More than 6,000 people were hurt in drink drive related accidents at weekends last year, with more than a third of these injured between 10pm and 3am. To crack down on drinking and driving this Christmas, the Government and Police have once again joined forces to urge anyone hitting the party scene to leave their car keys at home.

The Christmas drink drive THINK! campaign - with brand new Internet and radio adverts - was launched today by the Department for Transport to remind drivers, and young men in particular, just how badly getting behind the wheel after a few drinks can affect their lives. Alongside this, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) will coordinate a nationwide police operation to tackle drink and drug driving over the festive period. Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick was out with Sussex Police in Crawley on Thursday 29 November, to see for himself how dedicated the Police are to taking drink drivers off the road this Christmas. He said:

“Drink driving ruins lives. Last year 540 people died in this pointless, avoidable way - that’s lives shattered and the dreams of family and friends devastated.

“I have been out with Sussex Police on their first Christmas crackdown this year, and was amazed at how even the smallest sign can give drink drivers away to these highly trained officers. Being caught has serious consequences - a criminal record, minimum one year driving ban and large fine. It’s just not worth paying this price for a couple of drinks at the Christmas party. Leave the car keys at home.”

More than half a million drivers are stopped and breathalysed each year and with more breath tests carried out in December than other months the Department for Transport has again teamed up with the police to highlight the importance given to preventing drink driving.

Chief Constable Stephen Green, ACPO lead on Roads Policing said: “Tackling drink and drug driving is always a high priority for police forces across the country, but never more so than at Christmas. The festive period is a time for celebration, but with rights come responsibilities which need to be taken seriously if we are all to enjoy this Christmas.

“Forces across the country will be patrolling the roads vigilantly for those driving under the influence and are united in their determination to stop the reckless driving of a few ruining Christmas for the many.” As well as new Internet and radio adverts the THINK! Christmas drink drive campaign will include this summer’s new Moment of Doubt TV advert, cinema and in-pub advertising and partnership marketing. The campaign will also hit the road to remind drivers that they have too much to lose from having even one alcoholic drink with shoppers, commuters and party goers in major cities targeted.

Source: Department for Transport website 30/11/07

I am certain BADDIA (Bedford and District Driving Instructors Association) in Bedford will agree with this campaign. My own advice is that the ONLY choice is drink OR drive NEVER both.

Millions of drivers could be unwittingly endangering lives this winter by driving on perilously bald tyres, reveals research by Brake and Green Flag. Two in three drivers (68%) do not know the legal minimum tyre tread depth for their vehicle. This means an estimated 22 million drivers are unable to check their vehicle meets a basic safety requirement.[1]

Worn tyres pose a huge risk to drivers, passengers and other road users, especially at this time of year when icy and wet weather conditions make roads more dangerous. The tread on tyres is essential in helping a driver brake, steer and accelerate. Drivers must be made aware of the importance of regular vehicle maintenance, but currently there is no televised Government campaign that addresses this vital issue.

Failure to maintain minimum tyre tread depths significantly increases stopping distances. Independent tests on wet roads using a car travelling at 50mph found:

• On 8mm depth, stopping distance = 25.9 metres
• On 3mm depth, stopping distance = 31.7 metres
• On 1.6mm depth, stopping distance = 39.5 metres[2]

The minimum legal tyre tread depth is 1.6mm for cars and vans, although less than 3mm can be dangerous in wet or icy weather.

Regular tyre checks are essential for keeping a vehicle safe and drivers are being urged to check their tyres weekly and before any long journey. Car drivers should always check:

• Tread depth - tread-wear indicator bars on tyres can be used to ensure tread exceeds the legal minimum, but ideally a special tyre tread indicator should be used to ensure there is at least 3mm of tread.
• Tyre pressure - using a gauge while tyres are cold. The correct pressure is in vehicle handbooks.
• Any other damage – such as cracks, worn patches and bulges. If tyres are damaged, drivers should consult their garage immediately.

On 8 January 2006 a driver whose vehicle had three defective tyres skidded on an icy road, hitting a group of cyclists in

Brake is calling on the Government to:

• Increase investment in traffic policing and give police powers to carry out random vehicle safety checks;
• run a high-profile publicity campaign to educate drivers of the correct legal limit and promote the importance of regular tyre checks and good vehicle maintenance;
• raise the minimum legal tread depth to 3mm.

