Mika Hakkinen takes to the track in Weybridge

FORMER Formula One world champion Mika Hakkinen took to the track at Mercedes Benz World in Weybridge to raise money for charity.

The 'Flying Finn' who retired from the pinnacle of motorsport in 2001, was giving driving lessons to winners of an auction, raising money for Great Ormond Street Children's Charity.

The auction, organised by delivery firm myHermes, gave the highest bidders the chance to take to the track with the double world champion for driving tips on how to deal with extreme weather conditions on the roads, and advanced driving advice.

Double world champion Mika, who won his titles with McLaren Mercedes in 1998 and 1999, said: "It was very interesting to go out on the track with the competition winners and to give them tips on dealing with things that might not come up when you're driving along the road normally. It was a bit scary at times, too.

"I've been a representative for Hermes for a number of years and we do quite a lot of charity work, but I don't like to talk about it. I think that when you do charity work, you shouldn't tell everyone about it to make yourself look good. I think that is wrong."

Mika was out on the track all day on Wednesday with the auction winners, but found time to sign a few autographs and have some photographs taken.

He added: "I really enjoy meeting new people and to be able to raise money for charity at the same time – it's been a really good day."

We cant offer you Mika Hakkinen for your redhill driving lessons but we do have female and male instructors that can give you day time, evening and weekend lessons. If you would like to book your first lesson then contact us when you are free.

Toyota and Peugeot Citroen car recall and driving tests

At m & m driving school surrey we are not affected by the recall of Toyota,peugeot and citroen cars as we use VW Golfs for our redhill driving lessons. This is the
press release from the DSA regarding the details of the recent recall for Toyota and Peugeot Citroen vehicles:

Following vehicle recall notices issued by Toyota and Peugeot Citroen, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has announced conditions for allowing affected vehicles on the driving test. Recall notices affect the following vehicles with the specified build dates:

Toyota
AYGO (Feb 2005 – Aug 2009)
iQ (Nov 2008 – Nov 2009) The iQ is already considered unsuitable for test
Yaris (Nov 2005 – Sep 2009)
Auris (Oct 2006 – 5 Jan 2010)
Corolla (Oct 2006 – Dec 2009)
Verso (Feb 2009 – 5 Jan 2010)
Avensis (Nov 2008 – Dec 2009)
RAV4 (Nov 2005 – Nov 2009)

Peugeot 107 (Feb 2005 – Aug 2009)

Citroen C1 (Feb 2005 – Aug 2009)

In total, Toyota and Peugeot Citroen are recalling around 320,000 UK-based vehicles. As yet, VIN number ranges have not been released.

Using these cars on the driving test.

If one of the vehicles affected is presented for test, it will only be conducted if either:

The vehicle has a manual transmission gearbox and is fitted with dual controls to help the examiner control the car in the unlikely event of a failure.
Documentation is supplied to show that the remedial work has been carried out – this will usually be in the form of the Toyota or Peugeot Citroen recall letter stamped by the respective dealer and containing written confirmation.

Candidates who cannot proceed with their test should contact DSA customer services to arrange for their test to be rebooked once the remedial work has been done.

As there has been no prior warning of this action, if the test is not conducted the fee will be refunded or a free retest given on the first occasion that a specific vehicle is presented for test. Customers can ring DSA customer services on 0300 200 1122.

Driving school deal saves 400 jobs

The embattled Red Driving School group has been rescued out of administration in a move that safeguards around 400 jobs, it has been confirmed.

LVG, which owns Red Driving School and Red Instructor Training, has been bought by private equity firm Kelso Place, which has previously backed the Smythson luxury stationery brand.

The deal secures the future of the Red brand and Kelso said it had no plans for redundancies.

Red Driving School is the third largest in the UK, while the group's instructor training division is the biggest in Europe, with a network of 22 colleges.

Brighton-based LVG also owns Red Fleet Training, as well as driving instructor accountancy service FBTC, a trade magazine for the driving instructor training industry called ABI News, and Practical Driver Instructor Aids.

Kelso said it made a "significant equity investment" in securing the deal - said to be worth several million pounds.

The driving school group collapsed last week due to funding woes, although administrator MCR stressed at the time that accounts suggested the business was "quite a healthy and profitable operation".

Redhill driving lessons are avaiable with m & m driving school, so if you still feel unsure about your lessons with your red instructor then we can help you.

Still 100% Pass Rate !!

We are very proud of our achievement here at m & m driving school surrey of our pass rate. We are almost into the third mouth of '2010' and we still have a 100% first time pass rate.

