How to avoid a flat battery this winter

Friday 2nd December

With many parts of the country waking up to frosty cars, here’s a timely reminder from the RAC to drivers to ensure they are prepared for winter.

Driving conditions in the last two winters were extremely hazardous as well as challenging, and on Monday 29 November last year the RAC fitted 1200 new batteries – equivalent to one every 72 seconds. And between 25 November and 24 December they sorted out over 50,000 drivers with battery-related problems.

Kevin Andrews, RAC Patrol Ambassador of the Year says, “The last two winters were a real eye opener for many drivers as to just how important it is to prep their car for winter, given the extreme conditions most of us faced on the roads.

“Motorists must learn from this and take the opportunity to get prepared and protected now. Ensure your vehicle is winter battle ready before the bad weather hits.”

Here are the RAC’s top five battery care tips:

1  Switch off lights, wipers, radio and the heater before starting the engine. This prevents any unnecessary drain on the battery during starting.

2  Heaters, heated screens and heated seats put high demands on the vehicle’s battery so try and avoid using these types of devices any longer than necessary. High use of sat navs, in-car DVD players and iPods can also drain the battery.

3  Don’t leave any interior lights or any accessories such as phone chargers on overnight.

4  Park your vehicle in a garage whenever possible.

5  Have your vehicle checked before winter sets in – many garages offer free winter checks, which include charging and battery checks.

Kevin continues: “Before you start the car in the morning, make sure everything is switched off, including the heater, fan, lights and radio. Turn the ignition key to the ‘on’ position for two or three seconds to allow the electronics to get going before starting the engine. These actions will save valuable energy – every volt is precious in cold weather.”

New theory test books published

Monday, 10 October 2011

New books from the DSA will guide learner drivers and riders ahead of the changes to the theory test being introduced in January 2012. Questions will no longer be published and candidates will be expected to answer the revised test based on their general knowledge of the subject.

DSA chief executive Rosemary Thew said: “The reason behind the move is to stop candidates from simply memorising theory test questions and answers and learning by rote. This new approach to learning will help candidates to gain a better knowledge and understanding of driving theory.”

Each book will include a free ebook complete with mock test for candidates to prepare themselves, as well as a copy of the Highway Code so that learners can understand the basis of the questions being asked.

DIA group manager Steve Garrod said: “The new theory test is a logical extension of the introduction of independent driving and the new book explains the format of the test and the thinking behind the answers without giving them away. Learners will be required to apply what they’ve learned from their instructor and the Highway Code.”

Thursday 29th Sept

PHIL BADDLEY

Tell: 07821039816

WWW.PBdrivingschool.com  /  FACEBOOK

Top 14 tips for the day of your driving test

1. Eat a few hours before you go. The last thing you need is to feel physically or mentally weak, which will put you at a disadvantage. Energy foods are a good idea.
2. While you’re waiting for your examiner, create a mental image of yourself passing the test.
3. Listen to any advice from me – and don't be put off by others. Only listen to advice from the person teaching you. Friends and family often give advice: they mean well but they are sometimes wrong, so listen to your driving instructor who has the know-how and experience to advise you properly.
4. Take a few deep breaths before your examiner comes into the room. This will help you focus.
5. Have any documents you may need ready. If you are having to look for them in your bag or pockets when the examiner asks for them this will only make your nerves worse.
6. You will feel more relaxed if you dress in comfortable clothes. If you normally wear a suit, then that's fine, but if you normally wear jeans and a tee-shirt then wear that.
7. Try and remember your routines ie: P.O.M...... M.S.P.S.L......M.S.M
8. Consider taking a herbal remedy – but you should always consult a doctor before doing so as you don't want any side effects that may affect your driving in a negative way.
9. If the examiner gives you any instruction that you are unsure of ask them to repeat it. Examiners are people too, they know you may be nervous, they will have been tested themselves, so they will know how you feel.
10. If you go the wrong way, don't worry. The examiner will not record a fault as long as you go the wrong way in safe way. For example if the examiner says "Take the next road on the left" and you take the road on the right, it won't be a problem as long as it is done safely.
11. Consider doing a commentary drive lesson
12. Talk to me about your nerves – I am experienced in advising nervous people.
13. Make sure you are ready. If you can't do things during lessons then you certainly won't be able to do them when you’re under pressure on the driving test.
14. And finally: believe in yourself. I do or you wouldn't be taking the test. Good luck!

