Tag Archives: DVSA

Driving Examiner Sues Learner Driver for Whiplash

Crash Test Collision

Crash Test Collision

Ben Williams, 24, from Sutton Coldfield has failed his driving test when DVSA Examiner Keith Priestly accused him of “braking too quickly” and causing whiplash. Luckily on this occasion Mr Williams Driving instructor Elaine Rose were in the rear of the car and she is reported to have argued that Ben executed the emergency stop manoeuvre perfectly. 

Ben who is an Engineer said “It was a nightmare. Its nerve-racking enough doing a driving test – let alone the examiner trying to sue you afterwards. He asked me to perform the emergency stop, so I did, and then he started groaning that I braked too hard and fast… but I felt fine and so did my instructor”.

His test were cancelled due to the examiner not being fit to continue the test, which gave Mr Williams a free retest. A few weeks later Mr Williams revived a letter from solicitors saying they were lodging a claim for damages to Mr Priestly for whiplash. On a side note, this is what happens if your test is cancelled due to bad weather, heavy traffic or anything else which isn’t the candidates fault.

Not So Emergency Stop

Sorry pedestrian peoples, your dog, your 3 year old child and your granny need all the kings men to put them back together, I decided to plough you down because, well I didn’t want to brake too fast in case I got whiplash.  My examiner said that’s fine but you’re all dead so all good, doesn’t matter. 

The emergency stop is essentially the ONLY manoeuvre you accrue faults and fail for checking your mirrors and being too slow, the key is EMERGENCY, not when its safe, convenient and legal, it means RIGHT NOW!

Lets do the maths, 30 mph, you’re travelling at about 15 meters per second and thinking time 10 meters. The very idea is that you cut the time in half and save lives. My instructor John told me off for worrying about lurching him forward and other stuff, STOP!

The Final Outcome

A few weeks later Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) wrote to Mr Williams saying Mr Priestly has been disciplined and the case has been dropped. A DVSA spokesperson has said “Mr Priestly no longer works for the DVSA. We can’t comment further”. 

Driving Test Revisions

Boxer Behind The Wheel

Boxer Behind The Wheel

I recently passed the Theory Test, so I’ve been watching the latest news and there is a little bit of research done by the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) which concluded at the end of August (2016). Its a little late to have any say now if you missed it, but you could have given your views on proposed improvements to the current driving test. The results still haven’t been released but should be interesting.

The Key Points they are asking about are:

  • Independent Driving – Increasing the time from 10 minutes to 20 minutes, there the examiner will test you on traffic signs, give you directions or a combination of both.
  • Navigation and Directions – Asking drivers to follow directions given by a Sav Nav / Phone during the above Independent Driving section. 
  • Manoeuvre Updates / Changes – Replacing some manoeuvres such as reversing around a corner, with reversing or parking in a parking space.
  • Vehicle Control / Safety – Asking the driver to turn on the Rear Window Demister or Fog Lights. 

Its probably a very good thing, I would have thought reversing around a corner would be fairly standard things to learn. Personally parallel parking looks harder to master, but parking in a parking space and following a SatNav are probably good skills to have.

 

 

Image By Palmer W. Cook