CHAIRMAN, Paul Burchell and Committee Member, John Rhodes, attended today’s award ceremony at County Hall in Bedford to see Bedfordshire County Council presented with a prestigious Prince Michael International Road Safety Award for their ‘Respect For Life’ course in conjunction with Bedford and District Driving Instructors Association.

Paul and John with Bill Brady, Head of the Road Risk Advisory Unit.

Bedfordshire County Council also won the award for their ‘Passport for Life’ scheme, teaching road safety to young school children, and their School Crossing Patrol Scheme.

THERE is no road rage and no rush hour and just one mini roundabout, down on the pier.

The quiet roads in Gairloch are credited with helping its learner drivers to become the most proficient in the UK

Traffic lights appear only when the council is digging up the road. And the main hazards, if you can call them that, are single-track roads and the occasional sheep asleep in the fast lane.

Welcome to Gairloch, a learner-driver’s haven. This tiny West Coast village (population 1,056) is the top place in the UK for passing your driving test first time.

Figures released by the Driving Standards Agency show that Gairloch has an admirable 71 per cent pass rate at the first attempt. This compares with the lowest figure — 27 per cent — in Heaton, West Yorkshire.

Rural Scotland generally has some of the most proficient drivers, with eight test centres among the top ten in the UK with the highest pass rates. Lerwick, in the Shetland Isles, had a 68 per cent first-time pass rate; while Oban had a rate of 63 per cent; Lochgilphead, Campbeltown and Ballater 62 per cent; and Isle of Tiree and Cupar, Fife, 61 per cent.

English test centres fill all the bottom ten centres for pass rates.

Richard Greene, a local councillor, said: “Obviously we have a very competent local instructor, Jonathon Talloch. Maybe it is the mild temperament … you could say we have no road rage.” Mr Greene said he thought that there was a different mindset when driving in Gairloch, a 150-mile round trip from Inverness. The final four miles of the journey into the village were on single-track road, as were all the local side roads. This, he said, made drivers more aware, cautious and better at anticipating.

A spokesman for the Driving Standards Agency said that the regional variation was due to drivers in some areas being more prepared for their test than others. “The wealthier the area, the more money budding motorists have to spend on lessons,” he said.

Source: The Times Online website by Melanie Reid

The following taken from DSA website quote ‘ 

Statistics Information

The practical test centre pass rate statistics are influenced by a number of factors. It is not necessarily true to say that some test centres are easier than others, as the number and ability of candidates presented for test at any one centre can make a difference statistically.

Socio-economic factors also have a significant bearing on pass rates. The wealthier the town/area, the more likely people are to invest more money in lessons and to have more opportunities for private practice (access to family vehicle(s) etc.). The age and gender of the candidates will also affect the pass rate at the test centre. In general, younger candidates have a higher pass rate, and males have a higher pass rate than females.

DSA is well aware of the variances in pass rates between test centres. We monitor them very closely and, from the ongoing quality assurance work we carry out, we have established that there are acceptable reasons for the differences. Test centres located in conurbations tend to have high throughput and lower pass rates. Those in rural areas tend to have higher pass rates but lower throughput.

When comparing pass/fail statistics, it is important to take account of the differences in location, the deprivation of the local area and the age and gender of the candidates, alongside the number of tests conducted.

‘unquote.

Gairloch has only one test route shown on the DSA website, whereas Bradford (Heaton) has twenty two. Does anyone think that could make a difference?

LEARNER drivers could be spared the ordeal of having to convince a driving examiner of their ability to reverse round a corner or parallel park, under plans being considered by the Tories.

Performing a three-point turn could also disappear from the test under the proposals.

Generations of learner drivers have failed because exam nerves have made them incapable of carrying out these manoeuvres.

Instead, under proposals drawn up by Robert Goodwill, the party’s roads spokesman, these routine tasks would be “signed off” by a qualified driving instructor before the test takes place.

Under the current arrangements, learner drivers have to perform two out of three of these manoeuvres successfully to pass the test.

The Tory proposal would entail all three being completed successfully, but before the test itself.

It would free up 10 minutes from the test itself, which would be dedicated to more time on the road in traffic.

The Tories believe that the young drivers who pose the greatest risk are to be found in the ranks of the overconfident novice motorists who sail through their test, rather than their nervous counterparts.

However the party believes that extra safeguards would be necessary to ensure that instructors do not “sign off” these skills prematurely.

