Bedford Driving Schools - search for driving schools, driving instructors & driving lessons in Bedford.
December 4th, 2009 admin
Many motorists loathe motorway driving, according to a survey from the AA Driving School.
Young drivers and women motorists are the least confident about motorway driving, the poll of 2,000 motorists found.
In their first year of driving, nearly 20% of men and 40% of women avoided motorways altogether, the survey showed.
Overall, 14% said they lacked the skills needed for motorway driving, with motorists in north-west England (22%) the most reluctant to venture on to motorways.
The poll also showed that only 44% of those aged 18-24 and only 44% of women were confident about driving on motorways. This compared with figures of 65% for drivers aged 55-64 and 70% for male drivers.
The survey also revealed that even three years after passing their test, 11% of men and 28% of women did no motorway driving.
AA Driving School instructors said driving too slowly, not merging safely when joining the motorway and not keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front were the most commonly observed motorway driving faults.
AA Driving School director Simon Douglas said: “The evidence suggests motorways are our most feared and avoided roads, yet statistically they are safer than the alternatives.
“By avoiding them you are at best missing out on the speed and convenience of motorway travel and at worst putting yourself at greater risk on A roads.
“Tailored motorway tuition with a fully qualified instructor can help you build the skills and confidence to drive safely and get the most out of our motorway network.”
Copyright © 2009 The Press Association. All rights reserved.
From : Google News
www.Bedford-Driving-Schools.co.uk recommends that people take ‘refresher lessons’ or the ‘Pass Plus course’ with a qualified driving instructor or driving school if they would like help in dealing with motorway driving.
Bedford driving schools like : Txt-Drive and Pat Driver Training, may be able to advise you.
Posted in Bedford, Driving, Driving Instructors, Driving Lessons, Driving Schools, Pass Plus, Road Safety | 1 Comment »
December 4th, 2009 admin
As Christmas approaches and the party season gets underway, new research from AXA shows British drivers are less likely to jump behind the wheel while under the influence and are generally more law abiding and safety conscious than almost all its European neighbours.
In its annual survey of driver behaviour among ten European countries, AXA found that British drivers are among the most conscientious in Europe. The research covered eleven different driving behaviours, many that are governed by legal requirements as well as some general courteous or sensible driving habits.
Overall rankings for safe driving based on eleven behaviours
1 Ireland
2 Great Britain
3 Spain
4 Switzerland
5 Italy
5 Belgium
7 France
8 Germany
9 Portugal
10 Luxembourg
Other highlights from the research showed:
4% of British drivers admit to driving while under the influence of alcohol against a European average of 21% and a massive 40% in Luxembourg. Only the Irish come in lower at 3%
Brits are also the least likely to:
drive without a seatbelt – 9% versus an average of 17%. A huge 37% of Italians go unstrapped
use a mobile phone while driving – 12% versus an average of 30%. In Luxembourg, Italy and Portugal, 38% of drivers are still ‘talk and drive’
When it comes to speeding, jumping lights and overtaking on a solid white line, Brits fall below the average rates across Europe
In all but two areas, British drivers performed above the average, however, when it comes to driving for more than two hours without a break and overtaking on the ‘wrong’ side of the motorway it seems we could learn something from some of our European neighbours. Only motorists in Luxembourg and Germany are more likely to drive for long periods without breaks and the Belgians and Portuguese are the only nations to be ‘undertaking’ more often than British drivers.
Chris Voller, Head of Motor Claims at AXA said: “These findings reveal British drivers are generally pretty safe behind the wheel and it is especially pleasing to see, in the run up to Christmas, such a low level of drink driving. It goes against the image of the binge drinking Brit and we are delighted to see that, at least when it comes to driving, we show some abstinence. For the small percentage of people who do drink and drive, they should be aware that once they start driving again, having a conviction will seriously affect their chances of getting cover – and as it is illegal to drive without it, it makes sense not to put yourself in that position in the first place.
“We appreciate that deterrents across Europe do vary and this may have a positive bearing on some of the behaviours – in particular Great Britain has a large number of speed cameras. But it is good to see Brits score so well not just on legal requirements but on behaviours that are simply a matter of safe driving such as tailgating.”
