Created by Craig Preedy - © WyeDrive  2012

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What we are doing to keep you safe

Your instructor will do what they can to keep you safe during this pandemic. The safety of our students and their families is important to us. By working together we will be able to mitigate the risk posed by the virus and ensure safe and enjoyable lessons.

Of course it is important to recognise that all of the cleaning and following of guidelines cannot completely remove risk. For example, it will impossible to maintain a social distance of at least 1 metre in a car environment.

We have updated our terms and conditions to reflect the changes in our working and learning environment. A copy can be found here or on the right hand side of this page there is a link for you to download and sign and return to your instructor.

COVID - 19 Terms and Conditions

Before your lesson

Your instructor will text or call you on the day of your lesson to ensure you are still well enough to drive. Please answer the phone call or respond to the text as quickly as possible and at least 90 minutes before your lesson is due to start. If the instructor does not hear from you then the lesson may be cancelled. Your instructor will want to know the following:

• If you have any symptoms of coronavirus such as a cough or a high temperature – find out more here: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms-and-what-to-do
• You know, or have been in contact with, anyone that is showing symptoms.
• If you, or anyone you have been in contact with, have travelled from a high risk region or recently returned from a foreign holiday. If you have then we will advise a suspension of lessons for two weeks.
• If you, or someone you have been in contact with, have participated in any mass protest marches.
• If you have been in contact with anyone who has experienced symptoms within the past seven days or since your last lesson, then you MUST tell your instructor.
• If you are living with anyone who has been advised to self-isolate or you are living with anyone who is shielding or have been contacted by a member of the track and trace team then you MUST tell your instructor.
• The instructor will only leave to collect you for the lesson once they are happy with your responses.

It is important that you answer these questions honestly as you do not want to put the instructor or any of their other pupils at risk. This will also avoid the lesson being cancelled halfway through if the instructor decides you are not well enough, which may have financial implications to you.

• You will need to avoid using cash where possible as this can spread the virus. Use other methods of payment such as a bank transfer or contactless for example, but discuss this with your individual instructor.
• BACS payment must be no later than the morning of your lesson. In some cases, you might be able to pay using the contactless payment method. Check with your instructor if this is possible.
• Your instructor will pick you up from your home address wherever possible. If not possible then your lesson will begin from somewhere you are able to wash your hands.
• If you need to use public transport to get to your lesson, please advise your instructor and ensure that you have followed government guidelines for travelling on buses and trains.
• Your instructor will wait outside of the car for you to arrive.
• Please wash your hands for the minimum of 20 seconds using soap and water before meeting your instructor. 
• Before entering the vehicle, the instructor will again assess whether you are well enough to start the lesson. They will not let you get into the car straight away.
• From a distance of two metres (three paces) they will have a conversation with you to assess whether you seem yourself or have a cough that they did not notice on the phone call, or that was identified by you in your text, or if you look like you may have a high temperature. Some instructors may have a digital thermometer to check your temperature.
• They may ask you to place any outerwear such as your jacket/jumper/bag in the boot to help reduce the risk of infection.
• If they are not 100% happy with your state of health or demeanour, they will not start the lesson and explain that the lesson will have to be postponed until you have recovered. There will be no charge to you.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

The COVID-19 virus can be spread through contact points and air-borne droplets and so personal protective equipment may be advised.

• Gloves - these can be used providing they do not impede the safety and handling of the vehicle. The instructor may supply disposable gloves, but you should bring your own wherever possible. Please only use powder free gloves for better grip.
• Face coverings/masks - there is a concern about the wearing face coverings because it can hamper communication and, for those wearing eyesight correction, it can steam up glasses and impair vision. Plastic shields MUST NOT be worn due to injury that could be caused if an airbag was to detonate. For these reasons the Department for Health have advised to look ahead when in conversation and not to look at each other. If you wish to use a facemask then please do supply your own.
• There will be no handshakes.
• Your instructor might ask you to bring a seat covering, such as a beach towel that will cover the back as well as the seat. This will be unique to you and can be removed and washed after the lesson thereby reducing the risk of transmission.
• The transport agency has given advice that occupants of double manned vehicles should mitigate the risk of transmission and wear appropriate clothing such as long sleeves and trousers and do not wear open-toed shoes. The virus can spread through imperfections in the skin such as scratches or open wounds. With the summer heat and exposure to the sun, the skin can become dry and cracked.
• The car will be sanitised before you get in.
• Windows will be open at all times.

During the lesson

• Air conditioning will not be permitted in the vehicle due to the way that the virus can spread.  Front and rear windows will remain open at all times to allow air to flow freely though the car. We appreciate that this could be uncomfortable for some. Please advise your instructor if this is the case, especially if you have a medical condition which can be affected by heat such as asthma and diabetes.
• It may be necessary to use the air conditioning from time to time, especially during wet driving conditions to maintain clear windows. In this instance it will be for a short time and windows must still remain open.
• The lesson content and structure will remain the same as before.
• Your instructor will make sure the lesson has client centred aims and objectives and is appropriate for you.
• You may find they go back to areas that you have covered before; it may have been a considerable amount of time since your last lesson so they will need to reassess where you are.
• Any writing should be done by them – don’t share a pen or device. If you do, they will clean with anti-bac wipes straight afterwards.
• Training resources should be held up and not passed between the two of you.
• You should try to avoid directly facing each other when discussing scenarios.
• If the instructor is going to provide a demonstration drive, they will need to wipe down the controls before and after. If you are wearing gloves, then change the gloves just before and after the demo drive.
• Discussions during the lesson may be held outside of the car, which is a little different to what you have been used to.
• You may find that the lesson will be paused at regular intervals through to allow for some time out of the car, and an opportunity to wipe down interiors again. The number of pauses will depend on the length of your lesson.

After the lesson

• After every lesson the instructor will wipe down the interior of the car
• In the event that you need to swap seats then the same process will be followed.
• Once the lesson is finished you should dispose of any gloves safely and wash your hands thoroughly for a minimum of 20 seconds. It may be advisable for you to change all of your clothes on return to home and wash them to help protect your household.

Taking your Practical Driving Test

Your instructor will explain to you the processes that will be in place post lockdown, but it is likely that there will be some changes as to how the driving test will be conducted. It is very likely that your instructor may not be allowed to accompany you on the test and may also not be allowed near the vehicle at the time of the debrief at the end of the test. A strict hand washing regime is likely to be in place at all test centres. The contents of the test in terms of manoeuvres etc has not changed. Further updates will be provided to you as and when the instructor has them.

Use the above link to download and print off your terms and conditions. These must be signed and returned to your instructor prior to your first lesson

Click the image on the left to see our COVID-19 Infection Control and Safe Training Protocols certificate