Latest news:

• CPD seminar: 19/09/2010 - “Psychology and Driveology”
  • The seminar will explore evolutionary processes that demonstrate how poorly adapted human beings are in dealing with the road environment, vehicles, the effects of stress, pressure in modern living, and the short-cuts that we have developed in order to cope with driving situations. The seminar will then look at trainer / pupil interaction and how we can all get the most out of this relationship.

  

  • Presenter Dr Cris Burgess is an applied psychologist at Exeter University. Cris is well renowned and respected by HMG, together with many road safety and training organisations. Amongst his research interests are the profiling of high-risk drivers and riders, the relationship between traffic offending and more ‘mainstream’ criminal activity, and the design of interventions as alternatives to prosecution, using cognitive-behavioural techniques drawn from clinical and health psychology.

• On-line CPD: a course for all members on building your own website.

CPD and you

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for driving instructors is definitely happening right now. When it will become compulsory is another matter - no-one knows at the moment.
Many driving instructors are at best uncertain, and at worst, worried, about the impact CPD will have on them.

What is CPD

CPD is simply training which will enhance an instructor's skills. It can take many forms: online courses; training workshops; further qualifications; one to one training; attendance of meetings; in fact, anything which enhances your skills as an instructor. Keeping up to date using forums can count as CPD. The minimum CPD will probably be seven hours a year.
The intention is that ADIs will improve their skills which will result in new drivers being better prepared for their test and safer out on their own after their test.

CPD and DIDU

At the moment, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) holds regular meetings of a steering committee and a working group. DIDU has representation on both committees.

"The Steering Committee is to ratify and discuss the recommendations of the Working Group -- rather like the House of Lords are to the House of Commons. They also have ideas themselves and throw ideas at the Working Group for them to discuss and come up with possible formats -- and then they throw it back at the Steering Committee to then put into a possible timescale up to regulation or legislation."

"The Working Group like the Steering Committee are a mix of ADI Representative Associations/Training Bodies who take to task suggestions and seek the best way to formulate a programme for the structure then to be passed up to the Steering Committee to take any final decisions before the DSA then ratify a working programme and if necessary to place before the Minister and Governemnt if the current law needs changing."

Members of DIDU have access to the latest developments, as seen on our busy forum.
DIDU has prepared CPD training for it's members. As a non profit making organisation, DIDU can deliver cost effective CPD to all it's members, along with plenty of free advice and help.

Do you need to start CPD now?

There is still no definite start date for mandatory CPD. CPD taken now has to be a good thing, but no-one knows how it will count.

Read More

• Business Link: use this link to register to manage your CPD online. You can also manage your DSA information (check tests and so on), and order Pass Plus packs.
• DSA CPD: this page has useful CPD information.