Thursday, 30 Aug 2007 10:13
A report released today claims too many teenagers are recklessly taking to the road under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

The joint report, carried out by Brake and Co-operative Insurance, urged ministers to take action immediately to curtail this worrying trend.

The authors suggested there should be a zero tolerance alcohol limit for new drivers and a more gradual process for obtaining a licence.

Jools Townsend, head of education at Brake, said “Every day young drivers kill and seriously injure themselves and others through a deadly combination of inexperience and taking risks like drink and drug driving.

“Decisive government action to tackle young driver crashes is long overdue.

“We are demanding that the government moves forward with an overhaul of driver training and testing, and introduces graduated driver licensing, which has been highly effective in cutting casualties in other countries.”

Ms Holland also insisted compulsory road safety education should be introduced in schools to raise awareness, and that traffic policing urgently needed greater investment.

Of road safety in general, the report said the alcohol limit was too lenient and should be tightened from the currently acceptable 80mg per 100ml to 50mg per 100ml.

It endorsed the transport committee’s conclusions - presented to parliament last month – which advocated raising the minimum age for acquiring a driving licence to 18.

The review also recommended spreading lessons over a year and a complete ban on alcohol for new drivers.

More controversial was the proposition claiming young drivers should be banned from carrying passengers between the ages of ten and 20 at night. The transport committee is likely to put these to public consultation later this year.

Source: Politics.co.uk website 30/08/07

Any comments from members of the Bedford & District Driving Instructors Association (BADDIA)?

Are Young Drivers really that Bad?

Reviewing accident statistics or hearing stories in the media would lead you to believe that young drivers are the worst drivers on the road. As a driving instructor in Bedford, I think that this is a misconception. Today, there is far more training given to learner drivers on the perils of the road, than ever there was when I learnt to drive.

Technically, driving is far more demanding today than it has ever been. The roads are busier, bigger, faster (occasionally!) than they were 30 years ago. Technology has brought about vast changes in car design. It can sometime be more like operating a computer rather than driving a car.

Driving tests have changed over the years to try to keep pace with the times. The introduction of the theory and hazard perception test has done away with the time when the examiner would show the test candidate a couple of road signs on a picture card. Now also, they need to know how to check the oil, tyres, and brakes. Pretty basic stuff you say, but how many drivers of a “certain age” don’t even know how to put water in their screen wash bottles, or how to change a light bulb?

The latest catch word is all about eco-driving and carbon footprints. Should I go on?

Sorry, but in MY opinion, (and that’s all you’re getting here), many people are prejudiced against the younger driver. OK, you’ll see the occasional stereotypical “boy racer” with his 1000watt sub-woofer practically blasting all in his path. But for every one of them, you’ll see a dozen company reps, (on the phone) white van men (reading the paper!), pizza delivery drivers, (on the pavement), general builders in beaten up tip up trucks (usually with a mug of tea on the go.. oh, and their tail lights won’t work either!), middle-aged mid lane hoggers (don’t know what their indicators are for) and geriatric, bewildered and bemused “Sunday drivers”. (Who haven’t got a clue)! Have I missed anyone out?

And all of the above are yet another bunch of hazards that the newly qualified driver has to contend with.

Am I grouchy or what? You better believe it! What do you think? Come and have a go if you think you’re hard enough!

These are personal views and do not necessarily reflect the views of BADDIA as a whole.

Paul Burchell.

Next Week… ”Keep Horses OFF the Roads”.

Luton’s driving instructors are leading the way in combating accidents among teenage drivers.

A pioneering programme supported by fire, police and ambulance teams has helped cut accidents among young drivers by 98 per cent.

And now the government is planning its own schemes to have a similar effect.

Inexperienced drivers who have recently passed their tests are the smallest group on the road but involved with the greatest number of accidents.

To fight this the Luton and District Driving Schools Association joined forces with the emergency services and Luton Borough Council to create a course making learner drivers more aware of the risks they face on the road.

The association’s John Neilson said: “We have had a 98 per cent success rate in the first few months of young people passing their test and going out on the road - without accident or injury.

“It really does make a difference to their attitude and understanding of road safety.”

The special courses, held at the Studley Road fire station, include film footage of the aftermath of road traffic accidents, a look at the heavy cutting equipment used by firefighters to release people from crumpled cars and practical sessions on how to keep vehicles up to safe standard.”

