Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, May 21, 2013,
In :
Car reviews
Here's a fun article on Honest John's website. They have complied a list of the rarest cars still in action on UK roads, thanks to the DVLA. Each of these cars has less than 200 in circulation. Obviously, some were so bad they probably didn't sell too many, but as time ticks by, these beauties will slowly fade like tears in the rain ....
Once you've had a read of the list, let us know which you think should be saved. I'm plugging for the Merc 19 SLC. Only 140 or so left in existence!... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, May 20, 2013,
In :
Learning
Yet another review for Bristol's A-Class Driving School, this one from Dan, who passed last week with Paul and only 3 minors to his name. Have a read of the full testimonial here. If you're wanting driving lessons or seeking a driving instructor with a high pass rate, call Paul on 0774 710 1973. He just keeps on getting them through first time! Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, May 20, 2013,
In :
Car reviews
Have you seen this? The creators are obviously massive batman fans. This is apparently "a gift from Lamborghini to Lamborghini". Does anyone know what this means?
What we do know is that this one seater, 592bhp, V-10 engine named Egoista (meaning selfish .... really?) is completely ridiculous. It's like a fighter jet without wings. What would you do with it? Except drive really quick? And where oh where would you put the shopping? I personally love it from the side, but not fro... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, May 19, 2013,
In :
Learning
Congratulations to Nathan Burgess for passing the other day at Bristol's Southmead driving test center. Paul was his driving instructor and he managed to pick up just three minors on his way his way round. Well done to both Paul and Nathan. See you on the road.
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, May 18, 2013,
In :
Learning
We seem to have had a new review every day now for over a week! It's going very well for all of us here at A-Class Driving School. The latest review is from one of my successful students, Lilly. She passed her test first time over at Bristol's Southmead test center a few weeks ago and now has shared her experiences with the world here.
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, May 17, 2013,
In :
Learning
Another review, that's 4 this week alone! It's another one for Dave Allenby, by Dan Guy, who passed very recently with A-Class Driving School, here in Bristol. You can read the full review here, and if you're looking for driving lessons with Dave, give him a call on 0771 992 3772. Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, May 16, 2013,
In :
Learning
Our successful students continue with the positive feedback, this time it's one for me, Will. Pheobe Mitchell passed her driving test here in Bristol a few weeks ago with just 3 minors and writes about her experiences of A-Class Driving School here. Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, May 15, 2013,
In :
Learning
Another day, another review. This time it's one for our driving instructor, Dave Allenby. Read the full review from Matt Fulford here regarding his experience with Dave and A-Class Driving School.
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, May 15, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
Matt Dawson has recently embarked on a fuel saving challenge, seeing him drive from Preston to London trying to use as little diesel as possible. He undertook the 294 mile, Shell backed mission in the the new VW Golf Bluemotion, averaging an impressive 78.1mpg. It's the kind of figures that all drivers want to achieve (especially us driving schools) and many teams have invested heavily in wining the competition so to take part in European leg of the world Eco-Marathon, starting today i... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, May 14, 2013,
In :
Learning
Another great review for Bristol's A-Class Driving School, this time from Olivia Glatt who passed the other day with me (Will) as her driving instructor. Have a read of the review here.
If you're looking to obtain your licence this summer, take advantage of our special offers and call me on 07837796842 to book your driving lessons today! Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, May 13, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
Europcar has completed a study showing that the price of car ownership is on the rise again. We spend £100s on our vehicles, yet 65% of us use it for less than an hour a day. The alternative is public transport, but the vast majority of us believe it to be inconvenient, expensive and unreliable.
Is this really the case? Let us know your thoughts Bristol. I find the buses pretty poor here, but I do like the little train.
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, May 11, 2013,
In :
Learning
Congratulations to Livvy for passing her driving test first time yesterday over at Bristol's Southmead driving test center. Well done Livvy, see you on the road. Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, May 11, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
Today the cheapest place to buy petrol from in Bristol is ...
Asda Patchway
Highwood Lane, Patchway, Bristol, BS34 5TL 129.7p Esso on the downs, Morrisons at Cribbs and Sainsburys on Winterstoke are all a close second with fuel at 129.9
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, May 10, 2013,
In :
Learning
Have a read of our latest review by Jordan Hannaway on Freeindex.co.uk who passed his test recently with A-Class Driving School and Paul Hanley, here in Bristol. If you would like to have Paul as your driving instructor, call him direct on 0774 710 1973, or call our main number 0783 779 6842 and arrange your lessons today. Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, May 10, 2013,
In :
Learning
This week's highway code did you know is ...
Rule 289
Take special care on motorways and other high-speed dual carriageways.
One or more lanes may be closed to traffic and a lower speed limit may apply.
Works vehicles that are slow moving or stationary with a large ‘Keep Left’ or ‘Keep Right’ sign on the back are sometimes used to close lanes for repairs, and a flashing light arrow may also be used to make the works vehicle more conspicuous from a distance and give earlier warning to driv...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, May 9, 2013,
In :
Learning
Congratulations to Jordan Hanaway for passing his driving test yesterday over at Bristol's Southmead test center. He managed to earn his licence with just 3 minors under the guidance of of driving instructor, Paul Hanley, who's on a massive role currently in terms of passes. Well done to both of you, see you on the road Jordan. Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, May 5, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
I love stories like this. An elderly lady was fed up with not having anywhere for her friends to park when they came to visit her in Andover, so she hired someone to create a driveway at her home. The contractor decided to build the dropped kerb first, then apply to the council for permission. Now, the lady has a lamp post at the end of her drive, rendering it useless.
"He thought he would do the drive first then put in for it to be moved - it's all the wrong way round and now everybo... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, May 4, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
This week's cheapest petrol in Bristol award goes to ... .
Mrh Filton Park @ 129.9p
Gloucester Road North, Filton, Bristol, BS7 0SH
This station hasn't been in the top 5 before and it's very unusual to see non-supermarkets with the lowest fuel. Good to see the price continue to fall and under 130p is stunning for everyone in the motor business. Driving instructors can rejoice this weekend. Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, May 2, 2013,
In :
Learning
This weeks highway code rule is ...
Rule 116
Hazard warning lights. These may be used when your vehicle is stationary, to warn that it is temporarily obstructing traffic. Never use them as an excuse for dangerous or illegal parking. You MUST NOT use hazard warning lights while driving or being towed unless you are on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway and you need to warn drivers behind you of a hazard or obstruction ahead. Only use them for long enough to ensure that your warning has... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, April 22, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
Hired a car in the past? Did you know the cost of excess, about excess waivers and fuel surcharges? Don´t worry, you´re not the only one. Read the full article here to fond out how poor hire companies are at letting anyone know the real cost of car hire. Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, April 21, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
Supermarkets announced fuel cuts this week meaning that Asda shoppers will pay a maximum of 133.7p for petrol and 137p for diesel. Morrisons, Tesco and Sainsburys have all slashed prices too due to the low oil prices and the weakening dollar. Good news for everyone who drives for once, especially us driving instructors. Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, April 20, 2013,
In :
Learning
Another great review has just come in from Samantha in Bristol. She´s written some great things regarding her driving lessons and experience with Paul at A-Class Driving School. Read the full review here. Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, April 19, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
Congratulations to Pheobe for passing her driving test this morning over at Bristol's Southmead test center with just 4 minors. Well done Pheobe, see you on the road! Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, April 6, 2013,
In :
Learning
Congratulations to Luke Young, for passing his driving test first time at Bristol's Southmead test center the other day. Luke took a two week intensive driving course with Paul, and was very happy with the end result. Have a read of his review here. Well done Luke, congratulations once again, see you on the road! Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, April 6, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
Carols Tevez, the Manchester City striker was sentenced to 250 hours of community service yesterday, ordered to pay over a £1000 and banned from driving for 6 months. He was already on a ban and had no insurance when a golfer tipped off the police after seeing him drive away from the course in his Porsche Cayenne.
In court the judge said "Mr Tevez, you must realise you are a role model to thousands, if not millions, of fans but nobody is above the law. You should not have been driving.
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, April 5, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
The cheapest petrol in Bristol is still Asda Patchway (Highwood Lane, Patchway, Bristol, BS34 5TL) at £134.7. If you can't get up north to here for the fuel, Murco in Henleaze, Esso on White Ladies and Sainsburys on Winterstoke Avenue all have fuel at £134.9 Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, April 4, 2013,
In :
Learning
A massive congratulations to Christian for passing his driving test first time over at Bristol's Southmead test center yesterday. Christian had an awesome drive picking up just one minor! Well done Christian, see you on the road and good luck for the future.
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, April 3, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
The government has at last announced that it will take action over crazy cyclists who insist on having bike lights that are brighter than a super nova. In a study 80% of bike lights were more powerful than the legal limit of a cars dipped headlights. One exceed it by a factor of 13!
The highly distracting stroboscopic disco flashing mode will also be investigated. Not only does the highway code say that this is not to be used, but makes the cyclist hard to identify and difficult to work out... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, April 3, 2013,
In :
Car reviews
Honest John and Co have finally reviewed the new Fiat 500 L. Have a read of the full article here. It's 4.2 meters, much bigger than the 500, which is the whole point, however, it's smaller than a Punto. Looks roomy for all the kids, which has been at the heart of the advertising campaign. If you haven't seen the young mother rapping about being a mother, it's worth checking out on YouTube.
Fuel economy, like the 500 TwinAir has been well over estimated by Fiat. According to RealMPG.com ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, April 2, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
This weeks cheapest petrol in Bristol is .... Asda Patchway, Highwood Lane, Patchway, Bristol, BS34 5TL. Selling at £1.34. Asda in Bedminister is also the same price with Esso and Murco on White Ladies and Henleaze respectively snapping at their heels at £1.37.
It's good news for everyone with a car, especially us driving instructors that we're well below the national average here in Bristol.
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, April 1, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
Nine out of 10 motorist have no faith in the governments word that road toll money will be reinvested into our motoring infrasture a new report says. Perhaps you only to drive 100 meters down the road to feel it?
"Overall 91% of drivers in the survey made such an assertion, while 60% of motorists do not support toll roads and 79% of motorists would not support the introduction of tolls on existing roads." Says the article from Yahoo this week. What do you think Bristol? Would you like a toll... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, March 31, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
Ford has had to apologise for an advert designed for them, but never used. The image depicts the former Italian president in the front of a Ford Figo with 3 women tied up in bondage gear in the back, presumably on their way to some bongabonga party. The images was released without the consent of ford and has landed them in hot water. Does anyone care? Probably not, it's all seems believable to me.
Let us know what you think Bristol. Comments in the box! ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, March 30, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
It´s been 100 years now of car making up in Cowley, Oxford. The Bullnose Oxford was made the first and since then it has churned out over 11,000,000! Many driving instructors have tuition vehicles these days from the Mini site (sadly not owned by the British anymore, BMW smartly snapped that one up) and if you can believe it they pop out 900 a day! Who´s buying all these cars?
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, March 29, 2013,
In :
Car reviews
WOW! Sign me up. Have a look at the new concept car from Kia. There are no real figures in regards to speed, fuel consumption or CO2 out put yet, but this little city car is obviously looking to steal some market share from the likes of Mini, my beloved Fiat 500 and the new VW Up! and Co. Just on looks alone, I think they've nailed it and can see this being a real contender. If you drop Kia´s famous 7 year warranty in the mix, this will be my new driving instructor vehicle in a... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, March 28, 2013,
In :
Learning
March is almost over and if you want to take advantage of our 6 driving lessons for £105 offer, then you have only 4 days left before it's gone! So to book your driving lessons with A-Class Driving School in Bristol, call us today on 0783 779 6842.
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, March 27, 2013,
In :
Driving Test Info
Yet another strike is on the cards for driving examiners, this time it's on April 5th. That has to be at least once a month these days examiners are striking. So from 1pm on Friday 5th, some, not all, tests will be off. You still need to turn up for your driving test however, though as not all driving examiners are ..... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, March 27, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
Finally the Government has had it's meeting on addressing the overhaul on how to improve the driving quality in young people. There are a lot of ideas on the table.
Here are the highlights - - a minimum learning period - driving practice on motorways, in poor weather conditions and during darkness - more rigorous testing in preparation for driving unsupervised - longer probationary periods - incentives for post-test training
I agree with a few, not so sure about others. Have a read of the full a... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, March 22, 2013,
In :
Learning
This week's did you know HighWay Code Rule is ...
