The Brexit Effect - Driving Instructor - Does leaving the EU affect our industry?
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Driving
Instructor
THE VOICE OF THE PROFESSIONAL
DRIVING INSTRUCTOR
The
Brexit
Effect
Does leaving the EU
affect our industry?
ISSUE SIX 2016
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Driving
Instructor
The official monthly magazine of the
WELCOME
Driving Instructors Association
S I WRITE THIS, the result of the referendum has been announced, so we all
A
know now that our future lies outside the European Union. The content in this
month’s issue was written as the outcome hung in the balance, but we still
EDITOR
Craig Thomas think that there are important questions raised in some of the articles looking
editor@driving.org at Europe from the perspective of road safety.
For example, Sandra Macdonald-Ames considers how the result of the
DESIGN
Matt Russell referendum will affect the huge strides we’ve made in improving road safety in
design@driving.org the UK in recent decades.
And just because we’ve rejected being part of a European political union, that doesn’t mean
ADVERTISING
020 8686 8010
that we have to ignore best practice in driver training from some of the remaining member
advertising@driving.org states. I’ve looked at how other countries train new drivers – methods that could inform our
next steps in the training and testing of learners.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
But Brexit also offers opportunities for driver trainers who want to work in other parts of the
Carly Brookfield
world. Mark Atkins suggests that looking further afield to the Middle East and South-East Asia
CHAIR could prove profitable for entrepreneurial instructors and coaches.
Dean Mayer But it’s not all just about Europe this month.
We also highlight the DIA’s involvement with Goodyear Tyres in developing a new virtual
reality app that could help teens become better drivers when they start to learn.
Driving Instructor is published monthly by DIA (Int.) Ltd
And in our regular training feature, James Whalen also considers distraction: but instead
Copyright © DIA (Int.) Ltd 2016
of focusing on how modern technology affects our ability to drive, James examines how our
Printed by Warners Midlands plc
emotional responses can hamper us when behind the wheel.
The views contained may not be the views of the publishers.
Publication of an advertisement does not imply approval for So if you’re angry or elated about the UK’s future outside the EU, remember that both can
the goods or services offered. Reproduction by any means, affect your driving performance.
electronically or otherwise, in whole or part, of any material
appearing in this magazine is forbidden without the express
prior permission of the publishers. Craig Thomas
Meet the DIA Team
Olivia Baldock-Ward Karen Bransgrove
Training manager Helpdesk advisor
olivia@driving.org karen@driving.org
Olivia has been a franchisee and a self-employed Karen is an experienced driving instructor and
ADI. She knows how tough it is out there here to help with your training queries
Carly Brookfield Matt Rathbone
Chief executive Membership services administrator
carly@driving.org mattrathbone@driving.org
Carly oversees the daily work of the Matt deals with membership enquiries and
Driving Instructors Association the DIA shop
Tina Sellwood Robert Thompson
Administration manager Membership services administrator
tina@driving.org robert@driving.org
Tina is charged with making sure everything Robert deals with membership enquiries and
runs smoothly the DIA shop
Matt Russell Bert Brookfield-Hird
Design manager Membership services administrator
matt@driving.org bert@driving.org
Magazines, posters, websites – there’s nothing Bert deals with membership enquiries and
that our design guru can’t turn his hand to the DIA shop
DIA MEMBERSHIP DRIVING INSTRUCTORS ASSOCIATION
Call 020 8686 8010 | help@driving.org | driving.org Leon House, 233 High Street, Croydon, CR0 9XT
Driving Instructor
03
INSTRUCTOR
CONTENTS
MEMBER OF
06 THE MONTH
TAX KING’S
We speak to Neil Wightman about his reasons
17 HELPDESK 22 COMMENT
Keith Halstead offers advice on the tax Edmund King OBE explains the need for the
for becoming an ADI and what he’s learned advantages of ultra-low-emission vehicles and cyclists’ highway code recently launched by
over the course of his career a post-Brexit budget the AA
READERS’ FEEDBACK CHIEF EXECUTIVE COMMON
07 AND HELPDESK 18 REPORT 23 CURRENCY
The value of publishing ADIs’ pass rates, sat Carly Brookfield considers how the Brexit Craig Thomas considers what we can learn
navs in training cars and the cost of CRB vote will affect road safety policy developments from driver training in some of the EU countries
checks are discussed this month and trails upcoming DIA membership changes we’re divorcing from
ADI PASSING ROADS TO
08 NEWS 20 COMMENT 29 EUROPE
The latest news includes how parents’ bad Tim Clayton gets poetic and waxes lyrical Sandra Macdonald-Ames assesses how
habits affect their children’s driver training and about the joys and benefits of being an the outcome of the referendum could affect
motorists call for greater fines for mobile users independent driver trainer road safety in the UK
23
29
04 Driving Instructor
DRIVING BREXIT AND THE
49 54 UK’S DRIVERS
PLAYING
34 IT SAFE
Could a new virtual reality game from Including reviews of a pair of SUVs – the new The Auto Express team look at some of the
Goodyear and the DIA make your teen a MG GS and the latest Nissan X-Trail – plus the possible implications of the EU referendum
better driver? DS 4 and Seat Mii outcome for motorists
DIAMOND DIA
51 64
THINKING OUTSIDE
38 THE BLOCK COMMENT SHOP
Mark Atkins points the way to Karen Bransgrove makes the case for A cornucopia of training aids and practical
opportunities for entrepreneurial driver Pass Plus – the forgotten element of products for driving instructors
trainers beyond Europe advanced training
FRENCH
52 LESSONS
DIA
43 TRAINING
FINAL
James Whalen examines how our emotions – Steve Garrod learns about local driver
70 WORD
Ian Morris asks if pass rates are an accurate
of all kinds – can distract us while driving training culture while on his holidays in the reflection of a driver trainer’s performance –
French Alps and suggests an alternative
34
38 49 driving
Driving Instructor 05
MEMBER OF
THE MONTH Why did you become a driving
instructor?