One option would be for “mystery shoppers” to carry out spot-checks on driving schools to make sure that these manoeuvres are being properly assessed.

The Tory initiative comes as the Government is considering the biggest overhaul in the driving test in more than five decades.

Both parties believe an overhaul is necessary to ensure that novice drivers are better qualified to take to the road on their own.

It is estimated that around 300 drivers and passengers are killed by motorists who have passed their test within the previous two years.

Ministers’ plans entail splitting the test into two with the manoeuvres being carried out separately from the rest of the exam and expecting candidates to produce a certificate, signed by their instructor, of their readiness to be examined.

The Tory proposals were given a cautious welcome by Rob Gifford, executive director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety.

“I think this is fine,” he said. “It would enable examiners to focus the test on other key skills such as hazard awareness, journey planning an so on.

“This would be a much better use of time. However the only query I do have is whether it would mean that everyone would have to have some professional tuition.”

Source: Telegraph website, By David Millward, Transport Editor

Check out what the general public think about the proposals in this article on the Telegraph website!

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 in preparation for driving tests or driver improvement in the Bedford area.

ALL of the major English speaking countries in the world, except for the UK, have some form of graduated driving licence.

The schemes are intended to allow new drivers time to build up their skills, confidence and road experience so that they become fully competent behind the wheel.

In New Zealand the scheme is described as “a powerful tool to limit the number of accidents on our roads”.

And in Canada graduated licences have been hailed as a “resounding success in reducing death and injury among novice drivers”.

Graduated licence systems create fixed lengths of time before drivers can advance to the next licensing stage.

Restrictions usually relate to things that have been proven to affect a novice driver’s ability, such as blood-alcohol levels, driving in the dark, or with passengers.

But now, as the Government’s Learn To Drive consultation nears an end, it is expected that recommendations for more pre-test learning will be made, rather than further testing once a licence is granted.

That goes against pleas from the Lancashire Telegraph, the road safety charity Brake and even the influential Commons Transport Select Committee.

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope said that a GDL would work in the UK.

He said: “I hope that the Government has listened during this consultation period and takes heed of what is said.

“The number of young people dying on our roads, especially here in East Lancashire, is far too high and the range of imaginative and workable ideas that form the Wasted Lives campaign deserve to be listened to.

“They have the support of the police and the support of the majority of the public.

“Similar schemes have worked elsewhere in the world and that cannot be ignored.”

The Telegraph’s Wasted Lives campaign has called for a two-part driving test to be introduced to include a series of modules that must be passed before sitting the Part One test.

Then, after a minimum of one year has passed, a Part Two test can be sat. Between passing the two tests a motorist must prove their ability to drive in a number of different circumstances, including night-time and motorway experience.

After passing Part Two a driver will still be limited to a car of no more than 100bhp for two years, will not be allowed to carry any passengers aged between 10 and 25 except family members and in an emergency.

Other recommendations include the immediate loss of a driving licence if a driver under 25 is caught doing more than 10mph over the speed limit.

This echoes what has been happening across the world for years.

In New Zealand a multi-stage graduated driving licence was introduced as long ago as August 1987. Learners cannot pass their test until they have six months of experience behind the wheel and then they can only possess a restricted licence which they must hold for 18 months.

In the USA to address the high fatality rate among teenage drivers, most states have adopted one or more elements of a GDL system. Many include restrictions on carrying passengers.

In Canada a two-step licensing process takes at least 20 months to complete.

Pendle MP Gordon Prentice said: “What I want and what the Telegraph wants and what the people of East Lancashire want are graduated licences, and restrictions on novice motorists.

“The statistics make it clear that many young male drivers are a danger to themselves and other road users.”

In New Zealand restricted licence holders must not drive between 10pm and 5am unless accompanied by a supervisor and cannot carry passengers (apart from spouses and dependents) unless they have a fully qualified adult with them. A second, more advanced test is in place, which focuses on higher order driving skills such as hazard perception, and restrictions are then lifted.

A spokesperson for New Zealand’s Ministry of Transport said: “Overall there has been a reduction in the number of 15-24 year old drivers involved in crashes since 1985.

“The system is seen as a powerful tool to limit the number of accidents on our roads.”

A 2002 study, by the Injury Prevention Research Unit in New Zealand, found that young people were reasonably accepting of the restrictions, although they did not like having passenger limits placed upon them.

In the US, a graduated system was first introduced in Florida in 1996. To address high fatality rates among teenage drivers, most states have since adopted one or more elements.

In California after passing a practical test and receiving a provisional licence, the holder must not drive between midnight and 5am for the first year and must not carry passengers under the age of 20 for the first six months. A full licence can be applied for at 18.

The NHTSA study on California reported a 20 per cent reduction in at-fault fatal and injury crashes for 16-year-old drivers, and a 21 per cent reduction in deaths and injuries amongst teenage passengers of 16-year-old drivers.

A rigorous graduated licensing scheme was introduced in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, in 2000.

NSW drivers must pass three different stages over a period of four years before they get a full, unrestricted licence.

Throughout this process they must notch up a certain number of hours behind the wheel, are subject to varying speed restrictions and must not only pass a practical test but also two theory exams based on hazard perception and safety knowledge.

In 2004, the year after the drivers undergoing the new process became fully qualified, the fatality figure of 510 was the lowest recorded since 1947.

The figure dropped again in 2005 to 508 fatalities, and the number of people seriously injured also fell from 26,323 to 25,209.

British road safety charity Brake said that about one in eight UK licence holders was aged 25 or under, yet more than a quarter of motorists killed are from this age group.

The charity believes the introduction of a graduated licence system would change these statistics.

A spokesperson for Brake said: “Urgent measures are needed to improve the road safety of young drivers.

“Brake would like to see the introduction of graduated licensing to help prevent the tragic deaths of teenagers on our roads.”

Source: The Lancashire Telegraph website, by David Watkinson 

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

NEW Three Counties Radio interview today!.

View BBC Look East interview to see BADDIA Chairman, Paul Burchell and BADDIA Secretary, Pat Zanghi give their views on this important issue, Paul also appears on ITV Anglia News in an interview with Emma Baker.

Click here to view the ITVAnglia News item.

Click here to view the BBC Look East News item. 

Paul has also done interviews on BBC 3 Counties Radio and Chiltern Radio.  The interview on BBC 3 Counties can be heard on their website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/mainframe.shtml?http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/three.shtml

Let us hope that common sense will prevail.  Please keep those blog comments coming in!

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

AFTER FIVE years’ planning, the Driving Standards Agency today announces its ‘eco-safe’ driving campaign: instructors will begin teaching new techniques that will eventually allow examiners to judge the environmental impact of a student’s driving. At the end of the test, students will be told how they can better cut vehicle emissions, save fuel and save money.

Paul Helbing, a driving instructor of 26 years, said that he was going to teach me a new way of driving.

Mr Helbing told me to drive in my normal style. What he did not know was that I can barely drive, let alone with style.

I stall at roundabouts, I rev to high heaven on hill starts, and I have trouble steering in a straight line.

“Well,” Mr Helbing said after 20 minutes of my efforts, as he wiped the sweat from his brow, “we can all improve.” “You won’t take away my licence, will you?” I asked nervously.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think I can,” Mr Helbing replied. “But I’m going to teach you eco-safe driving. With the emphasis on safe. Safety should never be compromised.”

It is a canny campaign. “People tend to look on saving money as the be-all and end-all, especially in the current climate,” said Bob Millard, an assistant chief driving examiner involved in planning the campaign. “You use less fuel, you save the environment, but you also save cash, and that’s something that people really latch on to.”

Trials have shown that drivers use an average of 8 per cent less fuel with eco-safe methods. Newly qualified drivers can save up to 15 per cent.

Focusing on learner drivers provides instructors with a clean slate to work on, Mr Millard said.

Some of the principles of eco-safe driving go against everything an experienced driver may take for granted, said Mr Helbing said: “Brakes used to be so inefficient, you needed to use gears to slow down. The new saying is: ‘Gears are for going; brakes are for slowing’. You should only change your gears when absolutely necessary.”

Mr Helbing has been known to change from fifth gear to first in one swoop of the stick.

Eco-safe driving also advocates judging gaps when approaching roundabouts and junctions, taking your foot off the accelerator and rolling through them without stopping. “If you’re looking for ways to save fuel, you’ll see the hazards well in advance and it makes you a safer driver,” Mr Millard said.

As I attempted another 20-minute drive, this time using eco-safe techniques, Mr Helbing’s hands hovered over the steering wheel. I jumped a red light, went round a country corner in fifth gear, and stalled as I turned into a parking space. Nevertheless, it felt better — smoother, easier and safer.