Rule 211
It is often difficult to see motorcyclists and cyclists, especially when they are coming up from behind, coming out of junctions, at roundabouts, overtaking you or filtering through traffic. Always look out for them before you emerge from a junction; they could be approaching faster than you think. When turning right across a line of slow-moving or stationary traffic, look out for cyclists or motorcyclists on the inside of the traffic... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, March 21, 2013,
In :
Learning
Big positive vibes this morning are being sent out to Pheobe, who's taking her driving test over at Bristol's Souhtmead test centre this morning. Good luck, you can do it! Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, March 21, 2013,
In :
Driving Test Info
The DSA are only going to have the phone lines open from 8am to 12pm as from April 2nd. They claim a dip in calls for those wishing to book driving tests by around 100,000 is the cause. Apparently digital methods are now far more popular. It's probably the long waits to speak to a person and all the automated nonsense options to blame. Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, March 19, 2013,
In :
Learning
Red, one of the big schools, has announced that it will start giving access to their students an online driving tutorial, something we've had here at A-Class Driving School for around 4 years.
A new study has shown that humans don't really develop their hazard perception skills in their brain till around the age of 25. So, apparently, a 7 hour dose of on-line computer watching will make up for it! The amount of fails, re-sits and crashes in young people is now being blamed by looks of things ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, March 18, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
It's 140p on average for fuel again in the UK. Since the beginning of this year petrol has risen around 8p a litre and diesel has gone up 6.5p. Petrol in Bristol can be around 136p in Henleaze and near the top of Whiteladies Road at the Esso, which means we're just below the national average here. Uncertainty in economic retail prices are to blame. Let us know how the rising cost of fuel is affecting you. If driving lessons were to become more expensive due to rising costs, what prices w... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, March 18, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
So many people are faking whiplash these days after a crash, that the government has decided to poke around and see if things can be brought under control. It's main aim is to being down insurance premiums. The ABI has said that reports of whiplash have soared by nearly one quarter in the last four years and cost around £2 billion annually, despite the number of road accidents falling. 1 in 10 claims are bogus. 1,500 people claim every day with 70% of people in an accident claiming to ha... Continue reading ...
Congratulations to to Lily for passing her driving test at Bristol's Southmead test centre yesterday. She sailed through with just 4 minors, remembering all she learnt on her driving lessons and applyied it in a high pressure 40 minute session. Well done Lily, see you on the road and be safe. That's three passes in 7 days this March! Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, March 14, 2013,
In :
Learning
Good luck vibes are going out to Lily today, who has her driving test at Bristol's Southmead driving test centre this morning. You can do it! Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, March 13, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
With only days till the March budget and a rise in fuel duty due, FairFuelUk are urging everyone to email the chancellor at ministers@hmtreasury.gsi.gov.uk to complain. So if you're a driving instructor, or a learner, this will affect you. Get writing to save money! Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, March 11, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
Doesn't seem like all of them are in Bristol? In the north west here, there must be around around 7 or 8 within a mile of each other. And what takes the biscuit is that I never see anyone actually working.
240 extra miles per person per year to avoid them. 1,434 miles of road closed. 43 minutes extra per week of sitting in a car.
It's not good enough. Let us know your thoughts Bristol drivers. How do you learner drivers feel about lessons in traffic? How do driving instructors avoid ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, March 10, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
A really interesting article on Yahoo this morning from The Association of British Insurers (ABI), looking for big commitments and changes from the government on the way young drivers should be taught. It could be premiums come down by over £370 per person, but you'll have to learn for a year, have a restriction on the number of passengers in the car at all times and have a zero tolerance stance on drink driving.
What do you think Bristol learner drivers? Would you be happy with this? The ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, March 8, 2013,
In :
Learning
There are new rules in place for those wishing to take driving lessons as from today. They concern those with epilepsy and those with eye-sight issues. Make sure you have a look before taking your driving lessons.
Have a full read here - http://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/UKDSA-6fb529
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, March 7, 2013,
In :
Learning
Positive vibes going out to both Natalie and Helen who are taking their driving tests today at Southmead in Bristol, one after the other. Fingers crossed. Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, March 5, 2013,
In :
Learning
This month's special offer sees new students in Bristol get the opportunity to take their first 6 lessons for £105! That's 20% off the cost of driving lessons. Call today to book your cheap driving lessons in Bristol Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, March 3, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
The new Think campaign, costing over £1.2 million (some how) is aimed at making those who believe that drink driving is alright's wallet. It's now believed that the cost for someone caught will be between £20,000 and £50,000 over a life time. This reflects the fines, legal costs, rise in insurance premiums and possible job losses faced by offenders.
Mr Hammond, the Government minister, was then heard to say "Anyone thinking of drinking and driving should be without any doubt. If you are c... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, January 31, 2013,
In :
Learning
The
Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has announced that it has
cancelled All driving
tests booked for Friday 1 February are now expected to go ahead as
planned. The strike action had been scheduled to start from 1:30pm.
Rearranged tests
Candidates who have already rearranged their test for another date can either:
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, January 25, 2013,
A massive congratulations to Nan for passing yesterday over at Sountmead test centre with just 2 minors! A fantastic drive. Well done Nan, see you on the road. Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, January 24, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
Honest John's motoring website has a great info page on the likely things to go wrong with your car causing it to fail come MoT day. Have a read of his site by clicking here (http://good-garage-guide.honestjohn.co.uk/mot-results/) if you have yours coming up. Often just a little bit of work from you can save the fail and you money. Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, January 11, 2013,
In :
Learning
The Highway Code applies to England, Scotland and Wales. It's essential reading for everyone. Here's a reminder about rules for motorcyclists.
Rule 83
On all journeys, the rider and pillion passenger on a motorcycle, scooter or moped MUST wear a protective helmet. This does not apply to a follower of the Sikh religion while wearing a turban. Helmets MUST comply with the Regulations and they MUST be fastened securely. Riders and passengers of motor tricycles and quadricycles, also called quadbik... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, January 9, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
Plans to offer practical driving tests from branches of Halfords have been given the go ahead by Road Safety Minister Stephen Hammond.
Driving tests will be available from the Halfords store in Wellingborough from Tuesday 5 February. Other branches of Halfords across the country are expected to start offering tests in coming months. All tests will be conducted by Driving Standards Agency (DSA) examiners.
More local service for candidates
The move is part of an initiative to offer a more local se... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, January 7, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
By Mike Norton
BRISTOL'S elected mayor George Ferguson says he would not rule out the introduction of a congestion charge in the city.
Speaking to The Post in his first interview of the new year, Mr Ferguson would not dismiss charging motorists to drive in to the centre of town as part of a "carrot and stick" approach to getting more people on to buses.
"It's not something that I've got into yet but I wouldn't rule it out," he said. "I would base a decision on whether or not it was practical... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, January 5, 2013,
In :
Motoring news
Millions of drivers are facing the prospect of reduced speed limits in towns and cities across England and Wales, according to new research.
Figures obtained by the Independent show more than a third of local authorities have introduced measures to stop motorists exceeding 20mph on at least some roads, or are planning to do so.
Of the 75 local authorities that responded to a survey by the newspaper, 27 said they had introduced or were in the process of considering default 20mph zones, while... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, January 4, 2013,
In :
Learning
This months special offer allows all those with hard hit pockets after the festive season to still get an affordable deal getting you behind the wheel of a car. Your first three lessons for £55. Call us today to book your lessons. Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, January 2, 2013,
In :
Learning
The Highway Code applies to England, Scotland and Wales. It's essential reading for everyone. Here's a reminder about alcohol and drugs.
Rule 95
Do not drink and drive as it will seriously affect your judgement and abilities. You MUST NOT drive with a breath alcohol level higher than 35 microgrammes/100 millilitres of breath or a blood alcohol level of more than 80 milligrammes/100 millilitres of blood.
Alcohol will:
give a false sense of confidence reduce co-ordination and slow down reactions
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, December 28, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
Yellow Alert of Rain for South West England : Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Plymouth, Somerset & Torbay valid from 1800 Sun 30 Dec to 1200 Mon 31 Dec Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, December 24, 2012,
In :
Learning
A whole months worth of driving gifts covered from full on electric cars to espresso makers. It's all for nothing unless you can drive so our last gift this Christmas is our December special offer for new students wishing to learn, 5 lessons for £88. Which is an incredible 20% off! We can even email you the voucher for printing out in order for you to physically hand over something tomorrow.
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, December 23, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
Are you mega rich? Are you in the dog house with your kids? Are you desperately wanting to spoil them? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this could be the gift for you. Why not just buy a car for your 5 year old this Christmas? I'm not crazy, but everyone involved with either making or buying this type of thing could be. Mercedes have made several cars for Kids as small as 3. An AMG 63, a blue Mercedes SL and a whopping G-Class SUV, which I'm guessing is for the plus ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, December 21, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
I was going to include this one for purely comic reasons, until I thought a little more about how useful this could really be. Especially if you're into camping/festivals (or like me and have friends who are) and have a van of sorts (it will work with a car too). I've been pretty hungry the past few times I've had to endure the great outdoors and making fires and roughing it just isn't my thing. So having a portable oven, to me, is a great idea! No more hung-over mornings, craving a bacon... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, December 19, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
You're on a long journey, have fractious children in the car watching a movie in the back (perhaps using the tablet holder in yesterdays gift idea), you come into London and suddenly need the satnav to navigate you to your destination. Oh no. It needs a power supply. So too does the tablet. Can you live with the whinging that will follow when the tablet dies of lack of juice and you're sat in London traffic for an hour? Well now you don't have to with this in-car multi-plug.
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, December 18, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
I'm going to bring you two gifts today as that's the kind of guy I am. Indecisive. It's basically the same thing, except one is for those sitting in the back, i.e the kids and the other one is for those sitting in the front ... although I'm not too sure how I feel about drivers using it.
SO the first gift is a tablet/iPad holder. If you're into letting your kids use your tablet for long jounreys, this could give you peace of mind knowing they can't get their grubby little mits on your meg... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, December 17, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
This may not make the recipient jump up and down with joy after opening, but is a great cheap gift for anyone with a car and a mobile phone. Just lay it on the dash board, pop on the phone and the clever non-slip silicon holds it and your phone in place whilst driving around. No more loosing of the phone down under the front seats.
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, December 16, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
Gadgets, gotta love em. With the advancements we've seen in technology of the past couple of years it's now possible to gizmo up even the oldest of cars, giving everyone the opportunity to become Michael Knight and talk to your car whilst cruising around town.
Here's the info ... "This is the Bluetooth speakerphone that cordlessly attaches to your steering wheel, placing the microphone and speakers closer to you for easier conversations without taking your hands off the wheel. After an initial... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, December 15, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
I could have used one of these things this past year. I went from having zero crashes in 16 years worth of driving to 4 in the space of a few weeks. The last one was a right contentious incident with no witnesses and one witless van driver. If I'd had one of these things, the outcome and legal fight would have been stress free.
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, December 14, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
The DSA made basic car maintenace a compulsory part of the driving test several years when they introduced the show me tell me section at the beginning of the test. If you discover you have a light bulb out, how would you change it? Your car manual would have a detailed step by step guie on how to do this, but you'll need tools. Here are a few goodies for you.
This first kit has many essentail little bits and bobs, I love the torch light on the front and it even looks like a little car. Pe... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, December 14, 2012,
In :
Learning
Have your say on how motoring services such as driving tests and vehicle licensing are provided by taking part in a new Department for Transport consultation.
You're invited to comment on long term proposals to reform the way services are provided by the:
Driving Standards Agency (DSA)
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA)
Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA)
This is so they provide better customer services and a better deal for the taxpayer.
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, December 13, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
He's more of a stocking filler for you. Amazon have these very cool looking dust caps for tyres. They come in 4 different colours and could add a little extra pizazz to your car.
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, December 12, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
Here's one for our two wheeled cousins on the road. If you're a fan of Star Wars, you're going to love this. If you don't love Star Wars .... what's wrong with you? For this gift, there are two options. Make it yourself. Cheaper, more love put into the gift.
