tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64728120030306178202024-03-19T03:35:53.733+00:00The Driving Instructor says...Tales from the instructor's seat...Ashley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6472812003030617820.post-5843019979586611522018-05-28T17:57:00.001+01:002018-05-28T17:57:09.899+01:00ET... Don't Phone HomeDon't phone while driving... sounds easy doesn't it? Car moving, phone down. As Aleksandr Orlov would say "Simples". Or is it?<br />
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Driving implies moving but it is just as illegal, just as unwise and carries exactly the same penalties if you use the phone whilst stationary at traffic lights, in a line of traffic or stopped at the side of the road (unless parked with the engine off). There is no correlation between driving and moving; you can be driving and be stationary at the same time. That's what the law is and using your phone whilst driving is breaking the law. <br />
<br />
It's also unwise. If you ring someone and they are busy, they'll most likely ring you back. What do you then do? Answer the phone or try ringing them back? Ok, take the easy option and text them. What happens then? They text you back even if it's just to say 'OK' and you will be tempted to look at it on the move. It's only a short message, it won't take long to look at. Oh, hang on, it's longer than I expected. Could I pop into the shop and get some...? You see, if we initiate a conversation we have no idea how long that conversation may take. Isn't it better not to start the conversation in the first place?<br />
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Learning to drive? You know not to use your phone. That's great but did you know that the person supervising you is subject to the same law as you, the driver? That means that if they use their phone while you are driving, moving or not, they are breaking the law and the penalties for them are the same as if they were driving. So no texting, ringing, surfing or playing angry birds for them while you are driving. Incidentally, they also cannot be over the drink/drive limit or asleep...<br />
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If one of your passengers either takes a photo which requires you to pose or decides to show you a meme, video, photo or post whilst you are driving it would be very unwise and I suspect the police would take a very dim view in the event of any resulting driving incident.<br />
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Finally, although it is legal to use a hands-free mobile phone it has to be completely hands-free requiring little or no manual intervention by the driver. You must remain completely in control of the vehicle at all times. I'm not sure that reading or initiating texts or anything else would allow such a level of control and even initiating a call might not. To be honest, I would avoid making any calls from the vehicle unless it could be initiated legally before starting the journey or during it. Receiving calls is the least dangerous but be careful not to be distracted by the contents of the call. Texts and any other electronic communication I would ignore.<br />
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Above all, stay safe out there. Concentrate on the road and driving. Cars are cheap, lives are not.<br />
<br />
www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.ukAshley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6472812003030617820.post-376876997510820112017-10-02T14:30:00.003+01:002017-10-02T14:30:59.283+01:00Clever Cars or Dumbing Down?The inexorable rise in technology has now well and truly invaded the modern motor vehicle. I doubt that Henry Ford, Karl Benz or Gottlieb Daimler would ever have envisioned the types of horseless carriage that now roll off the average production line but in our 21st century world it is another opportunity for clever technology. If a human can do it, then a human can program a computer to do it. So we have automatic windscreen wipers, automatic lights, parking sensors, automatic braking systems, cruise control, GPS locators, Bluetooth, ESP, ABS, tyre pressure sensors, self parking systems etc., the list goes on. Furthermore, after 125 years of the internal combustion engine, improved and refined many times but never replaced, we now have a viable, practicable and available alternative, the fully electric motor car.<br />
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Everything is good, yes? Well, maybe. Technology is great and I love having a car with gadgetry all over it - it makes my life easier, it's impressive and it's fun too! I use it - all the time - and I love it. I've started to depend on it. If the parking sensor bleeps at me, I know to take a look; otherwise pah, nothing's there! Cruise control on the dual carriageway - so easy. Hill Assist - great, no need for the handbrake. Windscreen wipers and headlights are always on automatic. Driving just gets easier and easier. But herein lies the danger, a very real danger - when technology takes over and I just let it. <br />
<br />
Some unsophisticated tribes around the world believe that if you take a photo of them you take away part of the individual. They become less. Can the same happen with technology? Does a dependence on it mean that we become less as individuals? Less willing perhaps? Less able? As we rely on technology to do things for us, is there a danger that we will prefer not to do it for ourselves? Maybe we will lose the physical ability to do it or even forget how to do it. If we don't use a particular muscle, it weakens. That's fine - if we don't and won't ever want or need to use that muscle again. But what if we do? What if we might have to in the future? What if the technology isn't available? What if it's broken, or obsolete? What if we simply don't want to use the technology but prefer to do it ourselves? Maybe we will be able to; maybe we won't.<br />
<br />
Furthermore, I believe that the relentless march of technology into modern driving is at least partially responsible for the decline in driving standards. Take the satnav for example. Why do people use them? To get to places they don't know. It seems reasonable to me - we used to read maps - but each to their own. So, why do people use it driving to and from work? To be informed of traffic conditions? Rather than actually reading the road? To be informed about prevailing speed limits? Rather than reading the road! Perhaps to avoid having to think for themselves! Reading the satnav is not the same as reading the road. It won't tell you that the traffic lights have just turned red ahead. Could this be why more drivers jump red lights these days? It won't tell you that someone's heading for the zebra crossing and you need to stop. Could this be why not all drivers give way at zebras? It won't tell you which lane to use on a roundabout. Could this be why drivers' lane discipline is so poor these days? It won't tell you about the correct speed to go round a bend. Could this be why seeing Corsas in hedgerows is commonplace? It won't tell you about the slippery road surface ahead. It won't tell you what effect the weather is having? It won't tell you about road conditions? It won't always tell you about temporary speed limits, road works, broken down vehicles and other hazards. It won't tell you about the kid that's just run into the road right in front of your car. Oh, hang on, that's what the automatic braking system is for, isn't it?<br />
<br />
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www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.ukAshley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6472812003030617820.post-16678200992329242742017-06-21T22:45:00.000+01:002017-06-21T22:45:39.626+01:00Safer Cars?Manufacturers are constantly evolving the motor car to give us, the consumer, a better, safer, more convenient and more comfortable drive. Many of the features incorporated today do just that. For example, built-in satnavs, electric seats, windscreen heaters and eco stop/start are all things which make for a more pleasant driving experience.<br />
<br />
However, as the designers constantly tweak aspects of the car there is a risk that they start to compromise the most important aspect of driving, that of road safety. I wonder whether they are now pushing the boundaries so far that it is actually having the opposite effect to that desired. To take a simple but significant example, daytime running lights. These are the line of LED lights usually around the headlight which operate whenever the car is running. LED's are bright, very bright and these can start to impact on the ability to see the indicator effectively depending on their closeness. In duller weather DRL's project a significant light and it is easy to forget, particularly in rain or other conditions of bad visibility that whilst the front of the car is easily seen, the rear of the car has no such DRL's and therefore cannot easily be seen.<br />
<br />
Almost from their inception, indicators have been positioned to the outside of the car body. Indeed on the old Morris Traveller (and others) there was a little 'arm' that sprang out when the indicator was put on. Nowadays the position of the indicator seems to be secondary to the overall design of the light clusters, meaning that if the indicator 'looks better' in the middle of the light cluster, that is where it will be rather than where it can be clearly seen.<br />
<br />
With the drive towards more slimline lights, we now have single line indicators which are even more difficult to see, particular when the DRL's are on. Lights also 'move' along slim lines, which seems to me like an unnecessary distraction - clever, yes. Safe? Maybe not. Manufacturers need to realise that their priority should be towards road safety and not design!<br />
<br />
In-car features which we think of as making our lives easier can also be counter-productive. Having relatively recently acquired a car with automatic windscreen wipers I have noticed that they do not necessarily wipe the windscreen at the same interval I would. There then ensues a battle between doing it myself and allowing the car to do it on my behalf. It seems rather petty to do the former when the manufacturer has provided the latter even if it does not provide me with the cleaning frequency that I require. So I compromise and look through a screen which is not clear wondering when the wipers will go again.<br />
<br />
Automatic headlights create a different problem. Going through a tunnel, brilliant - I don't have to think about it. When it gets dark, okay - probably puts them on a bit early for me. When it rains and visibility is poor, probably won't turn them on. Taking some of the decision making away from the driver but not being entirely clear when is, to my mind, ill-considered.<br />
<br />
The other problem with safety features is that not all cars have them. If a pupil learns in a car with lots of fancy features - and let's be honest, I quite like having a car with gizmos galore - then they will expect those features on their 1.0 10 year old Corsa! On such a car, hill assist (which my car has) is called a handbrake.<br />
<br />
Finally, manufacturers have made cars safer, the passenger cage, air bags of numerous varieties, active braking systems to name but a few. These amazing advancements are great but should not be considered as a justification for then introducing features which detract from safety. If the scales between those features which make driving safer and those that make it less safe are balanced then that needs to be redressed in favour of safety. In fact, if a feature makes a car less safe should it be on the car at all? <br /><br />Furthermore, the more technology that manufacturers introduce into cars the more lazy drivers will become. This is not a criticism but is simply a statement of human nature. To fight against human nature is not only illogical but unrealistic so we rely, to an extent, on car manufacturers to rein in their natural enthusiasm for amazing technological advancements and keep road safety at the forefront of their strategies.<br />
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www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.ukAshley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6472812003030617820.post-82632106913225976982017-06-12T21:12:00.000+01:002017-06-12T21:12:30.264+01:00Testing Times?From time to time pupils go to test and fail badly either with a plethora of driver faults exceeding 15 or maybe even multiple serious or dangerous faults. Sometimes the instructor involved is criticised because they allowed, maybe even encouraged, this to happen. These criticisms may come from the DVSA or, in the maelstrom of test centre gossip, other instructors. The latter express with some incredulity that any instructor could be so naive as to do something so stupid even though they may well have done the same thing themselves in the past; the former are considering publishing pass rates for instructors in an attempt to stop instructors from submitting, in their opinion, ill-prepared candidates.<br />
