Two fraudsters who made cash out of taking peoples driving tests for them have both been jailed.

Source:  www.dsa.gov.uk

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has welcomed the sentences handed to two impersonators who illegally sat theory and practical driving tests for up to 43 cheat candidates in return for cash.

Following a detailed investigation conducted by DSA investigators and Greater Manchester Police, the impersonators were arrested at their homes in July 2008 and charged with conspiracy to defraud.

The pair pleaded guilty to the charge at Manchester City Crown Court and were given three year and one year jail sentences.

The pair, both from Manchester, carried out the fraudulent tests across Cheshire and elsewhere between February 2006 and June 2008. They conducted theory tests at Salford, Runcorn, Preston, Stockport, St. Helen’s and Ilford in Essex, as well as practical tests in Sale, Oldham, Bury, Cheetham Hill, Failsworth, and Redditch in Worcestershire.

A number of driving test candidates have been arrested in connection with the investigation and received police cautions. DSA will be seeking to revoke all licences obtained by illegal means.

DSA is committed to the prosecution of offenders in order to preserve public safety on the roads and the integrity of the driving test procedure.

Michelle Moston, Deputy Head of DSA’s Fraud and Integrity Team, said: “We are very pleased with today’s results because they reflect the seriousness of the crime.  People  who impersonate at driving tests, present a real risk to all road users, as they provide an entitlement to drive to those who have not been assessed to show that they are competent to do so.

“In addition to obtaining the qualification to drive, many people seek possession of a full UK driving licence to establish proof of identity. Once obtained, that licence may also be used as proof of identity in a variety of other circumstances, such as obtaining state benefits and accommodation, opening bank accounts, obtaining credit cards and even undertaking domestic air travel.”

DSA investigates all reported cases of fraud surrounding the driving test procedure and works closely with the police and criminal justice agencies to identify offenders and bring them to court.

 

 Comments please from driving instructors and driving schools who are BADDIA (Bedford and District Driving Instructors Association) members giving driving lessons, Pass Plus, a2om BTEC in Driving Science, advanced lessons, automatic lessons, disabled lessons, towing lessons, refresher courses, motorway lessons, fleet training, instructor training, in preparation for driving tests or driver improvement in the Bedford area

Hampshire County Councils Village 30 project, is an ongoing community scheme to reduce speed.

Source:   http://www.roadsafe.com/

Revised Department for Transport (DfT) guidance (Setting Local Speed Limits DfT Circular 01/2006) makes it clear that ‘villages should have comparable speed limits to similar roads in urban areas’ meaning that a 30mph limit should be the norm in villages.

Community evidence was required and many residents outlined reasons including the strength of feeling expressed for reduced limits, particular dangers that exist for the village due to the nature of the road, their fears and concerns as a community.

A Choose 30 high profile publicity campaign has been created to support the programme.

The only real indicator of its’ effectiveness at this stage has been speed monitoring, initial results show there has been a 9% reduction in mean speeds. A study by the Transport Research Laboratory shows that for every 1 mph reduction in average speed there will be a 5% reduction in injury accidents.

Ultimately Hampshire’s drivers are likely to live in villages which are part of the scheme, and over time with education and publicity they’ll understand and enjoy the benefits of reduced limits on roads that were once faster, and drive accordingly boosting the success of Village 30.

 

 Comments please from driving instructors and driving schools who are BADDIA (Bedford and District Driving Instructors Association) members giving driving lessons, Pass Plus, a2om BTEC in Driving Science, advanced lessons, automatic lessons, disabled lessons, towing lessons, refresher courses, motorway lessons, fleet training, instructor training, in preparation for driving tests or driver improvement in the Bedford area

New proposals to allow councils to put in place 20 mph schemes over groups of streets without the need for traffic calming measures such as speed humps were announced today by Road Safety Minister Paul Clark.

The Government is encouraging local councils to introduce 20 mph schemes into residential streets and other roads where cycle and pedestrian traffic is high, such as around schools, shops and parks. 

