The AGM of the ADINJC will be held on Saturday 5 March by zoom. We had hoped this would be a physical meeting but have decided in view of the current situation to play it safe and hope that we may be able to meet up in June.
The Notice of the Annual General Meeting can be accessed here. If you wish to propose a Motion for consideration at the AGM, or to nominate somone to serve on the Governing Committee you can do so on the forms attached to the Notice.
The AGM will be followed by the Association Meeting.
Agendas for these meetings will be sent out shortly, along with the minutes of the last meetings. If you wish to attend please email secretary@adinjc.org.uk as numbers may be limited.
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Changes to the Highway Code
Many thanks to member Ian Hornal for sending in a pyramid of the hierarchy alongside the Introduction Text before Parliament. He says he is happy for anyone to use it, change and improve on it. You can access it here.
We’ve come across this video on the changes which also looks interesting, and may be useful, access it here.
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Energy Saving Trust are offering one-to-one EV training sessions for instructors in Scotland who are considering making the switch to electric vehicles. You can find out more information here.
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Tax bills will be due shortly, many people who haven’t ‘bounced back’ are worried about paying the tax owed on the SEISS grants. Although on the face of it ADIs are very busy, we are aware they are experiencing a lot of cancellations for Covid related issues.
You may be interested in signing this petition to demand that the tax on the SEISS grants for 20/21 be postponed until economic normality is closer within reach.
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You may well have seen publicity about the changes to the Highway Code that will be introduced later this month and have written to share your concerns, in particular over the rule about giving way to pedestrians waiting to cross the road when you turn left. We share your concerns, it certainly looks like a disaster waiting to happen.
Currently we have not heard from DVSA on how they intend to treat this situation but we will of course keep you informed on any guidance that comes through.
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You can read What DVSA are doing to answer more of your calls here.
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NASP have produced 2 useful resources for you to use:
A handy walkthrough presentation detailing the main changes to the Standard Operating Procedures for ADI and PDI assessments, during COVID-19, click here.
Also together with the DVSA, NASP have produced a video demonstrating what the changes may look like in practice, click here.
We hope you will find them useful and ADINJC would like to thank all the participants for helping with the production.
There are a variety of useful resources on the NASP website –
www.n-a-s-p.co.uk.
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Our Talk Line is still available for anybody feeling the need for someone to talk to as we continue in these troubling times. This is a completely free and confidential service so please get in touch if you need to talk.
The NJC continues to be dedicated to help you in these challenging times and we hope you and your loved ones stay safe and healthy. Please feel free to contact us for help and support.
ADINJC’s helpline is 0800 8202 444
The Secretary’s number is 07855 453414
The ADINJC is a national association run by ADIs on a not-for-profit basis. We work tirelessly to inform, represent and support our members, and to promote the interests of our profession.
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The Welsh Government has confirmed it will be lifting the firebreak restrictions in Wales from Monday 9 November.
What this means for you and your pupils
You can restart taking your pupils out on lessons from Monday 9 November.
What this means for practical tests
All practical tests will also restart on 9 November in Wales. This includes:
• car
• car and trailer
• motorcycle module 1 and 2
• vocational tests including Driver CPC module 4
• tractor tests
• ADI part 2 and 3
• ADI standard checks
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Driving tests
Car windows must be open throughout the test
At least 2 windows on opposite sides of the car must be open throughout the test. Any combination of windows can be opened, for example, one from the front and back. Your pupils are advised to wear clothing suitable for the weather.
Make sure your car is clean
Because of coronavirus (COVID-19), you must clean the inside of your car before your test. This means:
• tidying any unnecessary items away from the dashboard, footwells, door pockets, cup holders and seats.
• wiping down the dashboard and car controls
The examiner will do an additional clean of some surfaces.
Wearing a face covering for practical tests
Your pupils must bring and wear a face covering for their practical test, unless they have a good reason not to. Good reasons are things like:
• having a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability
• wearing it would cause them severe distress
If they refuse to wear a face covering they will not be able to take their test.
If they do have a good reason they need to tell us when they book their test.
Reopening waiting rooms in Welsh test centres
As the UK government has announced further national restrictions in England, we’re pausing our plans to open up waiting rooms in England until after 2 December.
We’ll assess the feedback from instructors, customers and our examiners from the waiting rooms opened as part of the initial rollout to see how we can safely open up other waiting rooms in Wales.
We’ll update you again about waiting rooms as soon as possible.
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What this means for theory tests in Wales
All categories of theory test will also restart in Wales on 9 November including ADI part 1 tests.
Your pupils must bring and wear a face covering for their theory test, unless they have a good reason not to. Good reasons are things like:
• having a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability
• wearing it would cause them severe distress
They need to say if they have a good reason not to wear a face covering when they book their test. If your pupil cannot wear a face covering, they must tell us when they book their test
If they already have a theory test booked and have a good reason not to wear a face covering they need to call Pearson VUE on 0300 200 1122.
More information
Check GOV.UK for the latest about:
• theory tests
• driving tests
• instructor guidance
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The ADINJC is a national association run by ADIs on a not-for-profit basis. We work tirelessly to inform, represent and support our members, and to promote the interests of our profession.
