Learning to drive at 11 !!

Underage driver training at Goodwood promotes good practice for when youngsters are finally able to start thier surrey driving lessons and drive on public roads.

 

Jasmine at the wheel of one of the Mini One automatics, with instructor Neil Sugarman

 

 

On the face of it, novice under-age drivers, sporty Minis and one of the fastest race tracks in the country doesn’t sound like a combination designed to promote road safety. But with the Mini Drivers scheme at the Goodwood Motor Circuit in West Sussex, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

As its name suggests, Mini Drivers is aimed at youngsters. And it involves them driving Minis. Thereafter, any notion of throwing juveniles into cars and watching as the carnage unfolds is a nonsense. The scheme was Goodwood’s brainchild and its aim is to fill the gap in educating children about driving before they actually take to the road. It’s already proved popular, with more than 800 young people taking part in the year the course has been running.

When Goodwood circuit director Mark Featherstone starts throwing out some facts about young drivers it sounds almost absurd that school-age training isn’t taken more seriously. There are four fatalities a day involving drivers under 21. One in five young drivers crash within six months of passing their test. And 50 collisions a day are caused by 18-year-olds at the wheel.

“We’re passionate about improving these statistics by changing the way young drivers are taught,” Featherstone says. “A driver can pass their test and they’ll never have driven on a motorway. They’ll never have driven at night. And they’ll probably never have driven on a country lane. That has to change.”

To enrol for Mini Drivers, age isn’t a factor. The scheme has had participants as young as nine. Height, however, is vital: so that drivers can reach the pedals, they must be more than 4ft 10in tall. With that box ticked a couple of months ago, Jasmine, my daughter, aged 11, was signed up to see how Mini Drivers works in practice.

Are driving test officers too horny?

COMMENT:

Judging by a certain rumbling we heard this week, it would appear that the integrity of the South African driving licence system is under threat because testing officers are having some trouble inside their trousers. Something of a battle to resist the charm of a gorgeous pair of legs, more specifically.

But shouldn't we rather be blaming those opportunistic ladies who like to strut their stuff whenever there's something to gain?

That seems to be what our ever-vocal transport minister, Sibusiso Ndebele, implied earlier this week.

The Daily Sun quoted him as saying: “No miniskirts for women taking a driving test. It's fine if you like wearing miniskirts, but they shouldn't be extra short on the day of the test as they distract male testing officers.”

According to Sapa, the ministry spokesman has since denied that Ndebele spoke out against women wearing miniskirts during licence tests, citing the newspaper report as inaccurate, and stating that he was simply telling officers to carry themselves appropriately and professionally.

Paul from south nutfield driving lessons said “They (the officers) should not be interested in how applicants are dressed but should pay more attention to carrying out their duties properly.”

That should be a given, surely.

Any ladies out there who've 'dressed down' in the hope of gaining a licence?

Moves to ban foreign language driving test

MINISTERS are considering banning people from taking driving tests in foreign languages amid safety fears.

The UK government is concerned that “political correctness” means thousands of drivers have been granted UK licences despite not being able to read road signs in English.
Under current rules, the theory test can be sat in 19 foreign languages, and candidates are also permitted to attend the practical test with a translator.
Transport Minister Mike Penning said it was “incredible” that 93,407 car driving theory tests were sat in a foreign language last year.
Department for Transport figures show 18,927 were in Urdu, 12,905 in Polish and 298 in Albanian.
Some 230 Russians took the test with a translator, 452 Romanians and 21 Bulgarians.
More than 1,500 people also took the theory tests to be qualified to drive a bus in a foreign language.
The taxpayer apparently meets the cost of translating theory tests into foreign languages – but people must meet the cost of paying for their own translator during the practical test. In total, about 7 per cent of all theory tests are not conducted in English.
Tory MP Penning said he was considering how to change the rules to ban the “politically correct” foreign language tests.
“I find it incredible that Labour thought it was a good idea to let people without a basic grasp of English loose on our roads,” he said. “Road safety should be our priority, not political correctness.
Paul from simply driving lessons surrey said “Instead of spending taxpayers’ money on costly translation services and interpreters we want to explore whether that money would be better spent on actually helping people to learn enough English to be able to drive safely.”
But the details of how an English-only test regime would be introduced without falling foul of European and anti-discrimination laws are still being hammered out.
The coalition government has already announced plans to tighten up the driving theory test.
The Driving Standards Agency previously published the multiple choice questions and answers that people would face in the tests. However, from January 2012, learner drivers will have to answer unpublished questions.

Two arrested in fake driving test probe in Coventry

TWO men have been arrested over allegations that they used fake IDs to take driving tests on behalf of complete strangers.

Police swooped on the Coventry test centre in Bayton Road, Exhall, last month following an investigation into the practice – which has already led to other arrests nationwide.

The men were due to take driving tests on September 13.

The matter has now been handed over to the Driving Standards Agency who will decide how to proceed.

Paul from reigate driving lessons says, too many people ring up just to  book the car for test, yes they say I can drive. Never have I taken a pupil to test that was not mine.

 

If the pair are found guilty of the offence they could face lengthy jail sentences.

Andy Rice, head of the DSA’s fraud and integrity team, said: “Driving test impersonation is a serious offence which puts law abiding road users at risk.

