HD Learner.com Driving School Worcester

Driving Instructors - MORE Than A Bloke In A Pullover!

2013-02-07T23:00:00.002-08:00

One of the most important aspects of learning to drive is the person that will teach you.
Some of us try, sometimes with success, and sometimes with disastrous results, to learn to drive with the assistance of friends or family but this can sometimes lead to arguments or ill-feeling; (We've recently had a pupil that argued so much with his mum...she got out and he DROVE OFF!) ; so for many, the most logical conclusion is to employ the services of a QUALIFIED driving instructor.

Why Use a Driving Instructor?

Learning to drive in the company of a friend or family member can be fraught with anxiety from the word go; some may not be able to tell you what you are doing wrong for fear of upsetting you whilst others may have the opposite concerns and can be brutally honest.

It is also really important not to pick up any bad habits whilst learning to drive as these can happen during your DRIVING TEST and could lead to a fail through a collection of minor marks or a serious/dangerous fault. Each and every one of us whether we would like to admit it or not, have our own little ways when we drive. Some of these 'little quirks' are nothing more than minor marks but some are serious enough to warrant a fail from an examiner. You also have to ask yourself...when was the last time your 'responsible driver' read the HIGHWAY CODE?
Your parents passed probably about 20/30 years ago. The roads, the rules and ways of driving have changed. (Worryingly...they probably didn't notice either!)

Choosing a Driving Instructor

Now comes the difficult part; actually choosing your driving instructor!
There are many thousands of independent driving instructors all over the country and hundreds of driving schools, each offering their own unique brand of driving instruction or coaching.

The question is...WHO is right for YOU?

As perhaps mercenary as it may sound, finances have a lot to do with the procuring of services from a driving instructor or driving school.
How many lessons can you afford?
How many lessons do you think you will need?
Can I balance the lessons with Private Practice?
Are they Qualified or a Trainee?
Do you have any special requirements?
Are the instructors experienced, inexperienced?
Have they got extra qualifications?

A list of these questions can go on and on....

Firstly. Is the Instructor Qualified or a Trainee?
Under current DSA rules there is a two badge system. A GREEN Badge and a PINK Badge.

A GREEN Badge means a FULLY QUALIFIED Driving Instructor. This instructor has taken all the necessary training and has passed their FINAL QUALIFYING EXAM.
A PINK Badge means a TRAINEE Driving Instructor. This instructor has taken all the necessary training, but has decided to gain some teaching experience before they take their final exam. These instructors are normally sponsored by another instructor or driving school, so that they are supervised in some form.
Most Associations RECOMMEND a pupil use a GREEN Badge holder...a FULLY QUALIFIED INSTRUCTOR.

Secondly. As we've already touched on, it is VERY important not to 'skimp' or go too 'CHEAP' on your lessons. Everyone loves a 'bargain'. But at what cost? A driving school car, giving 1 hours tuition, allowing the pupil to practice various roads and manoeuvres costs approximately £12-£13 per hour and that's without the instructor earning a single penny. (Think, car, wear and tear, insurances, fuel, etc...) So when you see 10 lessons for £100 or 20 lessons for £150, take a minute to think..."What am I going to get for my money?"
Any business cannot run at a loss for long. Simple maths really. Eventually the money runs out...they go bust. So where do they cut the cloth to be able to afford to 'run the car'?
There are quite a few and growing horror stories from pupils that have taken these deals and have learnt and practised virtually NOTHING. There was a thread on Facebook this past week, where a pupil has come to an instructor having done 18 hours.....in a car park!!!

So 'CHEAP' deals can often be a waste of cash, simply because to run a car at that money, something has to give. Remember we are not immune from the increased FUEL and INSURANCE costs, but most instructors will try to charge a 'fair price' for their services.

Thirdly. Are they experienced? Difficult this one. Everyone has to start somewhere, so dismissing an instructor because they have just qualified is plain wrong. They might have more up-to-date knowledge and teaching skills than the instructor doing it for 30 years! So the simplest way to find out whether they suit you is to TALK to them. It's an old fashioned concept talking on the phone, but it does work!
From this phone call you'll get an idea of what they are like, how they operate, what experience, what EXTRA qualifications they have and ask any other questions you may have. BEWARE! Basing decisions on PASS RATE alone is not the right thing to do. I could say I'd got a 100% rate this year...if the only pupil I took to the test centre had passed first time. The national pass rate is around 50%, so 5 out of every 10 tests that go out fail. As an optimist I would say that means half of every instructors pupils will fail. Not because they are bad instructors...far from it! It's normally because the pupil does something daft, without warning. (A local pupil recently drove into the fence at the test centre simply because they panicked. We can't account for that!)

Now I'm leaving this till last, simply because I think it's the most important.

Most instructors are professional people. We genuinely want you to pass your driving test. Not just pass your test, but drive safely for life. My personal dread is opening the local paper and seeing a picture of one of my ex-pupils being involved in or causing a fatal accident because they were being stupid. It would crush me. it would have meant that at some point, I failed. I recently spoke to an instructor who has had this scenario. He was devastated. He even attended the funeral, but left early simply because he felt he couldn't face the parents. It wasn't even the ex-pupils fault, but he's left wondering whether there was anything else he could of done to keep them 'safe'. She had been driving 3 months.

As you see, we care. Many of us love this job. The satisfaction of pupils passing is amazing. This profession is no longer done on a part time basis. The instructors have spent may thousands of pounds being trained and to further qualify their skills as teachers. Our jobs are dangerous. To give you an example...In 1983 there were approx. 20 million CARS on the road. In 2012, there were over a staggering 31 million on the road. The roads are smaller simply due to quantity of vehicles. Therefore harder to drive on. And if you imagine some of the people on the road took some form of training or test back in the 60's when there was less than 10 million on the road, not only have they picked up some shocking habits , they have also not kept up with the skill requirements for the increase in traffic. So it's not the learner drivers we always have to 'worry' about, it's everyone else and what they are going to do. Add to that incidents of verbal and physical abuse, because a learner was driving too slowly in someone's opinion or having a brick put through a rear windscreen because they had parallel parked around someone's car more than once. (Yes that really does happen)
You can see, we get a lot of flack for being driven around!

Slowly Driving Instructors are being listened to by their National Associations. The DIA, (www.driving.org), are starting to work with insurance companies to work on ways of bringing insurance costs down for newly qualified drivers. (YES you are at most 'risk'. But no one ever has headline that says '75% of serious or fatal accidents caused by drivers aged 26-70 'ish ).

The DIA has also put out a plea to the ministry of Transport to listen to it's Road Safety professionals, including driving instructors. We have the biggest chance to influence YOURS and EVERYONE else's safety.

So when you 'choose' your instructor, remember these things. We are here to help. We are here to teach you a skill. We are here to keep you and everybody else safe. Don't do it on the 'cheap', because eventually, the good ones will leave and do something less stressful. The good ones will leave to help someone else do something else. And the skill they would have taught you properly, with knowledge, passion and experience will not be the skill that keeps you, your friends or your families safe...and that picture in the local paper?

That might be your families nightmare, not mine!

Stay Safe!

Marc

www.hdlearner.com
www.hdability.com

HD in HD at the BBC

2013-02-06T01:53:00.004-08:00

Yes...it's true. HD Learner was asked to represent the Driving Instructors Association on BBC Breakfast on Monday 4th Feb.

And we were exceptionally proud to it.

We took our pupil Sarah and discussed the costs of learning to drive and the pitfalls of chasing 'cheap' driving lessons.

Here are a few pictures taken from the morning!

With Thanks to Steph McGovern at the BBC for being so good to us; Sally Nugent (the beautiful and shy sports presenter) for posing with us; Carly Brookfield from the DIA, www.driving.org , for giving us the opportunity to represent them and other instructors in the country and Sarah who did a great job at keeping ME calm!!!

www.hdlearner.com

Dyslexia and Driving

2013-02-02T14:29:00.003-08:00

This is an article I wrote for the Local Dyslexia Newsletter...

Dyslexia and Driving

First off I want to say I am not an expert.
I am in no way an expert on pupils with Dyslexia.
I am however a driving instructor who has made it his passion to help those learning to drive with dyslexia as well as dyspraxia, autism, aspergers and ADHD, knowing that they often come in pairs, some milder than others.
I am however a Director of a driving school that has found like-minded instructors who want to work with me and find a solution to something which is often misunderstood.
Misunderstood simply because, like a lot of professions, we are never taught to ‘look’ for it or how to ‘deal’ with it as some would say.

My dyslexia journey started with a pupil called Andy. Andy has dyslexia and dyspraxia. Now after our first lesson I knew something was a ‘little off’. He wasn’t picking things up as fast as I would have liked, but sometimes you get pupils like that. So on our second lesson, a lot of the things we had covered he had forgotten. It also became apparent that he had problems with left and right...so much so I asked him
to “Take the next road on the left...” at which point we turned right onto someone’s driveway. I apologise if it was yours....

It also became obvious that he was struggling with things in order as well as remembering things. So I slowed things down for him, but still something wasn’t quite right. It was not long after this lesson I had a coffee with another instructor, who had qualified 6 months earlier than I. The instructor was dyslexic. He told me they were classic signs of dyslexia and if I had shown him any lesson briefings that had too much writing on, he probably had looked a little frightened. I thought back. He had. I hadn’t picked it up at the time. I genuinely felt guilty. I hadn’t been ‘taught’ what to look for and what problems may arise. The instructor directed me to a book called ‘L of A Way 2 Pass’. I read it and a little choir of angels sang in my head. Great I thought! Lets see what the Big National Driving School can help me with then....

