A19Fleet Driver Development

Malcolm Stephenson
Malcolm@a19fleet.co.uk

Driver Certificate of
Professional Competence for drivers of
bus, coach, and large goods vehicles.

What is Driver CPC?
Driver CPC is short for ‘Driver Certificate of Professional Competence’.

It is a relatively new qualification that all bus, coach and lorry drivers will need to have
and is across the European Union to maintain high driving standards.  

Why?
The aims of Driver CPC are to:
• Improve road safety.
• Encourage drivers to continually update their skills and knowledge.
• Recognise and accredit skills for professional bus, coach and lorry drivers.
• Raise the status of bus, coach and lorry drivers to promote driving as a career.  

When did it start?
For bus and coach drivers it was the 10 September 2008 and for lorry drivers
it was the 10 September 2009.

Who is asking You to do this?
The Driver CPC is an EU requirement. The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is responsible
for implementing it in Great Britain and is working with transport industry representatives
to ensure it is introduced successfully.  

How will it affect You?
If you are already a bus, coach or lorry driver, or you are thinking of becoming one, you will
need to prepare yourself to take regular ‘periodic training’.

If You already hold a bus, coach or lorry driving licence on the start dates you will have
‘acquired rights’ for the following 5 years and do not need to hold a CPC during that period.

You will, however, need to start work towards getting your CPC, if you wish to continue
driving beyond those 5 years.

What does the term ‘acquired rights’ mean?
‘Acquired rights’ or grandfather rights as they are often known, is a term used
when people who hold an existing qualification (for instance a vocational driving licence)
do not have to re-qualify when new conditions are introduced.
They are allowed to retain the rights they previously acquired.
If you hold a full vocational licence before the CPC implementation dates, you will fall into this category.

What is ‘periodic training’?
‘Periodic training’ is regular training that will continue throughout
your professional driving career to help you as a driver and to encourage safe driving for life.

You will need to complete ‘periodic training’ 35 hours of every 5 years to retain your Driver CPC.

There will be a range of courses available and training will be tailored to suit your individual needs
to help you become an even better driver.

The training is grouped under three headings:
• Safe and fuel efficient driving (this may include vehicle loading, fuel consumption and pollution).

• Legal requirements (rules for tachograph, especially one in a commercial vehicle or coach recording speeds
and distances travelled. In effect, a tachograph records the hours worked by a driver and Drivers hours).

• Health and Safety, Service and Logistics (including First Aid, Passenger Safety, Customer service).

Only courses approved by the DSA and delivered by accredited training organisations
will count towards your ‘periodic training’ which will enable you to obtain your Driver CPC.  

What about new drivers?
Anyone obtaining or applying for a lorry, bus or coach licence after the implementation dates
will not have acquired rights.

They will not be able to obtain their first Driver CPC by taking their ‘periodic training’ on its own.
They will have to take an initial Driver CPC test before being able to drive professionally.
This can be taken at the same time as the vocational driving test.

 What is the initial CPC Test?
The initial Driver CPC test is in two parts
• A Driver CPC Theory Test (which lasts 4 hours in total with case studies).
• A Driver CPC practical test
(which lasts two hours and includes elements similar to the ’show me, tell me’ part of the existing
practical driving test taken by all car drivers).

The new test will enable drivers to gain a more in-depth and practical understanding of driving
as a profession, and once the initial Driver CPC test has been passed you will be entitled to
a Driver CPC and a vocational Driving Licence.

So once I have got my Driver CPC, is that it?
No, a Driver CPC lasts for five years.
To qualify for a further Driver CPC, you will need to complete 35 hours of ‘periodic training’.
If the end date passes without you undertaking any such training, then your Driver CPC will expire,
and you could face legal charges if you continue to drive in a professional capacity.

Can I ignore Driver CPC and still drive professionally?
The simple answer is ‘no’ you cannot ignore Driver CPC. If you are a bus, coach or lorry driver
and you are not covered by any exemptions you will need to take action.