[2] Undertaken by MIRA Ltd (formerly the Motor Industry Research Association) in 2003

Source: Brake website 29/11/07

Any comments from members of BADDIA (Bedford and District Driving Instructors Association) in Bedford? I always change my tyres before they reach 3mm of tread and tell my pupils on driving lessons why. I am sure all driving instructors in Bedford do too.

Driving Instructors in Bedford warn speeding motorists……

Jobs at risk from plan to get tough over speeding

Plans to increase penalty points for speeding motorists could “criminalise” a large section of Britain’s workforce and lead to many losing their jobs, driving instructors in Bedford are warning.

They are calling for more speed patrols, clearer road signs and increased police attention to persistent offenders as a better way of changing bad driving habits.

Richard Grindrod of the Driving Instructors Democratic Union section of Unite said doubling penalty points was an approach which needed a lot more consideration.

“Drivers forced to take speed awareness courses after a first speeding offence are generally fairly typical motorists.

“Doubling penalty points could have the effect of causing many of them to lose their jobs with a devastating impact on their families and also on industry and the economy.”

“Good policing, better intelligence and planning from local authorities in designing speed enforcement systems must play a major part in solving the speeding problem.”

Taken from ERTweekly.com

CAT’S eyes on our roads could soon be history – replaced by a tiny hi-tech light.

The new British invention, called a SolarLite, can illuminate a road from dusk to dawn.

A solar-powered light-emitting diode allows drivers to see bends and other hazards up to 1,000 yards ahead, 10 times further than traditional cats eyes.

It gives them up to 30 seconds to react, compared with just 3.2 seconds now.

The new-style stud is the brainchild of former fireman Martin Dicks, who hit upon the idea while commuting to work in London.

“When I came across fog on the A1 it spurred me on to try to do my bit to help prevent road crashes,” said Mr Dicks.

He made his first working version in 2000, and they have now been installed on more than 100 stretches of road in this country as well as in the US, South Africa, the Netherlands and Australia.

Until now, one of the biggest drawbacks has been the cost. But a new version has been produced that is a third cheaper, at around �25 each.

The original reflective cat’s eye stud was invented in the 1930s by Yorkshireman Percy Shaw, whose contribution to road safety was recognised in 1965 with an OBE.

Although the new studs still cost more than a standard �8 cat’s eye, they have been shown to last considerably longer and more authorities are expected to install them after they were given Department of Transport approval.

Mr Dicks has since sold Astucia, the company he set up to produce them, but is still involved as a consultant.

A spokesman said: “Martin is rightly recognised as one of the true visionaries in this vital field of road safety.

His contribution is at least as great as that of Percy Shaw.

“The latest generation of the SolarLite road studs marks a significant step forward in technology from the traditional reflective cat’s eye.”

Source: Daily Express website 29/11/07 Graham Hiscott

Any comments from members of BADDIA (Bedford and District Driving Instructors Association) in Bedford? Country road driving on a driving lesson in the dark would be much better! I believe similar cat’s eyes have been used on the A603 on the double bend between Moggerhanger and Willington.

Drug-driving older women are a bigger menace on Britain’s roads than young “dopeheads” behind the wheel, according to Europe’s drug experts.

They say studies across Europe reveal that more often than not drug drivers identified in random police stops turn out to be middle-aged or elderly women who have taken a minor prescription tranquilliser such as Valium or Librium and are unaware of the drug’s effect on their driving.

A study published yesterday by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction says there has been increasing concern over the impact of drug driving, with the law being tightened up and penalties increased. But it is only in the last two years that researchers have looked at who is behind the wheel in most drug-driving incidents.

The study cites British research in 2006 which analysed the results from 166 blood samples taken from drivers suspected of being under the influence of drugs. It found that in 101 out of the 166 cases the drugs found were benzodiazepines or tranquillisers such as Valium. In half these cases the problem was compounded by the use of painkillers.

Fifty of the blood samples proved positive for cannabis but the active ingredient, THC, was found in only 18 of these cases.

Paul Griffiths, of the centre, said these results were backed up by similar studies across Europe which showed that drug drivers were more likely to be middle-aged or elderly women who used prescription tranquillisers than young men who had taken cannabis. He said that drugs could double the risk of an accident yet many drove unaware of the effects.

The agency’s study said that of eight recent research reports on drivers killed in road accidents, half said benzodiazepines were the most common drug found.

The police find dealing with drug driving much more difficult than drink driving because there is no reliable objective test, similar to the breath test, to prove that drivers have drugs in their bloodstream.

Instead, the police in Britain are developing an impairment test to be used to see if a drug driver should be prosecuted.

