The driving age will effectively rise to 18 in a major overhaul of how young people are prepared for the road.

Learners will still be granted their provisional licence from 17, but will need a year to pass a beefed-up test.

It means the minimum age at which a new driver could realistically go out on his or her own will be 18.

The move follows a Daily Mail campaign, backed by the insurance industry, road safety campaigners and motoring groups, to raise the formal driving age to 18 to help cut accidents caused by young drivers.

Road safety figures show that one in five new drivers aged between 17 to 19 crash within a year of passing their test. But for 17-year-olds the risk reduces by 43 per cent after the first year of driving.

The new structure, to be unveiled by ministers in a consultation document published in the New Year, will put more emphasis on issues such as avoiding reckless behaviour, hazard perception, “over-confidence and other failings”.

Candidates will have to master key skills of the current driving test - including parallel parking, reversing around a corner and the three-point turn - before they are allowed to take a new practical L-test, which they must pass to secure their full licence. Each mastered key skill will be signed off by a qualified instructor in a log book.

This will leave the examiner in the driving test to concentrate on more ’safety-critical’ issues, such as dealing with junctions, roundabouts and moving traffic.

The test, which will be harder than the current one, will include elements such as driving on a dual carriageway and turning right at a busy junction.

The learning process will also aim to give candidates experience of ‘real world’ driving on high-speed roads and at night.

Learner drivers will spend up to 500 hours mastering the key skills.

Experts say candidates currently spend 100 hours behind the wheel before taking their tests.

“This way the Government can effectively raise the driving age to 18 without having to specifically legislate,’ Whitehall sources said.

“It will take most people at least a year to be signed off by a qualified instructor on all the skills they need to master before taking the tougher L-test.”

A few drivers “with the skills of a Lewis Hamilton” may qualify to take the practical test, and secure a full licence, in less than a year, say Whitehall insiders. But they will be the exception rather than the rule.

The campaign to restrict young drivers – which also calls for tougher sentences for those who cause fatal crashes – follows a moving plea from Elizabeth Davidson, whose 26-year-old daughter was killed last year by a teenage driver.

Margaret Davidson’s car was hit by 19-year-old Nolan Haworth at 70mph in a 50mph zone as he raced to court, while banned, to answer a charge of affray.

In September last year he was jailed for just four years after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

During the trial, Mrs Davidson moved the judge to tears by describing the devastation to her life caused by the death of her daughter, a doctor.

The restructuring of the driving test system will apply to all two million candidates a year of all ages.

The consultation will look at whether to insist on a given number of compulsory lessons with a qualified instructor.

Affordability will be a key issue, with those from poorer backgrounds currently often relying on free tuition from family and friends.

MPs have called for a ‘zero’ drink-drive limit of 20g per 100ml of blood for novice drivers - similar to that for air crews - compared to the current standard drink-drive limit of 80mg/100ml.

The Government says it will look at this under a separate review of the drink-drive limit.

But ministers see difficulties enforcing it as police would not be sure which limit applied to drivers they stopped.

MPs have also called on the Government to prohibit new drivers from carrying passengers aged ten to 20 between 11pm and 5pm.

The Government rejected this in 2002. But it will consider again the ‘practicality and likely effectiveness’ of the measures.

Recent research has shown that young drivers’ brains are ‘too immature’ to drive safely.

The frontal lobe - which controls emotion, risk-taking and decision making - is not fully developed until the age of 25.

And studies of driver attitudes show young motorists are more likely to drive for the pleasure of thrill-seeking, and feelings of pride, power and confidence.

Source: This is London website 27/12/07

Any comments from driving instructors who are members of BADDIA (Bedford and District Driving Instructors Association) giving driving lessons in Bedford and surrounding area?

Many motorists have a trifling attitude to the amount of alcohol in Christmas food, a recent survey showed.

