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The New Year is upon us, and what better time to learn to drive than now! Whether you’re a Birmingham University student returning from your Christmas break, or a sixth former back to college, or anyone who’s made a New Year’s resolution to learn to drive in 2012, then give me a call on 07816 656833 and take the next step towards gaining your full driving licence.

Last week, Mike Penning – the Road Safety Minister – announced at the Institute of Advanced Motorists’ annual launch, that learner drivers would be allowed on the motorway network if they were in dual controlled cars, and supervised by a driving instructor. 

 

Although motorway driving won’t be compulsory or included in the driving test, I believe this change is a very sensible move. It will encourage more drivers to take formal training in motorway driving.

 

As yet, no timescale has been announced other than that the law will be changed at some point next year (2012)

 

See this article in the Telegraph for more details.

Looking for a Christmas present idea for somebody special?   Why not buy a Christmas voucher from South Brum Driving School which will entitle the lucky recipient to a package of driving lessons.  The two packages on offer at a discounted rate are as follows:

5 driving lessons:  £80 (saving more than 10%)

10 driving lessons £153 (saving more than 20%)

Further lessons may be purchased and added to the gift voucher at the usual rate (see prices).

To buy a voucher or for further details call Ceri on 07816 656 833
* Terms and conditions apply

* Voucher may only be used by pupils who are new to South Brum Driving School
* Only one voucher per pupil

 

South Brum Driving School has just signed a partnership deal with Theory Test Pro, a company offering mock theory tests and hazard perception tests online. There are numerous options so that you can choose to sit a full 50 question test or just take shorter 10 question tests if you don’t have the time to take a full one. There is also an online version of the Highway Code on the site to assist you if you are having any problems. These mock tests are a great way to gauge your level of knowledge, and to help you to know when you are ready to take your theory test. The best thing about this offer is that it is entirely free to pupils of South Brum Driving School! Alternatively you could buy one of the many packages out there such as DVDs and CD-ROMs, but these can cost you up to £15.

If you wish to take advantage of this opportunity, then speak to me and I will email you a unique password so that you can access the tests.

If you’re considering starting driving lessons with South Brum Driving School then you can access a sample of these tests by following the link below.

For more details visit http://southbrum.theorytestpro.co.uk/

 

Following on from my last post about learners on motorways, it has been announced in the last week that the Department for Transport is to launch a consultation on raising the speed limit on motorways in England and Wales from the current 70mph to 80mph. If the speed limit was raised it would bring our speed limits into line with much of Europe including France and Germany where the limit is 130kph (81mph).

 

There are many arguments both for and against the raising of the limit such as cars being far safer now than in 1965 when the 70 limit was first introduced. Increased speeds would decrease travel time, allowing the country to be more productive, but would also raise carbon emissions from vehicles.

 

There is opposition to the proposal within the cabinet, with Energy Secretary Chris Huhne reported as being concerned about pollution and Health Secretary Andrew Lansley being worried about the impact on road safety. But Philip Hammond, Transport Secretary said,

"Increasing the motorway speed limit to 80mph would generate economic benefits of hundreds of millions of pounds through shorter journey times."

He also went on to say that he didn’t think that the change would have a significant impact on road safety.

 

The consultation has only just begun, with a view to possibly introducing new legislation in 2013. I’ll be following the process and will try to keep this blog up to date with any developments

I’m often asked by learners why they can’t do any lessons on motorways. After all, as soon as you pass your test you are entitled to drive on motorways straight away without having had any training on them. It sounds like a sensible question to me, and there is a lot for the powers that be to think about when reviewing policies that address this question.

 

Some of the arguments used by people against having learners on motorways are that learners don’t have the skill levels to drive at high speeds. Or maybe learners will hold up other traffic on the motorway causing frustration to other drivers; perhaps a learner will inadvertently hog the middle lane; and a driver can take a pass plus course or motorway lessons after they pass their test anyway – not many do though!

 

But currently learners are allowed to drive on dual carriageways where the national speed limit of 70mph for cars and motorcycles applies. The skills used when driving on such a road are pretty much identical to driving on a motorway – good awareness of traffic both in the distance and around you, smooth lane changes for overtaking, high speeds, using slip roads on and off the main carriageway. If you take your driving test at the King’s Heath Test Centre in Birmingham then there is a good chance that the A435 Hollywood bypass, near the Maypole roundabout, could be a part of your test route.