The EU experts say their study shows that “one size fits all” public education campaigns about drug driving are unlikely to work and need to be precisely targeted.

Source: The Guardian website 23/11/07, Alan Travis

Any comments from members of BADDIA (Bedford and District Driving Instructors Association) in Bedford? Do any driving instructors in BADDIA in Bedford have any pupils who they suspect might have taken a drug unknowingly before a driving lesson?

Bedford Driving Instuctors keeping young drivers Safe

Are you a young driver in Bedford?

Choosing a driving school in Bedford will help you become a better driver. Be one of the safe ones!

Find out who young motorists think are bad drivers….

Many young motorists blame other youthful drivers rather than themselves for the high accident rates among novice road users, according to a survey out yesterday.

And nearly half of young motorists aged 17-23 consider themselves “safe drivers” - despite nearly a quarter of young male drivers admitting drinking and driving, the survey from Norwich Union found.

Of the 1,265 young drivers polled…

44% did not consider their peers to be safe on the road and 63% were in favour of tougher measures for young offenders.
Almost a quarter (23%) of male drivers aged 17-23 had driven under the influence of drink or drugs while 44% had got behind the wheel the morning after still affected by drink.

Despite these findings, four in five young drivers felt victimised by the way they were portrayed in the media and 41% felt alienated by high insurance premiums.

Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: “Every day three young drivers are killed or seriously injured on Britain’s roads and last year alone there were more than 42,000 casualties among young drivers aged 17-23.

“Young driver safety is a huge problem and it’s a concern that current messages don’t appear to be getting through to this age group. This new research adds to our understanding of one of the most difficult road safety issues we
face today.”

Sue Rowland, head of the pay-as-you-drive insurance scheme at Norwich Union, said: “Our research provides valuable insights into young driver attitudes and shows that they continue to see the driving test as a means to an end, rather than the first stage of the long process of learning to drive.”

Don’t become a statistic….visit www.baddia.co.uk and book with a Professional driving instructor in Bedfordsire area.

Plans to increase penalty points for speeding motorists could “criminalise” a large section of the UK’s workforce, driving instructors have warned. The Driving Instructors Democratic Union said the government proposals could also lead to many people losing their jobs.

Richard Grindrod of the union said the plan needed more consideration.

He called for more speed patrols and clearer road signs as a better way of changing bad habits.

Under the plans, people driving at 45mph or above in a 30mph limit could receive a fixed penalty of six points and a �100 fine.

Those caught doing 70mph in a 50mph zone or 94mph in a 70mph zone would face the same sanction.

Doubling penalty points could have the effect of causing many of them to lose their jobs Richard Grindrod

The existing flat rate for speeding is three points on a licence and a �60 fine.

The Department for Transport is launching a consultation within the next few months, with the findings expected next year.

But Mr Grindrod said there were other ways of dealing with the problem of speeding motorists.

“Drivers forced to take speed awareness courses after a first speeding offence are generally fairly typical motorists,” he said.

“Doubling penalty points could have the effect of causing many of them to lose their jobs, with a devastating impact on their families and also on industry and the economy.

“Good policing, better intelligence and planning from local authorities in designing speed enforcement systems must play a major part in solving the speeding problem.”

The union also called on the government to introduce better road knowledge education in schools, to re-educate drivers for any first motoring offence and to confiscate vehicles of persistent offenders.

The government has a target of reducing deaths and serious injuries on the roads by 40% by 2010 compared with the average figure for the mid-1990s.

Source: BBC News website 19/11/07

Any comments from members of BADDIA (Bedford & District Driving Instructors Association) in Bedford? My own personal opinion as a local driving instructor working in the Bedford area, and not necessarily the opinion of BADDIA, is that if I can keep to the speed limits so can everyone else. The people who speed think the law does not apply to them so they should accept their punishment. If this keeps them off the road then, good, they will soon learn their lesson and the roads will be safer.

CHICAGO A large red octagonal sign reading “STOP” may seem an unambiguous road instruction. But so concerned was the mayor of the Chicago suburb of Oak Lawn about motorists not stopping at junctions that he customised his own signs.

“I thought it might make people smile and take notice,” Dave Heilmann said after he had 50 humorous signs put up. “You’ve got people on their cell phones, their BlackBerries and iPods while driving.

Those are all distractions. Hopefully, when they see a sign they’re not expecting it might make them stop.”

The town council’s website is seeking suggestions for future signs. Slogans on those already in place include: “STOP . . . right there pilgrim” and “STOP . . . really, you gotta stop”. It is too soon to say whether the scheme will work. At the unveiling ceremony a motorist was seen to ignore a stop sign directly behind Mr Heilmann.

