Driving in Fog: Top Tips

Cold and wet weather occasionally brings fog to our roads and the reduced visibility makes fog one of the most dangerous weather conditions for driving.

It's not always possible to avoid journeys on foggy roads, so we recommend reading our tips and advice to help you stay safe.

Check your car

During the winter months and especially when setting off on a journey in fog, it's important to check all your lights are working. You will often need to use your windscreen wipers and demisters while driving through fog for the best visibility, so check these are working too. For more advice on preparing for travelling by car in winter, make sure to read our winter driving tips.

Slow down and use caution

It may sound obvious but slowing down is the most effective method of avoiding an accident. Fog compromises your ability to anticipate what's happening on the road ahead of you and the amount of road you can see may change in an instant. Driving slowly and leaving more space between you and the car in front gives you more time to react to cars or events that may take you by surprise.

Dipped headlights and fog lights

Always use dipped headlights in fog, as it makes it easier for other drivers to see you on the road. If the fog is very thick and you can see less than 100 metres of the road ahead, you can also use fog lights – but it's important to remember to turn them off when visibility improves. It might also feel instinctive to use your headlights on full beam but this will only direct light into the fog, which could dazzle you and compromise your view of the road ahead.
Be aware that other drivers may not have remembered to switch on their headlights, which will make them more difficult for you and other drivers to spot.

Junctions in the fog

Thick fog will sometimes make a decision at a junction very difficult. You can help decide whether it's safe to pull out by winding down your window and listening for the sound of traffic. Once you’re sure it's safe, pull out decisively to minimise the amount of time your car spends in the path of cars approaching the junction from other directions.

Freezing fog and black ice

As well as poor visibility, fog can also make the road surface dangerous. Black ice can form very quickly when freezing fog settles on the road, so watch out for this when temperatures are low.

 

Drink driving dangers highlighted in Christmas campaign

A campaign warning of the consequences of drink driving has been launched by the Scottish government ahead of the festive season.

The most recent figures estimated more than 1 in 8 deaths on Scottish roads involved over-the-limit drivers. Motorists lose their licence and have a criminal record lasting 20 years when they are convicted of drink driving. The FestiveDrink Drive 2013 campaign aims to reinforce this message over the Christmas and New Year period. Drivers have been advised not to drink at all before getting behind the wheel over the festive weeks, as the risk is too great.



The amount of alcohol it would take to be considered over the driving limit is different for each individual and has a number of variables, including weight, gender and metabolism.
'No excuse'
 
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: "Our priority is to save lives. But some drivers are still not heeding the warnings and around 30 people are killed every year in Scotland due to drink driving. Over 20,000 drivers are stopped by police in Scotland every month.

"Having even one alcoholic drink, then driving, makes you three times more likely to die in a car crash.

"Our message has always been clear - don't ever drink and drive. Even if you are just over the limit, in the eyes of the law you are still a drunk driver and a criminal - there is no grey area."
The campaign was launched in partnership with Road Safety Scotland and Police Scotland.
Supt Iain Murray, head of road policing at Police Scotland, said: "Every year we raise the issue of drink driving and every year there are still people who break the law with no consideration for others. Drink or drive, it's your choice but you cannot do both.

"If you think you are ok as you've only had 'one' or a couple of small drinks think again, it doesn't matter whether you're just over the limit or well over the limit - you're a drunk driver. There really is no excuse.
"If you are stopped by police and fail the breath test, then the fact that you couldn't get public transport, you have an unexpected emergency to attend to or you thought it was a small measure, won't make the slightest bit of difference to officers; you will be arrested.

He added: "Our message is clear, if you intend to drink or have been drinking - leave the car. Don't risk it."

Men beat women in race to pass driving test: More males pass first time round, and they take a third less time to learn

• Government statistic revealed the gender differences
• 48 per cent of women pass their test first time, and 44 per cent of women

The battle of the sexes rages on when it comes to deciding who’s best at driving.
On the theme of learning to drive, however, it seems we have a winner. Sorry ladies, men are better at it, according to official figures. But only just. 

Men not only learn to drive faster, they are also more likely to pass their test first time, research found. 

The gender differences are revealed in official statistics obtained from the Government’s Driving Standards Agency (DSA) by price comparison website Confused.com.

Gender wars: 48 per cent of men pass their test first time, compared to 44 per cent of women

The figures show that this year nearly half (48 per cent) of male motorists who took their test passed first time, compared to just 44 per cent of females.

The research also found that women take an average of eight months to their pass their practical driving test, compared to just six months for men.

But they also suggest self-confidence may play a large part. For nearly four out of ten (39 per cent) of men already believe they are better drivers than women.

By contrast, just a quarter (26 per cent) of women believe themselves to be more competent drivers than their male counterparts.

The figures are set to provoke more furious debate between the sexes following years of talk about specific driving skills such as parallel parking and map-reading.
Studies have suggested that men are better at parking and reading maps - another source of in-car aggravation - because of the way their brains are ‘wired’ which means they are better at visualising 3D pictures in their mind’s eye.