 

Calm down, dear! Road rage won’t get you anywhere

Thursday, 01 September 2011

Here are seven top tips on how to avoid conflict on the road:
  •  Most irritating manoeuvres made by other drivers are unintentional. Don't take your frustration out by making
     offensive gestures, beeping your horn or flashing your lights.
  •  Don't compete or retaliate. If someone's driving annoys you, don't try to “educate” them.
  •  Be patient in traffic, and try not to push into traffic queues. If you signal in plenty of time, other drivers will
     usually let you in.
  •  Courtesy costs nothing. Being polite can diffuse a situation if you have made a mistake.
  •  Set an example to others. Give way at busy junctions or where traffic lanes merge. Wherever there are
     merging lanes, join in turn.
  •  Avoid making eye contact in a confrontation – while a friendly wave could show you've made an honest mistake,
     you might appear to be challenging the other road user.
  •  Don't respond to somebody else's bad behaviour by accelerating, braking or swerving suddenly. As well as
     winding up other drivers, you reduce your own car control.

"We all make mistakes when we're driving, so try and cut people some slack when they do so. Road rage doesn't improve the situation, and puts you, your passengers, and other road users around you at risk. The best thing is to stay calm and continue to drive sensibly so as not to make the situation any worse," says IAM’s Peter Rodger

Introducing 20mph zones to be easier for local councils

Thursday, 09 June 2011

Measures to reduce time-consuming and costly bureaucracy for councils wanting to use 20mph schemes were announced today by Regional and Local Transport Minister Norman Baker.

Today's changes – the first to be announced as part of the Traffic Signs Policy Review – will mean that councils can use signs painted on roads as an alternative to expensive upright signs, cutting street clutter as well as costs.

In addition, the Government will reduce the need for councils to use speed humps in 20mph zones and make it cheaper and easier for councils to put in place variable speed limits outside schools when local residents want these schemes.

Norman Baker said: "I want to end the era of top-down government by providing a radical devolution of power to local authorities and communities. If councils and local communities want to put in place 20mph schemes on residential roads or use common-sense measures such as variable speed limits outside schools, then they should be able to do so without spending time and money satisfying unnecessary Whitehall diktats.

"These changes will reduce costs for councils wanting to use 20mph schemes, allowing them to act faster in response to the needs of their local residents while still ensuring that drivers know what speed they should drive at."

The changes include:
  •  Expanding the list of specified traffic calming measures allowable in 20mph zones to include repeater signs
     and mini-roundabouts. This would allow zones to be introduced with fewer road humps or chicanes where
     appropriate;
  •  Allowing local authorities to use speed limit symbols painted on roads more often as repeater signs in 20mph
     zones and limits. Upright signs will still be required to indicate the start and end of 20mph schemes.
  •  Allowing local authorities to place signs at the entry and exit of variable speed limits – eg outside schools – on
     only one side of the road rather than on both sides of the road as is currently the case;
  •  Allowing the use of either flashing warning lights or specified flashing lights with a static sign at the entry to
     variable speed limits which are cheaper for councils to buy;
  •  Allowing the use of a sign design for advisory 20mph limits using flashing school warning lights.

Councils will now be able to request council-wide authorisations for these measures to be used in 20mph schemes on residential roads where cost-benefit analysis has shown that such schemes would be worthwhile. This will mean that councils can apply these measures without getting approval from Government in each case.

It remains the decision of local councils to decide whether or not to use 20mph schemes following robust cost-benefit analysis of any such proposals.

The Traffic Signs Policy Review is due to publish its final report later this summer.

In addition, the Department for Transport plans to revise the guidance on speed limits with the aim of increasing flexibility for local authorities. The Department will provide an economic tool to help them to assess the full costs and benefits of any proposed schemes so that they can use measures which are both appropriate and good value for money

Sixteen-year-olds to get driving lessons in bid to cut accidents

Friday, 11 March 2011

Youngsters, in Holland, will be able to start formal driving lessons when they are 16.5 years old from November, in a move the government hopes will reduce accidents involving young drivers.

