Getting Ready to Re-Start
As with many sectors, the multiple COVID national and local lockdowns have put an immense amount of pressure on the driving tuition industry. There have been many times Boris has put his hand on our dashboard and yelled the word "Stop".
Over the past 12 months, the UK has seen 97% of driving tests cancelled. This has created a huge logistical challenge with the constant rebooking and reorganising of lessons impacting students and ADI's.
That’s close to half a million learners waiting for a test and many Independent ADIs and small driving schools, facing financial and wider concerns. Like many industries, we’ve found ourselves in crisis mode.
I’m looking forward to the ever increasing light at the end of the tunnel and following Monday’s announcement, we now have the green light to get back to business on the 12th April.
Our number one priority here at PassMeFast remains to ensure the safety of students and our network of instructors as we transition out of lockdown and start to tackle the enormous backlog of students who want to learn to drive and have been unable to have lessons.
Having read the open letter from Loveday Ryder, the new CEO at the DVSA, it’s was great to understand the recovery plan that’s being put in place by the DVSA to support the industry and overcome the pressure points and constraints in the system.
The backlog of 420,000 tests, estimated to take 17 weeks to clear is being sped up by the appointment of a large number of new examiners and through a commitment of asking ADIs to ensure that students are test ready, to reduce the number of fails taking up the limited resource that is available as we transition out of lockdown.
Equally the commitment made to improve communications with driving Instructors nationally is encouraging.
Ensuring test readiness for our students and optimising communication with ADIs are key pillars in our own strategy as well as focus areas for the DVSA. We aim to support our own students and give them the best learning experience, as well as supporting our independent network of 1600 DVSA-approved driving instructors. This will allow PassMeFast to support the wider agenda of the DVSA as we all look towards returning to normality.
Time to check the mirrors, put the car in gear and get ready to lift the clutch!
#DVSA #drivinginstructor #drivinglessons #drivingsafety #covid
Digital Investment Director at Mail Metro Media
1 年Hi Kevin, sorry to contact you on this platform but I am unable to get any answers from your business directly. Earlier in the year I signed up and paid in full for an intensive driving course and tests with PMF which is still yet to be fulfilled. I due to have a test on the 21st of September which had to be moved as PMF were unable to find me a driver with no new test re-scheduled. Customer service are elusive and unhelpful, and only respond when bad reviews are left on-line. I have the whole appalling process documented with many additions which I won't include in this comment as not to damage cause any personal reputational damage. Despite repeatedly asking for someone from your team to reach out to me no-one does and no refund has been offered so I have currently paid for a service which PMF are showing no sign of delivering, trying to. Please can you or someone from the business get in touch as soon as possible. Nick
Managing Director at Mintivo - Your Strategic IT Partner
3 年Blimey 97%! All the best for the coming weeks Kevin.