Er...Nothing.

At the time I was instructor for a National Driving School with a colour in their name. I asked if there was any training I could do or someone I could speak to....er...no. Seriously? I was paying £200 a week to drive in their car, but they couldn’t support me...or more importantly, my pupil?

So I investigated further and googled and facebooked. I read and read.
The next time I saw Andy I asked him and his mum, whether there were any education needs I needed to know about. “He’s Dyslexic and has Dyspraxia. But why would that effect his driving?” Bingo!

Dyspraxia is for another day, but here is how Dyslexia can affect a pupil learning to drive.
There may be confusion over left and right directions. We get over this initially by allowing extra time in the approaches to junctions and also build an association with left and right. In Andy’s case we used stickers. A yellow sticker on the left of the steering wheel for Double Yellow Lines and a red sticker on the right for Pulling out in front of Double Decker Bus!
In some cases we find that pupils have short term memory problems with large pieces of information, such as briefings. We try to break it down into as many bite size chunks as possible. Where we can’t, we continue with the talk-throughs as they practice for longer until it sits happily in the long term memory.

This can also be a problem on the driving test as pupils are required to remember a set of directions in 3’s for their independent drive part of the test. So it is a must that the pupil or instructor tells the examiner and reminds him or her, as well as mentioning it when booking the test.

The Theory side of things can obviously be nightmare for pupils with Dyslexia. But as I write I know that there is a panel working with the Driving Standards Authority (DSA), to alter certain parts of it as it stands so that the ‘playing field’ is level for everyone. Texts with lots of words such as the Highway Code and Questions with up to 6 long answers can be difficult. There are plenty of CD-Roms available for practice with Audio help. Also on Test Day, pupils can declare their Dyslexia and have the questions read to them through headphones should they require it. The panel are looking to work on the questions that can have 3 or 4 similar answers, with only one word changed as this proves exceptionally difficult when the words are jumping all over the screen.

The biggest challenge for pupils with Dyslexia is finding someone with patience to teach them and have patience with themselves. Frustration can get in the way of their progress. Simply because they feel they know they can do it, but it’s just not ‘clicking’. When it does, the relief on their faces and hopefully the sense of achievement is enough to make even us smile!

And me? Well I was so angered by what the big national school hadn’t done and the fact that the ‘standard’ instructor training doesn’t cover it; I became a man on a mission.
I set up HD Ability with my team in September last year. We are in the running for the Worcester News Business Accelerator Award this year, which is an honour, because we are only doing our jobs.
It’s been set up so that we can offer pupils with Dyslexia and other Special Education needs the chance to learn with instructors that empathise and understand any difficulties they might face. We’ll go out of our way to find a solution rather than assume that one-size-fits-all. I’ve also become a national trainer for ExcelDIA. This is a company run by Julia Malkin MBE. Julia herself is Dyslexic, with Autism and Dyspraxia thrown in for good measure. She was a key contributor on BBC3’s ‘Autistic Driving School’ and has been awarded the ‘Prince Michael International Road Safety Award’ for her ‘Revolutions’ course. The course goes that stage further and helps to add to an instructor’s toolkit, by helping them understand Special Education Needs, including Dyslexia and how to help their pupils succeed. We also contribute to an Under 17’s driving scheme, so that pupils with SEN can learn to drive safely off road, without any pressure, so when they are ready to go on the road, the basics have been mastered and we can learn at ‘their’ pace rather than all the other drivers.

I’ll always remember Andy. I still see him now. Driving gave him independence and, most of all, confidence that he could succeed at anything he wants to!

@hdlearner
www.hdlearner.com
www.hdability.com
www.exceldia.info
08001120093

One Person Can Make a Difference

2012-11-14T01:00:00.001-08:00

Over the last few weeks I seem to have had an outer body experience.
I've always known I was a people watcher. I've always found it fascinating to watch others, perhaps in a lull of a conversation with the person I'm with. Or in a moment of nothing going on at the time.
But recently I've been listening a lot.

As a friend of mine posted on Facebook (MS) quite recently, " You are born with two ears and one mouth...use them in that importance" or something like that. Very true.

I've been watching and listening. From the pupil who you can see trying so very hard, but says they don't care...to the examiner that says that it wasn't as bad as all that, whilst his eyebrows raise above his hairline.

Recently I've been watching and listening to what people have been saying about our industry.
The regular guest on the BBC Sofa saying Road Safety is a priority and cars should watch out for people on bikes, because all car drivers are useless, when you can see he doesn't REALLY think that. (Bradley Wiggins incident)
To the latest chap the Chancellor sends to the slaughter house over fuel increases, and when he says "We are a listening government & we'll do the right thing...", when his body language says..."get me out of here quick before I'm lynched".
Most recently though I've been hearing the phrase.."One person can't make a difference"

WRONG

They can. They just need to see the step they've taken rather than the distance they've yet to travel.

I've recently been in the company of a person who truly, genuinely believes they are not making a difference. Simply because of who they are and that they look at the end destination, rather than where they have been. I'm in awe of this person. In just over 5 years, and dealing with a set of circumstances that would floor most individuals, they have started a ball rolling, which will roll and get bigger and bigger and make our industry a true profession. The acceptance and trust they have forged with people is a major step forward. But they don't see that and it's a real shame.
Whilst no one person should accept what they have already achieved is where they belong, it doesn't hurt to reflect on what's been achieved.
On the flip side I've also seen individuals, talk great games and not back their bluster with action, so that they protect themselves. Simply because they don't think anybody will care. Well it's worse when people with passion sit on the side lines and do nothing. If nothing is ever changed, how can things get better? Simple...they won't. And Lord knows this industry needs people who want to change it for the better.

There's a bigger picture out there. And if it were a 1000 piece jigsaw, we should start by looking at our piece and change it within the bigger picture.

In the words of the band called The Script: "The world belongs to those of us who still believe we can...And it's better that you've come from nothing, than nothing comes from you"

Never a truer word spoken.

One person can make a difference. It starts with them. It grows by finding others who want to make a difference and taking steps together. Because it seems those steps will get bigger, however long it takes. And if there are more of you...that's more steps.

What are we going to change today?

www.hdability.com

Elliot Passes!

2012-11-08T12:34:00.001-08:00

Elliot passes his test! Well done chap!
www.herodriving.com

Sam passes!

2012-11-08T12:32:00.001-08:00

Sam passed his test today! Brilliant! Well done Sam!
www.herodriving.com

HD Ability Interview

2012-11-05T14:24:00.001-08:00

Listen to HD Ability Driving School talk to BBC Hereford and Worcester about Driving, Dyslexia and Dyspraxia recorded on November the 5th

http://youtu.be/oSGihTBljeY

Winter Driving Worcester

2012-10-31T01:14:00.000-07:00

Winter Driving in Worcester is unpredictable, feels horrible and some of the things you see from fellow drivers is at times, quite staggering!

This means that we need to adapt the way we drive.Driving in the winter is very different than in other times of the year. Adverse weather and longer periods of darkness (especially after the clocks go back at the end of October) makes driving more hazardous. Sometimes conditions can be extreme, as we have found out over the last two winters, with heavy snow and the odd flood.

Different weather conditions create different hazards throughout the Winter and in different areas of the country at different times. A single journey may take us into very different weather, road and traffic conditions, so we need to be prepared for each one. Take the M5 onto the M42. As you come off junction 4 for the M42 as you drive up the hill and get to the top, you are met by a low sunrise at 8 am in the morning, rendering drivers blind!

The following tips may help you cope better with the various seasonal weather hazards. However, as we all know, many of these conditions can occur at any time of year.

Prepare your vehicle

It's a good idea to have your vehicle fully serviced before winter starts and have the anti-freeze tested. If you can't have it serviced, then do your own checks. In particular, check:

Lights are clean and working. Using the correct lights at the correct time.

Battery is fully charged

Windscreen, wiper blades and other windows are clean and the washer bottle filled with screen wash

Tyre condition, tread depth and pressure (of all the tyres, including the spare) Minimum 1.6mm across the centre 3/4's. Winter tyres are also available

Brakes are working well. They are not spongy or slack and do not pull to either side.

Fluids are kept topped up, especially windscreen wash (to the correct concentration to prevent it freezing), anti-freeze and oil

It's also a good idea to stock up on de-icer, windscreen wash, oil and anti-freeze at the start of Winter.

Emergency Kit

When extreme weather is possible, keep an emergency kit in your car, especially if you're going on a long journey. If this seems unnecessary, take a moment to imagine yourself stranded in your car overnight, due to a snow storm or floods. How would you stay warm? What would you eat and drink? If you must drive in these conditions, we recommend that you carry:

A working torch

A car blanket

Warm clothes

Emergency Rations (inc hot drink in a flask)

Mobile Phone

Tow rope

A shovel

Wellies

A hazard warning triangle

De-icing equipment...DeIcer and a Scraper

First aid kit

Prepare your journey

Listen to local/national weather and travel – especially for the areas you will be driving through. As conditions can change rapidly, check them regularly and be prepared to change your plans if conditions on your route worsen. BBC Hereford And Worcester are great at this. (Also genuinely love how the presenters get angry when people drive like plums too!)