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, December 11, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
http://babyology.com.au/out-and-about/travel-into-the-future-with-the-tot-pod.htmlKids love Christmas and this ultra light weight car seat by Samsonite has to be the coolest looking car seat ever. Here's the info ...
"Samsonite’s lightweight concept car seat, dubbed the Tot-Pod, doubles as a pram and folds shut like a clam when you’re not using it. Just remember to take the child out first.
The ingenious design by Aldo Barreto is for luggage specialists Samsonite who challenged designers t... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, December 10, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
Not all gift's are going to set you back hundreds and could be well received and extremely useful. I think this exceptionally clever and will be looking to download it ASAP! Here's the info ...
Wouldn't it be great if your car alerted you to nearby deals as you drove by them? Austin Gayer and Danny Newman's Roximity app will appeal to you, then. The duo explains it as "a location-based alert system that allows merchants to sign up for geo-aware location deals." In other words, when you're ne... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, December 10, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
Going to keep with a safety theme for the moment, this one is a little cheaper than Audi's laser beam for fog. It's an award winning device straight from Croatia ... good ideas can come from anywhere don't you know. Here's the info ...
" This invention solves the problem of Anti-skidding device applicable to the external surfaces of rubber drive wheels for motor vehicles, to prevent slipping on snow or ice surfaces. The anti-slip device is of modular type, and consists of several modules, se... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, December 10, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
It's a practical one today sadly. Although some us quite like this types of gifts.
Adding lasers to fog lights isn't just for visibility: Audi, in its infinitely Germanic wisdom, has decreed that this laser system shall project a line unto the actual road, and across that line other cars shall not pass. Or something like that. The projected laser line ends up at a safe following distance, and in heavy fog, the light refracts through the water droplets in the air and forms a large warning tr... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, December 7, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
So at the moment we have the shoes, gloves, glasses ... only thing missing now accessory wise is a watch. If you're into racing, or just want to time how quickly you can get the shopping done, this watch by Scuderia could be for you. A lot of so called "driving" watches can be on the mega expensive side and massively garish, good for premier league footballers, not so for normal types. The Corsa (I know, unfortunate name) watch wouldn't look out of place on anyones wrist.
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, December 6, 2012,
In :
Learning
TAG Heuer Night Vision Driving Glasses
TAG Heuer wants you to wear your sunglasses at night. They've introduced a new pair of Night Vision Driving Glasses that are designed to maximize your driving performance from dusk to dawn using some contrast and color magic. Originally developed for drivers in the 24 Hours of LeMans, the glasses feature titanium frames and Reflex-style flexible temples. Pretty cool!
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, December 5, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
God it's cold outside today, what I need are some gloves. Fluffy woolen ones are nice, but boarder line useless with a steering wheel in my hands. I need driving gloves! There was a time when when I thought driving gloves were for old men and weirdos (you know who I mean), but then I watched Drive and suddenly, Ryan Gosling, has brought them to the front of cool and are a real driver's must have accessory. Does anyone have £250 for these ones made by Dunhill?
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, December 4, 2012,
In :
Learning
We can't have a count down on gifts being all about the ladies, so today it's time for the guys. These Martini Racing shoes would be a perfect selection for driving footwear. here is the info ....
The Le Mans driving/casual shoe by Hunziker The Hunziker shoe collection is another project which has its roots in my original paintings. My goal was to create wearable art and to provide you with an exciting new way to express yourself. The design of the shoes is based on iconic liveries of vintag... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, December 4, 2012,
In :
Learning
The amount of students who make comments about their footwear at some stage during their learning is staggering. Wear something light, thin soled and flexible (like a racing driving). The shoes here should sort things out for the girls! Guys can wear them too I guess ....
Leather Chanel Ballerina Flats
Read more http://www.pseriesstylist.com/shoes-leather-chanel-ballerina-flats/
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, December 3, 2012,
In :
Learning
The Highway Code applies to England, Scotland and Wales. It's essential reading for everyone. Here's a reminder about road junctions.
Turning left
Use your mirrors and give a left-turn signal well before you turn left. Do not overtake just before you turn left and watch out for traffic coming up on your left before you make the turn, especially if driving a large vehicle. Cyclists, motorcyclists and other road users in particular may be hidden from your view.
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, December 2, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
Day two and I don't know about you but I could use a coffee already. Oh! What's this? I can have little cups of coffee in my car? Awesome! Here's the info ...
Giving “coffee to go” a new meaning, Handpresso has created an espresso machine for your car.
Handpresso Auto espresso maker prepares high quality espresso in the car.
Users just have to plug the machine into their car’s cigarette lighter socket, add water and an espresso pod to the machine, press the button and wait.
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, December 2, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
THINK! and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) are joining forces to warn drivers that getting behind the wheel after a festive tipple could see them end up behind bars this Christmas.
A hard-hitting television advert highlighting the consequences of drink driving will be shown throughout December as part of the Department for Transport’s THINK! Christmas drink drive campaign.
ACPO today also launched its anti-drink and drug driving enforcement campaign, warning that young driver... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, December 1, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
The countdown begins today. We'll bring you a new Christmas driving gift each day and we start with TomTom. If you buy a new TomTom between now and Xmas you'll get free map updates for life! Make sure you register the new product on their site. Here are the details ...
Always drive with the latest map. Get to your destination faster with Lifetime Maps
TomTom knows that great in-car navigation relies on the best quality map. To keep enjoying fast and accurate navigation, your map needs to ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, November 30, 2012,
In :
Learning
It's the last day to take advantage of November's special offer. New students can still get their first 6 lessons for £110, that's over 16% off the normal price. Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, November 24, 2012,
In :
Learning
The Highway Code applies to England, Scotland and Wales. It's essential reading for everyone. Here's a reminder about driving in wet and windy weather.
Rule 121
Brakes affected by water. If you have driven through deep water your brakes may be less effective. Test them at the first safe opportunity by pushing gently on the brake pedal to make sure that they work. If they are not fully effective, gently apply light pressure while driving slowly. This will help to dry them out.
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, November 22, 2012,
In :
Learning
New videos on the website regarding the turn in the road and the reverse around the corner. Here's the new turn in the road video with commentary. More available in the tutorials section on the site.
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, November 21, 2012,
In :
Learning
Driving test candidates with a test on Friday 30 November should still come for their test despite the threat of strike action by examiners.
Driving examiners who are members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union could take strike action on Friday 30 November 2012.
DSA's Chief Executive Rosemary Thew said:
“Not all examiners are members of the PCS union. Even if they are, we can’t be sure that they’ll support the strike. So we’re asking you to come for your test so it can g... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, November 18, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
A TEAM of gym members has broken two world records for the amount of people squeezed into both a classic Mini and a current shape version.
At Potters Fields Park in London 28 flexible young women shimmied their way into a 2012 Mini hatchback, four of them somehow managing to fit together in the boot. Every inch of space was used, including the foot wells, the dashboard and the gap between the front seats on the way to beating the previous record of 27 – set by the same women last year in Eas... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, November 18, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
CAR PRODUCTION increased last month, official figures showed today.
There were 137,028 cars made in the UK in October - a 6.5% rise on the October 2011 figure, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.
Commercial vehicle (CV) production also rose last month - going up 5% to 11,899 - while engine production increased 1.2% to 239,011.
The latest figures took the year-so-far car production total to more than 1.22 million - a 9.7% rise on the January-October 2011 figure.
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, November 17, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
A CLASSIC Ferrari in need of some tender loving care has sold for around twice what auctioneers estimated it would fetch at an auction in North Yorkshire.
The rare four-seater 1965 Ferrari 330GT 2+2 Berlinetta sold for a hammer price of £60,000 in Harrogate.
Bonhams, which put on the sale at the Great Yorkshire Showground, estimated the car would go for between £30,000 and £40,000.
The Ferrari was being sold as a restoration project after years of being stuck in a garage left it with mouldy f... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, November 17, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
CAR GIANT Toyota is recalling around 75,000 models in the UK due to a possible steering fault.
The UK recall is part of a 2.77 million worldwide recall by the Japanese company which has had to recall millions of vehicles in recent years due to a series of problems.
The latest incident for UK drivers involves certain Avensis and Corolla models from July 2001 to March 2009 and for some Prius models from July 2003 to April 2009.
Toyota GB said today: "On certain Avensis, Corolla and Prius models th... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, November 16, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
NEW figures released show that the number of road accidents has fallen by a third in the last 10 years, but accidents in the busiest areas of Britain - London and south-east England - have risen slightly according to a report from Post Office Car Insurance.
Overall, the number of road accidents reported by police fell from just over 229,000 in 2001 to 151,474 in 2011.
The biggest decrease was in north-west England where the number fell 44%, while the West Midlands saw a decrease of 40%. But th... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, November 16, 2012,
In :
Driving Test Info
GOV.UK is the new place for corporate and policy information from DSA and the Department for Transport (DfT).
DSA, DfT and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), along with 2 of DCLG’s public bodies, have become the first central government organisations to move their corporate and policy content onto the new GOV.UK website - the new single home for all government services and information.
Simpler, clearer, faster
The Inside Government section on GOV.UK makes it simpler, c... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, November 15, 2012,
In :
Car reviews
CORNWALL-based dealership Dales Seat has created a special version of the Mii city car that has proved so popular it is available to special order.
The Mii 'Miinx' is based on the Mii Sport with the 1.0-litre 75PS engine as standard, but adds an eye-catching pink gloss vinyl wrap matched to tinted lights for a highly individualised look.
Dales Seat then took to Twitter to come up with a name and although 'Miinky' found favour, 'Miinx' was eventually settled upon.
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, November 14, 2012,
In :
Car reviews
AHEAD of its launch in early 2013, value forecasts for the all-new Mazda6 put the model in a strong position compared to its key rivals.
The Mazda6, which goes on UK sale in January 2013 in saloon and tourer body styles, has been given a three-year/60,000-mile residual value uplift of up to 7.5 percent versus the outgoing model, according to data from vehicle information provider CAP.
Residual value predictions for the Mazda6 petrol-engined Saloon range average 31.8 percent, the petrol-engined ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, November 13, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
MOTORISTS who use a stolen disabled "blue badge" parking permit to get a more convenient space for their car should face a minimum six-month jail term, a Tory MP has urged.
Philip Davies said the misuse of disabled parking badges was not taken seriously enough by the authorities.
He said the loss of a blue badge deprived disabled people of their "freedom to go about their daily lives".
The Shipley MP told the Commons: "This actually causes a great deal of distress to many people. It causes them ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, November 13, 2012,
In :
Car reviews
A car designer bored with regular motors has built a futuristic car that is less Renault Clio and more like a vehicle featured in the Sci-fi film The Fifth Element.
The car has even been named The Extra Terrestrial Vehicle - ETV - to reflect its alien-like look.
ETV is based on the same platform as a modest, run-of-the-mill Chevrolet, but this is where the similarities end.
It resembles one of the flying cars that featured in blockbuster movie The Fifth Element, starring Bruce Willis.
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, November 12, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
SUMMER traffic on the roads fell to the lowest level for more than a decade, with poor weather and the attraction of the Olympics possibly to blame, provisional Government figures have shown.
Motor vehicle traffic was 1% lighter in summer 2012 (July to September) than in the same period last year, the Department for Transport (DfT) statistics showed.
This summer's levels were the lowest for this particular period since 2001 and came despite an increase in motorway and rural A-road traffic.
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, November 11, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
HUNDREDS of supermarket filling stations will be offering cheaper fuel from today.
Asda led the way by announcing a 2p cut in petrol and diesel, then rival Sainsbury's, followed later by Tesco, said they would be cutting their fuel by "up to 2p a litre".
Asda said its reductions would mean motorists paying no more than 131.7p a litre for petrol and 137.7p a litre for diesel.
Asda petrol trading director Andy Peake said: "Today's move shows that we are once again leading the way in reducing the p... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, November 10, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
TOUR DE FRANCE cycling champion and Olympic gold medallist Bradley Wiggins is recovering in hospital after a collision with a vehicle.
Wiggins, 32, was thrown off his bike when a white Vauxhall Astra Envoy is thought to have pulled out of a petrol station and collided with him.
A police source said his injuries from the crash were thought to be very serious at first, but later it appeared he suffered a number of broken ribs and cuts and bruises.
