On 1 February 2021, new legislation banning tyres aged over 10 years on the front steered axles of lorries, buses and coaches along with all single wheels of minibuses (9-16 passengers seats) came into force. The ban also includes horseboxes over 3.5 tonnes.
The DVSA has announced changes to the driving theory test, which will come into effect in April 2020 for new learner drivers in England, Wales, and Scotland. Instead of reading case studies and answering three questions about them, learners will soon have to watch a short, silent, video clips, which will be followed up with three multiple-choice questions. Test sitters can watch the video clip as many as times as they wish. This change does not apply to theory tests for motorcycles, lorries, bus or coaches and Approved Driving Instructors, part 1.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has announced that, from 1 November 2019, anyone applying to be an authorised examiner (AE) or authorised examiner designated manager (AEDM) will need to have a basic DBS check. This verifies the applicant’s identity and checks unspent convictions. DVSA is introducing DBS checks to prevent people who might damage the integrity of the MOT scheme from holding positions of authority at test centres.
The UK didn’t participate in the MSTyre15 project, yet we’ve gained a better understanding of tyre labelling non-compliance here thanks to freedom of information (FOI) requests made by Unite, the trade union representing many employed within the automotive sector in Britain and Ireland. In separate FOI responses, it was confirmed to Unite that no legislation exists to enforce Regulation (EC) No. 1222/2009 and that mislabelled tyres have been sold in the UK.
According to research carried out by leading automotive consumer website www.HonestJohn.co.uk, young people are giving up on the idea of learning to drive. The number of 17-year olds taking the practical driving test has fallen by more than 100,000 since 2007-08, while the overall number of under-25s in the UK that are learning to drive is down by 20 per cent.
The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is launching its biggest MOT training campaign yet across the industry as a response to low numbers of MOT Testers having completed the DVSA’s mandated annual training.
Plans to improve driver and motorcyclist training in Great Britain were announced by Transport Minister, Andrew Jones on Friday 30 December 2016. The proposed changes will see competent learner drivers able to have lessons on motorways with an approved driving instructor in a dual controlled car. Allowing learners on a motorway is expected improve the awareness and experience of new drivers, which is aimed at boosting safety on roads in Great Britain.
Millions of newly qualified drivers will be better prepared for life on the road under changes to the driving test that will better reflect real life driving. The proposals announced by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will help reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads, and ensure safer drivers and journeys.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has outlined a number of proposed changes to the driving test, which are being made in order to improve road safety. The changes, subject to the outcome of research and consultation feedback, will be introduced in early 2017. The changes have been trialled with more than 4,500 learner drivers and 850 driving instructors in 32 locations across Great Britain. The 6-week consultation starts today and closes on 25 August 2016.
A survey of over 100 senior UK haulage fleet managers, conducted by the Association for Driving Licence Verification, has shown that 91 per cent of respondents want CPC & Tacho data to be available alongside online driving licence checks. They also believe that its inclusion would eliminate the industry’s current but imprecise reliance on visual data checking. A further 90 per cent felt that the availability of CPC and Tacho information would make their own monitoring of driver entitlement easier, by supporting existing HR systems and acting as a single point of reference.
Following the demise of the DVSA NTTA, technicians looking to become MOT testers have found it more difficult to achieve the qualifications they need to follow the right path. That’s why Bosch is offering training for Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) level 3 qualifications.
Gareth Llewellyn has been appointed as the new chief executive of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). He joins DVSA on Monday 14 March 2016, before formally taking over from acting chief executive Paul Satoor on Friday 1 April 2016. Satoor will remain as deputy chief executive.
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