Weather you are looking for redhill driving lessons or maybe an instructor who has their check test coming up and would like some check test training we can help you.

With over 23 years experience teaching people to drive with our redhill driving school we fill that there is no one that can't try and learn to drive. We have male and female instructors that can offer you lessons during the day and early evening with Saturday mornings available too.

So with Spring fast approaching maybe its time to think about taking that first step to gaining your independence and book your first driving lesson.

Red Driving School Crashes into Bankruptcy

Landsdowne Venture Group (LGV), the parent company of “The Instructor College” and “Red Driving School” has gone into administration.

The company made a net profit of £3m in the year to October 4 2009, but in the 16 weeks to January 24 lost £2.5m.

LVG employs 400 people in total across three offices, but all the Red Driving School instructors are franchisees.

LVG’s 400-strong workforce includes 200 people at its head office, and 150 spread across two “operational support facilities” in Liverpool and in Bellingham near Middlesbrough. It makes most of its money from training driving instructors who pay fees of about £3,500.

Trainees who cannot afford to pay fees up-front often take out a loan to cover the cost of the course. “The Instructor College” used to offer loans through Barclays but the bank withdrew that facility after huge number of defaults by trainees unhappy with the training they received.

The company that was to become LVG began in 1992 when David little and Nick Buckingham founded Airport driving School in Croydon.

They expanded into instructor training then merged with accountancy FBTC, renaming the joint operation Landsdowne, now known as LVG.

In 2004 they launched the Red Driving School and acquired Letsdrive, after LetsDrive went into administration.

Any pupils that wish to restart their redhill driving lessons and cant contact their red driving instructor then please contact us here at m & m driving school

Car Insurance price increase shock

Car insurance costs rocketed by more than 18 per cent last year.

The jump in premiums was the biggest annual increase since costs began to be monitored in 1994.

According to the motoring organisation’s quarterly index, average premium quotes for comprehensive cover are now 18.7 per cent higher than in 2008.

And a study of the cheapest quotes show rates rose by more than 11 per cent last year. Remember you can help to reduce your car insurance as a newly qualified driving by talking the Pass Plus scheme. Here at m & m driving school surrey we can offer this course once you have passed your test. Weather you had your redhill driving lessons with us or just passed you test in the surrey driving schools area we can help you with Pass Plus, so contact us for more details.

Insurers have been struggling to overcome exhausted reserves while coping with sharp rises in settlement costs and the frequency of personal injury claims.

One in every 20 vehicles on British roads are thought to be driven by uninsured drivers and claims involving them are estimated to add £30 to every annual motor insurance policy.

The DSA are coming down on Driving Test Fraudsters

The DSA (Driving Standards Agency) fraud team have been presented an award for all their hard work. The dedicated team at the DSA have investigated many cases and arrested over 900 suspected criminals.

There are many individuals trying to make money by impersonating a pupil about to go up on test, which makes a complete mockery out of the driving test process.

Identity crime is fast becoming a huge problem in the U.K. and the DSA are working hard to make sure that people are not being passed, which allows them to drive on public roads without being vetted as a safe driver.

When you pass your ADI exams you enter onto the ADI register and you then have to display your ADI green badge in the bottom left side of the windsrceen. Make sure your instructor has his displayed, if he is a trainee then his badge will be pink.
All our instructors here at m & m driving school surrey are fully qualified so your redhill driving lessons will be to a very high standard and with our 100% pass rate still this year we fill we are a good choice.

The team say they will continue to develop their methods and intelligence and work closely with the Home Office, DVLA and Police and Criminal Justice agencies to stop both the fraudsters and the dangerous drivers.

Driving test ban for Toyota

Learner drivers turning up for driving tests in recalled Toyotas are being turned away. The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has issued a statement to all UK test centres warning examiners not to conduct tests in recalled models, fearing faulty cars could cause accidents.

As well as Toyotas, affected Citroen C1s and Peugeot 107s are included in the ban. In a statement issued on its website offering advice to drivers of recalled cars, the DSA has advised that of those affected, only cars with dual controls or a certificate proving remedial work will be used in a test. All cars not fixed are banned. At m & m driving schools surrey we use VW Golfs so the recall will not affect your redhill driving lessons.

But it hasn't stopped some learner drivers from being turned away. Student Emma Harris, 19, was stopped from taking the test in her parents' Toyota Aygo because the examiner mistakenly thought it was subject to a recall. After checking and discovering her car wasn't affected (only automatic versions were involved, but hers was a manual) the DSA apologised.

A DSA spokesperson said: “We are sorry for the inconvenience caused to the candidate in this case and will be providing her with a new driving test date free of charge. We will also be contacting Toyota to see how we can avoid situations such as this.”