Sherry trifle and Christmas pudding can have as much as 2.7 units of alcohol in them, with a typical Irish coffee having about half this amount. Yet people often forget about food when calculating whether they are fit to drive.The survey of 1,014 adults, showed:

About 300 million units of alcohol will be drunk on Christmas Day alone;

78 per cent of motorists will be socialising – drinking at least once or twice a week throughout the month of December;

57 per cent will drink in excess of three alcohol units every time they socialise, with 20 per cent drinking on three or four occasions a week;

58 per cent will tuck into Christmas pudding, 29 per cent will have at least one portion of sherry trifle and 18 per cent will down Irish coffees;

Only 8 per cent could correctly identify the amount of time it takes for a unit of alcohol to be fully digested and leave the bloodstream.

Source: Yorkshire Post website 06/12/07

Some advice for driving instructors who are members of BADDIA (Bedford and District Driving Instructors Association) giving driving lessons in Bedford: - Go easy on the mince pies! A Happy Christmas to all our readers.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL DRIVERS AND LEARNER DRIVERS IN BEDFORD

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING SAFETY ADVICE CAREFULLY

BADDIA endorses this advice and ask you to spread the word to ANY drivers you know.

—————

The Crime Reduction Office at Greyfriars has received a number of calls and emails about this subject in recent weeks. It would seem an email is going around (apparently endorsed by Dorset Police) regarding lone female drivers and being pulled over by unmarked police cars. In general, the advice is sound - however the area of concern is the statement is as follows:

“…So now it’s your turn to let your friends know about 112 (112 is an emergency number on your mobile that takes you straight to the police because 999 does not work if you have no signal) .”

This is not the case. Please take time to read the following press release and bear in mind should you be asked the same question…

London Transport and mobile firms are warning people about an e-mail spreading rapidly containing inaccurate safety information.

The message claims that passengers on the London Tube system can contact emergency services via a satellite signal from their mobiles underground. Mobiles do not work in the London Underground, and satellite signals cannot reach there either. A Vodafone spokesperson said it had had numerous enquiries about the “hoax”.

“This e-mail is incorrect. The 112 number does link people through to 999, but it only works if you have a signal on your mobile phone. If you have no signal bars on your phone, it will not work,” a spokesperson from London Transport said. “It will not divert to a satellite signal.”

“Even with a satellite mobile phone (which very few people have), you would need to have a clear line-of-sight to the satellite. You would have to be outside, not in a building or a tube tunnel.”

A Vodafone spokesperson told the BBC News website that, at a time of heightened tension and security fears on the Underground system following the recent bomb attacks, it was clear people wanted to pass on useful information. But, he added, people unthinkingly pass on e-mails without analysing the information contained in it.

“By forwarding false information they can panic people and also create vast amounts of work for people who have to deal with it and enquiries about it,” he said.

Although the 112 number is indeed the European-wide standard number that will connect people to emergency services wherever they are in Europe, it is not accessible from mobiles underground in London.

A spokesperson from mobile operator Orange reiterated that if you do not have a signal on your mobile you simply cannot make a call.

If you are not in the Underground system and do not have a signal from your network operator, emergency calls can be made as your phone will automatically detect the next available network.

Orange and Vodafone both added that the line in the e-mail which says: “ALL phone companies have signed up” to some sort of satellite link up service was also inaccurate. Vodafone said that often “hoax” e-mails contain accurate information, such as the 112 number’s existence, to attempt to add credibility to the mail.

It is unknown however, whether the e-mail has been devised as a hoax, intended to misguide people, or whether it is a result of misunderstood mobile technology.

“The e-mail originates either from ignorance or malicious intent, but the bottom line is that recipients should ignore its content and should resist the urge to pass on this information to others,” Daniel Hepner, from web monitoring firm SurfControl, told the BBC News website. Either someone is attempting to cause confusion amongst commuters, or they have a very sick sense of humour. It’s possible that it could stem from an individual that is unaware of the misinformation, but in the current climate all such e-mails will be treated with suspicion,” he said.

Shortly after the bomb attacks in London, e-mail hoaxers tried to disrupt a campaign, In Case of Emergency (ICE), which aimed to get people to store next-of-kin details in their mobile phones. The hoaxers claimed that the campaign was in fact a mobile phone virus. A further e-mail hoax circulated warning Underground travellers of further imminent attacks.

