At last the very large roundabout up by the retail park has been finished. No satellite images are available yet of the changes, but it's far simpler now. From the test centre heading north there are now 3 lanes. Left for left and straight, the middle for straight and right for right. From the other direction it's left for left only, the middle for staright across and the right for right and straight. From the reatial park, up the slope it's left for left, middle for straight and for rig... Continue reading ...
Road Safety Minister Mike Penning has announced today that the
Driving Standards Agency (DSA) will no longer publish details of test
routes after 4 October.
This change will help make the test more representative of real
driving. It also supports the introduction of independent driving, which
will allow candidates to demonstrate their ability to drive safely in
more realistic situations.
You can read more in the press release.
Continue reading ...
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!  Continue reading ...
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!  Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, April 18, 2010,
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.  Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, April 17, 2010,
The Bath Road around Brislington has had some serious work done to it in the last few weeks. Another bus stop is being laid down, this time up near the Grove Park one-way system. This only effects a few routes, coming back towards the centre at the end of the test. This should not be a big problem for a test standard driver, just look out for heavy machinery and men at work.  Continue reading ...
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.  Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, March 28, 2010,
West Town Lane is due to be closed in the next few days. For how long? No one knows. Why? You got me, I've no idea. A few test routes will need to be diverted, so if asked to turn left at the lights onto Callington Road, get into the right hand lane as you'll have to go down the hill and stay on Callington Road.  Continue reading ...
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! Continue reading ...
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. Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, March 14, 2010,
At the top of school road, pretty close to the test centre (out fothe centre, turn left and down the hill towards town, then first right across the bath road) we have some major digging going on. On approach you are probably going to be concentrating on keeping your speed constant with the huge incline up the hill. Just as soon as the road bends around you'll see some signs for road works and just before the top of the hill you have the "please wait here when red lights show" sign. Mirrors... Continue reading ...
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 Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, March 9, 2010,
Bridge Valley Road is still closed just off of The Portway, so still no test route 16. Make sure you know how to deal with this section of road when it re-opens. Use the website. http://www.a-class-driving.com/southmead-trouble---the-portway.php Continue reading ...
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.  Continue reading ...
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.  Test your meeting situations knowledge - http://www.a-class-driving.com/meeting-situations-quiz.php Continue reading ...
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.  Make sure you know how to approach, take th... Continue reading ...
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.  Use the tutorials and make sure you know how to deal with crossroad situations, including unmarked crossroads. http://www.a-class-driving.com/online-support.php Continue reading ...
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!  Continue reading ...
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.  Test what you know on crossroads by taking the crossroads quiz. http://www.a-class-driving.com/crossr... Continue reading ...
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.  Test your knowledge on pedestrian crossings here http://www.a-class-drivin... Continue reading ...
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Will Dracott
| A-Class Driving School |
| Bristol |
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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.
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