ADINJC Covid 19 Press Release 18/05/2020

TESTING TIMES FOR DRIVING INSTRUCTORS

The Approved Driving Instructors National Joint Council (ADINJC), one of the leading national trade associations representing 39,000 self employed driver trainers, are highlighting the plight of those currently excluded from the Government Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) who are having to rely on limited state benefits.

Lynne Barrie, Chair of the ADINJC, said "I believe driver trainers are in a fairly unique situation when it comes to Government Covid-19 guidelines, taking into accountwe can neither follow social distancing rules whilst working nor work from home together with the direct influence of Government, via the DVSA, on our being able to return to work. Driver trainers have, apart from teaching critical workers, willingly adhered to Government guidelines and stayed at home for everyone's safety. However, today the DVSA formally confirmed that, until further notice, driver trainers can teach only critical workers who have a driving test booked. I've received considerable correspondence from driver trainers, especially those unable to claim under SEISS due to recently becoming self employed, imploring us to help and support them at this challenging time".

Debbie Bishop, from Bexhill and an ADI since July 2019, said "I plead with the Government to put right what remains a totally illogical unfairness in the SEISS. Albeit understandably, social distancing along with the decision by the DVSA and therefore - as extension – by our government to cancel driving tests for at least 3 months had a devastating impact on our earning capacity and to remain excluded from the SEISS until October compounds what is already an absolutely dire financial situation. The self-employed submit accounts, pay taxes, pay NI and HMRC have historical records on which to formulate a calculation; if necessary, combined with a 1-year tax return. Whilst I’m grateful for Universal Credit support, the amount I received at the beginning of May was a little over £200, which is incomparable to 80% of my monthly self-employed earnings and is impossible to survive on".

Lynne Barrie, ADINJC Chair, said "We've written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling on him to extend SEISS in line with the furlough scheme. It's conceivable from the currently unclear guidelines that driver trainers may not be able to return to work before 4th July. After which time, I envisage most driver trainers will initially undertake fewer or shorter lessons, in line with government guidelines to keep time spent in a car and in close proximity to people from outside one's household as short as possible and to allow time to undertake vehicle and personal cleaning measures".

Regarding driver trainers currently excluded from the SEISS, Lynne said "New entrants to the driver training profession, faced with the overwhelming likelihood of their current precarious financial situation continuing for up to another two months followed by a couple of months on a significantly reduced income, need to be treated fairly and be included in the SEISS. Since many will have low incomes in their first year of trading due to high start up costs (e.g. training, franchise, car acquisition) and  building clientele, I'm sure a calculation could readily be reached using FY2018/19 tax returns together with HMRC's knowledge of net income within industries. Even if this applied from 11th May and is additional to any state assistance they are already entitled to, it would be a life saver for them and their families. I'm concerned that, otherwise, some driver trainers may decide to go out to teach not only because they feel they have no choice financially but also due to interpreting currently unclear guidelines as meaning they can return to work, which is not satisfactory for anyone".

Contact:
Lynne Barrie, ADINJC Chair             07774951902
Gary Fossey         07939058851

Notes to Editors:
1.             ADINJC (Approved Driving Instructors National Joint Council) is one of the leading national driver trainer associations in the UK with a membership of 8,000 driver and rider trainers, the profession as a whole having 39,000 government licensed individuals. It is run by DVSA Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) on a not-for-profit basis and has no employees. ADINJC is one of three national associations who form NASP (National Associations Strategic Partnership), a trusted advisor and Tier 1 Stakeholder of DVSA and DfT and are working closely with them in relation to the impact of Covid-19 on the driver training industry.
2.             DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) is an executive agency sponsored by the Department for Transport (DfT) and carry out driving tests, approve people to be driving instructors and MOT testers, carry out tests to make sure lorries and buses are safe to drive, carry out roadside checks on drivers and vehicles together with monitoring vehicle recalls.