<br />
On the surface it seems ridiculous that an instructor would either knowingly submit a sub-standard learner for test or, perhaps worse, not be able to identify whether a specific pupil is actually ready for said test. However, these seem to be the accepted theories. So, I would like to offer an alternative, somewhat controversial theory.<br />
<br />
The demands on an instructor are many:- teaching a variety of learners to a consistent, safe level of driving skill, meeting the needs and specific wants of said learners e.g., passing the test at the earliest opportunity, fulfilling the requirements of the DVSA, conducting a lean driving school business, providing suitable candidates for test, maintaining their own knowledge levels and constantly evaluating and improving their own abilities.<br />
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It takes a considerable time to train examiners and they go through a whole host of training elements to bring them up to their required standard. In addition to a higher level driving test, they have to do a situational judgement test and a behavioural assessment just to be accepted as a potential examiner. They then have weeks of training and a probationary period. They are evaluated throughout their training and beyond on an ongoing basis. Whilst there are similarities between our training and theirs, they are essentially being trained as assessors, whereas we have been trained as instructors. These are two fundamentally different roles. In the same way as I would not expect the examiner to be able to instruct to the same level I can, I suspect they would not expect us to be able to examine to the same level they can.<br />
<br />
Examiners see a candidate for about 40 minutes. There is no history, no shared journey, no understanding of their personality, motivations, attitudes, views or difficulties encountered. Whilst their training and ability may give them some insight they cannot understand the pupil as well as we do. In addition, we have an ongoing, possibly long-term, working relationship with the pupil and no matter how much we try to remain objective towards the pupil that may not be as easily done as said.<br />
<br />
Most people feel comfortable with what they know and our pupils know us. Therefore they feel comfortable with us and may well feel uncomfortable with an examiner. Some pupils wrongly develop an 'instructor dependency' because they know that ultimately we will always step in. They don't have such a dependency with the examiner and they know it! This adds to their nerves - it may be the first time driving without the safety net of an instructor. Unfortunately if such a dependency exists it can be incredibly difficult to wean them off it. Furthermore, some pupils react badly to the word 'test'. They can drive - they know they can, we know they can - but call it a test and suddenly they can't. Nerves can make the normal abnormal. <br />
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The examiners have a sole purpose, evaluating the driving presented to them and issuing a pass or fail accordingly. It is a rubber stamp exercise and as such it is relatively easy - it will either be one or the other. We have a whole host of responsibilities that go way beyond getting them to and through their test. We should be ensuring that putting them on the roads is commensurate with maintaining safe driving and is not going to lower the existing standard of driving. We therefore have to drive them to a much higher standard (pun not intended but gratefully accepted!)<br />
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We also have to manage a diary. We have new pupils waiting and are externally driven by them and therefore by the availability of tests which we have to book some time in advance of when we are going to require them. How are we to judge when a pupil will be ready? Is it even possible? Yes, we may be able to identify the amount of time required to cover the syllabus but this does not take into account specific difficulties encountered or something as simple as missed lessons. Unless we train the pupil to the level we require and then book the test, which may be 12 weeks away, we are always guessing to a degree. <br />
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All of this means that although we can evaluate our pupils' driving within the instructor sphere that we inhabit we cannot possibly evaluate their driving entirely objectively within an examiner's sphere. We are influenced by so many things as identified above and it takes a remarkable detachment to be able to assume the sole role of an examiner. Yes, we can take our best guess about when a pupil will pass their test but ultimately that is all it can be - a guess. Mistiming the submission of a pupil for test may just be a poor 'guess' and whilst we might not like that we sometimes get it wrong, it may be as simple as that. It probably isn't a conscious mistake and, in my opinion, does not justify criticism at all whether by our peers or our overseers.<br />
<br />
Emma Ashley - Ashley School of Motoring<br />
(www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk)Ashley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6472812003030617820.post-43662107581168763862017-03-24T10:53:00.001+00:002017-03-24T10:53:17.044+00:0090% - Good enough?I've been ill this week. That's not an excuse, more an observation. I've had a heavy head cold which makes it feel as though my head is full of dense fog in which moments of occasional clarity occur, usually preceded by an explosion of air and noise, otherwise called a sneeze! Putting the general inconvenience of this to one side along with the risk of passing it on to all my pupils, the bigger issue is what effect is this illness having on my ability to do my job.<br />
<br />
I can still drive so that's alright then... After all being an instructor is basically doing what I normally do except in a different seat. So there shouldn't be a problem then, should there? I'm not so sure.<br />
<br />
When you go on your summer holidays and fly off to some far flung sunny destination you probably trust the pilot of your plane. After all he's highly qualified and wouldn't knowingly risk your life. Working at 100% he will be looking after all his passengers and will be more than capable of handling any emergency that crops up. What if he is not feeling great, perhaps only 90% or maybe even less? Is he still as capable? Perhaps he will still be able to handle most situations as long as they are not too difficult. What if he's only 80%? At what point does his fitness start to become an issue for you? I am not sure I would be happy for anything as complex as a plane to be flown by someone who is not at 100%. <br />
<br />
But driving's different isn't it? After all it is only one person I have to look after so if I'm not at peak efficiency it doesn't matter, does it? Actually, as an instructor I have responsibility for my pupil, other road users and myself. I cannot afford to not be concentrating or to be distracted by illness or anything else. I cannot afford to be less than 100% because if I am I may not be doing my job properly. So, what percentage is okay? 95? 90? 80? I'm not sure that anything below 100% is acceptable.<br />
<br />
I'm not at 100% at the moment. Late on Wednesday I did a lesson which on reflection I should not have done. I was poor at my job. I misjudged a lot and although we didn't have any major problem we had a number of potentially dangerous situations. Ultimately the fact that they weren't dangerous wasn't so much to do with me as the fact that the situations did not fulfil that potential.<br />
<br />
So, I've cancelled lessons over the last couple of days. It costs me, lets my pupils down and that makes me feel even worse. However, I believe that I have done the right thing. I have a responsibility to give my pupils the absolute best instruction they can get and I can't do that if I am not at my absolute best.<br />
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What percentage is good enough for you?<br />
<br />
<br />
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www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.ukAshley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6472812003030617820.post-66593753330387422302016-11-03T21:30:00.000+00:002016-11-03T21:30:36.566+00:00Stop Blaming Young Drivers<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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The big driving story in the news
today was the fact that 10000 motorists had been caught twice indulging in
distracted driving, presumably the majority using their phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later I caught an item on the radio where
they were interviewing a spokesman for BRAKE, the road safety charity and he immediately
trotted out the fact about young drivers being responsible for x% of accidents while making up only y% of drivers. (I have deliberately left the numbers out!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Spokesman, you do yourself, the charity
and road safety no favours whatsoever.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
This particular problem has
NOTHING explicitly to do with young drivers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I see lots of people using their phones while driving and the most
numerous offenders are van drivers in their thirties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I have seen everyone from young
drivers right through to old people on their phones. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the exception of van drivers, an awful
lot of the offenders are women. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
When it comes to the statistics
that are quoted with such glee by those who wish to blame young drivers for all
the ills on the roads it should be noted that meaningful statistics i.e., those
which break down accidents by age group, severity and gender are only available
since around 2005.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can we possibly
compare statistics from then with statistics now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot has changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cars are safer, roads are safer,
qualifications for driving have changed, training has changed, volumes of
traffic etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A 17 year old in 2005 is
vastly different from a 17 year old in 2016.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Someone who has their 17<sup>th</sup> birthday today was born LAST
century.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
When I passed, in 1977, the
roads were nothing like they are today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
impression given is that somehow young drivers today are more reckless and
dangerous today than they were 10, 15 or 30 years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only comparison which is actually fair is
to have a look at the statistics from 17 years ago and compare them to statistics for 34
year old drivers who are driving now – because they are the same drivers – the drivers
who may well be those whose mobiles are stuck to their ears!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Furthermore, it is so unfair to
compare a 17 year old driver now when they have to deal with higher volumes of
vehicles, some of which are driven by people trained outside the UK to goodness
knows what standard, vastly more complicated road junctions, busier
roundabouts, increased legislation and signage, a general populace which treats
the roads as a personal walkway and personal examples of driving which beggar belief at
times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Societal traits such as instant
gratification, impatience, intolerance for anyone or anything that gets in the
way and a general superiority are all traits that seem to be infecting drivers
of all ages.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Being an idiot behind the wheel
is not something which is restricted to those under the age of 20.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As instructors we teach a few idiots and a
lot, an awful lot, of responsible, considerate, thoughtful, safe drivers in
whose cars I would happily be a passenger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Idiocy can strike at any age and some of the cars I see being driven in
a crazy manner are well outside the price range of the average 17 year old.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
