Road crashes are the single biggest killer of young people in the UK with almost 1,200 killed or seriously injured on the roads every year. Young drivers, especially those under 20, are nearly 12 times more likely than those aged 35-65 to have caused a fatal crash than to have been innocently involved in one.
Meanwhile, with an estimated up to 200 road deaths and serious injuries a week resulting from crashes involving at work drivers, more employees are killed and seriously injured on Britain’s roads while driving on behalf of their employer than in any other work-related activity.
Therefore, inexperienced, recently qualified 17-24-year-olds who are driving on business are likely to be at the very highest risk of being involved in a crash.
As a result, the Government is anxious to promote a wide range of measures to help young drivers stay safe when they are on the road.
Among the wide range of measures proposed by the Department for Transport in its ‘far-reaching ‘Learning to Drive’ consultation document was additional pre and post- driving test training.
Meanwhile, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents with help from the Government-backed ‘Driving for Better Business’ campaign, which is managed by RoadSafe, will launch a new guide in the spring to help businesses improve the road safety of young drivers.
A new survey by the campaign among its almost 40 ‘business champion’ fleets discovered that not only do 90% of respondents want to see a post-test driving for work qualification for youngsters, but 71% of those questioned don’t believe the current ‘L’ driver training and testing process prepares 17-24-years-old for the challenge of at-work driving.
While the majority (76 per cent) of ‘business champion’ fleets allow young employees to drive on business – 24 per cent don’t – many impose restraints on them as part of their safe driving procedures. Those measures include:
• 48 per cent of ‘business champion’ fleets restrict the size of vehicle young employees are allowed to drive
• 33 per cent restrict the performance of the vehicle
• 19 per cent ban youngsters from taking to the road in adverse weather conditions
• 14 per cent ban them driving at night.
As the Government continues to compile its 2011-2020 road safety strategy of which a greater focus on preparing youngsters for the hazards of driving is expected to play a key part, the new online RoSPA guide will highlight key safety issues for employers to deliver in workshops.
Guide content is based on a series of 12 pilot workshops attended by up to 15 young drivers devised by RoSPA and hosted by a cross-section of employers. The forthcoming guide will contain the workshop structure and materials and a guide to delivery.
The aim of the workshop is to develop young drivers’ knowledge that driving for work has ‘issues above and beyond what they probably assimilated when learning to drive’ and to help them understand how they can develop additional skills required when driving for work.
Following publication of the guide hopes are high that employers will host their own workshops and use the booklet-based guidance to improve their young drivers’ safety thus addressing the skills and training gap.
Caroline Scurr, director of the ‘Driving for Better Business’ campaign, said: “I am not surprised that our ‘business champions’ want to see an improvement in the skills of young drivers.
“A range of factors put young drivers at particular risk, including their lack of experience, their weakness in identifying potential hazards and some attitudes, such as over confidence.
“Deadline pressures, unfamiliar routes and making frequent delivery stops can make driving for work very different to driving at other times and issues such as these are not covered during ‘L’ training.”
The young drivers’ workshop delivery guide will be available in March on the RoSPA website – www.rospa.com.
With all memories of summer now firmly banished, it’s time to start thinking about winter driving safety in a new online video series from Continental Tyres featuring BTCC racing driver Fiona Leggate
11.24.2009 – Driving in the winter can be a challenging experience at the best of times, but if your car tyres aren’t in the best condition, it can become extremely dangerous too. Fortunately, Continental Tyres know this, and have recruited an expert to help with their new winter tyre safety campaign, someone who is no stranger to throwing a car around the tarmac in extreme conditions: British Touring Car Championship racer Fiona Leggate.
In a new series of online videos focusing on four important topics of winter driving and tyre safety, Continental and Fiona provide simple and straightforward advice on the following subjects:
Tread Depth – The tread depth of your car tyres can affect driving in adverse weather conditions. In this video, easy ways to check tread depth are demonstrated, even using something as simple as a 20p piece
Tyre Pressures – Having the right pressures in your car tyres and knowing how to check these is vital. With handy tips and sound advice, this video has everything drivers need to know about tyre pressures this winter
Tyre Damage – Damaged car tyres can be extremely dangerous. By following the advice in this video, drivers can check their own tyres for damage easily and quickly
Tyre Sealant Kits – Car tyre sealant kits are an easy and fast way to quickly get back on the road in the event of a puncture, as the final video in this series demonstrates
“I’m in the unusual position of not only being a racing car driver, but also a mother” says Fiona, “Being a mother means that – now more than ever – I’m equally concerned about the performance of tyres off-track, as I am on it. That’s why I’m making these videos for Continental”.
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.”
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.
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.
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
You’re never too young to learn to drive, according to Mercedes-Benz World. Its academy aims to cut accidents involving the most vulnerable road users.
My views on driving are directly opposed to those of my children. They want to get behind the wheel of a car at the first opportunity; I don’t want to attend their funerals.
