Nige Smith School of Motoring

Copies from DIA site

DIA Advises

There has been some confusion around what will happen on 31st March as far as pupils booking tests are concerned. To clarify the situation, the only change that will be implemented in March is Phase 1, which is the two swap rule. Therefore, everyone who has a test booked by 31st March will be reset to only allow for two changes/swaps on the date booked - no matter how many times the test has been changed before.

Pupils and their instructors will still be able to book or change tests (with the candidate’s permission) after 31st March - and until DVSA announce the date/s of further implementations. However, DIA are still working with our colleagues in NASP to try and convince ministers and DVSA that trusted instructors should still be allowed to book tests, with an increased focus on finding and kicking out those who have been abusing the system versus purely punishing all ADIs using the system

Ladies gents
Thank you very much for all very much for the birthday 🎂 wishes and messages if I missed you individually I’m sorry but thank you all

Off to race now before bed as you do to relax ☺️

A little bit of info guys
I know you all behave appropriately so please continue this but just to advise please see below

DE_body_worn_camera_v3
Driving examiners to wear body worn cameras
From today (25 January) driving examiners will begin to wear body worn cameras to help tackle an increase in abuse.

We’ve taken this decision due to an increase in unacceptable violent and abusive incidents against driving examiners since testing restarted after the pandemic restrictions.

Although the most recent figures show incidents of abuse have dropped since, they still remain on course to be higher than before the pandemic.

When the cameras will be used
The cameras will be an essential part of the uniform, for examiners’ safety.

They will only be switched on if the examiner feels threatened or to capture inappropriate behaviour. The footage, where appropriate, will be used to prosecute offenders if abuse occurs.

The cameras cannot be used to dispute a candidate’s test result.

Letting your pupils know
Please inform your pupils and candidates that they will start to see examiners wearing body cameras.

Please remind them of the serious consequences of abusing an examiner, which might include cancelled tests or even prosecution.

Body worn cameras are not new to DVSA, our enforcement examiners tackling road-side issues have worn them for several years

Heading into the future next week with a new edition to smiths school of motoring

If your feeling stuck at the moment or just even having a bad day please remember.....

A little info sent today from the dvsa
please read and any information please don’t hesitate to ask

Free rapid lateral flow tests for you and your pupils in England
To help keep you, your family, your pupils and our examiners safe, we’d encourage both you and your pupils to regularly take coronavirus (COVID-19) rapid lateral flow tests. This includes while you’re teaching them to drive and within the 4 days before they take their driving test.

Around 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 do not have symptoms. Rapid lateral flow tests help to find cases in people who may have no symptoms but are still infectious and can give the virus to others.

If you live in England you can get a coronavirus (COVID-19) rapid lateral flow test if you do not have symptoms. They’re free and you get a result 30 minutes after taking the test.

Getting tested regularly is the only way to know if you have the virus. If people test positive and self-isolate, it helps stop the virus spreading. You should take a rapid lateral flow test twice a week (every 3 or 4 days).

This applies even if you’ve had the first dose or both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine has been shown to reduce the chance of you suffering from COVID-19 disease. You may still get COVID-19 despite having a vaccination, but this should be less severe.

The NHS does not yet know how much it will reduce the risk of you passing on the virus. You’re also more likely to be teaching pupils in the age groups where the data shows infection rates are some of the highest and where vaccination is still to be undertaken.

What this means for your pupils
Your pupils will not need to take a rapid lateral flow test to be able to take their driving test, but by doing one, they’ll help to stop the spread of COVID-19.

For the rapid lateral flow test to be valid, your pupil will need to take the test in the 4 days before their driving test.

If your pupil or anyone they live with tests positive from a rapid lateral flow test, everyone in the household must:

self-isolate immediately
get a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to confirm the result (a PCR test is a different type of COVID-19 test)
If a PCR test result is negative
If your pupil and everyone they live with gets a negative PCR test result back before their driving test, they can stop self-isolating and take their driving test.

If a PCR test result is positive or they do not get a PCR test result in time
Your pupil must not go for their driving test if either:

they or someone they live with has a positive PCR test result
their rapid lateral flow test result is positive, and they do not get a PCR test result back before their driving test
They will need to change their driving test appointment to a later date.

They can then email us if they’d like us to try and find an earlier appointment. They should email [email protected] with the email subject ‘Lateral flow rebooking’ and include 2 of these 3 pieces of information:

their driving licence number
their theory test pass certificate number
their driving test reference number
We’ll then try to find them an earlier test appointment.

We’ll only do this if they changed their test appointment within 4 days of their test. This service cannot be used by anyone else to try to get an earlier appointment. We will refuse anyone who is not eligible who tries to use this service.

We’re contacting all driving test candidates to let them know how to get a rapid lateral flow test and encourage them to get one while they’re learning to drive and before they take their driving test.

If you have a booked a driving test for any of your pupils, you need to pass this information on to them.

A step in the right direction

Check if driving tests are taking place
England
All types of driving tests are suspended in England because of the national lockdown.

You cannot take car driving lessons in England.

You can only practise driving with members of your household or support bubble. It must be travel for work, education or other essential journeys.

Driving lessons will be allowed to restart on 12 April 2021 at the earliest. This date is subject to change.

Car driving tests will restart on 22 April 2021 at the earliest. This date is subject to change.

In the meantime, a limited emergency driving test service is available for some people who need to drive as part of their job and respond to ‘threats to life’ as part of their job. Only eligible employers can apply for these.

Dates when driving lessons and tests can restart in England

Just to confirm this was received today so far looking good for December restarting fingers crossed