...the guy in the yellow mini

When do you check your centre mirror?

2011-05-27T08:43:00.002+01:00

It seems odd to me that in these days of 'coaching' and 'taking responsibility' instructors are still telling their pupils to check their centre/interior mirror...every 5-6 seconds. I've been on coaching days when highly respected experienced instructors have advocated and used this method. It annoys me when I have a 'new' pupil who has had previous instruction and you ask "when would you look in the centre mirror?" and they say "every 1-2-3-4-5-6 seconds" sometimes "every 2-3 minutes".

I was always taught that the best way to get someone to do what you ask is to get them to understand 'why?' give them a reason for doing it, isn't this what we tell our kids? "don't do things without a reason". What reasons do we give for checking every 5-6 seconds?

When a pupil moves out to overtake a stationery bus (for example) instead of saying check your right door mirror, wouldn't we usually ask "is it safe?" thus prompting them to check that right door mirror.

So, when to check the centre mirror? Think back to the hpt, doesn't that mouse click mean a centre mirror check? Do we not check the centre mirror before we slow down?

I have always believed in giving my pupils a reason for checking the centre mirror, so it's simple.

1. Every time you have to lift your foot off the gas pedal, check behind, you slowing down has an effect on anyone behind you.
2. Every time you THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE TO lift your foot off the gas pedal look in that centre mirror.
3. Every time you push down on the gas pedal look behind you.

Think how many times during a drive you have to lift your foot off the gas pedal,
Fixed hazards such as roundabuts, traffic lights, roadworks, cross roads, junctions, bends in the road, non fixed, brake lights, slow moving traffic, the list is almost endless - all reasons to check behind you giving you the comfort that if you do need to slow down more you can do so safely.

Also how many things do you see that MIGHT cause you to slow down, pedestrians straying close to the kerb, animals, cyclists again the list is endless.

Mentioning this to an experienced and respected instructor it was 'batted back' with that won't work on a straight road! Seriously! how many straight roads do we drive on that doesn't have something that would prompt a centre mirror check! This is the UK even our Roman built 'straight roads' have bends in them and traffic on them!

I'm sure that every one agrees that if you have a reason for doing something you are more likely to do it, give your pupils a reason for checking the centre mirror, rather than trying to remember whether they should count in seconds or minutes before checking again. What if a pedestrian walks out in front of them between counts?
I've had several pupils comment recently that using this method was just so logical, why hadn't their previous instructor mentioned it?
I used to have a sales guy working for (some years ago now) the way he used to decide when to put on his car headlights was when he'd counted, I think it was something random like 28, other cars with their light on, mad? But probably no different to counting seconds between centre mirror checks.

Intensive driving courses from 121

2011-05-07T16:34:00.003+01:00

There are driving schools that offer courses that claim 'pass your test in a week'. Sounds great doesn't it, so let's break this down a little...
The DSA research show that someone who passes their driving test has had 47 hours of professional tuition + (PLUS) a minimum of 20 hours private practice. If you adopt the 'drive in a week' principle (say a 5 day working week) 47 hours (based just on professional tuition) means 9.4 hours per day! Can you concentrate on wielding a lethal weapon for nearly 10 hours per day? Plus within this time you have to revise for and pass your theory test!
I accept that time can be saved by your passing your theory test before starting your training, but that requires time and resources.
Ok, let's suppose that you are a natural and you've turned up for the course with the theory test already passed, you get to a reasonable standard within the week, you then have to book your practical test, what's the waiting time for a practical test these days? agreed there are some areas that have shorter times but the average waiting time is 6-7 weeks!

