The is a topic close to my heart! Ages ago, I suggested compulsory re-testing (or re-assessment, whatever you want to call it) to my friends at uni. They immediately came back with the usual responses about insufficient infrastructure and the impractical logistics etc. But we thrashed it out for an evening and came up with the following:
ADIs could be given the power to conduct the re-tests, effectively elliminating the logistical problems. Therefore, the re-tests would (could) be fairly cheap - the ADI's hourly rate plus the DSA's inevitable admin fee!
Obviously, it would be impossible to simply disqualify those that failed and there would have to be the opertunity to re-test as has been mentioned already. We thought maybe if one failed the initial test, they would have to take it again within 6 months.
We also decided that Advanced Drivers who were subject to re-tests to retain their membership (i.e. RoSPA members) would be exempt from the standard re-test.
Professional drivers who failed the test and would lose their jobs as a result could perhaps be compelled to undertake training and be hit by a large, compulsory insurance premium until they can pass their re-test.
A point that was discussed at great length was what form a re-test would take. We decided it would probably have to be subjective rather than fault-based, as drivers may have developed habits over time which, whilst not adversly affecting their safety, would not conform to DSA standards.
When I mentioned this at the HPC Young Drivers' Day, it was greeted by an intrigued murmour throughout the room. Some suggested that it would be subject to corruption, with unscrupulous ADIs literally handing out re-test passes. At the HPC day, I just left it at that, but I feel that even if a minority of ADIs did do that, the overall effect would still be massivly positive.
As hpcdriver said, it would be a politically unpopular move and may well never happen. In the mean time, what about if the DSA put as much effort into publicising Advanced Driving as they do PassPlus. I know loads of people who have done PassPlus and, having done it myself, I consider it to be largely pointless. I certainly didn't learn anything from it and, like everyone I know who has done it, did it solely for the insurance discounts.
I fully expect to start a riot!