Real driving experience for learners

To help make the driving test more representative of real driving, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) will no longer publish details of test routes, Road Safety Minister Mike Penning announced today.

Currently test routes used by each driving test centre are published online but this will stop when new routes are introduced at the beginning of October.

This change is being made to support the introduction of independent driving, which will allow candidates to demonstrate their ability to drive safely in more realistic driving situations rather than memorising a particular test route.

Mike Penning said:

“We want new drivers to be able to drive safely and independently and learning to drive test routes by rote isn’t the way to achieve this.

“Stopping the publication of test routes will help to make sure that the driving test better reflects realistic driving conditions and will give new drivers the skills and confidence they need to stay safe on the roads.”

DSA’s Chief Driving Examiner Trevor Wedge said:

“Evidence shows that the biggest challenge newly qualified drivers face after passing their test is learning how to cope when they no longer have their instructor there to help and prompt them.”

“We want to make sure that new drivers and riders are ready to make their own decisions when driving alone; learning how to do that in preparation for their test should lead to better and safer drivers.”

To better assess whether a learner driver is ready to drive unsupervised, independent driving will be introduced into the test on 4 October 2010. Candidates will drive for about 10 minutes, without step-by-step direction from their examiner. This will involve either following a series of directions, following traffic signs, or a combination of both. To help candidates visualise the directions, the examiner may also show them a simple diagram. The remainder of the test is unchanged.

In January 2010, DSA published independent research showing that with careful route design, candidates were able to complete the independent driving tasks without any significant impact on pass rates. Additional research found widespread support for inclusion of independent driving in the practical test.

08 September 2010

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

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

Published: Tuesday, 17 August 2010 by Directgov

Drug-driving test equipment to be trialled By Richard Scott
 
A recent advert warned young people their eyes could betray drug use.  The government is planning trials of equipment to test if drivers are under the influence of drugs.

The move could lead to a roll-out of the technology across all police forces in England, Scotland and Wales within two years.

Manufacturers are to be given specifications for the devices by the end of September.

It follows publication of a review into the problem of drug-driving, which found that major changes were needed.

Tackling drug-driving Call to reduce drink-drive limit The review by Sir Peter North, which was published in June, concluded that the drug-driving problem was “out of all proportion” to the official figures.

That is partly because of the difficulty in testing for drugs, which means many cases go unrecorded.

‘Selfish minority’
 
At the moment police first need a doctor to decide whether the suspect has a “condition which might be due to a drug”, and then a blood test has to be carried out.

Getting a doctor to the police station and the examination itself both take time – and could mean the drugs have left the suspect’s system before the blood sample is taken.

There is another reason for thinking the current figures relating to drug-driving - 56 fatal accidents and 207 serious injury accidents in 2008 – are too low. If a suspect has been breathalysed and found to be over the drink-drive limit, police will rarely continue with further tests to decide if drugs are present too.

The government now says it will give manufacturers specifications for new testing equipment by the end of  September. The resulting products are set to be trialled in police stations within a year and then rolled out to forces within two years.

“We believe that having a ‘drugalyser’ in police stations will make police work easier”

Edmund King
 
Tackling drug-driving Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said: “It is vital that the police have the tools they need to tackle those who drive while impaired by drugs.”

“This selfish minority show a flagrant disregard, not only for their own lives, but for the safety of others and we are determined to tackle this menace. That is why we are taking urgent steps to make drug screening technology available as soon as possible.”

The specifications are still being decided, but it is understood the Home Office wants the equipment to be capable of testing for the most common drugs, such as cannabis and cocaine.

Zero tolerance
 
It is not known yet if the test will use a sample of a suspect’s saliva, as suggested by Sir Peter.

What is also uncertain is whether there will be a drug-drive limit, similar to the drink-drive limit, based on the level of driving impairment.

An alternative approach would be zero tolerance, where any amount of illegal drugs resulted in a prosecution regardless of whether driving was impaired.

The Home Office and Department for Transport are also to spend £300,000 on research into roadside testing equipment, with the eventual aim that all evidence for prosecutions could be gathered on site by traffic police.

The money will also be used to develop technology that can test for a wider range of drugs than is currently possible.

Edmund King, president of the AA motoring organisation, said: “The AA has long been highlighting the hidden problems of drugs and driving so we are delighted that these issues are being addressed.

“We believe that having a ‘drugalyser’ in police stations will make police work easier and act as a deterrent to drug-drivers.”

Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, added: “At last the technology has caught up with the political will and the public mood.”

Taken from correspondent, BBC News

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

The Guardian newspaper and the BBC, among others have reported on the HPA’s findings following their recent research.

The HPA’s finding show that using Screen Wash in the Windscreen Washer Reservoir of vehicles, as directed by the Screenwash manufacturers, can dramatically reduce the risk of Legionnaires Disease being contracted.

Some of the media reports can be found here and here

We hope that sharing this important information proves useful for people. It certainly appears, from the HPA’s research, that this simple step can greatly reduce the risk of falling ill with an ailment that none of us would wish to contract.

