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It's about quality, not quantity when it comes to Britain's driving training

24th June 2010, Page 20
24th June 2010
Page 20
Page 20, 24th June 2010 — It's about quality, not quantity when it comes to Britain's driving training
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

But because there is a test for the initial CPC, quality standards are not, apparently, required and all the noble aspirations about "professionalising the industry" for new entrants are lost in the reality of "here are a couple of CDs to look at, let me know when you're ready to sit the test".

Skills for Logistics, to whom the industry might look to address some of these issues, has traditionally excused itself from the discussion on the grounds that its remit is to represent employers and those who work in the sector, rather than those who supply training services to it.

DRIVER

But with a successful bid to become a National Skills Academy under its belt, its involvement with training providers will surely broaden and deepen, so perhaps there is an opportunity there.

I believe there is also an enormous, and so far ungrasped, opportunity presented by the 2006 Road Safety Act. One of the provisions of this Act is that no further act or parliamentary vote is required to make the currently voluntary register of LGV instructors compulsory.

Among its explanatory notes is this one: the Act enables the current one-size-fits-all scheme for regulating car-driving instructors to be replaced with a new power to introduce schemes targeted to meet the needs of individual sectors, e.g. lorries. buses, off-road and fleet driving.

This "new power to introduce" has so far lain unused by successive Ministers for Transport — maybe someone should have a word with the new one.

The question is who should have this word. Clearly, training providers on their own are never going to convince anyone.

It is up to the industry as a whole to make its voice heard.

Michael Wood gate

Independent skills and training consultant

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Organisations: National Skills Academy
People: Michael Wood

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