Coach and bus operators and drivers and industry stakeholders have been encouraged to respond to a survey on the Driver CPC regime launched by DVSA.
It opened on 16 February and runs to 2 March. The exercise will gather views on Driver CPC and how involved parties believe the approach is working, and where improvements or changes can be made within that landscape.
A DVSA spokesperson has told routeone that the process represents a blank sheet of paper and that no change to Driver CPC is already under consideration for shaping by the survey results.
They add that the Agency has previously carried out surveys on other fields, including heavy vehicle testing, with such exercises going on to shape work in those fields. That position has led to increased response rates more recently as parties involved have seen how the surveys can influence such efforts, the spokesperson adds.
Change has already been made to the Driver CPC scheme since the UK left the European Union. That saw it split into national and international approaches and introduction of a ‘return to driving’ module where an existing qualification expired less than two years ago.
Under the first of those, the national Driver CPC offers greater flexibility in achieving the necessary hours of training but does not permit the holder to drive professionally beyond the UK. For those that wish to drive abroad, the established approach remains unchanged and is now presented as the international Driver CPC.
Introduction of a proposed periodic test renewal for the national Driver CPC had been put to consultation by the previous government, but mixed results were seen and the idea has not progressed further.
Additional scoping and work around any periodic test renewal was cited as required before progress can be made. Trade body RHA criticised the proposal, noting how it was “not in line with maintaining safety standards unless it is combined with mandatory training.”
Access the Driver CPC survey by clicking here.
