Covid-19
Updated on 5th April 2021 Dan's School of Motoring
Driving Lessons will resume from 12th April inline with the Governments roadmap out of lockdown
Future plans for post lockdown lessons
Updated on 1st July 2020 Dan's School of Motoring
As the government have announced the easing of social distancing measures allowing driving lessons to resume, guidance has been published by NASP (National Associations Strategic Partnership) following consultations with the DVSA to help instructors deliver driving lessons in a manner which will reduce the risk of spreading Covid 19, keeping both you and I as safe as we can given that we cannot adhere to the 1m+ social distancing recommendation. Here I will outline the key areas of what to expect from me and what I will need from you.
Firstly, if you are in the vulnerable group or living with someone in this group then unfortunately your lessons will have to wait a bit longer. You will know if you are in this group as you will have been contacted by the authorities at the start of the outbreak and will still be being advised to self isolate wherever possible. (see appendix at the bottom for further details)
If you are able to restart lessons, if you have shown any symptoms of Covid-19 within the 7 days prior to your lesson or have been in contact with someone who has within the last 14 days then you should cancel your lesson. There will be no late cancellation fee in this scenario. Please don't take any risks with this. If you're not 100% then postpone the lesson.
Before coming to the lesson please wash your hands thoroughly, alcohol spray will also be provided before entering the car and if required throughout the lesson.
Windows will be kept open when possible so on colder days wrap up warm. It has been suggested that you should change your clothes after a driving lesson and put those you wore directly into the wash, that is your judgement call to make.
If you wish to wear gloves for the lesson then that is fine, they have to be disposable and should only be put on before entering the car. There will be a limited number of disposable gloves provided within the car if you want to use them. Gloves should be disposed of straight away at the end of the lesson. Bags will be provided in the car for this purpose.
It will be required for you to wear a face mask unless you have a medical reason not to, I also will be wearing one. There will again be a limited number of disposable masks available in the car and bags will be provided for their disposal at the end of the lesson.
During the lesson if I have to intervene in the drive by using the gear stick, steering wheel or any other control we will at the first safe opportunity pull over to clean down the surface and spray our hands with 70% alcohol spray.
Any visual aids I use will be shown but at no point passed to you.
When pulled up to discuss driving we will keep facing forwards as opposed to directly at one another. I know this will feel very impersonal but it is the advice. Where possible longer briefings will take place outside of the car.
As we cannot share a pen, at the end of each lesson I can't get you sign my record sheet, so instead I will send you a text confirming that you have had the lesson, the length of the lesson, if you owe money for the lesson, have paid or if you've made a block booking how much time you have remaining.
Wherever possible please pay by bank transfer. I am happy to still accept cash but to minimise cross contamination the advice is to avoid cash if possible
If you are a new client I will need to check your licence electronically at www.gov.uk/check-driving-information for this I will need the last 8 characters of your licence number and a check code which you will need to provide me with. I cannot take your licence from you to check.
I currently will not be able to accompany anyone on their test or be present for the debrief at the end. I will discuss further in car what will happen on test day when it is relevant.
No third party will be able to sit in for the lesson. That's parents, partners or children.
Between each lesson I will clean all key surfaces in the car. Internal and external door handles, windows/mirrors controls, seat/head restraints, seatbelt and its connection, gear lever, steering wheel, indicator and wiper stalks, car keys, any training materials which have been used and any other surface in the car I can.
To see the government's currents advice on Covid-19 click here
To read the NASP's full guidance click here
People at high risk from Covid-19
People who have had an organ transplant
Are having chemotherapy or antibody treatment for cancer, including immunotherapy
Are having an intense course of radiotherapy
Are having cancer treatments that can affect the immune system
Have blood or bone marrow cancer (such as leukaemia,
lymphoma or myeloma)
Have had a bone marrow or stem cell transplant in the last 6 months or are still taking immunosuppressant medicine
Have been told by a doctor they have a severe lung condition
(such as cystic fibrosis, severe asthma or severe COPD
Have a condition that means they have a very high risk of getting infections (such as SCID or sickle cell)
Are taking medicine that makes them much more likely to get infections (such as high doses of steroids)
Were born with a serious heart condition and are pregnant
If you are at high risk from coronavirus you should have recieved a letter from the NHS
People at moderate risk from coronavirus
Are 70 or older
Are pregant
Have a lung condition that's not severe (such as asthma, COPD, emphysema or bronchitis)
Have heart disease (such as heart failure)
Have diabetes
Have chronic kidney disease
Have liver disease (such as hepatitis)
Have a condition affecting the brain or nerves (such as Parkinson's disease, motor
neurone disease, multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy)
Have a condition which means they are at high risk of getting infections
Are taking medicine that can affect the immune system (such
as low doses of steroids)
Are very obese (a BMI of 40 or above)
If you are unsure about the safety of driving lessons at this time then I recommend waiting until you are confident it is safe for you.