How on earth can we work out
whether we are turning out good drivers now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The statistics certainly aren’t going to tell us – at least not for
another 17 years – and then only if we look at the same drivers!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I look at the level of general education
now compared to when I was at school, I feel as though I am looking down... as
though I was educated better than young people are today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the same is true of driving instruction
(and there is no reason to suspect it isn’t) then I will always be a better
driver than those who are taught now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This may sound conceited but I sincerely wish it wasn’t the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My fervent hope is that all my pupils attain
a better standard of driving than I have. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Please do not misunderstand
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not condoning using a mobile
when driving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is unquestionably
dangerous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my opinion, anyone caught
doing so should have their licence taken away for a month; second offence, 2 months and so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyone who causes an accident while on their
phone should be banned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Anyone who causes a death should be banned for life. </span>This is
not an issue which should be lessened by mitigation; there is absolutely no excuse whatsoever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is fundamentally dangerous and as drivers
we shouldn’t do it ever – and that includes when sitting at traffic lights too!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I’m also not saying that young
drivers don’t have a significantly higher risk than other categories. They do,
a fact that can be shown by statistics and is supported by the medical
profession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just don’t think that they
should be blamed for anything and everything and used as an excuse for all the ills on the
road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I’m also not saying that we’re
all bad drivers because that isn’t true either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, if we do something wrong in sight of a young driver, can we
really expect them not to copy us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
will and they will use our example to justify it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> This is one situation where "do as I say, not as I do" doesn't carry any weight. </span>The responsibility for safety on
the roads lies with us all and we don’t need statistics to prove it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br /><br />
Emma Ashley<br />
www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.ukAshley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6472812003030617820.post-75433809551931779052015-12-18T19:40:00.002+00:002015-12-18T19:40:45.974+00:00Christmas CelebrationsDrinking can be fun. Driving can be fun. But together? Not fun! <br />
<br />
So we are heading for the party season and we all want to make merry and enjoy ourselves and I'm the last person who would want to curtail someone having a good time. However, when we are driving we have an inescapable responsibility to look after ourselves, our passengers and all other road users regardless of what they are doing. <br />
<br />
I could come up with lots of statistics about the dangers of drinking and driving, the general risk for young or inexperienced drivers, the effects of alcohol on the various parts of the brain and the changes in attitudes after drinking. I could also list the various drinks and the number of units and how long it takes for it to dissipate in your system. I could try to dissuade you by telling you what might happen if the police pull you over, breathalysed, arrested, locked up, disqualified. I could put up videos for you to watch to try to get across the dangers of drink driving, some so gruesome that they will make you feel sick, others so heart-rending that they will make you cry and some so bland you wouldn't even notice. But I'm not going to do any of those things.<br />
<br />
Instead I'm just going to plead with you to make this commitment. "<b>I will not drink at all if I am driving or if I am going to be driving in the next 12 hours. If I am going to be driving then I will not have a drink for 12 hours before even if that means not drinking the previous evening.</b>" This is the only way to be sure. Even one drink will affect your ability to drive the car at the standard you normally do so it is simply not worth it. <br />
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Many of my pupils have said to me that they don't drink and that is fine but sometimes at Christmas things change and people might have one or two. If you do, remember the commitment you made above and don't drive. Finally, if you are offered a lift by a friend or acquaintance and they have been drinking, don't accept, encourage them not to drive and get a taxi... it's simply not worth it.<br />
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Wherever you are, take care on the roads during this festive season.<br />
<br />
I wish you all the very best of Merry Christmases and a Happy, Fruitful and Prosperous New Year. <br />
<br />
Emma Ashley <br />
<br />
www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.ukAshley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6472812003030617820.post-25887239908905546712015-06-08T20:50:00.000+01:002015-06-08T20:50:34.687+01:00How big is a gap?When teaching dual carriageways, one of the questions I ask pupils concerns the distance between our car and the vehicle in front. The question is simple "What distance should you be from the vehicle ahead?" Some respond very quickly, some after a little more thought. Regardless of the time taken, most get it wrong! Some people suggest 2 car lengths, some 10 car lengths, some suggest 2 chevrons (difficult if they're aren't any), some even try 'about this far' as an answer. No-one ever tries to recall the stopping distance according to the Highway Code - just as well because that is wrong too. Occasionally one will get the answer right. Before I give that answer, what do you think it should be? <br />
<br />
Enough time to think. Strangely the answer doesn't relate to car lengths, stopping distances or any measure of distance at all. It is actually measured in time. The correct distance, assuming dry, good quality roads, is 2 seconds. By simply counting after the vehicle ahead goes past a fixed point e.g., a sign until you go past the same sign.<br />
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Just to give some idea of how far it is, here is a picture of a 2 second gap at 50 miles per hour. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijjkTCyI17R_-oDZWzBSyaopFjFEgp2OPZCSmqven3JsDHgNdjg6qbcS65YDkhibmjTGqUAFkErrR2EkKSgF4ESJrFurdRUzTbwL7RXyVgS0K1atocU4stTk_-QQ37oHfl38XmW1YUtjA/s1600/250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijjkTCyI17R_-oDZWzBSyaopFjFEgp2OPZCSmqven3JsDHgNdjg6qbcS65YDkhibmjTGqUAFkErrR2EkKSgF4ESJrFurdRUzTbwL7RXyVgS0K1atocU4stTk_-QQ37oHfl38XmW1YUtjA/s320/250.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
That looks pretty reasonable doesn't it? If he stops suddenly, I will be able to stop in time. Comfortable!<br />
<br />
This, on the other hand, is a picture of a 2 car length gap...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEXma8g6yXh4Gy1vfFLDeDLaQNtQ6su-0TaRNdGIvu-D-XqbNOVVNtvKlz3OkGSllb2X7_JcliwkLd3hQcAX4815Tcun5i2BhVPz-8VlHmyyBTIDfn1wy76C_Ow3PSa_uT9Wq6HNQH3o/s1600/266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEXma8g6yXh4Gy1vfFLDeDLaQNtQ6su-0TaRNdGIvu-D-XqbNOVVNtvKlz3OkGSllb2X7_JcliwkLd3hQcAX4815Tcun5i2BhVPz-8VlHmyyBTIDfn1wy76C_Ow3PSa_uT9Wq6HNQH3o/s320/266.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
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<br />
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<br />
If he brakes, I've had it! The two car lengths is probably just about enough time for me to realise that he's braking and I'm going to hit him. <br />
<br />
Every day, I see many, many people leaving this gap, 2 car lengths, between them and the vehicle in front. It is at epidemic proportions on the A2 and even scares and accidents don't seem to make people wary enough to back off. <br />
<br />
So, perhaps it is time to look at your following distance, maybe with fresh eyes and understanding, so that you maintain a decent, safe distance from the car ahead.<br />
<br />
<b>Note: </b>These photos were taken in a controlled environment by a front seat passenger following extensive planning and agreement on the process between the drivers of both cars. No laws were broken and safety was never compromised. We know that with the deterioration of the weather on this occasion the 2 second distance was not sufficient and in fact we should have been further back.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.ukAshley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6472812003030617820.post-71844609752756819602015-02-08T21:48:00.000+00:002015-02-08T21:48:09.154+00:00Clunk click, every trip!Back in 2013 Dean Gaffney, of Eastenders fame, was involved in a car crash which resulted in him having a lengthy scar on his forehead. In the rounds of interviews afterwards he admitted that he hadn't been wearing a seatbelt and that he was very lucky just to come away with a scar and nothing worse. He said that he had been 'naughty' in not wearing his seatbelt. <br />
<br />
One of the problems with the emphasis on wearing seatbelts is that the predominant view is that it is a legal requirement and that's why we should do it. What many people don't remember is why the law is there and why it is important to belt up. Not wearing a seatbelt isn't just breaking the law, it is risking your life.<br />
<br />
Back in the 1970's there was an extensive advertising campaign to encourage drivers and passengers to wear their seatbelts. The campaign was fronted by Jimmy Savile and the slogan 'Clunk click, every trip' became known in households up and down the land. Whilst the presenter may now be discredited, the message isn't and is as relevant today as it was then. Cars are much safer these days than they were back in the 1970's but the physics is the same and if you go from 40mph to 0mph in a nano-second it is going to hurt you. The air bag may prevent some of the injuries but injuries mean nothing if you are dead.<br />
<br />
As an ex-police officer I have seen a few of the effects of accidents where car occupants have not been wearing their seatbelts. How anyone deals with that on an ongoing basis is beyond me. How anyone can sit in a car without belting up is also beyond me. I'm not good looking, by any stretch of the imagination, but I have two eyes, a nose that is straight and no scars on my face. Why would I want to risk that? Why would you?<br />
<br />
As Eeyore once said "They're funny things, Accidents. You never have them till you're having them." When you get in the car and don't belt up, how do you know you are not going to have an accident? It may only be a trip just round the corner but you still don't know and when the accident is happening it is too late. Then you are at the mercy of momentum, physics and fate.<br />
<br />
It takes a few seconds. It could save your life. Don't risk it. <b>Clunk click, every trip!</b><br />
<br />
www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.ukAshley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6472812003030617820.post-67772311339114495032015-01-20T13:15:00.001+00:002015-01-20T13:15:57.424+00:00Anarchy on the Roads<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Last August I went out on a
Friday night to conduct a lesson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
the last time I will ever do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
seemed to me that every other car was driven by a boy racer and the standard of
driving by those that weren’t young men with an overload of testosterone were
just as bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The final straw came when I
had to dual control my pupil on Bowaters roundabout due to a laughing maniac in
a Lexus who decided cutting us up was funny!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In a separate incident a couple of months later I was driving through
Welling in the early hours of the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Waiting at a set of traffic lights turning right into Welling High Street,