What we offer at 121, is a professionally structured learning experience, 1 to 1 learner centred instruction. You will have access to the DSA theory question bank, plus many hazard perception clips, we will book and pay for your theory test, ensuring that you pass it first attempt (should you not pass, subsequent attempts you will have to pay for yourself), the teaching process is at your pace and designed to ensure that you get maximum from each lesson. We believe that taking into all considerations 6 hours per week (3x2 hour lessons) is suitable for most learners, this can be altered as the driving test looms! We allocate 40 hours of training to you, which is ample for most learners, if you are ready and pass your test before any extra hours are carried over to Pass Plus. When you are established with your training we will book and pay for your practical driving test (should you not pass any subsequent tests are at your expense).
We believe that this is the common sense approach to passing quickly, and the cost?
go to our web site....http://www.driving-lessons-leeds.com/Intensive%20Driving/

2011

2010-12-30T16:25:00.000Z

Why am I looking forward to 2011? and why should my pupils be exited about their driver training.

2011 is the year when I'm really going to embrace 'coaching' not as a philosophy but as a natural way to perform driver training.
Coaching is something that I have always done in previous 'jobs', over the years come in for a great deal of flack from Managing Directors (you know who you are John England!)because allowing staff to make there own decisions and set their own targets wasn't the way they had always done things. I've even been accused of having no control because my staff never through tantrums and I didn't shout at them! To me this just seemed the natural way to do things. We even use coaching with our children,don't we, we always get them to think for themselves, make their own decisions and mistakes and to learn from them - isn't this exactly what driver training coaching guru's are telling us?

I don't for one minute think that because I've read a few books and been on a couple of courses that I know it all, like we tell our pupils, it's constant learning, make a mistake learn from it and do it better next time. The hard part is going to be stopping myself slipping back into 'telling' especially for someone who's such a control freak! One thing that the 'Instructor College' was good at is ramming home "don't let the pupil take control!"

So, all new pupils will be presented with a bound training folder that covers all the key elements of learning to drive, they now have control because they know what they are going to be taught, and more to the point they can plan the lessons, they do that week what they want to do, obviously within reason - but any objections to wanting to do overtaking on dual carriageways in the 1st lesson will lead to a better understanding. I'm also making the 'elements' signing off the responsibility of the pupil after all they are the ones who have to feel comfortable with it.
I just wish I had the Adobe Illustrator skills to make the training folders more presentable, but hey, they look ok.

All pupils get access to the Theory test data base on-line, this means that they can practise wherever they have Internet access -- no excuses! Doing it this way also allows me to keep an eye on what they are doing, how much practice they are getting and what type. It's going to be an interesting year Theory test wise, especially for those starting their driving towards the end of the year, but as I've always tried to drum home with my pupils is that they must retain the knowledge, not just use it to pass a test and then forget it. Maybe the threat of not having access to the test question bank will be enough to get them to learn correctly if not i will come up with some method to achieve this.

Hanging around the edges of coaching last year, my pupils reduced the number of lessons to pass their test to 22-30, the ones that I really let off the leash nearer to 22 than 30. This year I want to get the average down to 20-24 hours. I don't see this as taking food out of my mouth, "are you more likely to recommend someone who gets you your licence after 20 hours or someone who takes 40+?" In theory this will also allow me to put my prices up way above average, do the sums. 40 hours at £20 = £800, 20 hours at £25 = £500, which instructor would you go with?
Ok, not every ones the same, some will take longer, but then they are going to take longer anyway!

So, despite the back end of 2010 were a nightmare because of this 'Thatcherite' government and the weather, I'm looking forward to 2011 with a big grin on my face because i know that the future is bright!

Theory Test

2010-10-11T10:13:00.000+01:00

Because of the changes in technology and how we use technology I have decided to change the way in which I supply Theory Information to pupils.

More and more people are using Apple Mac's, NetBooks are becoming more prevalent and more people like to have access to things via Smart Phones. Taking all this into consideration rather than supplying 'beginners' with the PC DVD to get practice on the Theory Test questions and Hazard Perception clips I have made available to ALL my pupils on-line access to all the theory test questions plus hazard perception clips. I hope that this will make life easier for everyone concerned.

To get access to the Theory Test questions you can go via my home page www.driving-lessons-leeds.com and click the link, or directly http://121.theorytestpro.co.uk a "secret word" is required to get access to the questions.

