04/07/10
UPDATE: The new Irvine test centre is back on but it seems it won't be open until early 2011. The initial business plan was rejected, which resulted in the delay, but it has since been accepted.
30/06/10
After 2 years of hard graft I have completed the Diploma in Driving Instruction. This qualification earns me 50 credit points towards a Degree in Driver Education and after more experience I will earn the title of Diamond Advanced Instructor.
25/05/10
Ayr driving test centre in Whitletts Road is closing and relocating to a new Multipurpose Test Centre at Boundary Road in August 2010. Dave Robertson, who is the current Centre Manager at Ayr DTC is going part time and it seems as though Bob McLean (Centre Manager at Kilmarnock DTC) will be taking his place as Centre Manager in June. The new driving test centre in Irvine is still set to open towards the end of the year.
24/05/10
The coalition government has laid out new plans regarding speed cameras and road safety stating that "We will stop central government funding for new fixed speed cameras and switch to more effective ways of making our roads safer, including authorising 'drugalyser' technology."
24/05/10
The government has announced cuts of £6.2bn to reduce the budget deficit. Of this £120m will be made from a freeze in civil service recruitment. This means that there will be a gradual decrease in the amount of driving examiners in the next few years (through retirement, changes in career etc) due to there being no new driving examiners being trained up by the DSA in the foreseeable future. Potentially this could mean an increase to the practical test waiting times and lower customer standards.
18/03/10
From 6th April 2010 the DSA will be encouraging all test candidates to to take their instructor (or accompanying driver) along in the back of the car during their test. The Driving Examiner will now ask each driving test candidate: "Would you like your instructor to accompany you on the test and be there for the result and end of test feedback?". If the customer says 'no', the examiner will ask, 'Would you like your instructor to be there at the end of test for the feedback?" Up until 6th April candidates must tell the examiner that they want their instructor present during the test but after this date they will be asked if they'd want someone with them. The DSA has stated that "by having the observer present on the test, they'll be in the position to identify future development needs for a subsequent test or additional skills to build on after passing the test." More information can be found by clicking here.
11/03/10
The DSA Driving Examiners have been advised by their union to take strike action on 24th March 2010. Any test candidates who have a test booked for this day are advised to attend as normal. Tests may still commence as not all examiners are members of the union. If your test is cancelled you do not need to contact the DSA. They will automatically issue a new appointment via post. Click here for more information.
10/03/10
East Ayrshire Council are planning to install a puffin crossing on Campbell Street in Kilmarnock, between the fire station and the A76 flyover. This will especially help ensure the safety of children at Megamania kids play.
30/02/10
East Ayrshire Council are considering placing a puffin crossing on Grassyards Road in Kilmarnock, just outside St Joseph's Academy. This will help to increase road safety around the school as it gives the students a safer place to cross. It will also help to cut down on the amount of parked cars which create difficulty for pedestrians trying to cross the road.
23/02/10
We've partnered up with Tailguardian (www.tailguardian.com), an Irvine based company who design "intellegent" vehicle safety signs. They're currently being used on Stagecoach, The Bethell Group, Fife Police and First Scotland. Tailguardian have support from local councils and road safety groups and in 2009 won a prestigious award from Brake, a road safety charity (that I'm a Road Safety Ambassador for) in the "Fleet Safety Product of the Year" catagory. Currently KM Driver Training is the only driving school in the UK to use Tailguardian's signs on their training vehicles. For more information on Tailguardian and to buy their products click on their logo below.
08/02/10
UPDATE: It has now been confirmed that the Kilmarnock driving test centre is closing and relocating to the new site at Irvine's Riverside Business Park. Exact dates are unknown as yet but due to the DSA currently negotiating with the lease at the new site it looks as though it will be around late summer or early autumn 2010.
28/01/10
2 months after submitting their application it has been confirmed by North Ayrshire Council today that the Driving Standards Agency have won planning permission to replace Saltcoats test centre. The new location will be Century Court, 11 Riverside Business Park, Irvine, South Ayrshire, KA11 5DJ. The driving test centre will occupy the ground floor of an existing commercial premisis. A date for when the new test centre will open is has not been confirmed. More information can be found by clicking here.
