Correspondence

Despatch ezine: issue 02/2013 (web version)

Published 8 May 2013

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

1. Good feedback for new online business service

Launched in October 2012, DSA’s online business service allows business customers and ADIs to book and manage multiple tests online.

The online business service has now been available for several months, with more than 2,900 businesses registered to use it.

If you’re not already registered to use this service, visit GOV.UK to make sure you don’t miss out on the benefits it offers, including being able to:

• view all test slots available without entering candidate details
• set up favourite test centres and quickly check availability at those centres
• manage instructor availability
• set up alerts for cancellations at selected test centres
• make and manage multiple bookings easily

The service is available 7 days a week from 6am until midnight, giving businesses greater flexibility to manage their bookings and track their business more efficiently.

1.1 Your feedback

Feedback from users has been very positive. Comments on social media include:

The test booking service is working like a dream… one of the best things I’ve ever done for my pupils.

I use it and find it very straightforward. Quicker than typing in pupils’ details, then own details for payment.

Can’t praise it enough. Would encourage all ADIs to sign up.

Been using it since it was launched and time saved is great.

Been using the new OBS system for a few months and it’s brilliant, we use it for trainer booking for LGV tests so we can book tests in advance and name them as and when required , but I also love the fact that I can book learner tests with just a driving licence number in a fraction of the time.

Introducing the online business service

2. New THINK! campaign urges motorcyclists to ‘stay in control’

The ‘stay in control’ campaign was launched in April by Road Safety Minister Stephen Hammond. Developed with partners from the motorcycle industry, the campaign advises motorcyclists to ride defensively – to expect the unexpected and position themselves in the safest and best place on the road to have the best view of potential hazards.

Advertising from the latest THINK! campaign

The campaign also encourages motorcyclists to have further training with qualified instructors to sharpen their skills. Find out more about further training, including DSA’s enhanced rider scheme on GOV.UK.

The campaign runs through the peak riding season this spring and summer when, historically, the number of motorcyclists killed and seriously injured on the roads increases.

Stephen Hammond said:

Motorcyclists make up just 1% of the traffic on our roads, but last year accounted for 19% of deaths. So reducing the number of bikers killed on our roads is a key priority for the government. I am pleased that, in parallel with this initiative, we are also running a THINK BIKER campaign encouraging car drivers to take longer to look for motorcyclists.

This latest campaign urges bikers to ride defensively – this includes taking a ‘lifesaver glance’ around before manoeuvring and giving yourself time to react to potential hazards. Any message that has the potential to reduce the number of tragedies on our roads involving motorcyclists and save lives is worth hammering home.

3. Drink driving rules tightened to improve road safety

Road Safety Minister Stephen Hammond has announced that the most dangerous drink drivers will now have to pass a medical before they’re allowed back on the roads under a change in the law.

The changes, which come into force from 1 June 2013, mean that High Risk Offenders will need to pass a medical confirming they are no longer alcohol dependent at the end of their disqualification and before they start driving. You can read the about drink driving penalties on GOV.UK.

4. Has your photocard licence expired?

Renew your photocard driving licence every 10 years or face a fine of up to £1,000.

4.1 Checking your licence

Check the expiry date in section 4b on the front of the card. If the date has passed, your licence has expired!

4.2 How to renew

Whether you’re renewing your licence or replacing one that’s been lost or stolen, the process is the same. There are 3 ways to apply:

• online: providing you’ve had a new digital passport issued in the last 5 years - renew your driving licence
• in person at selected Post Offices®: there’s a handling fee of £4.50 on top of the standard £20 fee
• by post: completing form D1 ‘Application for a driving licence’, available in selected Post Office® branches or by ordering online

Licence renewal is important because you’ll have the latest security features against fraud. You could experience delays in getting insurance or car hire if your licence has expired.

Renewal will also ensure the police and other enforcement agencies have the most accurate information to help them correctly identify whether a driving licence is being used fraudulently. This in turn, helps prevent driving licence impersonation – stopping disqualified and possibly dangerous drivers taking to our roads.

Find out more on GOV.UK

5. Euro NCAP’s starring role

Euro NCAP Secretary General Michiel van Ratingen talks about the evolution of vehicle safety testing and the technologies of the future.