I wanted to become a driving instructor
asking myself questions when planning
sessions. But what I feel I learnt from that
experience made me believe that if we
Neil Wightman because I wanted to work for myself and,
having been in the retained fire service,
had achieved this together, then anything
is possible if you pull together. It certainly
I felt I could make a difference after made me a better ADI and person.
Congratulations to Neil on being DIA’s Member of attending various road traffic accidents.
the Month. We asked him a few questions about his Improving road safety was the biggest
reasons for becoming an ADI, what he’s learned over motivation of all. What obstacles have you faced and
the course of his career in the passenger seat and how did you get over them?
any advice he could offer I would say that the biggest obstacle of
What do you get out of your any trainer is time: running my own driving
Congratulations Neil profession? school and trying to find that balance
It’s about the satisfaction of seeing between work and home life, and study
somebody achieve something that they to improve myself. I am an extremely
thought was not possible for them to motivated person, but the feedback
do, working out how they are going to and reviews I receive pushes me on to
achieve their goals and improve their life succeed further in this industry.
going forward. I also get satisfaction out
of being able to reflect on what I could do
better and how I can improve: I’m always What is your fondest memory of
looking to achieve more being a trainer?
My fondest memories are the realisation
that I can achieve anything if I am
What differences were there committed to what I do then there are
between when you started and no barriers. I see this time and time again
now? with students: it’s that lightbulb moment
I started my career with a well-known we all have when the impossible becomes
driving school, which I worked with for possible.
a year to establish myself. As I began to
understand how the industry works the
better equipped I became as an ADI. It What advice would you give trainers
was then easier to go independent. Going starting out?
solo, I soon found that I had a full diary Do your homework speak to organisations
and it was all work on recommendations. like the DIA and various franchise
Gaining more qualifications boosted my companies: get the facts before you make
work even more. your decision. Don’t be afraid to fail: use
it to reflect and motivate you to achieve
your goal – you achieve more when it’s
What was the most unusual driving/ something that you are inspired to do.
training experience you had? The more you know, the better equipped
The most unusual training experience you will be. What you put in is what you
was teaching a gentleman through an get out of it. I would also be prepared
interpreter: a very strange feeling, yet very to take the advanced test, using it as a
rewarding in the end. I constantly kept benchmark for your training.
Would you like to be our member of the month?
Contact us at feedback@driving.org and tell us why you think you should be nominated.
06 Driving Instructor
HELPDESK HAVE A QUESTION
& FEEDBACK
OR COMMENT?
Call the ADI helpdesk Mon to Fri
9am–5pm or send your questions
and comments to Leon House, 233
High Street, Croydon CR0 9XT or
help@driving.org
020 8686 8010
FOLLOWING THE article on page 8
of issue 5, which pointed out some key
W areas of the recent Motoring Services
Consultation response, I felt I would
Q
like to comment on the suggestion that
the DVSA may run a voluntary scheme I am looking to change my tuition car
to publish ADI pass rates (something and undecided whether to get one with
also alluded to by Noel Gaughan in a built-in sat nav in readiness for the new
recent issue of Driving Instructor). driving test.
My worries are that as soon as you introduce something I have heard though that the examiners
that can be viewed as a target (i.e. a pass rate), then the provide their own sat nav and like to
focus on the job in hand – in our case client-centered plug it into the 12v socket.
learning – starts to head in the direction of the target. Is this correct?
The NHS is a prime example, as are schools. And how
often have we heard that the police are not going to take
A
any action as a conviction is unlikely: in other words, The DVSA will use their own sat nav for the
their investigation to conviction rate will be affected. L test. One reason for this is that they have
At a recent doctors’ surgery I was registered to, they certain destinations pre-programmed in, to
would not book an appointment more than three days in save them doing this during the test. If your car
advance because it affected their ‘appointment waiting has one built-in already, that is fine, but they
time’ target, irrespective of my needs as a patient. will use their own one anyway.
While I am aware the report did suggest this would This is a useful subject for a magazine article, which we could
be a voluntary publication, it may open the gates to it arrange for a future issue of Driving Instructor: stay tuned!
being mandatory. This could lead to the ADI’s focus on
meeting a new pupil/client to be on whether this person
is going to be hard work and struggle with their test, or
whether they will be quite easy and not affect my pass
rate. Even the most professional of ADIs would have
Q
difficulty avoiding this thought. Is there a cost for the initial DBS (CRB)
Which then leads me to another thorny issue, of what check if you are thinking of becoming an
indeed is a ‘pass rate’. On looking back, say, five years, ADI?
out of approximately 200 pupils that have taken their
test only two have failed but not retaken it (moved away,
lost interest). Does that mean that my pass rate is 99%,
although some passed second or third time? If we take it
A
over a yearly basis, then last year out of the 45 tests that I
had, 30 were passes. Does that make my pass rate 66% The only cost with this is £6 for the Post Office
– or not really because within those 45 tests, two pupils document checking service, but there is no
took four attempts to pass but there was a lot of first-time initial cost for the DBS check: it is all included
passes, so the two pupils that struggled really brought in your registration fee.
the pass rate down. Perhaps a pass rate means how
many pupils passed first time? That’s another calculation.
