWSLINK n JUNE 2013 n 33

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Regional News: North West

Proposed Code of Practice seems like a one-way street to me Members’ meeting Join us on Monday, July 1 for an update on current changes to the driver testing and training industry

JOHN LOMAS

Editor, North West

Blackburn ADIs meeting Date: Monday, July 1 Time: 8pm Venue: Bank Top Citroen, Blackburn Cost: Free to members of MSA/BaDDIA Small charge for non-members As mentioned last month we have a confirmed meeting in Blackburn in co-ordination with the Blackburn and District Driving Instructors Association.

The meeting will be hosted at Bank Top Citroen (part of the BCC group) – see www.banktop blackburn.citroen.co.uk/. The dealership’s address is: Throstle St, Bank Top, Blackburn, Lancashire BB2 1TQ. The event is on Monday, 1 July with a start time of 8pm. Members of either BaDDIA or MSA admitted free with a small charge at the door for non-members.

John Lepine will be delivering a presentation on the new standards check, as far as it has been disclosed by that time, and other items which might be of interest and up for discussion could include the new proposed DSA Instructor’s Code of Practice, as well as proposed changes to allow learners on motorways, minimum learning periods for pupils and the extension of the New Drivers Act.

Date: Monday, July 1 Time: 8pm Venue: Bank Top Citroen, Blackburn Cost: Free to members of MSA/BaDDIA Small charge for non-members

On the subject of the planned Code of Practice, there has been some discussion on this topic recently on a number of ADI forums. During one such discussion an interesting point has been made which possibly illustrates ‘The Law of Unintended Consequences’ This line in the code:The instructor agrees that-: They will not cancel or rearrange a driving test without the client’s agreement.

Sounds fair? It could, just possibly, result in an interesting claim against the instructor if a pupil arrived for a pre-test pick up smelling of alcohol or displaying signs of drug use.

After all, we would refuse to allow them to use our vehicles in such a state, but the DSA is apparently backing the client’s case to use the vehicle for a test.

I have no doubt that, if the client persisted in a claim against the instructor, the ADI Registrar and/ or his panel would uphold the rights of the instructor in this case but it could take months to

resolve with the subsequent uncertainty hanging over the instructor in the meantime.

Why are there no duties and responsibilities of the pupil mentioned in the code?

Last month, my colleague Paula Morris (North East editor) mentioned experiments that had taken place in the Netherlands with photo-luminescent lines.

I have recently seen what appear to be powered studs on a stretch of the M6. It was noticeable that a glance in the driver’s mirror showed the studs which you have already passed are still showing when there is no light shining on them.

I think they have a form of solar cell which charges up when your headlights strike it and then lights up the stud and retains power for until you are well passed it.

I remember there were some experiments about 10 years ago with a similar system which was also temperature sensitive and displayed a bluish light when temperatures were close to or below freezing.

Oh good, a big space...

I thought you might like to see the latest in my collection of bay park pictures.

It was taken in my local supermarket – fortunately not one of the DSA’s partners – and at first glance you may think there’s nothing to complain about. After all, the driver is parked pretty much centrally between the two white lines and the minibuses alongside him or her.

However, anyone familiar with supermarket parking spaces may also wonder why this bay is so wide....

And that’s when you realise that the driver is parked smack-bang on

the line marking out the bays, and what looks like one very big bay between the minibuses is, in fact,

34 n JUNE 2013 n MSA NEWSLINK

two. To be fair, the marking line over which the car is parked is virtually invisible except in near

perfect weather conditions.

So I suppose it is just possible that the driver thinks he or she

has parked centrally in one bay – and that it just happens to be their lucky day!

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Regional News: North East

Rotherham hosts a lively meeting for members who are looking to learn PAULA MORRIS Editor, North East

Well done: Karl Satloka hands over a raffle prize to one lucky member TTC House was an ideal venue for the event (below)

I’d like to start with a massive ‘thank you’ to all those instructors who attended our MSA North East meeting in Rotherham. We had a healthy turnout and there was a great interaction between the instructors, with good ideas flying back and forth and some good networking.

It was hosted at TTC House, a really fabulous venue which served our purposes very well.

I know everyone enjoyed the speakers. MSA general manager John Lepine gave us an update on the latest in the ADI world, including the proposals hinted at by the Government and possible changes to the DSA. Mike Yeomans spoke on driver licensing changes and Steve Garrod spoke about the PTTLS courses available to MSA members.

Contact Finally, thanks to Jenny for the wonderful food provided, to all those who bought raffle tickets and congratulations to all who won the fabulous • You can contact prizes. Last but not least, thanks to all the committee members who worked Paula at so hard to make the evening such a success, and contributed the prizes for Paula@learner the raffle. driver.co.uk I’m already looking forward to the next one!

