The government’s road safety statement was published in July. It sets out 74 actions the government is taking to reduce the number of people killed or injured on our roads.
We recently told you about how we're going to be running a new campaign to encourage learner drivers to broaden their experience to support that action plan.
We’re also taking some of those specific 74 actions forward in the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). These actions are all about giving you updated and improved tools to help your pupils learn to drive.
National standards for driving and driver training
The national standard for driver and rider training sets out what you must be able to do and what you must know and understand to provide training to drivers and riders.
We'll update the standard by the end of 2019 to do 4 things to make it more useful for you.
- We'll make some changes to make sure the standard continues to reflect current evidence of what's needed to provide great training.
- We'll make it easier to see what's changed in the standard and when it changed.
- We'll make it easier to read and use on a mobile phone (more people are using it this way than ever before).
- We'll make it easier to see what the standard covers so you can decide which parts of it you want to focus your continuing professional development on.
We'll follow this up by updating the national standard for driving cars early in 2020. We'll focus on making the same types of improvements to help you and your pupils understand what's needed to be a safe and responsible driver.
We'll email you as the documents are updated.
A new driver’s record and official DVSA guide to learning to drive
We know that a lot of you have been eagerly awaiting an updated driver's record for a while now. I'm pleased to say that it should be published during October 2019.
The updated driver's record will reflect the current learning to drive syllabus. Its all-new design will also make it easier to log the time your pupils are spending learning to drive on country roads, on motorways, at night, and driving independently.
We'll publish a new edition of the 'Official DVSA Guide to Learning to Drive' book at the same time. The book also supports parents and family members to work with you and your pupil to get the most out of private practice.
And remember, as an approved driving instructor (ADI), you can get a promotional code that gets you a discount when you buy copies for yourself and your learners from the Safe Driving for Life website. Just call 0333 202 5070 with your ADI number to hand.
We'll let you know when we've published the updated driver's record and book.
Guidance on carrying out mock driving tests
We're going to be designing guidance to help you carry out the most realistic mock driving tests possible.
But this is guidance for you - and we cannot design it without you.
You'll get an email from us very soon asking you to fill in a survey. It's to help us understand what you're using for mock tests at the moment, and what you think needs to be in our official guidance.
Please fill in the survey when you get it. Your help is vital.
Theory test revision materials
The road safety statement mentions exciting developments in the theory test.
We're working on research into hazard perception and developing clips to support the cycling and walking safety review. Visual media will also feature more in the theory test.
We’re always developing our learning materials to keep pace with change. So look out for announcements about developments in the DVSA Learning Zone.
Join the team making our learning materials
We’re recruiting someone to join our team writing, editing and producing our learning materials. So if you’re a great communicator who can write clearly, we’d like to hear from you.
The deadline to apply is 11:59pm on Friday 20 September 2019. Find out more about the job.
3 comments
Comment by Gavin Hewson posted on
Looking forward for more information and additional tools
Kind Regards Gavin Hewson ADI 165881
Comment by George Simpson posted on
Fantastic, so pleased your making positive strides to future plan with ever changing tec and the way people want to learn.
Comment by Anthony Wharton posted on
No matter how 'realistic' the Mock Test is. It will not help the pupil unless the driving tuition they receive is effective and appropriate to their ability.
A Mock Test delivered at the wrong time can destroy rapport and seriously affect confidence in a learner driver.