What are the exemptions?
You don’t need a Driver CPC if the vehicle you drive is
• Not authorised to exceed 45 kph
• Being used by or under the instructions of the armed forces, the police or a fire rescue authority.
• Undergoing road tests for technical development repair or for maintenance purposes.
• Being used in a state of emergency as part of a rescue mission.
• Being used for driving lessons for either driving licence or Driver CPC purposes.
• Not being used to carry passengers or goods for commercial purposes.  

How can I find out more?
Keep your eyes and ears open for any coverage of Driver CPC on the Radio, TV and in the press.
You can also contact DSA on www.transportoffice.gov.uk/cpc,
or
e-mail drivercpc@dsa.gsi.gov.uk
or
Telephone 0115 9015879

Good Luck With That…

You can also Contact Me!
Malcolm Stephenson DSA ADI Fleet Trainer
07968 487 897

Thanks

With 25 years as a DSA ADI Fleet Training Driving Instructor along with 15 years of fleet driving
experience, combined with more recent A1Assessor & Pass Plus learner driving training

A19Fleet can provide modern up to date training for learner, pass plus and advanced students.

Your Driving Instructor is patient, friendly and courteous. With his wealth of experience
we can pass on our knowledge through structured training programs utilising a simple system
called the D.S.A’s official learning to drive syllabus and report forms. SIMPLE’S
As a Qualified, Defence Driving Test Examiner and IAM Fleet Trainer.
Malcolm Stephenson DSA ADI Fleet Registered, System Training A1Assessor,
SAFED Van, LGV, PCV, Minibus Trainer N.D.I.S. Driving Instructor,
DriveSense Eco-Fuel Efficient Driving Lessons are offered in all types of vehicles.

NVQ Driving Jobs Assessed Flexi Driving Times are the New for 2010…

A.C.O.S.T. Effective Driving Solutions Provider!
Malcolm Stephenson
DSA ADI Fleet Driving Training & Development

ACOST Effective Solutions

We lost another one of our family of pets yesterday, our Dalmatian called Viza.
She was a good age (15 years Old) and had given the family lost fun and was loyal to the core.

We will all miss her terably, Visa is the second family pet to go to sleep this year.

William our 16.2 thoroughbred ex racehorse sadly passedaway at the age of 24 years of age
he was in full retirement and seemed to be enjoying life but passed away in his sleep.

I feel better for shearing this news, I’ll try to be more upbeat in future posts

My best Regards
Malcolm

I’m stuck in the Snow, I’m at home so I’m staying put! Drive Carefully Out there!

Roads Hit As Big Freeze Continues To Bite

5:19am UK, Sunday January 03, 2010

Rob Cole, Sky News Online

Sub-zero conditions are continuing to sweep across the UK with many roads affected – and forecasters have warned conditions will continue well into January.

Drivers struggle with snowy conditions

Temperatures are not likely to get much above 0C across many areas of the country over the next 10 days – and in some parts may plunge to -15C.

Motorists have been warned of dangerous driving conditions in the North West, with snow causing problems on the motorways.

There are poor driving conditions on the M62, M60, M602, and the M66, a Highways Agency spokesman said.

Snake Pass, which runs between Manchester and Sheffield, has also been closed.

“The very cold, wintry weather is making driving conditions difficult, particularly in the North West of England ,” said a spokesman.

It’s been really snowy across much of the north-east over the past couple of weeks, and there’s more to come.

Read blog by Sky News weather presenter Isobel Lang

Many Britons woke up to a white Christmas as the country shivered through its coldest December in more than a decade.

Forecasters say we can now expect fresh snowfall, severe frosts and icy roads.

From Tuesday until next weekend there is a chance of heavy snow showers in the North, London and eastern England.

Weather warnings have been issued for the eastern side of the country.

Temperatures could drop as low as -15C in some parts of Scotland and northern England over the next 10 days.

The South will struggle to see anything warmer than 1C.

Seven people died last month as snow, avalanches and sub-zero temperatures wreaked havoc across the UK.