Brits are probably amoung the most law abiding & sensible drivers in Europe due to the driving lessons and driving test they have to go through. Driving instructors must qualify with the DSA to become Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs). Driving instructors will have passed 3 tests to ensure they meet the standards required. Once qualified all driving instructors should display a GREEN licence in their car window. (If they display a PINK licence it is because they are NOT fully qualified).
Driving instructors in Bedford have a huge knowledge about learning to drive & driving lessons. You are advised to contact a driving school in Bedford to learn to drive. Some driving instructors even give ‘refresher lessons’ to those that may lack confidence having passed their driving test.
Posted in Bedford, Driving, Driving Instructors, Driving Lessons, Driving Schools, Road Safety | No Comments »
November 16th, 2009 admin
Pat Driver Training, a driving instructor in Bedford, registered her details on www.bedford-driving-schools.co.uk.
Pat Driver Training is a driving school in Bedford offering driving lessons & driving instructor training.
Bedford driving lessons are in a Vauxhall Corsa (manual) and are from £21.00 per hour (based on block booking 10 hours).
To book driving lessons in Bedford with the Pat Driver Training driving school please call – Patricia on : 07890 690372.
Pat Driver Training offer a female driving instructor in Bedford & the surrounding areas.
The driving school in Bedford, Pat Driver Training, are available 7 days a week and give driving lessons in Bedford for : 1, 1.5 or 2 hours.
You can visit the Pat Driver Training driving school website : www.patdrivertraining.co.uk
Posted in Bedford, Driving Instructors, Driving Lessons, Driving Schools, New Driving School or Instructor | No Comments »
October 12th, 2009 admin
DSA has carried out a risk assessment on the Toyota iQ, and due to the lack of all round vision it has been decided, with immediate affect, that it is unsuitable for driving tests.
The vast majority of hatchbacks, saloons and estate cars are suitable for driving tests; but increasingly the designers of cars are producing models with sweeping lines. These vehicles have good forward vision but large blind spots to the rear, which present examiners with problems of observation.
Vehicles supplied by motor manufacturers have been through the type approval process, but this focuses on vehicles from the driver’s point of view and, does not necessarily make the vehicle suitable for driving tests.
Vehicles for test must allow examiners all round vision so they can see approaching vehicles, particularly when the vehicle is at an angle to others during reversing manoeuvres and when emerging at a junction with the vehicle at an angle to the major road.
If you want to learn to drive in Bedford in a particular car – you can search for a car on the website www.bedford-driving-schools.co.uk
From : DSA website
Posted in Bedford, Driving, Driving Instructors, Driving Lessons, Driving Schools, Driving Tests, Road Safety | No Comments »
September 27th, 2009 admin
DRIVING instructors in Swindon are calling for a change in the law to make resitting your driving test compulsory for people over 70 years of age.
Currently there is nothing which requires pensioners to sit their driving test again, even though some people won’t have sat a test in the first place since the exam was only introduced in 1935.
However, some driving instructors are now saying veteran drivers should be made to resit their test, since pensioners often lack awareness of the road rules and are slower to react behind the wheel.
Brendan Whitiskie, of B3 Motoring School, in Rodbourne, said: “Most pensioners do not understand what the road signs are.
“I find I have to explain things a lot slower to them before they grasp the idea.
“It is not that they are bad drivers but they are certainly not the best.
“They are very cautious about what they are doing and get confused really easily.”
Mr Whitiskie believes that everyone, irrespective of age, should have to retake their test every five years because road signs and driving rules are constantly changing.
He said people lose their quality of driving too easily once they pass.
Jeffrey Syed, of Safedrive Motoring School, agreed there was a need to make older people resit their test.
“It would be a great idea to make people over 70 sit another test,” he said.
“A lot of them do not know the rules and regulations. I do not doubt their experience on the road, but their reaction time is a lot slower and we need to assess if they are still capable of being on the road safely.
“There is a risk older people are too set in their ways and not able to adapt to how rules have changed.
However, one instructor believes a refresher course would be sufficient, rather than making older drivers sit a test again.
Richard Griffin, also of Safedrive, said: “So many things have changed since they learned to drive.
“The volume of traffic has increased massively and the Roads“>roads are more complicated.
“It is in everybody’s interest they sit a refresher course and get back up to speed. But making them take their test again is a step too far.”
At present, a driving licence must be renewed at the age of 70 and every three years from then on.
This does not involve re-sitting the driving test, but filling out a form.
There are currently three million licence holders in the UK over the age of 70. It is expected this will rise to 4.5 million by 2014.