Out of time

2010-09-30T20:07:00.000+01:00

Independent Driving

2010-09-19T17:32:00.001+01:00

4th of October brings changes to the driving test, there has been a number of articles about the changes in the press and also on TV, a lot of it inaccurate.

Several years ago when the DSA introduced the safety check questions to the test (show me tell me) the press had a field day:
- pupils were going to have to change wheels,
- details of how to change the oil were to be imparted... all a load of rubbish as everyone found out.. the popular press never let the facts get in the way of a good story!

So what is going to happen for those taking the driving test after October 4th?

1st check out the video on this link http://www.driving-lessons-leeds.com/Driving_information/Independent_driving/Vid_on_independent_driving.html this was made last year when quiet a number of 'guinea pigs' had independent driving added to their driving tests.

2nd Good News! you will only have to do one manoeuvre! however you don't know which one it is so you still need to be confident with all the ones you could get. Also, do remember thet the 'controlled stop' although a manoeuvre is over & above the Turn in the road, reverse park etc

3rd You will be pulled over at some point in the test (remember to check mirrors!) and the examiner will inform you that for the next 10 minutes or so you will be driving independent of instruction,
i.e. the examiner will not being telling you 'next right' roundabout straight ahead 2nd exit' etc.
You will be given either verbal directions "follow A647 the turn right onto A657 at the roundabout turn right" or you will be shown a diagram that you will have to follow, just as if a friend has drawn directions for you. Or a mixture of both.

The idea is that you have to remember the instructions while not letting it effect your driving - you will not be failed for not following the directions to the letter! Your driving has to remain the main focus, if you take a left instead of a right, or miss a sign telling you where to turn, it's no problem (as long as correct driving procedures have taken place eg MSM).

Most pupils approaching test standard will already have had experience of driving independently, without really noticing - "You can find you're own way home from here" "let's drive over to the test centre, take which ever route you want". However, more test specific independent driving will be carried out in the later stages of your tuition.

In the mean time - don't panic!

Independent Driving

2010-09-19T17:32:00.000+01:00

Showmetellme

2010-09-15T12:48:00.000+01:00

This is now available on my web site as a pdf with 'under the bonnet' images
http://www.driving-lessons-leeds.com/Relevent_info/Showmetellme%20Information/showmetellme.html
SAFETY CHECK QUESTIONS – SHOWMETELLME

The first 4 questions relate to under the bonnet. To unlock the bonnet release the lever on the inside of the passenger door. To raise the bonnet lid, lift slightly so that you can get your fingers underneath and feeling the catch (underneath the e), push catch upwards and the bonnet will lift (there is no need to hold the bonnet up). To close, pull down and drop from waist height.

Q1 lift bonnet and identify where you would check the engine oil level and how you would check that the engine has sufficient oil.
A1 When the engine is cold, remove the ‘dipstick’ and clean, put dipstick back in and remove again checking that oil is between the 2 markers. If the oil is low you fill via the oil filler cap.

Q2 Open bonnet and identify where you would check the engine coolant and tell me how you would check that you have the correct level.
A2 Point out the coolant Reservoir and show that the coolant is between the min/max markers.

Q3 Open the bonnet and identify where the windscreen washer reservoir is and tell me how you would check that the level is correct.
A3 Identify the reservoir and explain that you would check regularly (particularly in winter when there is salt on the roads) that there is a visible amount of solution in.

Q4 Open the bonnet and identify where the brake fluid reservoir is and tell me how you would check that you have a safe level of hydraulic brake fluid.
A4 Lift the plastic cover on the brake fluid reservoir and show that the fluid is between the min/max markers.

Q5 Show me how you would check the parking/hand brake for excessive wear.
A5 Demonstrate by pulling on the brake and explain that when fully applied it secures itself, holds the car secure and is not at the end of it’s working travel.

Q6 Show me how you would check that the horn is working (off road only)
A6 Press horn.

