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.

Driving Instructors in Bedford urge drivers to keep up to date with the Highway Code and brush up on their driving skills.

New research has revealed that British people have so little knowledge of the Highway Code that two thirds of us are totally confused by basic road signs on a daily basis.  The study found one in three drivers admit they get so bemused they simply follow the car in front when they are not sure what to do.  Despite such understanding being an essential part of the modern driving test, more than half of us simply ignore signs. 

Confusion: Many British drivers do not pay attention to road signs and others have admitted that they don’t understand them.  The research by motor oil company Castrol discovered that one in 20 motorists even confess they ‘never’ take notice of highway signposts.  And three per cent of drivers said their confusion over road signs had led them to have an accident – that’s the equivalent of just over 1.3 million incidents.

Expert: Quentin Wilson said he was shocked that 28.6 million motorists appear to be baffled by road signs.  When shown ‘give way’ road markings, half did not know what it meant and one in 20 even believed it meant they should wind their window down and listen for approaching vehicles.  A third believed the ‘no motor vehicles allowed’ sign meant the complete opposite – that only cars and motorbikes were allowed.  More than half thought the ‘no waiting’ sign meant ‘no entry’ or ‘no parking’ and one in three believed diversion signs were not applicable to cars, and were instead for truck drivers only.

Disturbingly, one in four British people believe the ‘end of 30mph speed limit’ means they are not allowed to dip below 30mph.  Just over half of drivers have not looked at the Highway Code since taking their theory test.

Motoring expert Quentin Willson said he was shocked that 28.6 million motorists appear to be baffled by road signs.  He said: ‘It’s worrying to think the vast majority of British motorists have not got a clue about the road signs they see every day.  Signs are in place not only to help motorists navigate the road, but also for safety, and not taking the time to learn the most basic of instructions is lazy and irresponsible.  ‘There’s only a few pages of road signs in the Highway Code. It’s not War And Peace and reading five pages could one day save your life.’

Danny Edwards, 29, an office worker from London, said: ‘I do get caught out by the odd road sign and it can throw you off for a second.  ‘I have to admit I thought a sign that said no motor vehicles actually meant the opposite and have believed that for years.  ‘Some of them can be confusing and everyone ignores road signs from time to time. I see people pulling left turns all the time when they’re not meant to.  ‘I threw my Highway Code away when I passed my theory test and should probably brush up on it.’ 

By Daily Mail Reporter  2nd January 2012 

If you would like some expert advice and guidance from your local driving instructor in Bedford please call one of our BADDIA driving schools listed on the homepage.

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.

Bedford Driving Instructors remind drivers to get their eyes tested

27.10.2011

By Alexa Kaczka

It is a well-known fact the people who require a prescription for their eyesight need to wear any required glasses or contact lenses when they are behind the wheel, but many motorists are failing to do so.

According to a new report by The Co-operative Motor Group, the number of drivers in the UK that have had their licenses revoked due to failing eyesight has more than doubled in the last four years.

New figures obtained following a Freedom of Information request by the Co-operative show that the number of drivers unfit to be on the road has risen from 1,597 in 2006 to 4,009 in 2010 – an increase of 151 per cent.

Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said he is not sure whether the rise in the number of people having their licence revoked is because more of them are failing to tell if their eyesight has deteriorated, or if motorists have simply been caught driving without their contact lenses or glasses.

“People don’t have to fear losing their licence, they just have to go to the opticians. We can’t stress enough the importance of having an eye check every two years, or more often if your optician says so,” he explained.

He noted that this is also another reason why the government should not weaken the eyesight part of the driving test, which it has proposed to do.

Mr Clinton said there is also still a patent need for education about the importance of regular eyesight checks.

It comes after a campaign was launched by Royal Sun Alliance that aims to increase the frequency of motorists’ eye tests in a bid to reduce the number of accidents occurring on UK roads.

According to the organisation, if drivers were to regularly visit their optician or optometrists to ascertain whether they need glasses or contacts lenses to drive, their boosted vision could significantly reduce road accidents and deaths.

Driving Instructors in Bedford would  like your views on this.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has announced his intention to consult on raising the national speed limit on motorways from 70 to 80 miles per hour. The government plans to launch a full public consultation on the issue later this year with a view to implementing any change in early 2013.

• Government proposes 80MPH motorway speed limit

If you live in Bedford you will know only too well the traffic situation drivers face on a daily basis.  Battling your way through the traffic is an arduous task and one which causes much frustration to drivers.  So spare a thought for driving instructors in Bedford who are teaching learners to drive in such conditions and how to cope with the heavy traffic.

Bedford driving instructors have a great link to a blog from a member of the public who has obviously gone to a lot of trouble to photograph the current situation with the St. Mary’s road works.  We hope you find it an interesting read!  Please excuse the title!