I started to move forward when the lights changed to green.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3 cars approaching from the left decided that
their high speed race was more important than stopping at a red light – at
least the first 2 did, screaming through at speeds in excess of 50mph.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 3<sup>rd</sup> car did stop only to jump
the red light once we had completed our turn, overtaking us and tearing after
his mates.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Now the biggest issue with both
of these incidents isn’t the recklessness of the driving, although that is of
concern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is that this kind of
behaviour is becoming more common because there is no attempt at policing it
whatsoever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every day I see multiple
occurrences of wanton law-breaking on the roads, everything from using mobile
phones to jumping red lights, from illegal parking to dangerous driving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within government there seems to be a belief
that simply introducing a law is sufficient to stop people doing things which
may be dangerous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rules without
enforcement or without realistic threat of enforcement are rules which are not
going to be adhered to, certainly not by those who can’t even spell ‘law’ let
alone abide by it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When was the last
time you saw the police stop someone?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They know law-breaking goes on but they do not have either the resources
or the inclination to do anything about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately, if we, as citizens, take evidence of careless or
dangerous driving to them, they still won’t do anything.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The vast majority of drivers on
the roads are reasonable most of the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We also know that anyone can make a mistake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Answering the mobile phone when driving is
not a mistake; it is a downright blatant breaking of the law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is highly dangerous and if you haven’t had
an accident while doing it then that is more by luck than skill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why is it that the best drivers don’t talk on
the mobile while they are driving?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because they know it is dangerous, in any situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Speeding can be a mistake and the speed
awareness courses are a good remedy for people who make that mistake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, some speeding is not a mistake being
instead a blatant breaking of the law – we can all tell the difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slowing down for a speed camera and then
speeding up again is deliberate, not a mistake.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Why should I, as a law-abiding
driver, bother to adhere to the rules?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
likelihood of being caught is small and the punishment irrelevant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a young driver was to not get insured on
his car and get caught, he would get a £300 fine and 6 points.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he got insurance in the first place it
could cost £2000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it is cheaper to
drive without insurance!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay, he may
get 6 points but is he really going to care?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So why do I bother?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For two
reasons: First it is my livelihood at stake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Secondly, I have a sense of civic responsibility which means that I am
going to abide by the law if I can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately this attitude is in shorter supply today than in the
past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps it is an age thing?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Now some will say that I am
excessively concerned about what examples of law-breaking are important and
which are not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My concern is that
breaking the law ‘by a little bit’ is simply a precursor to breaking the law
‘by a lot’ and it is still breaking the law!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When does failing to stop at an amber light turn into jumping a red
light?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Half a second later?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At what speed in excess of the limit does it
become a problem?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If someone does 35mph
in a 30 limit, is that really any different to doing 38 or 40?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, the consequences may be more serious but
does that make the law-breaking any less serious?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The consequences of law-breaking may be an
issue of degree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The punishment may be
an issue of degree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Law-breaking itself
is absolute - you are either breaking the law or you are not!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you, even as a predominantly law-abiding
citizen, do it, then stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are
not part of the solution, you are part of the problem so stick to your
principles and drive the way you should, completely within the law, to the best
of your ability.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
So, with the police having almost
completely abdicated responsibility for enforcing road law, how are we going to
stop this relentless push into driving without limits?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my opinion, every road user has a
responsibility in this area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Society as
a whole needs to take a stand against wanton law-breaking on the roads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do most people wear seatbelts when driving?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because the campaign back in the 1970’s got
into society’s consciousness and as a result society demanded that seatbelts
became the norm.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Take the very prevalent example
of mobile phone use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you currently do
it, stop!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you wait until you are in
traffic or at traffic lights, then stop because that is still illegal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you get in the car, put your phone on
silent and out of reach so that you are not tempted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you need to use it, pull up somewhere safe
and legal and then use it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are a
passenger and the driver decides to use their phone, get them to pull over so
you can get out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t get back in until
they put their phone out of reach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you ring someone and you know they are driving, when they answer ask if they
are hands-free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If not, then ring off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take every opportunity to tell people what
you think of those who use their mobile when driving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lead by example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we make this activity distasteful enough
and those that do it idiots of a special class then maybe, just maybe, they
will think twice the next time.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.ukAshley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6472812003030617820.post-10948837995098656592015-01-03T20:40:00.001+00:002015-01-03T20:40:47.464+00:00Learner Drivers - Friend or Foe<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<h1>
Learner Drivers – Friend or Foe?</h1>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Have you noticed that there seem
to be lots of learners on the roads these days?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Is your reaction one of “Oh no, not another learner!” followed by a
determined effort to get past, or do you allow them time and space to make
mistakes?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all lead busy lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We often need to get from A to B as quickly
as possible and a learner getting in the way can be our worst nightmare... They
drive unbelievably slowly, don’t seem to know what a green light means and then
they go and stall!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grrrrrr!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Have you ever taken a moment to
consider it from the learner’s or the instructor’s perspective?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were all learners once and we all make
mistakes when driving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all needed
somewhere to start, a quiet road maybe with very little traffic – somewhat
difficult these days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or perhaps a car
park late in the evening when no-one is there – possible but probably private
land and therefore illegal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What happens
when the learner has the ability to start and stop the car, change gear and
handle simple junctions?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facing traffic
for the first time can be hugely daunting even for the most competent learners
and for some the first instinct will be to panic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we have to tackle roundabouts at which
point some learners wonder if they will ever be able to drive.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Most driving schools use dual
control cars so that we can intervene if necessary and most instructors will
use them at some point during lessons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, if the learner decides to swerve to the left into parked cars
because they never realised buses were so big when they are coming towards you,
we have to have lightning reactions to make sure that everybody’s cars remain
intact. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The situation that is the most
frightening, however, is when the learner decides that stopping as quickly as
possible is the safest course of action and hits the brakes very, very hard!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have no control in that situation and with
modern cars, they stop almost instantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s why we put signs on the car not only saying that there is a
learner driving but also that sudden braking is highly likely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our learners can stop very quickly, with
virtually no warning and when you don’t expect it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consequently it is a great surprise to us that
following vehicles sit so close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apart
from the pressure you are putting on a learner driver, who may be in traffic
for the first time, you are potentially putting yourself in danger because the
learner may not react as you expect them to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even stationary in traffic there is a chance that the learner may roll
back when attempting to pull away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why
would you want to be so close that they may roll into you?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Another issue we understand is
the irritation when instructors persist in doing manoeuvres right outside your
house!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once or maybe twice a day is
fine, but when the twentieth learner car is there, you’re probably thinking of
ringing the estate agent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately
there are certain areas which lend themselves to specific manoeuvres.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You cannot do a turn in the road (3-point
turn for anyone over the age of 35) in a narrow road with cars parked both