“We investigate all suspected incidents and work closely with the police to make sure that those responsible are brought to justice.”

Karl Hinde, the chairman of Coventry Professional Driving Instructors’ Association, said that tricksters had approached him so they could arrive at the Coventry test centre in a recognised vehicle.

He said: “I was asked before if I was prepared to take pupils on short notice tests.

“I reported it to the authorities.

“These people claimed that they could drive but needed my car to take a test.

Traffic signs updated, clutter and red tape reduced in biggest signs review in 40 years

Unnecessary Whitehall bureaucracy will be tackled and costs for councils reduced following the biggest review into Britain's traffic signing system for 40 years, announced today by Transport Minister Norman Baker.
The government hopes that the review will dramatically reduce the number of signs councils need to use by relaxing rules - such as by removing the requirement for some signs - including those to indicate the start of a pedestrian zone, to be placed on both sides of the road.
The new framework includes measures to update and improve traffic signs to make sure that they reflect the way we travel now, as well as providing clear information on prohibitions on the road network. Changes will include: 

• measures to improve cycle journeys by allowing journey times as well as distances to be added to signs on cycle routes and making it easier for councils to use Trixi mirrors to improve visibility of cyclists at junctions and 'no entry except cycles' signs to allow contra-flow cycling
   
• a new sign warning lorry drivers that a road is unsuitable for their vehicles. This will help to prevent situations where lorries following sat nav systems use inappropriate roads, sometimes causing disruption to the local road network and delays to their journey
   
• measures to simplify some parking signs after research showed that, although overall understanding of traffic and parking signs among drivers is good, there is scope for some signs to be made clearer
   
• allowing councils to use innovative new measures such as pedestrian countdown timers and diagonal crossings without government approval

Paul from redhill driving lessons says this is a giant step forward to bringing our signs up to the 21st century, lets hope the councils will use this new power wisely.

Strictly's Craig Revel Horwood gets in L of twist on the road

ACID-tongued judge Craig Revel Horwood got MINUS FIVE out of ten from his instructor on his first driving lesson.

Craig, 46, has just started learning to drive after buying a classic Triumph Stag.
The judge — who gave Robbie Savage just two points on the first Strictly show — has been keeping fans abreast of his progress on Twitter.
He revealed his first surrey driving lesson saw him stall FOUR times, drive over THREE kerbs and struggle to master the biting point.
He told one fan: "I suggested a 2/10 for my pulling out and the instructor said he'd go more into the minus area of about -5! How rude!!!! Haha."
His second lesson went slightly better as he hit the pavement just twice. And he got a big ten for not rolling backwards on a hill.

Cha cha car ... Triumph stag like Craig Revel Horwood's

Craig said: "Second driving lesson went well. Only two kerbs hit and two stalls! 10/10 for my hill handbrake start!"
However, pedestrians in Camden, North London, are warned to watch out today. Craig, who is now gearing up for his third lesson, told comedian pal Julian Clary: "I am learning in Camden so watch out darling — especially on pedestrian crossings. I tend to ignore them." His lessons are about to get more intensive as he goes out for two hours a day — and is even learning to park. But TV Biz reckons there is still as much chance of seeing Craig on Top Gear as Jeremy Clarkson wearing sequins and a spray tan.

Dangerous drivers to face longer jail terms

Dangerous drivers who seriously injure others could spend longer in jail thanks to a new criminal offence, Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke announced today.
The new offence of 'causing serious injury by dangerous driving' will carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison and allow the courts to impose tougher punishments on dangerous drivers who devastate the lives of others. 
The changes will be taken forward as part of the Government's Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill.
For the vast majority of other dangerous driving cases, the maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment provides the courts with sufficient and proportionate powers to punish offenders. 
Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke said:
"Dangerous driving can destroy lives and have a devastating effect on victims and their families and friends.
"We have listened to the victims of dangerous drivers, their families, MPs, judges and road safety groups and their experiences have directly informed these changes.
"Making our roads safer is a priority - five people died on our roads each day last year, so we need to do everything we can to further improve safety." 
Ellen Booth, Brake senior campaigns officer said:
"Brake wholeheartedly welcomes this new offence which will help to provide justice to families whose lives have been ripped apart by dangerous drivers.
"As a charity that supports bereaved and seriously injured victims of road crashes, we repeatedly see victims' families being grossly let down by the justice system, which only adds to the terrible trauma they must endure.
"This new offence finally means that serious injury is recognised within the title of the offence, and this recognition is vitally important to victims and their families. It also means that dangerous drivers who inflict serious injuries can expect to see higher sentences to better reflect the terrible trauma and injuries they have caused."
Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said:
"The vast majority of motorists are safe and responsible but the wilfully reckless minority who put lives in danger must face serious penalties.
"We are taking action to help the police tackle drink and drug driving, as well as to crack down on uninsured and dangerous drivers, and this new offence will mean the courts can properly punish those who inflict serious injuries. 
"These measures - together with improved surrey driving lessons educational courses for drivers who need to improve their skills - will help ensure Britain's roads remain among the safest in the world."
Andrew Howard, Head of Road Safety at the AA said:
"Dangerous drivers who do so wilfully choose to take risks and should face the consequences of their actions.
"These law changes should make sentences more proportionate to the devastation dangerous driving causes and should also deter people from driving badly."