And what if a pupil came to you saying they had never
taken a test before, but had just stopped lessons with
another instructor and then they pass with you: is that a
first or second time on your rate? UK Petrol Prices for 21 June 2016 Source: petrolprices.com
It’s just a minefield and, as said many times by your
magazine, anything that puts too much emphasis on the Avg Min Max
test, as opposed to the learning process, is certainly a Unleaded 111.73 105.90 127.90
backward step.
Remember: no matter how good we are as coaches,
there are always going to be a few Tod Cartys or John Diesel 111.98 105.90 129.90
Sergeants out there (apologies if you’re not a Strictly
Come Dancing or Dancing on Ice viewer). Super Unleaded 121.96 112.90 137.90
Graham Carroll ADI
Premium Diesel 124.78 114.90 139.90
LPG 51.47 51.90 51.90
Driving Instructor 07
DIA and Goodyear launch virtual
reality game to develop awareness
The DIA has teamed up with tyre giant Goodyear to launch a
VR 360-degree gaming app to make young drivers aware of
the extreme dangers of driver distraction.
The Driving Academy app utilises Google Cardboard to
create a realistic situation involving distractions that one can
encounter when behind the wheel. By rotating your head, the
app picks up eye movements to identify where you are looking
and points are gained by demonstrating safe driving.
Alternatively, making eye contact with things you shouldn’t
be taking notice of results in loses points.
Research commissioned by Goodyear Tyres as part of its
Young Driver programme shows that nearly a quarter of drivers
aged 17-25 (23%) say their behaviour worsens when they
have a friend in their car.
The study also showed one third (32%) of young drivers
said they don’t concentrate as much on the road when their
friends are in the car, while a further 30% said they feel more
stressed, stretching to 40% of drivers aged 20-22.
The aim of the gaming app is to make young drivers more
aware of the distractions that they could face when their time
behind the wheel arrives. Being able to identify distractions
through the game will help contribute to their awareness in the
real life situation.
Carly Brookfield, CEO of the DIA, said: “Teaching new
drivers how important it is to keep their concentration while
behind the wheel is one of the most important things our
instructors do. It’s crucial this issue remains a talking point
when it comes to improving road safety for young drivers.”
The game incorporates distractions such as billboard
advertisements and an active mobile phone, of which usage
is still prominent in young drivers while behind the wheel. A
staggering 40% of young drivers said they have used their
mobile phone illegally while driving in the past year.
The game tasks the player to drive through various scenarios
while navigating internal distractions, such as text messages
appearing, or passengers talking, and external distractions,
such as pedestrians crossing the road.
Goodyear Tyre UK PR manager Kate Rock said: “The aim
of the app is to educate young people of the dangers of driver
distractions through an immersive experience that puts them
literally in the driving seat.”
The app will be available for public use on drivingacademy.
goodyear.co.uk (available in Google Cardboard and non-
VR formats) and will also be used as Young Driver centres
across the country as part of the Goodyear Driving Academy
programme.
The Google Cardboard devices will also be available to use
at future DIA events.
08 Driving Instructor
The largest driver
trainer news resource Study shows kids would rather
adinews.co.uk/news be driven by dad than mum
A recent survey has revealed that 52% of children prefer to be driven by dad
rather than mum, despite dads taking more risks.
The study by Ingenie, a young driver insurance brand, shows the incredible
amount of parents’ driving behaviour that their kids are absorbing from a very
young age. The kind of in-car bad habits that the study focused on revealed
Are parents negatively that a quarter of dads regularly displayed unsafe driving.
Over a quarter (26%) of dads accelerate too quickly and 22% speed when
affecting learner drivers? driving, compared with a considerably lower percentage of mums (11% and
22%, respectively). Despite this over half (52%) of children preferred being
driven by dad than mum (39%).
More than a half of learner drivers (54%) have been out on the road The research consisted of children aged between 10 and 16 years old, as
with their parents, despite many mums and dads showing a lack of they declared that they frequently witnessed their parents committing similar
knowledge of basic driving best practice, with one in five admitting transgressions, with dad proving to be the biggest culprit. Almost half (43%)
that they are not sure whether they would pass a driving test if they of dads get angry behind the wheel, which proved to be a huge difference to
had to take it again. a fifth (18%) of the mums that adopted the same trait.
The research, commissioned by the Admiral-sponsored Young Children also revealed that 57% of dads shout at others while driving
Driver campaign, followed driving instructors working for the scheme compared to 44% of mums: dad is also 13% more likely to swear in the car
where they claimed that their most dreaded phrase from the young than mum.
drivers was “but my dad says...” With this in mind, it’s surprising to see that over a third (34%) of children
When questioned, 76% of parents believed that they were up would rather have their dad teach them to drive than their mum (25%). These
to date with the latest rules and could provide their children with findings could reflect on the children not seeing these bad driving habits
adequate instruction. However, when quizzed on particular facts, is a serious matter and misunderstand that they are actions that are not
many were off target when shooting for the right answer. accepted.
Young Driver offers driving tuition to 10-17-year-olds across Richard King, Ingenie CEO, said: “The results that we are teaching
Britain, and surveyed more than 1,000 people to get these results. children bad driving habits long before they start lessons and subsequently
Here is some of the ‘outdated advice’ as mentioned by Admiral: pass their test. Parents need to understand the importance of setting a good
Mirror, signal, manoeuvre: more than a third of parents have example behind the wheel and be aware of the amount of information that
forgotten this basic rule, despite it being the cornerstone of good children absorb. How we drive as parents ultimately influences how safely
driving. Meanwhile, a half forget to teach their children about the our children will drive in the future.”
importance of checking dangerous blind spots. The survey is supported by this video that explores two children mimicking
Steering: four out of five parents (82%) wouldn’t teach the push- their parents bad driving habits.
pull technique favoured by instructors.