sides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You cannot do a reverse around
the corner on busy roads or where there are vehicles parked (illegally) within
10 metres of a junction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are limited
in our choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most good instructors
will try to avoid overusing specific areas but sometimes it is necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We try to keep disruption to a minimum so we
would crave your indulgence and ask you to be tolerant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you do come across a learner in the middle
of a manoeuvre, keeping your distance and waiting patiently has such a positive
effect on both learner and instructor and it really does make a difference.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Surprisingly perhaps, there is
another side to this learner issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
instructors we really appreciate drivers who give us a little more time and
space but please don’t go too far in being helpful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Giving way to a learner when the learner has
no right of way can be really helpful, particularly at a busy junction, but not
always.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you wouldn’t give way to a
non-learner, please don’t give way to the learner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We understand and appreciate your desire to
help but the learner needs to understand the rules of the road as well as how
to control the car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Granting
inappropriate right of way can be very misleading and does the learner no
favours in the long run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you do give
way, please be patient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is amazing
how often the pupil will then stall because they are so keen to respond to your
kindness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just because we don’t respond
immediately, it doesn’t mean we don’t want to! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Finally, as instructors we want
our learners to become responsible, aware, courteous and above all safe
drivers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do our best to teach them
well and instil in them good habits and the right way to drive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They learn from us but they also learn from each
and every one of you when they see you driving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately learners cannot necessarily distinguish the good from the
bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as it is our responsibility to
teach them well, it is every driver’s responsibility to demonstrate good
driving at all times so that learners understand the correct, safe way to
conduct themselves on the roads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All we
ask is that you drive considerately, patiently and safely so that our learners
have the best chance of becoming the best driver they can be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you.</div>
<br />
www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.ukAshley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6472812003030617820.post-51803161167645398852013-04-15T09:07:00.000+01:002013-04-15T09:07:02.970+01:00EyesightYou know your eyesight is deteriorating when this happens!<br />
<br />
I was with a pupil travelling along the North Cray bypass in Sidcup - it was a lovely sunny day so I had my sunglasses on rather than using the sunvisor. I spotted a couple walking towards us on the left hand side of the road and it looked like the guy was wearing four rather large pink sausages round his neck! I obviously had to look again because a) I have never seen sausages that big and b) I couldn't see why he would be carrying them round his neck.<br />
<br />
As we got closer it still looked, even more, like sausages - but there was something distinctly odd about it.<br />
<br />
As it became clearer I noticed that, in fact, it was a baby in a baby carrier facing forward. The carrier was exactly the same colour as the guy's T shirt and the baby was wearing some kind of pink outfit. So the arms and legs were very obvious, looking like giant sausages, but the torso was completely hidden by the baby carrier.<br />
<br />
Now I know sometimes babies can be cuddly enough to eat, but they are not supposed to look like sausages! That's simply unfair........or maybe I'm just obsessed with food!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk/">www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk</a>Ashley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6472812003030617820.post-47542341956165345842013-04-08T16:40:00.002+01:002013-04-08T16:40:50.352+01:00People WatchingAs I drive around the local towns, I occasionally get the opportunity to watch pedestrians as they go about their business and have noticed a few 'types'.<br />
<br />
<b>The Unpredictable</b> <br />
When I'm walking along the pavement towards someone who's had a few too many down the local, I end up playing 'dodge the drunk' - you know, trying to pass them without doing some kind of drunken two-step as they try to find the path around you before it moves again! For the motorist, these people are a nightmare for, whilst it may be relatively easy to follow a 3 foot wide path without falling off the 3 inch precipice into the gutter, crossing a road is a different prospect altogether. To the drunken mind, this expanse of same coloured tarmac all on one level is a playground to which the observer has absolute, exclusive access. In the woolly haze that, on a sober day, would pass as a mind, they simply cannot process these large, coloured, metal objects travelling quite quickly. To some they look like multi-coloured elephants - to which the response is either that 'This is the town, elephants don't live in the town' or 'Elephants are friendly, aren't they?' Whilst this may cause a momentary pause before stepping into the 'playground', any such pause will be insignificant and it is a certainty that the drunk will continue his merry way right into the path of the next 'elephant;.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The Leaner</b><br />
The leaner is a specific case who needs to cross the road. Unlike the drunk, they recognise your motor vehicle for what it is - a large hunk of metal rapidly closing the gap between you and them. However, their desire to complete the transition from one side of the road to the other causes them to keep going. Whilst their brain, full of this insatiable desire, is already half way across the road, their feet recognise the need for caution and slow down. This causes the 'lean' where the head is in the road and the feet are on the pavement. If the judgement of the pedestrian is good, then car, head and feet work in perfect symmetry to ensure safe passage for all concerned. If, however, the car driver takes a responsible attitude and slows down slightly, the pedestrians' feet will slow but his head won't, causing even more of a lean. The driver slows down more...and then it becomes a game of how far the pedestrian can lean without either falling over or breaking into a run and getting across in front of the car.<br />
<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>The Bubble</b><br />
The bubble is a particularly dangerous case. Predominantly female, always with young in tow, they believe, erroneously as it happens, that they are impervious to danger or injury and can stand in the road whilst putting or removing their children from the back seat of whichever car they happen to be driving. This is entirely due to the personal protection bubble that they have. Emanating from their centre of gravity i.e., rear end, it is large enough to encompass them, their child and the car door and will protect them absolutely if a passing car happens to get too close. They also assume that the more expensive the car, the more impervious the bubble...and of course it is well known that the term 4x4 refers to the size of the bubble and has absolutely nothing to do with the car itself. An unfailing belief in the power of their bubble makes them likely to step back into the road at any time without looking in the ridiculous belief that the bubble will proceed them.<br />
<br />
<b>The Snake</b><br />
Beware the snake. The composition of the snake is specific, at least 5 youngsters, each at a different level of awareness. They want to cross the road. One sees an opportunity and moves to do so. Another follows and another and another...until the tail of the snake whips across the road in an uncontrolled frenzy. Whilst the first one has plenty of time to cross the road safely, the tail of the snake, made up of the slowest, least aware member of the party then gets dragged seemingly by some invisible force across the road, usually in front of whatever vehicle was approaching. The snake is also unique in that it may well be accompanied by a squeal of excitement, perhaps terror, by a female member of the party as she comes to the realisation that the head of the snake may be safe but being in the tail has put her in the unenviable position of being run over!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The Wide Load</b><br />
Very much the slow moving vehicle of the pedestrian world, these are those people usually carrying at least two shopping bags, one in each hand, treading a fine line just to the left of the kerb stone. Always walking away from the traffic they happily overhang the kerb so that the right most shopping bag is actually over the road and not over the pavement. This is fine...assuming that having a prawn, tikka masala and strawberry trifle cocktail splattered all over your left wing is what you actually want. If the wide load is very wide, then the contents of the shopping bag may be the least of your worries! <b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>The Pusher</b> <br />
<br />
The most dangerous of all the pedestrian hordes. To be a pusher you need something to push, usually a pushchair but occasionally some other kind of child conveyance and it must be occupied by a child. Rather than stopping short of the kerb and making sure that the whole of the child conveyance is safely and securely on the pavement, pushers insist on hanging one or more wheels over the kerb in the road to facilitate a quick dash across the road when the opportunity presents itself. Pushers largely falls into two categories, the unaware and the reckless. The former are completely unaware that the pushchair in front of them takes up room and if they stand in the same place as normal the pushchair must be in the road; the latter are aware that what they are doing is dangerous but proceed in doing it anyway.<br />
<br />
<br />
I'm sure there are more than just these but beware - pedestrians are unpredictable and that makes them dangerous!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk/">www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk</a>Ashley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6472812003030617820.post-69683803905094788052013-04-08T15:48:00.001+01:002013-04-08T15:48:37.676+01:00If I had to take my test again...First let me admit that the subject of this post was not really my idea - it came from a chance comment made by someone else - but it got me thinking. Hopefully it will do the same for you. As an instructor I quite often hear experienced drivers say "If I had to take my test again, I wouldn't pass!" This raises a very simple question: Why? The answer may not be as simple as the question...but let's try.<br />
<br />
Why do we have to pass a test? We generally accept that actually it is a necessary evaluation of our fitness to be on the roads behind the wheel of a one tonne killing machine. Whether we pass first time or fifth time, we are getting a permanent permission to drive from that point onwards. Most of us never give a moment's further thought to our continuing suitability to drive. "The government has said that I am fit to drive so therefore I must be."<br />
<br />
When examiners are conducting a practical test they are, in reality, trying to ask two questions:<br />
<ul>
<li>Did I feel safe?</li>
<li>Did I feel comfortable?</li>
</ul>
If the answer to both questions is "Yes" then the candidate will have passed. If not, at any time, during the test, then the candidate will most likely have failed.<br />
<br />
So, if our driving is of such a standard that we won't pass the test, then surely that implies that our driving is either not safe or not comfortable, doesn't it? Alternatively, it could be that the standard set by the Driving Standards Agency is unreasonably high.<br />
<br />
