October 2019
£130 yellow box fines to hit whole of UK
26/10/19 11:09 PM
Drivers across the country will soon be liable for £130 fines for offences like stopping in yellow box junctions, the Government has indicated
Published on October 21, 2019
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps looks set to hand all local councils legislative powers to crack down on ‘moving traffic violations’ – currently only available to London and Cardiff.
While accepting the move broadly makes sense, the RAC remains concerned some councils could use their new powers as a cash cow.
Nicholas Lyes, head of roads policy at the RAC said: “Local authorities know where congestion might require some form of enforcement, particularly in the case of box junctions, so it stands to reason they should be able to improve this through the use of enforcement.
“However, we remain concerned that cash-strapped authorities may see this as an opportunity to extract more revenue from drivers.”
Published on October 21, 2019
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps looks set to hand all local councils legislative powers to crack down on ‘moving traffic violations’ – currently only available to London and Cardiff.
While accepting the move broadly makes sense, the RAC remains concerned some councils could use their new powers as a cash cow.
Nicholas Lyes, head of roads policy at the RAC said: “Local authorities know where congestion might require some form of enforcement, particularly in the case of box junctions, so it stands to reason they should be able to improve this through the use of enforcement.
“However, we remain concerned that cash-strapped authorities may see this as an opportunity to extract more revenue from drivers.”
Under the Traffic Management Act 2004, councils must apply for powers to tackle parking, bus lane contraventions and moving traffic violations. Many have taken measures to enforce parking and bus lane contraventions, but not moving traffic violations.
Members of the committee had raised concerns that police officers are too busy policing minor offences to deal with more serious crimes.
Mr Shapps said: “I have been looking at powers outside of London provided to local areas to do some of these things, and think that I’ll shortly be making an announcement.”
Transport for London has been penalising drivers for stopping in yellow box junctions for 15 years. In the 2017/18 financial year alone, it issued £16 million in fines.
In many cases drivers claim stopping was unavoidable – either because of traffic light sequencing, or because of drivers ahead of them blocking their path.
Drivers are allowed to wait in a box junction to turn right, providing their exit road is clear.
Nicholas Lyes added: “Should powers be extended to cover all moving traffic offences, local authorities must use this as an opportunity to improve traffic flow and safety, and not as a way to generate more revenue.”
For more information from the RAC, please visit them here.
Developing an app to electronically record driving tests
15/10/19 11:07 PM
Posted by:
Mark Magee,
Posted on:
4 September 2019 -
Categories:
Driving test, Feature
Since we launched our 5 year strategy in 2017, we’ve been working to become a digitally-enabled organisation. We want to provide modern, efficient and sustainable technology to support a mobile workforce and build brilliant digital services for our staff and customers.
Part of this work is developing a way to capture driving test electronically, using a tablet in the car rather than using a paper marking form (called a DL25). This will improve the way our examiners work and provide driving test candidates with a modern service using up-to-date technology.
Although this blog post is a bit longer than normal, I thought it was important to explain more about why we’re doing this, the benefits for candidates and how it will work during tests.
Providing staff with the right tools to do their job
Part of the agency’s focus over the past year has been providing our staff with the tools to do their jobs in a modern way. You may have seen we developed a search app tool for our enforcement officers, to give them immediate access to the data they need at the roadside.
A typical day sees examiners delivering a maximum of 7 driving tests. The current process requires them to spend a lot of time filling in test and candidate information on the DL25. They also have to record an overview of what happened on the previous test before the next one is conducted.
We wanted to make this process more efficient and our examiners lives easier. The new app, accessed on a tablet, prepopulates candidate and test information automatically from the booking and allows an overview of the previous test to be completed quickly and easily.
It will also provide them with immediate access to their testing schedule and highlight any specific needs the candidate might have let us know about when they booked their test. This will better prepare the examiner before meeting the candidate, to know how to help them.
An electronic version of the DL25
Examiners will conduct the test in exactly the same way as with the current paper form but will record it electronically on the app.
Capturing test results electronically will remove the need for almost 2 million test forms to be scanned each year and speed up notification of the result to DVLA, cutting the time taken for successful candidates to receive their full driving licence.
Developing the app
The app is being developed in line with Government Digital Service standards. This means making the electronic process simple to use for everyone and constantly improving it through ongoing user feedback.
So far, the prototype version of the app has received very positive feedback from examiners. We’ve also held small trial sessions with potential candidates, who’s feedback has also been really positive.
Introducing the app on tests
To begin with, we’ll only be using the app to carry out car driving tests. We’ll deliver a small number of tests, taking on board any feedback from the examiners and candidates, before increasing its use. We’ll continue to ask for feedback, from you and your candidates.
Over time, we’ll be looking to roll out the use of the app to all other test categories, including ADI tests.
Examiners are not accompanying drivers
I want to remind you of the difference between examiners using technology during a test, and instructors doing so during in a driving lesson.
Regulation 110 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations prohibits the use of technology if you are supervising a provisional licence holder. During a driving lesson, the instructor is supervising the learner and must therefore be in control of the vehicle at all times.
Regulation 16(9) of the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations also means that the driving test is the only time a learner driver does not require the supervision of an accompanying driver, as they are under test conditions.
Minimising driver distractions
Examiners will use a privacy screen to make sure that the candidate is not distracted during the test.
The tablet will also be securely held in a portfolio wallet used by the examiner. We’ve also locked down all other functionality so that the app is not communicating during the test.
The way the test works isn’t changing
I want to reassure you the way the driving test is assessed will not be changing. The duration of the test will also stay the same.
You should continue to prepare your pupils in the way you do now.
Candidates on test
Currently, when a candidate arrives to take their test, our examiners ask them to sign the residency and vehicle insurance declarations on the paper DL25.
