Experience threat to trainers
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• HGV driving instructors fear their livelihoods could be at risk if the Government acts on a proposal to impose a minimum "experience" period on drivers of rigids before they are allowed to take their artic tests.
Already alarmed by the fall in the number of people seeking lessons, instructors say the proposed delay of up to 12 months would simply place another obstacle in the way of would-be HGV drivers. The idea is part of a wider consultation being held by the Driving Standards Agency on HGV regulation.
John Cunningham, who runs the Perth Transport Training school, says his learner intake is down by around 60% on this time last year; he attributes much of the blame to bureaucratic delays which already exist in the test procedure. "People ring me up all excited about getting their licence," he says, "but when! explain the time and cost involved, many give up. Another delay in the system, such as this minimum experience period, could finish me, and many other instructors too."
opinion in favour," says a spokesman. He adds that the 1)SA has attempted to speed things up by introducing a same-day results service for learners taking their theory test.
The consultation period officially ended on 1 September but the DSA, which is disappointed by the low number of responses it has received, will still be accepting submissions for the next few days.