RAM School of Motoring – Driving Lessons in Leicester

COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Last Updated: 11/04/2022, 18:00

In the early months of 2020, the world fell to a standstill as we witnessed COVID-19 (Coronavirus) spread across the globe, impacting millions of lives, businesses, and society as a whole in the process. Our thoughts are with all of those who have been affected in these difficult times by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the virus began to spread across the United Kingdom our initial response was to suspend all driving tuition, in line with the Government’s social-distancing guidance, until we felt it would be safe to return to ordinary practice. While the Rate of Infection (R) is decreasing both nationally and locally within Leicestershire, we realise it is not currently possible nor suitable to return to ordinary practice.

We do however understand the necessity and value in driving tuition, as a means of empowering individuals by helping them become independent drivers. We are here to serve you. Therefore, RAM School of Motoring has made the decision to enforce a number of Health and Safety measures in order to ensure the well-being of our staff and students when providing driving lessons in Leicester during COVID-19, while aiming to prevent further transmission of the virus. These measures will be in line with the regulations set out by the Government of the United Kingdom, Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

 

What We Will Do

• We will ensure the main contact points inside our vehicles are cleaned between each and every individual driving lesson to maintain a safe environment for our learner drivers.
• We will ensure our driving instructors are wearing suitable protective equipment, fit for the setting and context of driving lessons, including face masks.
• We aim to maintain regular stock of hand sanitiser gel, which is expected to be used by each learner driver before commencing their driving lesson.
• We will keep the windows of the vehicle open during driving lessons to ensure there is ventilation and that tuition does not take place in an entirely closed-off environment.
• As ever, we will be continuing with our long-established policy of providing one-to-one tuition, meaning no other learner drivers or passengers will be present during driving lessons, aside from the driving instructor.
• We will perform document checks (i.e. Driving License checks, Certificates) digitally with documentation and license check codes needing to be sent to the driving instructor at least 24 hours prior to your lesson booking.
  • Please note: you will still be required to bring and show the original documentation when you attend the driving lesson for verification.
• We will prioritise payments via Bank Transfer (preferred) before the start of your driving lesson – proof of this transaction will be requested – or by Credit/Debit Card at the start of your driving lesson, but cash payments will still be accepted if preferred.
  • Please contact us for the bank account details if your preferred payment method will be a Bank Transfer.

 

What We Ask From You

• We ask each learner driver to ensure they are wearing a face mask prior to entering the vehicle. These will be mandatory for all driving lessons for the foreseeable future. It will be your responsibility to bring your own face mask.
  • While most face masks are considered to be effective, it is preferred if you are able to wear a medical grade or equivalent face mask, instead of a cloth face mask. i.e. Type IIR, N95/KN95 FFP2 or FFP3. Click here for further information and standards to look out for.
  • Please ensure both your mouth and nose are covered by the mask and that you are comfortable prior to entering the vehicle. It is advised you avoid the need to touch your mask during your driving lesson as this may become a distraction. Read the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidance on wearing face masks.
  • Individuals unable to comply with this measure due to exceptional circumstances such as health/medical conditions are welcome to notify us of this, but will be required to provide official documentation from a licensed medical practitioner explicitly outlining the exceptional circumstance and underlying medical condition. This evidence will be considered by your driving instructor.
  • In these cases our driving instructors will use their best judgement to determine whether it will be possible to continue with the driving lesson, although we cannot guarantee these will take place. Lessons may still be cancelled at our discretion.
• We ask learner drivers to give prior notice to RAM School of Motoring if you are feeling unwell, are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, including cough or cold, or have been in contact with anyone infected by the virus, and to seek medical guidance.
  • In these circumstances we will be unable to continue with your arranged driving lesson(s).
  • We ask that you contact us again after a minimum recovery period of 14 days (2 weeks) to arrange your next driving lesson booking.
  • Learner drivers affected by COVID-19 will be exempt from our standard 48 hour cancellation policy.
  • If prior notice has not been given and the instructor identifies you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 before or during the driving lesson, your driving lesson will be immediately cancelled and you will not be eligible for a refund for the booking.
• We suggest learner drivers avoid wearing any clothing which exposes their arms and legs (i.e. short sleeved shirts/t-shirts, shorts, skirts, etc.) where possible to reduce contact points with surfaces in the car and limit potential transmission of the virus. This will also aid us in our cleaning process.
• We advise learner drivers to avoid touching their face, their face masks and any other surfaces in the vehicle outside the scope of the main contact points, i.e. dashboard, door handle, gear stick and steering wheel.

