Awareness Driver Training :: Business

This course has been compiled jointly by The Driving Instructor’s Association (DIA) and Awareness Driver Training Limited, and is the only course of its type being offered in the UK.

Who is the Driving Instructor’s Association?

The Driving Instructor’s Association (DIA) was formed in 1978 to promote in the UK and abroad, the interests and welfare of those professionally engaged in driver training, to raise the standards of driver and user education and to create an increased awareness of all aspects of road safety. It is believed to be the largest association of its kind in the world with some 13,500 members.

The DIA is a consultative body to the Department of Transport, Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Driving Standards Agency (DSA), and the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency (DVTA).

Why is there such a course?

In 2003 The Driving Standards Agency approached all Local Authorities with a driving test for the taxi industry. To date (2007), 84 local authorities have signed up to an agreement, as part of the Government’s strategy to road safety. This number is growing all the time, and it is surely only a matter of time before it becomes obligatory to all potential taxi drivers. Some of the local authorities which signed up to the initiative are also insisting that the Practical Taxi Driving Test is a pre-condition to being exchanged from a Private Hire licence to a Hackney Carriage licence, and vice versa.

Benefits to the Local Authority

The obvious aspect concerning better road safety
Greater flexibility with the application process

Benefits to the Candidate

Better credibility in the local economy
Candidate acquires an accreditation to their driving skills, producing self esteem
Better driving skills will almost certainly produce repeat business.
Successful outcome could produce a change in career, or a secondary income.

Entrance Qualifications

There is no particular qualification required to become a taxi driver, however, they must be at least 18 years of age to be able to apply for the knowledge test, but 21 years old to be granted a local authority licence. There are some limitations as to who can be accepted by the local authority, and it is the local authority which has the autonomy in the licensing process. All applicants to the industry must apply to the local Taxi Licensing Office, usually situated at the Town Hall, and must be scrutinised in areas of personal security and background. These checks include:-

An investigation by the Criminal Records Bureau (known as the CRB Check)
An investigation by the local authority for proof of residency.
An in depth medical examination by a nominated GP. (It is possible that the GP nominated could be your own, but the surgery can only produce the report on the stationery supplied by the local authority.)

Other qualifications include the correct driving licence.

Driving Licence Criteria

The DSA state in their current Practical Taxi Driving Test application literature, that the only licence accepted, is a current, full (not provisional) GB or Northern Ireland driving licence, and further investigations by the candidate may be required if the licence held does not meet this criteria. Holders of other EEC/EEA licences will have to make representations to the Taxi Testing Unit at the DSA on 0115 901 2815. Holders of any other foreign licence must contact DVLA at Swansea prior to application to taking the DSA Practical Taxi Driving Test. The Driving Instructors Association have information from both DSA and DVLA that in the event of a foreign licence holder applying for the Practical Taxi Driving Test the holder of such a licence may have to:

Exchange their licence for a GB Licence if it qualifies for the ‘exchange scheme’ or

Take and pass a Provisional Practical Driving Test, before taking the Practical Taxi Test. A Theory and Hazard Awareness Perception Test will also have to be taken prior to the Provisional Practical Driving Test.

It is in the interest of the candidate to ensure that their driving licence meets the correct criteria. Failure to do so will result in the loss of the test fee and the test not taking place.

Course Format

This course includes a two hour presentation, and sessions of driver development including reversing manoeuvres, and the ‘controlled stopping exercise’ The local authority are not allowed to recommend particular driver trainers, but they do recommend professional driver training in the preparation for the Practical Taxi Driving Test. This is also endorsed by the DSA. The responsibility lies with the candidate to find this training. At Awareness Driver Training, our course gives that training and the background information required for the candidate to make an informed choice about whether this career path is the right one.

The candidate must also understand that the examiner is looking for a high level of skill. It is feasible that the training carried out during the course may have to be developed, and even re-assessed by the trainer at a later date. The trainer will offer you a ‘mock test’ at a later date. It would be in the candidate’s interest to use this facility.

Important Information from DSA

The DSA understand that the candidate needs to be qualified in the shortest time possible, however the waiting times for the Practical Taxi Driving Test varies across the country. The DSA advises that the candidate structures their training in a manageable time scale, suggesting that the driving test be booked before the local authority have finished their application searches. If the searches are not complete in time, then the test can still be cancelled or postponed providing three clear WORKING days notice is given.