Compulsory VRU training plans for DCPC dropped

A proposal that all Driver CPC modules should devote at least one hour out of seven to the subject of “dealing with vulnerable road users” (VRUs) has been downgraded to “a strong recommendation to include reference to vulnerable road user safety training in each course.“

The proposal originated from last year’s House of Commons transport select committee’s investigation into the Driver CPC. The committee called for an end to duplication of courses undertaken by individual drivers in each five-year cycle, but at the same time wanted every course, irrespective of title, to contain an hour on vulnerable road users (VRU). Lobbying from the cycling community had influenced the select committee’s original decision.

Some trainers were struggling to see how such content could be included without duplication, and how it could be legitimately included in popular courses such as drivers’ hours and tachograph without damaging their credibility in the eyes of the drivers who were attending (and in many cases paying for) them.

Alex Horner, managing director of training company Minimise Your Risk, said: “I think we can all live with this and gradually introduce more references to VRUs into most, if not all, periodic training courses.”

MCH Transport director Michael Hitchcock said: “I’d happily listen to the same hour repeated five times if VRUs had to listen to an hour a year about how not to cycle up the blindside of a truck which is turning left.”

Pete Shepherd, managing director of The Training Service in Blackburn, said: “Just because London has a massive problem with Boris the madman trying to get everyone on a bike it doesn’t mean the rest of the country does. 
Yes, training regarding VRUs is relevant on the right course and yes it does crop up in a lot of subjects, but an hour’s worth?”