The relaxing of the lockdown is proving to be divisive for many members of the public, and driving instructors are no exception. There is a combination of factors which is creating pressure. Not least is the financial burden that many instructors find they have to carry. Some are committed to organisations that are now beginning to terminate the contractual leeway that they kindly offered when the lockdown started. Car leases and franchise fees are just two examples where instructors are now facing bills to pay yet no prospect of earning with which to pay them.
The quieter pressure that is building in the back of instructors' minds is the driving tests for pupils who were nearly at the test stage before lockdown. Initial postponements and subsequent suspensions are taking their toll on the pupils who quite understandably are seeking resolution from their instructors. There is of course nothing quite so deadly as the stress we feel from causes we have no control of, and how the DVSA manage this situation would come into that category. There appears to be an increasingly powerful "voice" of instructors developing who are understandably growing rather impatient with the lack of leadership of their authority body.
There does appear to be inconsistencies that defy logic. One which is particularly relevant this week is the re-starting of schools (albeit in a graduated manner in terms of numbers). Yet, theory test centres cannot accommodate a dozen or so candidates in their premises. Instructors and I imagine the public is looking at these kinds of developments with confusion and frustration.
The other inconsistency relates to the continued ban of the practical driving test. You would have thought that in this downtime enforced since 23/03/2020, the DVSA would have had ample opportunity to gather the necessary figures relating to available examiners willing to work. Schools must have gone through the same process but as a much larger task than driving test centres; staff who are directly affected by health concerns, or indirectly incapable of attending work due to protecting members of the family in their household. You consider the logistics of whether it is sensible for all practical tests to start at precisely the same time, why not stagger them to accommodate social distancing. You calculate altering the start/end times of the working day; not to extend the working day for each examiner but to offer more flexibility. Can practical tests take place on weekends as standard to manage the inevitable demand?
Then it comes to the health risks associated with the nature of our work being in a vehicle. There will be by now some data to draw on. Not least is the fact of the continued conduct of driving tests throughout the lockdown involving examiners and critical workers - the very section of society that is a higher risk due to their natural interaction with numerous people. What have been the consequences of examiners working with these people? What does the data suggest regarding members of the emergency services who have continued to work in vehicles together? Dustbin lorry personnel, staff who transport patients to/from hospitals? There is no shortage of evidence as to the consequences of people working in vehicles throughout the lockdown.
At some stage, there has to be a relaxation of the social distancing condition to enable the country to get going again. Take schools, for example. They are resuming with something like 25% of the pre-lockdown quantity of students to stand any possibility of maintaining the social distancing requirements. Regular student numbers while continuing the distance rules would increase classrooms and teachers - good luck with that one.
Similarly, compromised distancing is an inevitable consequence when training drivers. Some driving instructors are suggesting that a plastic divide is placed between pupil and instructor as a form of barrier to the virus. It is an interesting idea, but a practical limitation is the ability of the instructor to intervene with the steering as and when required. The Driving Instructor's Handbook states:
Physical intervention should normally be restricted to situations when it is necessary to avoid danger. This occurs when verbal intervention has not worked or where there is insufficient time to give it. The main methods of physical intervention are use of the dual footbrake, and steering corrections.
Clearly, a plastic divide prevents the instructor from reaching the steering wheel. I couldn't tell you the last time I had to grab hold of the steering wheel while training. It's not something that I find is an issue if you are training in the correct locations, doing the correct subjects for the ability of the pupil at any given time. But, it is understandable why some instructors and possibly even insurance companies would start to feel more than a little uncomfortable with this particular intervention being removed from the working environment.
Other precautionary suggestions include the cleaning of the controls and hands prior and after training. Maybe a forehead temperature check of pupil and instructor prior to entering the car. There is mention of the possible use of masks and gloves. It seems sensible to keep windows open and air con off. Likewise, keeping the unnecessary face to face interactions to a minimum. No swapping of pens or reference materials. Heaven only knows what happens if either person coughs or sneezes! The medical advice appears to be plenty of tissues within reach, and immediately disposing of them. Having a limit to the maximum number of pupils in a working day seems logical, as does consideration to the duration of the interval between the sessions. Payments made online - no exchange of cash.
Prior to any of those measures, though, it is wise to consider how appropriate is the training given the circumstances of the pupil/instructor. Members of a family who may be shielding, for example. Are there any heightened risk factors associated with the pupil. Have either pupil or instructor been subject to 'trace and track' - the compulsory disclosing of the details in advance.
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