This isn’t just helicopter parenting. I shove them on to public transport and bully them into going to the park unaccompanied. But driving is different, because the statistics are blood-chilling.
Even Anthony Hamilton, Formula One world champion Lewis’s proud father, admits to terror when his son passed his test. “The first time your child leaves the driveway and turns into the road, that’s when the fear comes in,” he says.
As well it might. One in five new drivers has a crash within six months of passing the test, according to Brake, the road safety charity. A further 70 per cent report near misses. In 2006, 300 newly qualified drivers and their passengers were killed and 10 times as many were seriously injured – not to mention the casualties among those they plough into.
The figures are scary enough to make me grateful for the prohibitive £2,000 it would cost me to insure my extremely sensible 17-year-old daughter to drive my tiny electric car, which has a top speed of 40mph. So what on earth am I doing watching my 10-year-old son, George, driving around a circuit? This is no kart track. He’s in a proper car – a Mercedes-Benz A-class – and going horribly fast…
When I next dare look up, I see that the lunatic adult sitting next to my boy is now encouraging him to put his foot down. Then he’s screeching to a sudden stop. Now he’s whirling around in a terrifying skid. And I’m paying £80 an hour for this Driving Experience, which is open to anyone more than 1.5 metres tall. I must be both completely mad and/or awash with money.
Not so, argues Mika Hatakka, a Finnish psychologist and key player in many EU projects designed to improve (make safer) the training of drivers. “The UK is one of the safest countries in Europe to drive,” he says. “Your death rate is the lowest after Malta, the Netherlands and Sweden. But one of the black spots is still 17-year-old drivers. It’s not a problem just for the UK – everywhere the youngest drivers are the most at risk.”
It seems perverse to imagine that the solution is to start children driving at an even younger age, but those behind the Driving Academy at Mercedes-Benz World, near Weybridge in Surrey, argue that this is the case. In the past two years they have given 15,000 lessons to under-17s, some as young as my son. Max Jukes, 12, has had several lessons and loved it. “No one at school could believe I had driven a real car,” he says.
Max’s mother, Jane, believes the lessons have done wonders for his confidence. “You don’t have to be academic or sporty to learn to drive. I treat his lessons like my daughters’ piano lessons. At least I am spending money on a useful skill,” she says.
Jane maintains she’s not just an indulgent parent. Having experienced the pain of knowing a young person who died in an accident, she’s drawn to the Academy’s claim that early training saves lives. The argument is that young drivers are top of the risk table for two reasons: they lack driving experience and they are immature show-offs. Starting lessons at an earlier age gives them more experience before they take their test; it also takes the edge off their idiocy.
“The Swedes,” Hatakka says, “reduced the age at which people could start driving by a year, giving them 18 months to practise before taking the test at 18. The average number of hours they had spent behind the wheel before passing rose from 50 to 120 – and the accident rate dropped by 40 per cent.”
That’s a lot fewer poignant bunches of wilting flowers at the roadside. If 16-year-olds are going to clock up more hours before being let loose on the roads, they will have to do so off-road, in places such as the old Brooklands circuit where the Driving Academy (which teaches pre- and post-licence skills) is based.
The restriction turns out to be an advantage: the learner doesn’t have to deal with other drivers and, off-road, it’s possible to experience speed, skids and emergency stops that learners on the road can’t try before taking the test. “If you know how to control a vehicle before going on the road,” Hatakka says, “when you go into traffic you are less stressed because there is less pressure on the information processing capacity.”
No doubt it is a good thing to have mastered gearchanging before dealing with the vagaries of other drivers, but it still seems extravagant to start a child on driving lessons years before he or she is within sniffing distance of the test. Not so, according to Andrew Catlin, an instructor at the Driving Academy. He has now stopped teaching skid control to my son, and although the experience doesn’t seem to have thrilled him quite as much as his grinning student, his nerves don’t appear to be shattered.
“The funny thing about teaching younger people,” he says, “is that every time an instructor takes a 13-year-old out for the first time, the verdict is: ‘The child is a genius.’ Driving is like learning a musical instrument – the earlier you start the better. Those who learn before the age of 15 or 16 not only learn fast, they are still open to instruction and are respectful.”
Maybe, but it’s expensive. “They don’t forget what they have learned and will need fewer lessons aged 17,” he points out. “It could even work out cheaper for the parent as insurance companies are considering giving a year’s no-claims bonus to young people who have completed our course because it covers many more skills than are needed to pass the driving test.”
Kart racing, of course, can be less expensive and more widely available. Won’t that suffice as a means of acquiring road sense and getting the urge to speed out of the system? Catlin shakes his head. “Karting is about racing. It’s like playing a live video-game. In fact, it’s the opposite of proper driving instruction where you learn precise control, parking and manoeuvring through obstacles,” he says.