Please feel free to leave a comment about your own experience of this situation.

http://buggeredbedford.blogspot.com/2011/10/day-1-of-st-mary-street-roadworks.html

The colder weather will soon be upon us and driving instructors in Bedford want to warn drivers to check out your tyres to make sure you are prepared for the road conditions we may face.  Please read the following advice for your safety.

Gripping Facts.
In countries where severe winter weather conditions are more or less guaranteed, it is quite normal for drivers to switch to winter tyres for the duration of the cold season even though it is only a legal requirement in Austria, Finland and Sweden.  The practice has not been taken up in the UK because harsh winters are quite unusual here – in spite of our experience over the last two years.  However, the benefits of winter tyres are not restricted to snow and ice covered roads – low temperature alone seriously impairs the performance of standard tyres.  Manufacturers are also fitting wider wheels and tyres to cars, which are less suited to slippery winter conditions, so it may now be time for UK motorists to consider the benefits and drawbacks of seasonal tyres, or whether they should invest in snow chains or some other form of traction aid for when our weather turns arctic.  The options are Winter Tyres, All Season Tyres, Snow Chains and Snow Socks.  Studded tyres are not considered here as they are no longer generally available in the UK.  Potential damage to roads and development of non-studded winter tyres has rendered them obsolete.

Winter Tyres.
The most obvious difference is the tread pattern; winter tyres have wider grooves and narrow slits at the edges of the tread area, which combine to give better grip on snow and ice.  However, a much more important difference is not so easily seen.  The rubber compound used for the tread section on standard tyres gets stiffer as the temperature drops; stiffer rubber results in less grip and below 7¬¬o Celsius, the grip starts to reduce as the temperature gets lower, although most drivers won’t really notice much difference until the roads have dropped to near freezing point.  Winter tyres have a different compound which stays soft, bendy and grippy to well below zero.  Tyres made with this compound will carry either a snowflake or a mountain as a symbol on the side wall.  Winter tyres undoubtedly have far better grip in snow and ice and allow drivers to get around quite easily in conditions that make driving on standard tyres impossible, while maximum braking and cornering performance is also retained on dry roads at sub-zero temperatures.
However, there are drawbacks.  For a start, most European drivers who do make the switch to winter rubber have two sets of wheels and tyres so that they can change over quite easily with nothing more than the vehicle’s wheel-change kit.  That means an initial outlay for a new set of wheels as well as tyres.  Even getting steel wheels for the winter, instead of the alloys the car comes with, will still set the owner back about £500 or more by the time the tyres are fitted, and that outlay will apply every time the car is changed for a different model.  Changing over to winter tyres permanently to save the outlay for new wheels is possible, but the tyres won’t have the same grip once the weather warms up, they’ll also be noisier, wear out more quickly and the car will use more fuel, so two sets of wheels is really the best option.  Somewhere to store the extra set of wheels is another consideration, although some tyre outlets do offer a complete winter tyre service where they swap the tyres over and store the set not in use.

So, should we all invest in a set of winter wheels and tyres?  The UK government shows no sign of making it compulsory, and there are good reasons for this.  Firstly, extremes of cold, snow and ice are the exception here.  Even though the grip of standard tyres starts to reduce below 7o Celsius, the reduction does not become significant until the roads are around freezing point, which only happens regularly in a few hilly or remote areas of the UK.  Many motorists also take heed of public warnings and avoid driving in poor conditions, so all things considered, compelling every driver to buy and store a spare set of wheels and tyres would be imposing an unnecessary expense on the vast majority.

Nevertheless, a set of winter tyres is a sensible option for some UK motorists, for example people who live at high altitude or in remote areas.  For the rest of us, whether the cost is justified very much depends on personal circumstances such as annual mileage, the risk of extreme weather conditions and whether you have the option to avoid driving in them.
Does the Different Tyre Specification Matter?

If you do go for winter tyres, the speed rating will be lower – this is denoted by the letter before the “R” on the side wall.  This is perfectly acceptable, as the maximum speed is still well above national speed limits everywhere apart from some German motorways and in wintry conditions speeds should be kept lower anyway.  The lower speed rating will not cause a car to fail the MOT test and should not affect your insurance.  Nevertheless, there have been stories of insurers raising premiums when winter tyres are fitted.  The Association of British Insurers has confirmed that, “The major motor insurers have all confirmed that they would not class fitting winter tyres as a material modification and it would not impact on the premium. The one condition would be that they would expect such tyres to be fitted by reputable garage/dealer, in accordance with the motor manufacturer’s specifications.”

The ABI also recommends that you inform your insurer if winter tyres are fitted, just to be on the safe side.