Once they have passed theory and practical tests, 17-year-olds will be allowed on the roads under the supervision of an experienced older driver.

Only once they reach the age of 18, they will be able to drive unsupervised. At the moment, youngsters start learning to drive at the age of 18 and go it alone as soon as they have passed their test.

Transport minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen hopes the extra year of supervised driving will help youngsters to gain more road experience and so cut accidents

How to get a car insurance discount with Pass Plus

Wednesday, 02 March 2011

Article by UK Insurance Index

Pass Plus is a course aimed at improving driving skills, particularly among newly qualified drivers. As well as becoming safer drivers, people who pass the course can obtain discounts from some insurers to recognise their reduced risk of being involved in an accident.

Who can take part in the Pass Plus course?

Any driver is eligible to take part in the course. It is mainly aimed at people who have passed their driving test in the past year. The course may be a little more difficult for people who have been driving for longer than this and have either become rusty or picked up bad habits.

How much does Pass Plus cost?

The cost varies depending on the region and the instructor. It is generally in the £100 to £150 range. Some local authorities will pay up to 50% of the fees, though students will need to apply directly to the authority, usually to the transport or road safety department.

What is covered on the course?

There are six modules on the course: driving in a town (which incorporates general advanced driving skills), driving in extreme weather conditions, driving in the countryside, driving at night time, driving on dual carriageways, and driving on motorways. Wherever possible, as many of these skills are taught in a practical setting rather than just the theory.

Will I get an insurance discount?

Not all insurers offer discounts to people who have completed Pass Plus. At the time of writing, those who did were: 4Counties, AA, Adrian Flux, Churchill, CIS, Click4Gap, Direct Line, Endsleigh, i-Kube, Privilege, Provident, Quinn Direct, Royal and Sun Alliance, Swinton, Tesco, Young Marmalade and Zurich. It is worth checking with other insurers to see if the situation has changed.

How do I claim my discount?

On completing the course, you should be issued with a Pass Plus certificate. You can then provide this certificate to the insurer to get your discount. Some insurers will allow you to wait up to two years before using it, for example if you have not yet bought a car. Be careful to check the conditions, as some insurers will only accept a Pass Plus certificate achieved within one year of passing your original driving test.

How much discount will I get?

This varies immensely. In some cases it can be up to 35%, while in others it may be as little as 5%. Depending on your circumstances, the saving may not be enough to cover (or may in fact exceed) the cost of the course. You may also make greater savings by using a different insurer, even if that insurer doesn't offer a Pass Plus discount. Of course, it's worth remembering that the course offers benefits beyond the immediate financial savings. It may even reduce the likelihood of you making claims, which could later pay off in no-claims bonuses

Thursday, 03 February 2011

You will have seen the headlines:

     Struggling BSM ‘may be sold to AA’
     AA moves to buy driving school BSM
     BSM remains separate from AA after deal
     AA saves BSM
     AA buys BSM out of administration
     BSM driving schools saved by AA buyout
     Jobs saved as BSM deal goes through

So what really happened, and how does it affect BSM and AA instructors, their pupils and franchises?

There was no press release from the AA. Instead, they issued a short statement focusing on Acromas which, given the intense rivalry between the AA and BSM, provided what they saw as a useful distance:

“Acromas acquired the British School of Motoring (BSM) from the company’s administrators on 31st January 2011.

“The acquisition secures the future of this iconic British motoring brand, and will ensure it is business as usual for BSM’s 2,100 driving instructors and their 30,000 current learner drivers.

“BSM will continue to operate as a separate brand within the Acromas family of companies. It will benefit from the expertise, marketing support and buying power that comes from being part of a large, successful group.

Doris gets her driving licence at the age of 77

Friday, 31 December 2010

Doris Almond is celebrating passing her driving test – at the age of 77. Her youngest daughter, Liesl, gave her the lessons as a gift on her 75th birthday and after two years of expert guidance from instructor Ian Harpham Doris passed her test.

She passed her theory exam first time.