Gear changes: 38% would insist the learner moved up and down
the gears sequentially (1-2-3-4-5-6). However, block gear changing
is now considered acceptable in many situations.
Hand position: despite many of us being taught that hands should Your comments
be kept on the steering wheel at the 10 to two position, that advice
has been revised over recent years. It is now recommended that A lot of people are to old to be driving. The DVLA should draw the line at
hands are in the quarter to three position, to maintain control and 85, because half of them can’t react quick enough. Money would be lost
to prevent a serious injury should an airbag deploy. Some 46% of to the government, so this could never happen.
parents admitted to insisting their youngsters use the original ten and
two placement they’d been taught in the pre-airbag era.
Geoffrey Hart
Manoeuvres: one in five would be adamant that a turn in the road
was a fail unless it was completed in three manoeuvres. In fact, the
Well who would have guessed it. Kids imitating their parents. Whatever
modern test allows for up to five turns, hence, it no longer being
next? As usual, we are looking at the problem through the wrong end of
called a three-point turn.
the telescope.
Assisted technology: a quarter of parents would insist young
Parents – and, indeed, all qualified drivers – need to be periodically
drivers didn’t use parking sensors or cruise control to help with their
assessed to weed out these tendencies. I have frequently come across
driving, but these are perfectly acceptable in a test situation, when
academics who are quick to point out that people can concentrate
used appropriately.
for 45 or 60 minutes and behave themselves well enough to pass an
The research also discovered that dads are twice as likely as mums
assessment. Of course there are, but only very few. To use this as an
to take their child out for practice, with the majority offering additional
argument not to undertake assessments is absurd.
experience lessons alongside ones with their driving instructor.
We all know people who have passed the test, much to our amazement.
Kim Stanton of Young Driver said: “Our instructors have long
If, as a consequence of such anomalies, one was to suggest scrapping
despaired of the phrase ‘My dad says’, just because it normally means
the test because a handful of bad drivers had a single good day, there
a parent is contradicting what the professionals are trying to teach
would be an outcry.
the learner!
So why is serious consideration not given to regular assessments to
“Because we teach under 17s, usually the youngsters haven’t
keep standards up somewhere they ought to be? There will always be
yet had any experience of being taught by a parent, but children are
the flukes who get through, but look at the 80/20 rule. If we can scoop
like sponges: they constantly want to absorb information and, once
up 80% of the bad drivers and break the cycle, that is a huge stride
they’ve had a lesson with Young Driver, they often question their
forward. Actually, that number might very well be higher, but 80% seems
parents on driving techniques.
achievable.
“But, of course, the instructors are the experts and know what the
current best practice is, so we’d hope parents would swot up a bit Kevan Chippindall-Higgin
before giving any dud advice! It might actually help their own driving
skills too.”
Driving Instructor 09
Off-road driving instructor jailed for “road Motorists call
rage” that leaves two girls paralysed for £450 fine for
A motorist – who reportedly worked as an off-road driving instructor – who left two young girls paralysed
after his company 4x4 smashed into their family car, has been jailed for four-and-a-half-years.
drivers on their
Andrew Nay, 39, was seen laughing along with a passenger, as he undertook a Mercedes in an attempt
to follow a Mazda who belonged to a woman he was tailgating and ‘bullying’.
phones
Nay, a Jaguar Land Rover manager, crashed into the Vauxhall as he made a right-hand turn across
The penalty for using your phone while
oncoming traffic.
driving should be quadrupled, as the
In the car were Roberts Raibais and Renate Raiba, originally from Latvia, who suffered broken bones
fine doesn’t stop offenders from
from the accident and said to be “completely shattered” by the accident.
using their phone behind the wheel,
Their two daughters Katrina Raiba, six, and her sister Karlina, eight, were both left paralysed from the
according to a new survey.
waist down.
The study, carried out by the RAC,
The girl’s parents released a statement saying: “Andrew Nay’s reckless actions had devastating
suggests that more than half (52%)
consequences for our two beautiful daughters.
agree that drivers should be fined
“Katrina and Karlina were happy, active children and he has robbed them of that. We will never be able
£450 for using their phone while
to forgive him. Every day they ask ‘when will we start feeling our legs again?’ They think it’s going to get
driving and that the current £100
better and it’s too hard to tell them.”
penalty is an ineffective deterrent.
Nay, who has been told he will have to retake his driving test when he is released from prison, admitted
2,100 motorists took part in the
four counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, but denied that he had been chasing the Mazda
survey, with two-thirds saying the fine
prior to hitting the victims’ Vauxhall Signum.
should increase to £200 and a third
In evidence of his trial, Nay, claimed that he had noticed “nothing in particular” during his journey to the
saying £450 would be the only option
garden centre, however judge Adrienne Lucking QC rejected his testimony, ruling that “overwhelming”
to make people think twice before
evidence showed that he was in pursuit of the Mazda.
committing the crime.
Motorist Fraser Hope, whose Mercedes was undertaken by Nay, stated in court that “there were two
A consultation on harsher penalties
gentlemen in the car” and that they looked as though they “were having a joke” and “having a laugh.”
for drivers caught took place in
Another witness to the crash, Leslie Miller, spoke about Nay’s right-hand turn saying: “It was absolutely
March, and the proposals are due
ridiculous. There was no reason why it couldn’t have waited.”
to be published by the Department
After contacting the DVSA, it’s been confirmed that there is no record of Andrew Nay being an ADI.
for Transport. It is expected that the
current fine will rise to £150, and
a driver would be faced with four
penalty points rather than three on
their licence.
