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'This move makes it easier for cowboys to train lorry drivers'

26th January 1995
Page 48
Page 48, 26th January 1995 — 'This move makes it easier for cowboys to train lorry drivers'
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

6 A seemingly unequal contest over As is going on within the ransport and distribution industry. "Common Sense" hasn't been able to match "Stupidity", the current league leader. Stupidity, whose home ground is near Westminster, say it cares about road safety and wants to promote high standards throughout the country's league of professional drivers but declines to take any active part in promoting such standards.

When the Road Transport Industry Training Board had a statutory standardsmaintaining role, most training providers toed the standards line. Stupidity did away with training boards because they were "no longer relevant to the needs of industry and the country as a whole". Score: Stupidity 1 Common Sense 0

Early in 1994, Common Sense was so concerned about declining standards that its representatives met Department of Transport officials to express fears for the future and remind them that anyone could set up and train drivers of 38-tonners without the need For formal qualifications, monitoring or any thought being given to standards. Common Sense sought some form of approval system for driving schools and instructors on the lines of the existing ADI (approved driving

instructor) system for car driver trainees. Common Sense (foolishly) thought that this was in the public interest. In rejecting the proposal, the DOT reminded it that the moves which brought about the ADI legislation didn't come from the government of the day but from a Private Member's Bill and that, unless there was widespread support for such changes, Stupidity wouldn't even give it a passing thought. Score: Stupidity 2 Common Sense 0 Common Sense also pointed out that road safety benefits would come from training and testing on laden vehicles. Again, this wasn't thought necessary. Score: Stupidity 3 Common Sense 0

To try to safeguard standards, the Road Haulage & Distribution Training Council hosted talks with the Driving Standards Agency to explore a voluntary system as an alternative to a fully government-run scheme.

However, it came as no surprise several months later to find that RSL (the privatised survivor of the RTITB and now also known as RTITB Services Ltd and CENTREX) was probably not too keen on competition for what was left of a lucrative market. The DSA, for its part, declined to continue the dialogue because it didn't want to be seen to be in competition with anyone. Score: Stupidity 4 Common Sense 0 In April 1994 Stupidity notified Common Sense that facilities to plan training and book driving tests would be taken away from October last year. Stupidity realised that having a structure.' training base throughout the country wasn't doing anything for market testing and privatisation. This move, which makes it easier for cowboys to train this country's lorry drivers is, no doubt, supposed to enhance road safety. The fact that training providers who care about standards will quit the market doesn't matter. The fact that costs have increased to industry since these changes is, presumably, immaterial. Score: Stupidity 5 Common Sense 0 How can Common Sense overcome Stupidity in the second leg of this one-sided match? The non-partisan spectators don't really care which way the match goes and, while that lack of interest remains, Common Sense seems destined for relegation to the lower divisions.


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