November 30th, 2008 Administrator
Driving instructors from Kidderminster today staged a second major “go-slow” in protest at plans to close the town’s test centre.
They announced plans to take their fight to the headquarters of the Driving Standards Agency.
Going in convoy from Kidderminster Rugby Club to the Lake Street test centre in Lower Gornal, where all tests would be transferred under the plans, they held-up commuter traffic and flew flags from their car aerials to highlight their campaign.
The protest also held up the start of several learners’ tests. The success of their second protest drive, which started at 7.30am from Kidderminster Rugby Club, bouyed the instructors who said they now “had the backing of residents in the Lower Gornal and Dudley”. These residents had feared the transfer of driving tests would cause chaos and dangers on local roads.
Campaigners now plan to take their protest and a cavalcade of cars to the Nottingham headquarters of the Driving Standards Agency, which wants to close the Castle Street centre.
Councillor Julian Phillips, a member of Wyre Forest District Council, who has spearheaded the campaign with driving instructor Glyn Ellis-Jones, said: “The decision to stage the protest today was taken at short notice so we did not expect as many people to take part but we are delighted with the turn out.”
Protestors are planning to hold a public meeting at Kidderminster Rugby Club at 8.30pm on November 10 to discuss the date for the cavalcade to Nottingham.
DSA chief executive Rosemary Thew said: “We have the necessary capacity to absorb the demand for Kidderminster at neighbouring centres within our travel distance criteria.”
From : Expressandstar.com
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November 30th, 2008 Administrator
Motoring along the quiet residential streets close to Fulham FC early on Sunday morning, I suddenly felt rather ludicrous. Firstly, it was no day for driving. It had snowed overnight, and the road was treacherous with sleet. It was cold enough to keep my puffa jacket on, even inside the car.
Secondly, driving anywhere in London is basically pointless. The brave may prefer bikes, but my internal sat nav is hardwired to the Tube map. I can’t go anywhere in the city without first gauging the distance via a fat spaghetti strand of brown, indigo or pink Underground line in my imagination.
Sometimes I regret the quantity of mental hard drive allocated to the calculation and constant update of travel equations: If Green Park is closed due to suicide attempt, hmm, then District line slower but only by two minutes, so long as we’re not held at that tricky red light in the tunnel outside South Ken … There’s probably an iPhone application in it, Mr Jobs, if you feel like getting in touch.
What made the motoring expedition seem especially silly was the conversation. “P, O, S, M?” the man in the passenger seat asked me as I turned right towards the Thames. We were crawling along at 4mph, the engine softly juddering, possibly because I’d left it in third gear. I thought about the letter P … what did it stand for? Preparation, is it? “Position, Observation, Speed, Manoeuvre.”
You see, eight years after I sat in a car park in Croydon, test failure slip in hand, silently abandoning all plans to get a driving licence, I am now back behind the wheel. Of course, driving is a useful skill to acquire. But at 32, the learner does feel a touch foolish. Not for being 15 years late, or for spending £30 an hour on lessons when I’d rather be saving. Nor for memorising acronyms that surely do nothing to promote actual understanding.
It’s just that, by now, I’ve already learned how to live life without a car. And it’s not at all bad. The era of rising congestion charges, scarcer oil and tighter money can’t be the best moment to put pedal to the metal. But timing, as my driving instructor can confirm, and indeed frequently does, isn’t my strong suit.
On the other hand, I see that the price of a brand-new Jag is falling. “Next week,” he said at the end of the lesson, “we’ll work on steering.” An XK60 should be pretty cheap by the time I’m qualified.
Making amyl of it
Darling, would you be able to pick up a bottle on the way home? Oh, I don’t mind what sort. Hang on, what about Rush, that cheeky little amyl nitrite number Gordon Ramsay recommends? What’s that? You thought only gay men and Seventies throwbacks used that? No, really, it’s the perfect pairing for thoroughly-cooked goose. Buy two!
From : Independent website
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November 30th, 2008 Administrator
DOUBLE celebrations are in order for identical twins, who passed their driving tests in the same week.
Kim and Kay Goldsmith, 17, of Gunville West, Newport, passed within three days of each other with only one minor fault difference between their tests.