Fatal and serious road traffic casualties in Luton and Bedfordshire are down by a third.

As many as 126 fewer people were killed or seriously injured in the county in 2006 compared to the mid-nineties, the government announced.

Latest casualty figures published by the Department for Transport show last year 32 people were killed, 240 people were seriously injured and 2,043 people were slightly injured.

Figures were compared to an average for 1994-98 and that fatal and serious casualties had decreased from 398 to 272 - a 32 per cent fall.

Source: Luton Today website 21/08/07

Any comments from members of the Bedford & District Driving Instructors Association (BADDIA) who, incidentally, had members helping out at the last event in Luton with some of their own pupils? If you were there great, if not, why not?

By RAY MASSEY
It is not just family harmony which is at risk when parents teach their children to drive.

Fathers and mothers could turn their offspring into dangerous motorists by passing on their bad habits, a report warns today.

Nearly eight out of ten driving instructors say youngsters taught by their parents can prove a menace on the road because of mistakes they copy.

These include failure to check the mirrors, crossing hands while steering, speeding, ‘tailgating’ or driving too close to the car in front, and answering a mobile phone while driving.

The research comes from BSM, formerly the British School of Motoring. Its report reveals major concerns about teenagers who receive informal tuition from adult relatives.

Based on a survey of 617 instructors, it acknowledges: “Teaching teenagers can be a frustrating and thankless task for parents as they struggle to prepare their children for a test that bears little resemblance to the one that they took two or three decades ago.

It is therefore not surprising that almost eight in ten instructors believe learners can pick up bad habits when taught by their parents.”

It adds: “An additional problem can be the emotional fallout when parents teach their children to drive.’ Fifty-nine per cent of instructors say they have given advice to learners who have ‘fallen out with their parents while driving’.

However 88 per cent of instructors believe extra practice sessions supervised by parents are beneficial. Almost as many, 84 per cent, accept that learners taken out by their parents learn more quickly.

But 79 per cent say it raises the likelihood of picking up bad habits.

An overwhelming majority of instructors, 88 per cent, say parents should undergo a ‘refresher’ course before taking children out in their car and more than half (54 per cent) want this to be mandatory.

BSM managing director Mike Hutter said: “The most important thing is that learners are taught to learn to drive for life, not just to pass their test.

This is clearly more challenging for those young people who are facing increased pressure to pass or those that are being taught bad habits by their parents.”

The report reveals misplaced confidence among male learners. Sixty-nine per cent of instructors reported that men have more confidence in their ability.

But fewer than a third (29 per cent) believe that men pass their test more quickly than women.

Older learners appear to have better road sense than their younger counterparts, according to 52 per cent of instructors, but 64 per cent say they have less confidence in their ability to control the car.

The report coincides with pressure on the Government from MPs to introduce a minimum 12-month training period for new drivers - effectively increasing the driving age to 18 - and a zero alcohol limit in the first year.

Source: Daily Mail website 16/08/07

Any comments by members of the Bedford & District Driving Instructors Association (BADDIA)?

By David Jackson
Aspiring teenage drivers were given their first taste of life behind the wheel at a driving course.
About 40 drivers took part in the CarKraft event at Rockingham Motor Speedway in Corby on Sunday.

The event, organised by the casualty reduction partnership, is designed to give 16-year-olds, who are approaching the legal age to learn driving, a safe taste of motoring.

The day included:-

• Expert driving tuition in a dual-controlled vehicle in a safe environment
• Hazard perception session
• Drink drive awareness session
• Collision Investigation presentation
• Speed workshop
• Lunch and other refreshments throughout the day

County council casualty reduction officer Nicole Short said: “For almost every teenager here this is their first taste of driving.

“The idea is to make them aware of what driving is like before they can learn, teach them about how drink impairs driving and also learn about speed.”

Teenagers from across the county had the chance to drive around the car park at the motor speedway under the instruction of qualified driving instructors.

Forensic collision investigator for Northamptonshire Police Keith Millard said: “One of eight of drivers is 17 to 24-years-old and 40 per cent of all road deaths are from that age group.

“I think these CarKraft courses are a good way of introducing people to driving.

“Other countries have a graduated driving licence which restricts the type of car young people can drive and when they can drive.

“I think this is a good way of helping to reduce casualties.”

This event highlighted the responsibility that all drivers have when they get behind the wheel.