In the past, councils wanting to implement 20 mph schemes on groups of roads  have had to do so in ‘zones’ which require traffic calming measures such as speed humps. 20 mph limits without traffic calming were only recommended on individual roads.

However, following a successful city-wide trial in Portsmouth which suggested it is possible to significantly reduce speeds on residential streets without speed humps or other traffic calming measures, the Department for Transport plans to allow 20mph limits to be used across more streets where traffic speeds are already low without the need for such measures.

Paul Clark said:

“The number of people killed and seriously injured on Britain’s roads has fallen by 40% since the mid-1990s and Britain now has the joint safest roads in the world.  But too many pedestrians and cyclists – including many children – are still being killed or hurt on the roads around their homes and schools.

“We have seen that 20 mph zones with traffic calming measures can make a real difference to the safety of local roads. But we’ve also looked at the latest research and listened to councils and residents who want to introduce 20mph limits on a series of roads where physical traffic calming measures aren’t possible or practical.  

“Allowing councils to put in place 20 mph speed limits on more streets without speed humps or chicanes will mean that they can introduce them at a lower cost and with less inconvenience to local residents.”

Last week a report published in the British Medical Journal found that 20 mph zones in London had led to a dramatic reduction in the number of accidents in those areas and called for more 20 mph zones and limits to be put in place.

The Government is also reiterating its call for councils to carry out speed limit reviews of their rural roads by 2011, focussing on National Speed Limit single carriageway ‘A’ and ‘B’ roads where 41% of fatalities occur. Local authorities should consider reducing the limit on the most dangerous roads where this will have a significant impact on casualties. These decisions remain entirely for local authorities to make based on their knowledge of local roads.

The Department for Transport is seeking the views of local councils on these proposals in order to allow new guidance to be published at the earliest available opportunity.

Source:

http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=409648&SubjectId=2

 

Comments please from driving instructors and driving schools who are BADDIA (Bedford and District Driving Instructors Association) members giving driving lessons, Pass Plus, a2om BTEC in Driving Science, advanced lessons, automatic lessons, disabled lessons, towing lessons, refresher courses, motorway lessons, fleet training, instructor training, in preparation for driving tests or driver improvement in the Bedford area

 

Although the perils of drinking and driving are well known to motorists following years of public information on the matter, some motorists still take chances and some are unaware of the true extent of the morning after effect.

Bedford driving instructors are sharing the following information to remind motorists of the law pertaining to the UK and to offer some helpful sources of information.

The legal limit is stated clearly in the highway code rule 95 available here.  However not drinking at all when needing to drive is strongly recommended.  Drinking within the limit will still impair a driver’s performance, such as reaction time, with potentially disasterous consequences.

Many drivers will already know that the penalties associated with breaking the law on drinking and driving are severe.  The highway code includes a summary available here.

It is also worth noting that many European countries have a lower legal limit e.g. 50 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.  If you are going abroad you are advised to check the regulations for the countries you are planning to visit.

Regarding the morning after effect.  Many drivers fall foul of the law through not realising just how long it takes for the body to dissipate alcohol.  This problem is exacerbated by the fact that many familiar drinks now have a higher alcohol content than may have been the case a few years back.

There is practical guidance available at the morning after web site available here.  There is a lot of useful advice available at this web site however it is a guide only.  Clearly the ultimate responsibility for determining fitness to drive rests with the driver themselves.

We hope this information is helpful to drivers.  The summary is if you’re unsure about your fitness to drive then do refrain and please don’t take any chances.

Comments please from driving instructors and driving schools who are BADDIA (Bedford and District Driving Instructors Association) members giving driving lessons, Pass Plus, a2om BTEC in Driving Science, advanced lessons, automatic lessons, disabled lessons, towing lessons, refresher courses, motorway lessons, fleet training, instructor training, in preparation for driving tests or driver improvement in the Bedford area