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, November 9, 2012,
In :
Learning
The Highway Code applies to England, Scotland and Wales. It's essential reading for everyone. Here's a reminder about rules for drivers and motorcyclists.
Before setting off. You should ensure that:
you have planned your route and allowed sufficient time clothing and footwear do not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner you know where all the controls are and how to use them before you need them. Not all vehicles are the same; do not wait until it is too late to find out your mirror... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, November 9, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
NEW FIGURES show that the average number of road accidents reported in November rises dramatically by 1,168 over an average month to 14,908 - raising fresh concerns over the longer periods of darkness facing drivers.
The research by Halfords which examined official accident figures from the Department for Transport between 2007 and 2011 also highlights that November the 19th is the worst day for accidents with a reported 532 accidents.
Halfords undertook the study using DfT figures as well as a... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, November 8, 2012,
In :
Car reviews
SSANGYONG has announced a range of new offers on selected models this winter including the Korando 4x4 crossover and Rodius MPV. Prices start at £16,995 for the Korando including a 5 year limitless mileage warranty on every vehicle.
Zero percent finance is available on Korando EX manual and automatic models, with 36, 48 and 60 month payment plans. A Korando EX manual can be driven away for £169 per month. Five years free servicing is also be available on all Korando ES, EX manual and EX auto... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, November 8, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
INDUSTRY experts Bosch are offering a free Winter Check through its Car Service etwork ahead of the cold weather.Research commissioned by Bosch has revealed that only one-third of people have their vehicle’s health regularly checked.
Available at Bosch Car Service garages across the country, the 28-point inspection includes brakes, tyres, and headlights and is carried out by fully trained Bosch technicians who work to the highest standard and a code of conduct that is fully approved by the O... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, November 7, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
THE CLOCKS were turned back more than 100 years on Sunday 4 November as 449 pre-1905 veteran cars lined up in the torrential rain at Hyde Park, London, to take part in the annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run – the oldest motoring event in the world.
Five of the participants only decided to take part at the last minute having successfully purchased a vehicle eligible for the run at the Bonhams auction on Friday 2 November. Out of the 449 starters that set out from London's Hyde Park at ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, November 6, 2012,
In :
Car reviews
VAUXHALL'S Ampera extended range electric vehicle has been honoured as Green Vehicle of the Year by fleet decision-makers at the prestigious 2012 Association of Car Fleet Operators (ACFO) Awards.
The awards, which are voted for online exclusively by the ACFO membership, are highly-prized because unlike many other awards they reflect the day-to-day operational experience and expertise of fleet decision-makers.
This prize is the latest in a long line of over 40 top gongs for the ground-breaking A... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, November 5, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
THE NUMBER of deaths on the roads this spring fell sharply, provisional Government figures showed today.
A total of 400 people were killed in reported road accidents in Britain in the period April-June - an 18% reduction on the figure of 487 in the same period last year.
The number of serious and slight injuries on the roads also decreased, with the Department for Transport saying the extreme wet weather might have led to the lower figures.
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, November 5, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
OLYMPIC gold medallist Jessica Ennis is pretty nippy on the track, but that is nothing compared to her latest set of wheels.
The heptathlon star is taking part in this year's Lord Mayor's Show procession in the City of London and on Thursday showed off the car that will take her around on November 10.
Ennis, 26, was especially good in the running events in the seven-discipline sport but said she got an adrenaline rush when the Jaguar F-Type hit 150mph on a test run.
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, November 4, 2012,
A VINTAGE Aston Martin DB5 driven by Sir Paul McCartney while The Beatles shot to international fame has fetched more than £300,000 at auction.
Sir Paul ordered the dark blue sports car in 1964 on the eve of the band's world tour and had it fitted with a black leather interior, Motorola radio and its very own record player.
The Aston Martin sold at a hammer price of £307,500 at the event in Battersea Park, central London, a spokesman said.
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, November 4, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
WORKERS at the troubled maker of London black cabs are believed to have locked themselves inside their factory after being told of job losses.
Coventry-based Manganese Bronze had to call in administrator PWC after failing to gain new funding.
Unite expressed "outrage" that 156 workers were to be made redundant and called on the Government to step in to save the manufacturer of the famous vehicle.
National officer Roger Maddison said: "Only last night PWC were telling us there were significant in... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, November 3, 2012,
In :
Car reviews
MINI has released details of an updated Countryman for 2013, including models that comply with Euro 6 emissions regulations that come into force in 2014.
Models designed to the new specifications will start being built in November. The engine choice of four petrols and three diesels remains largely the same, with power outputs between 89bhp and 215bhp, but the One Countryman and the Cooper Countryman will boast ultra-low particulate emissions.
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, November 3, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
GREATER effort should be made to educate poorer socio-economic groups about road safety, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).
In a policy paper entitled Social Factors in Road Safety, RoSPA looked at social factors including where people involved in accidents live and their family circumstances.
The organisation found, among other things, that children in families in the lowest income bracket cross 50% more roads than families in the highest. According to the ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, November 2, 2012,
CHEVROLET has teamed up with iconic toy car maker Hot Wheels to produce a special edition Camaro based on Hot Wheels styling.
Its “vibrant, graphics-accented metallic paint scheme” makes the V8-powered Camaro even more striking than usual, and with two-tone graphics on the bonnet, flame graphics on the rear bumper, Hot Wheels logos dotted around and black 20-inch wheels it’s as close to a real, full-size Hot Wheels car as possible.
Pictured is the US version with slightly different stylin... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, November 2, 2012,
THE AVERAGE parent drives over 1,300 miles per year just to get their children to fall asleep, according to research released by baby and toddler supplies chain Mothercare.
In the process spend an average of £547 extra on fuel just to help their little ones to nod off. More than half of parents (56%) admit they use their cars as a ‘drop-off-to-sleep’ tool at least once a week. The average ‘bedtime drive’ lasts nearly half an hour and starts at 9pm.
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, November 1, 2012,
In :
Driving Test Info
The Highway Code applies to England, Scotland and Wales. It's essential reading for everyone. Here's a reminder about driving in fog.
When driving in fog you should:
use your lights as required keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front. Rear lights can give a false sense of security be able to pull up well within the distance you can see clearly. This is particularly important on motorways and dual carriageways, as vehicles are travelling faster use your windscreen wipers and demisters bewa... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, October 31, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
MOTORISTS could face a two-tier road tax under proposals being considered by the Government, it has been reported.
Press reports suggested that drivers could be offered a lower rate of the tax if they agree not to use the country's trunk road network of major A-roads and motorways. Those paying a higher rate of vehicle excise duty would be free to use any roads.
A network of automatic number-plate recognition cameras could be used to catch any drivers who were using the motorways without paying... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, September 22, 2012,
Congratulations to Alan for passing first time yesterday over at Brislington test centre. He passed with just 2 minors! An amazing drive. Well done Alan, see you on the road. PS - Good luck with the baby! Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, August 30, 2012,
Congratulations to Sarah for passing today at Southmead with just 5 minors. Sarah opted for the mega early 7:40 test slot and nailed her exam. Well done Sarah, see you on the road! Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, July 30, 2012,
In :
Car reviews
THE SEAT Exeo is now available under the Ecomotive umbrella, with up to 62.8mpg and 117g/km CO2 emissions.
Two Ecomotive models have been announced, with the same efficiency stats but different power outputs. Both the 141bhp and the 118bhp versions are available in estate (ST) and saloon body styles, with the full range of trim choices.
For the first time the car drops into road tax (VED) band C, attracting just £30 per year road tax under current rules.
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, July 25, 2012,
FIAT is to update the 500 range with six bold new colours, revised interior trim, new wheels and a neater aerial design.
The order books are open now for the new Countrypolitan Yellow (pictured) and New Age Cream solid finishes, and Groove Metal Grey, Epic Blue, Chillout Purple and Idol Pink metallics.
Inside, a Chocolate Brown/Ivory fabric colour pairing joins a grey/black option. Two-tone leather trim choices will be made available by the end of the year for the 2013 model.
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, July 23, 2012,
In :
Learning
YOUNG drivers are most at risk of crashing in the first few months after passing their test, according to an AA/Populus survey.
Of drivers who have had an accident, 23% of 18 to 24-year-olds crashed within six months of passing their test.
The survey, of more than 14,000 drivers who have had a car crash,
formed the basis of a report from the AA Charitable Trust and the Make
Roads Safe campaign.
Entitled Young Drivers at Risk, the report was launched today by former motor racing champion Nig...
WHILE Britain welcomes Olympics arrivals, around two million people will be heading abroad at the start of the school holidays this weekend.
And for those taking breaks in the UK, there was a promise of better weather, with conditions expected to be warmer, drier and sunnier.
The AA warned that major road routes were likely to be busy from mid-afternoon today.
Those staying at home, who have had to endure one of the UK's coldest, wettest and dullest summers ever, can at least look forward to som... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, July 22, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
LAST month's Jubilee double bank holiday put the brake on car production, official figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed today.
A total of 119,193 cars were manufactured in the UK in June 2012 - a 0.7% dip on the June 2011 figure.
Commercial vehicle (CV) production last month was also affected by the June 4 and 5 bank holidays, dropping 19.7% to 8,367 vehicles.
Engine production in June 2012 also fell - going down 15.1% to 203,188.
Congratulations to Billy for passing first time yesterday at Southmead test centre with just 4 minors. A great drive. Well done Billy, see you on the road. Continue reading ...
Congratulations to Clay for passing first time yesterday at Southmead test centre. He passed with just two minors to convert his U.S licence to a U.K one. Well done and see you on the road. Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, January 18, 2012,
Congratulations to Jack for passing first time yesterday over at Southmead driving test centre. Jack passed with just 5 minors. That's two passes this week and a 100% pass rate in 2012 for A-Class Driving School. Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, August 26, 2011,
For those taking tests in Southmead be aware that the White Tree Roundabout is having some work done to it. By look sof things they are working on the roundabout itself, so be on the look out for workers and possibly a reduction in lane width on the inside.
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, August 20, 2011,
The mini roundabout at the end of the very small dual carriageway is having some work done. As you are heading towards Henleaze (away from the test centre) the left hand lane is out. You'll just need to MSM getting over to thte right hand lane to turn left here.
Westbury Village is having some work done, just after the roundabout exit heading towards Canford Park. Tempoary trffic lights are in place, so lookout for those. The biggest concern here is the traffic and how it builds up at the roundabout. Make sure before you enter the roundabout you can clear the junction. If you do realise quite late that you're going to have to stop on the roundabout, try not to block any exits or entrances so other road users can still access the junction from oth... Continue reading ...
Congratulations to Jon for passing first time yesterday at Southmead Test Centre. Jon took an intensive 30 hour course over two weeks and passed with flying colours; just two minors!
That's now two passes in 3 days with 3 minors between them!
Congratulations to Lee for passing first time at Brislington yesterday with just 3 minors! An amazing result. That's two passes in 3 days for A-Class Driving School!
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, February 10, 2011,
In :
Driving Test Info
The crossroads on Shirehampton Road are being dug up and a 4 way traffic light system has been put in. The extra traffic isn't helpful for most of us, but if you're on your test this could infact be really useful, specially coming from the side roads onto the main one as this can sometimes be very busy indeed.
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, November 14, 2010,
In :
Driving Test Info
A massive congratulations to Linda for passing first time at Southmead on Friday morning. Linda passed with an incredible 1 minor (missing one mirror check whilst reducing speed) and only 23 hours of tuition. Well done Linda, see you on the road!
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, October 23, 2010,
In :
Driving Test Info
Another pass this week. Congratulations to richard for passing first time with 5 minors at Southmead yesterday. Richard took a one and a hlaf week intensive course and did exceptionally well.
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, September 7, 2010,
In :
Driving Test Info
When will it ever stop? The amount of work that goes into this road is untrue. Now they are shutting it during the evening, as well as workig on it during the day. Yesterday there were two sets of road works, forcing cars to enter narrow tunnels of cones. It's nothing tricky at the moment, just check mirrors for idiot drivers trying to get past you before the cones begin.
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, September 1, 2010,
In :
Driving Test Info
The road works on Falcondale road, just by the test centre were back again yesterday, one day after they had all cleaned up and left. This time they are doing the upward slope towards the M5 and Cribbs causeway. The traffic that this created yesterday could be felt everywhere in a 5 mile radius. Just be ready for suden road works and lane changes.
