NEW REGISTER FOR COMPANY CAR DRIVING INSTRUCTORS

25 Apr 2002 08:41 AM

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has introduced a register of driving instructors who specialise in training company car and small van drivers.

Some company car drivers, such as sales reps, have attracted criticism in the past for being inconsiderate drivers. And company car drivers are 30-50% more likely to be involved in accidents than other drivers. It is estimated that between 50,000 and 77,000 fleet drivers are injured in crashes each year whilst at work. The Government wants to set minimum standards for the training of these drivers.

The scheme could lead to lower insurance premiums and a reduction in work related road casualties for businesses who require employees to drive cars or small vans as part of their work. It could also help company directors to manage the health and safety risks involved in driving for work.

The registration scheme for fleet driver training was announced in the Government's Road Safety Strategy Tomorrow's Roads - Safer For Everyone, published in 2000.

Following the announcement, the DSA consulted with employers, risk-managers, insurers and trainers and others with interests in road safety over the introduction of the voluntary Register, which came into effect on 22 April.

Only Approved Driving Instructors will be accepted onto the new Register when they have successfully completed additional accredited training or passed a DSA exam, which will be introduced in July. This move will set standards for fleet driving instructors who specialise in providing instruction to the significant numbers of people who drive for work.

Transport Minister David Jamieson said: "We want to raise the profile of training on offer to fleet drivers and their employers. The scheme will establish an industry standard, and make it easier for managers to get their drivers involved in further training."

Trainers and fleet managers can obtain further information about the Register from DSA on 0115 901 2625. Further details of the scheme and the Report on Consultation can be found on the DSA website www.dsa.gov.uk.

For more details please contact Chris Lee at DSA's Press Office on 0115 901 2851/2/3. DSA has an ISDN line for broadcasting purposes.

Notes to Editors

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) and is part of the Driver, Vehicle and Operator (DVO) group of organisations within DTLR.

The Agency's aim is to promote road safety through improving driving standards, testing drivers and riders fairly and efficiently, maintaining the registers of Approved Driving Instructors and Large Goods Vehicle Instructors and supervising basic training for learner motorcyclists.

The DSA is a trading fund with an annual turnover of around £80.3 million, fully funded by fee income and revenue from non-statutory activities.

The DSA HQ is at Stanley House, 56 Talbot Street, Nottingham, NG1 5GU, and there are five area offices, which manage 431 practical test centres across Britain.

The DSA employs 2,000 staff, of which some 1,300 are driving examiners. In 2000/01 the Agency conducted 1.2 million tests for car drivers, 62,000 vocational tests and 110,000 motorcycle rider tests. 1.1 million theory tests were carried out at 158 centres. At the end of the year there were 29,626 people on the Register of Approved Driving Instructors.

In July 2001, DSA successfully retained the Charter Mark, awarded for excellence in public service. DSA was one of the first recipients of this award for 1992-5 and regained it in 1997.

The DSA achieved formal accreditation as an Investor in People in July 2000.

DSA is one of the first Government Agencies to introduce an 'on-line' booking service. Candidates can book their theory test directly on DSA's website : www.driving-tests co.uk

End of Notes.

DSA 20/02 24 Ebrill 2002

COFRESTR NEWYDD AR GYFER HYFFORDDWR GYRRU CEIR CWMNI

Mae'r Asiantaeth Safonau Gyrru (DSA) wedi cyflwyno cofrestr o hyfforddwyr gyrru sy'n arbenigo mewn hyfforddi gyrwyr ceir a faniau bach cwmni.

Mae rhai gyrwyr ceir cwmni, megis gwerthwyr, wedi'u beirniadu yn y gorffennol am fod yn yrwyr byrbwyll. Ac mae gyrwyr ceir cwmni rhwng 30% a 50% yn fwy tebygol o fod yn gysylltiedig â damweiniau na gyrwyr eraill. Amcangyfrifir y caiff rhwng 50,000 a 77,000 o yrwyr fflyd eu hanafu mewn damweiniau bob blwyddyn tra eu bod yn y gwaith. Mae'r Llywodraeth am bennu isafswm safonau ar gyfer hyfforddi'r gyrwyr hyn.

Gallai'r cynllun arwain at bremiymau yswiriant is a nifer lai o ddamweiniau sy'n gysylltiedig â'r gwaith ar gyfer busnesau sy'n ei gwneud yn ofynnol i gyflogeion yrru ceir neu faniau bach fel rhan o'u gwaith. Gallai helpu cyfarwyddwyr cwmnïau i reoli'r peryglon iechyd a diogelwch sy'n gysylltiedig â gyrru fel rhan o'r gwaith hefyd.