Among the drivers surveyed by the
RAC, mobile phone use was the top
complaint. A tenth of respondents
said that an instant ban should be
given out to anyone caught ‘dialing
and driving’.
The RAC’s Simon Williams said:
“There is a very strong feeling from
law-abiding motorists that something
needs to be done to make drivers stop
using their phones while driving.
“But while people want the
Your comments penalties for committing this offence
to be beefed up, there is also an
acceptance that nothing is likely to
To make things worse he wasn’t even registered with the DVSA. a bad story that taints our change, due primarily to a lack of
professionalism and industry. enforcement.”
76% of the motorists surveyed
Robin believe that using a handheld phone
while driving puts lives in danger, with
Just four and a half years for destroying two young lives? Nothing like long enough –
68% saying they wish there were
although I do wonder whether the kids were properly restrained.
more police officers patrolling the
As a point of interest though, I am not surprised that he was not on the register. If he
road to enforce the law.
was working for Land Rover Experience, their training is exclusively off road and on private
Williams added: “From 2010
property.
to 2015, England and Wales
Furthermore, one does not have to be an ADI to teach trailer towing because, according
experienced a 27% decline in the
to the DVSA, the pupil can already drive and so does not need an ADI. Presumably the same
number of road police officers. The
applies here. Even if they were on the public highway, LRE could get around this by claiming
number of fixed penalty notices issued
it was demonstrating/explaining the unique aspects of the car.
for using a handheld phone while
Ideally, the DVSA ought to get its act together and ensure that anybody teaching
driving reduced dramatically, from a
anything driving for reward be registered. That’s the pigs fueled and cleared for take off.
high 125,500 to 52,400 in 2012.”
“In line with this, our own research
Kevan Chippindall-Higgin has found that motorists believe
there is little chance of being caught
by a police officer (as opposed to a
camera) for a driving offence.”
10 Driving InstructorMotorists may face £5,000
fine for driving too close to Meet the InstructorcoverPlus team
Here to help you with your ADI Insurance
cyclists
Motorists could face on-the-spot fines of up to £5,000 if they are driving
too close to cyclists, under new government proposals.
Ministers are considering introducing policies similar to those in areas
of Europe and Australia, where minimum distances have been imposed
on passing vehicles.
Transport minister Robert Goodwill claimed that the government was
“interested” in bringing in the policy to help tackle hazardous driving
practices. If approved, it will be the first time a legally enforceable
distance between cars and bicycles would be introduced in Britain. Call Sarah, Rachel, Sophie & Jane
The Highway Code currently states that drivers must allow “plenty of
room” for cyclists, as much as they would when passing another vehicle, on 02920629413
but no minimum distance is set.
Australia has introduced a similar rule, requiring drivers to leave at
least 1.5 metres between cyclists when passing them at high speeds. ADI & PDI Car Insurance Breakdown Cover
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between cyclists and other vehicles in South Australia is relatively recent.
“As a result, there is limited information available regarding the impacts,
both positive and negative, following this change in the law.” @Instructorcover
So far, more than 16,000 people have signed a petition urging for a
similar rule to be introduced in Britain. /InstructorcoverPlus
Figures released by the Department for Transport last year revealed
cyclists are 17 times more likely to be killed on the road than those www.instructorcoverplus.com
travelling in vehicles.
Last year, London cyclists staged a second ‘die-in’ protest aiming
to raise awareness of cycling safety and dangerous driving. The InstructorcoverPlus is a division of Watkin Davies Financial Services Ltd,
our registered office is 19 Penlline Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff CF14 2AA.
demonstration was organised by the campaign group Stop Killing We are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
Cyclists in order to commemorate the death of an Oxbridge graduate Company is registered in England and Wales with company number
and cyclist who tragically died on a busy junction in the capital. 02102120.Five lesser-known distractions
that motorists face
Mobile phones are an ongoing issue when dealing with distractions while behind the wheel. Even
with hands-free kits, drivers can be just as distracted by other things in their surroundings while in
the car.
The BBC recently mentioned five lesser-known driving distractions faced by motorists.
One of the main distractions noted were spiders.
Olivia Baldock-Ward, Training Manager at the DIA, said: “Many drivers can probably relate to an
uninvited passenger, in the form of a spider, in their car. When it comes to spiders, if I were to put
this on a 1-10 scale (where 10 is the worst) I fluctuate between a 7 and a 10, depending on the
size and location of the 8-legged monster.”
Spiders have led to a few road accidents. For example, in 2010 a motorist in Devon who threw
a spider out of her car window crashed into a man on a charity bike ride. This was later followed UK cars ‘among
by another incident in which a driver crashed into a lamppost in Poole, because he was distracted
by a spider.
When addressing her own experiences, Baldock-Ward states: “The last time was more recent
best maintained
,where a spider ran across the dashboard as I was driving along. I pulled over as soon as I could and
dealt with it. The spider disappeared behind the dashboard somewhere, never to be seen again.”
in the world’
The second lesser-known distraction mentioned by the BBC is due to emotional turmoil.
According to a new report, Brits spend an
According to researchers at Virginia Tech, drivers vastly increase the risk of a crash if they get
average of £695 a year maintaining their cars,
behind the wheel “while observably angry, sad, crying, or emotionally agitated”.
putting UK motorists among the best in the
We often face “Tiredness kills” signs as we head down motorways and it is argued that these
world when taking care of our motors.
different emotions can be just as distractive.
The latest data from the Society of Motor
Saudi Mann, author of The Upside of Downtime: Why Boredom is Good, suggests that playing
Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows
particular music can work well when uplifting moods. However, she suggests avoiding songs with
that UK motorists spend a collective £21.1bn
too much personal emotional resonance and that “you need some upbeat music, just enough to
a year on servicing and repair.
help you concentrate.”
