Can someone explain to me why if all the roads on a test route have been treated and perfectly clear of any snow or ice, the road markings are perfectly clear that driving tests are being cancelled due to the testing centres not clearing the snow off the reversing and breaking areas?
I would say at least 50% of tests cancelled could of gone ahead if someone had got a spade or a brush cleared the area and gritted it.
Why is this not being done by the DSA?
If you are a training school who is footing the bill to take your trainees down for test again is it you or the trainees?
This is costing the DSA 10’s of thousands of pounds so please remember that this will be recouped in the test fee increases in the future!
Is it time for the DSA to be privatised as in my opinion they are clearly out of touch with commercial reality and the effect their shortfalls are having on the training and transport industries!
burnie1:
Can someone explain to me why if all the roads on a test route have been treated and perfectly clear of any snow or ice, the road markings are perfectly clear that driving tests are being cancelled due to the testing centres not clearing the snow off the reversing and breaking areas?
I would say at least 50% of tests cancelled could of gone ahead if someone had got a spade or a brush cleared the area and gritted it.
Why is this not being done by the DSA?
If you are a training school who is footing the bill to take your trainees down for test again is it you or the trainees?
This is costing the DSA 10’s of thousands of pounds so please remember that this will be recouped in the test fee increases in the future!
Is it time for the DSA to be privatised as in my opinion they are clearly out of touch with commercial reality and the effect their shortfalls are having on the training and transport industries!
Is it time for a revolution?
They would have to pay a contractor to clear (and keep it clear) of snow (& ice) and if it was not done 100% and someone did have an accident then they would leave themselves open to be sued.
I had my C+E cancelled on Friday and the roads in Leicester were clear.
I suspect it’s a litigation issue, if they clear the snow and you slip whilst doing an uncouple/recouple procedure then they may be held responsible. If they just cancel the test then that is eliminated.
Also one or two of the possible test roads still had snow and ice on.
It does leave the training companies in a mess though, they have to try to reschedule all the current tests whilst not upsetting any arrangements for already booked trainees.
Wozzer:
I had my C+E cancelled on Friday and the roads in Leicester were clear.
I suspect it’s a litigation issue, if they clear the snow and you slip whilst doing an uncouple/recouple procedure then they may be held responsible. If they just cancel the test then that is eliminated.
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maybe it’s a safety issue, doing the breaking thing on a surface that might be slippery may not be the best idea
At my local test centre they say it’s VOSA’s responsibility as the test area is on their premises.
If VOSA don’t clear the area- NO TESTS
I personally think we have become scared of our own shadow and people should show some backbone when it comes to sorting things out. It doesn’t take a genius to put some salt on the ground.
If anyone then falls over thats life- look up to see if anyone is watching - brush yourself off and be grateful your not hurt.
burnie1:
Is it time for the DSA to be privatised as in my opinion they are clearly out of touch with commercial reality and the effect their shortfalls are having on the training and transport industries!
Is it time for a revolution?
There are lots and lots of people out there who would agree with you BUT
Unfortunately this will probably never happen- reasons being
1- loss of revenue for DSA from driving tests
2- lack of control over outside contractors
3- loss of revenue for DSA
4- loss of revenue for DSA
5- loss of revenue for DSA
Lets remember they are a GOVERNMENT AGENCY who are self funding- money matters
We have lost three test so far due to the weather.
What anoys me is that we have managed to dig the truck out from the yard.
Our trainees have managed to drive the truck - without incident - to the test centre.
When we get there we are told the test is cancelled due to the braking/reversing area being icy.
We point out that all that is needed is some grit.
We are told that this is not available and there is nobody to do the job.
We offer to bring some grit and do it ourselves.
We are then told we cannot - because Health and Safety will not allow it!!
One test scentre I know of even has a gritting machine permanently in place there.
But the examiners are not allowed to use it due to Health and Safety rules.
WE also cannot use it for the same reason - so why is it there?
My question is that the test centre is owned either by the council or Vosa depending on which one.
So surely the site owners have a responsibility to make that site - for which no doubt they receive rent - usable.
The other thing which annoys me is that when a test is cancelled the DSA will offer another free test in its place but will NOT offer expenses that have accrued in getting to the test centre and use of truck so any trainee who has paid for a retest for example is only refunded the cost of the test not the other expenses that go with it on the day.