Q7 Demonstrate that the directional indicators are working.
A7 Press the hazard lights button (no need to turn on ignition) and show that lights flash both left/right & front /rear.

Q8 Tell me how you would check that the headlights, sidelights and taillights are working.
A8 Switch ignition on, turn on lights (twice towards front) and walk around car checking that all lights are illuminated.

Q9 Tell me how you would check that the tyres have sufficient tread depth and that their condition is safe and roadworthy.
A9 You would check that you have at least 1.6mm tread depth (use measure if preferred) and you would check the tyre walls for cuts and bulges.

Q10 Tell me where you would get the information on your tyre pressures and how the pressures would be checked.
A10 The information is in the manufacturers guide/manual and you would check tyres (when cold) with a reliable pressure gauge either at a garage or show the one in the car.

Q11 Tell me how you would check the brakes before starting a journey.
A11 Press the brake pedal, it shouldn’t feel slack (brakes worn) or spongy (air in hydraulic system) you should test them as you move away and they shouldn’t pull to one side.

Q12 Show me how you would check that the brake lights are working.
A12 Switch on ignition, apply the brakes and make use of a reflection behind the car, or ask examiner to check for you.

Q13 Show me/explain how to check the power steering is working.
A13 The steering would feel heavy if there was a problem. When you start the car you should feel a slight shudder on the steering wheel this shows that there is power getting through, when you move off the steering shouldn’t feel heavy.

Q14 Show me how you would clean the windscreen using the windscreen washers and wipers.
A14 Turn on ignition, pull wiper arm towards you and hold for 1-2 seconds.

Q15 Show me how you would set the de-mister controls to clear all the windows effectively, front and back.
A15 Turn on ignition, press heated rear window heater to clear rear, switch blower to screen and turn fan up. You could also say that having the air con on will keep the car from misting up.

Q16 Tell me how you would make sure that your head restraint is correctly adjusted.
A16 Should be adjusted so that the rigid (centre) part of the restraint is at ear/eye level.

Q17 Show me how you would switch on the rear fog lights and explain when you would use them.
A17 Switch on ignition and headlights and press rear fog light button. Ensure that warning light comes on. You would use in fog or bad light conditions, visibility less than 100m.

Q18 Show me how you would switch on your main beam headlights and how you would know when they are on.
A18 Switch on ignition and headlights, push light/indicator stalk towards front of car or pull towards you and hold, there will be a blue light on rev counter.

Q19 Tell me how you would know that there is a problem with the ABS (anti lock braking system)?
A19 A warning light will illuminate if there is a fault.

2010-09-01T07:24:00.001+01:00

Further updates to web site are going on. New stacks from the guys at rapidweaverthemes.com mean that at last it's starting to look more like I had planned it. Also, I'm updating the pricing system, splitting the day into peak/off peak, with weekends becoming peak times for which a premium (more realistic) charge will be made. The new pricing will not effect current pupils.

- Posted from my iPhone

How does a driving instructor make money?

2010-08-25T13:07:00.001+01:00

A constant subject that crops up in general conversation with pupils is that driving instruction is money for old rope 'all we do all day is sit there and according to the ads on TV (RED) earn 30-40k each year.
To anyone who may be interested I'm going to dispel a few of these misconceived ideas.

95% of all driving instructors are self employed (I say 95% because there may be some that are paid on a hourly basis by someone like BSM) and there is 2 ways in which we go about our business as a) on a franchise deal with someone like AA,BSM or, b) independent, often under a name like Fred's School of Motoring.