To deal with the latter first. The standard required by the DSA encompasses a theory element as well as a practical element. The theory test requires a reasonable understanding of the law in respect of driving as well as road signs and procedures. The practical test examines the application of that understanding in a dynamic environment. So is the standard for the practical test too high? Is it expected that the level of a driver's skill will suffer a fall immediately after passing the test? The pass criteria for the practical test is a maximum of 15 driver faults with no serious or dangerous faults. It is not unreasonable that the number of driver faults might increase post-test as the driver becomes more comfortable when driving. However, surely we do not wish for any serious or dangerous faults as these involve potential or actual danger to ourselves or other road users. We don't want a post-test driver to commit ANY serious or dangerous faults, do we? If that is the case, then surely that means that we are satisfied that the standard required in the test is correct.<br />
<br />
In respect of the former, when we take our driving test, we have to show a general competency in control of the car (comfort) and sufficient practical understanding of the application of that control when amongst other road users (safety). How likely is it that our car control has deteriorated? Unless we are suffering from some kind of physical ailment which has had a negative impact on our motor skills, it is actually more likely that our ability to control the car has improved. Therefore it is unlikely that our car control skills would be a reason for failing our test if we were to take it now. <br />
<br />
If we are satisfied that the 'comfort' aspect of our driving is likely to have improved since we passed our test, this implies, by a process of elimination, that our ability to be safe on the roads is now in doubt, doesn't it? Very often when candidates fail their test with a serious or dangerous fault, they are actually unaware that they have committed any faults at all, let alone a bad one! It comes as a big surprise when the examiner tells them that they have failed for something they weren't even aware of doing. How often does the candidate say "What car?" in response to the question "Did you see the red car approaching from the left?" It is so easy to assume that because we haven't spotted a fault, that we haven't committed one. <br />
<br />
The problem with the safety aspects of driving is that sometimes we are not aware of the dangers around us. Being oblivious doesn't make us safe; it just makes us lucky...sometimes. It isn't the dangers that we see, it's the dangers that we don't. We drive on regardless.<br />
<br />
As drivers it is our responsibility to ensure that our driving is as safe as it can be. It is so easy to become blase and assume that just because we have x number of years with a licence that we are as safe as we were when the examiner told us we had passed. We all believe that we are safe, good drivers. If we really believe that we wouldn't pass our test these days, then maybe we aren't as good and safe as we think we are. <br />
<br />
If I had to take my test again, would I pass? Yes. Would you?<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk/">www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk</a>Ashley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6472812003030617820.post-40996957439420027572012-09-08T08:33:00.000+01:002012-09-08T08:33:01.882+01:00A week of contrastsIt has been an interesting week of contrasts for me, the highs and lows(?) of being a driving instructor. <br />
<br />
On Thursday I took a pupil, John, for test. He passed with zero minors which, depending on the statistics you believe, only 1 in 250 or 1 in 5000 people do. Either way, he was my 43rd pass so 1 in 43 for me is pretty good!<br />
<br />
Conversely on Wednesday I had to tell a pupil to postpone his test, because he simply wasn't going to be ready and I was concerned about his standard of driving. I hate delaying tests because I don't like to disappoint pupils and therefore find it difficult to do. However, in this case I made the right call and was happy with the way that I did it. The justification was plain and clear and ultimately I made the right decision.<br />
<br />
I've also had a chance this week to enjoy the sunshine, have taken on a couple of new people and have some other prospects in the pipeline. I've also ordered my new car, a brand new Citroen DS3 - arrives 1st October. <br />
<br />
Next week I may not be so satisfied but this week has been good! <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk/">www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk</a>Ashley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6472812003030617820.post-55570781300402719922012-06-18T17:27:00.000+01:002012-06-18T17:27:15.061+01:00InspirationThere is an assumption made that most of my pupils are 17 year olds who are learning to drive because their parents want them to or their friends already have. In fact, most of my pupils tend to be a little more mature and their reasons sometimes are different to what you might think. <br />
<br />
I have two pupils at the moment whose reasons are different, specific and brave. Both of them have been involved in horrendous, tragically fatal, road accidents; both were blameless; both were seriously injured and as a result still carry physical, mental and emotional scars. Their reasons for taking lessons are different but both have exhibited, and continue to exhibit, great courage in tackling such an emotionally charged learning process. They are nothing short of inspirational.<br />
<br />
V was a passenger in a car in Ghana back in 1997. The driver lost control as a result of a blowout on the motorway whilst exceeding the speed limit. The car was catapulted across the central reservation somersaulting a number of times. The driver was paralysed, V's friend died of her injuries and V herself had a long stay in hospital. The other passenger escaped with a broken leg. Until recently V has been unable to talk about the accident in anything other than the vaguest terms but now, due to a therapeutic visit to Ghana, has finally been able to come to terms with what happened. V doesn't have a UK licence and it has taken considerable motivation on her part to get her provisional and start to learn over here.<br />
<br />
J was riding pillion on a motorcycle involved in a head on crash with a lorry in 2011, an accident in which her partner died and she was trapped for a considerable time. It has been a hard road back to life for J and setting goals has helped her to focus and progress. One of the goals she has set herself is to get mobile again. Having had her full licence for a while, J needed the confidence to get back on the road.<br />
<br />
It is so easy to forget that these cars that we treat so casually at times are actually killing machines in the wrong hands. It is incumbent upon us all to ensure that we never drive flippantly or carelessly, instead applying the fullest concentration at all times and ensuring that we always maintain absolute control of the car. When we sit behind the wheel we are not only responsible for our own lives but those of all road users that we come across whilst driving. If our driving is below standard then it is our responsibility to do something about it. No-one likes the idea of someone else reviewing their driving (me included) but sometimes we need to swallow our pride and accept professional help so that we know, beyond any doubt, that our driving is as safe as it can be.<br />
<br />
Even though V hasn't yet passed her test and J hasn't yet felt confident enough to venture out on her own, both these women are brilliant drivers. It's not just about being able to control the car, it's about conveying safety and comfort to me as an instructor. I feel utterly safe and completely comfortable with both of them, to the extent that I would happily allow them to transport my loved ones without a second thought. I know that they understand better than most the danger associated with motor vehicles, their own limitations and the concentration and care that they need to exercise at all times. If all drivers had just a little of their attitude the roads would be a much safer place. <br />
<br />
For both of these women the trauma that they suffered, and continue to suffer, would have prevented many people from moving on in their lives. I applaud them for doing so. I applaud them for their determination to fight for what others take for granted. I applaud them for seeking professional help with their driving. I applaud them for taking a responsible attitude whilst on the roads and keeping themselves, me and other road users safe. I applaud them for persevering both in attitude and actions. I thank them for the laughs that we have had together. Above all, I thank them for their friendship and being so insprational. I wish I had your fortitude and strength and I look forward to continuing to help you achieve your goals.<br />
<br />
Thank you. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk/">www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk</a>Ashley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6472812003030617820.post-4082562239119447722012-04-08T11:30:00.001+01:002012-04-08T11:30:53.317+01:00Expensive Lessons?From time to time I hear complaints that driving lessons are too expensive and that instructors are 'ripping off' those who wish to learn to drive. "£20 per hour is exorbitant - they're making a fortune!". I've had potential pupils haggle with me, trying to get the price down and occasionally encounter the attitude that they are doing me a favour so I should be grateful. It's time for the instructor to bite back :-) or at least have her say on the matter.<br />
<br />
As with any small business I have running costs. Fuel is a variable which will change depending on the lesson content but on average I do about 20 miles per hour's lesson. The fuel consumption of the car is not at its most efficient, as the driver is a learner and there tends to be some over-revving, incorrect gear usage and sitting by the side of the road. I also have to travel between lessons which sometimes can be quite a distance. According to the statistics from last year, it worked out overall at £3.90 per hour. I lease my car, which costs me almost £350 per month but does include servicing and road tax plus insurance at £450 per year, comes to £4.88 per hour. Other expenses, including marketing, materials and phone comes to £2.58 per hour, in total £11.36 per hour's tuition. So assuming I get £20 per hour, I will actually make £8.64 per hour. Of course, in reality, I don't actually get £20 per hour when you consider discounts etc. - the actual amount per hour earned last year was £17.67 thus reducing my earned income to £6.61, not that much above the minimum wage!<br />
<br />
In addition, the business of being an instructor
starts long before a pupil ever sits down in the car and finishes long
after they get out. Yes, they may only be paying for an hour of my time
but the work that I do on their behalf goes well beyond that hour.<br />
<br />
I start work on a lesson by reading up
my notes from the previous lesson, possibly more than one, and looking
at the subject of the current lesson. The lesson may consist of
something new, consolidation of something recently learned, dealing with
specific problems, revisiting something learned some time ago,
practising roadcraft, preparing for a test or, frankly, anything in
between. This is not something that can be done on the fly - some
forethought needs to be applied and that is best done before setting out
to pick the pupil up. I plan the route, at least in part, considering
where I want to be to teach the subject matter of the lesson.<br />
<br />
Okay,
so planning the route is easy, isn't it? Well, no, not always. If the
most direct route to the target area means going across, say, a
horrendously tricky roundabout and the pupil hasn't yet tackled such
things, then an alternative route may have to be chosen. This is not
because I do not believe that the pupil would be able to handle the
roundabout, particularly with guidance, but because the roundabout may
cause the pupil's confidence to be shattered or fear to set in, neither
of which will help in the long run. So, an alternative route may be
necessary - the roundabout can wait for another day!<br />
<br />
Once
the lesson is over, I then have to update the records to show what has
been done. This extends to confirming that the most recent lesson has
fulfilled its purpose, making notes about any problems that have arisen,
detailing the areas driven and the subject to be covered in the next
lesson.<br />
<br />
So, having done these 'before' and 'after'
activities, all that I then have to do is the lesson itself - phew!