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, August 20, 2010,
In :
Driving Test Info
Westbury Village will be closed to motorists on the 25th of August for a few days according to the road signs. Not sure what is going on here, but I'd practice in and around the little side roads of Westbury if you have a test there in the next week or so.
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, August 20, 2010,
In :
Driving Test Info
East Hill is closed. I would hope that the examiners know this and simply aren't using the test routes that use this road as the diversion is very tricky. The roads used for the diversion are full of meeting situations, so be careful, look far ahead and make a plan on going or staying. Don;t wait too long, other road users will take advantage of you, but don't slow them down.
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, August 13, 2010,
In :
Driving Test Info
Lane closures less than a two minutes away from the test centre are causing congestion issues. Falcondale road is the large, two lane road connectig Bristol with Cribbs causeway and the M5. Right by the corssroads with Henbury Road a lot of digging is going on and the left hand lane heading down the hill towards Bristol has been closed. You'll need to use your mirrors, signal, get another mirror check in before creeping over into the right lane to proceed through the junction.
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, August 7, 2010,
In :
Driving Test Info
Most learner drivers don't fear taking the wheel until it
comes to the dreaded manoeuvre; the thought of a parallel park can send
even the most confident learner into a tizzy.
So we've asked
Martyn Jones, an AA Driving School ambassador and instructor of 26
years' experience, to give us his tips on each of the five manoeuvres. A
typical driving test will require two of them to be performed
confidently and correctly, though sometimes three.
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, July 28, 2010,
Passage road in both directions is down to one lane yet again. More bus stops by the looks of things. The traffic lights on the crest of the hill are also out, so be on guard for pedestrians walking out infront of you!
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, July 28, 2010,
In :
Motoring news
Government spending cuts will see many speed cameras go
out of action, but senior Ministry of Transport Officials plan to leave
the empty shells of cameras in place as a deterrent to speeding
motorists.
The new Con-Lib Government has slashed road safety
funds for local councils by 40 percent, so no new speed cameras will be
erected for the foreseeable future.
It is expected that existing
cameras will be left in place, regardless of whether or not they are
able to photograph speeding c...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, July 24, 2010,
In :
Motoring news
A former accountancy student and car enthusiast has turned
his hand to luxury car washes for the super rich. Gurcharn Sahota
charges luxury and supercar owners up to £7,200 per valet, which easily
makes him Britain's priciest car wash.
Sahota works from his
parents' garage, which he has lined with special tiles that help to
reflect small dirt particles on the cars.
Notable tools of the
trade include wax that costs £8,200 per tub and a £5,000 police
microscope that can detect minisc...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, July 24, 2010,
In :
Car reviews
The ultimate SUV will make urban traffic jams a thing of
the past - it flies.
The AVX Transformer (TX) is the result of a
challenge by the American Government military development agency DARPA.
It asked someone to come up with the ultimate go-anywhere four-seat
vehicle for combat use.
American company ATX, a military
helicopter manufacturer from Texas, took up the challenge. Its proposal
for a flying 4x4 is possibly the most mobile SUV ever - and certainly
the most extreme.
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, July 23, 2010,
In :
Motoring news
I can't speak any higher than of the guys at f1 Autos off of St. Phillips Causeway. I've been using these guys for a while now and are just always so amazing. My brake pad wear indicator light came on the other day, went straight over to ask what it could be and without hesitation they took the car straight in, on the ramp, wheels off and fixed the issue without charge. I love these guys!
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, July 18, 2010,
In :
Driving Test Info
Congratulations to Eric for passing first time yesterday morning at Southmead test centre with just 5 minors. He learnt to drive in just two weeks with an intensive course, well done Eric.
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, July 14, 2010,
Passage Road is down to one lane on the upwards slope of the mini dual carriageway. This is on a few test routes. No signs that the speed limit has droped, you'll need to get into the lane closest to the cental reservation. It looks like new bus stops is the cause.
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, July 5, 2010,
In :
Car reviews
The Terrafugia Transition is about to become the world's
first production flying car.
In development since 2006, the
flying car was always hindered by American Federal Aviaton
Administration (FAA) rules.
It was developed as a 'light sport'
category aircraft, which means potential pilots need only register 20
hours flying time to legally take it to the skies. Full private flying
licenses are very costly and time consuming to obtain.
But
Terrafugia couldn't keep the weight under the 1,...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, July 5, 2010,
In :
Motoring news
The UK's most dangerous road is the A537 between
Macclesfield and Buxton. That's according to a report by the Road Safety
Foundation (RSF), a charity affiliated with car safety group Euro NCAP.
The
road is so dangerous, says the RSF, because it has 'severe bends, steep
falls from the carriageway and is edged by dry-stone walls or rock face
for almost all of its length'.
The report, called Saving Lives
for Less, looked at 28,000 miles of UK roads. It concludes that half of
all fatal ac...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, July 4, 2010,
In :
Motoring news
Car clubs are set to benefit from an extra £40,000 of
government funding, Transport Minister Norman Baker announced on 1 July.
The money will be used to support car club development in the UK.
Membership of car clubs allows access to low carbon vehicles for
short periods of time, often by the hour, on a pay-as-you-go basis. The
clubs have increased massively in popularity with the number of members
increasing from just 22,000 in 2007 to more than 127,114 memb...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, July 1, 2010,
In :
Driving Test Info
Transport and logistics isn't just for businesses directly involved
in the transport sector. If you use transport in any part of your
business - from providing company cars for employees to moving goods or
produce or drawing up workplace travel plans – the transport and
logistics theme will point you towards the information you need.
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, June 29, 2010,
In :
Driving Test Info
Congratulations to Glenn for passing his test today with an incredible 1 minor! He so nearly had a perfect score, if it wasn't for a speeding merc on his reverse parking exercise he would have done. Welll done, see you on the streets.
Not sure what is going on here, but the road gets significantly narrower near the pedestrian crossing by Tescos. The road works are on a little bend, which makes it harder to pick up. The map below shows Kellaway Road to be straight, it isn't when you're driving on it, be careful and slow on approach.
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, June 28, 2010,
In :
Motoring news
The Department of Motor Vehicles in California, USA is
considering the introduction of advanced new digital car number plates. A
variety of uses is proposed, including hosting advertising to raise
money for the state's coffers.
Smart Plate, a company based in San
Francisco, has developed the new technology. The number plates show the
car's registration as usual, but have the ability to display customised
messages and advertisements.
It is being proposed that the state
of California sel...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, June 28, 2010,
In :
Car reviews
What appear to be official images of a future all-electric
Mercedes-Benz supercar have swept the internet, causing a stir amongst
car enthusiasts and speculation on the abilities of the new machine.
The
E-Cell is based on the SLS AMG supercar launched at the end of 2009.
However, in place of a V8 petrol engine there's a series of batteries
and four electric motors.
Spinning to 12,000rpm, the motors are
thought to produce almost as much power as the 563bhp petrol engine,
though substant...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, June 27, 2010,
In :
Driving Test Info
The
Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has published a video on its YouTube
channel which explains how to sign up, free of charge, for DSA Direct
email alerts.
DSA
is encouraging learner drivers and driver trainers to sign up for the
service. It will help them to stay up to date with information about
learning to drive and ride, the driving test, and road safety.
If
you run your own website for learner drivers and riders, or driver
trainer...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, June 25, 2010,
In :
Car reviews
Remember the days when cars were basic? It wasn't so long
ago that a CD player, power steering and electric windows were on the
options list of most hatchbacks - now buyers would baulk at the prospect
of any car without them.
The big trend right now is small cars
loaded with big car features, as cash-strapped motorists aim to downsize
and save on running costs while maintaining the specced-up big-car
experience. That means it's not uncommon to find a Ford Fiesta-sized
hatchback with o...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, June 24, 2010,
In :
Motoring news
There are plenty of legal protections in place to prevent
people being ripped off when buying a used car from a dealer.
Unfortunately, buy a dodgy used car from a private seller and you're
probably stuck with it.
It's a minefield. The vast, vast majority
of car sellers, and their cars, are perfectly legitimate - and that
'new job forces sale' story may well be genuine - but it's easy to get
caught out.
According to Vanessa Guyll, Technical Specialist at
the AA, emotional involvement ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, June 22, 2010,
In :
Motoring news
Local councils will find it more difficult to justify new
speed cameras, as the Government halts millions of pounds in funding for
them.
It's the first major sign that the new Government is
making good on its promise to curb the proliferation of speed cameras in
the UK.
The move, which was confirmed to MPs by Transport
Minister Mike Penning, does not actually put a stop to new speed traps.
It will, however, mean council tax will have to fund speed cameras,
forcing officials to justif...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, June 21, 2010,
In :
Driving Test Info
Lots of road works at the moment in and around Bristol. The latest busy road to get some treatment is Passage Road, very close to the test centre. Be on the look out for the signs and beware that this road actualy has two lanes!
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, June 16, 2010,
New research by the Health Protection Agency (HPA)
suggests that water from windscreen washer jets could be the cause of
one in five cases of Legionnaires' Disease.
The illness is caught
when stagnant warm water containing the Legionella bacteria is sprayed
and inhaled. It can lead to pneumonia and is sometimes fatal.
It
was found that those who drive for a living are five times more likely
to catch Legionnaires' Disease. The HPA believes that drivers who fill
the washer reservoir of...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, June 16, 2010,
In :
Motoring news
Kia has recalled 468 cee'd and 6,585 Picanto models in the
UK after identifying safety issues.
The cee'd recall relates to a
brake problem on cars equipped with ESP (Electronic Stability
Programme). According to Kia, affected cars could 'suffer insufficient
brake force,' although the company is keen to stress there have been no
reported incidents in the UK.
Potential fuel leak issues have
been identified in the Picanto. Kia blames it on the high level of
de-icing fluid used during th...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, June 15, 2010,
In :
Driving Test Info
A lot of roads around the Southmeadf test route area have signs up saying they are about to be resurfaced and make-shift 20mph signs are everywhere. You only need to go 20 when the road has been resurfaced. You'll know if it's been resurfaced as it will be covered in loose stones and the chance of skidding is high.
The other danger of re-surfacing is the lack of road markings, be careful your position doesn't waver and get eye contact with other drivers at junctions before going.
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, June 14, 2010,
In :
Car reviews
A 1/18th scale model of the Bugatti Veyron has gone on
sale with a whopping £2 million price tag - the ultimate way to pimp
your mantelpiece.
It's fashioned from 24-carat gold and platinum,
and its grille is a single cut 7.2-carat diamond.
Only three
will be made, each taking two months to complete. The model is amazingly
intricate, featuring a steering wheel that moves the front wheels,
doors that open and a working roof mechanism. It weighs in at seven
kilos.
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, June 13, 2010,
In :
Car reviews
A consortium led by Jaguar has created an XJ luxury saloon
that could emit just 50g/km of CO2 on average.
The
'Limo-Green' XJ is the fruit of two years' work by Jaguar, Lotus, the
MIRA research organisation and British supercar maker Caparo. The £4.2m
project received funding from the Technology Strategy Board, a
Government organisation.
The first working prototype has beaten
its initial performance and emissions targets, which were 120g/km of CO2
and an eight-second 0-62mph sprint....
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, June 13, 2010,
In :
Car reviews
The 3 millionth Toyota rolled off the company's UK factory
line as it's been announced that the Auris HSD hybrid will be built in
Britain.
This is the first Toyota hybrid model to be built in the
UK and has been described by the Japanese firm as a “source of great
motivation” for the British plant's workforce.
Using
petrol-electric hybrid power, the Auris Hybrid achieves 74.3mpg and
89g/km carbon dioxide emissions, which makes it exempt from road tax and
the London Congestion Charg...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, June 12, 2010,
In :
Car reviews
The Palatov dp4 is possibly the world's most extreme
go-kart, capable of going as fast as your nerves will allow.
The
kart, which wouldn't look out of place in Batman's garage, can be
powered by a variety of motorcycle engines. Therefore, up to 200bhp is
available, making an incredible power-to-weight ratio possible because
it tips the scales at less than 360kg - a Lotus Elise weighs around
860kg.