a) Franchise

A franchise is where you operate under the name of a large (usually) company (AA,BSM,Bill Plant etc).
The Franchisee (driving instructor) pays AA or whoever a (usually) weekly fee that varies from about £160 to £250. For this payment the driving instructor gets a car, usually fully insured (some franchiser let you use your own car at a reduced franchise rate) the comfort of being under the umbrella of a large player, big names attract custom, the marketing budget is usually a lot higher and pupils can be targeted - the bottom line for the instructor is that the Franchiser gives him loads of business because the name of AA,BSM etc sells!
As a franchisee all the instructor has to pay for is his fuel.
So how much money can a franchised instructor make?
Well, lets work on a franchise fee per week of £200, Fuel? well my last years accounts says I spend £85 per week so lets use that. Now, we have £285 per week before you start work.
No lets say average lesson price is £20, using the above figures you have to work 14.25 hours before you start to earn any money. On average an instructor will work about 36 hours, much more and the quality of instruction deteriates, your pupils must come first. So, 36 - 14.25 gives (say) 22 hours at £20 per hour which works out at £440 per week. If we say an average number of working weeks per year is 48, we have £440 x 48 =£21120, some way off the 30-40k quoted by RED. These figures don't take into account fluctuations in the working week, pupil holidays, exams, no money! etc so probably the the average number of hours over the year is less than I've quoted. Still the figures give a franchised instructor a living well below the national average.

b)So, how about an independent instructor?

The math is a lot more complicated here because the independent instructor doesn't have a nice little weekly payment that covers car, insurance, maintenance and car tax.

The independent instructor, works only for himself, he has no big name behind him that will bring in a regular stream of new pupils, the independent instructor has to rely on word & mouth (recommendation) or advertising.

Lets take recommendation first, all instructors will agree that the best pupils are the ones that have been recommended by a friend or family, the don't have to be found,sold to or convinced that you can do a job for them, they already know this. However to ensure that you have recommendations you have to do a bloody good job in the 1st place, or no one will recommend you!

Advertising to get pupils can be expensive and time consuming, eating into the hours that you should be spending teaching and earning money. There are so many ways to advertise your wares and some are successful some less so and some a complete waste of time, energy and money. I spent £75 on a very professional (If I say so myself)letterbox stuffer last Christmas, 2000 letterboxes and 3 replies, 1 came on board & passed his test (which is all I needed to cover costs)1 did 4 hours and the 3rd had a family tragedy and couldn't face driving. It paid for itself but I wouldn't regard it as a success.
We can advertise in local papers, yellow pages, Thompson and on the internet, which ever works for a particular instructor, it is however initially going to be hit and miss and therefor expensive.

The benefit of not having a larger company behind you is that you of course are in complete control & there is only yourself to blame if you don't have enough pupils.

This 'vagueness' makes it difficult to have firm figures for the cost of running the business as an independent but i will use information from my last years accounts. Most of my advertising was on web-site development.

Ok, weekly cost of car inc. insurance & tax £89 ( a lot less than the franchise)
Fuel (as above) about £85 per week.
Advertising £28 per week.

This gives your weekly outgoings as £202 divide by £20 per hour, means that you start earning after 10 hours. Then if we work on the 36 hours we had before you will earn £520 per week, over a 48 week year Approximately £25k - still below the national average.
Realistically the number of hours worked are probably nearer to 50 with working on advertising etc.

Again the above figures don't take into account lost days due to pupils sickness,holidays, etc there is also the lost days when the car is being serviced or has to be repaired, there is no franchise backing you up with a loan car. The weather - how could I forget the weather! the snow last winter meant that I worked 4 days the first 2 weeks of this year.

The bottom line is that the sort of earnings promoted and believed by those outside the industry can be achieved, it is however at an expense, most will agree if you work long hours you will not be able to give your pupils (the ones who are paying you) the service the expect, you are also endangering yourself and other by teaching when you are (possibly) not fit.

Rant! the state of sales!

2010-08-05T11:27:00.000+01:00

Just had a long protracted, conversation isn't the right word, argument is probably more exact, with a guy trying to get me to re-subscribe to 'City-Visitor' to ensure that I'm on the first page of google. My reason for not committing to yet another £300 was that in the past 18 months I have not had one referral from their site.

This was impossible I was told most people who came via their site would probably just say that I had been looked up on google and their site not mentioned. I assured him that the information was garnered from google analytics and that they never appeared as a referral site, "rubbish" he said "you must have loaded google analytics incorrectly!" - if this was the case how was I able to check that I was getting referrals from other sites?