Refresher courses should be the way forward for all I was recently asked by a 23-year-old lady to help her with some refresher lessons, as her father had bought her a car and she was picking it up within five days of our conversation, writes Paula Morris.

Before I took her out on the road we had a conversation, and during this chat it became apparent that the lady had passed her test four-and-a-half years earlier, and since the day she passed she hadn’t actually driven on the roads!

That got me thinking about the dangers, rules and laws that apply in these situations.

My first thought was ‘how scary!’. This lady is legally allowed to go to the garage, pick up her new car and join our

motorways and drive at 70 mph!

Fortunately she and her father had taken the sensible option of booking a few refresher lessons but how many people out there actually do that? How many people are driving on our roads in a similar situation?

Worrying? I think so!

This then got me to thinking about other vehicles on our roads – and those in the air! By way of comparison I did a little research regarding passenger-carrying aircraft (mainly from the internet, particularly Wikipedia) and unearthed a host of interesting information.

To get a pilot’s licence you have to have approx 250 hours in the air with

instrument and multi-engine craft, then build up experience of approximately 1,000 flying hours, with 100 of them in multi-engine aircraft. Once you have reached the magic 1,000 hrs you may start applying for jobs with regional airlines and if you’re lucky enough to get a job, then you have to ‘pay your dues’, building up your hours to between 2,000 to 3,000 hours before you then become a major carrier! They also recommend you get a degree in aviation, and so on.

It’s a bit different to the system that underpins our roads, isn’t it, and demands a much higher level of commitment from the pilot. Perhaps if we took a leaf out of the pilot’s training programme, maybe our

roads will be a safer place to be?

The DSA has decided today, as I’m writing this, to send an email out regarding the laden vehicle cpc. In addition, ADIs have check tests and are encouraged to do CPD, doctors have to train for a minimum of 12 years, what have all these people got in common? Well, they have responsibility for other people’s safety, health and well being, including their own!

What do drivers have the responsibility for? See a pattern here?

There are lots of conversations taking place at the moment about graduated licenses. In my humble opinion – let’s stop talking about it, and DO something about it!

MSA NEWSLINK n JUNE 2013 n 35

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Regional News: Greater London

Crossing the ‘great divide’ proves a journey worth making for ADIs TONY PHILLIPS

Editor, Greater London

n MSA Greater London Seminar at

Brighton Road Baptist Church 30 April

Contact e: tony@tonys trainees.co.uk Please ensure all emails contain MSA Greater London in the subject

OUR most recent seminar took place at Brighton Road Baptist Church’s Church Hall, which was kindly rented out to MSA Greater London by Beryl and her husband John, a lovely couple who look after the hall for the local congregation.

It’s located in South Croydon and we chose it as a venue because of its central location in south London. South Londoners are notorious for not crossing the ‘Great Divide’ which is Croydon and therefore to have a seminar in south-west London would have discouraged south-east Londoners and vice-versa. Having said that, we did have one intrepid traveller down from Watford, so very well done to you!

We had over 60 instructors at the event, which was a great success in itself. In recent years, our following in South London had waned a little and so to have this number at a seminar was a great confidence boost for us at MSA Greater London, but even more so for the members. They were able to mingle and network with a larger number of

36 n JUNE 2013 n MSA NEWSLINK

colleagues from their area than they had experienced for some time.

Tom Kwok, our regional chairman, opened the evening and welcomed everybody to the event and I then took over to deliver a presentation on feedback within client-centred learning.

Incidentally, on this subject, everyone should read Sue McCormack’s regular articles in Newslink on this topic. They really are a must in my opinion and are very much linked to my presentation and Tom’s concerning the new Standards Check.

Hopefully you read Sue’s latest offering on page 18.

This session was clearly a real eye opener for a great deal of those present and there was a lot of discussion between everyone during the refreshment break that followed. There was good dialogue from everyone present during the presentation and it seemed to give people food for thought.

Before the comfort break, Tom gave a presentation on the MSA as there were a good number of non-members in attendance. Clearly his sales promo worked as we enlisted a number of new members on the night. Good work, huh?

To those of you that signed up, welcome to MSA Greater London. We’re sure that you’ll reap great benefits from being members and I look forward to seeing you at further MSA-organised seminars and meetings.

After the break, Tom gave his usual humorous and informative presentation in his own unique style and, of course, it went down very well with the audience.

He had a great subject to present and he did so with his usual great flair. It was a really successful evening for all concerned.

Renault Clio Headlight Bulbs

Apparently my mention in the May issue of Newslink, of changing Renault Clio headlight bulbs, has caused quite a stir among Renault owners. I haven’t been able to get something together for this particular issue but I will work on producing pictures and information on how to change the bulbs on a further issue.

