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This year, the driving test in the United Kingdom is 75 years old! Back in 1935 there were 200 examiners across the country. Now there are around 2000. The current test has changed quite a bit  – it’s considerably longer and involves more reversing manoeuvres, not to mention the relatively recent additions of the theory test, hazard perception test and more recently still the “Show me, tell me” element of the practical test. It’s a constantly evolving beast, with more changes ready to be introduced later this year with an independent driving element set to be included.

Currently Britain has the second safest roads in Europe, and this is surely in part due to the high standard of driving required to achieve a pass. So happy 75th birthday driving test. Here’s to another 75 years. Mind you I very much doubt I’ll still be teaching people to pass it by then………

Whilst doing a little driving test research, I stumbled across this newspaper article from 2006.  Not sure exactly how true it is but I found it quite amusing all the same…

With snow and ice covering most of the side roads, and many of the main roads in the area, very few tests have taken place this week. The tests are being cancelled for reasons of safety for you the candidate as well as for the examiner.

With no imminent end to the cold weather in sight, the outlook is a little bleak for tests in the week of Monday 11 January onwards. If you have a test booked during this period, all you can do is to follow the instructions on the appointment letter and call your test centre on the day of the test. There is normally someone in the office from 8.00am. If your test is cancelled due to adverse weather, then you will receive a new date and time in the post in due course.
 

The phone number for the Kings Heath Test Centre (Maypole) is

0121 430 5294

                         To all past, present and prospective pupils,
                     Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year!
                                           
                                            Best wishes from
                                 Ceri at South Brum Driving School.

Recently an incident occurred on one of my driving lessons just after the Maypole roundabout near the Kings Heath test centre, during which my pupil had to take evasive action due to a small child of no more than 6 years of age running straight across a pelican crossing that was showing a green light to drivers. Fortunately, my pupil had reduced her speed on approach to the crossing, in anticipation of such an incident.  But many drivers would not have, and the consequences could have been horrific. 
 

This got me thinking about how road safety education seems to have changed over the years. Nowadays we are quite likely to see adverts targeted towards drivers. For example drink/drive campaigns, kill your speed and beware of bikers are a few that crop up from time to time. The emphasis is always on the driver. But there seems to be very little high profile road safety education for pedestrians (although many local authorities do have various initiatives within schools). This hasn’t always been the case as this video clip shows. Although it’s simplistic in its approach, I and many of my friends still remember the ad clearly, and the message has stuck with us throughout our lives, despite us being incredibly young when it first aired on TV.
 

A number of my pupils have commented recently on how learning to drive has made them better pedestrians, giving them a better understanding of the responsibilities they have to keep themselves safe whilst walking. If the above and other similar video clips were still being aired (or at least updated versions of them) they may appeal to the younger pedestrian, and who knows, maybe save some lives.

South Brum Driving School is pleased to be able to offer you the opportunity to learn to drive in an automatic car for the first time.  Although I don’t teach automatic lessons myself, I have teamed up with another instructor, who teaches automatics in the South Birmingham area.

So whether you live in Selly Oak, Moseley, Kings Heath, Northfield or any other surrounding areas, and you want automatic driving lessons, then please contact us, either by phone, text or email and I will put you in touch with Alan, who’s an experienced, high grade instructor, specialising in automatics.

Other areas covered include Harborne, Hall Green, Longbridge, Balsall Heath and anywhere in between.

From 28 September this year the theory test for car drivers, motorcycle and moped riders will include a case study. It will take the form of a scenario on which five multiple choice questions will be asked. This case study, and the questions based on it will appear at the end of the multiple choice phase of the test and make up the final five questions of the fifty asked. 

The reason for the inclusion of a case study is to improve the assessment of the understanding of the candidate, rather than just their ability to memorise answers. Unlike the theory questions, the DSA won’t be publishing the case study scenarios.  If you know your theory and understand it, then the case study element shouldn’t be a problem for you.

If you’re a nervous driver, or think that you will be, don’t worry – you’re not alone.

 Research carried out by the RAC has found that approximately 10 million drivers in the UK suffer some kind of driving anxiety disorder, with women being more commonly affected. For example, it is estimated that one in five female drivers refuse to drive on a motorway at all.

Some of the more common fears that learners have are fear of large vehicles coming towards them, fear of impatient drivers behind them, fear that they themselves will cause a hold up by stalling and fear of judging when to go at roundabouts.  These fears tend to lead to more mistakes, thus compounding the problem and reinforcing a negative driving experience.

But these fears can be overcome, and hopefully the following three points can help with that:

1) Relax before a lesson

Driving lessons themselves can make people anxious. Pupils sometimes worry that they won’t understand what’s asked of them, or that they’ll look stupid if they can’t do it, or if they have to ask again how to do something.  These should never be fears that you have. I (and any good driving instructor) will be patient, willing to answer any questions, however many times they are asked, and will never think anyone is stupid for finding driving hard.  We don’t bite! The reason that you are having lessons is that you can’t drive yet, so it stands to reason that you won’t be able to do everything straight away.

2) Understanding your needs

 As your instructor I will make every effort to ensure that each lesson you have is tailored to your specific needs. For example, I won’t be making you drive around the Maypole roundabout on your first driving lesson! We’ll progress at a rate which suits your learning requirements. It’s always better to walk before you can run, and there’s little point trying to get across a busy junction in the rush hour if you’re still struggling with clutch control, so we’ll work on your clutch control in a quiet environment. That way you’re far less likely to make mistakes, which lead to a lack of confidence in the future. If you’re finding steering a problem, we’ll work on that in a safe environment with wider roads, and get you proficient before expecting you to negotiate a tricky narrow street with numerous parked cars and other obstructions.

 3) Breathe

I know it may sound crazy, but learner drivers who get stressed often forget to breathe! If you’re finding a situation stressful, maybe before doing a parallel park on the driving test, it’s a good idea to take several long deep breaths.  This is a very simple but effective method of relaxation which can help to reduce nerves so that you feel calm and in control once more – hopefully bringing you closer to achieving your goal of learning to drive and passing your test!

With the swine flu virus starting to take a hold in the Midlands, we’re all becoming more conscious of the fact it could hit any one of us. The risk is increased the more people we come into contact with.  With this in mind, I now have a policy to use disposable disinfectant wipes at the end of each driving lesson, and thoroughly clean all areas of the car that a pupil may touch (steering wheel, gear lever, hand brake, door handles, indicator lever, windscreen wiper controls, seat adjustor bar, electric window buttons and all other ancillary controls and switches)   So please don’t be offended if at the end of your lesson as you walk away you see me set to work cleaning. It really isn’t anything personal, just a way to reduce the risk of cross contamination at this time of need.

Also, if you have symptoms of flu and we have a driving lesson booked then please call me to cancel - you won’t be charged for the lesson even if it’s short notice, so don’t worry about that.  

Fingers crossed for happy flu-free motoring!!

On Thursday 4 June an article on South Brum Driving School was printed in the Birmingham Mail Extra newspaper in the  business focus of the week section. To see and read the article, please click on the image below.