We use a 1.4 litre Toyota Yaris. Not All Agree With the ‘Essential Driver Training’ Programme
Not too many will remember a little shimmozle at the Custom House on the 26th of October this year when there were a few verbals showered in the direction of no less gentlemen than Leo Varadkar, Transport Minister, the Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan and the RSA CEO, Noel Brett. Well then, the short-lived drama was over as quickly as it started. It made an appearance on that evening’s RTE News at Six and it must have alerted some of the aforementioned people.
The protagonists were ADIs (Approved Driving Instructors) and members of the GMB Union. The numbers totalled about 70, led by Eamonn Coy. The GMB appears an unusual Union for some ofour driving instructors to join. This Union is known as the National Union of General and Municipal Workers and was founded in 1924 in England and has a membership there of .6 million. In Ireland, it is based in Hollywood, Co. Down and represents its driving instructor members throughout the whole country. Coy is actively recruiting new members. I understand that membership is c.35eur annually.
Noel Brett refuses to meet Coy’s Union – it sounds or maybe rhymes a little like a Col. Eamon of 1930s fame! Apparently, Brett doesn’t see this Union to be an appropriate representative of its ADI members. The RTE snap shot mentioned above was certainly not a good advertisement for the Union as far as I observed. It was a very crude attempt in an effort to draw the attention of the RSA hierarchy and the public to their grievances.
In widely sent emails afterwards, Coy states that his Union and ADIs are a professional body aimed at bringing about necessary and responsible change to the current EDT, or driver training programme as set out by the RSA. He also thanks those who engaged in the protest saying they conducted themselves in a very professional manner!
Those little undercurrents flow unknown to the learner driver which is probably for the better. Their job is to learn to be a competent driver with a good attitude to safety and all other drivers out there. So what is Eamonn Coy concerned with?
There was no standard set down by the State for driving tests until 2007, yet the Irish Driving Instructors Association (IDIA) existed for decades preparing students for the Test. This Association was not recognised by the State as a legal setup, though its standard was the only one in existence and it was allowed to operate without official communication, advice or recognition. It was an unusual situation to have been allowed. Really it was a cry to the Government who were surely careless when, having set up the Driving Test system, they did not allow for a training standard either in written or practical form.
Then in 2006/7 the Road Safety Authority came into being with the new formula for the driving test being made official in writ and instruction method. Stringent exams had to be passed by the new instructors. Those who were in the trade, many for a lifetime, had not their experience or professionalism taken into consideration. Neither were they consulted on the new system that was manifesting. They expressed their opposition, to no avail.
Then in April this year those who did not have a Licence or Learner Permit had to undergo the EDT programme which entailed 12 compulsory lessons conducted by an approved driving instructor. It was the syllabus as drawn up by the RSA that has irked Eamonn Coy and indeed many many driving instructors not linked to Eamonn. There are a few gripes. The main one is the role of the Sponsor whose input is in supervising the learner between lessons with the instructor. This ‘sponsor’ is usually a parent or other family member or friend who will do ongoing practice sessions with the learner in consultation with the instructor. Questions being asked by the ‘Coy brigade’ range as follows:
*A sponsor is not a trained instructor, therefore should not be allowed play such official role.
*A sponsor may easily give incorrect instruction, or that contradicting the instructor, thus frustrating and confusing the learner.
*Who is legally responsible should there be a collision when the sponsor is practising with the learner, as advised by the instructor.
*Where family members are involved in such instruction/practice, it is too often dominated by disagreement/argument.
*The ADI has a dual controlled vehicle whereas the sponsor has no control over a car should an emergency arise.
*Lesson No. 2 moves too quickly and, among others, includes the following actions – cornering, negotiating junctions, changing lanes, entering and exiting roundabouts, correct position in traffic lanes.
One might easily conclude that it takes a good driver to manage such manoeuvres. Coy surely has a point, yet I find that it is the availability of the dual control system to the ADI that enables him to undertake such tasks.
Noel Brett has intimated that the EDT programme may be up for review within eighteen months to two years of implementation. Meanwhile, I doubt if the Coy corner will throw a white towel.
