Correspondence

Letter from DVSA Chief Executive to motorcycle training schools about coronavirus (COVID-19)

Published 22 April 2020

This correspondence was withdrawn on 14 September 2020

This correspondence has been withdrawn because the guidance it contains is no longer current.

Check the latest:

• coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance and information
• blog posts for driver and rider trainers from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Dear colleague,

I want to update you on what the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is doing to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, and advise you to look at what support the government has put in place for you.

Motorcycle tests

As you know, we have suspended motorcycle tests to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

We are continuing to provide emergency tests for those whose work is critical to the coronavirus response.

The details of how to apply for these have been published at www.gov.uk/dvsa.

We will continue to prioritise these and match them against 50 volunteer motorcycle examiners across Great Britain.

Not all driving examiners are able to provide this service because those particularly vulnerable from coronavirus need to stay at home. However, those staying at home are helping to process requests for emergency tests.

Providing training for people whose work is critical to the coronavirus response

I’m incredibly aware that some workers including our NHS staff and those on the frontline will have an urgent need to finish their motorcycle training.

I’m very grateful to those of you who are able to continue providing training - including compulsory basic training (CBT) - for people those who need it.

In line with our plans to only provide tests for candidates who have an essential need at this time, when providing training, we recommend that you ask pupils to bring appropriate ID with them demonstrating the need for them to take training - for example, an ID badge, payslip or letter from their employer.

We will share details of the personal protective arrangements we’re putting in place for our motorcycle examiners with you. You may wish to consider similar arrangements if you’re providing motorcycle training to those who need it.

Following the latest Public Health England guidance

We also recommend that you put in place appropriate measures in line with the latest guidance Public Heath England and Cabinet Office guidance, to prevent the spread of coronavirus. This includes guidance on:

• hand washing and use of hand sanitiser
• having good ventilation in place where possible
• cleaning shared surfaces in vehicles regularly

Visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support for the latest guidance.

Motorcycle manoeuvring areas

To also help reduce the spread of coronavirus, we have taken the decision to close all motorcycle manoeuvring areas (MMAs) for training from 3 April for up to 3 months.

The MMAs will still be available for any essential training for those whose work is critical to the coronavirus response and we will contact you if have a module 1 motorcycle test booked.

We will contact all motorcycle training bodies who use MMAs before the sites reopen to give more details about future bookings.

Working with you and your associations

I know how challenging the current situation is. I appreciate the impact our decisions have on you, your customers, your business and your family. And I fully understand the uncertainty is worrying.

We are holding regular conference calls with the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) and the Driving Instructors Association (DIA) to make sure your questions and concerns are shared with DVSA. I lead these calls, and it’s a personal priority for me to make sure you have the information you need as soon as it’s available.

Financial support

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has set out plans that will see the self-employed receive up to £2,500 per month in grants for at least 3 months.

If you are eligible for the new scheme, HMRC will contact you and invite you to apply using a simple online form, with the cash being paid directly into your bank account.

HMRC aims to contact you by mid-May 2020, and will make payments by early June 2020.

The government is supporting businesses through a package of other measures during this period of unprecedented disruption.

To find support, advice and information to help you with the impact of coronavirus on your business, please visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support. You can sign up for email alerts from there to get the latest information.

If your registration is due to expire

If your CBT, direct access scheme (DAS) or DVSA enhanced rider scheme instructor registration certificates are due to expire before the end of June 2020, we will automatically renew them for you.

Stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives

The single most important action we can all take in fighting coronavirus is to follow government guidance and stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.

I do not underestimate the challenges this brings for you and your pupils.

When the government relaxes its social-distancing measures, we will make sure we help you understand how this will affect DVSA’s services, your ability to return to work, and what it means for your pupils.

You can sign up to get email alerts from us at www.gov.uk/guidance/dvsa-email-alerts.

The priority for us now is to save lives in a different way than we usually do. But when things get back to normal, we will get back to our vital work of helping everyone stay safe on Britain’s roads.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

I hope you, your family and your friends stay safe.

Yours faithfully,

Gareth Llewellyn

Chief Executive
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency