A Driving Instructor in Biggleswade, Paul Burchell of Drive-Smart says he is “Delighted” at the success so far of his Downing Street e-petition to ban new driving instructors from taking to the road.

Currently more than 365 people across the country have backed the petition to draw a halt to the recruitment of new instructors and the total is growing daily.

As Paul says, “Of course the petition won’t please everyone, I never expected it to. The message that I am trying to get across here is simple. A learner driver is more likely to get good value and good quality instruction from a highly experienced,  and well qualified instructor than a PDI (trainee instructor) or a  novice instructor who is forced to offer lessons at £10 or £11 per hour (less than the minimum wage once running costs are taken into account).

Look, to make a comparison. Say you go into hospital for emergency surgery to save your life. Would you rather have a trainee or newly qualified doctor do it or a Consultant Surgeon? It’s your choice your life might depend upon it!

What I am concerned about is ensuring the safety of new drivers on the road and also protecting the livelihood of all current, well qualified and highly experienced instructors from the massive influx of inexperienced, newly qualified instructors who offer lessons at cut-throat rates to attract business.

For me it’s simple. “Good Driving Instruction Isn’t Cheap and Cheap Driving Instruction Isn’t Good” As the old saying goes, “If you pay Peanuts, you get Monkeys”.

To comment, please do on the BADDIA website. To sign the petition, follow this link..   http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/29335

Paul Burchell. Drive-Smart.

Brought to you by Driving Instructors in Bedford

Good driving instruction isn’t CHEAP. And, CHEAP driving instruction isn’t good!!

Choosing a GOOD Driving Instructor can be tricky. Here are a few tips I would encourage you to follow.  It’s not a definitive list so if you’ve got any suggestions or comments you’d like to add, please do.

Firstly. Check the telephone number you are calling.  Some companies use 0870 telephone numbers.  The cost of an 0870 telephone call may not be included in your telephone package, so will not only cost you money, but could be at a premium rate. They are used as a way of making money by the companies concerned.  These are not my words, but from Money Saving Expert.COM. As saving money these days is very important, I would encourage you to follow the link and read their advice.  http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/0870-say-no

Secondly. Check out the Driving Standards Agency’s (DSA’s) web site. The DSA will NEVER recommend an individual driving instructor but their advice, in particular about un-licensed driving instruction is very worthwhile. Also, consider the DSA’s instructor grading system. There can be a huge difference in the quality of lessons between qualified instructors. It is worth following the DSA’s advice. Read it carefully.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/LearningToDriveOrRide/DG_4022528

Thirdly. Don’t be fooled by the “Headline” price that some instructors might offer. There may be a catch. That catch might cost you more in the long run. Most Instructors will offer an “Introductory” price in order to catch your attention. There is nothing wrong with that. But you must take the longer term view.  Ask yourself and ASK THE INSTRUCTOR this question. “If I am an average learner, how much is this going to cost me in the long run”?

Fourthly. How long is a Lesson? You might find out it’s only for 45 minutes.

Fifthly. You should never be expected to “Double up” on a lesson. Your lesson should be on a one to one basis. You should not expect to see another learner driver in the car with you at any point. If you do, then you may well be being taken for a ride. Quite literately!

Sixthly. There are many time wasting techniques that a “Cheap” driving instructor might use. Just remember, you are paying for their time. This puts YOU in charge. A “Cheap” driving lesson at, shall we say £12 per hour? would be costing you 20p per minute.  If your instructor wastes your time needlessly for approx 10 minutes, (a typical “fag break”) that’s £2 of your money down the drain. Multiply this by the number of hours / lessons… How much does that cost you in the long run?

Next Week. “Spot The Difference” Comparing Good Vs. Cheap.

Call one of our Driving Instructors in Bedford for more information.

Driving schools in Bedford say Driving lessons in Bedford are to become more expensive unless fuel prices in Bedford are brought in line with other towns.

The facts speak for themselves: Local residents are getting a raw deal at the petrol pump. In and around Bedford we are forced to pay typically around 5 pence a litre more for petrol, and around 4 pence more for diesel, than drivers in nearby towns. Local drivers and businesses are not even able to shop around; at the time of writing this email, there is just one pence difference between the most expensive and the least expensive unleaded petrol price in and around Bedford. There is no justification for the difference in prices between Bedford and similar-sized towns just a few miles away.

It’s time for all of us to say enough is enough. We are not asking for special treatment. We just want fairness. Fuel bills make up a large part of many people’s weekly household budgets, and it is unacceptable that local residents here are forced to pay more to simply get to work and get around. I believe that by highlighting the indefensible unfairness of the situation facing local residents and businesses, we can shame the fuel retailers into action. They certainly should be ashamed.

Local newspaper the Times and Citizen has run a vociferous campaign on the issue, while numerous radio and television stations covered the story of my Council motion on the subject. The fuel retailers have never faced this kind of scrutiny of the unfair way they are treating local residents and businesses in Bedford Borough, and if they don’t like it, we all know that they can do the right thing and bring the prices down

ITV Anglia News covered this issue last week, and you can watch their report here: http://www.itv.com/anglia/fuel-debate76986/

I will also be reporting on the campaign on Twitter, where you can find me at www.twitter.com/davethemayor. Look out for the hash tag #fuelfairness

I intend to keep up the pressure on the fuel retailers over this intolerable situation for local drivers, and am seeking meetings with key figures in the coming days and weeks.