 

I would suggest the main difference that new drivers see between a motorway and a dual carriageway is a psychological one. This could be due to the lower volume of traffic, two lanes not three (not all motorways have three lanes however) and the lack of the name “motorway”.  Surely part of the psychological problem that some inexperienced drivers who have passed their test have with motorways, is the fact that they are built up to be something different and difficult to drive on. If that were not the case surely they could have gone on them as learners?  I believe that allowing learners (who are assessed to be ready and have the necessary skills by their instructors) onto the motorway network would actually help to improve the standard of driving on motorways as a whole. How often do we see drivers on motorways that seem to lack the skills required to change lanes, so they sit in the middle lane thereby reducing a perfectly adequate three lane road into a congested two lane road? Surely being taught how to drive on a motorway can only be a good thing in the long run?

 

So what can be done about this? In July the first of a series of meetings aimed at planning the future of the driver training industry was held. At this meeting was Mike Penning, the minister for road safety, three senior DSA officials and a number of others who are involved at a high level within the driver training industry. Among others, the subject of learners on motorways was raised. Some ideas such as allowing learners deemed competent by their instructor and accompanied only by their qualified instructor, not a parent or other supervising driver, onto motorways were proposed. The question of accessibility to motorways was raised. Some learners may live 80 plus miles from their nearest motorway (I did when I learnt to drive in Mid-Wales) should this be compulsory or voluntary for learners. If it was compulsory, it was discussed whether the use of high speed dual carriageways count as sufficient for the training record (again, where I learnt to drive the nearest high speed dual carriageway was 50 miles away).

 

There is clearly much to debate, but I am glad that the debate is finally taking place. After this series of meeting has been completed, the findings will be reported in an impact assessment document, and it will be down to Government Ministers to make the final decision on the way to proceed. I look forward to some progress being made in this important area, where there are currently deficiencies in the adequate training of drivers.

Pupils taking driving lessons with South Brum Driving School will now benefit from learning in a brand new Hyundai i20. I’ve chosen this car because it’s packed with features to help with both the comfort and safety of its occupants. These include air conditioning, traction control, anti-lock brakes (ABS), electronic stability program (ESP) and six airbags, not to mention the Eco Drive Indicator which helps the driver know when to change gear for optimum economy. The i20 has been awarded with a Euro NCAP safety rating of five stars.

I think that the i20 is easy and enjoyable to drive as well as being one of the safest small cars on the road, and I hope that you will enjoy having driving lessons in a relaxing learning environment.

 

If you’re looking for a local driving instructor, you may be interested to know that the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has launched a free online directory of fully qualified instructors, searchable by postcode.  One of the benefits of using the directory is that you can now find instructors, like myself, who have signed up to the voluntary continuing professional development (CPD) scheme and the voluntary code of practice which sets out the professional standards expected in the industry.  Hopefully this means that it will be easier for you to make a more informed decision when choosing a driving instructor.

For more information and to search the DSA directory of driving instructors, click here.

From the end of June 2011 some new insurance laws will come into force.  In short, these laws will mean that any registered vehicle owned by you will have to be insured, even if it’s not on the road. If a vehicle is uninsured the registered keeper could face a £100 fine, have their vehicle clamped, impounded or destroyed, or even face a court prosecution and up to £1000 fine.  For more details and some useful information on how to avoid any penalties follow this link to the direct.gov website.

Under plans announced today by Transport Secretary Philip Hammond, police will have the power to issue fixed penalty notices to drivers deemed to be driving carelessly, as opposed to having to issue summons for court proceedings. The penalty would be up to £100 and three points on the driving licence.  In today's press Hammond said "We hope to allow [the police] effectively and efficiently to address poor driving skills and behaviour on our roads, while at the same time freeing up court and police resources to tackle the really dangerous drivers that are the real problem on our roads."

Some examples of careless driving could include tailgating, overtaking on the left or cutting up other motorists on the road. These along with other "boy-racer" type activities could result in the new fixed penalty tickets.

 

Along with the new powers for giving fixed penalty notices, a number of other measures have been announced, such as the closing of loopholes which have allowed many people to get off drink driving convictions (the right to request a blood sample be taken, thus wasting time waiting for a doctor during which time the alcohol levels have diminished). Disqualified drivers would have to undergo training and perhaps take a further driving test before regaining their licence and courts will be encouraged to make more use of their existing powers to seize vehicles for more serious offences.