IQ re-assessed for driving test

A car was banned from being used for driving tests while it was assessed in a showroom in a decision that has cost driving schools thousands of pounds and created huge administration problems.

Parker's can reveal the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) banned the Toyota IQ from the practical driving test after two officials sat in a stationary car in a showroom.

An investigation in to whether the IQ was suitable for the practical driving test was launched after an examiner had complained about the restricted view in the rear.

Two examiners then visited Inchcape Toyota in Nottingham, sat in the IQ, looked around it and agreed with the original complaint of poor rear visibility.

They didn't take the car out on the road to check the visibility in practice but still decided that the IQ should be banned from the practical driving test.

Driving instructor Warren Openshaw used a Toyota IQ for his driving school but has now been forced in to replacing it.

He said: "Financially this has been crippling, we're are about £5000 out of pocket and the amount of pupils we had has also taken a massive dip.

"It was quite distressing as I turned up at the test centre, didn't know it was banned and was turned away. Most of my students are pupils at the same school and so told all their friends."

As well as facing the cost of replacing the IQ with another car driving schools would have had to reorganise practical tests for their pupils.

After talks with Toyota and the Department for Transport (DFT) the DSA has decided to re-assess the IQ as well as looking at changing the way it assesses cars in the future.

Area assistant chief driving examiner, Ashley Bateman, said: "This is something that has only been done a couple of times. We've spoken to the Department for Transport (DFT) and Toyota and agreed that in the future the tests will be more scientific.

"We will be updating our policy and procedure regarding car risk assessments. We will also notify any manufacturers when we have done a risk assessment and deemed any car unsuitable, stating the reasons why."

A Toyota spokesman said: "We are pleased that the DSA has agreed to re-assess the IQ's suitability for use in the UK driving tests and we wait to hear from them further in this regard."