Not fair. as I mentioned earlier, if we can get the truck and trainee to the centre then surely its safe enough to carry on with the test.
Truckers dont just do good weather driving after all.
We will also refund certain expenses that you had to pay on the day of the test if we cancelled your test at short notice, unless it was because of bad weather or poor light.
Pretty much what it says in this paragraph here.
You get a new test for free but not any other expenses such as diesel costs, use of vehicle, instructors time or your own travelling costs.
Not fair in my opinion but they have the upper hand and as far as they are concerned they give you another test for free and thats it.
Even if the reversing / braking area was clear they will always say on certain roads they still can not see the road markings because of slush or snow… .
They will state all road markings must be clear and visable…
Lazy chits if you ask me. We train in it so they should conduct tests.
Remember we get the Traines on day 1 they get them on last day of course and most are safe and good drivers…
As stated it is mainly the braking area … but all test centres have a mini tractor with a snow plough with gritting attachment but no one will drive it…
Next time the examiners look for sympathy when they strike we should all Laugh ?
Mothertrucker:
We have lost three test so far due to the weather.
What anoys me is that we have managed to dig the truck out from the yard.
Our trainees have managed to drive the truck - without incident - to the test centre.
When we get there we are told the test is cancelled due to the braking/reversing area being icy.
We point out that all that is needed is some grit.
We are told that this is not available and there is nobody to do the job.
We offer to bring some grit and do it ourselves.
We are then told we cannot - because Health and Safety will not allow it!!
One test scentre I know of even has a gritting machine permanently in place there.
But the examiners are not allowed to use it due to Health and Safety rules.
WE also cannot use it for the same reason - so why is it there?
My question is that the test centre is owned either by the council or Vosa depending on which one.
So surely the site owners have a responsibility to make that site - for which no doubt they receive rent - usable.
The other thing which annoys me is that when a test is cancelled the DSA will offer another free test in its place but will NOT offer expenses that have accrued in getting to the test centre and use of truck so any trainee who has paid for a retest for example is only refunded the cost of the test not the other expenses that go with it on the day.
Not fair. as I mentioned earlier, if we can get the truck and trainee to the centre then surely its safe enough to carry on with the test.
Truckers dont just do good weather driving after all.
I will second that, nine tests cancelled last week two so far this week and apart from the first two hours one morning last week when we took the decision not to go out because nothing was moving more than seven mph we continued to train.
But the difference is if we don’t work we we don’t earn and tescos don’t take IOU’s, if the DSA don’t earn they put up test fees until they get enough in the pot.
26 years an Lgv Trainer:
We train in it so they should conduct tests
… but all test centres have a mini tractor with a snow plough with gritting attachment but no one will drive it…
A couple of things spring to mind, when you train you talk to the driver, an examiner is not there to offer advice/advise, so its not the same by any stretch.
Not many DTC’s have a mini-tractor, most don’t even get shovels.
I for one will not shovel and brush the area clear. To sodding big! Bear in mind the average age of an LGV examiner (over 45), if they put their back out or sprain something, how many tests are gonna be cancelled then?
Over the past few weeks I’ve seen plenty of trucks stuck due to the weather, and according they have all pasted the test of minimuim driving standards…go figure.
26 years an Lgv Trainer:
We train in it so they should conduct tests
… but all test centres have a mini tractor with a snow plough with gritting attachment but no one will drive it…
A couple of things spring to mind, when you train you talk to the driver, an examiner is not there to offer advice/advise, so its not the same by any stretch.
Not many DTC’s have a mini-tractor, most don’t even get shovels.
I for one will not shovel and brush the area clear. To sodding big! Bear in mind the average age of an LGV examiner (over 45), if they put their back out or sprain something, how many tests are gonna be cancelled then?
Over the past few weeks I’ve seen plenty of trucks stuck due to the weather, and according they have all pasted the test of minimuim driving standards…go figure.
If you only got paid for the tests you conduct you would soon pick up a shovel.
Most learners on test day are at a level that they do not need ADVICE.
And if they are bad enough to need advice from the examiner then they get pulled over and they fail…
BUT the Examiner will fail them on a petty fault and then have the nerve to say … I had no choice BUT TO FAIL HIM … BUT hes a great DRIVER… !!!
Maybe you could advise us on the examiners that make that comment ?
