ADI STANDARDS CHECK CHANGES
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is making 2 changes to the way that approved driving instructor (ADI) standards checks work.
ADI standards checks assess your ability to teach pupils.
The changes affect:
- when you’ll have to take a standards check
- the support you get from DVSA before you take your standards check
The changes do not apply to motorcycle trainer standards checks.
2. When you have to take an ADI standards check
Until now, you’ve had to take at least one standards check during each 4-year period that you’re registered as an ADI. The date you took your last standards check has been used to decide when you have to take your next one.
DVSA has introduced a new method to decide when you have to take your standards check. It now uses data from the driving tests your pupils have taken.
2.1 Indicators DVSA looks at
DVSA will look at data for the last 12 months for the pupils you brought for a car driving test where your ADI badge (certificate) was in the windscreen. The data will include every driving test centre you’ve used.
DVSA records your ADI number from your badge at the start of the driving test, so that test is linked to you.
DVSA will look at the:
- average number of driving faults per test
- average number of serious faults per test
- percentage of tests where the driving examiner had to take physical action in the interests of public safety
- overall pass rate over the rolling 12 months
2.2 When the indicators will trigger a standards check
Each of the 4 indicators has a trigger point.
|
Indicator |
Trigger |
|
Average number of driving faults per test |
5 or greater |
|
Average number of serious faults per test |
0.5 or greater |
|
Percentage of driving tests where the driving examiner had to take physical action |
10% or higher |
|
Driving test pass rate |
55% or lower |
If you reach the trigger point for 3 or more of the indicators, DVSA will write to you and ask you to book a standards check.
EXAMPLES
Example 1: standards check is not triggered
You took your pupils for 30 tests throughout the last 12 months.
Across all 30 tests, your pupils made a combined total of 130 driving faults. This is an average of 4.83 per test (130 ÷ 30).
Across all 30 tests, your pupils made a combined total of 14 serious driving faults. This is an average of 0.47 per test (14 ÷ 30).
Across all 30 tests, driving examiners had to take physical action in 5 tests. This is 16.67% of tests (5 ÷ 30, multiplied by 100).
In total, 18 of the 30 tests were passes and 12 were fails. This is a pass rate of 60% (18 ÷ 30, multiplied by 100).
You will not need to take a standards check because only one of the triggers (driving examiners taking physical action) has been met.
Example 2: standards check is triggered
You took your pupils for 20 tests throughout the last 12 months.
Across all 20 tests, your pupils made a combined total of 120 driving faults. This is an average of 6 per test (120 ÷ 20).
Across all 20 tests, your pupils made a combined total of 12 serious driving faults. This is an average of 0.6 per test (12 ÷ 20).
Across all 20 tests, driving examiners had to take physical action in 4 tests. This is 20% of tests (4 ÷ 20, multiplied by 100).
In total, 8 of the 20 tests were passes and 12 were fails. This is a pass rate of 40% (8 ÷ 20, multiplied by 100).
You will need to take a standards check because all 4 of the triggers have been met.
2.3 If you bring fewer than 5 pupils for driving tests or you do not teach learners
The indicators will only be used if you bring 5 or more pupils for driving tests in a 12-month period.
If you bring fewer than 5 pupils, or you do not teach learners, you will still have to take one standards check once during each 4-year period you’re registered as an ADI.
DVSA will contact you to tell you when you have to book yours.
2.4 If you want to request an ADI standards check
Email DVSA if you want to request a standards check. You need to include:
- your ADI personal reference number or driving licence number
- your date of birth
- your postcode
- the reason you need to take a standards check
DVSA ADI
team
padi@dvsa.gov.uk
3. Support before you take your ADI standards check
A DVSA ADI examiner will call you to arrange a date and time for a 30-minute phone call. This appointment is voluntary, and will take place about 8 weeks before your standards check.
When the examiner has confirmed the appointment details with you, they will email you a copy of your ‘ADI driver test analysis report’ in PDF format. This gives information about the different indicators.
Download ‘Example of an ADI driver test analysis report’ (PDF, 231KB)
3.1 If you refuse the offer of phone appointment
You will not be sent your ADI driver test analysis report if you refuse the appointment.
You will still need to take your standards check, but DVSA will not contact you again to offer support.
3.2 During the phone appointment
During the 30-minute call, the examiner will talk to you about:
- your ADI driver test analysis report
- where you can get further support and guidance
- what will happen when you take your standards check
They cannot give you any technical training during the call.
The examiner will email a summary of the discussion to you. This will include links to guidance or information you should read before your standards check.
3.3 Getting a copy of your ADI driver test analysis report if you’ve not been asked to book a standards check
If you have not been asked to book a standards check, you can still request a copy of your report.
It can take several weeks to get your report. This is because DVSA prioritises sending reports to ADIs who have been asked to book a standards check.
Email DVSA to request your report. You need to include your:
- ADI personal reference number (PRN)
- date of birth
- postcode
ADI driver
test analysis reports
adi.enforcement.analysis.request@dvsa.gov.uk
4. Why the changes are being made
DVSA is making the changes to support you in providing the best level of training.
High-quality instruction leads to high-quality learner drivers who’ll be better prepared to drive safely and pass their test first time.
Using this information will help DVSA to identify ADIs who appear to be bringing pupils for driving tests who may not be properly prepared to take the driving test.
DVSA knows that some of your pupils may take longer to learn to drive, and this might be reflected in the number of pupils that you bring for driving tests.