Driving up standards

How very easy it is for little snippets of information to pass on by in these changing times.

Lesley Young, the DVSA Chief Driving Examiner recently stated in one of the dozens of communications recently been handed out to ADI's that it was an unfortunate fact that the driving test does affect how learner drivers are trained.  She then went on to explain the changes to the new test.

Pause for thought though.

It has always been the case since I have been in the industry that it is the DVSA Driving Standards that affects how learner drivers are trained.  The theory being that if ADI's follow the driving standard methodology, that will then hold them in good standing for any DVSA Standards Check.  But now, here we have the Chief Driving Examiner actually stating (it seems with some tinge of regret) that in fact, the structure/format of the driving test DIRECTLY affects how pupils are taught to drive.

This is no small point.  For many years I have argued that if the driving test standard was raised it would have positive outcomes to the standard of training that pupils receive - I've blogged here about it many, many times.

So it seems that when the time suits, and right now appears to be one such time, then the DVSA will happily change the driving test format IN ORDER to affect driving training standards.  The point is sound and very justified.  Only this morning I have read a post from an ADI who is expressing annoyance that now with the new driving test going out to locations further afield, he is going to have to raise his driving lesson prices to accommodate the extra mileage he now incurs - oh how inconvenient it clearly is to now have his pupils driving more.  Clearly the sooner he gets to grips with the new driving test routes, no doubt he will be much happier in that he can ensure these extra miles are ONLY covering the new routes.

But it does then re-ignite the debate about how the test could be adapted to improve standards.  I have always been an advocate of Q&A between examiner and pupil while on the move to test understanding and application of key safe driving techniques.  The argument against has always spoken of the means by which this open dialogue can be accurately assessed.  

A driving test > undertaken this morning < by one of my own pupils highlights the necessity of a consistently fair approach adopted by driving examiners in the manner in which the test is conducted and how variances can affect outcomes. 

The means by which assessment of driving ability is conducted has always in my view, and no doubt will continue to affect standards of training going on in the industry.