An eco-calculator on the dashboard showed that I had used 1.49 litres of fuel, half a litre less than my first 20-minute drive. The DSA official in the back seat felt only slightly nauseous. And Mr Helbing did not even break into a sweat.

Source: The Times Online website Hannah Fletcher

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

THE WARNING comes as driving test candidates arriving at the Bedford Driving test centre are now banned from using any of the toilet facilities in the building.

BADDIA chairman, Paul Burchell, described this move as “diabolical and quite possibly an infringement of basic human rights”

The test centre is based on the first floor of Portman House, in Goldington Road, Bedford. But the other occupiers of the three story building claim that the toilets are for their exclusive use and have put a lock on the door of the ground floor toilet, denying access to all but their own employees.

The toilet is a DDA (Disability Discrimination Act), compliant toilet, having a door wide enough for a wheelchair to fit through and hand rails. “But”, says the BADDIA Chairman, “ Just because it is a DDA compliant toilet, does not prohibit access from fully abled people as well. In any case, this isn’t the argument, HMRC, who are the other occupiers of the building claim that this toilet is for their exclusive use”.

Driving test candidates pay in excess of £56 to take a driving test. With approximately 28 car driving tests being carried out each day, this nets the DSA in income in the region of £1,568 per day. “I think, that for this amount, our clients, who are after all tax payers, deserve to be treated with some dignity and respect. I have asked the area MP Patrick Hall to look into this matter, and have also referred the issue to Liberty, the Human Rights organisation as I suspect that this could well be in breach of article 4 of the Human Rights Act 1998”.

        Mr Patrick Hall MP (Labour, Bedford)

Source: Paul Burchell, BADDIA Chairman

Paul Burchell was interview by Chiltern Radio on the subject which was broadcast on this mornings news…..

Be warned that if you are about to take your driving test you will not be able to use the toilet, before you take your driving test.“There have been times when people arrive at the test centre, so nervous that they have been physically sick.”  Well, Driving instructors in Bedford are furious because the test centre on Goldington Road, has closed its only toilet that is available to the public.Paul Burchell from the Bedford and District Driving Instructors Association says it’s not good enough… “If you deliberately deny access to a basic function such as a toilet where that facility actually exists then that has got to be a breach of very basic human rights.”Comments please from driving instructors and driving schools who are BADDIA (Bedford and District Driving Instructors Association) members giving driving lessons, Pass Plus, advanced lessons, automatic lessons, disabled lessons, towing lessons, refresher courses, motorway lessons, fleet training in preparation for driving tests or driver improvement in the Bedford area.

DRIVING instructors from Wellingborough and Rushden are flocking to Kettering to teach learners on the town’s streets in preparation for the opening of a new test centre.

  Example of a Multi Purpose Test Centre, picture from DSA

Kettering’s current driving test centre in Station Road is due to stop car tests on September 18 and end its motorcycle tests and shut its doors for good on September 26. Wellingborough’s driving test centre is also due to shut on September 18.

However, the new £122,000 driving test ‘supercentre‘ in Orion Way, Kettering, will not open for car and motorcycle testing until September 29.

The closure of the Wellingborough centre will mean learner drivers having to pay more because they will not be able to travel to Kettering and have a meaningful lesson in just one hour.

There are concerns that roads in Kettering will be packed with learner drivers because all the tests in the north of the county will be taken in the town from that date.

Pam Newman, of Pam’s Driving School in Wellingborough, has been a driving instructor for six years and has been teaching learners in Wellingborough for two years.

She said: “We are going to have to take learners to Kettering. The old saying that a driver who can drive can pass their test in any town in the country is a load of rubbish.

“Unfortunately it’s going to mean more money for the pupils. I have got people living in Raunds, Rushden and Irchester and you can’t just do an hour-long lesson, you can’t get over to Kettering and back from the other side of Wellingborough in an hour.”

Helen Ridsdel, of Helen’s Driving School, has been teaching learners in Wellingborough for two-and-a-half years and took part in a protest by the town’s instructors to save Wellingborough test centre.

She said: “We are going to have to bring learner drivers over to Kettering.

“We are going to try to be sensible about it and teach them the basics in Wellingborough and bring them to Kettering when they are getting ready for their tests.

“We have got learners who have tests booked for October at the new test centre who we are already bringing over to Kettering.

“I think there could be a problem. People moan about learners already and there will be even more coming over.”

Source: Northants. Evening Telegraph website

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

PASSING the driving test in North Wales appears to be far tougher than anywhere else in Wales, according to latest figures.