The news comes at the same time
Eye candy can also be distracting for drivers.
that Sainsbury’s bank has released data
A survey in Australia revealed that 59.2% of male drivers had been distracted by “good-looking
suggesting that the average cost of running a
women”. Whereas for the opposite sex, the figure was considerably low, as only 15.2% of women
car is around £2,197.42 a year, 22% or £622
admitted that they are distracted by a handsome man walking the pavement.
less than 2013. One of the main reasons for
This shows that driver distractions are not limited to aspects inside the vehicle. The Department
this could be because the cost of fuel has
for Transport has reported that in 2014 police reported 19 deaths and 206 serious accidents
fallen by 37.8% during this period.
caused by a distraction outside the vehicle.
The study also found that there are fewer
Adults are another distraction according to the BBC, as a study revealed that 22.9% of drivers
cars in a state of disrepair, generating excess
listed over-18s as a distraction. Interestingly, only 12.9% said the same of children
pollution or needing new brakes on UK roads
Conversations between adults in the car could help prevent the driver from feeling tired or facing
compared to many other countries.
a different emotion: however, overdoing it could then lead to the driver concentrating more on the
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said:
conversation than what the road ahead has in store.
“The UK’s aftermarket is one of the most
Thanks to the rise of the ‘selfie’ era and the pressures that come along with self-image, self-
competitive in the world and plays a critical
grooming has become a popular activity while in the car.
role in keeping the country’s 30 million-plus
Motorists have been seen to apply make-up or adjust their hair while stuck in traffic, but to do
cars roadworthy.”
this while on the move could cause serious accidents. In the US, road safety group Decide to Drive
There are more than 42,500 service and
issues advice on how to avoid such activity behind the wheel.
repair garages across the UK and the report
While the obvious getting ready before leaving the house is suggested, it is advised that items
calculated that the after-market sector
such as tweezers, lipstick and brushes are kept of the passenger seat to avoid temptations.
generates £12.2bn for the UK and supports
345,000 jobs.
With more than 30m vehicles in use
requiring regular servicing and maintenance
work, the UK aftermarket is already the fourth
largest in Europe by car parc size – and it
is set to overtake France to become third by
2022. It is also the eighth largest sector of its
kind in the world, bigger than those in Korea,
Brazil, Canada and India.
The report also discovered that more
motorists are consulting the internet to
compare prices for services and repairs,
with the UK having the highest penetration of
online retail for automotive parts.
Hawes added: “Robust competition and
a strong independent sector have helped
reduce the cost of vehicle ownership in the
UK and provide greater choice to consumers.
“For this growth to be sustained, however,
the sector must continue to stay abreast of
evolving vehicle technologies and changing
mobility patterns.”
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by the Financial Conduct Authority (Reference 485972) Association ServiceNew driving theory test Survey
proves too tough for uncovers
French learners surprising
The introduction of a new driving theory test in France
has seen the pass rate drop dramatically, as French
UK driving
authorities aim to reduce road casualties.
Only one in six candidates passed the new test on its
first couple of days in operation, which is a huge change
habits
from the seven out of ten, on average, who passed the A survey carried out by First
previous examination. Vehicle Leasing, a car leasing
The new test examines candidate’s knowledge of the and finance broker, unveils the
code de la route (or highway code) and it was revealed secrets behind the driving habits
by Europe1 radio that in one département in France only we Brits have adopted.
one candidate out of 60 managed to pass. The survey uncovered a bundle
The radio station also stated that the usual pass rate of interesting stats and facts,
for the theory test has plunged from 70% to just 16.7%. which include insights in road
The sudden strictness on the theory test comes after rage, driving after consuming
it was announced that road deaths are on the rise again alcohol, as well as the frequency
after falling for 13 years in a row. The government, in with we upgrade our car and
response, devised a much tougher theory test, with people’s general driving style.
1,000 possible questions. Some of the key figures the
The subjects covered in the new test were widened survey showed was that 43% of
to include how to drive more economically as well as men in the UK have been caught
areas covering first aid and how to spot “vulnerable” by a speed camera and men are
road users. 33% more likely to have been in a
When speaking to Europe1 radio, Emmanuel Barbe, car crash than women.
France’s road safety tsar, said: “Obviously, we will have The survey wasn’t limited to
to rethink the questions.” gender specific questions, as
He continued to say that the results were not as bad it showed that around a third
as they seemed, with a great majority of candidates (36%) of 18-24-year-olds who
narrowly missing to reach the pass target of 35 out of participated, had said that they
40 questions. have been involved in a crash.
According to Barbe the problem was partly caused The results showed that road
by the failure of the government to issue new software rage incidents are 15% more likely
and guidance in time to driving schools, leaving many to escalate to physical aggression
candidates poorly prepared. or assault in the North, more than
Barbe advised driving schools to take more time to anywhere else in the UK.
help candidates pass the test, however he also stated The data was collected in April
that they would review the questions that were leaving 2016 from over 1,000 UK drivers.
candidates confused. The survey was designed
and conducted by First Vehicle
Leasing in an attempt to find out
more about the way people drive
Norway to ban sale of all fossil-fuel cars in the UK.
When answering questions
about their car, the figures
Norway is planning on banning the sale of all fossil fuel-based cars, with the aim of having 100% of its cars revealed that 71% of drivers
running on green energy by 2025, according to a newspaper report. replace or upgrade their car
Continuing its desire to become one of the most ecologically progressive countries on the planet, politicians within five years and 56% of cars
from all sides of the political spectrum have reportedly reached some concrete conclusions about the switch are nearly always occupied by
to a complete reliance on green energy. only one person.