If conditions are very bad, and the emergency services are recommending that people don't travel, THEN DON'T unless it is absolutely necessary.

Of course, what's 'essential' to one person may not be to another; we each have to make our own decisions according to our circumstances. But, try to be realistic about which journeys are essential and which ones could be postponed. Going to get that last minute Christmas present can wait...until the January sales when it's cheaper ;-)

If you decide you really must travel:

Let someone know where you are going and what time you hope to arrive, so that they can raise the alarm if you get into difficulties.

Plan alternative routes in case your main choice(s) becomes a real problem.

Keep your fuel tank near to full to ensure that you do not run out.

Make sure you have a fully charged mobile phone, so you can call for help or alert someone if you're delayed – get yourself an in car charger!

If you don't have an emergency kit in your vehicle, at least take extra warm clothes, boots and a torch. Consider keeping a couple of long-life energy bars in the glove box.

Clear your windows and mirrors completely of snow and ice before you set off (make sure the heater is blowing warm air before setting off – it will keep your windscreen clear.) you can be and will be pulled over by the Police should they not be. Just because you can see out of the tiny gap you've made, DOES NOT mean you can see the pedestrian stepping off the kerb in the bits you didn't bother doing!

Prepare yourself

Most of us have very little experience of driving in extreme conditions, such as snow, so take some time to consider how it affects your driving. Don't just drive as normal.

Leave a considerable gap. A 4 second gap in the wet, up to 10 times that in the snow and ice. Remember, your tyres might not grip. The brakes might work, but you'll just keep going!

Slow to the appropriate speeds for bends, junctions and side roads. Don't brake going into them, the weight distribution of the car is uneven and if one of the tyres hits a patch of ice, your control will suffer. Slowdown BEFORE you get there!

A lot of us will catch colds or other illnesses during the Winter. If you're feeling so ill that your driving might be affected, don't take the chance of driving.

Driving in snow or ice

If you find yourself driving in snow or on icy or snow covered roads, adapt your driving to these conditions:

Reduce your speed. The chances of skidding are much greater and your stopping distance will increase massively.

Only travel at a speed at which you can stop within the distance you can see to be clear. Speed limits are the maximum in ideal conditions; in difficult conditions, they can often be too fast.

Avoid harsh braking and acceleration, or sharp steering.

Always reduce your speed smoothly and in plenty of time on slippery surfaces.

Slow down in plenty of time before bends and corners.

Braking on an icy or snow covered bend is extremely dangerous. The centrifugal force will continue to pull you outwards and the wheels will not grip very well. This could cause your vehicle to spin.

To brake on ice and snow without locking your wheels, get into a low gear earlier than normal, allow your speed to fall and use your brakes gently.

Increase the gap between you and the vehicle in front. You may need up to 10 times the normal distance for braking.

Keep your vehicle well-ventilated. The car heater turned up full can quickly make you drowsy.

In snow, stop frequently to clean the windows, wheel arches, lights and number plates.

Visibility will probably be reduced, so use dipped headlights.

During wintry weather, road surfaces are often wet and/or covered in frost and ice or snow. But this does not occur uniformly. A road will often have isolated patches of frost or ice after most of the road has thawed – this commonly occurs under bridges.
Just because it looks ok to drive normally, it doesn't mean it is...heard of 'Black Ice'? Drive according to icy conditions at all times even if you can't see it!

If you get stuck in snow:

If you get stuck in snow, revving your engine to try to power out of the rut will just make the rut worse. Instead, move your vehicle slowly backwards and forwards out of the rut using the highest gear you can.

If this doesn't work, you may have to ask a friendly passerby for a push or get your shovel out.

If you get caught in a snow drift:

Don't leave your vehicle

Call your breakdown service or the emergency services and let help come to you.

Don't run the engine to keep warm

Rain

Rain reduces your ability to see and greatly increases the distance required to slow down and stop. Remember that you will need about twice the normal braking distance. Please use windscreen wipers, washers and dipped headlights; drive smoothly and plan your moves in plenty of time

Aquaplaning

Aquaplaning is caused by driving too fast into surface water. When the tyre tread cannot channel away enough water, the tyre(s) lose contact with the road and your car will float on a wedge of water. Aquaplaning can be avoided by reducing your speed in wet conditions. Having the correct tyre pressure and tyre tread depth (minimum 1.6mm across the centre 3/4) will maximise your tyres' ability to maintain their road grip. If it happens, ease off the accelerator and brakes until your speed drops sufficiently for the car tyres to make contact with the road again.

Flooded roads

Avoid the deepest water – which is usually near the kerb.

Don't attempt to cross if the water seems too deep.

If you are not sure of the water's depth, look for an alternative route.

If you decide to risk it, drive slowly in first gear but keep the engine speed high by slipping the clutch – this will stop you from stalling.

Be aware of the bow wave from approaching vehicles – operate an informal 'give way' with approaching vehicles.

Remember to test your brakes when you are through the flood.

Fog

Avoid driving in fog unless your journey is absolutely necessary.

Fog is one of the most dangerous weather conditions. An accident involving one vehicle can quickly involve many others, especially if they are driving too close to one another.

If you must drive:

Follow weather forecasts and general advice to drivers in the local and national media

Allow plenty of extra time for your journey

Check your car before you set off. Make sure everything is in good working order, especially the lights

Reduce your speed and keep it down

Switch on headlights and fog lamps if visibility is reduced

If you can see the vehicles to your rear, the drivers behind can see you – switch off your rear fog lamps to avoid dazzling them

Use the demister and windscreen wipers

Do not 'hang on' or 'tailgate' the rear lights of the car in front as you will be too close to be able to brake safely

Switch off distracting noises and open the window slightly so that you can listen for other traffic, especially at crossroads and junctions

Beware of speeding up immediately visibility improves slightly. In patchy fog you could find yourself 'driving blind' again only moments later

If you break down, inform the police and get the vehicle off the road as soon as possible. Never park on the road in fog and never leave it without warning lights of some kind if it is on the wrong side of the road

Low Sunshine- Sun Rise, Sun Set

Having talked about all these poor winter weather conditions, the winter sun can also cause difficulties. In Winter, the angle of the sun in the sky will frequently be too low for your visor to help. If blinded by glare:

Reduce your speed

Reduce the effect of glare by keeping both the inside and outside of your windscreen clean and grease free.
Have sunglasses in the car.

If you wear sunglasses take them off whenever the sun goes in.

If the Worst Happens...

If you get stranded, don't panic. Stay with your vehicle and call the emergency services. Stay warm.

Hopefully this helps you stay safe this winter. Please remember you are not the only car on the road and please be prepared for other road users to do dafter things than you think!
www.hdlearner.com
www.hdability.com
www.hdfleets.com

Providing driving lessons, in automatic and manual cars, to Worcester, Malvern, Droitwich, Bromsgrove, Evesham and Pershore and Hereford.
All our instructors have taken extra courses to supplement the basic requirements from the Driving Standards Agency. We are proud to be a continually improving and evolving driver trainer company.

Driving Lessons Worcester Automatic

2012-10-25T13:17:00.001-07:00

We were copied into an email sent to the BBC, by a mum really pleased with what we're doing!
Dear Jane

My daughter who is 15yrs old and has Dyspraxia has recently had some driving lessons from Marc Ford at Throckmorton Airfield on a Sunday with HDability Driving School. This is such a wonderful opportunity for these youngsters to help them towards learning to drive and ultimately independence. I was quietly dreading Lydia learning to drive with her difficulties. Mastering a bike was painful enough but Marc and his colleagues have really taken on board her difficulties and have further increased their understanding by attending training and courses in their own time and at their own expense to better equip themselves in helping these youngsters. I have worked in various roles over the years for the Dyspraxia Foundation and continue to run a help line for them. I know there are many youngsters who would be so grateful to know about this wonderful facility to help them overcome the challenges they will face when learning to drive. I really would like to get the word out to these youngsters and would be so grateful if you could help with this. Lydia has been thrilled to drive in an environment she feels safe and with an instructor who understands her. It has been such a boost for her.

I hope you can help with this.

Kind regards

Cathy Parvin

www.hdabilty.com
www.hdlearner.com

Rules are made to be broken

2012-10-20T13:25:00.001-07:00

New HD Audioblog...a little lighter than usual

http://youtu.be/_zLms56WbvI

www.herodriving.com
www.hdability.com

Shut your eyes and hope it goes away...

2012-09-23T12:29:00.001-07:00

What is CPD?

Some people call it Continued Professional Development, some Certified Professional Development and some call it pointless and a bloody waste of time.

I'd like to look at what worth that has to me, you and our industry.
The three exams we took to become driving instructors should, to my mind, only ever be classed as a minimum standard. Lets be fair the PSTs (Pre Set Tests) don't even include roundabouts and Dual Carriageways, which is staggering in itself. There are some that think business skills, marketing skills, health and safety skills, and first aid skills should also be taught to do this role. Yes I agree!
There are some great instructors leaving this business, because they can no longer find work, simply because the 'marketing skills' of certain individuals are driving prices down so low, it's easier to leave the car on the drive in the first place. Some are leaving because they've always thought that one side fits all and have not kept up with the modern technology. Whatever the reason, and I genuinely wish them luck in whatever they choose to do next, they missed the opportunities open to them and have felt they can no longer carry on.