This is a similar theme to the Evening Telegraph’s Don’t Be A Victim campaign launched earlier this year – aimed at reducing the number of road deaths in the county.

As well as the opportunity to drive a car, the teenagers were given the chance to learn about drink-drive theory and undertake a speed workshop.

Irthlingborough teenager Max Taylor, 16, said: “I think this course is a good idea.

“I’ve driven a car before but this is good way of giving young people a taste of driving.”
Source: Northants Evening Telegraph website 14/08/07 and Rockingham Speedway website.
What do members of the Bedford & District Driving Instructors Association (BADDIA) think?

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is issuing a new driving licence. The general appearance of the licence is very similar to the old style plastic licence issued since 1998.

However, the new licence, made entirely from polycarbonate, does have a number of enhanced security features not available on the older licence. One of the main differences between the two is the new version has a black and white photograph while the older version had a colour one.

Your personal details (1,2 and 3)
Fields 1, 2 and 3 of your photocard licence record your surname, first names, date and place of birth.

Date of licence issue, photo expiry, issuing authority (4)
The date shown in 4a is the date the photograph is valid from. 4b shows the date the photograph must be renewed. The authority that issued the licence is shown in 4c. In Great Britain that is DVLA.

Driver number (5)

A - First five characters of surname. If the surname is less than five characters the remaining spaces will be made up using the figure 9. (eg MAN99)

B - The first and last numbers are the year of birth. The second and third numbers are the month of birth. (If you’re female, ‘5′ is added to the second number and the total used as the second digit. So if you are a woman born in October the second and third numbers would be 60.) The fourth and fifth digits show the day of your birth.

C - The first two initials of your forenames. If you have only one initial then the second will be a ‘9′.

D - Computer check digits.

E - Licence issue number.

Holder’s photograph (6)
The new photocard licence has a black and white photograph. This is because the laser technology used to burn the image onto the card producing a black and white photograph is more secure. A colour photograph will still need to be provided with your application to be stored on your driver record.

Holder’s signature (7)
This is digitally reproduced and burned into the photocard from the signature you provided on the application form.

Holder’s address (8)
This shows the driver’s permanent address in Great Britain.

Entitlement categories (9)
The letters in capitals show the categories of entitlement covered by the European Community Directive. National categories are shown in smaller letters.

Holographic feature (10)
This feature is similar to a hologram but more clear as it has definite lines and brilliant colours. It contains a steering wheel that appears to turn as you tilt the card in different directions.

Changing images (11a and 11b)
a. This security feature is an image that changes both shape and colour depending on how you tilt the licence. On full (pink) licences it is a blue road sign changing to a black triangle, on a provisional (green) it is a red road sign changing to a black triangle.

b. This security feature is personalised according to the data on the card. It contains the last five characters of the driver number changing to the month and year of the photo expiry which appear and disappear depending on how you tilt the licence.

Unique identifier (12)
Cards are to be pre numbered by the card manufacturer. This number is laser engraved onto the card prior to delivery to DVLA and is unique on every card.

Not used (13 and 14)

Pictograms (15)
These illustrations are representations of types of vehicles in those categories shown.

Category validity periods (16)
These are the dates when entitlement to drive each category begins and ends.

Information codes (17)
The code numbers printed in this area indicate what (if any) restrictions the entitlement is subject to.

Steering wheel security feature (18)
This is a security feature in the shape of a steering wheel. The colour of the wheel changes from green to gold depending on how you tilt the licence.

Other security features
The driving licence also has tactile (raised) surfaces, tactile engraved text, changing colours as well as complex background designs.

Further details about the new security features and can be found on leaflet ‘UK driving licence – level 1 security features’ INF60/7. Information on this page can be found on leaflet ‘Your new driving licence’ INF45/1.

Source: Government Website 10/08/07

Any comments from members of the Bedford & District Driving Instructors Association (BADDIA)?

By Gideon Brody, contributor August 09 2007.A new piece of research by a car insurance company has looked at the occupations, cars and locations of motorists with the worst record of accidents to create an overall picture of those most likely to make a claim. The research has found that the North West is a hotbed of risky driving, with Lexus-driving male chefs in Oldham and BMW-driving female hairdressers living in Manchester identified as the riskiest drivers. Furthermore, Blackburn and Bolton are pinpointed as being the second riskiest locations for drivers. The UK’s safest drivers are largely based in Scotland, with Skoda-driving police officers in Inverness and Saab-driving teaching assistants in Perth leading the way. Dumfries and Dundee are also noted for their safe drivers. Perhaps not surprisingly, it is Saabs and Volvos that are involved in the fewest accidents. However, that begs the question: do safer drivers tend to opt for more sensible cars or are safer-driving cars responsible for fewer accidents? The survey was conducted by Diamond insurance.

