Police arrest 95 for drink driving

Police in Avon and Somerset have arrested 95 people for drink driving offences three weeks into a campaign to save lives on the roads.

Operation Tonic was launched on June 1, and has seen officers carry out high-visibility stop-checks to raise awareness of the dangers of drink-driving and target repeat offenders.

In the last three weeks, over 23,600 motorists have been stopped, 1,513 have been breathalysed and 95 people have been arrested.

Chief Inspector Polly King said: “The drivers we have spoken to have given us really positive feedback and have been reassured to see that we take a zero tolerance policy when it comes to drink driving.

“Everyone is making the most of the warmer weather we have been enjoying recently – having fun at family barbeque's, relaxing in beer gardens or supporting the World Cup. But I would ask that everyone remembers it is impossible to calculate your drink drive limit and even a small amount of alcohol can affect your ability to drive.

“We will not tolerate drink or drug driving in Avon and Somerset and will be cracking down on those that do so. Our message is clear – if you do drink or drug-drive this summer, you can expect to be caught.”

In Avon and Somerset, seven people were killed and 35 seriously injured in drink-drive related collisions in 2009.

The consequences of being caught drink driving are extensive – including a minimum 12-month driving ban, and you might even find yourself having to take another driving test, which of course means thinking about taking redhill driving lessons again, a criminal record, up to six months in prison and a fine of up to £5,000. Those convicted of drink-driving for a second time are also likely to have their car seized and potentially crushed.

NOTHING SACRED WHILST DRIVING

Police are introducing a new camera system to help catch careless drivers in and around the surrey driving lessons area.

The approach they intend to use has caused much debate and for many they feel it is an invasion of privacy.

The new spy cameras are to be on a mast positioned on top of police vehicles. The cameras will be able to zoom in for some distance and catch drivers who are using mobile phones, not wearing a seatbelt, eating or applying make-up.

The police suggest that introducing the cameras will help reduce road deaths but motorists see it as another way for the Government to cash in.

Drivers caught on camera talking on their phone will automatically be fined £60 and will be given three points on their licence. Anyone caught not wearing a seatbelt, eating or driving unduly will be fined £30.

One worry is that the cameras will reduce police presence on the roads and that their time will be spent surveying the footage rather than combating crime directly.

Some have suggested that the cameras be implemented to catch crimes that really affect society such as burglaries and anti-social behaviour. However, they realise that this is not likely as there is no money to be made doing this.

Drink-driving limit could be cut by third

THE legal alcohol limit for drivers could be reduced by more than a third if the Government agrees with the recommendations of a new report.

Reducing it from 80mg per 100ml of blood to 50mg would save hundreds of lives per year, a Whitehall-commissioned report by leading academic and legal expert Sir Peter North said.

He also recommended the one-year driving ban – automatic for those who exceed the current limit – should be maintained for the new 50mg limit. With a ban you will need to take and pass your driving test again. You will need to think about seeking some tuition, weather its redhill driving lessons or wider surrey driving lessons, m & m driving school can help you to pass your test again.

Sir Peter, who was asked to review drink and drug-driving laws, also called for police to be given greater powers to check for drink-drivers.

Making 51 recommendations in all, he said police procedures enforcing current drug-driving laws should be improved, making it more straightforward for police to identify and prosecute drug-drivers by allowing nurses, as well as doctors, to authorise blood tests of suspects.

Medium-term, he recommended early approval of saliva testing of drug-driving suspects in police stations.

Teens need to wake up to the perils of driving drunk

Underage drinking is our nation’s No. 1 youth drug problem, killing 6.5 times more youth than all illicit drugs combined,” reads a National Academy of Sciences report from 2003. The report was apparently praised by members of Congress and advocacy groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) for bringing underage drinking and driving to the forefront of the federal public health agenda. Yet seven years later, after all the fireworks of public outcry and agitation, the smoke has cleared and there are more teenagers drinking and driving than ever before.

The whole debate about driving under the influence (DUI) — whether penalties are too harsh,you will receive a driving ban, this will depend on your case as to how long. This will stay on your licence for 11 years, and you will have to retake your redhill driving lessons so as to be able to pass the driving test again. Drunken driving is morally wrong — stirred my memory recently when I watched a DUI trial in Gunn High School’s Little Theater. The Santa Clara County Superior Court and Gunn law teacher Patricia Bruegger had arranged for the case, People v. Alexandra Taylor, to be held on campus for an educational experience for about 100 Gunn students, interested community members and the press.

There were all of the formalities of a typical courthouse trial, from a judge to a bailiff to evidence exhibits, but there was something very different about this trial: concerned students were actively involved and even engrossed, taking notes and listening closely to every argument, testimony and judicial instruction. There was even a mock jury of 12 students who rendered a “guilty” verdict after Judge Peter

KEEPING YOU CAR SAFE

A lot of us will go the extra mile to ensure that our vehicle is safe, such as a steering lock or wheel clamp which is a good idea. However, there are some simple tips that we can all follow to minimise the risk of our car getting broken into.

Do not keep any valuables on display such as money, mobile phones, sat navs, stereos etc. One surrey driving instructor had his phone stolen from his car while he went to the door of his redhill driving lesson pupil, so beware !!

Make sure that if you have a mobile or sat nav holder you remove this from the window screen, this is informing a thief that you own such technology.

However, if you forget to remove electrical items and they do get stolen make sure you have written down the make, model and serial number of the items. It will make the items more easily identifiable and harder for a thief to sell on.