“The ‘In Case of Emergency’ virus hoax has heightened people’s suspicions over this kind of traffic, and it is important that we all exercise caution before disseminating these messages further,” said Mr Hepner.

Ten of the worst drivers in Britain spend a week at the Last Chance Driving School, taught by the best driving instructors in the country. Between them, the learners have failed 55 driving tests. The eldest has been trying to learn to drive for 22 years, while another has spent more than �10,000 on driving lessons. The instructors work on the principle that 10 per cent of driving is skill, and the rest is down to the attitude of the drivers. With immense patience and the help of computerised personality programming, they try to get inside the heads of these hopeless cases, who prove not-so-hopeless after all.

Source: The Times Online website 19/12/07, David Chater

If only the pupils had used driving instructors from BADDIA (Bedford and District Driving Instructors Association) in Bedford to begin with…..!!!

We are sorry to tell you that, in May this year, Pearson Driving Assessments Limited, (part of the Pearson group of companies), a private contractor to the Driving Standards Agency informed us that a hard disk drive had gone missing from Pearson’s secure facility in America where Pearson processes information relating to the driving test. The hard disk drive contained the records of candidates for the driving theory test from September 2004 until April this year.

The records contained on the hard disk drive were: the name of test applicants; their postal address; their telephone number; the test fee paid; their theory test centre; a code indicating how the test was paid for; and, where provided, an email address. The drive did not contain details of any individual’s bank account or credit card. It did not contain their driving licence number, nor their National Insurance Number. It did not contain their date of birth, nor a copy of their signature, and it did not contain the result of their test.

We can tell you that Pearson has informed the Agency that the hard disk drive was formatted “specifically to fit Pearson configuration and as such is not readily usable and/or accessible for third parties”. Pearson has also confirmed that there is no external indication of the drive’s contents.

We regret the loss and apologise unreservedly to customers for the uncertainty and concern they may have. We also want to say that Pearson are issuing their own apology.

The Information Commissioner advised on 14 December that he is concerned about any security breach – especially where large numbers of individuals are concerned. However, he recognises that the risks are lower where the personal data does not include banking or credit card details and where security safeguards were in place to protect the data from third party access. He has also indicated that this case does not appear to present a substantial risk to large numbers of individuals.

But if you are concerned and would like to speak to an advisor, please ring our special advice line free of charge on 0800 0150286. The line is open until 10.00 pm on Monday 17 December and from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm on Tuesday 18 December until Friday 21 December.

Rosemary Thew
Chief Executive
DSA

Brendan Magee
Chief Executive
DVA

17 December 2007

Source: Driving Standards Agency (DSA) website 17/12/07

Any comments from driving instructors who are members of BADDIA (Bedford and District Driving Instructors Association) giving driving lessons in Bedford?

Many motorists are far too cool about clearing ice and frost from windscreens.

Some of those who do make attempts to de-ice vehicles go about it the wrong way, with CDs and even potatoes used, a survey by RAC Auto Windscreens found.

More than two in five of the 1,080 motorists questioned do not always wait for all their windscreen and side windows to be clear before driving off.

A total of 2.6 per cent have had an accident because their windscreen was not cleared, while 1.9 per cent have failed to see a pedestrian crossing the road because of an impaired view.

Britons spend an average of only seven minutes clearing their windscreens on a winter’s day.

Of those who do make the effort:

Almost half help out car thieves by leaving the engine running to defrost their vehicle while they stay inside the house.

A quarter of men, and a third of women, have poured boiling water on their windscreen, running the risk of cracks in the glass

One in seven motorists in the UK, and just under a third of Londoners, have raided their kitchens for implement like knives to scrape off the ice.

More than 10 per cent have used a CD or DVD to de-ice a windscreen.

One respondent to the survey even admitted to making do with a potato.

Chris Bonsall, technical manager at RAC Auto Windscreens, said: “At this time of the year we see a significant rise in call-outs to fix cracked windscreens that have been carelessly damaged by motorists’ lack of care.