More support
The Chancellor has just announced that in addition to extending the furlough scheme, he has increased help for the self-employed and to the devolved administrations. This is from the BBC website –
Mr Sunak also announced billions of pounds of other support for the economy, including more money for self-employed people.
Support through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will be increased, with the third grant covering November to January calculated at 80% of average trading profits, up to a maximum of £7,500.
At the same time, the chancellor raised guaranteed funding for the UK’s devolved administrations by £2bn to £16bn.
Read the full article here.
Martin Lewis’s MoneySavingExpert website already has details. Here’s the link.
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Remember we are here to help and support you. Please stay safe.
Our Talk Line is still available for anybody feeling the need for someone to talk to as we continue in these troubling times. This is a completely free and confidential service so please get in touch if you need to talk.
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The NJC continues to be dedicated to help you in these challenging times and we hope you and your loved ones stay safe and healthy. Please feel free to contact us for help and support.
ADINJC’s helpline is 0800 8202 444
The Secretary’s number is 07855 453414
The ADINJC is a national association run by ADIs on a not-for-profit basis. We work tirelessly to inform, represent and support our members, and to promote the interests of our profession.
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The Government has announced that England will be put under national restrictions from Thursday 5 November until Wednesday 2 December
We will continue to keep the situation under review in line with Government advice.
What this means for theory tests
These measures mean all theory tests in England will be suspended from 5 November and restart on Wednesday 2 December.
We are emailing everyone with a test booked in England to let them know their test has been put on hold and they will need to reschedule it.
If you have booked a test for any of your pupils you will receive an email to confirm their test has been put on hold. You will need to contact your pupil to let them know.You or your pupil will need to log into the service and rearrange their theory test for a new time and date.
Driver and rider practical training and tests
Driver and rider training and tests will be suspended in England from 5 November until 2 December 2020. We will be contacting affected test candidates soon.
We’ll keep you updated on the situation and provide further guidance when we’re able too.
Further information
Read the new national restrictions from 5 November.
The ADINJC is a national association run by ADIs on a not-for-profit basis. We work tirelessly to inform, represent and support our members, and to promote the interests of our profession.
The November edition of Traffic Safety Roads is now out – many thanks to Graham Feest, our Road Safety Advisor.
In this month’s edition –
- Drug Screening
- The Stamp it Out Campaign
- London Pedestrian Problem
- Live Consultations
- Driving Since Total Lockdown
- The Tom Harrington Papers
- Legalisation of E-Scooters Recommended
- Reducing Casualties by Stopping Crashes
- Drug Driving Charges
- South West England Casualty Reduction Aim
- Parking on the Pavement
- Drink Drive Interlocks
- Extending 20 MPH Limits to Main Roads
- Communicating Whilst Driving A Big Issue
- Final Casualty Figures for 2019
- Fire Service Webinar
- Road Safety Week – FREE Seminar Offer
- Remembering Those Killed on the Roads
- Fleet Driver Training
- Support for Increasing Sentences
- Powered Two Wheeler Market Performing Well
- Diabetes and Driving Etc
- Extension to London ULTRA Low Emission Zone
- School Bus Crash
- Coronavirus Safer Travel Guidance
- Speed Enforcement Strategy –Raising the Game
- Watch This Space
- Unpopular View of New Traffic Management Schemes
- Updating the Mobile Phone Laws
- Graduated Licensing Shelved –For Now
Click here for this month’s edition of Traffic Safety Roads.
The ADINJC is a national association run by ADIs on a not-for-profit basis. We work tirelessly to inform, represent and support our members, and to promote the interests of our profession.
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The Scottish Government has confirmed that from Monday 2 November 2020, by law, you and your pupils must wear a face covering during driving lessons.
This does not include motorcycle or tractor lessons.
If you do not wear a face covering, you must have a good reason, for example:
• you have a physical or mental illness, impairment or disability
• wearing it would cause you severe distress
• you and the person you are teaching live in the same household
Your pupils will need to let you know before their lesson if they cannot wear a face covering.
You can be fined £60 if you do not wear a face covering during a driving lesson in Scotland. This will be reduced to £30 if you pay within 28 days.
Face coverings: practical tests
Your pupils must bring and wear a face covering for their practical test, unless they have a good reason not to. Good reasons are things like:
• having a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability
• wearing it would cause them severe distress
If they refuse to wear a face covering they will not be able to take their test.
If they do have a good reason they need to tell us when they book their test.
Face coverings: theory tests
Your pupils must bring and wear a face covering for their theory test, unless they have a good reason not to. Good reasons are things like:
• having a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability
• wearing it would cause them severe distress
They need to say if they have a good reason not to wear a face covering when they book their test.
If they already have a theory test booked and have a good reason not to wear a face covering they need to call Pearson VUE on 0300 200 1122.
More information
Check GOV.UK for the latest about:
• theory tests
• driving tests
• instructor guidance
The Welsh Government has also published information on financial support that you can access.
The NJC continues to be dedicated to help you in these challenging times and we hope you and your loved ones stay safe and healthy.