Weather: Forecasters Warn Of Snow Ice And Cold Weather For First 10 Days Of January | UK News | Sky News

Have your say…leave me your comments below

Heftier Driving Fines To Swell Victims’ Fund

4:12pm UK, Saturday January 02, 2010

By James Jordan, Sky News Online

Motorists fined for speeding and other driving offences will have to pay an extra £15 to help pay for a victim compensation fund, it has been revealed.

Motorists face increased fines under new plans to charge an extra £15

The surcharge – used to finance support services for crime victims – is already added to fines for those convicted of crime in court.

But now ministers want to extend the levy to on-the-spot fines and fixed penalty notices in England and Wales.

This would include motorists caught speeding, using a mobile phone while driving, not wearing a seatbelt, or given a parking ticket.

People found scrawling graffiti or being drunk and disorderly would also be hit.

Under the plans, the current fine of £60 for speeding would be increased to £75.

Campaigning group the TaxPayers’ Alliance said the move amounted to a “stealth tax”.

Spokesman Matthew Elliott said: “If the Treasury wants to raise money from the courts, it should be more honest and call this surcharge a ‘justice tax’.”

Justice minister Claire Ward said in a parliamentary answer: “The victim surcharge was introduced on April 1, 2007 and has been applied initially only to fines imposed in magistrates and Crown courts at a rate of £15.

“We intend to add the surcharge to other disposals as soon as it becomes feasible to do so.”

Driving Fines Increased By £15 To Fund Victim Compensation Fund | UK News | Sky News

This is just one example of driving in adverse weather!
When did you last consider the risk?
Who do you know that would benefit from Driving Risk Assessment? 

Contact: Malcolm@A19Fleet.co.uk

We are based in the North East and service the UK

Two Killed As Coach Overturns On Icy Roads

Tom Bonnett, Sky News Online

A coach carrying passengers on a day trip to see Christmas lights has crashed onto its side in icy Cornwall, killing two people and injuring at least 47 others.

The crash happened in the village of Townshend in north Cornwall

The vehicle overturned in the village of Townshend near the Hayle in north Cornwall, which is about seven miles north of Penzance.

Of the 47 people hurt, five were described as seriously injured, one critically, and the rest “walking wounded”.

Police believe the crash could have been caused by the freezing weather.

A police spokesman said: “It is extremely icy down there.

“Officers aren’t ruling out the fact that might be a contributory factor.”

Dan Thorogood, from South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust, told Sky News the rescue workers faced difficult conditions at the scene.

“The report from the crews that arrived was that it was extremely icy,” he said.

“We had quite some difficulty getting to the coach itself because of the condition of the roads.

“We couldn’t get particularly close in.”

Crash investigators have already begun investigating and police, fire and ambulances have attended the scene.

An RAF helicopter helped evacuate casualties to Treliske Hospital in Truro.

The coach passengers – thought to be from west Cornwall – were returning from a day out to see the festive illuminations in Mousehole.

A phone line – 0800 056 0154 – has been set up for concerned relatives.

Coach Crashes Onto Its Side In Townshend, Cornwall, Killing Two People And Injuring At Least 47 | UK News | Sky News

My best regards at Christmas
Malcolm Stephenson DSA ADI A19Fleet Trainer
A1 Driving Assessor

About Time!

British Grand Prix To Stay At Silverstone

Kat Higgins, Sky News Online

The British Grand Prix has been saved following a deal between Silverstone bosses and Formula One’s Bernie Ecclestone.

F1 fans will get to see champion Jenson Button at Silverstone in 2010

Silverstone Circuits Limited have confirmed that the event will stay at their track for the next 17 years.

Next year’s F1 race had been under threat after Donington Park, which was hoping to host it, failed to meet its financial obligations.

Silverstone’s managing director Richard Phillips said: “We’ve always had the belief the British Grand Prix was an important cornerstone of Formula One but, with Bernie, you’re never quite sure.”

“At the end of the day, though, you have to have a British Grand Prix.”

Silverstone, which is in Northamptonshire, was stripped of the race last year because of a dispute over the upgrading of the venue.

Donington Park was awarded the staging rights but failed to raise the £135m needed to bring its track up to standard.

British Grand Prix Is Saved Following A deal Between Silverstone And Bernie Ecclestone | UK News | Sky News