“I can’t believe that so many British motorists will drive off and risk getting points on their licence, or even be involved in an accident, rather than spend 10 minutes clearing their windscreen.”

Meanwhile, motorists could be doubling their risk of a winter accident simply by driving home for Christmas, the RAC Foundation said.

Government figures showed that road users in London were twice as likely to be involved in a serious accident than those in South East and South West, the foundation added.

The statistics also revealed that Worcestershire is the safest county for motoring, followed by Hertfordshire, Warwickshire, Hampshire and Devon.

The areas with the highest rate of road users killed or seriously injured in 2006 were: 1. Greater London; 2. East Sussex; 3. Isle of Wight; 4. Lancashire; 5. North Yorkshire.

The foundation’s campaigns head Sheila Rainger said: “Christmas is traditionally a time to visit friends and family, but motorists must expect the unexpected and be aware that not all parts of the UK are equal when it comes to road safety.

“Many motorists will be tired after the pre-holiday rush at work, and driving with too many things on their mind, leading to increased speeds, inattention and poor hazard perception.”

Source: The Yorkshire Post website, 17/12/07

Any comments from driving instructors who are members of BADDIA (Bedford and District Driving Instructors Association) giving driving lessons in the Bedford area?

Silverstone Circuit was in the international spotlight again on Tuesday (11 December), winning a major international road safety award for its part in the hugely successful Northamptonshire County Council and Northamptonshire Police led CarKraft Young Driver Improvement Scheme.

Silverstone has been the main venue for ‘CarKraft’ and its sister schemes, ‘BikeKraft’ and ‘CarKraft Drive 16′, since the campaign, aimed at reducing the number of young people killed or seriously injured on the county’s roads, was introduced.

Steve Deeks, a senior instructor at Silverstone and the circuit’s ‘CarKraft’ co-ordinator, was delighted to join the ‘CarKraft’ team at the Savoy Hotel, London, for the 20th Annual Road Safety Awards, presented by HRH Prince Michael of Kent, patron of the Awards and many other worthwhile motoring charities. ‘CarKraft’, largely the brainchild of safety campaigner PC John Spencer, caters for Northamptonshire’s young drivers in the highest risk 17-24 age bracket. Participants taking part in the cost-free day are trained and educated in an exciting and engaging environment at Silverstone - the world famous home of the British Grand Prix – benefiting from a combination of classroom theory and practical driving and skills sessions. Inevitably over-subscribed, the award winning scheme has been partly funded by monies raised from safety camera fines, and is now nationally recognised as THE blueprint for young driver education.

‘CarKraft’ won the prestigious Commendation Award ahead of more than two hundred other nominations, much to the delight of the proud and enthusiastic team that was present at the awards ceremony.

Silverstone ‘CarKraft’ presenter and co-ordinator Steve Deeks, said: “Silverstone is proud of its part in this ground breaking scheme. John and his dedicated team from Northants Police and Northamptonshire County Council have managed to reduce road related deaths and serious injuries in the county by an amazing 43% in the last four years. ‘CarKraft’, aimed at young drivers in the local community, will ensure that this trend continues in future years.

“At Silverstone we take our responsibility to the local community very seriously. We are able to support schemes such as ‘CarKraft’ with world class resources, facilities, skills and services, and do so on a regular basis. For ‘CarKraft’ in particular our skilled driving instructors; performance vehicles, such as skid control cars; and of course the internal road network that replicates the public highway with uncanny accuracy, all helped with the training provided to the young drivers. With this support and the tireless efforts of PC John Spencer, ‘CarKraft’ has a place at Silverstone for years to come.”

Deeks continued, “as an ex-racing driver myself, I know how serious young driver casualties are in both human and fiscal terms. Young people want to drive - it’s exciting and enabling. Our desire is to get them started on, and at, the right track! At Silverstone we provide a number of training programmes that are designed to help improve people’s skills while driving on the road, including our skid control course, young driver schemes, 4×4 experiences and corporate driving programmes. Our fully qualified instructors are able to take what they have learned on the track and use it to ensure that Northampton’s drivers go away smoother, safer and more confident behind the wheel of a car.”

