Lots of anniversaries are being celebrated around now. The MSA has just celebrated 80 years of service to the industry at the association’s recent very successful conference. We did not spent a huge amount of time looking back but, with half an eye on the past and always trying to learn the lessons history teaches us, the conference was all about the future.
In the wide-ranging coverage of the event in the April issue of Newslink you can get a great flavour of the event but why not make a note in your diary for next year’s conference date: Saturday, 12 March 2016.
Also, just 80 years old, the driving test anniversary was celebrated at the conference, with DVSA chief executive Alastair Peoples congratulating both the MSA and the driving test on their anniversary.
Looking forward, chief driving examiner Lesley Young told us all about the future of the test and the trial that is about to start.
Our national chairman Peter Harvey MBE and his deputy, Geoff Little, were also congratulated at the conference and presented with tokens of appreciation for their 20 years of service to the association. Peter and Geoff have led the organisation through some good times and some bad but have always had a clear vision of providing excellent information, representation, services and support to members. Their contribution to the work of the association and the wider driver training profession has been, and continues to be, enormous.
This is, of course, also the very first anniversary of the Driver and Vehicle Services Agency (DVSA) and I was recently asked what observations I might have about their first year.
My response was:
“I was concerned that the creation of a new agency would bring all sorts of disruption to candidates and instructors. I have been proved completely wrong; customer-facing work by the agency has continued in an exemplary fashion.
“I still have some concerns about the loss of experienced senior staff on the driver testing/training side of the business, let’s hope DVSA can continue to prove me wrong.”
Not everyone agrees, of course, but I think it is important to remember why the DVSA was created and what it has had to do. A year ago the then road safety minister Stephen Hammond said:
“The creation of the DVSA builds on the vital work that has already been done to improve road safety and offer modern, cost effective services for motorists. The merged agency offers the opportunity to increase efficiency and further explore ways of providing innovative, convenient services.”
At the heart of that quote is the phrase “cost effective services” a polite way of saying we must do more for less. The formation of the DVSA is part of the Government’s drive to cut Civil Service jobs and cut the cost of providing Government services.
I don’t think many driving test candidates or ADIs will have noticed much change in the level of service they receive from the agency, and I think that is a major testament to DVSA management and staff that they are delivering a similar, some might even say improved, service for less cost and with fewer staff. In my view, the danger comes in going forward.
Many of the senior staff have been persuaded into early retirement or moved on to other duties. Many of these people were experts in their respective fields. Will they be missed? We will have to wait and see.
Be First to Comment