Like a Caterham, the dp4 can be ordered already built or in
kit form. Power from the eng...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, June 12, 2010,
In :
Car reviews
A fleet of hydrogen fuel cell cars that emit nothing but
water will be trialled by UK drivers from 2012.
The unusual
two-seat city car was designed and developed by British company
Riversimple. It's lightweight, capable of 50mph and can travel up to 200
miles on a tank of hydrogen, giving it the equivalent of 300mpg
economy.
Drivers in the Leicestershire area will be invited to
lease the car for around £200 per month. An additional usage cost of
around 15p per mile will be added.
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, June 11, 2010,
In :
Driving Test Info
A new version of the 'Are you ready?' video for the car practical
driving test has been published on DSA's YouTube channel at youtube.com/dsagov.
It shows how the test will look from 4 October 2010.
The video includes information about the independent driving section
of the test, and confirms that, from 4 October, car test candidates will
only have to complete one reversing manoeuvre rather than two. The
manoeuvre will be selected at random by the examiner from:
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, June 10, 2010,
In :
Driving Test Info
From 4 October 2010, learner drivers will be tested
on independent driving as part of the practical driving test.
During their test, candidates will have to drive for
about 10 minutes, either following a series of directions, following
traffic signs, or a combination of both.
To help candidates understand where they’re going,
the examiner may show them a diagram.
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, June 10, 2010,
In :
Car reviews
As boat accessories go, a bespoke supercar is probably the
most extravagant. But that's exactly what millionaire buyers of the
£17m Strand Craft SC122 will get.
Beating the Bugatti Veyron hands
down for exclusivity, the supercar has 880bhp from its twin-turbo V12
engine and a claimed top speed of 234mph. Only six will be built, each
capable of hitting 60mph from rest in 3.2 seconds.
Designed by
Eduard Gray, the car is so synonymous with the yacht that the company
doesn't seem to have...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, June 8, 2010,
In :
Car reviews
This month marks 40 years since the introduction of the
Range Rover on June 17 1970.
Land Rover's luxury 4x4 was - and
still is - one of the most revolutionary cars on the road due to its
ability to mix a luxurious driving experience with superb ability
off-road.
The original Range Rover, now known as the Classic,
remained in production for 25 years. It was replaced by the second
generation model, the P38a, in 1994.
The current version arrived
in 2001 and spawned the performance orient...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, June 7, 2010,
In :
Motoring news
With Petrol prices at a record high LPG drivers are in pole
position and installers are expecting a busy summer. For those wanting
to save on fuel costs LPG is still the real deal. Unleaded fuel prices
have risen from around 88p last year to around 120p this June, equating
to a 36% increase in your costs with no evidence that these costs will
fall in the long term. Right now petrol prices are dropping a touch but
most experts predict further rises as inevitable. In these difficult
...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, June 7, 2010,
In :
Motoring news
A survey conducted by the AA has revealed that over three
quarters of motorists would back the sale of the UK's motorways and
trunk roads to reduce the Government's financial deficit.
However,
82 percent of the 19,000 AA members who took part in the survey would
not back the sale if the new owner of the road network instigated toll
charging.
The poll also asked participants how they would like to
see the UK's budget deficit solved. The most popular choice, at 58
percent, was higher ta...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, June 6, 2010,
In :
Car reviews
Summer time and the living is easy, so how about making
your driving just as enjoyable and laid-back with a classic car?
Choose
the right car and all your motoring worries will melt away in the
sunshine and, if you're not keen on a winter's classic motoring, you'll
be able to sell up and maybe even make a profit.
All of our
choices can be had for £10,000 or less in tip-top condition.
The markings infront of the test centre have changed. The image below shows a little central lane to help those coming into the centre and get out of the way of other cars. This little central lane was also used to enter the test centre. Now the road appears wider as the central lane has been wiped away. So make sure your MSPSL routine is solid here, getting the mirrors in before the position change. The signal still needs to be delayed, otherwise other road users will think you're headi... Continue reading ...
The UK driving test is to be revamped in an effort to make
it more relevant to real world driving situations.
The change,
which comes into force in October, is the inclusion of a ten-minute
journey that the pupil must make unassisted, known as the 'independent
driving' section.
Depending on where the test is taking place,
the examiner will tell the learner to either follow signs for a city
centre or landmark, or give them a series of directions.
High Street near Kingswood is being dug in two sections and so they have employed a few lollipop men to ease traffic congestion. When you see the guys with the lollipop, check your mirrors and if they are showing the stop side, slow down and stop well before them. You must leave enough room for the traffic coming from the other end of the street to flow, don't get in their way.
The car was serviced yesterday at F1 Autos down on St. Phillips Causeway. I think this is one of the best garages I've used and fully recommend them to anyone.
Congratulations to Seb for passing this morning. he passed with just 3 minors, which is a fantastic drive down in Brislington where the pass rate is far lower than that of Southmead. Well done Seb, see you on the road.
Keynsham road, the national speed limit road running by the cadbury factor, is having some road works done right now and is down to one lane. It gives you 400 yards to check your mirror and get your speed down to something sensible enough for you to deal with a possibly a red light and big change in position.
Another congratulations, this time to Benson. He also passed yesterday at Southmead Test Centre with an incredable 2 minors! Benson was one of the best students I've ever taught and fully deserves his licence. Well done.
Congratulations to Jodie first of all. She passed yesterday morning at Southmead Test Centre first time. Jodie racked up 8 minors during her exam, most of which could be put down to nerves. Well done Jodie, see you on the roads.
There are 3 way traffic lights in place on Canford Lane/Dingle Road/Combe Lane. 3 way traffic lights take a while so be patient. It's pretty staright forward on Canfor Lane, bt coming from Combe Lane might be a little harder. The problem is the traffic lights are hidden around the corner, so pay attention to the make shift warning triangles on approach. There is a "wait here when lights are red" sign, so don't over shoot your mark. It's also the end of the road here and if you fail to se... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, May 19, 2010,
Supermarket
Asda has sparked a possible fuel price war by announcing a 2p-a-litre
reduction in the cost of its petrol.
To take effect from Thursday, the cut will
take Asda petrol prices down to 115.9p a litre, while its diesel will
drop 1p to 118.9p a litre.
Asda commercial director David Miles
said: "Yet again, Asda is leading UK fuel prices down. Motorists will be
relieved commodity prices are coming down and as always we are the
first to reflect falling cos...
Absolute nightmare. A 4 way traffic light system is in place for god only knows what, and the lights arent working. Heading from the A4, back towards the test centre the lights are stuck on red. Everyone is jumping them, doing turns in the road and all sorts of other random things. The lights going the other way are out completely, so they are essentially jumping them too. There are lights on ither side too, but I'm unsure as to what is going on with them.
With
global warming now high on everybody's agenda, there has never been a
better time to think about eco-driving.
Regardless
of the vehicle you are driving, there are techniques you can use to
save fuel and to minimise your impact on the environment. These
techniques have been an integral part of the advanced driving process,
delivering eco-benefits through fuel efficiencies, since the IAM was
established in 1956.
Ask
yourself: "Do I really need to drive?" The shortest journeys - few...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, May 12, 2010,
Ford to offer
drivers a talking Twitter service
Hands-free tweeting is coming to Britain. New technology being fitted to
some
Ford cars will give drivers Twitter updates read out loud to them
robotically while they’re driving. Future versions will enable drivers
to
dictate their own tweets via a voice recognition system without taking
t...
Skoda has launched its greenest ever car - the Fabia
Estate Greenline II, which emits just 89g/km of CO2 with
average fuel consumption of 83.1mpg.
Along with the new Roomster
Greenline II, the pair marks the start of the second generation of
eco-friendly Greenline Skodas. The bigger Roomster returns 67.3mpg and
emits only 109g/km of CO2.
Both are powered by a new
three-cylinder 1.2-litre diesel engine, which uses a supercharger rather
than a conventional turbocharger. It develops 74b...
Although Europe is unlikely to ever rely solely on natural gas for
fuelling vehicles, the use of this abundant resource could in part
alleviate the demand on fossil fuels. In other parts of the world,
notably Asia, natural gas based fuels are dominant, with the government
mandating its use in certain transport sectors.
You may be
familiar with LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) or Autogas. It has been
around for a while. Many older, large capacity cars have been converted
to run on LPG in ... Continue reading ...
There are a few goings on in Stoke Bishop on several roads, but all in the same area.
Firstly Mariners Drive is being completely dug up and resembles something like a ski salom. Slow and steady with plenty of mirrors.
Right near by, on several test routes is the giant hole in the ground at the entrance to Old Sneed Road. This will require caution, both going into and exiting the steet. You'll potentialy be on the other side of the road, so careful here.
More than one in ten drivers has had an accident after
swerving to avoid a pothole, a survey has revealed.
More than
half of drivers think the condition of the UK's roads is unacceptable,
while 58 percent believe that the next Government should make road
repairs a main priority.
Britain's roads descended into pothole
chaos during the Christmas 2009 snowstorms. It's only now that the full
extent of the damage it's causing is becoming clear.
Chinese manufacturer Geely has unveiled a city car set to
be cheaper than the Tata Nano - which could make it the world's cheapest
car.
Known as the Geely IG, it has four seats and could cost as
little as £1,500 when it goes on sale in China in 2012. The Tata Nano,
which has yet to hit the UK but is expected in 2011, costs around
£2,500.
Despite the small price tag, the tiny IG is unusually
flamboyant - it has top hinged 'gullwing' style doors, just like the
Mercedes SLS supercar.
In the short term, the answer to potholes is simple — fill them in. In
the
longer term, road builders are looking at a new type of material that
could
be pothole-proof. Officially known as an engineered cementitious
composite,
or ECC, it is both flexible, so less likely to fracture, and capable of
filling in its own cracks.
Victor Li, professor of civil engineering at the University of Michigan,
whose
team developed the concrete, says it reacts with ...
Drivers of two popular people carriers are being warned of a safety
defect
that means the cars could roll over during a high-speed swerve. The
alert
follows the release of dramatic footage of a safety test showing a
Citroën
Nemo Multispace flipping onto its roof when professional testers
simulated
an accident avoidance manoeuvre — the so-called elk test. The same car
is
sold by Peugeot as the Bipper Tepee; about 2,500 of the cars have been
sold
in Britain since their launch in...
TomTom has unveiled its next generation satnav device,
designed to beat congestion and get drivers around quicker.
The
GO LIVE 1000 features over 1.2 million more miles of road and will
'continuously scan the road network for the fastest routes.' TomTom
believes it sets new standards in accuracy and speed.
This
real-time traffic update function is combined with a new high definition
touch screen that the maker says is clearer than ever.
In
addition, it comes bundled with a 12-month su...
Almost half a million car crashes are the result of drivers losing
control after late goals, according to new research.
Insurance
company More Than says research suggests football fans lose control at
the wheel when they hear their team score, a problem termed Final Score
Syndrome.
"With the Premier League coming to a thrilling
conclusion a lot of fans will either be suffering joy or despair this
weekend," said Pete Markey, from More Than.
Two special offers running this month. First off, a 30 hour intensive driving course over either 2, 3 or 4 weeks for just £500. That works out at just £16.66 per hour! Intensive courses are by far the best way to learn. Quicker, cheaper and the student always shows far better driving skills by the time the test comes around. You'll need to have passed your theory first and then book in your practical, then we can fit in the hours to suit you.
It's a parking manoeuvre 67-year old Ralph Hudson will
never forget, when he mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the
brake pedal and nearly plunged seven stories to the ground through a car
park's brick wall.
Luckily for Mr Hudson his Mercedes C-Class was
left dangling half out of the wall and he was able to get out of the
car. The cars below were not so fortunate and seven were badly damaged
by the falling bricks.
Mr Hudson was parking in the Bank of
America car park in Tuls...
THE government has signalled that it plans to cut the drink driving
limit to
less than a pint of beer or a glass of wine.
Lord Adonis, the transport secretary, expects an official review of the
law to
recommend reducing the legal limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of
blood
to 50mg.
He said he would take this “very seriously” and added: “A strong case
has been
made to have a lower limit.”
A new law on drug driving is also likely amid concern about the number
of
motor...