In the meantime, if anyone is interested in this, please email me for further information.

Next seminar

So what’s new for MSA Greater London? Well, we’re now looking for venues in North London and Hertfordshire and we’ll definitely be looking to book something soon for the summer. Please keep a look out at driving test centre notice boards for a poster and emails will be sent out to Greater London members soon.

Look forward to seeing you all soon for another packed house!

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Regional News: Greater London

News extra

HPI check saves Laura from used fake plate ID con

Sitting comfortably... Instructors listen intently to the speakers at the latest – and very successful – MSA Greater London seminar. Topics discussed included the need for feedback client-centred learning.

Over 60 members and non-members were in attendance

Used car buyer Laura Ingram almost found out the hard way how easy it is to buy a vehicle with a fake ID, when the plate on the VW Golf she was about to purchase turned out to belong to a BMW. Fortunately, Lauren spoke with HPI, vehicle information expert, who confirmed the plate did indeed belong to a different vehicle, and was able to tell from the VW Golf ’s original plate that it was an insurance write-off.

Laura commented: “I can’t believe I nearly spent over £6,000 on a car that shouldn’t have been on the road. I was shocked. Luckily the HPI Check uncovered the car’s real identity and I walked away from the deal.”

HPI offers used car buyers clear advice on the dangers that might be lurking under forged plates, as well as how to spot a legitimate plate change.

“The trend for applying personalised, or cherished, number plates to a vehicle is becoming ever more popular, as people seek ways to make their vehicle stand out from the crowd. One-in-five of the vehicles we checked in 2012 had had a cherished plate, so it’s common enough, but what if the reasons are less about personalisation, and more about hiding something?” comments Nicola Johnson, consumer services manager for HPI. “Applying a false plate can be a simple fix for drivers who want to avoid fines for speeding, parking charges or tolls such as the London Congestion Charge.

A plate change can also hide the fact it has been involved in an accident and written-off by an insurance company, is currently recorded by the police as being stolen, or is still on finance. You just won’t know without doing some digging.”

Johnson continues, “HPI doesn’t just check a vehicle’s current plate, we also check the previous ones to see if we can unearth any evidence of historical problems. A vehicle that turns out to be a previous write-off could be dangerous if it hasn’t been safely repaired. The HPI Check confirms whether a vehicle is a write-off or recorded as stolen.”

“Previous plate histories can get very complicated, which is why HPI conducts a thorough investigation into every vehicle it checks,” concludes Johnson.

Council cycle plan criticised

Franconia Road, SW4

In last month’s Newslink I wrote about road signage and markings and how misleading they can be. I asked if anyone could guess what the speed limit was in this residential street, which as you can see here has a system of regular street lighting and no traffic calming.

Well, as you might have guessed the speed limit is actually 20 mph because it’s in a 20 mph zone. I believe, however that if a driver was caught exceeding the speed limit on this road, provided that their speed wasn’t otherwise inappropriate for the conditions, that a penalty wouldn’t be enforceable as any restricted zone must have some form of information and/or control that ensures that the driver is aware of the speed limit.

If there are any traffic regulation buffs such as traffic cops reading this, please advise me. Remember that the driver might not have driven into the area. They might have been driven into the area by someone else and then taken over the driving afterwards. How then would they know what the speed limit is?

Bedford Borough Council has announced controversial plans to improve safety for cyclists at a busy roundabout.

The new design is based on a ‘turbo roundabout’ design in the Netherlands, council officials say, but have neglected to mention that the original design is meant for cars, not cyclists.

To make things worse, the cyclists whom the new design is meant to protect have strongly criticised the plan, stating that the original Dutch design is not meant to work in such an urban environment or with such a lack of segregation.

The design includes cyclists using zebra crossings as part of cycle lanes to cross roads, while the lanes themselves are based on a ‘shared use’ concept.

The design also expects cycle lanes to stop at junctions rather than separate cyclists from car and other road users.

Dutch cyclists who have seen the plans are baffled by the council’s thinking. One commented: “It is exactly as we Dutch would build it, only we wouldn’t allow people cycling there,” while another said the UK designers were guilty of taking a worthwhile original idea but had ignored the reasons behind it.

MSA NEWSLINK n JUNE 2013 n 37

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Regional News: East Midlands

Black boxes aren’t the threat – it’s your driving!

DAVE pepperdine Editor, East Midlands

East Midlands meeting Date: Sunday, June 30 Venue: RNLI Skegness

What’s in store: CPD, industry updates, training hints – and a tour of the RNLI station!

I often use analogies when teaching and it works very well with some but not with others – which brings me indirectly to an article in the last issue of Newslink.