Please feel free to contact us for help and support.
ADINJC’s helpline is 0800 8202 444
The Secretary’s number is 07855 453414
The ADINJC is a national association run by ADIs on a not-for-profit basis. We work tirelessly to inform, represent and support our members, and to promote the interests of our profession.
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NASP Statement on test centre waiting rooms
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NASP has today expressed extreme disappointment and frustration at the continuing closure of Test Centre waiting rooms.
NASP member associations have raised the issue on numerous occasions and asked for a line of sight on when waiting rooms may reopen as trainers are already starting to be left out in the cold as Autumn arrives.
It is notable that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have also written to the agency highlighting that the failure to provide adequate sanitary facilities and waiting spaces to customers, and what HSE deems as ‘workers’ in this context (i.e. trainers), is contrary to health and safety legislation and regulation.
Whilst relenting on the issue of failing to provide toilet facilities on the recommencement of testing services, DVSA have maintained to date that it was difficult to open waiting rooms across the board due to the challenges of ensuring social distancing (and need to limit exposure for all users to COVID-19), staffing challenges, and the issue at some test centres that waiting rooms are being pressed into service as extra office space to allow staff to socially distance.
We have received the following from DVSA today:
Regards use of waiting rooms, many thanks for forwarding HSEs response Our current holding position is as follows:
DVSA’s priority is to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Following engagement with driving instructors we made toilet and handwashing facilities available for any candidate, instructor or accompanying driver if requested.
DVSA is currently in discussion with HSE about the use of waiting rooms for driving instructors.
The NASP associations will continue to press the agency on this important issue which has the potential to impact the health and welfare of trainers across the board – even in the context of the decision to keep waiting rooms closed being made for health and safety reasons.
Please keep checking the NASP website www.n-a-s-p.co.uk , individual NASP member association websites, member emails and social media for updated information. This advice is for everyone when your government say it’s safe to work.
Please remember that ADINJC, DIA and MSA are the only Tier 1 consultative stakeholder of DVSA within the ADI industry and as such receive information and communications direct from the regulator to disseminate to members. It is wise to check the source and validity of any other information you see, particularly on social media, if it does not come from a professional body within the sector.
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If you missed last night’s training webinar on Part 3 and Standards Checks, then you can view it here.
Mention was made of DVSA’s risk assessment for conducting tests with an examiner in the back, and yo
u can find that here. And here for our document ‘Changes to the Part 3 and Standards Check during COVID-19’.
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We have received the following from DVSA after sending them the letter from HSE about waiting rooms –
Regards use of waiting rooms, many thanks for forwarding HSEs response to the recent ADINJC enquiry. Our current holding position is as follows:
DVSA’s priority is to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Following engagement with driving instructors we made toilet and handwashing facilities available for any candidate, instructor or accompanying driver if requested.
DVSA is currently in discussion with HSE about the use of waiting rooms for driving instructors.
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We were made aware of tests not going out because the ADI and student arrived at the test centre without masks and examiners are refusing to take them out. This should not be happening and tests should still go ahead, as said on the DVSA/NASP webinar of 17 July.
Both DVSA and NASP strongly promote the use of face coverings during lessons and would impress on ADIs the need to ensure a safe and clean training environment. The wearing of a face covering protects others, not wearing one in a confined space risks unnecessary spreading of the virus. We would encourage all ADIs to read the DVSA SOPs, NASP advice and to follow Public Health 1m+ guidance.
That said, whilst face coverings are mandatory on test, they are not compulsory on lessons as this is a matter for the individual business.
When candidates arrive without a mask, the examiner should ask the candidate to ventilate the vehicle before completing the sign up process, eyesight test and tell me question, where possible these should be done without entering the vehicle. The test should then continue as normal. Examiners are being reminded of this procedure.
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We have today asked the following questions of DVSA:
• There are numbers of test centres with test availability showing for this week, including Saturday, but no way to book them. What a waste of tests. Are there any plans to try and get these filled?
• Lots of ADIs are falling foul of the no booking rule. However, we feel this is no wonder when you see this page –
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ADIs are now working and often don’t have time to keep up with the latest bulletins, so when they go on the system and find this message they don’t realise they shouldn’t be booking. We can totally understand why they are confused and making mistakes and would like this to be clearer for people.
• Could we be told what cleaning products have been issued to examiners? Some ADIs are noticing swirl marks on dashboards after examiners have cleaned and are worried that products containing bleach are being used.
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Our bank of questions and answers can be found on the front page of the website – www.adinjc.org.uk – please make this your first port of call if you have a question.
The front page of the website also holds our Covid tookbox with masses of information to help you return to work safely.
If you would like to join the ADINJC there is more information on our website.
The NJC continues to be dedicated to help you in these challenging times and we hope you and your loved ones stay safe and healthy. Please feel free to contact us for help and support.
ADINJC’s helpline is 0800 8202 444
The Secretary’s number is 07855 453414
The ADINJC is a national association run by ADIs on a not-for-profit basis. We work tirelessly to inform, represent and support our members, and to promote the interests of our profession.
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