The RoSPA Advanced Driving Assessment

Well done to the two Drivers who started with wmsnt in September 2008, who were successful when taking The RoSPA Advanced Driving Assessment in January 2009.

Talvir Grewal gained a Gold grade pass, and Jim Smith gained a Silver grade pass.

Of our current complement of Drivers, wmsnt now have 6 Gold grade passes, 3 Silver grade passes and 1 Bronze grade pass.

The RoSPA advanced driving assessment is a nationally recognised qualification provided by the Company to endorse it own advanced driving instruction. Trainees within the Company's Induction or Refresher courses are given 2 days of advanced instruction by one of the training team. Following successful completion of this course they are given the chance to take a RoSPA advanced assessment.

The assessment itself is conducted at the driver's depot by an external examiner. In total it takes around 90 minutes. Drivers are first required to demonstrate a detailed pre-drive check of their vehicle. They then spend around an hour demonstrating their advanced driving standard on a variety of road types and under differing driving conditions. On returning to their depot the driver is asked a number of "Highway code" questions.

If they pass this thorough assessment, the driver is given a grade of either Gold, Silver or Bronze. They are awarded an appropriate certificate together with a detailed report on any issues they may wish to address.

As the RoSPA qualification is taken some 4 to 6 weeks after completion of the internal training the Company use it as both verification of the standard and as a method of encouraging drivers to continue to practice their improved standards once they leave the training department.

We have a pass rate of 96% of which around 30% achieve Gold.