Newslink January 2022

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A month of ping, ping and ping again
Russell Jones
MSA GB East Midlands
In early December, while proceeding
through a local market town, my learner
driver turned left at a crossroads where
we found ourselves being stopped by a
police car which was ‘blue lighting’ us.
One of the police officers informed me
that my car had ‘pinged’ on their
computer as showing it was not insured.
Of course, I knew there was an error in
the police / MIB records, as just a few
months previously I had paid an annual
premium and had the insurance
certificate in the car to prove it.
The officer suggested that my monthly
payments may not be up to date. I
reminded him that I had already told him
that I had made full payment for the year
and in the next two minutes my online
bank record would be downloading proof
of payment into my mobile phone, which
is what happened. We then continued
our journey.
Just two days later in another county
we were ‘pinged’ again. As the police
officer approached my car, I spoke first,
saying, “I bet it’s the insurance issue’’,
and had the insurance documents ready
to hand.
He replied: ‘’Yes, and your car ‘pinged’
my computer twice last week. I thought
it was a driving school car by the several
L-plates on it, but I was too busy to
chase you’’.
Before we parted company the officer
informed me that the MIB records were
frequently out of date. Coincidently I had
the same issue twice in the autumn of
2020. On each occasion I had to contact
my insurance broker to seek reassurance
that MIB records were regularly updated.
Days later a social media site in Derby
featured an ADIs car being placed on a
transporter under police supervision. It
had been seized for having no insurance,
plus no valid MOT. It should be
interesting when the miscreant tries
explaining the problems to a court and
the ADI Registrar.
It raises the question, ‘How much
education about administrative
proceedings regarding insurance
protocols is taught to PDIs by their
trainers?’
Having all necessary documentation
NEWSLINK n JANUARY 2022
Editor’s note:
In case Russell’s experience had
got you worried, remember you can
check your own vehicle insurance
status on the Motor Insurance
Database.
Visit www.ownvehicle.askmid.com
Your Car Tax and MOT status can
be checked by visiting
www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax
immediately ready to produce to police
can save a lot of hassle, especially with a
less-than-efficient MIB being used by
authorities to establish facts.
Highway Code and hierarchy on the
roads
I find it very disappointing that many
ADIs are unhappy about the forthcoming
new rules regarding pedestrians and
cyclists. With our country having one of
the worst records in Europe regarding the
safety of vulnerable road users, anything
‘‘
‘Your car pinged my computer
twice last week and I thought it
was a driving school car by the
several L-plates on it’ said the
officer, ‘but I was too busy to
chase you...’
‘‘
which can improve their safety should be
embraced by all, particularly those
involved in driver training.
If the detractors can’t hack it, surely
they should leave the scene and find
something less onerous to do in life?
Fitness to supervise
During the recent festivities I was
‘pinged’ for a third tie, this time by my
phone’s Covid-19 ‘track & trace’ app.
Although I did have some of
the symptoms, a CPR test proved
negative, but to be cautious, I have not
been working since. To be fair, I had an
utterly shocking winter cold and would
not have been fit to supervise any learner
driver doing anything more than a visual
inspection of a car’s tyres from a
distance. I’m sure frequent bouts of
sneezing every 10 minutes would not be
appreciated by my loyal customers as we
were motoring through the Vale of Belvoir.
And trying to do so while being
‘drugged up’ to the eyeballs with aspirin
would never do!
So that ended my year on a sneezing,
if peaceful, note. My New Year’s
resolution? Having had a very productive
latter half of 2021, my goal is to match
it during the first half of 2022, and
beyond if I’m lucky.
Happy days ahead, and a happy New
Year to you all.
CONTACT
To comment on this article, or provide
updates from your area, contact
Russell at rjadi@hotmail.com
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