Source: The Times Online website 15/11/07

Any suggestions for STOP signs in the Bedford area from members of BADDIA (Bedford & District Driving Instructors Association)??? Keep it clean please!

Young drivers were put to the test in a RoadSkill accident awareness course.

The free Sunday session, held by Luton and District Driving Schools Association (LADDSA) at Luton’s Studley Road Fire Station, was aimed at new motorists aged 17 to 25.

It highlighted the dangers of irresponsible and careless driving and aimed at improving road safety of new and inexperienced young drivers, increasing knowledge, skills and driving ability.

Presentations were given by the emergency services, driving instructors and Luton Borough Council road safety officers, and an interactive presentation showing the results of irresponsible and dangerous driving was included in the day.

Emergency rescue workers told of their own personal experiences in dealing with road accidents.

And the youngsters were given information on the effects of drugs and alcohol on driving ability and control, as well as a question and answer session about the primary causes of collisions and how to improve driving concentration.

Information was also given on basic car maintenance and a unique advanced driver test.

There will be another such event in March, 2008.

Source: Luton Today website 14/11/07

Any comments from members of BADDIA (Bedford & District Driving Instructors Association) in Bedford? I helped to marshall the event bringing a pupil, Alistair, from Wootton with me who commented: -”Definitely worth the trip, very informative day, learnt a great deal from the lecturers which will, I am sure, have an effect on my driving.”

Ben Webster, Transport Correspondent, The Times Twice as many people die on rural roads as on urban ones, and inexperienced, reckless young drivers are one of the main reasons for the difference, a study has found.

The findings come as the Government prepares to publish proposals for restrictions on young drivers, including a much longer training period, tougher tests and possibly limits on how many passengers they can carry and on driving late at night.

The study commissioned by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) reveals that drivers aged 17 to 25 are twice as likely to have crashes causing death or serious injury on rural roads as those aged 60 and over.

Young drivers are twice as likely as the average motorist to be involved in serious crashes in which three or more car occupants are killed or injured.

Of the nine people killed on the roads on an average day in Britain, six die on rural roads. Per mile travelled, a driver is more than three times as likely to be killed on a rural road as on an urban one.

The findings suggest that road safety policy, which concentrates resources on reducing the risk on residential roads and high streets, is focusing on the wrong area.

The IAM report is based on casualty figures from 2000 to 2005, in which more than 20,000 people died on the roads and 200,000 were injured.

Men are far more likely than women to be involved in serious crashes on rural roads. Men account for 72 per cent of car occupants killed or seriously injured, 66 per cent of pedestrians, 85 per cent of cyclists and 95 per cent of motorcyclists.

The report shows that pedestrians who ignore the Highway Code by walking with their backs to the traffic — rather than facing it — double their risk of being killed or injured.

The report challenges the perception that the risk is much higher at night and in the rain. Two thirds of deaths on rural roads happen during the day in fine weather.

Half of all deaths occur on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, probably because of urban drivers going into the countryside on unfamiliar roads. The most marked contrast is in Wales, where there are 50 per cent more deaths on Sundays than weekdays. The findings also lend support to the campaign by road safety groups to reduce the default 60mph limit on rural roads. Three quarters of serious crashes in rural areas occur on 60mph and 70mph roads.

Neil Greig, the director of the IAM Motoring Trust, said that the Government should set targets for reducing rural road deaths.

“Rural authorities have smaller populations and less political power to force the necessary improvements to their longer road networks,” he said.

“An imminent government consultation on revised driver training and testing is — literally — a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to equip drivers and riders to cope with rural dangers.”

Brake, the road safety charity, called for a late-night curfew for novice drivers and restrictions on carrying young passengers.

A spokesman said: “Too many drivers — particularly younger drivers — treat rural roads like personal race tracks, frequently leading to horrific crashes with multiple victims. The Government must take action to tackle this carnage. We need high-profile campaigns on the importance of slowing down on rural roads and speed limits lowered where roads are winding and narrow or pass by houses.”

The number of insurance claims made by drivers aged 18 to 23 dropped by 30 per cent when they signed up to a Norwich Union pay-by-the-mile policy that charged them a much higher rate for driving late at night.

The Department for Transport said that it was likely to publish a consultation document on reforms to driver training early in the new year.

Source: The Times Online website 13/11/07

Do any driving instructors in Bedford or members of BADDIA (Bedford & District Driving Instructors Association) care to comment?