Lets go back to the beginning. Why did YOU get into this industry?
I got involved when a certain company , (and a few others), were promoting that becoming a driving instructor would earn you over £30k a year. Hmmmm. Certainly not net. And only Gross if you we're great at instructing as we'll as running a business and marketing it and working yourself into the floor for 70 hours a week. The maths never added up. It's not the reason I joined by the way. I joined because my father had been involved in the police force, I drove thousands of miles a year and saw the awful driving of others, I wanted to make a difference to others and I wanted to work for myself.
Why was this industry the one YOU chose?
Part of the problem as I see it, is this industry is still a cottage industry. Parents and pupils expect a bloke with a shirt and tie on, wearing a jumper over the top, brown cords and a pair of hush puppy shoes. (I apologise if you like hush puppies, but they are synonymous with lazy comfort shoes from the adverts in the 80s. And my instructor used to look like that as all my friends did...even though they were different people)
Should it be that way? As a generation of driving instructors, we're finding it harder to teach pupils safely, and keep them safe AFTER they've passed their test. Our insurance has gone up. Our fuel has gone up. Our running costs up. Yet we charge e same as nearly 10 years ago. At HD we recently did a survey and categorically the answer that came back from the question: Is it easy to learn to drive in today's traffic? Was No. Surely that's a good indicator into how they value what we do?
So should we be more involved in road safety, in road safety strategy, in road planning, in law making? And if the answer is no....ask yourselves...why not? After all, in all areas we are on the road day in day, day out. We are more aware of driver behaviour than those in an office. We get the odd, 'consultation paper' launched on a website that, unless we have to, we will never venture on to. There are no active discussion groups. There are no county or city wide discussion groups that I'm aware of. ( Please accept my apology if there is in your area, but here all areas that are mentioned have nothing to do with people who actually deal with what's really going on. If there are please let me know)
Recently a roundabout I'm Worcestershire has had to be adapted because the layout could only be described as ridiculous. This came about because a local resident was rear ended at the roundabout. One her friends was a local well respected driving instructor and she got on the case. Both of them, involved the local rag and lo and behold, changes were made. (Although the council tried to blame driver behaviour. Not that I entirely disagree, it was still a bloody ridiculous layout and was awkward to say the least as well as costing over a million quid). Now fair play to Emma, (Instructor), for getting off her arse and did something about it. I'll admit, putting me to shame. But it does go to prove that we do have some influence on what happens locally.
Statement 1: if a road is deemed a problem area in the first place for there to be a redesign, why are driving professionals not involved at consultation? We have to teach approaches, exits, etc as per the MINIMUM requirement of the DSA, so why not ask someone that has to teach the area in its simplest form, how they would cope? The pros and cons. The people that are meant to know the Highway Code, how the rules would be interpreted. The people that see people's driving habits on a daily basis.
Statement 2: Why does it always seem that accidents need to happen BEFORE people realise there is a problem? And for Gods sake please don't tell me it's a data driven process. If someone has an accident, it's someone's time, it's someone's business effected, it's someone's income that's effected, it's someone's life and family that can ultimately be effected. But hey...nothing like shutting the barn door after the horse has been run over!

So who's challenging the Norm? Who's challenging the status quo? Who's challenging the big 2 in our industry? (I would say 3, but as BSM is owned by the AA, they no longer matter sadly) Who's challenging what they do? Who's challenging what our Associations are doing? Who's challenging what the DSA are doing?

On the latter question...and I'm probably on seriously dangerous ground here, but the DSA are in charge of the driving and Theory Tests. They have a customer charter and pupils and instructors are their customers. Remember when supermarkets never opened on a Sunday? (No? Well I do) There was a call and a need for them to open for their customers. So I ask a question....as most of their target customer base is aged between 17-21 and some are in full time education, is it RESPONSIBLE to ask them to miss their lessons for a test that gives them less than a 50% pass? So when Saturday tests are suspended because they are not cost effective...how? They are charging a scandalous extra £10 for the privilege. Oh come on DSA..... We are in 2012, not 1982. And waiting lists of up to 7-10 weeks, especially when you continually start tests at about 8am during the worst weather in winter...but don't do extra days, because of.....well, I'm not sure of that. Any management that realised the first two tests of the day are normally cancelled because its a bit frosty, would ordinarily do something about it, because it would effect their business. You on the other hand...hmmm. That's a different blog entirely.

How does this go back to CPD?

Well, there are some out there with years more experience than I. More qualifications longer than my inside leg. But what contribution have they made to the industry? What barriers have they broken down to effect this industry? Why haven't like minded professionals got together, and committed themselves to working towards solving industry and road safety problems as a team?
I can't answer that...that's for those individuals. I could answer for myself, but as someone once told me, I was a broken record and that I had no idea what I was talking about. That same person had asked me for help, because the work has dried up due to cheap and nasty deals, that they said would never effect them. Never leave a man behind as the saying goes and I won't as best I can. But as 2012 draws to a close, 2013 offers an opportunity to do things differently. Someone said doing the same thing over and over again and getting the same poor result was the definition of madness. Well I guess this industry is the definition of madness.

So to all those folks raising their own standards, through Continued Professional Development....why don't we try CONTINUOS PROFESSION DEVELOPERS and leave it and what effects it and us in a better state than it is now?

Taxi! Taxi! Taaaaxxxxiiii!

2012-09-04T07:57:00.001-07:00

It's a Tuesday afternoon and I'm getting a rare 20 minutes to myself. I've just been looking at the front of our local paper, the 'Worcester News'.
Local news can be quite dire at times. And today's front page spread 'Follow The signs to find a parking space', certainly filled me with NO enthusiasm to look at the digital copy. But I did anyway, just to see what's going on.
I'm now on the website and see YESTERDAY'S headline about Taxi's flouting the law with parking!
Hoooorah!!! Something that generally gets up my nose!
In Worcester we have quite a small city centre. It's only a city by way of the fact we have a Cathedral so is probably a large town in all other respects. Last year and into this year, there was a 'great debate' within this 'townity', (my new word for a town that thinks its a city), about disabled residents losing their parking and giving it up for Taxi ranks. Firstly I don't think there was ever a debate, it seemed to be press story after press story saying this, saying that and the Councils doing what they bloody wanted in the first place. Secondly, it was one of the most ill advised moves the powers that be ever did, because now they have created a president for letting certain sections of society do pretty much what they want by shouting the loudest.And now they have...(the anti-taxi rank protestors must be loving this as a "We told you so..." moment)
The story centres around the fact that taxi drivers in the townity think it's ok to park on double yellow lines outside their taxi ranks. It's not just one or two, (please don't be SO naive to think it is) its quite a few of them, repeatedly.
I don't want to put the boot in, but can I also add to that list, denial they are breaking any laws or rules, poor standard of driving and blaming someone else rather than aspiring to to do the right thing by their customers and other road users.
Now as driving instructors we clock up A LOT of miles in a year. (19,000 in 6 months for me) So we see a lot of bad and dangerous driving. It's not all taxi drivers, so don't worry. The worry is they do A LOT of miles too. The worry comes from the fact they appear not to class themselves as professional drivers. They are aren't they? I mean they have done the basic driving test. They then go onto to do a Taxi test which involves and I quote from Direct Gov website:" ...skills assessed are specific to taxi drivers such as:
Making U turns
Not stopping where it could be dangerous for a passenger getting out of your vehicle

The examiner will ask some questions on the Highway code and ask you to identify some traffic signs and road markings"

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Drivingforaliving/DG_182835

So they know what double yellow lines are right?

Perhaps here's a more pertinent question...."Do they know why there are double yellow lines there?"
Poor road education? Perhaps
Poor road skills? Shouldn't be
Laziness and the ability to get away with it? YES
Would these same drivers scream blue murder if the enforcement officers of the councils and the police starting enforcing the laws? Probably, but it would be no-ones fault but their own.

The driving skills and knowledge should be higher than that of a 17 year old learner. It's THEIR JOB to get passengers safely from A to B. But how do I tell a pupil that they shouldn't do something when a Taxi driver pulls a fast U Turn on us on Rainbow Hill with no signal, making us slam the brakes on and the driver of the taxi gives US a dirty look for using the same bit of road he's on? Does he get away with it? Of course he does!
When was the last time you got in a taxi with a child and were offered a booster seat, as required by law in private vehicles and asked to make them wear a seatbelt?
Me? My wife? NEVER!
But we're of a mindset now for us all to wear seatbelts even though the drivers never do.(Yes I know it has something to do with the Hackney Carriage Laws but if you hit a vehicle at 50/60mph it's still going to bloody hurt whether you're in a taxi or a bus or a van or a car.Fact)
So perhaps all of this could be a catalyst for the local associations to take stock and come up with a plan to rescue their battered reputation. Taxi drivers or cabbies in this townity haven't got the best reputations. I'm sure the minority are once again spoiling it for the majority. But it's that minority that keeps doing the same things over and over again. It's that minority that's getting bigger because if they can get away with it,why can't we?
It's that minority that give the 'professional taxi driver' a poor name and a poor service to their customers and their community at large, because they are blocking the Shambles on a Friday afternoon when someone is trying to make a delivery. Or on the Cross when the lights turn red and a bus is trying to turn right. Or the taxi that breaks the speed limit to get to their next fare.
It would be great for the Councils, enforcement agencies, driving professionals and the Taxi firms and associations to come together and work on a plan to move forward. Create and aspire to excellent standards of driving, safety and customer service. Be the best in the Midlands.
We would offer our services at the drop of a hat to help out in any way we could. High standards of driving and safety is what we want. It's what the councils and enforcement agencies want. Is it what the taxi drivers of this townity want? Or are they happy with being on the front page of the newspaper AGAIN for doing the wrong thing?