Park your car in a garage or on a driveway, this makes it a lot more secure than leaving it on a public road. If you do have to park your car away from home, try to park it in an area with CCTV coverage.

It may sound obvious but make sure that your car is always locked and your windows are shut, even if you will only be away from the car for a few seconds a lot of thieves are opportunists.

Finally make sure you keep your keys safe. It is not only pick pockets that you need to be aware of, but those that can take keys from your property. Do not leave your car keys by the front door as this allows easy access.

CHANGES TO THE UK DRIVING TEST

At present the practical driving test allows learners to be guided along the test routes and given instructions throughout the test. However, from early October this is set to change.

The DSA (Driving Standards Agency) are looking to close the gap between those at driving test standard and those at post test standard and believe that introducing independent driving will help do this.

The test will include a 10 minute period where by the pupil must drive unassisted and will be asked to drive to a destination following traffic signs or drive following a series of verbal directions – prompt cards will be available.

Independent test routes are currently being designed and diagrams being produced.

But don’t panic, this does not mean you have to have the memory of an Elephant, and have to learn all the roads while having your redhill driving lessons, if you get lost or take a wrong turning, you will not fail for this and the examiner will put you in the right direction.

It was initially feared that this new approach would mean a significant number of people failing the test but research has shown this not to be the case. It is hoped that those that do pass the test will have a bit of real life experience on the roads and be able to attack the roads on their own once they pass.

TWO people took their driving test for the SIXTEENTH time last year - and one still failed.

New figures show that almost 800 learner drivers sat it for the TENTH time.

And only 236 of those managed to pass. Not sure who is teaching these pupils, but here at m & m driving school surrey we had a 94% first time pass rate last year. So if you want to start your redhill driving lessons & pass first time then contact us.

The Driving Standards Agency says fewer than half pass at the first go. A quarter succeed on their second try.

About 1.75million driving tests were taken last year. But only 800,000 were successful, according to a Sun Freedom of Information request.

Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne claimed he passed on his 19th attempt after failing because he reeked of booze.

Many of the failures may have skimped on proper professional instruction.

The AA's Simon Douglas said: "Those who learn with friends or relatives see their L-test success rate plummet."

The DSA says it takes about 45 hours of professional training and 22 hours' private practice to pass.

CHANGES TO THE UK DRIVING TEST

At present the practical driving test allows learners to be guided along the test routes and given instructions throughout the test. However, from early October this is set to change. So weatyher you are taking redhill driving lessons or say surrey driving lessons, don't worry, it is not as bad as it first seems.

The DSA (Driving Standards Agency) are looking to close the gap between those at driving test standard and those at post test standard and believe that introducing independent driving will help do this.

The test will include a 10 minute period where by the pupil must drive unassisted and will be asked to drive to a destination following traffic signs or drive following a series of verbal directions – prompt cards will be available.

Independent test routes are currently being designed and diagrams being produced.

But don’t panic, this does not mean you have to have the memory of an Elephant, if you get lost or take a wrong turning, you will not fail for this and the examiner will put you in the right direction.

It was initially feared that this new approach would mean a significant number of people failing the test but research has shown this not to be the case. It is hoped that those that do pass the test will have a bit of real life experience on the roads and be able to attack the roads on their own once they pass.

MAKE YOUR DRIVING EXPERIENCE A SAFE AND COMFORTABLE ONE

Learners are taught how to carry out the cockpit drill in their redhill driving lessons and once passing the test will continue to follow this procedure. However, how many of you make checks before starting your journey?

There is a lot more to just mirror, signal, manoeuvre – you should be making a series of checks before starting the engine to enhance both your comfort and safety.

You must by law wear a seatbelt. It is there for your safety and can have such a major impact in the case of an accident.

You must ensure that you can reach the pedals and steering wheel with comfort and ease and that all mirrors are correctly adjusted. You should be able to see in all mirrors with little or no head movement.

It is also important to check that your head restraint is in the correct position. It is an important feature that can prevent whiplash injuries in an accident.

It may sound silly but it is important to check that all doors, including the boot are secured properly.

There are also a number of things you could consider to make your journey more pleasant and comfortable, such as cushions and blankets for longer journeys, a bottle of water and a first aid kit in the boot for emergencies. Now sit back and enjoy the ride!

75 years since the driving test was introduced

It was 75 years ago that the compulsary UK driving test was introduced. Nearly 250,000 people applied to get their licence from just 250 examiners who each assessed up to 16 drivers per day. The pass rate was 63 per cent. Then that was very high, here at m & m driving school surrey we had a 94% pass rate last year, so if you are looking for redhill driving lessons then I am sure we can help you pass you test quickly and first time.

Fast forward to 2010 and things have changed somewhat. Our road network has expanded vastly to cater for the 28.3 million cars using it each day (up from 1.4 million in 1935), while pass rates have dropped to 44 per cent.

Cars too have progressed hugely, not just in terms of speed or safety, but increasingly in their fundamental componenets: means of propulsion, transmissions and a proliferation of electronic driver aids place a completely different set of demands on today’s motorists.

Amidst all of this changes to the test itself have been relatively small. Training of examiners has become more stringent, more classifications have been identified for different classes of vehicle and since 1996 would-be drivers have been made to complete a theory element alongside the traditional practical one. The driving test is changing again towards the end of the year, so if you are looking to take lessons then now would be a good time to start.