Source; www.msn.com

By Jonny Muir (Peterborough Today)
A GOVERNMENT proposal to raise the minimum driving age to 18 has received a lukewarm response from Peterborough instructors.
Among a raft of new measures aimed at reducing the number of road deaths, MPs also want to impose a zero-alcohol limit for the first year of driving, and ban newly-qualified drivers from carrying passengers.

Crashes involving drivers aged under 25 killed more than 1,000 people last year, while half of all drivers who die in night accidents are under 25.

However, city instructors say a change in the attitude of young drivers is required – something that legislation alone, they feel, will struggle to achieve.

Although the chairman of Peterborough Driving Instructors Association Doug Andrews welcomed the Government’s attempts to improve road safety, he said it was hard to inform a stubborn 18-year-old about the rights and wrongs of safe motoring.

He said: “What is needed is a culture change. It has happened before. At one time, not wearing seatbelts and drinking and driving was endemic.

“Youngsters today want to rush around and screech their tyres. We can try to encourage people to drive safely, but it doesn’t matter how much we teach them, once they have passed their test, they want to show off a little.”

Mr Andrews, who owns Andrews School of Motoring, added: “I don’t think it will make any difference changing the age limit from 17 to 18. ”

Owner of Roadrunner Driving Training Adrian Ball said the announcement had taken driving instructors by surprise.

Mr Ball was among 200 instructors at a conference in Thetford, Norfolk, on Wednesday, where the majority were opposed to raising the age limit.

He said: “Something has to be done because statistics show it is young males who cause the accidents. But it doesn’t make a lot of difference if someone is 17 or 18.

“I think it’s a good idea, however, banning them from drinking alcohol and taking passengers. But it would be difficult to police.”

Chairwoman of the Government committee Gwyneth Dunwoody said: “We cannot continue to waste young lives. Novice drivers are extremely vulnerable and pose considerable risks to their passengers and other road users.”

Source: Peterborough Today Website 09/08/07

Any comments from members of the Bedford & District Driving Instructors Association (BADDIA)?

Three-quarters of motorists would fail their driving test if they were forced to take it again, research reveals today.

What Car? magazine asked 20 people with 416 years’ experience on the roads between them to take the current driving test. Fifteen of them failed.

One candidate headed the wrong way down a one-way street and another failed the eye test before even starting the car.

A survey also revealed that although nearly 80 per cent of drivers reckon standards are getting worse, only 31 per cent admit their own performance is below par.

Matthew Henson, 38, who has driven for 20 years and covers about 40,000 miles a year, was among the “guinea pigs” who took the test.

Although he has a clean licence and has never been at fault in an accident, he still failed.

He had poor observation when reversing and did not heed road markings or other road users.

What Car? editor Steve Fowler said: “We believe drivers should be made to take regular refresher courses with a qualified driving instructor.

“It would remind people what is required.”

Source: Daily Mail website 03/08/07

Any comments from members of the Bedford & District Driving Instructors Association (BADDIA)?

Bedford And District Driving Instructors Association are asking all learner drivers what they think. All learner drivers should login below and have your say NOW.

A government Transport Committee report has recommended a major overhaul of learner driver training in the UK.

Amongst the proposals are;

• A MINIMUM learning period with a QUALIFIED ADI (Approved Driving Instructor).
• A raise in the minimum age for a full drivers licence to 18.
• A new structured syallabus with improved training of Hazard Awareness.
• Test to be carried-out only in cars fitted with dual controls. (Such as an Instructors car).
• Extended driving tests to include Motorway driving.

Newly qualified drivers will also be subject to some limitations in respect of their driving for 1 year following the test. These include restrictions on passengers in the car and a Zero alcohol level in the blood.

As professional driving instructors, Bedford And District Driving Instructors Association broadly welcomes many of these proposals, but we want to know, “WHAT DO YOU THINK”?

You can have your say on this. You don’t need to be a member of BADDIA. Just register your name and a password at the bottom of the front page, login to our Blog pages and leave your comments or questions HERE!

A full copy of the report, click here.