I can't answer that.... But I'd love to know the answer!

Drive Safe.
www.hdlearner.com

Dear Mike...

2012-07-05T04:33:00.001-07:00

A letter to the Transport Minister, Mike Penning MP

Dear Mr Penning,
As a road safety professional, I like to keep up with news and developments concerning the standards of driving on our roads. I have written to you before with my concerns and thoughts and I am writing again because I feel that largely, the efforts being made by government are taking us in the wrong direction. Why? Because its not looking at the real problem.

Take this article for example, in which you are quoted.

www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/18632083

How many driving instructors, do you think, actively teach the kids to drive like lunatics once they pass their test? I am not saying that we as a profession can't do more, but speak to any ADI and they will tell you that one othe biggest problems we face is the attitude and skill of the full licence holders that we encounter every day. We are regularly subjected to tailgating, bullying, hostility, dangerous and impatient overtaking and very very poor examples of driving skill. The message that is being conveyed from this to our learners? 'You only have to drive like your instructor is telling you until you pass your test and then you can drive like this' Parents need to do more to enforce the idea of safe driving, but sadly, many don't. In fact they do the opposite. They do not seem to realise that their own often poor and dangerous driving standards are influencing their children. By the time we get to teach them, the damage is done. There is too much conditioning to remove in the 40 odd hours we get to spend with them. They need to come to us with better attitudes.

So, is it any wonder that our novice drivers are at such high risk once we are not there to help and advise?

So...the solution?

We need to implement Mandatory Refresher Training for all drivers, to be conducted on a regular basis.....every 10 years would be ideal because it would then fit in with the reissue of the photocard licence.

I know that this would be difficult to implement and might initially be unpopular, but I am 100% convinced that it would lead to significant improvements in road safety, particularly amongst the young driver community, a cause we are all working towards....

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this....I would relish the opportunity to meet with you to discuss it further.

Many kind regards,

Martin Bryant

Martin brings up many valuable points. One of the key points is Full Licence Holder attitude.

Quentin Wilson, TV car speedster, has been quoted as saying in our local newspaper, that the current system if teaching is crazy because we teach to pass their test. Er... Hang on. That's a bit of a sweeping statement. And one that many instructors will strongly refute. (When he sits in my car and watches me OR becomes fully qualified himself, then he has some point of reference. Until then... Shut up!)

It's very easy to blame instructors because teenagers get a car and go mad. But here are some things to consider....

When learning, a pupil watches other road users drive badly. FACT. Invariably they are trying to do something correct, whilst the fully qualified drivers barge their way in, eff and jeff and show poor skills and manners. We've all seen it whether we're teaching or Joe Public. So when they pass their test, what real consequences are there to prevent the disintegration of their skills? None really. Unless their unlucky enough to be caught by the 3 policemen left on the local force, that use push bikes.

Secondly studies have shown, poor driving habits are picked up as early as 5 years old. So when they get to us, 12 years of teaching have already taken place, whether good or bad.

Lastly, the more affluent pupils seem to be encouraged by their parents and peers to drive, brand new, flash, highly powered vehicles that we KNOW they cannot handle. But we cannot effect that behaviour. Words will fall on deaf ears. An example of this is a pupil who has recently passed with their instructor in a 1.3 Corsa Diesel now drives a brand new, 12 plate Audi TT 2litre thing! Staggering. Where is the responsibility there?

We are easy targets. We're not perfect but it's too easy to blame us!

There is no cohesion in attempts to stop the 1900 road fatalities (2010-2011) that have blighted the 1900 families.

There is a simple way forward Mr Penning. Ask us!
Guess what? We probably know...and are willing to SAY a lot more about how things REALLY are, than the DSA, DVLA or other advisors you may have!

In the words of someone a lot wiser than I, " Theres no such thing as a stupid question; just the person that never asked it."

When a 'Teacher' becomes the Pupil!

2012-05-25T13:27:00.001-07:00

Today is Wednesday.
I'm sat in the Test centre and four potential new drivers are off on their merry little way, hoping to get the elusive full licence.

As usual the instructors start a conversation.

Now I get on with my pupils.Even if they accidentally try and kill me.They don't mean it!

I then hear an instructor call his pupil 'stupid' and would be a 'danger to everyone on the road'.

PAUSE FOR EMBARRASSED SILENCE.

Now, I'm very well known in small circles as being opinionated or full of crap, depending on whether you agree with me, but even I struggled for a moment!

After this momentary lapse of wanting to become a monk and take a vow of silence, I asked why he though that.

" Because he keeps forgetting stuff. I could give him 5 roundabouts and one of them he'll screw it up."
"Does he do it regularly?"
"Yes...."
*So....your sure he knows how to them then?"
"Yes...he talks me through them but when he gets near them, will get one wrong. He's even done it just now on the way to the test centre."
"Oh, so he does it when he's under pressure then?"
"Yeah...he needs to pull himself together..."
"Is he Dyslexic?"
"What?"
"Is he Dyslexic?"
"Dunno....never asked."

And that's when the other instructors looked at me and gave me an embarrassed smile.

"So if he was, what things could you do to help him and yourself?"
"Dunno..."
"So you've done nothing then...."
"No..."

PAUSE FOR MORE EMBARRASSED SILENCE.

Now, I'm no expert and the re-count of the conversation makes me cringe, let alone good quality driving instructors. But this why the NEW generation of instructors aren't instructors. They are teachers.
A good teacher will try to help their pupil no matter what. However hard or difficult or unique or turbulent the teaching process is, a good teacher will endeavour to try everything they can think of, read up on or participate in, to get their pupil to achieve what the pupil wants, or even exceed their own expectation.

This individual isn't a teacher.

Pupils with Special Education Needs (SEN's) aren't strange, thick or stupid. They are normal. It's just WE are different to them. WE think differently to them. WE read differently to them. WE even spell differently to them. Are THEY wrong? No. Are WE wrong for thinking they are stupid, difficult, troublesome? YES. Because WE don't tolerate difference.

I put the above story on Facebook the same night.
With the persons permission, they have allowed me to quote their responses to this story.
Please read it...your privileged that you can....

"I've had a meeting this morning with my son's Primary School Special Educational Needs Coordinator and the SENCO from the Secondary school where he will start in September.
My son is the most lovely, caring, sensitive 11 year old you will ever... come across and I have found this mornings meeting emotionally draining. Finbar wins awards regularly for the most improved, hardest working pupil in the whole school, he gets the dinner ladies and playground assistance awards on an almost weekly basis for the pupil showing the most care and attention to others, he has gone to my mother EVERY DAY before school for half an hour for extra reading and writing help for the last 4 YEARS in an attempt to better himself.... And with all his hard work and determination he has got his reading age up to that of a 7 year old. I watch him interact with his peers and struggle to do everyday social skills, such as log on to the X box with them because of his dyslexia. I have concerns that come September he will be unsupported for 'funding reasons' and this hard working child who is just beginning to show outward signs that he "wishes he was like everyone else" and thinks he's useless, will be expected to perform to a standard set by the masses and be at the mercy of the understanding, empathy and attitude of 'teachers' who's influences, good and bad, will vary so greatly. If anyone every referee to him as 'stupid and a pain in the arse' I will pray I can find your level of control Marc'.... But tonight ( and just tonight ) I will allow myself to feel sad...."

Later she posted this...
"... His friends don't know that he has already been having lessons while most of them are still in their PJ's. And with all his hard work and determination he has got his reading age up to that of a 7 year old. I watch him interact with his peers and struggle to do everyday social skills, such as log on to the X box with them, read a joke from the back of a crisps packet, swap collection cards or follow game instructions. He is taken out of PE ( his favourite subject ) to do extra work, he has a scribe during his lessons so that his talents at subjects like science and tech are not hidden by his dyslexia. Come September he will be relatively unsupported for 'funding reasons' and this hard working child who is just beginning to show outward signs that he "wishes he was like everyone else" and thinks he's "useless" will be expected to perform to a standard set for the masses and be at the mercy of the understanding, empathy and attitude of 'teachers' who's influences will vary so greatly.
If you are in the privileged position to positively 'influence' a child like my son, please don't waste it.... And miss a blessing in disguise x"

I was moved to ask whether I could use her words in this blog...this was part of her reply...
"It's funny how coincidental this life is isn't it?.... I had an emotional day yesterday. Of course I had always known of his struggles, but to verbalise my concerns about Finbar's dyslexia in a way that I tried to communicate to his future teachers in that this is far more than just getting your b's and d's mixed up! This is a condition where he can't tell you, at 11 yrs old, the days of the week....! Think of the extra work he will need to do just to read his time table, let alone get to where he's meant to be in time... ( He can't tell the time! )...and with the right books and equipment! - Yes, his dyslexia effects his organisational skills too!"
I guess yesterday I realised just how hard he works... And how hard he will have to work, compared to others - your post caused no upset Marc, it was very relevant"

The irony in these comments...?
They were written by a well respected driving instructor. My restrain is perhaps something that would not have been afforded to the instructor I spoke to, had he spoken to this parent.

