Driving Lessons and COVID-19

Following the announcement regarding the ‘road map’ out of lockdown, we are hoping to get the Thumbs Up to return to work and deliver driving lessons from April 12.  In its roadmap of four steps, the Government set out that driving tests and theory tests in England will restart, as part of step 2, no earlier than 12 April 2021.

Before taking each step, the Government will review the latest data on the impact of the previous step against four tests. The tests are:

1.The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully.

2.Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated.

3.Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.

4.Our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern.

DVSA is working closely with the government and will provide more information as soon as they are able to.

Here at Thumbs Up Driver Training we are taking every precaution possible to mitigate the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the training environment, having successfully completed a course in Infection Prevention and Control (Including COVID-19).  A Code of Practice has also been put into place, and all pupils will be required to read and sign before starting their course of lessons.

At this moment in time the population does not have proven immunity to COVID-19. Although there is light on the horizon with the roll out of vaccines, there is still a potential for the virus to spread. Both instructors and students have a joint responsibility to look after the health and wellbeing of each other, their friends, families, and those we may encounter.

COVID-19 is a virus which surrounds itself with an envelope consisting of a lipid (oily) bilayer.  To destroy the lipid bilayer, it is important to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water, as soap contains surfactants which cause the virus to fall apart.

Pupils will be asked to wash hands with soap and water before entering the training vehicle where upon, hand sanitiser will be provided for use during the lesson.

We aim to provide a safe and clean training environment and to give pupils and parents the reassurance that every precaution has being taken to mitigate the risk of infection.  The tuition car will be fully sanitised on a regular basis with the use of an in car atmospheric sanitiser and deodoriser, as well as sanitising touch point surfaces in between each lesson.

These will include, but not be restricted to:

  • Door handles (inside and out)
  • Car key
  • Seat adjust levers/switches
  • Head restraint adjuster
  • Steering wheel (all the wheel)
  • Steering column adjuster
  • Seatbelts and buckles
  • Seat covers
  • Mirrors and adjusters
  • Handbrake
  • Gear lever
  • All switches/lever switches

 

Given the close and enclosed proximity of in-vehicle training, driving instructors and their pupils are particularly at risk.
Following advice from both DVSA and NASP, as face masks are worn by Examiners and mandatory for pupils on test, the same measures will be taken during the training process too.

These measures were put in place on our return to training after the first lockdown and have proven to work well in keeping us as safe as possible under these circumstances.

Thumbs Up Driver Training look forward to welcoming both current and new pupils to help them on the road to success.

 

 

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