In Rhyl, the pass rate in 2007 for learner drivers was just 35%, compared to 63% in Lampeter, West Wales.

In Mold, it was 38% and in Colwyn Bay, 39%. Further south, 58% got through in Cardigan and 54% in Aberystwyth.

Pass rates also top 50% in Cardiff, Newport and Swansea while the national Wales average is 49%.

The figures were obtained by Plaid Cymru, and have prompted South Wales Central AM Chris Franks to seek an explanation from the Driving Standards Agency (DSA).

Mr Franks said: “The figures from the DSA show a considerable discrepancy between the pass rates for drivers in parts of Wales.

“It does appear much harder to pass a driving test in North Wales than, for instance, in parts of West Wales. Learner drivers also seem to wait longer for tests in the north than their counterparts in other parts of Wales.

“I will be writing to the DSA to find out if there are any local reasons for such a significant difference in pass rates across Wales. I’m sure learner drivers would expect to be treated the same wherever they take their test.

“Waiting times for driving tests also vary considerably which might suggest there are not enough examiners in some areas. For instance, there is a wait of three months in Llanelli but half that time in Cardiff or Newport.”

A spokesman for the DSA denied there was any difference in the difficulty of tests in different regions.

But he said that there could be a correlation between an area’s affluence and the success rate of learners.

“Socio-economic factors, related to different areas, can have a bearing on pass rates and the fact that some people are more prepared for the test than others,” he said.

“The wealthier the town or area, the more likely people are to be able to invest more money on lessons and will have more opportunities for private practice, access to family vehicles etc, and it would be highly improbable that every test centre would return the same pass rate countrywide.

“Examiners are highly trained to ensure they consistently apply the DSA standard of assessment and all driving tests are assessed to a uniform standard throughout the country.

“This ensures that only those candidates who can demonstrate an appropriate and safe standard of driving during the test receive a driving licence.”

He added that all learner drivers should be able to get a practical car driving test within nine weeks at any permanent centre.

Commenting on the statistics, one Mold driving instructor said: “I don’t know whether the closure of the Wrexham test centre had any bearing, but the closure was supposed to be temporary, although nothing seems to have happened about a new one. It’s certainly got far more difficult for the younger ones. I don’t know what the answer is, but we can’t be so bad up here and everywhere else so good!”

 Source: Daily Post website by Carl Butler

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

CAN a petrolhead be an eco-driver?

As the price of petrol edges ever higher, can a change in driving habits use less fuel - and salve a car fan’s conscience?.

By Rob Corp
BBC News

I’m a keen recycler, buyer of energy-saving lightbulbs and user of public transport, but when it comes to cars all my green efforts go out the window (rolled down, sunroof open). Until it started to cost an eye-watering £54 to fill my car with fuel.

With petrol now well over £1 a litre, even my relatively “green” Mini is fast becoming an expensive luxury rather than a convenient mode of transport.

But proponents of a motoring technique known as “eco-driving” - who include the AA, the Energy Saving Trust and the government - claim that it will not just cut emissions of carbon dioxide, but could also improve fuel efficiency by up to 30%.

The idea is that through good maintenance, a more relaxed driving style and cutting out short trips, you can make a difference to the health of the planet - and your wallet.

Tim Shallcross, of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, says while car manufacturers have many ideas to make their products more environmentally-friendly, using smarter driving techniques can make an immediate difference.

“If you’ve got a 15-year-old Range Rover and you use these techniques, you’ll save fuel today.”

Tim is full of statistics that suggest a little effort can go a long way.

“Many people are going on holiday at this time of year, and they’ll leave their topbox on for the entire trip. At motorway speeds, that can increase fuel consumption by 20%.”

So with his encouraging words to guide me, I set out for a weekend in West Sussex.

LEG ONE: LONDON TO SUSSEX

This experiment in eco-driving is not scientific. The Magazine’s budget does not run to either specialist fuel efficiency gadgetry, nor does it include one-on-one coaching from an expert.

My car has its own on-board computer, which includes an average miles per gallon setting.

First rule of eco-driving - ditch unnecessary weight. The suitcase, beach bag, cool bag and picnic rug are weekend essentials. But I chuck out old car park tickets and receipts, and recycle the accumulated water bottles and drink cans.

Next I make sure the tyres are inflated to the correct pressure. Under-inflated tyres are not just dangerous - they create more resistance to the road and so make the car less efficient.

