31 Aug DVSA Standard Operating Procedure Coronavirus (COVID-19): Conducting driving tests (vocational)
UPDATED 23 August 2021
Waiting Rooms
Waiting rooms are open at some test centres.
Waiting rooms are for trainers or other accompanying drivers to wait in while the candidate is on test. LDTMs have completed risk assessments for waiting rooms which are open. If the waiting room is not open at your test centre, lock the door when you leave the building. Where this is not possible, a local arrangement should be agreed to make sure the building
is secure.
Toilet facilities
Any candidates, ADIs and accompanying drivers should be given access to the toilet facilities where they are available, upon request.
People using the toilet facilities should wear a face covering. They must clean the facilities before and after use. A poster will be provided with instructions for cleaning the toilet. LDTMs should ensure that cleaning materials are available in the toilets.
Face coverings
Candidates must wear a face covering, unless there are exceptional circumstances, which must have been pre-notified and agreed upon.
If the candidates does not have a face covering you can provide them with one. It must be worn for the duration of the test. The candidate must keep the face covering and not leave it on site.
Where a candidate arrives for test wearing a face covering, you may need to ask them to temporarily remove their face covering to confirm their identity.
In Scotland only
You can refuse to carry out the test if the person providing tuition or the candidate are not wearing a face covering when they arrive at the test centre. You should not refuse them if they live in the same household or they have a good reason not to wear one.
If the candidate refuses to wear a face covering
Candidates are asked to inform us if they have a good reason for not wearing a face covering at the point they book their test. We then match them with driving examiners who have volunteered to conduct tests for candidates who cannot wear face coverings.
If the candidate refuses to wear a face covering and did not pre-notify us, and a volunteer is not available to take the test, you must terminate the test.
Record the termination using activity code 22 (this code is also used for no L-Plates).
Religious coverings
If the candidate is wearing a niqab (full face veil worn for religious purposes), you should be sensitive to ensuring their privacy when carrying out the identity check. You must consider the candidates wishes of their face not being seen by others.
This may mean just asking them to position with their back towards others present before removing their niqab. In some circumstances you may need to wait for other candidates to leave the car park before you check the identity.
Glasses and face coverings
If the candidate presents wearing glasses and a face covering, make them aware of the increased possibility of glasses/eye protection fogging up.
Where issues arise with this on test, offer advice and guidance to help resolve the problem. If the issues continue to interfere with the safety of the test, terminate/stop the test on safety
grounds. If the test is terminated for this reason, record it using activity code 22 (this code is also used for no L-Plates).
Before leaving the office
When leaving the office you must:
• wash your hands
• put on a face covering before you leave and ensure you cover your mouth and nose,
leaving no gaps between your face and the covering
• avoid touching the covering while using it. If you do, you should either wash your
hands with soap and water if at the test centre, or use hand sanitiser whilst on test
• avoid touching your face with your hands
Meeting the candidate
Meet and greet the candidate at the manoeuvring area.
You must politely remind the accompanying driver of the requirement for social distancing. Before carrying out the preliminary parts of the driving test, ask the candidate to ventilate the
vehicle. Depending on the situation and weather, this may be by having doors or windows open.
Do not:
• shake the candidate’s hand
• let the candidate touch the iPad, stylus or paper contingency test report
Trainers and accompanying drivers
Trainers / accompanying drivers will not be able to accompany the test.
Explain to the candidate that you’ll offer a debrief at the end of the test. But the trainer/accompanying driver will only be invited to listen in if social distancing can be maintained.
Clear symptoms
If the candidate comes to the test with clear symptoms the test must not go ahead.
If the candidate becomes unwell and displays clear symptoms during the test, you must stop the test. If you terminate a test for either of these reasons you must:
1. record code 22 on the DES app
2. inform the candidate they’ll receive a new booking confirmation with a rearranged
test date, free of charge
3. call the examiner hotline 0115 6 713 143 to inform the customer service centre
Preliminary checks
If the weather is bad, complete these next steps inside the vehicle.
Insurance and residency declaration
Ask the candidate/trainer if they have a pen. If they do not, provide them with one and an:
• insurance and residency declaration form
• insurance and residency declaration form (Welsh)
Ask the candidate to:
• read the insurance and residency declaration form
• tick the boxes if they agree with the statements
• sign it
Without handling the licence, you must:
1. compare their signature on the form to the one on their licence
2. carry out the UV check without physically handling the licence
3. mark a cross X in the signature box on either the iPad or the paper contingency test report to confirm that the candidate has agreed with the statements and has satisfied
the identity checks
Ask the candidate if they’d like their test result emailed to them. Check the candidates email address. If the candidate wants to change their email address, you should:
1. ask them to write the new email address on the insurance and residency declaration form
2. enter this email address onto the iPad without touching the form
3. confirm it is accurately completed with the candidate
The candidate must keep the insurance and residency declaration form. If they have borrowed a pen, it must be wiped with an anti-viral wipe after the candidate hands it back to
you.
Incorrect eyesight restriction code 01
If a candidate has an incorrect eyesight restriction code 01 on their licence, you should note it in the Additional information section of the DES app or Comments section of the paper
contingency test report. There is no requirement to complete the DVLA licence restriction code 01 declaration form.
Cleaning of vehicles presented for test
You must be satisfied that the interior of the vehicle presented for test has been recently cleaned.
This means that they should have:
• tidied any unnecessary items away from the dashboard, footwells, door pockets, cup
holders and seats
• wiped down the dashboard and car controls
The vehicle does not need to have had a full valet. There may be leaves, grit or other dirt brought into the footwell of the vehicle from outside. This is acceptable. Give the trainer and candidate a reasonable amount of time to take any actions to make the car clean. You should not turn away a test that could reasonably be conducted. This does not apply to module 4 CPC tests.