All Season Tyres
A compromise solution available to drivers who want some extra grip for the winter, but don’t want the expense or inconvenience of two sets of wheels is to fit a set of All Season tyres.  These have the more flexible rubber compound of winter tyres, but with a tread pattern that is more suited to a range of weather conditions rather than being specifically tailored to snow and ice.  As a result, they can be used all year round as the name implies, but like any compromise, they are not perfect; they will not be as good as standard tyres in summer or as grippy as winter tyres in snow and ice.  Because they use the low temperature rubber compound, they should have the snowflake or mountain symbol, but may also have a sun symbol or be marked “M+S” – this does not imply they are made by Britain’s favourite underwear store, but stands for “Mud and Snow” to show that the tread pattern is suitable for these conditions.  (The alternative, S+M, has even more dubious connotations).  Unfortunately there is no international standard defining what an All Season tyre is, so beware of tyres sold as “All Season” that do not carry the snowflake or mountain symbol – they will be made from standard rubber and will lose grip below 7o Celsius just as standard tyres do, whatever tread pattern they have.  Just as with winter tyres, if you fit All Season tyres, you should inform your insurance company, although it should not affect your premium in any way.

Tyre Condition
Whatever tyres are fitted, regular checks of tread depth and pressure are even more important in winter.  Performance in snow, ice or sub-zero conditions will be significantly reduced if the tread depth falls below 3mm.  Pressure should be checked with the tyres cold – that means they should have been driven no more than a mile.   Set the pressure to the value specified by the vehicle manufacturer or the tyre maker if different pressures are specified for winter tyres.  Do not reduce pressure to increase grip.  Tyres with low pressure do not have any more grip, but are prone to overheating and blowouts, and changing a wheel in freezing conditions is both unpleasant and dangerous.

Snow Chains and Socks
A useful alternative to changing tyres is to carry snow chains or snow socks to fit when the snow gets deep.  Most people are familiar with the idea of chains, but snow socks are a fairly recent innovation; made of a strong fabric which grips snow, they are a stretch fit over the tyre.  Either of these can be used with standard tyres and they fit quite easily into a corner of the boot, or corner of the garden shed in summer, so there are no major storage issues.

Snow chains are more effective, but have several drawbacks.  First, check that your vehicle can be fitted with them!  Chains increase the width of the tyre and may foul the suspension, the brake, or the wheel arch on a turn.  The owner’s handbook or a dealer will be able to tell you if chains can be fitted.  Chains can also be quite a chore to fit and anyone buying them should practice fitting them before the bad weather sets in, or at least try fitting them at home as soon as they’re purchased, to understand what’s involved before trying to get them on in a blizzard.  A clear road surface will be damaged by snow chains, so you mustn’t fit them until there is a blanket of snow and you must stop as soon as the snow has gone and remove them.  It is an offence to use chains or studs when they will damage the road surface, which is why studded tyres are no longer generally available – removing the chains when the snow clears is a lot simpler than changing all the wheels.  You can get away with fitting chains to the driving wheels only, but this should be an emergency measure; if you know that you will be driving for some distance, or regularly on snow, fit chains to all wheels.  Expect to pay around £50 for a set of economy chains to carry in the boot for emergencies, up to a couple of hundred pounds for a heavy duty set suitable for regular use.
Snow socks, on the other hand, are slightly cheaper to buy – typically about £40 upwards – they are much easier to fit and will give sufficient grip for most snowy conditions in the UK.  They do not damage roads, although they will wear out very quickly if driven for any distance on tarmac, so should be removed as soon as it is safe to do so.

If you venture abroad with your car for skiing holidays, you will be familiar with signs telling you that chains must be used and there is a legal requirement that you carry them, even if there’s no snow.  In this case, chains means chains and although many local may use socks, you should still carry chains to avoid the possibility of a fine.

Both chains and socks should be washed as soon as is practical after use to get rid of dirt and salt that will otherwise corrode or degrade them, and they are both a nightmare to fit for the first time in a blizzard, so do study the instructions and practice fitting them in the dry.

Driving Instructors in Bedford welcome your comments and experiences of winter driving conditions.

New theory test books published

Bedford driving instructors urge pupils to use official DSA study aids

New official driving and riding theory books were published on Monday 19th September to help candidates revise in preparation for changes to the test in January 2012.

Since theory tests began in 1996, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has published the questions and answers from the question banks for all categories of tests for cars, motorcycles, lorries and buses.

However, DSA announced last November that it was to stop publishing the multiple choice questions and answers, with unpublished questions being used from January 2012.

DSA’s Chief Executive Rosemary Thew said: “The reason behind the move is to stop candidates from simply memorising theory test questions and answers and learning by rote. The new books contain questions and answers for revision and also explain the theory behind each question.

“This approach to learning will help candidates to gain a better knowledge and understanding of driving theory which will help them respond correctly to the new, re-worded live questions used in the actual test.”

Other theory test products including CD Roms, downloadable PDFs and ebooks have been revised too and will be published shortly after the theory test books are published on 19 September.

The agency has also launched its first ever mobile phone apps for theory test revision, which have been developed to help candidates learn in this way.

To view the full range of official DSA products visit  tsoshop.co.uk/dsa.