DVSA Enhanced Rider Training Scheme

[dubster]

If anyone is interested in going down this route...

Recently had a chance to do the day of training for the DVSA Enhanced Rider Scheme (ERS) with a fella named Wayne, who I believe is an ex-colleague of Bryn from this parish.

Very useful to get some critical feedback for all those fossilised errors we pick up over the years as riders. Wayne has a tonne of experience - he used to train and assess police VIP escort riders so that's good enough for me - and is a thoroughly nice chap to boot.

Apart from improving your riding, another bonus is saving on insurance premiums and getting into blood biking if you should so fancy...

All in all a very worthwhile experience and highly recommended!

Wayne is based in Hinckley, though he can also arrange training in surrounding areas within reason. If you are interested, he is contactable at [email protected]

 

[Buckingham]

Had a cold day of training with Wayne today and I'd thoroughly recommend it.

Although I've done a fair bit of training previously, there are always some areas of habitual weakness and Wayne was quick to identify my traits & get to the root causes.

If you're looking for an enjoyable day with constructive feedback, Wayne is a great choice.

 

[g00ner]

FatnFast (Phil) on here is an assessor - he gave me an A for Abysmal

 

[UturnTony]

For a venture i'm getting into i had to have an ERS assesment.

Booked it yesterday did it this morning with a guy who is in the Met traffic dept.
He's up here as he will be retiring to live here full time in a few months.
Lovely guy, friendly and not in your face with his qualifications and experience so, easy to get on with, luckily

Did about an hour fifteen on the road through the lanes and towns and, the result was a pass to a high standard, he said
and, in fact, if i had have been doing an IAM test i would have passed which pleased me i have to say as i have never had
any training whatsoever in my over 54 years of riding it's all been done by me using common sense.

As i have said before, it shows it can be done and the IAM, ROSPA thing isn't always needed and not for everyone.

 

[Lord Snooty]

Well done Tony!

 

[ymfb]

Whilst all good quality training is worthwhile, it might not qualify you to ride blood bikes. For instance SERV Wessex does not accept bike safe as an eligible qualification. It has to be IAM, RoSPA, equivalent or higher advanced qualification such as a Police instructor.

 

[UturnTony]

Whilst all good quality training is worthwhile, it might not qualify you to ride blood bikes. For instance SERV Wessex does not accept bike safe as an eligible qualification. It has to be IAM, RoSPA, equivalent or higher advanced qualification such as a Police instructor.

Wrexham blood Bikes accept ERS certification to ride their bikes and i'll be on one on Monday for my "on bike" assesment
The blood Bike assesor i'll be riding out with is a recently retired copper with all the Police training under his belt but isn't either ROSPA or IAM accredited

Other Blood Bike groups would do well to do the same as they are missing out on good riders that would volunteer but, like me, can't be bothered with the whole ROSPA, IAM thing.

 

[fatnfast]

Whilst all good quality training is worthwhile, it might not qualify you to ride blood bikes. For instance SERV Wessex does not accept bike safe as an eligible qualification. It has to be IAM, RoSPA, equivalent or higher advanced qualification such as a Police instructor.

The DVSA revamped the ERS last year and now include a specific module to encompass 'Bloodrunners'.

 

[casbar]

How can one days assessment be same as x number of assessed rides a pre test ride and a test? Unless of course you are already up to the standard required and in that case you could go straight to test. The guidance from the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes does not currently recognise enhanced rider scheme or any other scheme for their member groups. That doesn't really mean too much as they don't have any power to dictate to groups, but a lot of groups stick to their guidelines, as ours do. We do not even accept people who are working towards their IAM or RoSPA. So only if you have passed can you ride or drive for us. This is also an insurance requirement for our marked vehicle fleet and our SLA's with hospitals also dictates our members must hold IAM or RoSPA. We also require our IAM members to have a check ride every 3 years with our retired Police training instructor, to ensure standards are the same. RoSPA members get re-tested every 3 years anyway. Of course if IAM members are fellowship members, then they will also be having a test every 3 years.

 

[Buckingham]

Wrexham blood Bikes accept ERS certification to ride their bikes and i'll be on one on Monday for my "on bike" assesment
The blood Bike assesor i'll be riding out with is a recently retired copper with all the Police training under his belt but isn't either ROSPA or IAM accredited

Other Blood Bike groups would do well to do the same as they are missing out on good riders that would volunteer but, like me, can't be bothered with the whole ROSPA, IAM thing.

I'm wondering why Wrexham Blood Bikes have decided to accept a different qualification standard than recommended by NABB and adopted by nearly all Blood Bike groups ? If the hospitals Wrexham serve knew that, I'm sure they'd ask the same question !

 

[casbar]

I'm wondering why Wrexham Blood Bikes have decided to accept a different qualification standard than recommended by NABB and adopted by nearly all Blood Bike groups ? If the hospitals Wrexham serve knew that, I'm sure they'd ask the same question !

