• Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause disease in animals and can be transmitted to humans. They can range from the common cold to acute respiratory forms
• Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new strain of coronavirus that affects your lungs and airways
• The current epidemic is caused by this specific coronavirus, COVID-19 that emerged in China in December 2019
• COVID-19 is different to other coronaviruses in that the spectrum of disease is broad, with around 80% of cases leading to a mild infection. There may also be many people carrying the disease and displaying no symptoms, making it even harder to control
• So far, around 20% of COVID-19 cases have been classed as ‘severe’ and the current death rate varies between 0.7% and 3.4% depending on the location and, crucially, access to good hospital care
• The new coronavirus can be spread from person to person. It is diagnosed with a laboratory test

There is no coronavirus vaccine yet, though several trials are underway worldwide

COVID-19 symptoms include:

• Cough: a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
• High temperature: this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back, or you have measured your temperature and recorded a high result (typically above 38°C is considered a fever)
• Unexplained loss of taste or smell: a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
• Shortness of breath
• Muscle aches
• Sore throat
• Diarrhoea
• Headache

How does it spread?

• Coronavirus is primarily spread by small droplets that are expelled from the nose and mouth when someone that is infected coughs, sneezes or speaks
• This can then be breathed in by others or picked up from surfaces and transferred from your hand to your eyes, nose or mouth if you touch them
• COVID-19 doesn’t transmit through skin contact on your hand, but rather when bacteria enters your system through mucous membranes on your body or via respiratory droplets in close proximity
• Research suggests that you can be infectious up to a week before any symptoms show. Although showing these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have contracted the virus, you should follow the guidance and self-isolate as soon as you show symptoms. It is also a good idea to let others you may have been in contact with know, as they may also need to self-isolate

On July 1st 2020 the DVSA released Standard operating Procedures for examiners to conduct driving tests. The full details can be found here:

DVSA PDF

The key aspects that you need to be aware of are:

• Anyone displaying clear symptoms of COVID presenting for a test will not be taken out
• The vehicle presented must have been recently cleaned.
• There will be no waiting facilities available at the test centre. Toilet facilities may be available.
• Masks/face coverings will be compulsory on test unless you have an exemption which was notified at the time of booking. Ideally you should bring your own face covering, but if you do not the examiner can provide one.
• It will not be permitted to have someone accompany you on test.
• Where a candidate fails the test either by committing a serious or dangerous fault or by making 16 driving faults, the candidate will be directed back to the test centre taking the most convenient route.

Due to the restrictions imposed on tests, I would strongly recommend that you consider taking the test in your own vehicle where this is an option. This will reduce costs to you and reduces the risk of contamination through me to my students.

Practical Test Bookings

New candidates will be able to book driving tests once DVSA has carried out the tests reserved for critical workers and everyone with a suspended test has had the opportunity to choose a new time and date. DVSA will announce when the system opens to book tests in due course.

DVSA is contacting anyone who has a scheduled test to let them know what will happen next. DVSA will then email them at a later date to invite them to book a test at a time and location that is convenient for them. Learners should talk to their instructors and arrange refresher lessons so they can practice the skills they need to prepare for their test.

Theory Tests

Please be aware that the UK Government has decided not to grant any extension to theory tests that have expired during lockdown or are due to expire over the next few months. I therefore strongly recommend that if your theory test is due to expire soon that you book another date before the expiry; DVSA will allow you to do this and if it is subsequently not required then you can ask for a refund. This will cut down your waiting time which could delay your practical test. I would strongly recommend if you have not yet booked a theory test that you book one as soon as possible to get a date in the diary.

With the practical test, as mentioned above, the priorities will go to Key Workers and any tests that were cancelled during the lockdown. This means that anybody who had not booked a practical test may have a long wait until dates are available.

To ensure we protect all our students, my car and equipment will receive a deep clean before I return to training.

In the 24 hours before a lesson, I will be contacting each student to determine if they have symptoms of any illness. If this proves to be the case, the lesson will be cancelled and you will not be charged. You will not be able to take another lesson for a minimum of 7 days, unless your illness is caused by coronavirus where you should follow the government isolation guidelines. If I contract Coronavirus I will act in accordance the Government guidelines on self-isolation and Track and Trace requirements, and would notify you of the cancellation of any lessons for the period of isolation.

Unfortunately parents, guardians of friends will be not be able to ’sit in’ on lessons.

Wherever possible, payment will be made electronically via BACS. Cash payments need to made at the start of the lesson and will be deposited in a polythene bag to minimise handling.

I will be reducing the number of driving lessons I deliver each day to increase the safety of my students and allow for the additional measures that need to be taken.

Before/after each lesson/test the car will be cleaned, including:

• Door handles (inside and out) – grab handles – window controls – door mirror controls
• Seats and seat adjustment controls – seatbelt – buckle and clasp
• Steering wheel – steering wheel adjuster – indicator and wiper stalks – horn
• Gear lever – hand/parking brake and the interior mirror
• Bonnet catch (internal and external)
• Other controls such as Sat Nav – ventilation – window demister
• Car keys
• The two front seats will now have washable seat covers to assist with easy cleaning
• The car will be cleaned outside the students collection point, please keep 2 metres away until you are called over

Before the lesson starts:

• Students will be asked a number of questions before they enter the vehicle regarding their health
• If for any reason the student is showing any signs of the Coronavirus the lesson will be terminated either at the start or during the lesson.
• I will provide hand sanitiser in addition to the requirement for you to wash your hands prior to the lesson.

You will be required to stand two metres away and confirm the following questions about your health:

• Symptoms of Covid-19 – have you had any symptoms of the virus in the last 7 days, been tested for it, and had results of the test?
• Have you been in contact within the last 14 days with anyone who has symptoms?
• Shielding – are you in a household of family members that are in the enhanced risk health categories?
• Any health issues which may impact your ability to drive?
• Do you have a continuous cough?
• Do you have a fever or high temperature?
• You will be required to wash your hands thoroughly for at least 20-seconds before leaving the house and entering the car and you should wash your hands after your lesson.
• Please wear suitable clothing which provides as much cover as reasonable (e.g. feet, legs, upper body). Short sleeves are acceptable; shorts, short skirts and open shoes are not and you will be asked to change them before the lesson can start.
• You can wear gloves, (but these should be put on just before you enter the vehicle and the instructor must see you put them on). However general advice is that good hand hygiene is better than gloves, which can provide a false sense of security. You should bring your own and should be taken with you and disposed of after the lesson.
• You should wear a mask or face covering, unless you are exempt from doing so. You should bring your own face covering and should be taken with you and disposed of after the lesson. If you attend a lesson without a face covering, a mask can be provided at a cost of £1.00.
• You will need to sanitise your hands again when entering the vehicle (you can use your own or we will supply)
• All items, such as mobile phones and house keys will have to stay on you and not left on the dashboard or put into door pockets. Loose items can be placed in a box in the boot (the box will be sanitised after use).
• Any bags you bring must be placed in the boot

Driving lessons can only be delivered in the driving school vehicle. I am unable to provide lessons in your own vehicle.

Cancellations

If you or anyone you are living with has any symptoms of Coronavirus you MUST cancel your driving lesson before your lesson start time. You will not be able to restart your lessons until you have been tested negative, or follow the Government isolation recommendations; this also applies to your instructor.