More than 26,000 motorists have been caught using a handheld mobile phone while driving in the first year since harsher penalties came into force. Among these are 500 novice drivers who have had their licences revoked for using their phone behind the wheel in their first 2 years of driving. Continue reading Tens of thousands of drivers get increased fines for using mobiles at wheel
Edinburgh is now just weeks away from becoming Scotland’s first 20mph city as signs and lines start to go down for the final phase in a citywide rollout of calmer speeds. The final phase goes live on 5 March. Continue reading City nears 20mph completion
As temperatures plummet across Scotland, motorists are urged to take extra care when on the roads. Snow has fallen across Scotland and roads are becoming increasingly icy meaning drivers should only travel when necessary and be overly cautious when they do. Continue reading Simon says: stay safe on winter roads
First MOT Test to remain at three years
Ministers put road safety first as they today decided to maintain the period before a car’s first MoT test at 3 years. The move comes after a Department for Transport consultation last year to consider changing the wait before the first test to 4 years. Continue reading Safety First
It’s Christmas time and that means cars loaded up with family, friends and – of course – luggage and presents. Chances are there’s also going to be more than one journey for most with some driving further than they would normally. With the weather and driving conditions likely to vary across different parts of the country, that means being prepared for anything and avoiding breakdowns is the key to arriving full of Christmas cheer. Continue reading Driving from home this Christmas? Check your tyres before you leave
Budding film directors will have the chance to hone their film-making skills while promoting road safety thanks to a new competition for Edinburgh primary schools.
Continue reading 20mph schools road safety video competition launched
Some driving examiners who are members of the Public and Commercial Service (PCS) union are planning to take strike action on Monday 4 December and Tuesday 5 December 2017.
You can either:
Not all driving examiners are union members, and even if they are, they might choose not to go on strike.
The way the car driving test works is changing on Monday 4 December 2017. These changes will still go ahead as planned.
You won’t have to contact the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to rebook your appointment if you can’t take your test because of strike action.
DVSA will contact you with a new test appointment within 5 to 10 working days.
You can claim out of pocket expenses if your test is cancelled, but you must have turned up for your test to be able to do this. If you don’t turn up, you’ll have to rebook your own test and won’t be able to claim expenses.
Theory tests aren’t affected by the strike action and will be taking place as planned.
The strike action is about a new standard employment contract that DVSA staff signed up to in 2014. In return for changes to their terms and conditions, they received a buy-out and a 3-year pay deal.
This contract was negotiated with the unions and agreed by staff in a ballot. Since then, PCS has opposed some aspects of the contract
PCS is now trying to link the dispute with health and safety risks of changes to the driving test. The new driving test has been designed to make sure drivers are better prepared for a lifetime of safe driving.
The changes have been developed and trialled extensively with input from DVSA staff, learner drivers, their instructors and other road safety professionals.
DVSA carried out risk assessments and commissioned the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) to carry out an independent assessment. These show that the new test manoeuvres were low risk.
Gareth Llewellyn, DVSA Chief Executive, said:
The fact PCS is trying to undermine the launch of the new test by calling for strike action shows a shameful disregard for both road safety and learner drivers who have worked so hard to be ready to take their test.
The new driving test has been designed to make sure new drivers have the skills they need to help them through a lifetime of safe driving. It is one step in helping reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on Britain’s roads.
During the last 3 years the changes – which are welcomed by most examiners, road safety experts, disability groups and instructors – have been developed and trialled extensively with a wide range of our staff, learners and other organisations. Over 4,000 candidates were involved in the trial.
I met with PCS on 2 November 2017 and they turned down my offer of mediation, although our offer still stands. This means that we cannot move forward together to resolve this dispute, for the sake of our staff and customers.
A test version of a new government service has launched to remind drivers by text message and email when their MOT is due.
The GOV.UK service, developed by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), makes it easy to get a reminder every year when your vehicle’s MOT is due.
When you sign up, you’ll get a reminder:
You’ll also get alerts that your vehicle no longer has an MOT.
You just need the vehicle’s number plate (registration number) and a mobile phone number or email address.
You’ll get a reminder every year until you unsubscribe.
The service is in ‘beta’ stage, which means it’s still being continually tested and improved by DVSA.
Research by DVSA has revealed that around 28% of cars will be overdue at any one time. Most of these are down to drivers forgetting to get it done, rather than deliberately avoiding having the test done.
If you drive a vehicle without a valid MOT, you’re breaking the law. The only exceptions are to drive it:
You’re also risking your own life and the lives of your passengers and other road users.
You can be fined up to £1,000 for driving a vehicle without a valid MOT.
The 2016 reported road casualties report for Great Britain showed that roadworthiness of vehicles was a factor in 1,687 accidents.
Transport Minister, Baroness Sugg, said: We have some of the safest roads in the world, but we are always looking at ways to make them even safer.
“Booking your next MOT is easy to overlook but it plays an important role in making sure the vehicles on our roads are safe and meeting high environmental standards. Getting a text or email will serve as a useful prompt to make sure people get their vehicle checked out time.”
DVSA Chief Executive, Gareth Llewellyn, said: “DVSA’s priority is to help you keep your vehicle safe to drive. The annual MOT checks that important parts of your vehicle meet the legal standards at the time of the test.
“Motorists should also remember that to be a safe and responsible driver, and reduce the risk of your vehicle’s condition causing an accident that kills or seriously injures someone, you need to check your vehicle all year round.”
Make sure that:
The MOT reminder service uses GOV.UK Notify, which is a platform to make it easier to keep people updated, and help government service teams send text messages, emails or letters to users.
The government is creating a set of shared components, service designs, platforms, data and hosting, that every government service can use.
This frees up teams to spend their time designing user-centric services rather than starting from scratch, so services become easier to create and cheaper to run.
Police Scotland are inviting older members of the community to Dobbies Garden Centres in Midlothian, Stirling and Fife to have a chat with our local Road Policing Officers at a special roadshow. Continue reading Older Driver Roadshows
Changes to the layout of Silverknowes Roundabout have been agreed to help make it safer and more user-friendly for those on two wheels, as well as pedestrians. The changes will see access onto and off the roundabout at Silverknowes Parkway cut to a single lane for cars and buses. Continue reading “Positive outcome”: changes to Silverknowes Roundabout layout agreed
