DVSA’s revision to the Driver CPC directive is here. It’s time to have your say!

The DVSA have released a survey regarding the revision to the Driver CPC directive. Interestingly, they have already provided top line proposals for us to comment on. However, there is an opportunity to air your views and thoughts via email if you wish. This will provided to you at the end of the survey.

Top line proposals to periodic training, are to:

• Prevent a repeat of training courses during a periodic training cycle
• Include road safety in at least one periodic training session
• Allow other elements of training to be included, such as disability awareness, dangerous goods transportation and animal transportation

Nothing too controversial here, yet they haven’t addressed issues concerning Driver CPC trainers and drivers alike specifically regarding timings…..read on.

Here’s my thoughts on the current proposals

• Prevent a repeat of training courses during a periodic training cycle – This doesn’t include remedial training but suffice to say this decision is currently easily manageable by between training provider, employee and employer 
• Include road safety in at least one periodic training session – Of course it’s a good idea but I haven’t met any provider who doesn’t already offer a H&S module/course. Plus I haven’t met any driver who wouldn’t want to have training in H&S
• Allow other elements of training to be included, such as disability awareness, dangerous goods transportation and animal transportation – All elements related to transport should be included in the syllabus.

Timings and the 35/7 hour rule

I am surprised to see there is no mention on timings. In my opinion, the 35/7 hour rule, is a major issue and needs to be addressed. The question is, how do we ensure the drivers (and trainers) get the most out of Driver CPC and have taken in and digested the training provided?

Current thinking is to make a driver sit in class room for 7 hours and the trainer use questions, quizes and discussions to satisfy understanding. I have provided Driver CPC to delegates who have already had training in the subject matter previously taught and I can say (from experience) some drivers have only been able to demonstrate little or (in fact) no understanding of said subject matter from the previous session. This is because it is currently perfectly feasible to physically be present in a classroom, yet mentally not.

A driver can be present in the class room for 7 hours and simply choose not to engage. There’s not much a trainer can do about it. Obviously, I’d like to think non of my delegates have fallen into this bracket but I can’t say for sure. Further more, there’s no way to measure how successful Driver CPC is or even if it’s working at all.

The Solution

Have in place a multiple choice test at the end of the course, simple! This does beg the question, would drivers prefer to sit for 7 hours or take a small test at the end? Even if the drivers did opt for the 7 hours (which I doubt), this also flies in the face of current understanding of the learning method.

We take a test at the end of our GCSEs (O levels in my day!), we take a test at the end of our B class driving instruction, we take a test at the end of our Class 1/2, we take a test to become a Transport Manager. Ok you get the point, we take tests to demonstrate we have understood the information being taught.

If the only reason for not testing at the end of Driver CPC is because the perceived notion is drivers won’t like it, then this is not only a huge assumption, it’s patronising and unreasonable relative to current understanding in the learning process.

The other great advantage to having a test in place, it would eradicate rogue training providers finishing early for the day. It just wouldn’t be a problem anymore and thus ensuring drivers will receive the full training they have paid for and deserve.

There are details like, management process, what happens if a driver doesn’t pass etc. However, these are just detail which are easily worked out. In case you’re wondering, I do have the complete solution but for reasons of blog interest and general interest I shall keep this post to the point.

Now is the time to look at how Driver CPC works in more detail and the opportunity to use logic to make DCPC more workable. Have your say in the Driver CPC directive review NOW.

How do I have my say?

Go here to complete the Driver CPC directive survey.

If you need any advice regarding Driver CPC training or would like to become an Driver CPC Affiliate Consortium Member, then just get in touch. We’re here to share the knowledge!