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.



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Will it ever end?  I've even got students commenting on the non-stop digging up of this road now.  Nothing too mega here this time, but the huge amount of traffic it's causing means you'll have to focus, remeber that 2 second rule even in slow traffic, watch where all the other cars go, usually experienced road users will pick up the new path you have to travel quickly. 

When heading back to the test centre, coming from the direction of town, just before you get to the one way system on Brist...
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The first roundabout you come to if you were to head north from the Hick's Gate roundabout is having some lane extension at the moment, which means the usual two lanes that once exisited on the roundabout look a little different.  The lane closest to the roundbaout is out and the over-run lane, which had cross hatched markings in, is now the outside lane.  Should be no bother to test standard drivers, just look at the lane infront of you before you emerge onto the roundabout so you can see wh...
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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.

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Some temporary traffic lights are in place at this T-junction and every student I've taken down there in the past two days hasnt seen them and I've had to use the emergency brake.  No signs on approach at all and the traffic lights are very low to the ground, which makes them look very odd indeed.



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Heavy traffic in both directions around St. Phillips causeway is causing massive issues around rush hour.  The brand spanking new lights that took about 13 weeks to put in pace have been dug up.  Great!  no information on approach about the closed roads so cars are changing direction very late, be careful and aware of what is going on here.

Also on this stretch heading down the hil away from the test centre the road markigs here have been taken away.  The left hand lane is a bus lane, so stay ...
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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.



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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.

According to Martyn, experience is vital: "th...

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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.



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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...
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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...
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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.

1. Ask yourself: "Do I really need to drive?" The shortest journeys - few...

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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...

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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.



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If you have a passenger suffering from car sickness, open a window.  Stuffy conditions may contribute to feeling ill.  If this doesn't work, try driving a little smoother.  Gentle steering, early braking would all help in making your passenger feel better.

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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.



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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 ...
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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!

http://www.a-class-driving.com

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I have been writing a tip of the day on twitter, but found it really taxing to get vital driving information in 145 characters, so will be blogging on here instead.

So, first new lengthy tip of the day is ... look after your boot, and your boot will look after you.  What is he on about I hear you whisper, well ... spare wheel/tyre. Make sure it's good, make sure it's inflated, make sure you know how to get it on and off.  Have you tested your jack? Have you seen it recently?  Could you work on...
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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...
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