According to CNBC, only approximately 150,000 new vehicles are sold in Norway each year, which means Graham McCarthy, Operations
that it wouldn’t be difficult for the majority of new vehicles to be electrified. Manager at First Vehicle Leasing,
According to Dagens Naeringsliv, a Norwegian newspaper, “FRP will remove all gasoline cars”, making said: “This survey provides a
reference to the populist right-wing Framstegspartiet, or Progress Party in their headline. unique insight into how people
However other right-wing representatives have denied that the move has been confirmed. drive in the UK, which I’m sure
The policy, while designed to help combat climate change and usher in a future of emission-free vehicles, will be of interest to policymakers,
is a gigantic boost to carmaker Telsa, which is most closely associated with electric vehicles. insurers and all road users.”
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, tweeted: “Just heard that Norway will ban new sales of fuel cars in 2025. What He continued to say: “I’m
an amazingly awesome country. You guys rock!!” certain that this fascinating survey
The electric vehicle movement is already strong in Norway, thanks to a slew of government incentives, such will stimulate much debate about
as reduced taxes and the ability to drive in bus-only lanes. There is also a strong contingent of electric car how people really drive in the UK.”
advocates, which may have influenced politicians. Visit www.firstvehicleleasing.
Øyvind Korsberg, an MP for the progress Party, explained how far-reaching the consequences of the co.uk/uk-driver-survey-report.
new plan could be, saying: “After 2025 new private cars, buses, and light commercial vehicles will be zero- pdf to see the full results of the
emission vehicles. By 2030, new heavier vans, 75% of new long-distance buses, 50% of new trucks will be survey.
zero-emission vehicles”.
14 Driving InstructorDIA MEMBER BENEFIT
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DIA members can now enjoy up to £6000 The range of benefits include • You can use your discount when
off when purchasing a new vehicle through purchasing a car for a family member.
Suzuki. As part of our on going partnership • Up to £6000 off (depending on the Please note that the family member
with Suzuki, DIA is proud to present to our vehicle model) when purchasing a new must live at the same address and
members the opportunity to purchase a wide vehicle at a Suzuki dealership, with you will need to bring along a copy of
range of new Suzuki cars at heavily discounted some vehicles coming with metallic both your driving licence and the family
prices. Not only can you receive up to £6000 paint. member’s driving licence.
off the initial price of your new vehicle but you • A further discount of up to £400 when • No minimum membership length. As
can also receive discounts on metallic and purchasing your vehicle with metallic long as you are a member of the DIA
dual-tone paint. All you need to do is take your paint or up to £680 when purchasing you will be eligible for these discounts,
membership card and driving licence with you your vehicle with dual-tone paint. regardless of how long you have been
when visiting a Suzuki dealership. a member.
To find out more call us
Terms and conditions
The member qualifies for one new car purchase in a rolling twelve-month period (from date of registration). The car can be
purchased outright or financed through Black Horse Contract Hire or Personal Contract Hire. The entitlement can be utilised
on 020 8686 8010 or visit for members’ own use or a family member who resides at the same home address (vehicle is not for re-sale purpose). This
scheme is not in conjunction with any other Suzuki offer. The car must be retained, with no change of ownership for a minimum
period of 6 months from the date of registration. Purchases from this scheme will be audited, including possible contact with
www.driving.org/suzuki the purchaser; any misuse will result in the immediate withdrawal of the member’s organisation/supplying dealer from the
scheme, which is not intended for profit or trading purposes.Driverless cars could generate
big insurance bills
Driverless cars could rack up huge insurance bills if the outstanding legal obstacles are not
smoothed out before cars are released on the road.
The announcement of legislative support in the Queen’s Speech opens the opportunity to
have autonomous cars on British roads, with some suggestions that they could make a huge
impression by 2020.
However Claims.co.uk, an expert personal injury portal, states that the forthcoming Transport
Bill could fuel a future legal bill if all the outstanding legal obstacles are not smoothed out
before the cars are released on the roads.
The government’s legislative programme, outlined by the Queen in May, included the
Modern Transport Bill that could see driverless vehicles on our streets within four years, with
the possibility of insuring them under ordinary motor policies. Claims.co.uk believes that the
issue is far from ironed out.
John Quail, managing director of Claims.co.uk said: “The announced legislation could see
us all buying and using driverless cars by 2020, but there are quite a few issues to resolve
before we hand the keys to a computer – not least insurance liability when a human is not in
control of a vehicle.”
A recent YouGov survey has revealed that drivers are unaware on who would be held
accountable should they need to make a claim against a driverless car: 33% said they
wouldn’t know, 28% said the owner of the driverless care would be at fault, while 30% said
the manufacturer would be to blame.
“It is no exaggeration to say full automation would revolutionise transport,” added Quail.
“Those unable to drive would be given a new lease of life; there would be no excuses for
drunk-driving and with more than 90% of road accidents a result of human error, we could
slash death rates and SMIDSY (sorry mate, I didn’t see you) would become a thing of the
past.”
New head restraint
Article 8 of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic (1968) states, “Every driver shall at all
times be able to control his vehicle.” Since the UK never ratified this, it gives the country a
head start in driverless cars.
An amendment to allow other European countries to follow the UK’s lead has been tabled,
but while the legislative issues are not as unsurmountable as for others, the day-to-day realities could reduce
of any claims and liability remain to be addressed.
Quail states: “Driverless cars have the potential to transform lifestyles and save lives.