But Margaret Hall, 73, of Wolsely Avenue, Park South, has been driving for 52 years.
She said there would be no need for her to resit her test.
“I’m more than capable of still being a good driver despite my age,” she said.
“My grandson took his theory test last week and I would probably fail that now.
“But nothing can beat experience on the road. I have plenty of that.
“If they want me to resit my test then fine, because I would pass it I think. I’m a safe driver and haven’t got those shaky hands just yet.”
From : This Is Wiltshire
Driving schools in Bedford offer driving lessons and refresher courses to anyone who feels that they may need some advice or help with driving in Bedford. Driving instructors in Bedford are fully qualified (ADIs) or partly qualified (PDIs). You may want refresher driving lessons in Bedford to deal with motorways, parking or reversing or just driving in general.
Posted in Bedford, Driving, Driving Instructors, Driving Lessons, Driving Schools, Road Safety | 2 Comments »
September 27th, 2009 admin
Samoa yesterday became the first country ever to switch from driving on the right to the left.
From 6am the South Pacific island nation changed lanes – as locals marked the historic event by honking their horns. The government had already announced a two-day public holiday to reduce the number of initial road users.
And alcohol sales were banned for three days to prevent accidents.
The switch comes so Samoa no longer has to pay the high price of importing left-hand drive cars all the way from Europe and America.
It will be able to bring right-hand vehicles in from Australia and New Zealand, which is much closer to home. Despite predictions of traffic chaos, the changeover went smoothly with no accidents reported in the first hours.
In the capital Apia there were cheers and applause as traffic moved through the streets, watched by policemen at checkpoints.
However angry locals blocked roads for several hours in one village in protest. And a group called People Against Switching Sides failed in a last-minute legal attempt to halt the change.
The last countries to swap sides, going left to right, were Nigeria, Ghana and Yemen in the 70s.
LEFT:
About 76 countries, many former British colonies. They include Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Guyana, Suriname, Thailand, Indonesia and Japan.
RIGHT:
Driving on the right is the norm in the United States, Canada, the rest of Europe and about 161 other countries ranging from Afghanistan to Zaire. In China everyone drives on the right – apart from people in Hong Kong and Macau.
History really is on Britain’s side
We drive on the left because our road regulations were originally based on horse transport. Horses historically kept to the left. Some claim it was to allow riders to have their sword hand closest to an approaching enemy.
But it is more likely to be that riders traditionally mount and dismount from the left. Travelling on the right hand side of the road would have forced a rider to dismount into the path of oncoming horses and carriages.
The first legal reference in Britain to an order for traffic to remain on the left was in 1756 on London Bridge.
Napoleon, above, spearheaded the continental move towards riding on the right – possibly because he was left-handed.
This idea might be feasible in a small country like Samoa and could have some benefits.
But converting our roads to make motorists drive on the right rather than the left would be a massive, complex and dangerous process.
It would be a logistical nightmare with every road sign, roundabout and junction having to change. Speed cameras would have to be swapped round. The costs would be huge.
From : Mirror website
Posted in Bedford, Road Safety | No Comments »
September 25th, 2009 admin
Bedford Rugby Club is giving away a BMW Mini along with one years free insurance to one lucky person!
Bedford Rugby Club along with ‘kind support’ from Elms BMW, Lifesure Group and Bedfordshire On Sunday are raising money for the additional travelling costs for their British & Irish Cup games this season.
The draw to win the BMW Mini will take place on December 26th 2009 at the Bedford vs London Welsh game.
For more details please visit the Bedford Rugby Club website.
Posted in Bedford, Car Insurance, Driving | No Comments »
September 25th, 2009 admin
Bedford driving school Txt-Drive is the first driving school in Bedford to be listed on Bedford-Driving-Schools.co.uk
Bedford-Driving-Schools.co.uk allows learner drivers in Bedford to search for driving instructors and driving schools in Bedford and the surrounding areas. Users can search for driving schools or driving instructors in Bedford by price, car, instructor gender, working days, special offers, transmission, driving lesson duration or the driving instructor’s/school’s first time pass rate.
If you are looking for driving instructors in Bedford then Bedford-Driving-Schools.co.uk should be your first choice website!
Posted in Bedford, Driving, Driving Instructors, Driving Lessons, Driving Schools, New Driving School or Instructor | No Comments »