Updated Measures for Omicron Variant (2022)

• Medical Grade Face Masks – Cloth masks will no longer be permitted during driving lessons as these do not provide a sufficient level of filtration against COVID-19. Please only use medical grade disposable face masks, as the additional layers inside the mask will offer a greater level of protection. We recommend FFP2 or FFP3 face masks, as these will offer the most protection.
  • We will be carrying FFP2 face masks in our cars. These will be available for purchase for £1.25 before the driving lesson if needed. Feel free to let us know before your lesson.
  • Please keep your cloth face mask on when collecting your FFP2 mask from the instructor. Put on the face mask while standing outside the car and only enter the car once your face mask is safely secured.

All of our existing measures will still remain in place, in conjunction with this new measure, for the foreseeable future. To read our COVID-19 Health and Safety measures in full, click here.

Please remember, these measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of all of our staff and students – that includes you! So please do your part, cooperate and work together with us. Thank you.

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Terms & Conditions

Despite our rigorous cleaning process to keep our vehicles as safe as possible, we cannot guarantee protection from COVID-19 inside our vehicles. By booking a driving lesson with RAM School of Motoring following the publication of these measures, you 1) agree to comply with and adhere to the measures set out on this page, 2) accept RAM School of Motoring will not be held liable if you contract COVID-19, 3) accept that it is your own responsibility to protect your own safety despite RAM School of Motoring’s best efforts.

Failure to comply with any one of the measures outlined on this page may result with the immediate cancellation of your arranged driving lesson(s).

This should be considered as the beginning of our transition period as we return to practice and adjust to reality under the threat of COVID-19. This means each of these measures are subject to change and further measures may be added as we continue to learn what may be suitable or necessary.

We recommend you visit this page regularly and refer to this page before the start of your driving lesson to keep up to date with our latest measures. If you have any further suggestions for measures we should consider, please feel free to use the form on our Contact Us page.

 

Promotions

Due to being unable to operate during the past several months, as well as the need to adjust to new running costs in order to maintain the above measures, we have had to temporarily suspend our long-standing “First 4 Lessons @ £5.95” promotion. We hope to be able to offer this again to prospective learner drivers soon.

Other promotions including Block-Bookings, Intensive Courses and Student Discounts are still available.

If you have existing block-booking driving lessons arranged with RAM School of Motoring, any time spent under a national or local lockdown will not be deducted from the one year entitlement period set out in our Terms & Conditions for this promotion.

 

Useful Links

NHS COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information and Advice:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

World Health Organization COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information and Guidance:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/

Leicester City Council COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information and Advice:
https://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council/coronavirus/

Leicestershire County Council COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information and Guidance:
https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/

GOV.UK COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/

GOV.UK COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Practical Driving Tests Guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-driving-tests-and-theory-tests/

GOV.UK COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Theory Driving Tests Guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-theory-tests/

NHS COVID Pass Information
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-pass/

NHS COVID Pass Service
https://covid-status.service.nhsx.nhs.uk/

NHS App
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/

NHS COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Vaccination Booking Service
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/

Leicester City Council COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Booster Vaccination Advice
https://www.leicestercityccg.nhs.uk/my-health/coronavirus-advice/coronavirus-vaccine/llr-booster-vaccine/

GOV.UK COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Private COVID Test Providers:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-private-providers-of-coronavirus-testing/