The communications from DVSA yesterday regarding planned changes to the booking system, following the announcement from the Secretary of State, have been very poorly managed. I have written to DVSA to make our feelings on this clear.

As a National Association with Direct Tier One representation with DVSA, the ADINJC feels very strongly that we, along with the other two National Associations should have been consulted prior to DVSA communications going out. If this had happened, we would have been able to ask the questions that hundreds of our members are now putting in front of us, and helped to avoid the confusion over who will and will not be able to manage test bookings once the planned changes come into effect.

Addressing the Proposed Changes:

1. Removal of ADI Access to the OBS

We do not believe removing access to the OBS for ADIs is a positive step. It will cause disruption to a large section of – though not all – ADIs who actively book and manage tests for learners. It should also be noted that many of our members have put this suggestion forward as a potential solution to the test waiting times crisis in the past. Many ADIs do not and never have booked tests for their learners.

2. Limiting Test Swaps and Geographic Movement

Restricting the number of swaps that learner drivers can make, and limiting the geographic area that tests can be moved to are, again, suggestions that many of our members have suggested over the past couple of years. We await further detail from DVSA, but – in principle – it seems like a step that could have an impact. Hopefully a positive one.

3. Additional Examiners from the Ministry of Defence

The move to bring in examiners from the Ministry of Defence School of Transport is happening too late, and the numbers being quoted are not high enough to have any serious impact.

Next Steps

We will be attending a meeting with DVSA today to put these views forward, and to further press our dissatisfaction with the way the results of the Consultation have been handled.

Stewart Lochrie
ADINJC Chairman.

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