The Driving Academy plans to start similar courses for young drivers at off-road facilities all over the country. But, at present, there are precious few opportunities for the under-17s to get behind the wheel for real, despite a number of driving simulators. The British School of Motoring runs courses in 79 locations, the minimum age being 15. An alternative way to make new drivers safer (and reduce insurance premiums) is to enrol those who have passed the test on a Pass Plus course before letting them loose; the BSM, AA and the Institute of Advanced Motorists all run them.
Other precautions would include insisting on a new driver not carrying passengers during the first few months: the crash rate is five times higher when the new driver has the distraction of two or more passengers, according to research in the United States. Even without drink or drugs – obvious no-nos – the risk of a crash is higher when a driver is tired, so night driving is a bad idea, at least to begin with.
But, take heart. Each hour’s experience and near-miss helps. A month after setting out on the roads, the risk of a new driver being involved in an accident is half what it was on that first day. And it keeps on dropping.
Many driving schools in Bedford such as Txt-Drive (www.Txt-Drive.co.uk) offer the Pass Plus course to new drivers. It develops existing driving skills and teaches new driving skills e.g. motorway driving, all weather driving, night driving etc. The cost of the Pass Plus course in Bedford will usually be covered by the savings made on the reduced car insurance premium.
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.”
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.
You might think you’re the world’s canniest driver, but do you motor about with a sound knowledge of your fuel consumption and carbon emissions?
Learning to drive in an energy-efficient way helps the environment and makes financial sense, whether your “wheels” constitute a massive off-roader or an eco-friendly runaround. Smart driving techniques are also safer and reduce the wear and tear on your car.
1 No warm-up required
Who hasn’t turned on the car’s engine before getting in on a cold winter’s morning, just to warm it up? It’s worth remembering modern cars are designed to set off straight away, so warming your engine is needless and wastes fuel. It also causes engine wear – as does keeping the engine running when you’re stationary. If you’re stuck in traffic it’s best to turn your engine off completely as most modern cars are designed to use virtually no extra fuel to re-start.
2 Check your revs
Being an energy-efficient driver means being an attentive driver – so keep an eye on your revs. Change gear before your rev counter hits 2,500 rpm in a petrol car, or 2,000 rpm in a diesel.
3 Slow down and keep it smooth
The golden rule of energy-efficient driving is to stick to the national speed limit. You use 25% more fuel driving at 85mph than 70mph, so take it down a notch. Driving smoothly, avoiding sharp acceleration and braking, also saves fuel and is a safer way to drive.
4 Considerate cooling
As air conditioning can significantly increase your car’s fuel consumption, try to reduce its use as much as possible. At slow speeds, it’s better to drive with the windows rolled down.
5 Off with the rack
When it’s not in use, remove your roof rack, bike carrier or roof box. The air resistance caused by roof accessories tampers with your car’s aerodynamics and elevates fuel consumption. And clear your boot out too – carrying additional weight reduces your miles per gallon.
6 Share it out
Starting a car pool at work, or your child’s school, saves money for all concerned. It’s also a good way of introducing kids to the benefits of being eco-aware as they’ll enjoy the ride to school with their mates in tow.
7 Service time
Regular services enhance your car’s safety and lets you monitor how efficiently your car is performing. Check tyre pressure regularly too; driving on soft tyres increases fuel consumption and tyre wear.
8 Make plans
Plan your journey well ahead, using other forms of transport for short trips if you can. Avoiding congestion and road works also saves fuel – and your temper may be less frayed, to boot.
9 Calculate your MPG
Driving efficiency is measured by your miles per gallon (MPG). You can link to an easy MPG calculator at
guardian.co.uk/ford-econetic. The calculator lets you compare a variety of different makes and models to see which scores more highly for both MPG and CO2 emissions.
10 Contemplate a new car
If it’s time to replace your old gas-guzzler for something with better eco-credentials, you may still be able to take advantage of the UK Scrappage Scheme, a £2,000 discount against a brand new car or van (3.5 tonnes limit). You can find out more at ford.co.uk/scrappageincentive
If you’re in the market for a new car, and are looking to prioritise both cost efficiency and environmental impact, investigate the new Ford ECOnetic range. ECOnetic is a new approach to the way Ford makes its cars, based on the philosophy that it’s possible to have fuel-efficient cars that don’t compromise on driving experience.
The range – which has been developed using clever refinements, rather than relying on different fuels or expensive batteries and bolt-ons – includes the new Fiesta ECOnetic, Focus ECOnetic, Mondeo ECOnetic and new Transit ECOnetic. The MPG figures are outstanding and the CO2 emissions are some of the lowest of any manufacturer. For information, visit fordeconetic.co.uk.
Bedford driving schools and driving instructors in Bedford can offer Eco-Safe driving lessons to drivers wanting to improve their driving. Search for Bedford driving instructors of driving schools in Bedford on www.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!