Cyhoeddwyd y cynllun cofrestru ar gyfer hyfforddi gyrwyr fflyd yn Strategaeth y Llywodraeth ar gyfer Diogelwch ar y Ffyrdd, Tomorrow's Roads - Safer For Everyone, a gyhoeddwyd yn 2000. Yn dilyn y cyhoeddiad, ymgynghorodd y DSA â chyflogwyr, rheolwyr risg, yswirwyr a hyfforddwyr a phobl eraill sydd â diddordeb mewn diogelwch ar y ffordd ynghylch cyflwyno'r Gofrestr wirfoddol, a ddaeth i rym ar Ebrill 22ain.

Dim ond Hyfforddwyr Gyrru Cymeradwy a gaiff eu derbyn ar y Gofrestr newydd pan fyddant wedi cwblhau hyfforddiant achrededig ychwanegol yn llwyddiannus neu pan fyddant wedi pasio arholiad y DSA, a gyflwynir ym mis Gorffennaf. Bydd y cam hwn yn pennu'r safonau ar gyfer hyfforddwyr gyrwyr fflyd sy'n arbenigo mewn rhoi hyfforddiant i'r niferoedd mawr o bobl sy'n gyrru fel rhan o'u gwaith.

Dywedodd y Gweinidog dros Drafnidiaeth David Jamieson: "Rydym am godi proffil yr hyfforddiant sydd ar gael i yrwyr fflyd a'u cyflogwyr. Bydd y cynllun yn sefydlu safon i'r diwydiant, a bydd yn ei gwneud yn haws i reolwyr annog eu gyrwyr i ymgymryd â hyfforddiant pellach."

Gall hyfforddwyr a rheolwyr fflyd gael rhagor o wybodaeth am y Gofrestr gan y DSA ar 0115 901 2625. Ceir rhagor o fanylion am y cynllun ac Adroddiad yr Ymgynghoriad ar wefan y DSA yn www.dsa.gov.uk .

I gael rhagor o wybodaeth, cysylltwch â Chris Lee yn Swyddfa'r Wasg y DSA ar 0115 901 2851/2/3. Mae gan y DSA linell ISDN at ddibenion darlledu.

Nodiadau i Olygyddion

1. Mae'r Asiantaeth Safonau Gyrru (DSA) yn un o Asiantaethau Gweithredol yr Adran Trafnidiaeth, Llywodraeth Leol a'r Rhanbarthau (DTLR) ac mae'n rhan o'r grp Gyrwyr, Cerbydau a Gweithredwyr (DVO) o sefydliadau o fewn DTLR.

2. Nod yr Asiantaeth yw hyrwyddo diogelwch ar y ffyrdd drwy wella safonau gyrru, profi gyrwyr a beicwyr mewn ffordd deg ac effeithlon, cynnal cofrestrau o Hyfforddwyr Gyrru Cymeradwy a Hyfforddwyr Cerbydau Nwyddau Mawr a goruchwylio hyfforddiant sylfaenol i yrwyr sy'n dysgu gyrru beiciau modur.

3. Mae'r DSA yn gronfa fasnachu gyda throsiant blynyddol o tua £80.3 miliwn, wedi'i hariannu'n llwyr gan incwm o ffioedd a refeniw o weithgareddau anstatudol.

4. Lleolir Pencadlys y DSA yn Stanley House, 56 Talbot Street, Nottingham, NG1 5GU, a cheir pum swyddfa ardal, sy'n rheoli 431 o ganolfannau prawf ymarferol ledled Prydain.

5. Mae'r DSA yn cyflogi 2,000 o staff y mae tua 1,300 ohonynt yn arholwyr gyrru. Yn 2000/01, cynhaliodd yr Asiantaeth 1.2 miliwn o brofion i yrwyr ceir, 62,000 o brofion galwedigaethol a 110,000 o brofion i yrwyr beiciau modur. Cynhaliwyd 1.1 miliwn o brofion theori mewn 158 o ganolfannau. Ar ddiwedd y flwyddyn roedd 29,626 o bobl ar y Gofrestr Hyfforddwyr Gyrru Cymeradwy.

6. Ym mis Gorffennaf 2001, llwyddodd y DSA i gadw ei Nod Siarter, a ddyfarnwyd am ragoriaeth mewn gwasanaeth cyhoeddus. Y DSA oedd un o'r sefydliadau cyntaf i dderbyn y wobr hon ar gyfer 1992-5 gan ei hailennill ym 1997.

7. Cyflawnodd y DSA achrediad ffurfiol fel Buddsoddwr mewn Pobl ym mis Gorffennaf 2000.

8. Y DSA yw un o Asiantaethau cyntaf y Llywodraeth i gyflwyno gwasanaeth trefnu 'ar-lein'. Gall ymgeiswyr drefnu eu prawf theori yn uniongyrchol ar wefan y DSA: www.driving-tests.co.uk

Diwedd y Nodiadau.