Toronto amends VFH training programs to require a live, real-time instructor
Jessica Duncan of Baird MacGregor Insurance Brokers LP tests out one of DriveWise’s Instructor-led simulator units on July 27th. Photo: Taxi News
“The additional mandatory component is that all accredited driver training courses must include live attendance or online interaction with instructors/evaluators in real time.”
*****
Vehicle-for-Hire driver training in Toronto must involve a live instructor in real-time, according to a letter sent to approved training organizations on July 27th.
“I write in respect of the City of Toronto’s driver training accreditation program for vehicle-for-hire and PTC drivers,” wrote Fiona Reid, Director of Business and Regulatory Services in a letter obtained by Taxi News.
“This is to advise that the city is exercising its discretion under the Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 546-13A and B to amend the driver training accreditation program to add an additional mandatory component in the posted criteria for driver training courses. The additional mandatory component is that all accredited driver training courses must include live attendance or online interaction with instructors/evaluators in real time.
“This additional requirement is based upon the results of audits of existing programs and the purpose of this requirement is to ensure that the prospective driver taking the course properly completes and engages with course content, and further, that the learning is reinforced and supported with a trained instructor able to provide real-time support with content delivery and/or testing. Approved courses that do not comply with this new requirement will have to resubmit an amended application for approval.”
The new requirement is already being met by training providers AMB and Drivewise. DRVRhub, which was a completely on-line multiple choice program and which was criticized as being too easy to pass and potentially to cheat, will need to amend its program to involve a live trainer in real-time and reapply to Toronto in order to meet this standard.
Also on July 27th, DriveWise Canada held a special event, during which it dropped Mobile Training Units at both Beck and across the street at the Latvian Centre for interested businesses and media to test out. A full class of VFH drivers completed the July 27th DriveWise session, with the next session scheduled to be delivered in Etobicoke on August 2nd.