According to the Manchester Evening News, Doris, of Whitworth, Rochdale, said: “The first test I took was a complete failure, I was a bundle of nerves. The second time, I stalled twice on a main road and the third time, the instructor thought I was going to pull out at a junction, but I wasn’t, it was just unfortunate. The fourth time, I passed with no problems, it was fine.”

Doris has not yet bought a car, but is looking forward to finding one in the New Year.
She is looking forward to driving to the shops and to see her daughter, Lynne, in Workington, and son, Graham, in North Yorkshire.

“It will just be nice to be able to potter about in the car,” she said. “I’ve already been on the motorway and am looking forward to getting my car.”

Driving instructor Ian, 63, said: “We had a good laugh in the lessons and Doris has been an excellent pupil. To look at her you would never think she was 77. It was not easy for her to learn but she did exceptionally well.”

New drivers should display green P-plates, say magistrates

Wednesday, 17 November 2010

All new drivers should be forced to display green P-plates to help warn other motorists they are inexperienced and cut down on accidents, magistrates have demanded.

The plates are similar to the red learner L-plates and signal that a motorist has only recently passed their test. But unlike the L-plate, they are only displayed on a voluntary basis.

According to the Telegraph, the 28,000-strong Magistrate's Association has now written to Philip Hammond, the Transport Secretary, urging him to make it compulsory for all new drivers in their first 12 months. Chris Hunt-Cooke, the association’s road traffic chairman, said newly qualified drivers, 80 per cent of who are under 25, had a much higher accident rate than others.

12th Nov

DSA to stop publishing questions used in theory tests

The Driving Standards Agency is to stop publishing the multiple choice questions and answers used in theory tests, Road Safety Minister Mike Penning announced today.

This will help to ensure that new drivers learn the principles behind driving theory rather than just learning answers.

The move follows the introduction of independent driving into the driving test and the DSA's decision to stop publishing test routes in October 2010, to make sure the test assesses a learner's ability to drive and not their capacity to memorise routes.

Young male drivers pay the price for a racy reputation

Thursday, 23 September 2010

Young male drivers pay on average 79 per cent more than young women for their car insurance, according to research by moneysupermarket.com.

The company analysed car insurance premiums for drivers of all ages and found that while the cheapest premium for an 18-year-old male, driving a 2005 1.4L Ford Fiesta, is £4,897, the average premium is £7,917 – a staggering 79 per cent (or £3,494) more than the £4,422 average for an 18-year-old female.

However, young males who have a few years’ experience on the road will see a considerable drop in premiums, with the average cost for a 19-year-old falling to £3,711 – a 53% decrease. Premiums continue to reduce by a significant amount as a driver’s age rises from late teens to twenties and thirties. This reduction becomes more gradual as motorists get older, but it’s not until drivers reach 50 that men begin to pay less than their female counterparts

Friday 17th September

Real driving experience for learners

To help make the driving test more representative of real driving, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) will no longer publish details of test routes, Road Safety Minister Mike Penning announced today.

Currently test routes used by each driving test centre are published online but this will stop when new routes are introduced at the beginning of October.

This change is being made to support the introduction of independent driving, which will allow candidates to demonstrate their ability to drive safely in more realistic driving situations rather than memorising a particular test route.

Wednesday, 08 September 2010

As ADIs will already know, independent driving will become part of the practical driving test in Great Britain on 4 October 2010. Currently, candidates are given step-by-step directions by the examiner. From 4 October, candidates will have to drive by either following a series of directions, following traffic signs, or a combination of both, for about ten minutes. The remainder of the test is unchanged.

What many instructors seem to be unaware of is that as part of the decision to make the driving test more representative of real driving, details of driving test routes will no longer be published online by the DSA. Test routes used by test centres are currently published online, and some instructors take pupils round test routes to get them used to them. This will stop when new routes are introduced on 4 October.

Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said learning to drive round test routes by rote would not teach people to drive safely and independently. “Stopping the publication of test routes will help to make sure that the driving test better reflects realistic driving conditions and will give new drivers the skills and confidence they need to stay safe on the roads,” he explained.

The DSA’s chief driving examiner Trevor Wedge said: “Evidence shows that the biggest challenge newly-qualified drivers face after passing their test is learning how to cope when they no longer have their instructor there to help and prompt them. We want to make sure that new drivers and riders are ready to make their own decisions when driving alone; learning how to do that in preparation for their test should lead to better and safer drivers.”