If you stand in the right-hand lane of a motorway you are most likely to get knocked down and killed – or if you are having a salad you wouldn’t switch on the oven, are examples of ones that I use, and it’s these that bring me to the article on page 8 Newslink, May: What drives our young people?

There was a sub-heading ‘Black box’ technology, and the edit below it contained some wording that stands out in my mind. It was ‘Big Brother’ and ‘Punishment before the crime’. I feel that this is part of today’s problem – it’s all about MY RIGHTS AND STUFF LOGIC. Yes, I agree that insurance companies do seem to extract the Michael somewhat, and I know many people think they over-charge for things like car hire and replacement vehicles, but my argument about the use of black boxes at the behest of insurers is that if you are not doing anything wrong, then you have nothing to worry about.

Simples. Tear around like I used to when I was young and you can expect to draw attention to yourself, which to a certain extent I suppose is the general idea when you are young and trying to ‘pull’, but if the teens drive with their brains in their Calvin Kleins, then they must expect attention from the law.

The black box – or as the DfT would put it, telemetrics – is there to save them from themselves and if they won’t do it on a voluntary basis then the only avenue left is to MAKE them do it. Nobody

Contact Dave Pepperdine for more details, or regional chairman Derek Brutnell on brutnellderek@gmail.com

likes being told what to do but at the end of the day insurance will keep on going up if they don’t listen.

As for punishment before the crime, parents spend the first 17 years of their offspring’s life saving them from the perils of life: holding their hands when they cross the road, generally keeping them safe from the rigours of life, then after that it would seem that nothing matters and the format takes on the famous advert that says ‘JUST DO IT’.

That’s exactly what they do so it is not punishment before the crime, it is saving one from one’s self. Which brings me back to analogies: if you stand in the right lane of a motorway you could easily end up dead. If you keep putting the oven on when you are having salad, don’t moan at the utility bill being so high!

You find that you are paying too much for your phone and internet, so what happens? You decide to change providers. Yeah simple – or perhaps not?

The problem is that simple change means a lot of other changes. Change of email address, change of phone number. Think of everyone who needs to be informed. Remember you now need to change all your paperwork – and change the livery on the car.

I think the only simple thing in the whole saga was ME! I don’t know what it is like in other regions but in my town it is getting almost unfair to take a driving test because of the state of the roads.

Around here there are pot holes galore, worn

Recommend a colleague to join the MSA – and receive a £10 M&S voucher Many new MSA members join on the recommendation of a colleague – and we want to make sure that if that colleague is you, you know that your work in spreading the good news about the MSA is appreciated. So if you do recommend a colleague, we’ll send you a £10 Marks & Spencer’s voucher as a thank you.

If you recommend a colleague ask them to put your membership number in the “How did you hear about the MSA?” box if they join online, or if they join over the phone, they can quote it when they submit their details to our membership team.

38 n JUNE 2013 n MSA NEWSLINK

Contact Dave Pepperdine can be contacted via e: pepsphx7@ hotmail.co.uk

out road markings, foliage covering signs and signs being put up in front of others so they can’t be seen.

All that at a time when council tax is so high and the bins are only collected once every two weeks – you even have to pay extra for having garden rubbish taken away. This country is quickly going to the dogs; something must be done!

Am I becoming a protégé’ of Rick Wakeman?

No, not a brilliant keyboard player, rather a grumpy old man!

The East Midlands region has been busy organising meetings and seminars. On Sunday, June 30, we have another of our events in unique venues – this time at the RNLI Lifeboat Station in Skegness.

They’ll be the usual excellent opportunity for CPD with, I believe, a tour of the lifeboat included.

It should be a fascinating event – in what I’m sure will be a first for our members as far as venues are concerned.

Last but by no means least we also have a fairly unique venue for this year’s East Midlands regional AGM. It’s on Sunday, 24 November at the King Power Stadium in Leicester - the home of Leicester City FC. As a committee we do try to put on events that should interest everyone at venues that also interest everyone, but to tweak a very well-known sketch by Morecombe and Wise, with Andre Previn, “We are putting on events that please everyone in venues that please everyone, but they don’t necessarily please everyone at the same time”.

To explain, I have not the slightest interest in football but I attended a wedding at Spurs’ White Hart Lane and found the whole experience very interesting. Not only did we have a marriage ceremony on the edge of the hallowed turf but we gained access to areas of the club that some would give their right arm for.

So we try our hardest to give you, the members, what you want but it is very difficult to GUESS what you want. Please open up and give us some feedback and some ideas, then who knows where we could be holding our future CPD events?

Keep well to the left!

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MSA MOTOR SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION

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Want to know what‘s happening when it happens – and clear guidance on what it means to you?

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Then join the MSA today!