That's alright then. So my £6.61 per hour actually ends up covering probably 2 hours allowing for pre- and post-lesson activities, planning, travelling to and from locations so that's just £3.30 per hour.<br />
<br />
Why on earth do I do this job then? Well it's because I love it. I get
a huge amount of job satisfaction and the joy of helping people to
achieve success by passing their test is just brilliant.<br />
<br />
So, the next time someone suggests that driving instructors must be raking it in and are charging exorbitant prices, you can now put them right and tell them that we do it for the love of the job :-D<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk/">www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk</a>Ashley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6472812003030617820.post-23407340019398414822012-04-07T23:19:00.002+01:002012-04-07T23:19:30.401+01:00How to stop people speeding...I have a real problem with speeding! Speed can be a killer; of this there is absolutely no doubt. But as humans, we constantly engage in activities that have an element of danger. The problem with the speeding motorist is that they are not only endangering themselves but other road users as well.<br />
<br />
<br />
So the authorities attempt to reduce this risk by attempting to enforce speed limits through such mechansims as speed limits, cameras and 'speed reduction methods' (humps to you and me!). Any such techniques are only ever going to be partially successful. Everyone has seen drivers who slow down on the approach to a speed camera (sometimes lower than the limit) and then speed up against once they are past it. To a lesser degree people do the same between speed humps.<br />
<br />
Solving the problem of speeding is easy. Get rid of all the static speed cameras or stop painting them yellow and hide them from sight. Issue a decree at Government level as follows:- "Please note that as from today all speed limits are mandatory and absolute. If you are caught speeding, you will automatically receive a considerable fine and points on your licence. There will be no mitigation and no excuses. If you decide to flout the law and are caught, you will receive the punishment, regardless of circumstances." Then employ mobile speed camera vans and allow them to park anywhere to catch speeding motorists. Fines should vary depending on the type of vehicle, the excess speed and any previous convictions. Multiple repeat offenders and non-payers should have their cars confiscated and crushed.<br />
<br />
There would be uproar but I am utterly convinced that this would see a general lowering of speeds right across the country. If drivers simply didn't know where or when their speed was likely to be checked they would be more inclined to stick to the limits. A few high fines, signficant bans and cars crushed would soon convince the general public that enough is enough and speeding is no longer acceptable.<br />
<br />
Hark, what's that I hear? The 'Human Rights' brigade bleating loudly about their rights being ignored by the Government being surreptitious and harsh. Well, tough. The law is the law and it is about time the Government stopped pandering to the speeding minority and did what is indisputably right!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk/">www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk</a>Ashley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6472812003030617820.post-8162633860790370822012-04-07T22:49:00.000+01:002012-04-07T22:49:14.176+01:00No Respite<br />
Instructors can never be at anything less than their best. From the moment that the lesson starts we have to be the epitome of 100% concentration - to be anything else is, at best, discourteous to the pupil and, at worst, downright dangerous. So, if I am not performing at my absolute best, due to tiredness, illness, personal circumstances or anything else, why does that matter? Well, I may be less observant, lacking judgement or even lazy, none of which is particularly clever when in charge of a lethal weapon - the car, not the pupil :-) It is so easy to think that it doesn't matter... when actually it does. Getting too close to the left hand side for example. It's easy just to ignore it and assume that it will be alright rather than reacting as necessary to avoid a potential collision. It may be easier not to offer a prompt or guidance rather than doing so, potentially leaving the pupil to make a decision which is outside their skillset. Alternatively, instructions may come later, too late for an inexperienced pupil. Being safe on the roads, whether as a driver or instructor, relies on a certain amount of anticipation. If anticipation suffers as a result of impaired performance, then it must follow that safety is compromised too.<br />
<br />
Not only do I have to concentrate 100% of the time, I also have to remain utterly calm in any given situation, allowing my pupil the latitude to make mistakes and not panicking if they do. When I am expecting the mistake to occur, for example, trying to pull away in the wrong gear, it's not usually a problem. If it will cause danger or inconvenience to other drivers, then I may try to preempt it with some appropriate guidance, but if it will not, then I may just let it happen. A lesson is always easier to learn through experience rather than being told! However, if I am just not paying attention and the problem occurs, it could cause mayhem.<br />
<br />
This happened today - the reasons do not need to be divulged but I didn't think I was off form at all. My pupil made a simple mistake, using 4th gear instead of 2nd at a roundabout and stalled as a result. I failed to notice the gear problem until after it had happened and then proceeded to issue a series of instructions to get us out of the situation - which unfortunately just made matters worse! No major problem resulted but that does not excuse my poor instruction in that situation. I subsequently apologised to the pupil concerned, an apology understood and accepted.<br />
<br />
So what of the aftermath? It has reaffirmed my belief that being anything other than perfect is simply not good enough. Unfortunately, mistakes happen but the reaction to that has to be to try to do better the next time. I need to work hard constantly; there is no room for complacency at all. I need to stay fit and healthy, looking after myself properly, getting enough sleep and being in the right frame of mind. I am duty bound to give my best to my pupils, other drivers, the DSA and the public at large. I am determined to do that and if that means that I have to admit a mistake from time to time, so be it. <br />
<br />
I have learned a lesson today and ultimately I hope and trust that it will make me a better, more professional instructor.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk/">www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk</a>Ashley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6472812003030617820.post-35851763391296870302012-02-15T16:38:00.000+00:002012-02-15T16:38:26.082+00:00Nerves of SteelOne of the most common questions that I am asked when people find out that I am a driving instructor is "How do you keep calm? You must have nerves of steel." usually followed by "I could never do your job". In truth, I don't have nerves of steel at all...and actually I don't need them. Although I am not 'in control' of the car I always have the option to exercise full control if I need to, either by using the dual controls or grabbing the wheel if necessary. In fact I encourage all my pupils to adopt the attitude very early that they are driving the car, not me. I would rather they made decisions about driving. If they are going to make the wrong one, I will advise them otherwise, or stop them. Sometimes I'll let them make the wrong choice, as long as it is safe, in order to learn from the mistake.<br />
<br />
So am I ever frightened? Very occasionally, yes, and the reason is always the same. Most of the time, I can anticipate the mistake that the pupil is going to make. For example, I know when there is a likelihood of rolling back towards the car behind and I can anticipate and deal with it before or as it occurs. There are hundreds of similar examples. However, occasionally a pupil will do something that is completely and utterly random and that makes me jump! For example, if the pupil is turning right at a roundabout, has checked right mirrors, signalled right and taken up a position in the right lane, they have done everything that I expect in respect of turning right. If they then turn left, with no warning, without looking, cutting up whoever is in the left-hand lane and confusing everybody on the roundabout - that's frightening. No warning, no mitigation - just a sudden, inexplicable change of mind.<br />
<br />
I'm sure there is some psychological reason why someone just makes a
completely random choice like that and I wish I understood it better.
