Automatic Driving Lessons in Uckfield

 

We're pleased to announce the arrival of our latest instructor, Peter Brett, who will be our automatic driving instructor in Uckfield, Crowborough, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks. Peter has been a qualified instructor for over 16 years so we welcome his expertise and experience. We'll post some photos soon!

Shocking statistics of mobile phone use while driving

Below are the latest figures and statistics to be released concerning the use of mobile phones whilst driving - some startling and unsettling figures. Using a mobile whilst driving has got to be compared to drink/drug driving when considering the impact it has on reaction times, and although there are talks to toughen penalties imposed if caught using a handheld device while driving, we need more police catching people. How many times a day do you see someone using a phone while driving? For me it's a daily occurence, and one that's becoming increasingly regular......

Fuel Price Fix??

Investigators for the EU have recently raided the offices of multiple oil companies, including BP and Shell, amid concerns that there has been some form of price-fixing of fuel prices going back several years. The investigation follows an Office of Fair Trading report that cleared UK fuel retailers of any wrongdoing which many crticised as a 'limp-wristed' investigation. If found to be true this could be a shocking revelation - many small businesses have been hit hard by increasing fuel prices over the last few years putting many out of business. If this is due to engineered and unjust increases in fuel prices so that the oil companies can make more profits on the huge amounts they already make then the ramifications will be enormous. Let's hope the investigation is thorough and free from corruption!

Driving Lessons in Tonbridge

A big welcome to our newest instructor Jon Chipps who will be covering Tonbridge, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks. Jon has been working in the transport industry for over 25 years, having qualified as a driving instructor in 2011. With his excellent pass rate of 80%, Jon is a welcome addition to our team!

Driving Lessons in Maidstone

We're pleased to welcome from May 15th our newest instructor Jon Chipps to our driving school. John will be offering driving lessons in Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Wadhurst areas. Jon's pass rate is exceptional - at around 80% it's 30% higher than the average for Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks. We'll put up some photos in the not too distant future!

For a driving school in Tunbridge Wells click the link!

Drivers fail retest

 

A recent survey has shown that half of qualified drivers say they would have problems with at least one part of the driving test should they take a retest, and just over 10% would fail the test completely. Out of the people surveyed parallel parking came out as the manoeuvre most likely to make people nervous, with around a third of women admitting that it causes them problems. When surveying the men, around 9% said they would find it difficult sticking to speed limits and driving at an appropriate speed.
That doesn't make for great reading and I can certainly believe these statistics considering some of the reckless and impatient driving I see on a daily basis whilst out on driving lessons. Driving should be seen as a skill for life, and passing the test is really only the first step to becoming a safe driver. Unfortunately many people choose to drive in whatever way they want once passing the test, discarding correct procedures. Maybe an occasional retest would be a good thing......?

Distracted Driving: Is It Really Worth The Risk?

Thanks to Ashley Burns for contributing the following article:

Our generation always seems to be multi-tasking in order to keep up with busy schedules and deadlines.  Drivers grab a quick bite behind the wheel, check their email on their smart phone, or reach for objects around the car.  All of these actions, though, are forms of distracted driving and increase the risk of an accident, putting drivers’ lives in jeopardy. Although it is illegal to use a phone at the wheel, a 2011 RAC report reveals that drivers are engaging in distracted behaviors, and young drivers are most likely to take part in this dangerous habit.

According to the report, about 48 percent of drivers aged 18 to 24 had admitted to smart phone distractions.  Twenty-four percent use an iPod to listen to music, 23 percent read emails and 22 percent check Google maps while driving.  Although many new drivers think that they can handle a quick glance at a text, statistics put the risk in perspective:  the average text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for 4.6 seconds.  That’s equivalent to driving the length of a football field at 55 mph – blind.

Distracted driving goes beyond cell phone use.  Eating,, drinking, adjusting controls or reaching for an object can increase the risk of an accident.  Any behavior that takes the driver’s focus away from the road or their hand off the wheel is considered distracted driving.  A study from the University of Leeds reveals that drivers’ reaction times increased by 44 percent when eating behind the wheel and by over a fifth when sipping a drink, compared to driving with both hands on the wheel.

Statistics reveal that distracted driving is a problem in other countries as well.  Canadian researchers found that 20 to 30 percent of all collisions involve distracted drivers.  In the United States, more than 15 people are killed and 1,200 people injured in crashes every day due to distracted driving.  Only 39 states have laws against the dangerous habit, but states without them are starting to take action.  The city of Tampa held Florida’s first distracted driving summit.  New laws could decrease the number of statewide and Tampa personal injury cases, serious medical complications, and lost lives due to automobile accidents.

RAC strategist, Adrian Tink, explained how “the popularity of smart phones and apps, especially among younger drivers who have grown up with technology, risks creating a new generation of drivers who believe using a phone behind the wheel is acceptable.”  All drivers need to keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road to ensure that they get to their destination safely.  Behind the wheel is not the place for multi-tasking.