Once the app has been rolled out, candidates will do this on the examiner’s tablet instead. The declarations will still be the same.
Providing candidates with a summary test report
Before the test starts, the candidate will also be asked to confirm how they would like to receive their summary of the test. The summary will:
They will also be able to choose if the summary is sent to the email address used when booking the test, or to an alternative that they provide to the examiner on the day. If the candidate chooses for the summary to be sent by post it will be sent to the address held by DVSA. To reduce potential for fraud, the examiner will not be able to enter an alternative postal address on the day.
If you book tests for your candidates
So, if you book tests for your pupils, you will need to consider which email address you use to do this. Under GDPR rules, you should not receive their test summary without their consent, as it is not your personal information.
Reducing the opportunity for fraud
Earlier in the blog post, I mentioned the search app used by our enforcement teams.
This app is also being made available to our examiners to help them check the identity of the test candidate and make sure the vehicle presented for test has a valid MOT.
You can find out more about how the search app works, in our blog post on Moving On.
Next steps
We’ll let you know more as we get closer to delivering live tests on the tablet.
If you have any questions on how the tablets will work, or might affect your candidates tests, please let me know in the comments.
Mark Magee,
Posted on:
4 September 2019 -
Categories:
Driving test, Feature
Since we launched our 5 year strategy in 2017, we’ve been working to become a digitally-enabled organisation. We want to provide modern, efficient and sustainable technology to support a mobile workforce and build brilliant digital services for our staff and customers.
Part of this work is developing a way to capture driving test electronically, using a tablet in the car rather than using a paper marking form (called a DL25). This will improve the way our examiners work and provide driving test candidates with a modern service using up-to-date technology.
Although this blog post is a bit longer than normal, I thought it was important to explain more about why we’re doing this, the benefits for candidates and how it will work during tests.
Providing staff with the right tools to do their job
Part of the agency’s focus over the past year has been providing our staff with the tools to do their jobs in a modern way. You may have seen we developed a search app tool for our enforcement officers, to give them immediate access to the data they need at the roadside.
A typical day sees examiners delivering a maximum of 7 driving tests. The current process requires them to spend a lot of time filling in test and candidate information on the DL25. They also have to record an overview of what happened on the previous test before the next one is conducted.
We wanted to make this process more efficient and our examiners lives easier. The new app, accessed on a tablet, prepopulates candidate and test information automatically from the booking and allows an overview of the previous test to be completed quickly and easily.
It will also provide them with immediate access to their testing schedule and highlight any specific needs the candidate might have let us know about when they booked their test. This will better prepare the examiner before meeting the candidate, to know how to help them.
An electronic version of the DL25
Examiners will conduct the test in exactly the same way as with the current paper form but will record it electronically on the app.
Capturing test results electronically will remove the need for almost 2 million test forms to be scanned each year and speed up notification of the result to DVLA, cutting the time taken for successful candidates to receive their full driving licence.
Developing the app
The app is being developed in line with Government Digital Service standards. This means making the electronic process simple to use for everyone and constantly improving it through ongoing user feedback.
So far, the prototype version of the app has received very positive feedback from examiners. We’ve also held small trial sessions with potential candidates, who’s feedback has also been really positive.
Introducing the app on tests
To begin with, we’ll only be using the app to carry out car driving tests. We’ll deliver a small number of tests, taking on board any feedback from the examiners and candidates, before increasing its use. We’ll continue to ask for feedback, from you and your candidates.
Over time, we’ll be looking to roll out the use of the app to all other test categories, including ADI tests.
Examiners are not accompanying drivers
I want to remind you of the difference between examiners using technology during a test, and instructors doing so during in a driving lesson.
Regulation 110 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations prohibits the use of technology if you are supervising a provisional licence holder. During a driving lesson, the instructor is supervising the learner and must therefore be in control of the vehicle at all times.
Regulation 16(9) of the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations also means that the driving test is the only time a learner driver does not require the supervision of an accompanying driver, as they are under test conditions.
Minimising driver distractions
Examiners will use a privacy screen to make sure that the candidate is not distracted during the test.
The tablet will also be securely held in a portfolio wallet used by the examiner. We’ve also locked down all other functionality so that the app is not communicating during the test.
The way the test works isn’t changing
I want to reassure you the way the driving test is assessed will not be changing. The duration of the test will also stay the same.
You should continue to prepare your pupils in the way you do now.
Candidates on test
Currently, when a candidate arrives to take their test, our examiners ask them to sign the residency and vehicle insurance declarations on the paper DL25.
Once the app has been rolled out, candidates will do this on the examiner’s tablet instead. The declarations will still be the same.
Providing candidates with a summary test report
Before the test starts, the candidate will also be asked to confirm how they would like to receive their summary of the test. The summary will:
- confirm the outcome of the test
- list any driving faults during the test (in order of severity)
- include information about getting further training
- give information about booking another test if they were unsuccessful
They will also be able to choose if the summary is sent to the email address used when booking the test, or to an alternative that they provide to the examiner on the day. If the candidate chooses for the summary to be sent by post it will be sent to the address held by DVSA. To reduce potential for fraud, the examiner will not be able to enter an alternative postal address on the day.
If you book tests for your candidates
So, if you book tests for your pupils, you will need to consider which email address you use to do this. Under GDPR rules, you should not receive their test summary without their consent, as it is not your personal information.
Reducing the opportunity for fraud
Earlier in the blog post, I mentioned the search app used by our enforcement teams.
This app is also being made available to our examiners to help them check the identity of the test candidate and make sure the vehicle presented for test has a valid MOT.
You can find out more about how the search app works, in our blog post on Moving On.
Next steps
We’ll let you know more as we get closer to delivering live tests on the tablet.
If you have any questions on how the tablets will work, or might affect your candidates tests, please let me know in the comments.