Correspondence

Letter from DVSA Chief Executive to vocational driving instructors 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This correspondence was withdrawn on 14 September 2020

This correspondence has been withdrawn because the guidance it contains is no longer current.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

Vocational driving tests

As you know, we have suspended driving 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 90 volunteer vocational driving 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 driver training for people whose work is critical to the coronavirus response

I’m aware that some of the people whose work is critical to the coronavirus response will need to finish their driving lessons and be able to use a vehicle for their test.

I’m very grateful to those of you who are able to continue providing lessons for those who need them.

In line with our plans to only provide tests for candidates who have an essential need, when taking lessons, we recommend that you ask candidates to bring appropriate ID with them demonstrating the need for them to take lessons - 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 vocational examiners with you. You may wish to consider similar arrangements if you’re training or conducting Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) module 4 assessments for workers critical to the coronavirus response.

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

People who share enclosed spaces, such as the cabs of vehicles, should keep the window open for ventilation and they should be careful to avoid touching their face at all times. When they leave the vehicle they should wash their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or more, or use hand sanitiser when they cannot wash their hands.

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

Reversing, uncoupling and recoupling manoeuvres

To help stop the spread of coronavirus, vocational tests will now be terminated if a candidate fails their test during the reversing or uncoupling and recoupling manoeuvres. These manoeuvres will be carried out at the start of the test where possible.

This measure will help prevent examiners and candidates needing to sit near each other during a test, when the candidate has already failed.

This only affects vocational tests being conducted during the coronavirus pandemic and does not apply to car tests.

Once the on-road test has started, the examiner will follow normal test procedures.

Driver CPC requirement: temporary changes

During the coronavirus outbreak it may be difficult for drivers to complete their Driver CPC periodic training.

The Department for Transport has therefore put in place temporary changes in professional driver qualification requirements.

This means that drivers whose Driver CPC card expires in the period from 1 March 2020 to 30 September 2020 can continue driving.

We have approved a range of Driver CPC courses which can be delivered via online video platforms and we would encourage drivers to undertake this training. Face-to-face training, however, is not available at this time.

Working with you and your associations

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

We are holding regular conference calls with the National Register of LGV Instructors (NRI), RTITB (Road Transport Industry Training Board), Skills for Logistics and other organisations 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.

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