Just £57* per year –

that’s around 15p a day Call us now on 0800 0265986 and join immediately with a credit/debit card

Or go online to www.msagb.com and click on the ‘Join’ drop down menu along the top of the opening page

News

Update for MSA guides A quartet of good advice – just £6.50 each THE MSA has updated its four popular ADI guides to bring them bang up-to-date with the latest changes to the driver training and testing sector.

The MSA Part 2 Guide; the MSA Check Test Guide; the MSA Driving Test Guide and the MSA PDI Guide provide help for instructors at different stages of the career ladder. They are all written by experienced ADIs and provide insight and advice for all instructors, no matter what stage of their careers they are at.

The MSA Part 2 Guide is designed to assist those studying to take the ADI Part 2 examination by bringing much of the theoretical information together in one place. It is not a substitute for training or for a thorough study of other literature, in particular the DSA manual Driving - The Essential Skills and the Highway Code.

It explains the three sections of the ADI Part 2 examination and gives advice on what to do when you arrive at the test centre, including the documentation you need to take with you and the way the safety check questions will be conducted.

The MSA Check Test Guide gives you full details of what is required on your check test. It is written for ADIs by ADIs and will demystify the whole business of the check test and help you to prepare properly.

The guide gives details of the list of pre-set lesson plans that are used and advises what happens on the day; the type of pupil to take; the questions your examiner will ask you and the sort of answers s/he is looking for. It also explains the core competencies of fault identification, fault analysis and remedial action.

The MSA Driving Test Guide is designed to explain how the driving test works, what examiners are looking for and what the markings on the DL25 marking sheet actually mean.

It details the duties of a professional driving instructor who presents pupils for test and goes on to explain the driving test assessment guidelines, and gives full details of the differences between driving faults/serious faults and dangerous faults. The guide goes on to give details of how errors are categorised in order to assist ADIs in interpreting the DL25, the Driving Test Report form.

The MSA PDI Guide provides help for those who want to become ADIs. It gives details of all three sections of the ADI examinations and explains the qualification system.

Just £6.50 each

These invaluable tools for all ADIs are available to purchase from MSA head office at a cost of just £6.50 each. Telephone 0161 429 9669 now with a credit or debit card, or send a cheque made payable to the MSA to MSA Head Office, 101 Wellington Road North, Stockport, Cheshire SK4 2LP. Order all four for just £24.00 – call the head office.

Complete the simple application form – and you’re a member and can start benefitting from membership right away * Initial application £72, includes one-off joining fee of £15 MSA NEWSLINK n JUNE 2013 n 39

www.msagb.com

Motoring: MINI

A country classic that’s ideal for urban life MINI Countryman ONE is a curious mix of fun street car and practical family vehicle, says Adam McGill

I

t’s pretty true to say that one of the sacrifices car lovers have had to put up with in these days of increasing globalisation is a little loss of individuality from modern vehicles.

While 20 years ago the world had dozens of unique manufacturers, a few going the way of all flesh and others amalgamating or joining forces on their latest designs have reduced the number of truly ‘individual’ cars on the roads.

Buy a French car today, for example, and it will share a platform with either one of its fellow countrymen, or may have been built as part of a tie-up with a Japanese manufacturer. Fiat owns Chrysler, Ford has links with Mercedes, most companies have strong links with Japan and VW owns SEAT and Skoda.

But there is one car that despite being part of a global manufacturing giant remains as individual as they come – MINI. It may be a baby BMW as far as the P&L accounts at BMW’s Munich HQ are concerned, but modern MINIs retain the cheeky iconic looks, style and performance that first endeared them to British motorists over 50 years ago. Sir Alec Issigonis would be very pleased at how his baby has grown up Today it goes without saying that it is a hugely popular car. Indeed, such is its global appeal that a new plant has been opened recently in India, producing the car for an Asian audience. Middle class motorists on the Asian sub-continent can’t get enough of the British classic, and with waiting lists growing it was only a matter of time before the company opened a new manufacturing base closer to its new buyers.

But despite its world popularity, it remains a real force in its home markets, and across Europe. Every street scene has something missing if it doesn’t include a MINI, and many that you see are daubed in driving school headerboards, for this is a tuition car without equal. Rarely do modern cars cut a dash in the way the MINI does. It’s powerful squat presence has a touch of the machismo to the boys, while its cheeky interior design, curvy lines and ease of handling appeal to

40 n JUNE 2013 n MSA NEWSLINK

the girls. It‘s strong, safe and sturdy, highly durable and performs like a tiger when called upon. You just cannot beat it as a tuition car.

As one ADI put it who runs MINIs, “it’s the best marketing tool I’ve ever invested in. Driving to college to pick up pupils, it drags new customers out of the woodwork and leaves rivals running boxy, faceless or charisma-less alternatives in the shade. I love it (in Cooper style); I’d have another tomorrow and unless something goes horribly wrong, can’t see myself ever ditching the MINI as my ADI car”.

A recent test in a Countryman highlighted just why it deserved such lavish praise. The first thing to say about the Countryman – and this goes someway to explain its appeal to ADIs – is that it isn’t mini. It is a proper five-door hatch and although the boot isn’t vast, it’s deeper and narrower than you would expect. It is unquestionably big enough for everyday use which means this is no tuition car and little else; it can double as your family car. Take some superminis or street cars away from the traditional ADI + Pupil use and they become a little impractical for family life: not so with the Countryman.

However, once you get into a Countryman it is clearly a MINI. All of the good things of old are there

in spades. The large circular speedo, the quirky but functional switches, the excellent build quality and the radical speedboat accelerator-style handbrake.

It’s clearly laid out; no pupil will struggle to find the switchgear and it has a cosy, familiar, retro feel to it that younger females in particular seem to love.

It’s comfy too, certainly big enough for four and when out and about you get the MINI wow factor from driving it. That means real performance: 0-60 time is 11.9 seconds in the 1.6-litre base model, called the One. Top speed is a claimed 107mph and there’s plenty of power through the mid-range.

Acceleration can be best described as ‘punchy’: a really responsive box delivers a swift pick-up and pupils will enjoy getting to grips with putting the Countryman through its paces.

The handling is the real star, however. Taut lines into corners offer no perils. The stubby steering wheel feels comfortable in the driver’s hands, and combined with superb all-round vision gives the driver a feeling of real control. This is a car any learner will learn to love within seconds of stepping through the wide-opening door – and you will, too, once the L-plates are off.

The Countryman One is a five-door model, which makes getting in and out of the rear easy and miles away from the contortions expected of rear seat passengers in Minis of old. The rear is perfect for family life. The SE might be a little cramped if

www.msagb.com

Motoring: MINI

MINI Facts Engine cc 1.6 Insurance Group 12 (standard for general public) Power PS 98@6000 Torque lb/ft 113@3000 Gear 6-speed Acceleration 0-60 11.9 secs Max speed 107mph Economy Urban 38.7mpg Extra urban 54.3mpg Combined 47.1mpg CO2 139g/km VED Tax rating E 4,097 mm 1,789 mm 1,561 mm 2,595 mm 47 litres 350 litres 1170 litres

Based on Countryman ONE £16,545

he/she’s six-foot but only that – a little cramped. It isn’t an inhuman rear seat in that two adults could cope with a decent length journey, but really the MINI’s raison d’etre, away from lessons, is as a family carriage, and children will find the rear a home from home.

Boot space is good, though not outstanding. With a full cabin in place capacity is 350 litres – think six full shopping bags, with nooks and crannies to fill with other purchases – but this can be increased with the rear seat down

to 1,170 – think a piece of medium-sized flatpack from Ikea!

All the good things in life do come at a price, however, and with the addition of a Chilli pack, 5-star double-spoke alloys, piano black dashboard trim and front sports seats, my test car would set you back almost 20K, which is not cheap. The base model retails at more like £16,545, so there is a way to economise. You don’t need all the toys!.

Fuel economy from my petrol model was good: for an ADI’s traditional day,

expect something around the 41mpg mark. Officially the urban cycle is 38.7, rising to 54.3 on the extra urban and a combined figure of around 47. CO2 emissions are 139g/km, which puts it as a ‘E’ as far as the VED is concerned.

It is well-equipped for safety, offering ABS, EBD, DSC and CBC – that’s cornering brake control.

It also features run-flat tyres and a plethora of air bags to protect your nearest and dearest in the unfortunate case of an incident.

MINI COOPER D HATCH For driving schools

only £51 per week + VAT

The MINI Cooper D Hatch for driving schools, only £51 + VAT per week.

• •

Metallic paint MINI tlc servicing package for 5 years/50,000 miles^

Business Contract hire only available to Sole traders, Partnerships, Limited companies and LLPs. • Includes routine servicing • Includes road tax for duration of contract • £0 Congestion charge* • Nationwide delivery • No need to fit additional speedometer • Discounted factory fitted opitons • Air conditioning* Contact a member or our team on 020 8344 0920 for more details.