I have taught, and I am teaching dyslexic pupils. It is an honour to watch them battle through the issue they have. It is NOT a DISABILITY, just a different way of doing things. Yes, it's harder than most of us will ever know, but the sheer tenacity, self motivation and determination, these guys show is an inspiration.
It's an embarrassment to the 'stupid' instructor that thinks all pupils are the same.
It's an embarrassment to my industry that there are still people that put their pass rate above that of the needs of the pupil. I personally couldn't care less. So the next time you see an advert saying 'HIGH PASS RATE',ask them how many people they've taught with SEN's. I could tell you a horror story about a top grade instructor, that when I asked them for advice, gave me a piece of advice that left me angry. But right now is not the time.

I offered the instructor my card, so that should his pupil not pass i might be able to help the instructor prepare him better for their next attempt. 1hr later, his pupil called me, asking whether I could take him for lessons.

Sad...but true.

I meet him next week and I'll treat him with the utmost respect and help him, however i can, for as long as he needs.
The same way I and my instructors treat everyone.After all...we're all different.

With special thanks to Louise Walsh ADI and her outstanding son, Finbar. x

www.herodriving.com

You learnt once too...

2012-04-29T12:08:00.003-07:00

It's a Sunday night and I'm writing this, having seen a Facebook post by a good friend of mine.
In her local area Rugby, their local Liberal Democrat candidate is running a campaign using Learner drivers as a political pawn. Apparently the use of roads in certain parts of Rugby, by learner drivers is bang out of order.
They are a nuiscance and behave badly and in their own words are inconsiderate.
Now whilst I appreciate, some residents get a little 'tetchy' about people practicing in their road, but here's the thing....we have a Road Tax disc and are FULLY entitled to practice manoeuvres with our pupils where we want, providing it is Safe,Legal and Convenient. That is the law.

The piece then instructs people to take registration numbers and ID card details of those "behaving within the constraints of the law".

Er....hang on....why?

What are you going to do with those details?Please do inform the police that we are doing a left reverse, on a highway paid for by our road tax disc. Please tell them we are fully insured and please tell them we are fully qualified by the DSA to do so. I'm sure they'll appreciate you wasting their time!

So then councillors, as Learner drivers are on your radar how about all of you getting together and improving road safety all over your area.
That's right, how about the FULL licence holders that tailgate, drive at and dangerously overtake Learner drivers. You know...the ones that cause the accidents that KILL people. The ones that speed on said estates. The A roads. The quiet back streets. The ones that park dangerously outside schools. The drink drivers and the drug drivers.
No?
Of course not....you're too busy trying to win cheap votes from people that read the Daily Mail.
Fully qualified driving instructors have a VERY dangerous jobs because of people you 'apparently' represent. We teach what we believe...road safety. Trust me, it's not the Learner Drivers we are frightened of...it's everyone else.So stopping learners from reversing around a corner IS NOT going to stop the idiot from number 44, mowing down a child outside their school, because he's 5 minutes late for his tea...but hey....I'm sure the police and everybody else will be REALLY pleased that their time was taken up taking the details of LAW ABIDING driving instructors and their pupils.

Get your priorities right!

www.herodriving.com

Should Drivers Be Retested?

2012-04-19T07:39:00.001-07:00

As I sit here I a coffee shop in Malvern, having some 'down time', I've randomly started thinking about a dangerous subject...retests for all drivers!

I can hear people's hearts sink, health and safety executives getting excited, boy racers bricking themselves, governments run away and pretend there isn't a problem and the Driving Standards Authority be...completely silent.

As an instructor I drive daily. As an instructor, I'm responsible for my pupils, mine and other peoples safety. Now I try my hardest at the first two, but the third is becoming increasingly difficult.

FACT- People's driving has deteriated, FULL STOP!

Everyday, as instructors we have our hearts in our mouths, heads in our hands and are continually surprised by what we see.

Now everyday,YOU the driver see people not indicating, cutting the corners, speeding, etc...

It's massively frustrating isn't it?

Do people know, understand or care about the consequences or knock on effects of their por standard of driving and road manners?

Would they pass their driving test now?

God no....

Is there a policeman or the will of the police to do a lot about it....

God no...

Is 1 life lost because of stupid, dangerous, or mindless driving a tragedy?

God yes...Ask the family.

So what can we do about it?

Here's a dangerous idea...

When you pass your driving test at the age of 17, you don't get looked at your standard of driving again until your 70! I asked all my pupils recently this question...

"If you passed your test today and were told that for you to get your licence, you would have to agree to be ASSESSED every 5 years for £50, would you still want the licence."

The answer was unanimously YES!

Now add an eye test into that and a medical check up, isn't that worth it?

Why a medical check up? Look at this link and see how many you shouldn't drive with...

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/MedicalRulesForDrivers/MedicalA-Z/index.htm

I reckon that would probably wipe out a good 10% of the populations drivers eh?

Eyesight? When did you last get your eye sight tested? Not only should you be able to read a number plate from a specified distance, getting them checked can often lead to early identification of medical conditions.

Oh and the retest?

Look I'm not naive to think anybody is going to drive to test standard all the time, every time. But instead of an examiner, how about us driving instructors sit next to you? Coach and improve your skills. Improve your fuel efficiency? (God knows its expensive enough!)

Still not sold on it?

Ok....your about to go into surgery for a life threatening operation.
You meet the surgeon. He's quite old....
He's had lots of experience...
And he's going to give you some Asprin to take away the pain...and use a scalpel, even though his eyesight isn't quite what it used to be and his reactions aren't anywhere near as fast. But that's alright isn't it? He only has YOUR life in his hands. He last was checked when he qualified...50 years ago! So he must be good mustn't he? He hasn't had any deaths yet. A few near misses but nothing too serious....
When does his luck run out?
When does your luck run out?

You drive a machine that could kill.
It's not a God given right.
So WHY shouldn't you be checked?
Instructors are checked regularly.
What are YOU afraid of?

What have you forgotten of the highway code?

Take a test on me...

http://www.herodriving.com/theorytest.html

Ps As far as I know all surgeons and doctors are checked...I just used someone who has the power to accidentally kill someone as an example...that's what bad drivers can do too!

Today this could be...The Greatest day of your life... (So far!)

2012-03-26T02:29:00.000-07:00

Right today is test day. No, I don’t need to see a doctor. And no again, I don’t have to sit in front of a school teacher that is sitting at the front of the hall, reading a copy of FHM, whilst pretending to do some marking. (Seriously that happened in one of my exams. Strangely Biology!) No, today is Driving test day. Not my Driving Test. You’ll be pleased to know, I passed that quite a few tears ago and a couple of advanced tests too! But today is my pupils driving test.

I’ll be honest, it’s their second. I could be completely vain here and tell you it’s their first, so if at the end of this Blog, you find out they have passed, you’ll think that I’m really, really good. Actually I am good. It’s just you can’t stop pupils doing daft things on their test! What’s the old adage? You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make a pupil look out the back window like they know they should do!

I’ve now been on both sides of the test. I’ve been sat in the drivers seat, sweating, concentrating, sweating some more, concentrating some more, trying not to swear at the Muppets not using their indicators, sweating a bit more because now I think the examiner thinks I am hesitating because I haven’t got a clue what half these planks are doing on this roundabout, concentrating some more, trying not to stall the car and oh bugger...I missed that gap! And then I’m now the one at the test centre, talking to other instructors, gradually getting more impatient, and I end up ‘pacing’ waiting for the return of prized pupil and more importantly, my car back in one piece! Seriously I end up pacing up and down like an expectant dad. I guess when I’ve spent as much time as I do with a pupil, I get to care and give a monkey about what happens to them!

Every pupil is different. Every pupil reacts differently to the test. To some this could be the greatest day of their lives so far! Seriously! I find that really strange if you think about it logically. It’s about 37 minutes long. And all they can do at the end of it is drive a car when they want. (I almost put how they want...well that’s how it seems sometimes.)

But they have to sit GCSE’s...they have to sit A-Levels...they have to sit Degrees. Yet the one exam they cry about (in my experience) is their driving test!

I have a theory on that. So please humour me. In this ‘equal’ society in which we live, when we are at Primary School, there are no winners at Sports Day. My 8yr old recently did his first cross country run. (When he got home he asked me what the point of that was. And to be honest some 30yrs older as I am, I STILL never saw the point of running in the freezing cold and boggy mud, but I digress) He said, “Dad I came FIRST from LAST.”

“?”

“First from last...”

“Don’t you mean second from last?”

“I think so, but teacher said it sounded better as I wasn’t actually last!”

You get the picture. They are not allowed to be competitive or grow from the fear of coming last.

Then onto GCSE’s where pupils can get an ‘E’ grade. Why? Isn’t that a fail? Apparently not as it is still a Grade!

So pupils aren’t allowed to grow from that grade in maths or English, a basic necessity in life I think.

Then onto ‘A’ Levels. This is where Uni’s of varying degrees of excellence accept people with ‘D’ grades. Hardly pulling up trees are they?

Then there are degrees in things like ‘Film studies’ or ‘Tree Pruning’ or something like that. In the greater scheme of things are you going to become a millionaire doing that?

My point is... The driving Test could be the first time someone actually says, “NO” to the individual. It appears it’s one of the first times someone says “ NO” to something that matters apparently!