The world’s
first ‘neighbour-to-neighbour’ car rental service lets drivers hire the
vehicle parked just down the street, while taking care of the security
checks and insurance. So what’s the catch?
Your expensive motor sits around most of the day doing nothing. You use
it for
only an hour a day on average, yet it sheds around 60% of its value in
the
first three years of its life, and costs between £3,000 and £5,500 a
year to
run. So isn’t it time it started pulling its w...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, April 29, 2010,
The new independent drive will be introduced to the UK driving test in a few months time, which will take a good 10 minutes of the exam, something that a lot of learners arent looking forward to. However, on the bright side a manoeuvre will be dropped!
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, April 27, 2010,
Fiat will launch a brand new Uno in 2012 - and pictures of
the production car have already leaked out.
It's an interesting
revival for the Uno, which was originally launched in 1983 before being
replaced by the Punto supermini in the early 1990s. It's still sold in
Brazil, however.
The looks of the new Uno mimic those of the
current Panda, though it's a bigger car and will be more expensive. It
uses the same chassis as the Grande Punto, shortened slightly.
There's no doubt that the cost of motoring is spiralling.
This is especially true of insurance premiums. Research shows that
they've risen by 4.3 percent on average since the start of 2010.
But
there's no need to despair, for at the same time small cars are getting
more spacious, greener, cheaper to run and funkier than ever. Here are a
few with plenty of practicality, paucity and prestige (of their own
unique kind).
Insurance ratings in the old 1-20 scale are
displayed first with the...
Motoring issues rarely feature at the forefront of a
pre-election manifesto, even though transport-based news permeates the
day-to-day agenda. Among some of the biggest stories of the last few
years have been congestion charging, environment-based car tax changes,
unprecedented fuel price rises, and, of course, the scrap scheme.
The
cost of motoring is certainly rising, but will it continue unabated
when the next Government comes into power? It's difficult to say for
sure, but here's ...
I've been doing some reseach into learning techniques and something interesting has cropped up. The Mozart Effect. It used to be said that by listening to Mozart it could make you smarter. This isn't strictly true. By listening to music that you find stimulating (puts a smile on your face) your body produces a certain chemical that then allows brain cells to produce synaptic pathways 20% quicker. Synaptic pathways is basically how your brain makes memories. The more memories you have of... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, April 22, 2010,
Temporary traffic lights are in place down Coldharbour Road for a new bus stop to be put in place. Seems like the "in" thing for Bristol this spring. Way too many for my liking, but still, we have to deal with them. So mirrors on approach, and keep focus about position. If you're going to stop, make sure you're on your side of the road and get to the stop line/wait area. If you're going to go through make sure you use your mirrors and change position fairly early so it's more like a stra... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, April 22, 2010,
Wigan winger Charles
N'Zogbia could face up to 10 years in jail after being arrested on
suspicion of getting someone else to take part of his driving test for
him.
The Frenchman, who scored a last minute winner for his side in
their 3-2 victory over Arsenal on
Sunday, was held by officers on Wednesday at a test centre in Greater
Manc...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, April 21, 2010,
A new speed recognition system is being trialled in the
UK. Called 'SpeedSpike', the latest type of camera uses number plate
recognition to 'track' cars on busy roads.
The trial, conducted
by the Home Office and the Police, was secretive until a House of
Commons report unveiled it.
The cameras use similar technology to
the average speed check units currently in use on motorways. The
difference is that they can track cars in built up urban areas. If they
find a car has covered a dista...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, April 20, 2010,
If you have ever experienced the frustration of trying to email a friend
on
your iPhone while parked in a dark lay-by, then car makers are about to
come
to your rescue. A new range of models with internet facilities built
into
the dashboard will enable drivers to surf the net, send emails, use
Skype
and call up sites such as Google Maps to get detailed information about
their route and destination. If all they want to do is check out prices
at
the January sales as they drive to th...
When we announced the results of the Consultation: Improved
Services for Customers and General Fee Increases for 2008 on 19 February
2008 we explained that we intended to provide clarification within the
regulations as to who may act as an accompanying driver for learners
driving category C1 (medium size lorry) and D1 (minibus) vehicles.
Those new arrangements will come into effect on 1 May 2010.
From that date, it will be illegal for anyone to act as an accompanying
driver in a ca...
The dual carriageway headig up towards Filton is having some work done to it. One lane is out and the cones and new markings mean that the left hand lane is now the slip road to exit. So if you're beig asked to follow the road ahead past the airport, you'll need to be in the right hand lane. However, I've never heard of anyone going down there on a test, so the eft hand lane is what you'll need to double back on yourself and re-join the dual carriageway.
THE government has signalled that it plans to cut the drink driving
limit to
less than a pint of beer or a glass of wine.
Lord Adonis, the transport secretary, expects an official review of the
law to
recommend reducing the legal limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of
blood
to 50mg.
He said he would take this “very seriously” and added: “A strong case
has been
made to have a lower limit.”
A new law on drug driving is also likely amid concern about the number
of
motor...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, April 15, 2010,
Learner flips car on roof
Learner driver Krisztina Jaksa ended her second driving
lesson by crawling out of an upside down car.
The bizarre accident happened in Headington, near Oxford, when the
24-year-old was crossing a junction.
The BSM Fiat 500 she was driving hit a gatepost then flipped onto its
roof, smashing the side windows and windscreen. When local resident
Ross Dunne heard a crash he rushed to the scene and helped Ms Jaksa out
of the car; the instructor was already ge...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, April 13, 2010,
If you're looking for cheap LPG fuel, north Bristol is your best bet. Andy's Gas near Cribbs causeway is only 52p a litre. I was shocked yesterday to find an independent seller near Feeder Road, behind Temple Meads selling at 65p a litre, the same as the service station on the M32, the most expensive fuel in Bristol.
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, April 10, 2010,
Shirehampton road in Sea Mills square is being resurfaced at the moment. Temporary traffic lights are in place to make it simple. Do be aware of the parked cars on ether side of the road and make sure if you stop next to one that you aren't massively reducing the width of the road.
Just up from here is a tricky crossroad junction. Have a look here to make sure you know how to take it.
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, April 10, 2010,
Cheap as chips luxury cars for £5,000
If you're willing to sacrifice the look of a newer number
plate and spend a little more on fuel, a true luxury car can be yours
for buttons. We're not talking about posh small cars here either, but
genuine executive barges with acres of space and mountains of prestige.
For just £5,000 - about half the price of a basic new Ford Ka.
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, April 8, 2010,
The approach to the Hick's Gate roundabout from the test centre is splattered in cones. I think a bus stop is being put in and the whole area is down to one lane in both directions in part.
Be careful as it's a 50 mph zone, so don't be caught out or slam on any brake. A mirror check will be in order with any large reduction in speed and follow the cones. Once the cones end, you may need to come back into the left if turning/bearing left at the roundabout, so MSM will be called for here.
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, April 8, 2010,
The bottom of the Bath Road on the way to town as you leave the test centre has a few cones and some work going on. Bus stops are being put in on the up hill section and so is narrowing the width of the road a little. Nothing too major here, just be careful and on the look out for men at work.
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, April 7, 2010,
10 essential things to do before buying a used car
Buying a new car is far less daunting than buying used, so
it seems. For a start, there's the welcoming environment of a shiny
showroom full of gleaming cars. More importantly, there's also the peace
of mind of a brand new car and the long warranty that comes with it.
By
comparison, used cars are a minefield of dodgy forecourts, 'sold as
seen' runabouts and suspicious odometer readings. That's not the
reality, mostly, but buying used i...
Introducing DSA’s National Driving and Riding
Standards
The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has published its National Driving
and Riding Standards. They set out the knowledge, skills and
understanding that DSA believe people need to have to be safe and
responsible drivers or riders.
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, April 1, 2010,
Congratulations to James for passing first time today from Southmead test centre. James picked up 6 minors, which is fantastic after only needing 25 hours from start to finish. Enjoy your new found freedom and the congratulatory mug!
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, April 1, 2010,
Right to appeal against a decision made by the
Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) Registrar
The Driving Standards Agency has published on the Business Link
website, a new factsheet advising about the rights of appeal to the
independent Transport Tribunal, concerning decisions of the ADI
Registrar. It can be accessed via: http://bit.ly/Right_to_appeal_against_ADI_Registrar_decisions
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, April 1, 2010,
Changes to ID requirements for driving tests and
Driver CPC periodic training
DSA has been working closely with the Identity and Passport Service
(IPS) so we can accept UK Identity Cards issued by IPS as an alternative
means by which candidates may confirm their identity for all types of
driving tests and Driver CPC periodic training.
Candidates for driving tests and periodic training need to produce
evidence of their entitlement to drive the relevant vehicle and prove
their iden...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, March 31, 2010,
This only effects one test route and it would be towards the end of the test. After going around the tower blocks of Easton and heading over the fly-over by St.Phillips causeway you'll see signs warning you that you can't go onto the A4. After you exit the last giant roundabout (see here on how to deal with those roundabouts) almost straight away you'll see a lot of cones pushing you very wide to the right here. Mirror and signal if you think you need to let the car behind you know what is... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, March 30, 2010,
Approved
driving instructor (ADI) check tests in English or Welsh
From 1 October 2010 the
Driving Standards Agency will align the languages in which check tests
are conducted with those used for ADI practical tests.
The part 2 (driving ability)
and part 3 (instructional ability) tests are conducted in English or
Welsh only. Most ADIs who have qualified in Great Britain then continue
to have their check tests conducted in these languages.
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, March 30, 2010,
Road works on the A37 have it down to one lane heading up the hill. Forward planning is a must here, get on the mirrors and signal nice and early. Leave it too late and you'll have no chance in getting out. You need to let people know nice and early that you want to change lane.
The road works and temporary traffics have vanished after the resurfacing, however, no road markings have been laid down yet, so be careful of your position.
The road works at the crossroads on Shirehampton Road and Sylvan Way have been cleared up, however, no road marking have been laid down yet, so be careful of your position.
At last the resurfacing crews have come to Brislington and are in the middle of fixing one of the busiest and bumpiest roads in town. This will only effect those coming back to the test centre after taking the route through Broom Hill. The cones arent that distruptive, just be on the look out for men at work.
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, March 27, 2010,
Last one, I swear! If you get this test route in either direction at the moment, you'll need to be really on your toes! The one way system has a load of bollards and cones in the left lane as you come around the corner, without much notice. You'll be wanting to get into the right lane anyway, but just make sure you use your mirrors and signal to change lane and position. Also worth noting to take the signal off as just a little way down the street is a hidden right hand turn, that you are... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, March 27, 2010,
It's all go in Sea Mills. Not more than 100 meters down the hill from the major resurfacing is more resurfacing! Temporary traffic lights in all directions and they are on a 4 way slip. Meaning you could be waiting here a while. Handbrake when waiting is a must, if you are coming up the hill, treat it as a massive hill start, so plenty of gas.
Have a read of how you should be taking this set of traffic lights and why several people have failed here before in the past!
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, March 27, 2010,
Shirehampton road, heading up the hill towards Kings Western Road and Blaize is being resurfaced (at last), and due to the nature of the road, being on a step incline and having a blind turn on the sumit, they have decided to put in some temporary traffic lights.
This is all very close to the crossroads on Sylvan Way, make sure you know what is troublesome about this set of taffic lights. Have a read here.
It gives advice to ADIs about how to report suspected illegal driving
instruction.
If you suspect that your instructor isn't qualified, make sure you act. He/she may not be CRB checked and could pose a real serious danger to peoples safety. If they do not have this green badge in their window, they arent qualified.
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, March 27, 2010,
The roadworks no longer push you onto the wrong side of the road. An island of bollards and now sit in the middle of the road. Make sure no work men spring out of the centre at the last second, be careful.
Henleaze High Street has some massive digging works going on at the moment. As you head towards the test centre, going down the hill the road is blocked off by some high fencing protecting what looks like a port-a-loo ... make of it what you will, you'll have to go around it. It's just at the start of the busy section, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled for cars coming towards you as you move around the digging, making sure you check your mirrors first.
Low carbon buses and fuel generated from everyday
waste are at the centre of a £30 million government fund to help reduce
emissions from transport.