Deeks concluded, “it’s NOT about speed - it’s about survival and mastering a discipline that most of us practice on a daily basis. And it’s not just for the youngsters, why should they have all the fun!”

Sports Minister Gives Full Support to Silverstone Redevelopment Plans During a visit to Silverstone in November 2007.
Source: Paddock talk website 15/12/07

Any comments from driving instructors belonging to BADDIA (Bedford and District Driving Instructors Association) giving driving lessons in Bedford?

AN ALL-FEMALE driving school in Leeds has had a style transformation from Trinny and Susannah.

TV’s style gurus took on the Kan Kan Female Driving School, run and founded by Beverley Midgley.

As part of the duo’s biggest TV challenge to date – revamping British uniforms, shown on ITV on Tuesday – Trinny and Susannah visit the Drighlington driving school and give the instructors a makeover.

Kan Kan, with their striking black cars covered in pink hearts, which teaches only females, wanted a company uniform that was fashionable and practical.

The bossy duo take the driving instructors to the Victoria Quarter in Leeds and Marks & Spencer in Pudsey. They kit them out in figure-flattering silver and grey with white shirts and practical yet stylish rain macs – all unified with a bright pink scarf.

Mum of three Beverley, 38, runs the business, which has become a successful national franchise in three years, from offices at her Drighlington home. She said: “It was very scary to meet the formidable pair.

“Trinny is so ultra assertive and confident, but they always seem to be right with their style suggestions.

“We all had to strip down to our underwear.

We have so many shapes and sizes in our team of 56 instructors and had to find the perfect fitting uniform for all.

Trinny added: “The whole experience was great because it really made us think of important points like the sense of uniformity but keeping the women as individuals, colours and how important they are, corporate identity and confidence.

“A man in uniform may be every woman’s fantasy, but the reality of Britain’s company attire is far from flattering. From paramedics to traffic wardens, dinner ladies to couriers, the country’s badly dressed workforce need addressing.”

Beverley, who is married to Alistair, who helps out with the ever-growing business, said: “Everyone is delighted with the new uniforms, espeically the pink scarf. All our staff wear them now.”

Trinny and Susannah Undress the Nation is on Tuesday December 18 at 8pm on ITV1.

Source: Yorkshire Evening Post, By Alison Bellamy, website 13/12/07

Any comments from members of BADDIA (Bedford and District Driving Instructors Association) in Bedford? It sounds like one to watch, although BADDIA Committee members will have to record it. I suppose not many males would really want driving lessons in Bedford in black cars with pink hearts!?

A woman, aged 94, who taught herself to drive when she was a child is hanging up her driving gloves after 82 years on the road without a crash.

Muriel Gladwin, from Hereford, took up driving at the age of 12 and has not had the smallest bump or a speeding ticket since, despite clocking up more than 600,000 miles.

She has now decided to let others drive her around, to make sure she does not blemish her perfect record.

“I’ve driven hundreds of thousands of miles and still have a completely clean record, so I’m going to quit while I’m ahead,” Mrs Gladwin said.

“I’m a careful driver and I’ve never had an accident, a parking ticket or made an insurance claim. I think it’s because I always keep my eyes wide open and stick to the rules of the road like glue. If the limit is 40 miles per hour I drive at 40mph, and I always make sure I have my foot at the ready to brake.”

Mrs Gladwin, a former shopkeeper, taught herself to drive in 1925, when she would take her parents’ Model T Ford into the countryside without their knowledge.

Two years later, she left school at the age of 14 to work in the family bakery and took on the role of delivery driver and was given free rein over the company van.

Despite this she did not secure a licence until she was 17. “They did not have lessons or tests in those days and I just took to it naturally.”

The pensioner bought her first vehicle, an Austin 8, in the 1930s. She now owns a Peugeot 106 and a 34-year-old Mini, which she is reluctant to give up.

“I’ve driven all over the country and I’ve never had an accident. There have been a few near misses by other people though,” she said. “I feel dreadful about giving up but the traffic is so bad these days and people do some stupid things. I can’t bear to get rid of my Mini though, I’ll keep it so my son can drive me around.”

