Over-arching post-test training brand suggested

The Government says it will work with advanced driving test organisations to promote a single over-arching post-test training brand, and will start using a common assessment system, in a bid to encourage increased takeup with incentives for participation.

The ‘Learning to Drive’ consultation document adds: “We will work with advanced driver and fleet training providers, to promote further training and support products that are used to help a driver develop beyond the standard for licence acquisition.

“This could be supported by an online assessment aid, or by an instructor giving a ‘driving health check’. Incentives may be needed – perhaps branding levels of assessment to make them a source of pride or useful assets, or more direct incentives. Public and employer recognition would be important.”

Two years ago the first advanced driving test designed purely for business drivers was launched by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and DriveTech (UK) in an effort to cut deaths and injuries on Britain’s roads.

And earlier this year, a²om, which bills itself as the thinking person’s driver education specialist and the UK’s only university affiliated driving academy, launched a BTEC in Driving Science for Fleet Drivers.

Advanced drivers have been shown to be around 25% less likely to be involved in a crash, and that is why RoSPA and DriveTech joined forces to develop ROADTest to promote higher safety standards in the fleet industry.

Extended

This year that initiative has been extended to enable drivers who pass the ‘at-work’ test to upgrade their qualification free of charge and have their success recognised at BTEC level three – equivalent to an A-Level.

Simon Protano, head of RoSPA Driver and Fleet Solutions, said: “ROADTest sets the benchmark standard for at-work driving, and takes into consideration the realities faced by those who use the road for work purposes, which can include driving thousands of miles each year under deadline pressures and in unfamiliar vehicles. The new opportunity for successful ROADTest candidates to have their qualifications recognised at BTEC level three will be beneficial to all firms, irrespective of whether they have a car or van fleet or employ professional haulage or passenger transport drivers.

“We hope it will particularly appeal to those organisations committed to promoting continuing professional development among their staff.

“With Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) arrangements for bus and coach drivers coming into force across Europe in September, fleet managers might also like to consider putting their staff through ROADTest so they can build up the training hours required.”

However, take-up has been slow with a DriveTech spokesman saying: “In our experience companies have been a little slow to accept the idea of formal qualifications for driving course for employees who drive, but there are now signs that there is more of an appetite for this and there has certainly been an increase in interest in our ROADTest product.”

ROADTest consists of a flexible modular training programme – typically three days with a trainer, outside of which drivers practise and consolidate what they have learned. It culminates in a candidate taking a theory test, practical driving test and hazard perception assessment. The programme covers key issues related to occupational road risk, including drink and drugs, mobile phones, speed, fatigue, and posture, seat support and head restraints.

Targeted

a²om initially targeted its BTEC level two qualification in ‘driving science’ – equivalent to a GCSE – at young drivers to enable them to prove they have driving skills over and above those expected to be achieved when passing their ‘L’ test.

This summer, the organisation extended the initiative to the fleet and B2B communities saying that it believed those who passed would be safer and would gain an essential life skill. In addition, a²om says passing the exam will provide staff with an additional qualification, which it believes will become established as a ‘must have’ among employers offering jobs to people that involve driving as part of their work.

The a²om scheme is being deployed through the existing countrywide network of independent driving trainers, who enrol on to the organisation’s specially designed training programme to qualify to teach driving to the accredited level.

Gary Austin, board director of the a2om academy and a former chief executive of the Government’s Driving Standards Agency, said: “The new qualification not only educates learners about driver attitude and behaviour that can lead to crashes, but also raises awareness of other factors that contribute to the unacceptably high number of young drivers being killed and seriously injured. It is anticipated that the qualification will prepare and empower young people for a lifetime of safe driving.”

Recognised

He added: “BTECs are a qualification that is recognised widely by employers. Not only will it give youngsters a qualification but it could also help their job prospects, particularly in driving jobs. In the future we would encourage employers to not only check to see if employees have a valid driving licence but that they also have a BTEC in ‘driving science’, which will help fleets to raise their standard of occupational road risk management.”

Edexcel, the provider of internationally recognised qualifications, has accredited both BTEC courses.

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