 

Oxfordshire speeding increase after cameras turned off…

Wednesday, 11 August 2010

The number of drivers speeding past Oxfordshire’s deactivated speed cameras has increased by up to 88%, according to a BBC News report. The cameras were axed at the end of July after the county council withdrew £600,000 in funding due to budget cuts

Halfords offers L-drivers insurance for £3 a day

Thursday, 08 July 2010

Motoring accessory giant Halfords has taken a major step towards providing young drivers with the extra road practice time that they need. They have teamed up with Provisional Marmalade to offer a new, radical type of car insurance which allows provisional drivers to purchase fully comprehensive insurance on a family or friend’s car for only £3 per day. Halfords believe that their support will go some way to tackling the troublesome area of provisional driver insurance.

On a traditional policy, premiums to add an L-plate driver could be exceptionally high – often in excess of £3000. The car owner also had to put their No Claims Discount at risk if the learner is responsible for a collision. To make matters worse, some insurers have raised the minimum age of named drivers to 21 or 25, preventing provisional drivers from being added to a parent’s policy.

This new policy is written in the name of the learner driver, costs between £90.95 and £99.50 per month and is affordable enough to be paid for by the learner. It is a separate policy and does not affect any existing insurance on the car.

Nearly a quarter of young people admit to road racing

Wednesday, 30 June 2010

Young people admit to shocking levels of speeding, frequently with their friends in the car with them.

A survey of 2,800 British youngsters found that more than half (56%) have been a passenger in a car driven by a young driver at more than 40mph in a 30mph limit or at more than 70mph on a rural road.

It also found that one in five (23%) have raced on a public road as a driver or passenger and one in ten (10%) have overtaken another vehicle at speed, without being able to see what is coming.

The research was carried out by Brake, the road safety charity, and FedEx Express, the courier service, as part of their 2young2die campaign.

It showed that young passengers find it difficult to speak out when put at risk by speed, or don’t perceive the risk. More than half (58%) of young passengers who had been in a car driven by a speeding young driver said they didn’t ask the driver to slow down.

Young drivers are involved in more fatal crashes and more are killed than any other age group of drivers. Road crashes are the biggest killer of young people aged 15-24. And 43% of people who die on the road in crashes involving speed are aged 16-25. Many more young people suffer catastrophic injuries such as brain injury or paralysis.

Brake is calling for the Government to introduce graduated driver licensing (GDL) so that young people who choose to learn to drive must do so in stages over a longer time period. GDL is supported by the Association of British Insurers and has been shown to reduce casualties dramatically among young people in countries such as New Zealand.

The charity is also calling for the introduction of compulsory education in secondary schools that warns of the dangers of speed and other forms of high-risk driving, such as drink and drug driving, or driving without seat belts. This education would also encourage young people to delay learning to drive and not take lifts with young drivers.

13 June 2010

Independent driving explained

From 4 October 2010, learner drivers will be tested on independent driving as part of the practical driving test.

During their test, candidates will have to drive for about 10 minutes, either following a series of directions, following traffic signs, or a combination of both.

To help candidates understand where they’re going, the examiner may show them a diagram.

It doesn't matter if candidates don't remember every direction, or if they go the wrong way - that can happen to the most experienced drivers.

08/06/10

Check out the new format being introduced in October for drivers to be Independant on the DSA 'YOUTUBE'  website

Happy birthday, driving test!

Thursday, 27 May 2010

The British driving test is 75 years old on 1 June. Compulsory testing for all drivers was brought in on 1 June 1935. It was an immediate success, with road deaths dropping by 1000 after the first year.

In 1934 7343 people were killed on Britain's roads – when there were a mere 2.4 million vehicles (1.5 million cars) on the roads. In 2008, with almost 20 times as many cars, and 34 million vehicles, there were 2538 deaths – a third of the 1934 figure.

The pass rate in 1945 was 63 per cent. For a while 250 examiners were taking as many as sixteen half-hour driving tests a day. In 2008 the overall pass rate was 44 per cent – 41 per cent for women and 47 per cent for men.

