In another alert, the DSA is looking for help in evaluating independent driving (ID) a year after it was introduced. In it the DSA says that it wants to understand:
- how learners prepare for their practical test
- opinions about the changes
I can imagine already how a number of fossil instructors and prehistoric organisations out there are preparing to resubmit their umpteen-thousand word theses on the subject of why ID is going to bring the civilisation as we know it to an abrupt end – theses which they have repeated mercilessly for two years or more now – in response to this request.
In actual fact, independent driving has been a major success for the DSA and for 99.9% of driving test candidates who have had to do it. There is absolutely no question over this at all.
As for the other 0.1%? Well, they seem to comprise the entire pupil bank of the anti-DSA whingers and – in all honesty – appear to exist in theory only. No one has actually had any problems doing the ID phase, other than what you’d expect from people who aren’t ready to drive unaided just yet, and who fail their tests.
EDIT 23/10/2011: I was on a Pass Plus session with a pupil yesterday (22/10/2011) and she told me she’d received the email too and had sent her response back. She, too, thought that ID was a great idea.
I suspect those who have persisted in kicking up an unnecessary fuss over ID are going to find themselves in just about the tiniest minority possible if the opinions of test candidates are also being sought.