Stopping at a supermarket to get fuel, I obey another eco-driving edict - not to brim the tank, as this adds extra weight and reduces fuel efficiency. I pump in 35 litres (the tank holds 40). £41.26 - painful, but not as bad as before.

In the interests of science, I have decided to drive in my usual manner to Sussex, then eco-drive back to London.

Ninety minutes after leaving, we’re off the dual carriageway and onto a lovely B-road.

It’s a driver’s dream. There are fast bends, slow bends, dips, crests. I find myself doing lots of non-eco driving - braking into bends then accelerating out. Overtaking a horse box (albeit safely) was also a bit non-eco.

We arrive at West Wittering on the coast. Before picnicking on the beach I check the car’s computer - 39.2mpg to beat.

LEG TWO: SUSSEX TO LONDON

I do have one small caveat for the return leg, and that is the conditions for getting back to London are a lot more favourable than the trip down - it’s later in the day and a Sunday.

With 39.2mpg to beat, we head off. The picnic bag is empty and my mother-in-law has received her gifts, so our cargo is possibly a smidgeon lighter.

The central tenet of eco-driving is to get into the higher gears sooner and not to rev the engine too hard.

At 2,500 revs a minute, I change up. And again. And again. So far so good. The road is relatively quiet, there are no speed bumps and few traffic lights.

An eco-driver has to read the road - if you can plan ahead, you won’t be accelerating and braking so much, thereby saving fuel and CO2 emissions.

Sadly I am a bit poor at this aspect, and miss my turning. Doubling back wastes fuel, pumps out more greenhouse gases, and earns me some wifely derision.

For as long as I have driven, I’ve used the gears to slow down. But with eco-driving, the idea is to lift off the gas in a higher gear, and allow the car to lose momentum.

If you’re a good eco-driver, you’ll then select the right gear to smoothly move on, without coming to a halt and having to bury your right foot in the carpet to get going.

Soon, we’re cruising along the A3 at a stately 60mph - 10 miles per hour under the speed limit is good for the environment and more miserly on fuel.

Apparently a car’s most efficient speeds are between 45-50mph, but at that speed on a dual carriageway I would need a man with a red flag walking in front.

Fuel-saving wheeze

Even at 60mph, the car’s computer relays good news. At one stage I have to blink as the read-out tells me I am achieving 48.7mpg.

I begin to think I can get through the magic 50mpg barrier. That’s our house to my folks in Bristol on just two gallons of fuel.

It’s not to be, of course. We get stuck in roadworks.

My eco-driving checklist says to turn the engine off if you’re stationary for more than a minute. I do. I also pray that we’re not here for long, as I can’t make up the time lost by travelling at a fuel efficient 60mph.

As we move off, the fuel economy drops down to 47.8mpg. Then I remember another of Tim Shallcross’s fuel-saving wheezes. If you lift off the gas, keeping the car in a high gear, the engine’s computer will stop injecting fuel.

The Surrey hills give me some extra momentum, but the read-out remains resolutely stuck at 47.8mpg.

Even as we hit London, and the traffic builds and the red lights go against me, I do my best to brake gently, accelerate smoothly and anticipate the road ahead.

Even in town, with extra traffic and some frankly bonkers driving by others, I’m still on 47.8mpg.

Doing the maths in my head, I realise that eco-driving could potentially deliver a 20% improvement in fuel economy. Beat that, hybrid drivers.

Five minutes from home, my concentration lapses after coming to a gentle, fuel-efficient stop at a red light. I pull away from the lights while still in third gear and stall.

I over-cook the restart, and rev too hard. The computer clicks down to 47.0mpg. I can’t get it back now, this close to home, even so I’ve eked out another 7.8mpg by eco-driving.

I’m doing the same trip again on Friday. I’m going to see if I can better 47.0mpg. Then I’ll be well set for getting to my parents and back on half-a-tank.

Source: BBC News Magazine website

With eco-driving to be part of the driving test from 10th September 2008 (This assessment is not part of the existing assessment criteria for the practical test and you will not fail your test because you don’t demonstrate eco-safe driving techniques), comments please from driving instructors and driving schools who are BADDIA (Bedford and District Driving Instructors Association) members giving driving lessons, Pass Plus, advanced lessons, automatic lessons, disabled lessons, towing lessons, refresher courses, motorway lessons, fleet training in preparation for driving tests or driver improvement in the Bedford area.

CLICK HERE FOR ECO-SAFE DRIVING INFORMATION

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