We then went back to phone calls, "how many calls per week do you get?" I told him, "well" he said "probably a large number of them probably got my number from their site". I thought I had him now when I mentioned that the number they were showing was a freephone number that I cancelled over 2 months ago!

He took the tac then that only by advertising through them would I appear on the first page of google! I said this was irrelevant as no one ever contacted me via 'City Visitor', and I seemed to be getting a fair number of visits and calls directly through google. He then went on to describe me as stupid and not knowing what I was talking about - despite the facts speaking for themselves.

My main grumble, isn't the call itself, but the tone of the caller - The guy was very aggressive and not prepared to listen to my side of things, surely if a customer insists that something is not working for him, then a work around has to be made, perhaps a trial or similar, you don't imply that your customer is an idiot and doesn't know what he's doing. After many years in sales I find it very disheartening the state of sales these days, they either fall into the category of 'can't be arse' d' or they try to wear you down with aggressive tactics.

Because life can be too serious sometimes...

2010-07-31T15:54:00.000+01:00

funny motor insurance claims
"I was driving along the motorway when the police pulled me over onto the hard shoulder. Unfortunately I was in the middle lane and there was another car in the way.." (Thanks M Robson)
"Going to work at 7am this morning I drove out of my drive straight into a bus. The bus was 5 minutes early.." (Thanks N Bradley)
"I was driving along when I saw two kangaroos copulating in the middle of the road causing me to ejaculate through the sun roof." (from an Australian claim form - Thanks N Shepherd)
"The accident happened because I had one eye on the lorry in front, one eye on the pedestrian and the other on the car behind." (Thanks Sharon Burrows)
"I started to slow down but the traffic was more stationary than I thought."
"I pulled into a lay-by with smoke coming from under the hood. I realised the car was on fire so took my dog and smothered it with a blanket."
Q: Could either driver have done anything to avoid the accident? A: Travelled by bus?
The claimant had collided with a cow. The questions and answers on the claim form were - Q: What warning was given by you? A: Horn. Q: What warning was given by the other party? A: Moo.
"I started to turn and it was at this point I noticed a camel and an elephant tethered at the verge. This distraction caused me to lose concentration and hit a bollard."
"On approach to the traffic lights the car in front suddenly broke."
"I was going at about 70 or 80 mph when my girlfriend on the pillion reached over and grabbed my testicles so I lost control."
"I didn't think the speed limit applied after midnight"
"I knew the dog was possessive about the car but I would not have asked her to drive it if I had thought there was any risk."
Q: Do you engage in motorcycling, hunting or any other pastimes of a hazardous nature? A: "I Watch the Lottery Show and listen to Terry Wogan."
"First car stopped suddenly, second car hit first car and a haggis ran into the rear of second car."
"Windscreen broken. Cause unknown. Probably Voodoo."
"The car in front hit the pedestrian but he got up so I hit him again"
"I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law and headed over the embankment."
"The other car collided with mine without giving warning of its intention."
"I collided with a stationary truck coming the other way"
"A truck backed through my windshield into my wife's face"
"A pedestrian hit me and went under my car"
"In an attempt to kill a fly, I drove into a telephone pole."
"I had been shopping for plants all day and was on my way home. As I reached an intersection a hedge sprang up obscuring my vision and I did not see the other car."
"I was on my way to the doctor with rear end trouble when my universal joint gave way causing me to have an accident."
"An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my car and vanished."
"I was thrown from the car as it left the road. I was later found in a ditch by some stray cows."
"Coming home I drove into the wrong house and collided with a tree I don't have."
"I thought my window was down, but I found it was up when I put my head through it."
"The guy was all over the road. I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him."
"I had been driving for forty years when I fell asleep at the wheel and had an accident."
"As I approached an intersection a sign suddenly appeared in a place where no stop sign had ever appeared before."
"To avoid hitting the bumper of the car in front I struck a pedestrian."
"My car was legally parked as it backed into another vehicle."
"I told the police that I was not injured, but on removing my hat found that I had a fractured skull."
"I was sure the old fellow would never make it to the other side of the road when I struck him."
"The pedestrian had no idea which way to run as I ran over him."
"I saw a slow moving, sad faced old gentleman as he bounced off the roof of my car."
"The indirect cause of the accident was a little guy in a small car with a big mouth."
"The telephone pole was approaching. I was attempting to swerve out of the way when I struck the front end."
"The gentleman behind me struck me on the backside. He then went to rest in a bush with just his rear end showing. "
"I had been learning to drive with power steering. I turned the wheel to what I thought was enough and found myself in a different direction going the opposite way."
"I was backing my car out of the driveway in the usual manner, when it was struck by the other car in the same place it had been struck several times before." "When I saw I could not avoid a collision I stepped on the gas and crashed into the other car."
"The accident happened when the right front door of a car came round the corner without giving a signal."
"No one was to blame for the accident but it would never have happened if the other driver had been alert."
"I was unable to stop in time and my car crashed into the other vehicle. The driver and passengers then left immediately for a vacation with injuries."
"The pedestrian ran for the pavement, but I got him."
"I saw her look at me twice. She appeared to be making slow progress when we met on impact."
"The accident occurred when I was attempting to bring my car out of a skid by steering it into the other vehicle."
"My car got hit by a submarine." (The Navy informed the wife of a submariner that the craft was due in port. She drove to the base to meet her husband and parked at the end of the slip where the sub was to berth. An inexperienced ensign was conning the sub and it rammed the end of the slip, breaking a section away, causing her car to fall into the water. The Navy paid the compensation claim.) (Thanks Jay Kuivinen)
Comedian Jasper Carrott has used funny insurance claims in his stand-up act for a long time, including some featured above. irnan)