Like I said, its only guidance and blood bike groups can make their own decisions, plus it also I guess depends on if they are short of volunteers. I know of another group who allow people in training to ride for them, as long as they have done at least two assessed rides before hand. Our committee have adopted the NABB guidance, but that is not to say things may change in the future. I personally think any training is good and although my post said "how can one days training" a whole day of training is probably as good as assessed rides, except there is no time to practice. The SLA with hospitals are negotiated with individual groups, so again things can be different, some hospitals are very rigid on requirements, some not so. At the end of the day, respect to anyone who volunteers its a great service and it doesn't matter what bits of paper you have, at least your doing the job

 

[UturnTony]

I'm wondering why Wrexham Blood Bikes have decided to accept a different qualification standard than recommended by NABB and adopted by nearly all Blood Bike groups ? If the hospitals Wrexham serve knew that, I'm sure they'd ask the same question !

I haven't asked the question tbh. (but i will) but, i can only assume that the people who started and continue to run the group took a more sensible,
realistic and less anal position on the ERS, IAM, ROSPA qualification scenario and very successful it is too. Many, perhaps most, i don't know are,
IAM ROSPA or POLICE qualified but i do know there are quite a few like me with the ERS Certification. You say, "accepted by most", meaning, i assume there
are other groups doing the same which makes it not that strange. As for the Hospitals, i feel pretty sure they are only grateful for the excellent service
they have been receiving and continue to receive on a daily and nightly basis from all the riders and would not be interested in whether the rider delivering
the much needed breast milk, blood or documents has the what you obviously consider to be, "right qualifications" and trust that the BB group know what they are doing.

And, just because i have one, a gratuitous picture of one happy bunny having just succesfully completed his "on bike" asessment with Jim
who is a retired Police instructor/assessor and is now, not only a Blood Biker but, one of our in house assessors plus, a very nice chap

 

[G&T]

Well done Tony, whatever the qualification you do that on a voluntary basis

 

[casbar]

I haven't asked the question tbh. (but i will) but, i can only assume that the people who started and continue to run the group took a more sensible,
realistic and less anal position on the ERS, IAM, ROSPA qualification scenario and very successful it is too. Many, perhaps most, i don't know are,
IAM ROSPA or POLICE qualified but i do know there are quite a few like me with the ERS Certification. You say, "accepted by most", meaning, i assume there
are other groups doing the same which makes it not that strange. As for the Hospitals, i feel pretty sure they are only grateful for the excellent service
they have been receiving and continue to receive on a daily and nightly basis from all the riders and would not be interested in whether the rider delivering
the much needed breast milk, blood or documents has the what you obviously consider to be, "right qualifications" and trust that the BB group know what they are doing.

And, just because i have one, a gratuitous picture of one happy bunny having just succesfully completed his "on bike" asessment with Jim
who is a retired Police instructor/assessor and is now, not only a Blood Biker but, one of our in house assessors plus, a very nice chap

Glad you managed to pass your assessment and good luck. But your point about other groups being Anal because they only accept IAM or RoSPA is disrespectful of the service they provide. Our group follow the guidelines provided and as I have already said, its an insurance requirement for our marked fleet. All our members find gaining the IAM or RoSPA qualification very satisfying and its not a barrier, but a route to gaining valuable training.

 

[UturnTony]

Glad you managed to pass your assessment and good luck. But your point about other groups being Anal because they only accept IAM or RoSPA is disrespectful of the service they provide. Our group follow the guidelines provided and as I have already said, its an insurance requirement for our marked fleet. All our members find gaining the IAM or RoSPA qualification very satisfying and its not a barrier, but a route to gaining valuable training.

I am not, of course, disrespecting any work done by charitable people, instead, i am pointing out there seems to be a blinkered approach
by the groups that insist on IAM or ROSPA accreditation. I could, of course say that these groups are insulting those people who want to
offer their services to a BB group only to be told to go away and learn how to ride your bike properly when in fact they are very able to
do so already. I ride and have ridden for thousands of miles across many countries with excellent riders that are not either ROSPA or IAM
but, would be refused access to the Blood Bikers until they had the correct piece of paper, insulting? i'll let you decide.

I have to ask the question, if our and other groups can operate the way they do why is it others choose not to?
Surely, they could do the same thing. There would, of course need to be the will to do so though, .

To be clear, i am not decrying IAM or ROSPA training as i think, for those that want it it is an excellent thing, especially new riders and i always
encourage any new rider i encounter to sign up to one or the other. My gripe (gripe?), is against those that think it's for and needed by everyone when,
in my view, it isn't.

 

[adventuredon]

Wrexham blood Bikes accept ERS certification to ride their bikes and i'll be on one on Monday for my "on bike" assesment
The blood Bike assesor i'll be riding out with is a recently retired copper with all the Police training under his belt but isn't either ROSPA or IAM accredited

Other Blood Bike groups would do well to do the same as they are missing out on good riders that would volunteer but, like me, can't be bothered with the whole ROSPA, IAM thing.

plus one....and using their own bikes ...