Stephen James Corporate Lincoln Road, Enfield EN1 1SW 020 8344 0920 www.stephenjames.co.uk/mini

* Subject to model. ** Offer available to business users only, figures exclude VAT. Not available in conjunction with any other offer. Hiring example is based on a 36 month BMW Corporate Finance agreement for the model shown; a MINI Cooper D Hatch, initial rental of £222.00+VAT following by 35 monthly rentals of £222.00+VAT, mileage charge in excess of contract mileage of 3.38 pence per mile. All agreements are based on a contract mileage of 20,000 miles per annum and include metallic paintwork. Vehicle condition charges may apply at the end of your agreement. Offer correct at time of print and subject to change. All hiring is subject to status and available to over 18s in the uK (excluding the Channel Islands). Guarantee and indemnities may be required. Hiring facilities provided by BMW Financial Services, Europa House, Bartley Way, Hook, Hampshire, RG27 9UF. ^MINI tlc provides service cover for 5 years or 50,000 miles (whichever comes first) at MINI Service Authorised Workshops; maintenance items (e.g. tyres, brake pads and 2nd brake fluid change) not covered; not transferable to another vehicle. See www.mini.co.uk/tlc for full MINI tlc terms

Dimensions Length Width Height Wheelbase Fuel tank capacity Boot capacity Extended capacity

MSA NEWSLINK n JUNE 2013 n 41

www.msagb.com

Motoring: Vauxhall

Punchy Corsa has the looks that will have you smiling With eight trim levels and plenty of power options, let the Corsa three-door put the fun back into your teaching day.

Vauxhall’s best-selling city car is a colourful, punchy and innovative combination that scores highly with both pupils and ADIs alike.

With stunning new styling and brilliant attention to detail, a dynamic chassis with punchy petrol or diesel engines, the Corsa three-door is more than just a pretty shape.

Whether you choose the practical Expression, the sumptuous SE, the dynamic SXi, the sporty Limited Edition and SRi or the performance-orientated VXR, it will always turn heads.

What’s more, Corsa’s exterior colours are matched by equally funky interior trim options – from red, silver or yellow interior seat-stitching to red, white, orange or yellow air-vent rings and chrome-effect trim on instrument surrounds. And there’s more: fancy a splash of colour? Let Corsa refresh you with a Lime Green pearlescent or Chilli Orange metallic livery – or why not go for Guacamole, Flaming Yellow (pictured right) or Pepperdust?

The Corsa looks great from every angle – in fact, with its signature chrome bar, stylish front bumper and prominent, low grille, it could be smiling. Watch out for its signature ‘eagle-eye’ headlamps – they’re finished in chrome and include daytime running lights as standard. The fog lamps and housings are chrome-finished, too.

Inside, you’ll be amazed by the ways you can customise your Corsa. Choose a seat trim like Steel Blue or Tabasco Orange to brighten things up – or go for coloured door trims, centre consoles, air-vent rings and door handles.

Add piano-lacquer finished surfaces, subtly lit translucent controls and the latest phone and infotainment options, and Corsa is the perfect car to live your life in.

But what’s most important is how it handles on the road – and be assured, the Corsa is a dream to drive. It’s all made possible by the nippy technology under the shell. Here’s just a taster.

All Corsa models are available with three new, Euro 5-compliant ECOTEC petrol engines. Vauxhall ECOTEC® engines are responsive and economical, combining high torque (for efficiency and power) with improved fuel economy and low emissions. Just 119g/km of CO₂ emissions on the 1.2i VVT ecoFLEX Start/Stop place this model into low Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) group C. Corsa’s diesel-engine range combines performance and efficiency. The range-topping 1.7CDTi 16v ecoFLEX (130PS) joins three variations of the 1.3CDTi 16v: the 75PS ecoFLEX, a 95PS ecoFLEX unit with Start/Stop as standard, and a further 1.3 95PS

ecoFLEX engine available on the upper trim levels.

All diesel engines feature a diesel particulate filter, and just 88g/km of CO₂ emissions on the diesel 1.3 CDTi (95PS) ecoFLEX Start/Stop puts it in the lowest band A, which is exempt from VED. In addition there’s the option of Start/ Stop technology. This switches the engine off when you stop at the lights or in traffic, then restarts it when you press the clutch, saving fuel and reducing emissions. The AUTOSTOP symbol in the rev counter tells you when the engine has stopped. To turn off Start/ Stop, you just press the ECO button on the fascia.

“But what’s most important is how it handles – and be assured, the Corsa is a dream to drive. It’s all made possible by the nippy technology under the shell” The 1.3CDTi 16v (95PS) SE and SXi plus 1.7CDTi 16v SE and SRi diesel models come with a six-speed manual gearbox. The rest of the range comes with a five-speed as standard, with four-speed automatic (1.4i 16v) and five-speed Easytronic (1.2i 16v) transmissions also available.

In the Corsa three-door, the anti-lock

42 n JUNE 2013 n MSA NEWSLINK

braking system ABS is much more than ‘just’ ABS. It’s our latest-generation system with emergency brake assistance, cornering brake control and straightline stability control. Safe journey!

