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After being shut down since March 2020 to comply with COVID-19 regulations, West Coast Driver Training is re-opening for Driving Lessons as of today.

Please contact us to schedule Driving Lessons. You can phone or text us at 250-732-8093.

We will still be observing COVID-19 precautions as recommended by WorkSafeBC. Instructors will be wearing masks while conduction in car lessons.

Before each lesson, clients will be asked to sign a form saying they do not have any COVID-19 symptoms, have not been in contact in the previous 14 days with anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms or who has tested positve for COVID-19 and have not travelled outside of B.C. in the last 14 days prior to the lesson.

We look forward to seeing our existing clients and new clients.

 

We just had the following email from ICBC advising that ICBC will resume Commercial Vehicle Road Testing (Class 1,2,3 and 4). For our clients who are waiting for a Commercial Vehicle Road Test, please call ICBC at 1-800-950-1498 or 250-978-8300 ASAP to arrange a Road Test date.  My weekday schedule (Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 3:00 p.m. for Commercial Vehicle Road Tests) currently has plenty of openings. Give me call if in doubt about scheduling.

“ICBC resumes commercial vehicle road testing

As our valued stakeholder we wanted to let you know that we’re going to announce that from June 11, customers will be able to book road test appointments for Class 1-4, airbrakes or heavy trailers (endorsement 20) by calling us at 1-800-950-1498 or 250-978-8300. We anticipate some road tests will be conducted by the end of next week.

We’ll be contacting customers whose Class 1-4 road tests were cancelled between March 17 and 30 to prioritize their appointment. We ask customers for their patience as we anticipate high call volumes.

Road testing is going to look different. Our driver examiners will be required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) for the duration of the road tests. They will have access to a combination of equipment including masks, shields, goggles, gloves and disposable seat covers.

We’re also going to provide a mandatory medical grade mask for customers to wear during the road tests. We ask that customers arrive 15 minutes before their road test appointment and

•              ensure they have the required identification

•              be prepared for health screening questions

•              ensure the interior of their vehicle is clean, and

•              maintain physical distance of 2 metres (6 feet) from ICBC representatives when possible.

Drivers who do not follow the required guidelines will result in the road test being suspended, as the health and safety of our employees and customers are paramount.

To date, we have secured sufficient PPE for this initial phase. ICBC has a plan in place to expand the availability of road tests to other classes of licences as soon as possible which will be dependent on the roll-out of this initial phase and the ability to secure sufficient PPE for our employees and customers.

We are continuing our thoughtful phased approach to increasing more of our in-person driver licensing services, while maintaining the health and safety of our employees, customers and partners as our top priority.

To help you get ready for the resumption of road test for your customers, we have included some useful links for you to review:

•        WorksafeBC guidance

•              COVID-19 Safety Plan — As a school you are required to complete this. The link includes a requirement for cleaning vehicle interiors on page 7.

•        Transport Canada guidance

•        Transport Canada PPE guidance

Thank you for your continued patience during these unprecedented times, and for your support as we move toward a new normal. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Please share this information with your staff and encourage them to check for important news and updates on our driver training web site dtcbc.com.”

Would you like to leave a comment or question in the Dialog Box below?

In compliance with precautionary measures announced under the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency declared by the B.C. government on 17 March 2020, West Coast Driver Training has not been offering Driving Lessons or any other training since Tuesday, 17 March 2020.

On 6 May 2020, B.C. Premier John Horgan and Dr. Bonnie Henry announced the Implementation of a 4 Phase Restart Plan for re-opening B.C. business and easing the requirements of the B.C. COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Phase 2 of this Restart Plan goes into effect on 18 May 2020.

Driving Schools are in Phase 3 of the Restart Plan. Under present Public Health announcements, Phase 3 of the B.C. Restart Plan will go into effect 2 to 4 weeks after the start of Phase 2, which goes into effect on 19 May 2020.

Assuming the Restart Plan remains unchanged and Phase 3 starts 2 to 4 weeks after the start of Phase 2, that means that West Coast Driver Training will likely be able to start offering Driving Lessons again on either Tuesday 2 June 2020 (2 weeks after the start of Phase 2) or Tuesday, 16 June 2020, (4 weeks after the start of Phase 2).

With that in mind we are now taking bookings for Driving Lessons for after 2 June 2020. If the start of Phase 3 of the Restart Plan is delayed until 16 June 2020, we can reschedule any Driving Lessons booked for the period 2 – 15 June 2020.

This COVID-19 Public Health Emergency has been a trying time for all of us and we look forward to resuming Driving lessons for our present clients and with new clients as soon as Phase 3 of the present COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Restart Plan is implemented.

Here are Premier John Horgan and Dr. Bonnie Henry on 6 May 2020 announcing the B.C. Restart Plan:

Here are links to some news reports about the COVID-19 Public Health requirements and the Restart Plan:

• Times-Colonist – 6 May 2020
• CTV News – Vancouver Island – 6 May 2020
• Global News – 6 May 2020
• Province of B.C. – 6 May 2020
• Victoria Buzz – 8 May 2020

In compliance with precautionary measures announced under the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency declared by the B.C. government on 17 March 2020, West Coast Driver Training has not been offering lessons since Tuesday, 17 March 2020.