However, there could be a big financial bill to be paid if the full implications of driverless cars
whiplash injuries
are not thought through in these early stages. The hope will be that driverless cars will see a Engineers at Loughborough University have
fall in insurance premiums, but there’s potential for fraudulent claims to increase in the short unveiled a head restraint and seating system
term.” that is designed to reduce whiplash in rear-end
He stresses the importance of any legal issues that surround driverless cars are to be vehicle collisions.
established explicitly before we see them on the road. Whiplash injuries are among the most common
traumas suffered from an on-road incident and,
although relatively harmless, they can take some
time to heal, impacting on the life of the sufferer.
The new system consists of a head restraint
and seat that reacts simultaneously during the
impact, to provide immediate support for the
head. Scientists from Loughborough University
say that the car seat and head restraint have
been designed to react at the same time as the
driver and/or passenger’s body pushes back
against the seat, in the event of a car hitting the
back of your vehicle.
The scientists mention that this helps limit the
different movements between the person’s head
and torso that can cause whiplash injuries when
such accidents occur.
Pproject leader professor Memis Acar said:
“A combined reactive seat and head restraint
system is designed to reduce the whiplash risk,
in conjunction with a seat damper absorbing
impact energy from the collision.”
He added that it does this “by reducing the
relative motion between the head and the torso
and bringing the head restraint closer to the head
before whiplash can take effect.”
The number of whiplash injury claims in the
UK last year was predicted to have reached
840,000, costing the insurance industry £2bn.
16 Driving InstructorBUSINESS
HELPDESK
KEITH HALSTEAD OFFERS ADVICE
ON THE LATEST TAX ISSUES, INCLUDING
LOW-EMISSION CARS AND BREXIT
Will ULEVs take over our roads? car from business profits, which is obviously attractive to
many businesses. But, in the driving instructor industry,
And are there any financial or ABOUT THE you can make the same 100% deduction against
tax advantages to ULEVs? the profits of your business by having a dual control
WRITER
mechanism in the car. It will be interesting to see the
The government announced in December 2015 a Keith Halstead MA growth in the market in the coming years, but don’t rush
long-term extension to the plug-in car grant, backed by (Oxon) FCA has been a out to buy one just yet – unless of course you want to
a £400m package to treble the number of ultra-low- partner in the chartered contribute to lower emissions in our society, which is an
emission vehicles on Britain’s roads. accountancy profession admirable aspiration.
An ultra-low-emission vehicle (ULEV) is a motor for over 20 years. He is
vehicle that produces very low levels of carbon dioxide responsible for a wide
in comparison to other vehicles. In the UK a vehicle must range of owner managed
produce no more than 75g/km of CO2 to be considered
an ultra-low-emission vehicle.
businesses, including
driving instructors. He ULEV sales have
multiplied over the
Road transport remains the dominant transport mode currently heads up the
in the UK. However, traffic and new road capacity can DIA Tax Service for
bring with them concerns over air quality and noise.
past few years
members.
Increasing use of ULEVs therefore has a very important
role to play in supporting mobility while reducing
the carbon and air quality impact of road transport.
Recognising this, in 2011 the government introduced
a plug-in car grant designed to encourage people to
buy ULEVs. The current grant levels are based on the
environmental performance of the vehicle, with ULEVs Will Brexit mean higher taxes?
placed into one of three categories on the basis of their
CO2 emissions and zero emission range (expressed George Osborne has said he will have to introduce an
in mileage). The grant has been instrumental in the emergency Budget involving tens of billions of pounds of
UK becoming the biggest ULEV market in the EU, and spending cuts and tax rises if Britain votes to leave the
the fourth largest in the world, with tens of thousands EU. How might this affect small businesses?
of people already benefitting. Under the extension Sharing a joint platform with Alastair Darling, Osborne
arrangements, buyers of the greenest cars can save up said that he will set out £30bn of illustrative measures
to £4,500 off the overall purchase price. The grant is that he would need to take in an emergency Budget
deducted from the price of the vehicle at the point of sale following Brexit. This, he claimed, is a mid-range estimate,
by the dealership. No paperwork is required from the based on an Institute for Fiscal Studies’ assessment of
customer, except a survey, to benefit from the grant. the impact of a leave vote on public finances, because of
There is certainly strong (albeit not spectacular) lower trade, investment, and tax receipts.
growth in the sector, with sales of ULEVs multiplying over The measures are broken down into the two areas
the past few years. Motorists also have a wider choice of of spending cuts and taxation rises. Firstly, they say
29 ULEVs on the market – five times as many as when that £15bn in new spending cuts could mean NHS,
the grant was launched. The UK is also at the forefront of education and defence spending being slashed by 2%
the roll-out of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, which are also – meaning a £2.5bn a year cut to the health service, a
eligible for the £4,500 grant thanks to their zero tailpipe £1.2bn cut to defence and a £1.15bn cut to education.
emissions. The government has committed to make Pensions spending could be cut by £2bn a year.
nearly all cars and vans in the UK zero emission by 2050, But the other half is taxation rises, £15bn in tax rises to
so we know the long-term direction of travel. be exact. This is most likely to comprise a 2p rise in the
But is it sensible from a financial and tax point of view? basic rate of income tax to 22%, a 3p rise in the higher
One of the main drawbacks of a low-emission vehicle is rate to 43%, and a 5p rise in inheritance tax rates to 45p.
the cost – even small models cost over £20K – so the Alcohol and petrol duties would rise by 5%.
grant is welcome, but only provides a fractional reduction. Scare-mongering? We’ll know by the time this issue of
There is the ability to offset 100% of the cost of a ‘green’ Driving Instructor hits your doormats.
Driving Instructor 17You can also read