May 9th, 2012 at 4:52 pm
Dear Louis,
I read with interest your article on EDT and the representation of ADI’s by the GMB union. It is indeed regrettable that it has come to the stage that the only way the RSA will listen to ADI’s is when it is forced to do so. ADI’s were not consulted about he introduction of EDT instead it was forced upon our industry. While we all seek to improve road safety and driver learning and welcomed the promised introduction of mandatory lessons what has been foisted upon our industry is a failed system that has proved to be unworkable. Throughout 2011 many ADI’s, myself included, requested Mr Brett to call an urgent review of EDT. His response was emphatic, a review would not take place until twenty four months after the introduction date. However through the extensive work of GMB and by informing our politicians of the reality of EDT we are now in the middle of a full review of EDT due to be completed in August 2012. It took political pressure to change the mind of the RSA, something that could only have been achieved by utilising the GMB and it’s network of contacts.
The GMB union is the natural representative body for ADI’s in Ireland and agreed to represent ADI’s in March 2011. Original formed in 1889 as Gas Workers and General Union it has grown and developed over the past 123 years. Today GMB is an amalgamation of over 100 unions and has over 610,000 members both in Ireland and the UK and GMB has an full time staffed office in Strasburg. Many of the top officials in the GMB are Irish including Mr Eamonn Coy who is from Galway and Mr David Kearney from Dublin. David, who lives in Kildare, is directly responsible for the ADI’s members in the Republic. GMB in Ireland currently represent a variety of different groups including workers in Dublin Port and Guinness. Many ask why as self employed ADI’s do we need to join a union. Well prior to GMB our ADI opinion was not sought by the RSA. Although ADI’s looked for a proper working relationship with the RSA and a say in how our industry runs we were ignored and dismissed. This is an unacceptable position for a state body to hold. GMB have also given legal assistance to a number of ADI’s in the past twelve months. Many ADI’s who work as sole traders welcome the assurance that they are not alone and if they do have a dispute with customer or are being intimidated or bullied by their driving school or franchise operator that they do have professional assistance behind them in the form of GMB.
You also mention that Mr Brett has refused to meet with GMB officials. This was correct and he told me this himself a few days after GMB started to represent ADI’s. His position has recently changed and is due to meet with GMB officials in the coming weeks. This again is due to the continuing representation done by GMB and it’s members on behalf of ADI’s and shows that change can happen but only if ADI’s demand it. The old saying is very true “united we stand, divided we fall”.
If you wish to know more about GMB or join you may do so at http://www.gmbireland.ie
Regards,
Kevin Plunkett
ADI & GMB Member
tel: 086-8331927
July 18th, 2012 at 10:35 am
Kevin,
I’d be interested to know the circumstances in which you had to provide legal assistance to your ADI members. Of course it is comforting to know that there’s a Union behind you should a serious problem arise. But, I think that the vast majority of ADIs would be well equipped to handle the problems that arise in day to day dealings with their clients. I don’t know how many complaints have been lodged against ADIs nationwide. I’m aware of one in these parts. It’s obvious to all that the EDT programme had a number of flaws, like the content of Lesson 2, or no mention of MSMM until Lesson 3 etc. For me, I eased the student into the contents of L 2 over a number of lessons. It’s a case of horses for courses or vice versa! Who voiced an opinion when we were asked by the RSA to sign a waiver exhonorating them from any legal liability relative to the implementation of their very own programme? I was at one of those meetings in Dundalk when it arose. I raised the point. The RSA dropped the demand subsequently. The one serious problem that I see with the EDT is the Sponsor. For a total beginner, I actually ask them not to practise with a sponsor until I have at least 3 lessons done with them. However, if they have enough private space, like a big dry field or yard, by all means drive away all day after L 1. Driving on the motorway in practice is a must, say after 9 or 10 lessons. No harm to keep knocking on Noel’s door, but I was disappointed with your ‘approach’ at the Custom House on Oct 26.
Regards,
Louis.
P.S. United I stand.