Halford Set To Host Driving Tests!

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Blimey I've seen it all now;

http://www.bbc.co.uk...litics-18782372

I don't know what your local branch of Halfords is like but mine seem to employ the most clueless, workshy, ****wits that have ever graced this planet. Now they'll be in charge of hosting the local driving test? The lunatics are now well and truely running the asylum.

[Jamesbelfast]

If you read the news report. It clearly states the tests will still be carried out by Driving Standards Agency examiners.

The aim is to use existing premises to facilitate a venue rather than the goverment build or maintain their own bulidings or facilities or offices.

Over here in Northern Ireland the MOT centres and Driving Test Agency have been sharing facilities for many, many years. Incidently both are government run organisations.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

If you read the news report. It clearly states the tests will still be carried out by Driving Standards Agency examiners.

That's why I used the word 'host' and not the word 'run'. :)

Still it'll be organised by them to some degree, hence the concern. They would have trouble organising a **** up in a brewery.

[Opifex]

Sounds sensible to use a private building if means that government buildings can be closed. Just be wary when you park at Halfords cos the car just coming out may be a nervous test applicant.

I hope if they review test routes they stop using a dangerous junction near our house to test the reversing round a corner

manoeuvre. We have umpteen cars a day practicing it, followed by emergency stop practice outside our house.

[ian rooke]

Hi Grumpy you seem to have a downer against everyone at the moment why should Halfords have any input into the test or its running you need to get out more and enjoy life instead of moaning about it.

[crofter]

Will it be any different to "Police Stations" in supermarkets ?

There are surely more Halfords than Test Centres,and may save learners travelling miles to take their test,or driving into town centres through the traffic whil'st being stressed about taking the driving test

I assume that Halfords are being paid for this,so that means diversification and profits in these slow trading times,

.

Also they could benefit from impulse buying by the testees.

Del

[Chris Dance]

GC I tend to agree with you about Halfords. The less they are involved the better in my opinion. Why Halfords? Might as well have Supermarkets there are plenty of those as well.

[Cyker]

Well given that my 2nd test centre was basically a prefab hut in a small car park, this can't be any worse!

[crofter]

It's strange,to me, that some posters seem to have missed the point that Halfords will not be involved in the tests,just the official testers can be met there.

It states others may be involved later, like Universities, do they think there will be a better standard of driving shown if learners meet the examiners at these localities.

I am not a customer of Halfords,for my own reasons,but surely this scheme has to start somewhere.

Just the way I see it. Others may not . :D

Del

[johalareewi]

Driving test examiners need to meet their clients somewhere.

As long as there are toilet facilities and somewhere to wait out of the rain, they could be based anywhere. I notice the article also mentioned Fire Stations and Universities as hosts.

[Parts-King]

.

Also they could benefit from impulse buying by the testees.

A little unfair to call learners testes :D: :D: Oh boll*cks never mind!

This has been on the cards for a long time, they are looking for many more places other than Halfods too. You forget that a lot of people live a long way from traditional test centres, and it is a way to keep costs down whilst allowing people living in the countryside to travel less to get to a test centre

PS: Talk of reducing costs, I see a passport will go DOWN from 77.50 to 72.50 shortly, typical innit? Ive just renewed mine at the full price They can do this through making redundancies and re-negotiating with supplies to reduce their costs

Kingo

[timberwolf]

Some things are just not right when it comes to convenience. Imagine if a Funeral firm hosted your local GP Surgery?

[wass]

So why not the local fish and chip shop then? Surely all this diversification is all well and good but surely there is a finite supply of examiners?

[crofter]

Just read in the local paper,Nottingham Post, that the police have just announced that there will be setting up what they term as a "pop up station" in a community centre for two months.

So they are at it as well.

Progress ? ?

Del

[timberwolf]

With a community centre, I tend to think of those as being provided for the community, I think paid for out of taxes? I can't think how a community centre would use it to their commercial advantage (aside from charging rent).

With Halfords, I wonder why a store and car "servicing" business wants to provide what appears to be waiting rooms for learner drivers taking their driving test? I'd be concerned that the deal, involved lots of opportunities for Halfords to sell its main business. I guess part of my uneasiness is that I don't think of Halfords as a good brand and its own stuff and service are not especially good quality or reliable - sadly the same as many other large chains e.g. B&Q.

[Chris Dance]

We already have the General Post office in Smith's bookshop. Consequence of this is long queues and much longer to get service. I doubt folk will have to queue for a driving test at Halfords but I am still not convinced going there for a driving test is a good idea especially if their staff are responsible for the organisation.

[johalareewi]

I doubt folk will have to queue for a driving test at Halfords but I am still not convinced going there for a driving test is a good idea especially if their staff are responsible for the organisation.

I don't think that Halfords would be responsible for organising etc. They would just be a host (some space) for the government department. I doubt you would have to ring Halfords to book a driving test.