The equipment list is impressive.

From the base Expression you receive a host of comforting touches and high-tech features to make every journey go smoothly.

Standard features of the Expression and S models include: n Driver’s and front passenger’s dual-stage airbags n Anti-lock braking system (ABS) n Emergency brake assistance n Electronic engine deadlock immobiliser n CD player with MP3 format / aux-in socket / stereo radio (CD 30 MP3) n Speed-sensitive power-assisted steering n Door-to-door illumination n Electrically adjustable door mirrors n Map pockets on front seat-backs n Central locking n Daytime running lights.

Corsa S models also include: n Remote-controlled central deadlocking n Electrically operated front windows n Welcome lighting. n Driver’s seat height adjuster n Steering column adjustable for reach and rake.

Corsa Facts Engine cc 1 litre Insurance Group 2 (standard for general public) Power Ps 65@5300 Torque lb/ft 66@4000 Acceleration 0-60 18.2 secs Max speed 96 mph Economy Urban Extra urban Combined CO2 VED Tax rating

44.1 mpg 65.7 mpg 55.4 mpg 120 g/km C

Dimensions Length Width Height Wheelbase Fuel tank capacity Boot capacity Extended capacity

3,999 mm 1,713 mm 1,488 mm 2,511 mm 45 litres 285 litres 1,050 litres

n Based on Expression 1.0i 12V ecoFLEX 3dr n Price: £16,545

www.partnersprogramme.co.uk

LOGIN: DRIVING

DRIVING SCHOOL PARTNERS BENEFIT PLUS

APR 0%

finance

*

Representative

Take advantage of our latest offers, with Vauxhall Associate Partners you don’t just get your preferential discount, you also get our unique Flexible Finance. Flexible Finance calculations below include Associate Partners discount.

Corsa Energy 1.0i 12v ecoFLEX 3dr

£139

per month**

with £750 Vauxhall deposit contribution

New Astra Energy 5dr 1.4i 16v VVT (100PS)

£179

per month†

with £2,000 Vauxhall deposit contribution

Offers end 1st July 2013 so to find out more about our great Partners Programme offers, simply visit partnersprogramme.co.uk and use the login: DRIVING. Call the Partners helpline on 0844 875 2448 or visit your nearest Vauxhall retailer.

WARRANTY 100,000 MILE

Official Government Test Environmental Data. Fuel consumption figures mpg (litres/100km) and CO2 emissions (g/km). Vauxhall range (excl. Ampera): Urban: 14.4 (19.6) - 76.3 (3.7), Extra-urban: 27.4 (10.3) 91.1 (3.1), Combined: 20.6 (13.7) - 85.6 (3.3). CO 2 emissions: 324 - 88g/km. *Available on selected models only, at participating Retailers. Refer to www.vauxhall.co.uk/offers or contact your local Vauxhall Retailer for details. Finance subject to status. Terms and conditions apply. Applicants must be 18 or over.

Guarantee / Indemnity may be required. Finance supplied by either Vauxhall Motor Finance RH1 1SR or Vauxhall Finance, PO Box 6666, Cardiff, CF15 7YT. 24-60 month term, excluding ADAM models (24-48 month term). Offer will apply to Vauxhall Associate Partners only. All other customers are excluded. **Corsa £2,585 customer deposit (after deduction of Vauxhall contribution) followed by 60 monthly payments of £139. †New Astra £3,415 customer deposit (after deduction of Vauxhall contribution) followed by 60 monthly payments of £179. New Astra model shown includes brilliant paint, optional at extra cost (£250). Vauxhall Partners includes all employees and pensioners of nominated companies and their nominated eligible relatives. Vauxhall Partners discount is in addition to all other retail offers, and is applicable to the vehicle, factory fi tted options, number plates and delivery. We reserve the right to change or withdraw any aspect of the Vauxhall Partners Programme without prior notice. Offers available on orders or registrations before 1 July 2013. Correct at time of going to print 19/03/2013.

Becoming an AA Driving Instructor never looked so good

We’re proud to introduce an exclusive new vehicle option for all new AA Driving Instructors* – the recently launched 1.0 Ford Fiesta Titanium Ecoboost. With just the right combination of style, economy and comfort, you could be one of the first behind the wheel of these brand new cars – just join us today.

SPECIFICATION INCLUDES: • Fuel savings of up to £1,000 a year** with EcoBoost • 67 MPG on a combined cycle • 125 BHP

*Offer subject to availability of vehicle stock. **Saving is not guaranteed. Calculation based on current Ford Fiesta 1.4 Zetec petrol model MPG 49.6, assuming you drive an average of 600 miles per week and petrol costs £1.40/litre.

To find out more call the AA Driving School

0800 107 1552