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 ...
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.
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...
Found a great place for cheap tyres today. F1 Autos on St.Phillips Causeway. Only £40 with labour for a new 15" rim tyre for my A-Class. Hi-Q are £50 and Kwik Fit (if anyone ever gets round to seving you) would be £53.
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, March 20, 2010,
Online booking system is moving
The online booking system for practical driving tests
is moving to Directgov. That means from 9.00 am on Monday 21 March from
you’ll need to visit direct.gov.uk/drivingtest to book,
check, change or cancel your practical driving test.
The move means our existing system will be unavailable from 2.00
pm on Sunday 21 March. We’re sorry for any
inconvenience.
You can find out more about the practical driving test at d...
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).
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, February 26, 2010,
Chandag road, just off the Bath Raod by the Esso station. As soon as you make the turn into it you'll see the temporary traffic lights. They have a camera at each end and so chage according to what they see with the potentail to change very quickly. Make sure you check those mirrors as it's a massive change in position to go around the comes.
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, February 23, 2010,
I've notied recently that many a learner after coming off the quicker roads (dual carriageways especially) tend to continue driving in the same fashion in one way or another. Either they continue to drive above 30mph or when approaching they wont come down to 15/10mph for any kind of junction so their MSM routine suffers (usually the gear change is absent).
So really try to make a mental note to yourself, after exiting those quicker roads, back to driving at the slower speeds. Same goes for ... Continue reading ...
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,
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 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,
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,
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 Sunday, February 7, 2010,
David Road in Hengrove is having some major work done to it. haven't been there for a while and was shocked to see the extent of the works being done down here. Lucky for for most of you it's only on one test route, however, if you do find yourself coming down here, make sure you're slow, checking mirrors for any position change and make sure you keep your eyes peeled for heavy work trucks. They may not give way to you!
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 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 Wednesday, January 27, 2010,
Stoke Hillhas more cones and work being done to it. This time it's BT narrowing down the road. It's about 100 meters further up the hill from the sand and gravel piles down by the shops.
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 Wednesday, January 13, 2010,
Lessons are off again and so too are tests. With this new blanket of snow, tests are going to be off for a day or too. perhaps with a slight increase in temperature the snow will go by Friday ... fingers crossed
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, January 11, 2010,
Just spome to the test centre in Southmead and the manager tells me they are hopeful that exams this afternoon should be on. I've been out and about and the side roads are still dangerous, so I assume that the test routes will be jiggled around so no one will be put in harms way. Not many places offer the grip to perform the manoeuvres, but a few do exist, so lessons are back on again for those wishing to get out there!
If you have a lesson coming up, and don't like the look of the streets w... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, January 7, 2010,
With the heavy snow the night before and low temperatures, lessons today are off. The back streets are like an ice rink and chances of black ice are very high. It's simply too dangerous.
Driving tests around the city will be off too. You can't see the kerb on some streets, however, if you do have a test today, call the test centre to make sure. Later in the day once the sun has come out, the ice/snow may melt a little and tests could be back on.
This blog is for those taking their driving test in and around Bristol. Keeping you in touch with any route changes, diversions on test routes, severe traffic delays, road works, severe weather warnings, cancellations and DSA updates regarding the UK driving test.