The more evidence I have about the unfairness of their approach, the stronger our case is. If you wish to email me with your experiences of petrol and diesel price unfairness in Bedford Borough, I would be grateful. Perhaps you work elsewhere, and notice the difference in price as you travel out of the area to your workplace? Whatever your experiences, I will be glad to receive them, as we join together to send a message loud and clear that we will no longer accept unfairness at the petrol pump in our Borough.

Dave Hodgson

Mayor of Bedford Borough

Contact one of your local Driving Instructors in Bedford for economical driving lessons

Driving Instructors in Bedford are warning drivers to take particular care with this weekends predicted snow fall.

Last year we suggested you watch this video from BBC on how to drive in ice and snow     http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12015993

With a new onslaught of freezing conditions predicted and roads becoming more treacherous, the usual advice is not to drive unless you really have to.

But if your journey really is essential make sure you know how to drive on ice and snow.

If you would like further advice on driving in adverse weather conditions or whether you should be learning to drive in such conditions, please call one of our driving instructors in Bedford who will be pleased to help.

If you thought failing your driving test the first time around was bad luck, spare a  thought for a poor man in the UK that has failed his theory test a whopping 92 times – he hasn’t even had the chance to sit his practical examination yet.

 Are you prepared for the changes to the theory test?

As from today the driving theory test questions will no longer be available and Driving Instructors in Bedford are advising candidates to study and prepare well before sitting the theory test.

Published: Monday, 28 September 2009

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has introduced case studies into the driving theory test. One case study will now be included in the exam for car drivers, moped and motorcycle riders.

Case studies in driving theory test

Book your theory and practical test online

As part of the multiple choice section of the test, the case study assesses candidates’ understanding of driving theory, while the multiple choice questions continue to assess their knowledge of the subject.

The theory test case study takes the form of a scenario, or short story, on which five questions will be based. Candidates answer the questions in the same way as they complete the rest of the test, using either a touch screen or a mouse.

DSA’s Director of Driver Education and Learning, Jill Lewis, said: “Case studies are widely used in education to put learning into context and test comprehension of a subject, so many candidates will have encountered this type of question before.

“Initially we are introducing one case study based on existing questions in the theory test question bank, to get candidates used to the concept. It will also allow us to monitor any impact on the theory test. Over time, we plan to introduce more case studies into the theory test to assess candidates’ understanding of what they have learned

An example of a case study and the questions based on it can be viewed online at DSA’s YouTube channel.

• Visit the DSA’s YouTube channel to watch the video, ‘Are you ready?’

If you need help or advice from your local Bedford driving school visit www.baddia.co.uk and one of our instructors will be please to speak to you.

Good driving instruction isn’t CHEAP.  And, CHEAP driving instruction isn’t good!!

I am a Driving Standards Agency (DSA), Approved Driving Instructor (ADI).
Becoming a driving instructor is a lengthy and expensive task.  It’s not just about being able to drive in a straight line or how to do a three point turn.  It is a much more complex and academic subject than most people realise.  That’s why so many trainee driving instructors fail their test.
Not that that matters to a learner driver, all they want to do is to pass their test as FAST as possible and as CHEAPLY as possible.  But learner drivers really should consider the longer term implications of CHEAP driving instruction..
The DSA’s own figures suggest that on average a learner driver will require about 48 hours of professional driving instruction plus plenty of private practice, before they are able to pass their test.  So where private practice is not possible, more instruction will be required. But here’s the thing. It really isn’t just about passing a test. The DSA’s own motto is that Driving is a “SKILL FOR LIFE” .

So, what value would you put on a skill that will remain with you for your entire life. Indeed, in some instances on which your life might depend? Would you value your life being worth, say, £11 per hour or £25 per hour?
Think about it.  Are you worth £495 or £1,125?  Are you CHEAP or are you QUALITY?

Next Week.  I will be considering the differences between CHEAP driving instructors and GOOD driving instructors.  In the meantime, any comments or questions please don’t hesitate to e-mail me. paul.drivesmart@gmail.com

Driving Instructors in Bedford urge learners not to skimp on taking professional, good quality driving lessons. 

Figures show that nearly 300 people took their driving test for the tenth time in 2011 and only 88 of them passed.

Driving instructors in Bedford welcome the new theory test changes.

The days of cramming for the driving theory test may be over after it was announced that the exam’s questions and answers will no longer be planted in revision books, in a bid to stop learner drivers “simply memorising” the correct responses.

The changes come in reaction to Driving Standards Agency (DSA) fears that drivers were “learning by rote” and mean that the old system, under which many of the questions featuring on the test were reproduced word-for-word along with the answers in revision materials, will be swept away early next year.

“It is about getting people to actually understand the knowledge behind the driving theory, as opposed to just learning an answer and regurgitating it when the candidate recognises the corresponding question,” said a DSA spokeswoman.

She added: “We want to avoid the situation where people are able to sit down and recognise a question then write down the answer.”

The spokeswoman said that the changes, which will come into effect on 23 January 2012, were in response to a consultation with driving instructors who said that the current testing system encourages learner drivers to just use their memories, rather than actually reflect on the reasons behind pieces of driving theory.

The consultation, carried out in 2008 but only acted upon now, also revealed instructors’ fears that learner drivers viewed the theory test as “just something to get through before the real driving started”.

What is your view of these planned changes?  Please feel free to comment.   Bedford driving instructors are interested in your opinion.