More on Pass Plus

2010-06-22T16:46:00.000+01:00

The concept behind Pass Plus was to try to make vulnerable drivers (mainly young men aged 17-22) that little bit safer on the road by having extra tuition so they could learn how to control the car under circumstances that may not have occurred naturally when taking driving lessons, such as driving in the dark, motorways, country roads etc. However, the problem seems to lie not so much in training or experience for that matter but in attitude, this may well be a problem with "us brits" but is more likely a "teenage" issue. The link is to an article from the BMJ carried out in Sweden.
http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/12/suppl_1/i15.full

Independent Driving

2010-06-22T16:40:00.000+01:00

PRESS RELEASE for immediate publication
Due to falling standards of driving in England, the Driving Standards Agency has introduced a new time limited experimental scheme to help identify poor drivers, giving good drivers and pedestrians the opportunity to recognise them whilst driving.
The scheme will run from 11 June to 11 July 2010, and will apply to those drivers who are observed to be driving badly; This includes:

􀀲 Overtaking in dangerous places;
􀀲 Tail-gating the car in front;
􀀲 Driving while using a mobile phone;
􀀲 Braking sharply without notice;
􀀲 Speeding in residential areas;
􀀲 Pulling in or out of traffic without indication;
􀀲 Performing inappropriate U-turns on busy carriageways;
􀀲 Undertaking on Motorways;
􀀲 Generally being an arsehole.

These drivers will be issued with flags - white with a red vertical cross, signifying their inability to drive properly. These flags must be clipped to a door of the car (please refer to the correct positioning in Fig 1
below), and be fully visible to all other drivers and pedestrians.
Those drivers who have shown particularly poor driving skills, must display a flag on each side of the car (see Fig 2 below), to indicate their even greater lack of skill and judgement to the general public.
Fig 1 Fig 2

For their own safety, members of the public are advised to avoid vehicles carrying either single or double flags.

The DSA is keen to stress the time-limited nature of this experiment. Although it is hoped that it will run until 11 July 2010, it may be terminated, without notice, as early as 23 June 2010, depending on early results.

If successful, it is proposed to repeat the scheme every 4 years during the summer months.
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