The Association of British Insurers said the pensioner’s driving record was admirable. “Mrs Gladwin should be congratulated on a blemish-free record. She must be a very careful and responsible driver,” a spokesman said.

Another of Britain’s oldest drivers also gave up her car this year - at the age of 105.

Sheila Thomson, of Broughty Ferry, near Dundee, quit in September after suffering a slight prang on the way to church. It cost her a 71-year no-claims bonus.

She had been driving for seven decades, despite having never taken a test. “I had never claimed for anything in 70 years of driving and I told the woman from the insurance company so,” said Mrs Thomson.

Highway signposts

1903 Car and driver licences made compulsory.

1930 Formal driving test introduced at cost of 10s (50p). Driving examiners appointed. Minimum driving age set at 17. A 30mph urban driving limit imposed.

1931 First Highway Code published. It advised drivers to sound their horn when overtaking.

1934 Some 1.5 million cars on the road. Now more than 30 million.

1966 The Government set a drink-drive limit at 80mg of alcohol in 100cc of blood.

1967 Breathalyser introduced.

1983 Wearing of seatbelts made compulsory.

Source: The Telegraph website 10/12/07

Any comments from members of BADDIA (Bedford and District Driving Instructors Association) in Bedford? How many driving instructors in Bedford can boast of such a record! This must be a driving lesson to us all.

Why waste money on the latest gimmick this Christmas, when you could buy a present that really shows you care and which may even save the life of your loved one.

Rockingham has launched a new course which allows motorists to learn driving techniques for coping with extreme weather conditions – in their own vehicles.

It is estimated around 60 per cent of all fatal road accidents are caused after a vehicle has begun to skid, yet few drivers know how to regain control safely once grip has been lost.

As part of the Northamptonshire circuit’s driver training programme, which aims to reduce the number of casualties on the UK’s roads, DriveSafe is designed to teach individual drivers to prepare for the unexpected.

The two-hour course is aimed at people of all driving abilities to help them better understand their vehicle capabilities so that they can respond more effectively to a potential emergency situation.

Tuition begins with expert instruction in a theory session, providing participants with the opportunity to learn more about their vehicles and to recognise any possible defects.

They will also gain an understanding of vehicle stability systems and driver aids, such as Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS), Traction Control, and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and how these work to supplement the driver’s own skills.

For the practical part of the course, participants will take their vehicles on to the Wet Grip area, where instructors will advise on how to cope with changing levels of grip on different surfaces, as well as the impact of wet and winter driving conditions.

The Wet Grip area’s hydraulic kick-plate will force vehicles into a sudden skid, testing the driver’s reactions to the full, while the water walls create a random series of obstacles and chicanes to test a driver’s emergency avoidance skills at various speeds.

Charlotte Orton, Rockingham’s Director of Sales & Marketing, said: “The DriveSafe course aims to prepare drivers of all abilities for the unexpected. We encourage the use of their own vehicle so in a real-life emergency they will know exactly what to do and how their car will react.

“A high proportion of accidents are attributed to skidding in bad weather conditions, and further driver training could help to reduce road casualties dramatically.

“DriveSafe provides a great opportunity for drivers of all ages and abilities to experience and understand the potential hazards of everyday driving, in a way they won’t forget, which could potentially save their lives.”

Based around the circuit’s �1.5 million state-of-the-art Wet Grip, DriveSafe is the only course in the UK where motorists can learn accident avoidance methods and develop potential life-saving skills in their own car.

The Wet Grip offers a combination of surfaces which enables the facility to simulate the effects of hazardous driving conditions such as rain, ice and wet leaves.

With its additional hi-tech functions the facilities at Rockingham are more capable of simulating real-life driving conditions – at safe speed – than any other UK venue.

The DriveSafe course costs �175 per person, and can be booked on-line via rockingham.co.uk – the circuit’s official website.

Source: Easier.com motoring website 07/12/07

Any comments from BADDIA (Bedford and District Driving Instructors Association) in Bedford? Any driving instructors going to splash out on this for Christmas?