The EU Commission released proposals on 1 February to modify Driver CPC, for initial licence acquisition and on-going periodic training. Unfortunately, I can see no benefit for the UK in any of the Commission’s proposals.
One of the main proposals for periodic is ‘the same training content may not be provided for more than one of the seven-hour periods of training within the same round of periodic training’. I have no idea how the DVSA envisages this is to be monitored and enforced. Drivers won’t be allowed to hold the three-year First Aid Certificate fully within the Driver CPC periodic training.
Drivers won’t be able to undertake drivers’ hours and tachograph training more than once in a five-year cycle. Many don’t understand the topic fully even when they undertake it every year. If there are changes then they might have to undertake additional training outside their Driver CPC cycle, increasing the requirement for on-going driver training.
There might be a negative impact by ‘Explicitly allowing Member States to authorise the use of ICT tools (e-learning/blended learning) as part of the initial qualification and periodic training in the revised Directive’.
This could lead to falsification of training by removing the need for drivers to be in the same room as the trainer. Potentially, other drivers could undertake Driver CPC (for a payment) on behalf of drivers who don’t want to sit in a classroom.
Disability awareness training is already recognised in the UK, and operators will need to prove this has been done under the Passenger Rights Act to give all passenger-facing staff suitable training.
There are proposals to clarify some ‘code 95’ issues with regard to driving licences, which has been a problem between some EU Member States.
There could be a modification to initial Driver CPC Module 2, which was designed 10 years ago. The proposed changes to exemptions to holding the Driver CPC qualification are not clear at this stage.
There has been criticism of how these proposals have been released as no guidance has been issued by the DVSA on timescales, the consultation process and their views on the proposals. However, they have now issued a survey on the proposals.
The timescale is short, with the proposals intended for implementation within 18 months or so.
For the survey on the proposals, please visit www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/DriverCPCChanges
Alec Horner,
CEO,
The Association of Trainers