That’s a bit worrying for society, don’t you think?

Onto how people prepare for tests...

I put a thread on Facebook asking other instructors what habits, rituals they do or have heard of. This is what they came up with...

§ One of my pupils had a test booked at 1.33. So I arranged to pick her up from work at 12. On the day of the test she texted me saying that she couldn't get out of work till 12.30. So I meet her and the first thing she says is that she needs to go back home to change her shoes. So she drives herself back home, and goes in her house. Some 20 minutes later she comes back out. I mentioned that it took a while to change her shoes. She says that she had a cup of camomile tea to calm her nerves. We now have around 30 minutes to do the 20 minute drive to the Test Centre, so it’s literally straight to the Test Centre, but she passed! No practice on the manoeuvres, very little warm up, just camomile tea and her favoured shoes!”

“Jogging around the waiting room was the best one of mine came up with.”
“I once booked a test without telling the pupil. It was her 2nd attempt (first with me) and she told me how nervous she was about simply booking the test and how she didn’t want to do it… so, me being me I just booked it and didn't tell her. I got around the whole documents snag by holding on to her paper counterpart and making sure she always carried her plastic bit - test booked around her usual lesson time.
Anyway, test day came along (fortunately she didn’t cancel!) and off we went on our usual lesson at the usual time. Around 20 mins before her test we pulled up and had a chat about her driving and told her how well it was going… then I dropped the bombshell, she spent the next 5 mins flapping her hands around and said “oh my god” about 100 times, I had to actually show her the appointment letter just to prove it! So, off we went and she passed with flying colours.”
I had one pupil get into the waiting room, then eat a couple of Rescue Remedy pastilles, then eat a couple of energy tablets.... I'm not quite sure if she was trying to calm herself down, or gee herself up, but she passed so it must have worked.§
“Had one older lady who would not come out of the loo even though the ex was waiting for her. I finally got her out in quite a serene state. "I was praying." She passed!”
I've had one had 8 tests over the previous 5 years not sure how many instructors at least 4 husband in RAF. Was told she had problem with tests 2 tests not taken because she was sick her words - squits & humps. So test with me she did not know when first mock test drove confidentially till I identified test center that ended the lesson I had a jelly in the drivers seat. Took a full half hour before she could start the car. Eventually got her to test readiness ie able to go into test centre without any shakes & able to drive at a test standard. Surprised with test & passed thank goodness.
Blue knickers!!!
I have some lucky socks with Herbie on them!
I believe my student had a pair of lucky knickers but they had changed color from the original white shade!
One pupil who took an entire packet of Kalms on the lesson before & passed.
One who refused to sit down as she wouldn't get up again? Failed.
But I have heard of one lad who went to the toilet & didn't return and another who did a line of coke in there and came back into waiting room, spaced out with coke still around his nose. Neither were my pupils thankfully.

We are strange creatures us humans, Eh?

All over a driving test.

My pupil? She failed. Sat at a set of traffic lights when they were on green and just didn’t do anything!

You’d be surprised how often that happens to pupils all over the country....and that’s why the national pass rate is in the 40% bracket.

Oh and quick thank you to the idiot that pulled out on her from a side road as she approached. Her emergency stop was superb according the examiner. Shame you didn’t have the ‘class’ to apologise, just laugh and ‘flick the bird’ at her. Muppet.

www.herodriving.com

When is a Bus Lane not a Bus Lane...When it's in Worcester!

2012-01-02T01:55:00.000-08:00

Now that’s not exactly true.

Having looked at You Tube and Google searches, it’s good to know the spread of people not knowing what to do or how to use them is universal. (Especially the You Tube clips of people trying to beat the rising bollards, only to end up impaling their car on them! Luckily Worcester’s have never really worked and are now classed as antiques resting underground waiting to be rediscovered when the authorities have got a few more quid to waste or David Dickinson runs out of things to flog on the telly.)

Worcester’s problem is a little more complex. Or simple depending on which side of the fence you sit on.

After my last blog, I received an email from someone who got up at an ungodly time, to listen to my Victor Meldrew impression on BBC Hereford & Worcester’s Breakfast show. I won’t name her, but I will reply personally. In her email one phrase kept appearing. ‘Common Sense’.

Professionals may agree with me in that mostly driving safely, boils down to common sense. Don’t follow too closely, don’t speed, don’t cross your arms (a contentious one there), don’t drink and drive, and don’t block bus lanes....

But is it always down to the common sense of the driver? Or is it also down to the common sense of the road planners that are meant to look at the ‘bigger picture’ rather than the narrower area?

Firstly I want to look at the common sense, or lack of it, of drivers, cyclists and other road users.

The Highway Code states and I quote rule 141: Bus Lanes. These are shown by road markings and signs that indicate which (if any) other vehicles are permitted to use the bus lane. Unless otherwise indicated, you should not drive in a bus lane during its period of operation.

I then also want to point out something about box junctions too. (This is a little grumble for Worcester, so I apologise if this doesn’t apply to where you are reading it....) Rule 174. These have criss-cross yellow lines painted on the road. (They are not a pretty pattern painted on the floor- My comment not the highway codes, it continues...) You MUST NOT (note the capital letters...again my comment but it’s printed in there like that, so it MUST BE IMPORTANT) enter the box until your exit road or lane is clear. However, you may enter the box when you want to turn right, and are only stopped from doing so by oncoming traffic. (The word oncoming is not underlined in the Highway Code, I’ve done it because it’s quite relevant to the ‘gripe’ that I and several bus drivers have)

In most cases, cyclists and taxi drivers are also allowed to use the bus lane. So if you include buses, which run fairly regular, (I know, depending on where you live!), the bus lane can start getting crowded during the rush hours. So why do drivers block it?

There are several reasons. Firstly, how many of you know the operating times of the bus lane you drive in, past, by, etc.? I was once told a story by an instructor that he got a phone call at 730pm one night. The woman on the other end of the phone rang to complain that she had seen one of his driving instructors driving in the bus lane. How dare he... it was setting a bad example to all learner drivers and that he should know better. “What time was that madam?” he said.

“About 15 minutes ago...”

“Where?”

“Barbourne.”

“Oh that was me....and if you read the signs at the start of the lane, and the ones spaced along the route, you’ll find that we can use that lane between 7pm and 7am....”

I’m not sure how that conversation ended, but it’s happened to me on a lesson to. I had to make the universal sign for binoculars to the woman in the passenger seat, in the car next to us, who was going red with rage, until she ACTUALLY LOOKED at the sign. Strangely, she never apologised and flicked me the finger. Knowledge is power!

So, in some cases you ARE allowed to use bus lanes. But for those people who know they shouldn’t be in them, do you know how much chaos and frustration YOU cause by not following the rules? No. Didn’t think so.

Public transport, however you rate it, is there for the use of the Public. The public have exactly the same time constraints as you. They want to get home. They want to see their kids before they go to bed. They want to watch BBC news, filled with more economic gloom than hope. My point is... they are you. So why is it OK to make them late? Why is OK to start clogging up the road network, because you want to get home 30 seconds earlier than the person on the bus? Seriously, what on God’s green earth can you do in 30 seconds that will make a groundbreaking change to your life? Bigger picture folks, bigger picture.

Now onto my next gripe and that of all the bus drivers I have ever met. (Don’t worry I’m not trying to attack the motorist, I’m trying to bring up a balanced debate here) Remember the Box junction rule I bought up earlier? Worcester grinds to a halt in the city centre at rush hour, because of several factors, but one of them is the junction outside McDonalds. How many times do people have to get stuck in that Box Junction and shouted at, and horns blown at, before they realise they shouldn’t be in there and that they should LOOK before they proceed turning right. Remember the rule about it being clear for you to go...? Now I FULLY AGGREE it is a HORRIBLE junction. But as humans, if we see someone else getting away with it, others will try it. Especially if there are no consequences. The buses are trying to turn right into the street leading to the bus station. But they can’t because someone is sat looking highly stupid and embarrassed in their car, whilst the bus driver growls and snarls at them from above. You do realise those buses are bigger then you yeah?

Someone needs to break the cycle. Or something....

Now here’s the balance.

As I mentioned earlier, when 1 person does something and they ‘get away with it’, someone else will do it and so on... If there are no consequences, people will just carry on and carry on and carry on, and soon it forms a habit. Here’s the carrot and stick moment. Outside that famous food restraint with the golden arches, there is a lamppost. On that lamppost, positioned so that late night ‘revellers’, (I hate that word), can’t interfere with it, should be a convex mirror, so that from the position of the junction, a road user can ‘see into’ that road and make a decision on what they see, as to whether they continue into that road. Now here’s the stick. Stick a camera on the lights. If you are in that box junction when the lights turn red, you’ll get a fine of £30. Outrageous!!!! I hear you say. So? You wouldn’t do it again would you? You wouldn’t block that junction so that buses can’t get back to the bus station again would you? You wouldn’t IGNORE the rules would you? And if it was the same for the opposite direction, (the Taxi rank side), no-one would be blocking that junction and traffic would starting moving freely, rather than waiting for the people to clear the junction time after time, before you could start moving.