Candidates should visit the DSA website, www.dsa.gov.uk, to see a full list of cars excluded from the test before attempting to take it.

The 3 Second Rule - What is it !

Many accidents occur every year due to drivers not leaving enough distance between themselves and the vehicle in front.

Braking distance refers to the distance a vehicle will travel from the point the brakes are applied to when the vehicle comes to a complete stop.

Road conditions, speed and weather conditions can all affect the time it takes for your car to come to a complete stop. Many cars have ABS antilock brakes which helps decrease braking distances on most road surfaces in most weather conditions, it prevents tyres locking and the car skidding. However, in order to get the most out of antilock brakes, you must know how to use them. Here at m & m driving school surrey we use cars fitted with ABS, so you will be taught how to use it.

The thinking time that it takes an individual to respond to a hazard is the same regardless of speed. If you were in a car travelling at 60mph it would take around 4.6 seconds for you to stop the car. Therefore a 3 second rule applies. Guidelines suggest that you leave at least a 3 second gap between you and the car in front and even more of a gap when the weather is bad.

It is also recommended that drivers take the occasional refresher lesson with a qualified driving instructor, to get the most of out their driving ability and to eradicate any bad habits they may have picked up. If you are looking for redhill driving lessons or just refresher lessons at affordable prices then contact us.

Police in two-day motoring clampdown

SPECIAL Constables took part in a two-day clampdown on motoring offences last weekend.
The officers issued 42 fixed penalty tickets for drivers using a mobile phone, not wearing a seatbelt or for speeding.

A further 37 motorists were given words of advice during the operation, which took place in Todmorden and at the other end of the Calder Valley in Brighouse. Officers said it had been a success.

Sergeant Julian Hartley, Specials co-ordinator for Calderdale Police, said: “The work that special constables do over the course of a year is very important.

“They are volunteers who give up their free time and do an excellent job.

“They again showed their true value by carrying out an important operation in areas where motoring offences are regularly identified as key priorities by the local community.”

The operation took place to mark the national Specials Weekend which recognises the constables’ hard work and dedication to policing.

The theme of this year’s operation was road safety. Wheather you are taking your redhill driving lessons or just driving around surrey you must not use your mobile phone on the move,

Stuart Clarke, senior section officer for Calderdale Specials, said: “Taking part in the national operation has been a good opportunity for Calderdale’s Special Constabulary to get involved with an area of policing that is often of concern to the local community.

“It also highlights the variety and diversity of work that Special Constables can do.”

Drink-drive law ’should include scooters’

A ROAD safety charity is calling for a change in the law after the case against a woman accused of being drunk while driving her mobility scooter was dropped. We don't offer lessons in how to drive scooters at m & m driving school but can offer redhill driving lessons at very affordable prices.

Teresa Bolton, 69, of Polonia Court, Oldham, was arrested and charged after being found almost three times over the legal drink-drive limit while in control of the scooter.

But the case against her was withdrawn when prosecutors discovered invalid carriages were exempt from the drink-drive laws.

Now The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa) says drink-driving laws should be applied to all vehicles that use public roads. Mrs Bolton had already appeared in court twice and had pleaded not guilty.

At one of the hearings, magistrates were told that she was driving her mobility scooter on Chapel Road on September 18 last year after attending the funeral of her friend.

The police were called when a taxi driver claimed she had damaged his vehicle and she was given a breath test.

She was then taken back to the station where a second test found she had 301mg of alcohol in 100ml of urine. The legal limit for driving is 107mg.

Mrs Bolton was later charged with driving a motor vehicle with an alcohol level above the limit, but the case against her was eventually dropped at Oldham Magistrates’ Court last month.

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said invalid carriages were exempt under legislation.

Headach over Toyota recall

New safety fears have been raised about some of the Toyota range, with as many as 2.3million cars in the United States being recalled with a large amount of driving instructors in the UK using Toyota's this is a very worrying time for all driving schools offering surrey driving lessons.
Here at m & m driving school surrey we use VW Golfs so this will not affect your redhill driving lessons.

The Japanese car maker announced the recall after a potential design problem with the accelerator. It was found that the accelerator was sticking and not returning to the idle position.

Toyota looked into certain isolated cases and concluded that the floor mat may explain why the problem was occurring. However, there have been over 100 reported incidents, including 17 crashes and 5 fatalities thought to be linked with the faulty cars.

This is not the first recall for Toyota and comes with a huge price, as Toyota tries to recover from last year’s recall which saw its first big loss in 60 years.