Covid19 Lesson Safety
Updated Government guidelines (24/02/22)
Face Coverings are no longer required by law on Driving Lessons, please see below the communication sent by the DVSA.
“Driver testing services – plan B restrictions ending in England
Following the government’s announcement on the ending of plan B restrictions in England, we want to explain what these changes mean to driver testing services in England and how these changes will affect you and your pupils.
The main changes are:
you and your pupils are not legally required to wear face coverings during lessons, but government guidance suggests that you continue to do so in crowded and enclosed spaces where you may come into contact with other people you do not normally meet
your pupils should take a rapid lateral flow test on the day of their driving test, before leaving home
your candidates no longer have to wear a face covering for their theory test, but the government guidance suggests that you continue to do so in crowded and enclosed spaces where you may come into contact with other people you do not normally meet
We are asking practical test candidates to continue to wear a face covering, unless they have a good reason not to wear one. Your pupils need to advise us in advance if this is the case. We will be keeping this under review.
You and your pupils no longer have to wear a face covering by law on professional driving lessons.
COVID-19 spreads through the air by droplets and aerosols that are breathed out from the nose and mouth of an infected person.
However, we are suggesting you and your pupils continue to wear a face covering during lessons in line with government guidance that suggests people continue to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where they may come into contact with other people they do not normally meet.”
Prior to your Driving Lesson
Your Driving Instructor will contact you the day before your lesson to state that they have not been displaying any COVID-19 symptoms and then to ask you to confirm that you also have not been displaying the symptoms of COVID-19 within the last 7 days, or been in contact with someone who has displayed the COVID-19 symptoms within the last 14 days. If either of these are the case then the driving lesson should not take place and can be rescheduled for when both criteria are met.
As of the 24th February 2022, it is no longer required by law to wear a face covering during your Driving Lesson. If you feel happier/safer wearing one and would like your Instructor to wear a face covering as well please advise him when contacted the day before.
We politely ask that you wear clothing that is suitable and covers as much of your arms and legs as possible. Please do not bring any unnecessary personal items to your lesson (such as your mobile phone, food or drink).
Electronic payments for the lesson are strongly encouraged. Please inform your Instructor if you are paying via cash and sanitise your hands after transferring any cash.
Personal Protective Equipment and Car Cleaning
Your Driving Instructor will continue to ensure that their tuition vehicle is kept clean and has been sanitised prior to starting every lesson with antibacterial wipes and/or spray.
They will pay particular attention to wipe clean the steering wheel, the horn, gear lever, parking brake lever, stalks, interior and exterior door handles, window and mirror controls, seat controls, seatbelts, head restraints, car keys, and any training resources.
At the start of your lesson
Sadly, we will not be able to shake your hand at the beginning, or end, of the lesson as normal. We will greet you, maintaining a safe distance, and welcome you to the vehicle.
We are still happy to meet your parents and or family member before the lesson but again we will need to retain a safe distance and will not shake hands.
During your driving lesson
Your Driving Instructor will provide ventilation during teaching by having the windows partially down, or using air conditioning which will not be set to the recirculate option.
Hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes will be available throughout your lesson and your Instructor will have a bin bag to dispose of them.
If your Instructor is required to give a demonstration by driving, they will wipe down all the controls before swapping seats. They will aim to avoid swapping seats unless it is absolutely necessary.
If either the pupil or Instructor develops COVID-19 symptoms, the driving lesson will end as soon as possible and you will return to your home. Both parties will then follow the necessary relevant medical advice published here –
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
Cancellation policy
If you need to cancel your lesson, at short notice, due to COVID-19 symptoms please inform your Driving Instructor as soon as possible.
The 24-hour cancellation policy still applies for driving tuition with SBY Driving School as per our standard Terms and Conditions.
Thank you!
With a slightly different lesson etiquette plus keeping the car clean throughout it might mean that the lesson takes a little bit longer, and it might feel a little weird, so we thank you for your co-operation.
Thank you for choosing SBY Driving School and we look forward to seeing you soon.