The plans form part of the Department for Transport’s wider strategy
to encourage a radical shift to low carbon transport and improve air
quality in our cities.
As part of the funding, local authorities and bus operators will have
the opportunity to bid for...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, March 23, 2010,
Great idea for instructors and drivers alike.
As you'll be well aware, tailgating drivers are one of the biggest
concerns
for learner drivers and impact of their ability to relax and learn from
you
during lessons. Most drivers don't know what the correct distance is to
follow
at 30mph and, even if they do, wouldn't be able to gauge it on the road.
TailGuardian is a unique new system that warns following drivers when
they are
too close - allowing your client to learn with less stress,...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, March 23, 2010,
Chief
driving examiner welcomes the publication of scientific study
Chief driving examiner and
director for safer driving Trevor Wedge has welcomed the publication of a
new scientific study into how driving instructors can develop their
coaching skills.
The EU-funded ‘High Impact approach for Enhancing Road safety
through More Effective communication Skills for driving instructors’ (HERMES) project began in March 2007 and was
completed in February 2010.
Observer on test for category B (car) practical tests will be
implemented on 6 April 2010. This will need changes to how the examiner
administers part of the test.
The DT1 - the standard operating procedure that examiners follow -
has been updated to reflect these changes.
Consumers are paying an average of £425 each to fix
faults with second-hand cars that are the dealer's responsibility to
correct. A study by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) also found that
many dealers are using illegal disclaimers like 'No Refund'. Make sure
you know your rights when buying a second-hand car.
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, March 13, 2010,
Some serious digging is taking place on East Hill in Westbury Village. Temporary traffic lights have been put up and the traffic is backing up in both directions a fair bit. Due to the East Hill being so up and down, handbrake and neutral is required here. Make sure you use those mirrors for big changes in direction as you move around the cones when the lights turn greeen.
If you have torubles in Westbury Village, have a read of the guide - Westbury Village
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, March 6, 2010,
Bridge Valley Road (the horrid 180 degree turn off The Portway into Clifton) will be closed on the 8th March, so all those who are taking their test on that day breath a small sigh of relief. That's one less thing to have to worry about.
This March, if you recommend A-Class Driving School to a friend, you'll both receive a free lesson. If you have passed already, then an assesment lesson or perhaps one of the pass plus modules (motorway, dual carriageway, rural, city, night, all weather).
Temporary traffioc lights are currently on Albert Road in Keynsham. The street usually is a hot bed for meeting situations, so perhaps the road works here are a bit of a blessing in disguise. Your mirrors should be checked on approach, when moving out and around, back in and make sure if you do need to stop, you stay in your lane with plenty of room to drive through in a straight line.
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, February 24, 2010,
One of the big issues that newly qualified drivers have is being on their own. Not having that voice telling you where to go can lead to recently qualified drivers getting lost and confused. The Pass Plus would help with this, however, the DSA has taken some inititive here and has produced a few YouTube videos to help put drivers at ease.
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, February 24, 2010,
From April this year, when starting the driving test each student will be asked by the examiner if they would like have an observer sitting in the back. The DSA is hoping that the number of learners wanting this will dramatically rise from the 18,000 that sat in the back last year. The aim is that instructors then can see the test and understand the feedback at the end if the student fails and then in future lessons can target any issues, strengthening the learner in that department.
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, February 22, 2010,
Heavy rain due on Thursday morning, they have issued a "severe" warning. If you're on your test, make sure you know where the windscreen wipers are and keep a 4 second gap.
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, February 22, 2010,
Kellaway Road, very close to the horrid cramped up little crossroad, has cones and bollards in the street. The wall has collapsed and is having some emergency work carried out here. The street is narrow enough as it is, so make sure you speed is suitable if someone is coming towards you down here.
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, February 22, 2010,
The entrance of Wessex road is being dug up, that's a street just off of Gloucester road, opposite a park with a pub on the corner. It could take you a little by suprise if you're not going slow enough as you aproach and turn into the street. The thing that wont help here is that the entrance of Wessex road is down hill, so make sure you arent coasting and have your speed down with the right ready on the footbrake to hold back the speed of the car.
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, February 21, 2010,
Cleaning items (wheel cleaner, instant valet, slick tyre spray etc), car tools and other car related bits and bobs are super cheap at places like motorman (Southmead and Bedminster), What! (Hengrove), Rajanis (Fishponds) and The Range (St.Phillips Causeway). I couldn't believe how cheap they were at "What!" I walked out today with arms full of goods for less than £10!
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, February 17, 2010,
Druid Stoke Avenue is the street with the really posh houses with massive cast iron gates. You've probably done a few turn in the road manoeuvres and the emergency stop down here. On approach to this street there are still lots of road works on the mini roundabout. It's very difficult to see what is going on here, so be careful. The next issue is then turning into Druid Stoke Avenue. Straight away there are more roadworks and diggers and cones etc. Don't switch off, keep focused when ent... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, February 15, 2010,
One of the pedestrian crossings on Henleaze High Street is having some serious work done to it. It's the exceptionally wide one and it effects road users in both directions. At the centre of the crossing there is a large square of bollards and cones, massively reducing the visibility for drivers seeing if someone is crossing. Proceed with extreame caution. Get this wrong and it could mean failing your exam. Make sure the road works in the centre doesn't distract you so much you ignore pe... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, February 15, 2010,
The crossroads in Linden Road are having some work done to them, which is a pain seeing as the crossroads are so tight and narrow it's difficult for cars to make much progress. Just be aware that traffic maybe heavy here and diggers and work men may be around, so lots of mirrors and approach with caution.
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, February 15, 2010,
On approach to the crossroads on Wellington Hill West there are lots of going ons. It's down to one lane with heavy diggers resurfacing the road. I didn't see any traffic lights, so be sure that the coast is clear before moving out onto the wrong side of the street to go around. It's up hill, so pick a low gear and be sure to be firm on the gas to move out and arond the hazard quickly and efficiently.
Lots of digging and road worksa re taking place near crossroads at the moment, take the tes... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, February 14, 2010,
Not far from the test centre after coming out and turning left, down the road and then turn right at teh bottom of the hill you have School Road. This then turns into Birchwood Road at the top of the hill with a mini roundabout. If you go straight over you'll see a few warning triangles warnign you of some road works up ahead. The next section is pretty bendy, so make sure you check your mirrors AND look down the road to see if your change of position is going to slow anyone down. If some... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, February 14, 2010,
I've created a few pages on the trouble spots in and around Southmead that students from time to time struggle with. Places include; The portway, Westbury Village, Henbury oneway system and Gloucester Road North/Filton roundabout. If you're learning in Southmead, take the time to read through these pages. When we are in the car, it all happens so quick and you probably can't take it all in, listen to me and concentrate on what is happening next. On these pages there are photos and step by... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, February 10, 2010,
Congratulations to Samina for passig today with an amazing 2 minors!!! A fantastic effort from her today, she worked ever so hard on her driving. Studied the online driving lessons every day on the run in to her test and took a lesson 5 days running. Just goes to show, if you work hard and want it bad enough, you can do it. Well done once again Samina.
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, February 10, 2010,
I'm guessing it's that time of year when road works start to pop up left right and centre. Sea Mills Lane is down to one lane. As you turn left off Shirehampton Road (coming down the hill with the zebra crossing, the crossroads and little parade of shops) you'll see warning triangles very quickly. Get some mirror checks in to show the examiner you've seen the danger, then goet your speed down. You won't be able to see the road works until it's possibly too late. cars could be coming at y... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, February 10, 2010,
Two streets away from the test centre, (left and then right at the mini roundabout) you reach Doncaster Road. The left lane is having some serious work done to it and temporary traffic lights are in place. Make sure you use your mirrors and give any work men at least 1 meter when you pas, more if you can. If the gap isn't there, hold back.
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, February 6, 2010,
The traffic light controlled crossroads on Kellaway Road is having a little bit of work done to it at the moment. The work spills into Bishop Road and will only effect those making this turn. Just be aware that potentially pedestrians could be walking in the street, or work men could be moving around without taking too much notice of the traffic, so be careful for that type of road user here.
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, February 6, 2010,
One test route runs down Gloucester Road and at the moment there is a little bit of digging up that may cause a few issues. It's busy enough at the best of times and to make things worse, outside of the sainsburys the zebra crossing is having some work done to it. Lots of cones and people around, so mirrors and proceed with caution. Make sure you really take note of what people on the pavement are intending to do here.
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, February 6, 2010,
The mini roundabout at the end of Druid Hill, just by the park has quiet a lot of barriers and cones surrounding it. The work is on the pavement, however, it does obsure your visibility on approach. So be extra cautious in making sure nothing is coming before emerging.
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, January 30, 2010,
Just to make it clear to everyone who is learning to drive. Mini roundabouts are there for you to go around, not to go over, or diagonally across. Its called a ROUNDabout for a reason. Go AROUND it. If you don't make an effort to move around the markings on the floor during your exam, you'll fail.
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, January 29, 2010,
Southmead road (the long one from the double mini roundabout up to the large traffic light controlled roundabout near Filton) has water streaming all the way down it. Now, you might be thinking "what has this to do with me or driving?", well, if you splash someone, anyone, it's a traffic offence which you could be convicted for. So it's not going to go down too well during an exam. Make sure you stay out of it!
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, January 28, 2010,
Last year about 1 in 20 drivers were uninsured. With the resession that figure is now closer to 1 in 10! Because of the rise of uninsured drivers and the fake injury claims motorists are seeing a rise in their insurance by up to 20%!
How to get around this? Well, first of all, barter. Some of us don't like it, but it works. Use a comparision website, get the best 4 or 5 prices, then call them directly and play them off against one another. I did this last year and brought my quote dow... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, January 27, 2010,
Gloucester Road has some heavy road works taking place on one of the test routes. Heading north near the football stadium there are usually two lanes, now it's down to one and the traffic is heavy. It's also preventing oncoming traffic, mostly buses, making progress. Beware of this, don't clog up the road. If you need to wait before the barriers, then do so.
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, January 24, 2010,
There has been so cones and work going on here for some time now and there is no sign of the barriers being taken away. I'm highlighting this area again as it can take you a little by suprise. As you come down the hill, the sweeping left hand bend just past the pub has the obstruction on the left hand side of the road. Immediately after is a pedestrian crossing, so make sure you observe effectively for this too.
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, January 24, 2010,
Stoke Hill is the long road from the Clifton Downs heading towards Stoke Bishop and the little parade of shops. There has been a delivery of sand and pebbles for the village hall, which are have been dumped in the street resulting in the road being made a little narrower. Not much of an issue, make sure you check those mirrors before changing position though.
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, January 24, 2010,
This so going to effect those at Brislington and Warmley. Both heading north and south the ring road is down to one lane. There are plenty of signs on approach telling you this giving you 500 yards to check mirrors, get that signal on nice and early so those behind you can help/see what you're doing then get over. It's also worth noting that there is a speed restriction of 30mph. No one else will be doing 30, so don't be dragged along with the traffic, make sure you stick to the speed lim... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, January 16, 2010,
The area just outside of the hospital in Southmead is under traffic cones. A 3-way traffic light system is in place just by the entrance off of Monk's Park Avenue (the uphill road from the double mini roundabout). Make sure you pick up the signs on approach, check those mirrors and stop where you are told, making sure you're not narrowing the road for on coming traffic.
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, December 21, 2009,
Driving tests across Bristol this morning are off. I've been up to Southmead test centre this morning and have spoken to the manger who tells me this mornings are all off, however, they may run the afternoon tests depending on how the road conditions improve.
If your test is cancelled then you should recieve a letter within 3 to 5 working days telling you when the test has been rescheduled for. Extra staff will be laid on to accomadate all the extra tests that will be squeezed in, you are pr... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, December 19, 2009,
Tecnical issues have resulted in all 3 test centre blogs being lost, so from now on I'll be usig just the one to report on all issues with Southmead driving test centre, Brislington test centre and Warmely MPTC. As well as keeping you updated with road works and road layout changes I'll post any news and information from the Driving Standards Agency regarding driving exams.
This blog is for everyone and anyone who has an interest in driving. We have all the latest from the DSA, High Way Code news, Motoring Headlines and Car Reviews. If you're a learner, motorist or driving instructor, we welcome your input in the topics we bring you.