Let’s look at the bus lane in Lowesmore. A bus lane, which has had stories written about it since it was introduced and one that was commented on by a Councillor, saying they could not enforce it anyway. It had shop keepers in up-roar and my understanding is that rules were changed because of their concerns. The bus lane should be in operation between the hours of 330pm -630pm. That’s 3 hours out of 24. You can use it for 21 of the rest. I’d say you get the better deal there. Now let’s do the same there. Let’s put a camera on the lights and charge people £30 for the privilege of using it between the hours of 330-630. Now before people start sending me death threats, I feel that Lowesmore and all road users are the victim of what can only be described as ‘muddled’ thinking. Let’s look at the bigger picture. All buses that travel up through the Butts end up either turning left or going towards Lowesmore. None (in service) as I understand it, continue along City Walls road towards London Road. As they proceed over the cross roads there is a bus stop outside the old Toby Pub and arts centre. As they proceed into the bus lane, there is a bus stop outside the Chip Shop and at the end of the bus lane there is a bus stop virtually on top of the mini roundabout. This means the bus, should they be going up Tolladine Road needs to block both lanes whilst taking that exit, causing disruption and potentially a hazardous situation. Now here’s my beef. They are all within 1 minutes walking distance of each other!!!! Seriously are we that bloody lazy we can’t walk a further 1 minute in either direction? Here’s the win/win. Firstly the buses will end up reclaiming the bus lane between those hours. Not only would people who ignore the rule, get fined, (not many people have deep pockets), but the amount of buses going into that lane, and more regularly picking up passengers from that central stop outside the Chip Shop, would present NO benefit whatsoever for people who want to save 30 seconds on their car journey home. For shopkeepers in that area, the people who didn’t go into that area from the other two stops now present an opportunity and at the end of the bus lane, the bus can SAFELY exit it and select the correct lane immediately, rather than the last second. Other road users are then safely using the roads they should be at that peak time. Remember it’s just 3 hours out of a 24hr day folks!

Now not everything is the car driver fault. Some of the blame must lie at the County Councils and Police Authorities feet. The bus lane from the hospital is an absolute shambles. From reports that I have read and talking to local residents, concerns over that bus lane were both ignored and not taken as seriously as they should have been. The main problems for the flow of traffic at the bottom of Ronkswood are continual blocking of the box junction and the ridiculous lack of space for vehicles wishing to continue straight on at that junction. There is only enough space for 2 normal sized cars, to move into that area. So guess what? Because people don’t want to get stuck behind the traffic that is turning right, they sit in the bus lane, rendering it useless. How much money was actually spent on that bus lane? And how much research was done into the fact that a majority of the traffic there flows into town as opposed to right towards Tolladine road? Get rid! Admit defeat. There is enough room for a bus stop before that problem area. It doesn’t save any time.

As for the ‘bus pit lane’ in Dines Green, outside the houses being built as we speak, are we having a Park and Ride built there? Otherwise I don’t understand the necessity to have spent that amount of money again?

And why implement things that cannot be enforced anyway? If there’s not enough money in the budget to make sure these can be enforced, why spend it in the first place? Now I fully understand that we are in a period of Austerity at present, but where is law enforcement? Notice the word law? These rules haven’t just been made up. And they were written for a reason. Throughout the hours of 8am to say 7pm theses road rules are consistently broken and where are the hard working boys in blue? (That is not sarcasm, they do work really hard and I respect the very difficult job they do, day in day out) I just don’t understand why the two agencies cannot work together. Perhaps if we did put cameras in, the fines would pay for themselves very quickly!

Across the country we are seeing an increase in traffic. The car has become a choice and a necessity. The jobs are no longer a couple of miles away. Things have moved out of town. (And people wonder why the High Streets are in trouble) But guess what? Public transport is on the decline. There probably is another Blog of discussion there and the reasons why, but there is not a cohesive strategy. Nothing seems to be joined up. Everyone with their own interests. But the interest of the general public seems ignored...Silly really when the reason things should be put in place is because of them!

Overall ‘Common sense’ seems to be missing. As an instructor trying to teach the rules of the road, it becomes impossible when, they are constantly broken, ignored and people are not given consequences. The consequences are worsening road safety and standards. Gridlock. Frustration. Anger. Oh and me not getting home 30 seconds later...

Why is it alright for you....but not alright for everyone else?

2011-12-05T13:33:00.000-08:00

This morning, I took my 8year old son to school.
Now there's nothing new about that. In fact it's one of the perks of being self employed I guess. I'm never going to get these years back. it's probably the last year he'll believe in Father Christmas, and the first time in his life he realises Daddy has told him lies for the last 8 years. He's getting a big boy after all. It's about this time in my life that I was allowed to cross the road on my own.
He knows his Green Cross Code. (For those old enough to remember, the GXC was a set of TV adverts designed to teach children to cross the roads safely in the 1970's. Some of these adverts had footballers such as Kevin Keegan, some pop stars such as Alvin Stardust, (who?) and the most famous were the ones with the bloke who played Darth Vader in. Not James Earl-Jones, but the bloke IN the suit, West Country God, David Prowse. He wore a very tight green and white costume...very superheroish. Look 'em up on You Tube and checkout how slowly the cars were always going! Oh and the crap effects).
So really I should be quite happy to watch him from afar, watching him cross using the Lollipop lady and wave him goodbye.
NO I'm not.
Now I'm not a softie and I'm not perfect. I'm a dad. I'm a dad that gets filled with a certain amount of dread at school opening and school kick out time. I'm not worried about the boy racers. I'm not worried about the girl racers. They are so young they remember what it was like to leave school at 315pm. I'm worried about...PARENTS.
A parent, in short, is someone who has bought life into this world. Someone who should cherish and nurture the young to their full and limitless potential.
So where does it say in any parenting handbook, Google search or video clip, that as a parent you should do things so dangerous outside schools that you endanger the lives of other peoples children because it suits you?
How dare you!
How dare you put the life and well being of SOMEONE ELSE'S son or daughter in danger because it suits YOU to drop YOUR children right outside the school because YOU are too bloody lazy to park properly round the corner. Or because YOU are running 5 minutes late.
Shall I give you some examples?
Stand outside your local school, one that isn't patrolled by a policeman, or one that isn't patrolled by a community support officer and watch and see if something like this happens by you.
I'm stood with my son and my dog, with 4 other children and 2 parents by the school lollipop lady. We are stood in the middle of zig-zag lines waiting for the approaching traffic to slowdown and stop. To the left the traffic slows down to a stop, but to the right the woman in the people carrier slows, but what has she seen?
Ahh that's right a parking space on the opposite side of the road outside the school.
Actually it's NOT a parking space, it's the zig zag lines on the opposite side. And the waiting traffic on the opposite side are blocking that space.So what does she do?
Stop or find somewhere else?
NO!
She cuts across, nearly taking out the passenger side wing mirror of the waiting car on the opposite side, mounting the kerb and parks on the zig-zag lines, half on the pavement, half on the road.
As we cross the road, she 'unloads' her children.....and stands for 5 minutes talking to other mums whilst she waves at her offspring. It was 832am. School starts at 845am. So you couldn't be late could you? No that's right, your ruddy lazy!
A few weeks back I was waiting for my son to leave school. Now where we have to wait is not ideal, but for logistic purposes, parents understand. Opposite the school is a piece of land where during the summer, the Ice Cream van is allowed to park. An excellent idea, reducing the risk of an accident. The Ice Cream van has to mount to kerb, which the driver does very safely and effectively. They are always in position way before the school finishes. However, some parents now deem that pieces of land that haven't got their vehicles on, obviously mean they have to park on it because they have arrived late and need to pick THEIR little darlings up on time.And parking round the corner in a SAFE, LEGAL & CONVENIENT space, means that THEIR children will be so mentally scared because they have to wait by teacher for another 2 minutes would obviously be the end of civilisation as we know it. Top that off with parents arguing about where they have illegally parked, (seriously!) and a middle aged woman telling me to bugger off and ask me what I'm looking at when she parks on the pavement, meaning people with pushchairs and school children have to walk in the road to get by her badly parked mode of transport, beggars belief!
So these are only a couple of examples. Match that with speeding, parents not wearing seat belts, not slowing down for the lollipop lady, we've all seen it.

So here's the question. WHY IS IT ALRIGHT FOR YOU AND NOT FOR ME?
I'm going to put you in this position and I want you to think about it...

Today is Monday and your child is going to a birthday party at a friends house straight after school.
The mother of the child is taking your child home with them to save time and messing about...
Your mobile rings.
It's 325pm.
It's someone you don't know.
They ask you what your child's name is.
They tell you to get down to the school quickly.
There's been an accident.
They don't know how bad it is.
You drive like a mad person to get there.
You are filled with panic.
You are very scared.
You see blue lights.
You see a crowd.
You see crying children.
The police are there.
The ambulance is there.
People aren't looking you in the eye .
You abandon your car.
The policeman stops you looking.
But it's your child, in the middle of the road.
Helpless.
Lifeless.
There is a car next to them.
It's parked right outside the school.
It's parked on the zig zags.
The owner is looking very sheepish.
They look guilty.
The owner of the car that hit your child is apologising in a blind panic.
They are frightened.
They are scared.
They are crying.
They didn't see them.
They stepped out from behind the car that was parked on zig zags.

THE SAME PLACE YOU PARK WHEN YOU ARE RUNNING LATE!
THE SAME PLACE YOU ALWAYS PARK WHEN YOU PICK YOUR KIDS UP!

Now ask yourself...WHY is alright for YOU to do it but not for me?