The DSA have announced the following changes to this service.

From 24th June candidates who book or change their practical driving tests using this service must provide an email address at which to receive their driving test confirmation details.

The DSA have stated that they will no longer send out such booking confirmations by post.

The DSA’s announcement can be found here

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

A recent report by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) focuses on Legionnaires Disease Risk for Drivers and a simple step to reduce that risk.

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

A Ten minute section of independent Driving will be introduced into the Driving Test from October this year.

The Driving Standards Agency are introducing this change as an outcome of the consultation they carried out on the process of learning to drive.

A description of what to expect and how it will be conducted can be found here on the DSA’s YouTube site.

Further information can also be found here.

To us it is a welcome and positive enhancement to the driving test, as it will further bring together and test key competencies and thus help further prepare test candidates for driving on their own.

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

Major road safety milestone as driving test clocks up 75 years of success

The British driving test marks three-quarters of a century of helping keep people safe on the road when it turns 75 on Tuesday 1 June.

The first car and driving licences were introduced in Britain in 1903. But it was not until 1 June 1935 – amid rising numbers of deaths as the popularity of the car increased – that a compulsory driving test was introduced.

The first driver to pass was Mr J Beene and within a year, the number of deaths on the road had fallen by 1,000.

In 1934, 7,343 people were killed on the roads and there were 1.5 million cars. The latest figures show there were 2,538 deaths on the roads in 2008 when there were around 34 million cars.

Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said: “The driving test is not just a rite of passage, it has helped save thousands of lives on our roads.

“The test and the learning needed to pass it are a vital part of giving drivers the skills they need to drive efficiently and safely.

“High standards of driver training and assessment are an essential contribution to helping Britain’s roads remain among the safest in the world.”

Trevor Wedge, Chief Driving Examiner at the Driving Standards Agency, said: “The driving test still retains some of the original elements included in 1935, such as turning in the road and reversing, but it is updated regularly. We continue to make sure that the test properly prepares drivers for the demands of modern roads.

“This year will see the introduction of independent driving into the test, to help candidates demonstrate their ability to drive without step-by-step instruction. We believe that this added element will lead to better and safer drivers.”

Facts and figures:

• the test became compulsory on 1 June 1935, after being introduced on a voluntary basis on 16 March the same year
•  the test was suspended during World War II and the Suez Crisis – examiners were put in charge of fuel rationing instead until 1975, candidates still had to demonstrate hand signals
• the theory test was introduced in July 1996

Drving Instructors in Bedford would like to wish the Driving Test a Happy 75th Birthday!

Bedford and District Driving Instructors thought that the following article would be of Interest for Learner Drivers working toward passing their tests.

The article is from GMTV and covers items such as average pass rates by geographical area, average number of hours to prepare for the practical test and the importance of being discriminating in the selection of  Driving Instructor to best suite the individual Learner Driver.

The article, in full, can be found here

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

Results of the Christmas crackdown on drink driving show that drink and drug driving is still a problem, despite hard hitting advertising and increased enforcement activity. Provisional figures show that 430 people were killed in drink-drive accidents in Britain in 2008.

Source:  www.roadsafe.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.
 

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

This is to remind any motorists who may have forgotten that the Law requires us all to keep our vehicle windows and windsreens, lights, indicators, reflectors and number plates clean and clear.

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

 

A worryingly high number of company car drivers may be driving illegally and risking serious injury after a survey by TyreSafe, a partner to the Driving for Better Business campaign.

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

 

 

18 year-old Scott Brooks has become the third and final winner of the Coventry and Warwickshire Young Driver of the Year competition, and has won a Peugeot 107 for his efforts.

Source:  www.carkeys.co.uk

As in previous years, the competition has been organised by Warwickshire County Council, Coventry City Council, the Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA) and the Institute of Advanced Motorists, and sponsored by Peugeot, whose UK base is in Coventry. Fifty drivers were short-listed, from hundreds of entrants, and asked to attend a driving day at MIRA’s test facility which involved a theory test, an assessed drive and car control activities.

The top twelve were asked back for a further day of challenges at MIRA, and Scott – who recently passed the IAM’s advanced driving test – was judged to be the winner.

“I’m so pleased I entered the competition,” he said afterwards. “I’ve won a fabulous brand new Peugeot 107, had a lot of fun on the driving days and got some really useful advice and feedback on my driving from the MIRA and IAM instructors. It’s been a great experience.

“I’d recommend all drivers to take some form of further or advanced driver training. I don’t think you are ever too young or too old to learn more and become a safer and better driver.”

 

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

Guidance from BADDIA now available.

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