They started their driving lessons with Adam Ward, of 1-2-1 Driving School, on their 17th birthday in March after passing their theory test at the same time.
Kay, who had only five minor faults, one less than Kim, was the first twin to succeed but she had mixed feelings when she told her family the news.
“I was so happy but I didn’t want to rub it in Kim’s face, as she was still so nervous,” said Kay.
Kim had to endure three uneasy days before her test and admitted she felt the pressure after her sister’s joy.
“I was so pleased for Kay when she passed but it just made me even more apprehensive leading up to the test,” said Kim.
They had 68 lessons between them and are now the proud owners of two Ford Fiestas, similar to the one they took their lessons in.
“They felt comfortable driving the Fiesta with Adam and so it made sense for them to choose one as their first car, although they are different colours,” said Helen Goldsmith, the twins’ mum.
Kim is studying history, psychology and art in the sixth form at Carisbrooke High School and Kay is at the Isle of Wight College on a hairdressing course. Mr Ward, their driving instructor, said: “It was the first time I had taught twins to drive and I would often drop one off before the other got in but they were a pleasure to teach.”
From : Isle Of Wight County Press
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November 30th, 2008 Administrator
Report claims greener driving techniques could save UK motorists £5bn, and staff want their employers to help them learn.
The Energy Saving Trust (EST) has today launched a new smarter driving training course aimed specifically at businesses and designed to help employees cut carbon emissions and fuel use by up to 15 per cent.
The course was launched as the EST released new research claiming that smarter driving techmniques, such as smoother braking and cornering, could save British motorists £5bn a year in fuel costs and cut carbon emissions by 10m tonnes.
A survey of UK workers also found that nearly half would like to see their employer offer green benefits or training, such as smart driving lessons.
Philip Sellwood, chief executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said that workplace training that helps staff to save an average of between £200 and £250 per person was likely to prove popular during the current economic climate.
“With the economy in turmoil and people feeling the pinch more than ever, it is crucially important that employers look at how they can support their staff in every way they can,” he said. “Employees take this issue seriously and now so should employers.”
Transport Minister Andrew Adonis welcomed the new course, adding that there was aa strong commercial case for businesses to offer staff smart driving training as it will not only prove popular with employess but also help companies cut their own fuel bills.
“In the space of an hour’s smarter driving lesson with the Energy Saving Trust, drivers can save as much as 15 per cent of the fuel they use,” he said. “For employers this means improved efficiency, with reduced emissions and cuts in fuel spending.”
The new courses require a minimum of 24 participants and cost £15 per employee. The hour long course takes place with an advanced driving instructor on a test track with participants then receiving feedback on how much they improved and how much money and fuel they can save each year through smarter driving.
From : BusinessGreen.com
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November 25th, 2008 Administrator
Ellie from Haynes passed her driving test at the Bedford Test Centre today, having had driving lessons in Bedford with Txt-Drive.
This was Ellie’s first attempt at her driving test and was in the minority of people who pass their driving test first time. She only gained 6 minor driving faults on the 40 minute driving test.
Ellie, who lives in Haynes, had been learning to drive with Bedford based driving school Txt-Drive. One of Ellie’s school friends, Steph, had personally recommend that she learn to drive with Txt-Drive. Steph had also passed her driving test first time in July 2008 with Txt-Drive, getting only 4 minor faults.
Both Ellie & Steph passed their driving tests having taken fewer driving lessons, to pass the driving test, than the published national average.
Ellie took just 20 driving lessons with Txt-Drive and spent just over £800 – well below the national average cost of learning to drive which is £1500!! By learning to drive with Txt-Drive, Ellie saved about £700 (on the average price of learning to drive).
Txt-Drive.co.uk provide cheap driving lessons in Bedford & the surrounding areas. Txt-Drive offer block booking discounts PLUS student discounts. The driving school, based in Bedford, also provide special offers/promotions which gives even cheaper driving lessons in Bedford. Txt-Drive is in the process of creating a price comparison website to compare local driving schools & driving instructors in the Bedford, Bedfordshire area. The comparison feature will feature randomly selected independent driving instructors & national driving schools.
If you would like to book cheap driving lessons in Bedford with the Txt-Drive driving school, please call – Freephone 0800 8600 983 or Text DRIVE to 80039.
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