And … a happy 76th birthday to cat’s eyes, invented by Percy Shaw in 1934. He began manufacturing them in 1935, and official testing began in 1937, but their official introduction was slowed by the Second World War, when Britain’s roads needed to be kept as dark as possible. In 1947, amid rising concern about night-time accidents, the government introduced cat’s eyes nationwide. It was actually James Callaghan, then a junior Labour transport minister, later Prime Minister, who was responsible for them being embedded in roads across the country.

16 May 2010

Research launched yesterday by charity Brake at an international conference in London on speed has found that the majority of drivers admit to killer speeds in towns and villages. Almost three quarters (72%) of the drivers surveyed by the road safety charity and motor insurer admitted driving at 35mph or faster in a 30mph zone, while 36% of these offenders admitted doing this daily or at least once a week.

“There appears to be widespread complacency among drivers who may think they will be able to stop in time if they are just going ‘a few’ miles over 30 – but the physics of speed tells us they won’t, and the casualty figures tell us they don’t,” said Brake chief executive, Mary Williams OBE. “Many of these drivers wouldn’t dream of drink or drug driving but are prepared to risk lives by speeding. There need to be more campaigns that explain to otherwise law-abiding citizens the exponentially damaging effects of increases in speed.”

Every day in the UK, eight children and young people (aged 0-19) are killed or seriously injured on foot or bicycle. As a driver’s speed rises, their stopping distances rise much quicker, with stopping distances increasing threefold between 20mph and 40mph. A car driven at 20mph or lower (the maximum speed limit recommended by Brake for towns and villages) can stop in 12m (about three car lengths) or less, giving the driver a good chance to brake and stop in time if a child runs out ahead.

A car driven at 30mph would still be traveling at about 27mph at the 12m marker, and would take nearly double this distance (23m) to stop (about six car lengths). A child hit at 27mph is likely to suffer serious injury such as paralysis or brain injury, or even die – this is the equivalent of a child falling backwards out the window of a three-storey house (a drop of about 7.3m).

Pass your L-test after 17 lessons? Confused? You will be

Wednesday, 05 May 2010

According to research carried out by confused.com, women take longer to pass their driving test than men.

Confused.com found that “girls need an average of 21 lessons before they pass their test, compared to just 17 lessons which men take.”

According to the DSA, on the other hand, learners who pass their test have had, on average, about 45 hours of professional training combined with 22 hours of private practice.

Clearly, both cannot be right.

Steve Garrod, General Manager of the Driving Instructors Association, agrees with the DSA. Feedback from the DIA’s 14,000 members supports the DSA figures.

Steve says: “The trouble with confused.com’s statement is that it doesn’t say how long the lessons were, or whether the learners had any private practice.

“If the lessons were all two hours long, for example, the figures get closer.

“And of course, it’s surprising how often people tend to forget the exact details when they respond to questionnaires.

“More than anything,” says Steve, “I’m concerned that confused.com’s figures will give learner drivers completely the wrong idea. Our members – and indeed all the driving instructors in the UK – will be faced by optimistic youngsters who will expect to pass their tests quickly and cheaply.

“And it just won’t happen. And as a result they will feel cheated and hard-done-by – after all, it can hardly be their fault that they failed for taking a test too quickly.

“Whichever figures you agree with, here at the DIA we believe strongly that it’s important to learn to drive properly, not just well enough to pass a test

6th April 2010

As from today Examiners will be asking candidates if they would like to have someone sit in with them on test.

21st January 2010

Will a pupil have to read a road map on test? talks are in progress to decide on the format for future tests where a pupil will be asked to follow signs to a destination with the option of being shown a road map if necsessary!! OMG

12th January 2010

THINK SNOW!! as most of the country was brought to a standstill through the treacherous conditions remember to take extra care and THINK about the rules for driving on snow, ice,wet and dark roads.

3rd December 2009

Independant driving on an L test is getting closer.

Some examiners have now been trained and are now ready for when a pupil on test will be asked to follow a series of signs.

EG: On coming off the dual carriageway can you please follow the signs for Chester City centre until told otherwise.

 29th November 2009
Case studys now added to Theory Test

29th November 2009
Debate on instructors sitting in on tests becoming compulsory.