Then perhaps I could anticipate and prevent it. Until such time as I
can I'll just have to go on collecting missed heartbeats.<br />
<br />
Fortunately this kind of thing happens very rarely and has never resulted in an accident although I imagine there are one or two drivers out there cursing my learners! Most of the time and with most of my pupils I feel very relaxed and never feel the need to even consider the dual controls. When I do, it is always for the best possible reasons and I try to make it clear why I have intervened in the way that I have. At the end of the day, my safety, the safety of my pupil and the safety of all other road users are my priority.<br />
<br />
Emma<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk/">www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk</a>Ashley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6472812003030617820.post-27383673514065098212011-12-14T12:20:00.000+00:002011-12-14T12:20:36.643+00:00About as blind as they come...A pupil of mine went to test today and failed! :( This is obviously a great disappointment to me and to him although not a huge surprise as he wasn't really as ready as I like my pupils to be. The reason for the failure is not the subject of this blog however.<br />
<br />
As is usual following a test failure, I sit and discuss with the candidate the reasons for the fail and any other faults that have occurred during the test. This particular candidate had a couple of safety faults on moving off. When discussing these he said "I don't believe in the blind spot!", completing the justification for not checking it with "I check my mirrors constantly and can see everything in there".<br />
<br />
I was and still am quite shocked by these comments, particularly the former. He then justified this stance by saying that his previous instructor didn't believe in it either. Very often pupils cannot initially see the need for it but, if it is explained correctly, ultimately most people do understand it and the importance of checking it in certain situations. Now either my ability to explain things well is off this morning or he just wasn't receptive to what I was saying. He acknowledged what I was saying but just repeated over and over again that he didn't need to check it because he didn't believe in it. <br />
<br />
Regardless of what he thinks he can see, he's wrong. He will probably do it to get through his test, but then stop doing it and ultimately will either have an accident or, in the worse case scenario, kill someone for the sake of a glance into the blindspot.<br />
<br />
I always advise pupils, regardless of what bad habits they may pick up after they pass, to ALWAYS check the blindspot when pulling away. In my experience, doing so is highly likely to save someone's life and if that happens even once, it is definitely worth it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk/" target="_blank">www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk</a>Ashley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6472812003030617820.post-47352093072010740482011-12-10T22:42:00.003+00:002011-12-10T23:23:57.052+00:00Smarter DrivingBack in August I was contacted by the Energy Saving Trust asking whether I would be interested in attending a meeting about Smarter Driving. At that time I had never even heard of Smarter Driving and so I thought I ought to find out more. A number of meetings followed and then in October I attended a training session to become a Smarter Driving trainer, endorsed by the Energy Saving Trust.<br />
<br />
The purpose of Smarter Driving is to try to encourage as many drivers as possible to drive more economically, saving fuel and reducing pollution. As a technique it has been successful across the world and has already been passed on to more than twenty thousand fleet drivers in the UK. The statistics show that the savings can be quite significant, usually reducing fuel consumption by somewhere between 15% and 40% and there is also a corresponding drop in accidents.<br />
<br />
Having listened to all the statistics and then been trained myself (showing a potential 15% saving on fuel), I must admit I still didn't believe in the principles being taught. So I tried it out on a couple of volunteers. I was amazed at the savings that both of them showed. One showed potential savings of 27%, and the other 15%. The former reckoned that was worth a holiday to her over the course of a year. So I signed up to the Smarter Driving programme.<br />
<br />
The principles are simple, within the abilties of all drivers, and take very little time to learn, usually within a single hour. The cost is relatively low, £25 and, in my opinion supported by the staistics above, is definitely worth the money.<br />
<br />
So what is involved? Well, you drive my car in your normal driving style over a pre-determined route and we measure the fuel consumption and the average speed. We then discuss a number of different techniques which may reduce fuel consumption and drive the route again, applying some of the techniques as we go. At the end of the route we see what difference it has made to the fuel consumption and average speed. Then, time permitting we drive it a third time, this time with you just applying the techniques on your own. At the end, we compare the fuel consumption figures from the various runs and see how much you could save if the same techniques were applied to your driving.<br />
<br />
No-one likes the idea of someone sitting next to them watching them drive (including me!), but I'm really not interested in any little bad habits you may have picked up - that's not the purpose of the Smarter Driving training. I promise I won't criticise you or think badly of you when it's all over. I'm just interested in trying to promote a more economic and safer way of driving and turning out as many Smarter Drivers as I can.<br />
<br />
If the potential savings are not enough of an incentive, on completion of the Smarter Driving training you receive a certificate from the Energy Saving Trust detailing how much you may be able to save, and a Smarter Driver sticker for your car.<br />
<br />
So, if you are interested in Smarter Driving for you or someone close to you, you can get more information <a href="http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Transport/Consumer/Fuel-efficient-driving" target="_blank">here</a> or drop me a line. It really is worth it!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk/">www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk</a>Ashley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6472812003030617820.post-27384059065195111542011-12-10T22:04:00.001+00:002011-12-10T22:40:29.086+00:00Absolutely Avoid Absolutes!One of the things I have wondered about over the last few years is whether driving is an art or a science? By that I mean, whether you can learn to drive by learning and applying a set of rules alone i.e., science, or whether there is an element of judgement and interpretation i.e., art. Of course the reality is that it is a combination of both. I find that many people when starting to learn to drive tend to think of it as purely a science, a set of rules which must be applied in each and every situation, and application of those rules can deal with every road situation which might occur.<br />
<br />
However, whilst the initial learning is predominantly scientific in nature, the good driver will learn to be more flexible in the application of the rules learned, adapting them when required so that they more aptly fit different situations that the driver encounters on the road. I call this roadcraft - the ability to interpret and appraise different driving situations and apply learned skills appropriately according to the circumstances. <br />
<br />
So often I see drivers applying their learned skills rigidly, usually because that is what they have been taught to do. Whilst technically correct, this unbending application does not necessarily make for good driving. We all have to be flexible, allowing conditions on the road to influence our decision making and our subsequent actions when behind the wheel. <br />
<br />
On some of the forums I frequent there are often requests for advice about how to deal with common difficulties such as stalling when pulling away or how to handle roundabouts. Very often these requests elicit responses which contain advice such as 'When you get 30 metres away from the roundabout change into 2nd gear at about 20 miles an hour...'. The problem with this is that whilst the advice may be valid for some roundabouts, it is not necessarily valid for all and to suggest that it is, is very unwise. Every roundabout has to be judged on its merits because every roundabout is different. Regardless of the actual layout of the roundabout, the traffic will vary hugely between roundabouts and also on the same roundabout. Therefore, there is no absolutely cast-iron method of defining how to handle a roundabout. Yes, there are guidelines for how to do so, but these guidelines need to be applied with judgement. Therein lies the problem, and the difficulty for most learners. Roundabouts require judgement and judgement cannot be learned in a scientific way. It is an art.<br />
<br />
There are no absolutes in driving, other than the law (arguably), and it is unwise to think that there are. Each of us has to drive with an open mind, observing, assessing and reacting to dynamic, fluid and constantly changing situations. This is the art of driving!<br />
<br />
My advice to any driver, learner or experienced, would be to absolutely avoid absolutes - because there aren't any! <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk/">www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk</a>Ashley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6472812003030617820.post-22651748864005983992011-11-27T12:09:00.001+00:002011-11-27T12:55:42.166+00:00Christmas DrivingLast weekend a young man was killed driving home in the early hours of the morning. It seems at the moment that it was more to do with inexperience than anything. However, the consequences for his family are tragic and my heart goes out to them. I truly hope that the family and friends of Jake Johnson find some peace in what is going to be, understandably, a very difficult time. An unexpected death in the family is always a huge emotional upheaval but somehow at this time of year, it somehow seems more tragic and more distressing. <br />
<br />
I understand that Christmas brings stress much greater than the rest of the year and the pressure to get organised and buy everything that makes the festive season such fun is enormous. Everybody is in a rush and thoughts are dominated by other things. It is so easy to allow that pressure and the distraction of Christmas to adversely affect our driving. <br />
<br />
I have noticed a general deterioration in the quality of driving over the last few weeks and most of it seems to be due to people just being in too much of a rush and driving without due care or consideration for other road users. Some of the incidents have been downright dangerous and really beggar belief. I have seen a number of near misses, some at high speed, and the driving around major shopping centres seems particularly bad. Apart from the obvious risk of having an accident, driving badly causes other road users to become frustrated, building into agitation accompanied by blue air, enthusiastic hand gestures and blaring horns. I understand the frustration but it is so important to maintain a balanced reaction so that we don't make a bad situation much worse.<br />
<br />
We all have a duty to make sure that we continue to drive safely and responsilbly throughout the festive period and beyond. I really do not want to hear that someone else has lost their life and another family is facing a Christmas destroyed by such a tragedy. So please, amongst all the pressure and the distraction of Christmas, stay calm and safe on the roads. Leave more time than usual for your journey, expect long delays, be extra courteous and don't allow your frustration to get the better of you. <br />
<br />
Finally, please remember that drinking is fun...and driving is fun...but together they cause accidents. If you drink, don't drive - it's not worth it!<br />
<br />
Stay safe this Christmas so that we can ALL have a good time!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk/">www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk</a>Ashley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6472812003030617820.post-64647387282616828172011-11-18T09:02:00.001+00:002011-11-18T10:58:16.662+00:00Don't be a lemming!Lemmings have a reputation, wrongly as it happens, for following each other even into dangerous or deadly situations. Astonishingly some drivers are like that too. I was out with a pupil yesterday who I asked to turn right into the next road. He didn't check his mirrors or signal. We parked up and I asked why he hadn't signalled. He said "Because the car in front didn't!" <br />
<br />
I'm sure you will agree that this is a poor argument. So, if the guy in front drives into a lamppost, you're going to do the same? Of course not, but the suggestion nevertheless is there. He does it, you do it. I don't teach people to do what other drivers do; I teach them to drive properly. Every day I see many examples of bad driving, not signalling being one of the most common (and most irritating). In these days when day to day communication is handled in the briefest way possible (i.e., text messaging) some drivers seem to think that signalling in good time has become superfluous. It hasn't and if anything, due to the congestion on our roads, has become more important than ever.<br />
<br />
However, although signalling is important it has to be done appropriately. Not every situation requires a signal and sometimes a signal given can cause more confusion than not given. So always consider carefully whether a signal is appropriate and if it is, give it in good time.<br />
<br />
Above all, if you choose to copy the driver in front, and he does it wrong, then you'll do it wrong as well - with all the consequences that there may be!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk/">www.ashleyschoolofmotoring.co.uk</a>Ashley School of Motoringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12288600721751336114noreply@blogger.com0