B.C. Premier John Horgan has announced that the provincial Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 has been extended for an additional two weeks until Wednesday 13 May 2020.

West Coast Driver Training will therefore not be offering Driving Lessons until at least 13 May 2020.

We regret any inconvenience caused by this and we look forward to resuming lessons for our present clients and with new clients as soon as the present COVID-19 Public Health Emergency is over.

Here is Premier John Horgan on 29 April 2020 announcing the extension of the B.C. Public Health Emergency until 13 May 2020:

Here are links to some news reports about these COVID-19 Public Health requirements:

• CTV News – Vancouver Island – 29 April 2020
• Global News – 29 April 2020
• Province of B.C. – 29 April 2020
• Vancouver Sun – 29 April 2020
• CBC – 29 April 2020

ICBC has just announced that it will resume Knowledge Tests BY APPOINTMENT, starting in 11 May 2020. Anyone wanting to schedule a knowledge test will have to contact ICBC by phone on or after 27 April 2020 to arrange it.

ICBC will also be conducted Class 6 Road Tests (motorcycles) since ICBC Examiners conduct Class 6 Road Tests from a car while following the examinee and can this maintain social distancing during the Road Test.

For further details, here is the ICBC Press Release:

“Limited knowledge testing by appointment only and motorcycle skills tests starting May 11

Starting May 11, 2020, ICBC will begin conducting limited knowledge testing by appointment only at ICBC driver licensing offices (DLOs), Service BC offices and a limited number of appointed agent offices. A few of our ICBC DLOs may start earlier as we install Plexiglass barriers to help maintain social distancing. Many of our appointed agent offices remain closed, so check our service locator on icbc.com for their current status.

At this time, knowledge testing is being limited to the following:

•              All commercial learner class applicants including air brakes and heavy trailer.

•              New residents to B.C. who require a knowledge test as part of their application for a B.C. driver’s licence. Road tests for these applicants are still not available.

•              Any customer (Class 1-8) where their learner’s licence has expired on or after March 1, or will be expiring within two weeks from when they phone to book their appointment.

Customers will be required to book their knowledge test by calling our Driver Licensing contact centre on or after April 27 and leaving a voicemail message with their name, contact number and the location they wish to take their knowledge test.

Appointment based testing allows us to control the volume of customers attending our DLOs to help maintain social distancing within our offices to further protect our employees and customers. Stand-by or walk-in appointments will not be accommodated at this time.

We’ll continue to review the demand and impacts of these knowledge test appointments before deciding to expand our knowledge testing services.

Motorcycle skills testing starting May 11

Motorcycle skills testing will also begin on May 11 but is only limited to riders who

•              currently hold a motorcycle learner’s licence, or

•              have a motorcycle learner licence that expired on or after March 1.

Riders can begin booking a motorcycle skills test starting April 27 for appointments occurring on or after May 11 using the online road test booking service or by contacting our Driver Licensing contact centre.

Please share this information with your staff and encourage them to check for important news and updates on our driver training web site dtcbc.com.

Lee Olley
Director
Driver Licensing Customer Services
Public Affairs and Driver Licensing Division”

In compliance with precautionary measures announced under the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency declared by the B.C. government on 17 March 2020, West Coast Driver Training has not been offering lessons since Tuesday, 17 March 2020.

B.C. Premier John Horgan has announced that the provincial Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 has been extended for an additional two weeks until 28 April 2020.

West Coast Driver Training will therefore not be offering Driving Lessons until at least 28 April 2020.

We regret any inconvenience caused by this and we look forward to resuming lessons for our present clients and with new clients as soon as the present COVID-19 Public health Emergency is over.

Here is Premier John Horgan announcing the extension of the B.C. Public Health Emergency until 28 April 2020:

Here are links to some news reports about these COVID-19 Public Health requirements:

• CTV News – Vancouver Island – 15 April 2020
• CPAC – 15 April 2020
• Global News – 15 April 2020

We just received the following notice from ICBC:

“ICBC road testing suspension continues

In our continuing effort to protect customers, employees, and our driver training school partners, ICBC has extended the suspension of all road testing due to the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) health concern.

Customers with affected road test appointments will be called by phone by their driver licensing office to let them know that their road test has been cancelled. Driver training schools and drivers will not be able to book road test appointments by phone or online at this time.

We realize that you and your customers are directly impacted by this and thank you for your continued understanding. We’ll continue to monitor the situation and will be reassessing the suspension of testing on a regular basis with our federal and provincial health authorities. We also ask that you carefully follow the updated advice of our heath authorities, and continue to keep the health and safety of your employees and trainees as a top priority.

For the latest updates, visit the Our update on COVID-19 (coronavirus) page on icbc.com.”

Based on this information, all ICBC Road Tests are suspended until at least 14 April 2020. We will post future updates from ICBC as we receive them.