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

Source:  www.rospa.com

Figures published by the Association of Chief Police Officers, show 223,423 drivers were breath tested during the month-long blitz “ a rise of 21.82 per cent on the previous year.

Although only three per cent of all drivers breath tested were over the limit, the percentage rose to four per cent for drivers under the age of 25 and to seven per cent for drivers involved in an accident.

Commenting on these figures, RoadSafe advisory panel member Kevin Clinton of RoSPA said: “The Christmas figures once again show action is needed to change the behaviour of a stubborn minority who continue to drink and drive despite years of education and enforcement campaigns”

RoSPA has for many years called for a reduction in the legal alcohol limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg.

Sir Peter North will advise UK Ministers on the merit of specific proposals for changes to the legislative regime for drink and drug driving, reporting by the end of March 2010.
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The European Commission has adopted its first Progress Report on the implementation of the EU Alcohol Strategy of 2006. This includes an overview of drink driving related activities taking in EU level action on legislation and project support from the transport and health perspective.

The ETSC Drink Driving Monitor brings news from across the EU of steps to further improve drink driving legislation and the seasonal campaigns linked to increased drink driving enforcement.

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

The consequences of not doing so clearly increases risk exposure, such as rear end collision risk, from the driver of the vehicle following not seeing obscured brake lights and indicators.  An all too common and avoidable crash in the Present weather conditions.

So as well as allowing extra time and space and using the vehicle controls smoothly in normal driving, remember to grab the old bucket and sponge, or similar, between journeys and use them on the external parts that assist your vehicle in being visible to others.

Supporting information can be found here and here in the relevant sections of the highway code.

 

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

 

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

Source:  www.roadsafe.com

It found that an alarming 25% of company car drivers had never checked the depth of their tyre tread and a further 41% had not checked them within the last six months.

Both companies and employees have responsibility for tyre safety on fleet vehicles and those not making the necessary checks face fines and other penalties.

“As part of their health and safety obligations, companies should make sure that drivers understand their own individual responsibility towards tyre checks,” said Stuart Jackson, TyreSafe chairman.

“Company car drivers typically cover around 20,000 miles per year, almost double that of private motorists so it is particularly important that they pay attention to their tyres.

Our 20p lifesaver here is a really quick and simple way of seeing if your tyres have enough tread to be safe and legal. By performing these checks just once a month, we believe the number of work-related accidents and cost to UK businesses can be dramatically reduced.”

Current UK law states that tread on car tyres must be a minimum of 1.6mm across the central three quarters of the tread, around its entire circumference. Drivers found in breach of this law face a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre.

Company car drivers accumulating enough points may have their licences withdrawn, and therefore face the prospect of losing their job as well.

 

BADDIA wish to further remind drivers that other research shows that vehicles are at much greater risk of aquaplaning when tyre tread depth wears down to 3mm.  The rate of tyre wear also accelerates from this point in a tyre’s life cycle.

 

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

 

 

The BADDIA web site now includes a new piece of work containing guidance for drivers, by giving an example of how this roundabout can be negotiated, following changes to the layout and road markings made by the highways authority.

The scenario decribed is where drivers would be heading west on the A421, leaving the A421 via the slip road then negotiating the Cardington roundabout with the intention of heading toward Bedford on the A603.  It can be found here on the BADDIA home page under the heading:

Having trouble with the 
Cardington roundabout?

BADDIA members felt this would be a useful contribution for all drivers, at all the various stages of their driving development, to be able to refer to; particularly given the confusion that multiple lane spiral roundabouts can sometimes create even for the most experienced.

Clearly the skills of effective all round observation and forward planning, taking account of the the road and traffic conditions road signs and markings, are key ingredients for success in this type of situation.

BADDIA make this information available for guidance only, on the understanding that the reader must ensure it is used sensibly and safely.  Since they have no control over how this information is used BADDIA and its members make this article available on the condition that they can accept no liability for actual events.

 

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

 Road Safety Week, 23-29 November 2009

You can choose to run a Road Safety Week event promoting any road safety issue relevant to you and your community. However, every year Brake chooses a theme we particularly promote to the media, using research, case studies and media launches. We choose topics that are the biggest killers on our roads. The theme for 2009’s Road Safety Week is:

Not a drop, Not a drag – Stay Sober, Save Lives

Given that there have been so many awareness-raising campaigns about the dangers of drink driving, it is a scandal that some people still drink and drive, both after drinking and also the morning after drinking, and the deaths continue. It is equally scandalous that some drivers drive after taking illegal drugs. Illegal drugs can stay in your system for weeks or even months – it just isn’t possible to have driving and illegal drugs in your life at the same time.

In Road Safety Week 09, Brake is calling on all drivers to commit to not drink even a drop of alcohol before driving, nor take even a drag on a joint or any other illegal drug. We are also calling on communities to inform the police of known drunk and drugged drivers and help save a life.

CLICK HERE for facts and figures about this theme.

CLICK HERE for information for driving instructors.

Source: Brake 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, instructor training, in preparation for driving tests or driver improvement in the Bedford area