5.1 EU road fatalities fell by 9% in 2012. How much of an impact has technology had on this reduction?

Improvements in vehicle safety have contributed significantly to the reduction in road fatalities in Europe over the last decade. Some claim that over 40% of the overall reduction is down to such improvements. Recently reported reductions in road fatalities can be partly explained by vehicle safety initiatives introduced a few years ago which have filtered down over time, as people replace their old vehicles with newer, safer ones.

5.2 Euro NCAP was established in 1997. How have your tests changed in the past 15 years?

A car that scored 5 stars a few years ago would only score 1 or 2 today. The focus of testing has changed from the protection of drivers and adult passengers to the protection of all road users including adult and child car occupants and vulnerable road users. We also now evaluate the benefit of crash avoidance systems.

5.3 What new technologies are in the pipeline?

The technology that is highest on our list today is Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB). This helps drivers to avoid a crash by warning them of potential danger ahead, supporting driver braking and ultimately providing auto-braking of the vehicle.

AEB technologies can be developed for specific areas such as low speed rear bumper shunts - which frequently result in whiplash injury - or to avoid car crashes at higher speeds and to specifically target vulnerable road users. AEB systems will be incorporated in the overall Euro NCAP rating between 2014 and 2016.

5.4 What new safety features would you like to see on all cars as standard?

The one technology I personally expect a lot from is AEB for vulnerable road users. Hopefully, the cars of the future will be smart enough to see what a normal driver cannot see and recognise danger to pedestrians and cyclists before it is too late.

6. EU road deaths fall to record low in 2012

2012 saw the lowest number of people killed in road traffic collisions since the EU started collecting such data.

Vice-president Siim Kallas, commissioner for transport said:

2012 was a landmark year for European road safety, with the lowest number of road deaths ever recorded.

A 9% decrease means that 3,000 lives were saved last year. But 75 people still die on Europe’s roads every day, so there’s no room for complacency. We have ambitious aims to cut EU road deaths in half by 2020 and need to keep this momentum going to get there.

He went on to say that ‘road deaths are only the tip of the iceberg’ and that a strategy is needed to bring down the number of serious road injuries across the EU.

Statistics by country shows variations in the number of road deaths across the EU.

The countries with the lowest number of road fatalities are the UK, Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark – reporting around 30 deaths per million people.

A substantial drop was seen in the number of vulnerable road users killed in 2012 – such as pedestrians, motorcyclists and elderly people – following an increase in 2011.

The European Road Safety Action programme 2011-2020 sets out plans to cut the number of road deaths by half in the next 10 years. The programme proposes improvements to vehicles, infrastructure and road user behaviour. One such improvement was the introduction of the new EU driving licence on 19 January 2013 which included tighter rules about the access young people have to powerful motorbikes.

Read more about the road death statistics and the Road Safety Action programme on the European Commission website.

7. Round-up of other news

7.1 Improvements to online instructor services

The following improvements have been made to DSA’s online instructor services:

• removal of the 60 day expiry on password
• introduction of email confirmations for transactions

As an instructor, you can:

• update your registration details
• renew or re-register
• order Pass Plus refill packs

You can also watch a video about how to login to ADI online services.

How to login to ADI online services

7.2 New rules for ‘laden’ testing

From Monday 30 September 2013, certain vehicles and trailers used for driving tests must be laden with specific loads. Find out more about the new ‘laden’ testing rules on GOV.UK.

7.3 Driver CPC deadline warning

DSA and the Office of the Traffic Commissioner recently warned professional bus, coach and lorry drivers of the forthcoming Driver CPC deadlines for acquired rights drivers.

7.4 DSA’s business plan 2013/15

DSA’s business plan for 2013/15 has been published on GOV.UK. One of the agency’s key aims is to respond more quickly and flexibly to changing customer demand where it can be achieved without threatening the integrity of the driving test or resulting in higher fees.

Read more about this and the agency’s aim to become a ‘digital by default organisation’ by 2015, in the business plan on GOV.UK.

7.5 New standards check for ADIs from April 2014

The ADI check test will be replaced with a new ‘standards check’ from April 2014.

The ‘National standard for driver and rider training’ was published by DSA in 2011, setting out the skills, knowledge and understanding needed to be an effective trainer.

The new check will assess how well ADIs meet the standard – which is why it’s being called a ‘standards check’. Find out more about the new standards check on GOV.UK.