Entering the vehicle
You must use an anti-viral wipe to clean:
• the passenger door handles inside and outside
• the dashboard in the examiner area
• any other touch points
This does not apply to module 4 CPC tests.
Ventilation inside the vehicle during the test
The vehicle must have at least one window open on each side throughout the test. Any combination of windows can be opened, for example, one from the front and back. The windows do not have to be fully open. They need to be lowered enough to allow a good flow of air through the vehicle. This does not apply to module 4 CPC tests.
In bad weather
Do not open the windows so far that the inside of the vehicle becomes overly wet or causes the candidate discomfort. Candidates are being advised to wear clothing suitable for the weather.
Air conditioning, other ventilation systems and demisters can also be used, as long as they have a fresh air supply.
Direct vents away from your face. The risks of transmission via air conditioning and demisters is low.
Conducting the test
Conduct the test as normal, as per DT1 guidance with the following exception.
Curtailing tests when failed
Where a candidate fails the test either by committing a serious or dangerous fault or by making 16 driving faults, you should direct the candidate back to the test centre taking the
most convenient route. Do not tell the candidate the outcome of the test until arriving back at the test centre.
Do not carry out any additional test requirements.
If the failure point is during the independent driving section, you should end the independent drive and give normal directions back to the test centre.
Continue to assess and record any faults identified on the route back to the test centre. This may mean arriving back at the test centre having not fully completed the test. In this case the
test will be terminated in the interest of public safety at the test centre and completed using activity code 4.
You do not need to record these tests on the terminated test log, unless the drive was terminated and stopped on the road in the interest of public safety.
During the debrief, explain to the candidate that the test was curtailed following the point at which the test had been failed, and continuing the test would have made no difference to the
outcome.
Reversing and uncoupling/recoupling exercises
The reversing and uncouple/recouple exercises should be done at the start of the test where possible, you may carry these exercises out at the end of the test if it makes managing test
times easier.
Please talk to your line manager or technical standards if you have any questions: technicalstandards@dvsa.gov.uk
If the candidate gets a serious fault for either of these exercises, then you must terminate the test in the interest of public safety using activity code 4. This should not be recorded on the
terminated test log.
To be able to maintain social distancing when briefing the reversing exercise, you must use a printed diagram of the reverse area. Do not use the iPad diagram, as the privacy screen
covering prevents social distancing.
You can print off the reversing exercise diagram from GOV.UK. These exceptions only affect tests being conducted during the coronavirus (COVID-19)
pandemic.
Module 4 CPC tests
When choosing the CPC4 question combination, you must not use combinations requiring a demonstration using the Load Securing Demonstration Trolley (LSDT). To avoid contamination and excessive cleaning requirements, the LSDT must not be used until further notice.
Throughout the practical demonstration you should:
• not enter the cab
• maintain social distancing in line with government guidance from the candidate
You should complete the DVSA11 pass certificate outside of the vehicle.
At the end of the test
If the candidate has passed, you should read the health declaration to the candidate and ask if the statement is true.
If the candidate agrees, you should mark a cross X in the signature box on either the iPad or
the paper contingency test report to confirm that the candidate has agreed with the
statement.
When completing the DVSA10 pass certificate, you can take the driver number from the
iPad. You’ll see it at the top of the screen where the pass certificate number is entered.
You should take the candidate’s licence in the usual way for ADLI issue. The iPad and wallet
should be closed before you handle the driving licence. This avoids contaminating the iPad.
When you return to the office
You must:
• wear a face covering when moving around the office if your site specific risk
assessment says you should
• shred the licence, if in receipt of it
• clean the pen with anti-viral spray or wipes
• wash your hands
For customer sites where no shredding facilities are available, you should place the licence in an envelope, seal it and shred it at the earliest opportunity.
If you conducted the test on the DES app, use the voice to text function for all write ups or an individually assigned keyboard.
If you do not use an iPad, complete the test using the paper contingency test report. This will need to be rekeyed by an iPad user once completed.
Accompanied tests
There are times when it might be necessary to have an accompanied test, such as:
• for quality control purposes
• identified development needs
• new entrant development plans
• where an HS1 was submitted following a previous test
• conducting a test with a British Sign Language Interpreter (Deaf Candidates Only)
Where the test is accompanied the person accompanying should:
• wash their hands and put a face covering on before leaving the office
• put the face covering on ensuring it covers their mouth and nose, making sure there are no gaps between their face and the covering
• avoid touching the covering while using it. If they do, they should either wash their hands with soap and water if at the test centre, or use hand sanitiser while on test
• avoid touching their face with their hands
To enable lip reading, BSL interpreters may not be required to wear face coverings. This must be pre-notified and agreed upon.
HS1 tests
The LDTM should review the case history and associated risks, and decide if it is necessary for the test to be accompanied, where a candidates driving test has been flagged for being
accompanied to:
• reduce the need for extra people in the car
• enable social distancing as much as reasonably possible
If the LDTM considers the risk to be low then they can, at their discretion, take the test unaccompanied.
In these cases, the LDTM must bring their mobile phone on test with them. They should also consider any other additional measures they might need, such as having support available at
the test centre at the start and end of the test.
If the LDTM is not satisfied there is a low enough risk, then the test should be accompanied.
The LDTM should follow the measures as described above for an accompanied test.
Supervised tests
Following a supervised test, feedback should be given to the examiner confidentially keeping social distance. Quality Monitoring Forms (QMF) used on the test can be handed to the
examiner for review and signature.
The examiner and supervising examiner should both wash their hands before and after paperwork review