How does the DVSA help to promote the Enhanced Rider Scheme?

DVSA Enhanced Rider Scheme (Q&A for ERS Instructors)
Asked by: Tony Baker, ERS Motorcycle Instructor (Aintree)
Answered by Chris Parr, Assistant Chief Driving Examiner (DVSA)

Question: Asked by Tony Baker, ERS Motorcycle Instructor – “Hi Chris. Good to see the DVSA engaging with instructors in this way. I’m a professional Cardington qualified instructor, on the ERS register + I have the benefit of a Police driving background. I’m very encouraged by the ERS relaunch but do have slightly different views about where ERS is being positioned. My view is that, in the hands of experienced DVSA instructors, ERS should sit alongside IAM and RoSPA. I’d like to see the industry take back some of this ‘ground’ and ERS is the obvious vehicle. My question then to the DVSA – ‘How will the DVSA consistently work alongside the industry to help us to promote the Enhanced Rider Scheme and get it to where it needs to be?”

Answer: Thanks for that Tony and just to first pick up on your earlier point regarding the positioning of the Enhanced Rider Scheme – I think we’ve already covered this and it should be quite clear. With regards to what the DVSA will continue to do in support of ERS – there has been some media around the launch and we’ve had the article in Motorcycle News with Mark Wynn and we are looking to do some follow-up work on that. We will continue to provide posters for the test centres plus leaflets for the waiting rooms and candidates. Those won’t stop i.e. not one batch and the DVSA will continue to provide this ERS literature. We also have our social media with the DVSA Twitter and Facebook accounts, plus we have links with other parts of the industry. We can use our Department for Transport (DfT) contacts, along with the Think and Think Bike campaigns, and we are working alongside Highways England on a number of things and maybe they will have some input into the promotion of ERS.