NEWS
www.ukdic.co.uk
l
THE INSTRUCTOR
The DSA view
Misleading Advert
The Advertising Standards Authority
(ASA) has upheld a complaint made
by the DSA against a booking website
claiming that it is the easiest and fastest
way to book a driving test online.
The company Book Your Practical Test
Online Ltd, which owns the website www.book-
your-practical-test-online.co.uk showed a car and
a woman holding a car key and an L-plate. The
accompaning text stated "The Easiest Way to
Book Your Driving Test online' and `The Fastest
Way to Book your DSA Driving Test Online."
The DSA, which offers a free direct access
booking service, complained to the ASA
about the claims. No evidence was made to
substantiate either claim of being `the fastest' or
the easiest' way to book a driving test online.
In view of that, the ASA concluded that the
advert was misleading and the claims
should not appear again in their
current form.
Earlier this year the DSA launched an
updated version of its online practical
test booking service and was featured in
the Agency's ezine Despatch.
You can use the QR Code, pictured, using your
smartphone or tablet ideal for ADIs' working
on the move. The code will take you straight
through to the booking service without asking
for a theory test pass certificate number unless it
can't find one on the system.
The new service is also inline with the
Government's drive to offer increased and better
digital services to reduce costs and improve
customer service as outlined in the recent
Motoring Services Strategy, which is due to
report this summer.
DSA Chief Executive Rosemary Thew shares the key news
Theory test statistics
The DSA will start publishing
Official Statistics about theory
tests on 27 June. These new
statistics will comply with the
Code of Practice for Official
Statistics and the Statistics and
Registration Services Act.
The data will be published
alongside existing official
statistics about practical testing,
the ADI register and driver
and rider test and instructor
statistics all of which were first
published early in 2012.
This information will give it a
more transparent and higher-
profile footing.
New Releases
A new website, Safe driving
for life, was launched on 30
May by The tationery Office. It
is a driving/riding information
hub, designed for viewing on
mobiles or tablets as well as
desktops and laptops.
The Official DSA Theory
Test for Approved Driving
Instructors DVD-Rom was
launched on 31 May. The DVD
includes practice for theory
test topics, mock tests and
career development on how
to become a driving instructor
and expand your career.
Evidence wanted
The Government is carrying
out a review of the `balance
of competences between the
EU and the UK' an audit of
what the EU does and how it
affects the UK.
The Department for Transport
is leading on the strand of
the review covering transport
and is seeking views from
individuals and groups with
an interest or experience
in transport policy and its
application on how the
competence is used and what
that means for Britain.
The objectives of the transport
report are:
·ToexplainhowEUpolicies
impact on transport in the UK
·Toexplorethecurrentstate
of competence in respect of
transport
You can submit evidence
online at www.gov.uk/
government/consultations/eu-
balance-of-competences-review-
transport-call-for-evidence.
Please take note: the
consultation closes on
6 August 2013.