For example, research by the AA shows nearly a third of women will change their driving plans to avoid having to parallel park their car at the end of their journey - twice the rate of men.

Lacking confidence: Data from the AA revealed that women are much less confident parallel parking than men

The AA Driving School highlights how one in five (19 per cent) of motorists changed plans because they couldn’t park in available spaces. But that rises to nearly a third of women (28 per cent) - twice as high as men.

Overall one in six people admit they are not confident about parallel parking. But that rises to a quarter (25 per cent) of female drivers compared to just over 1 in 10 (11 per cent) of men, according to the AA.

The Confused.com research also shows stark age difference with younger drivers having more success than older.

The findings also reveal that the pass rate for 30-year-old males (47 per cent) is significantly lower than for those who took their test at the age of 17 (58 per cent). By age 50, males are even less likely to pass their driving test, with a pass rate of just 41 per cent.

Similarly, more than half of females (55 per cent) who take their test at age 17 will pass - compared to 44 per cent at 20 and under a third (32 per cent) at age 50.
In 2011 the average age for someone to pass their driving test was 23.1 years, compared to 23.4 years last year, and 23.5 this year.

The oldest female to hold a driving licence is 106 and the oldest male is 105. In 2008 three 98 year old females passed their test.

Ministers are currently drawing up reforms to young driver training, including a possible one-year minimum probationary period before they can take their test and restrictions on numbers of passengers in the car.

Some 44 per cent of drivers support increasing the driving age to 18 years. One in five Britons (20 per cent) also think the current methods of testing driving (through theory and practical tests) need to be made stricter and more challenging.

Gemma Stanbury, head of car insurance at Confused.com said their own findings appear to support this: ‘For years, people have argued over whether men or women are the best drivers, and while this is still up for debate, men can now claim at least that they are the quickest learners when they get behind the wheel of the car.’

The AA Driving School says: ‘There is a big gender split. Women are more likely than men to lack parallel parking confidence.’

Driving instructor banned for failing breathalyser after A PUPIL crashed his car

Police tests on the learner and driver of the Mini came back negative but Philip Devereux was found to be nearly twice the legal limit.

Boozy: Devereux was nearly twice the legal limit

A driving instructor has been banned from the roads after he was breathalysed when one of his pupils collided with another vehicle.
Philip Devereux, 64, was supervising a young woman when she crashed his Mini Cooper into a VW Beetle.
Police tests on the learner and driver of the Mini came back negative but Devereux was found to be nearly twice the legal limit.
He admitted drink-driving and has now been banned from the roads for 12 months.
After the case the AA warned that many adults do not realise they can be liable for drink-driving if they are supervising a leaner.
The law says they are deemed to be “in control of the car” and must adhere to the same restrictions as the driver.
The AA said: “Anyone who is supervising a learner driver is legally deemed to be in control of the vehicle.
“They must abide by our driving laws, such as mobile phone use and drink driving.”
Devereux, who worked for the Great Waldingfield School of Motoring in Suffolk, gave a reading of 67mgs of alcohol in 100ml of blood.
The legal limit is 35mgs.
He was banned by magistrates in his hometown of Bury St Edmunds. Devereux was also fined £200, ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £20.

Are robots better motorists than HUMANS?

Self-driving cars could eliminate most traffic deaths and reduce congestion

• An Eno Centre for Transportation study said if 10 per cent of cars on the road were self-driving, they could cut traffic deaths by 1,000 per year
• The study said if 90 per cent of vehicles were  autonomous, 21,700 lives a year could be saved as well as $447 billion
• Significant hurdles to widespread use of self-driving cars remain including their high costs, which can exceed $100,000 a vehicle

The cars of the future will probably drive themselves and make superior motorists, claim scientists.
A study has concluded that as robots do not drink-drive, get distracted, fall asleep or tailgate in a rage, they would make safer and more efficient drivers than humans.
It also predicted that autonomous vehicles could significantly reduce congestion and provide tens of billions of dollars in economic benefits. 

Google has already fitted out several cars with radar-like equipment that lets them navigate roads in California and Nevada autonomously. And now a new study says that self-driving cars and trucks hold the potential to transform driving by eliminating the majority of traffic deaths

 

TESLA'S AUTONOMOUS PLANS

Electric car company Tesla Motors will produce a driverless within the next three years, according to its chief executive, Elon Musk.
The move will see Tesla overtake Google, who three years ago began the race to bring driverless cars on to the road.
Google’s programme, however, has been slow to get off the ground because carmakers are worried about potential liabilities from accidents.
California-based Tesla said its autonomous car would allow the driver to hand 90 per cent of the control of the car over to the vehicle's computer system.

However, significant hurdles to widespread use of self-driving cars remain - not least the cost of the hi-tech vehicles.
Added sensors, software, engineering, power and computing requirements currently add up to over $100,000 (£62,000) per vehicle, which is unaffordable for most people, the study said.

 

But large-scale production 'promises greater affordability over time,' it concluded.
Questions also remain about public acceptance, liability in event of an accident, and the ability of automakers to prevent car computers from being hacked.
Nevertheless, the advantages of self-driving cars are such that if only 10 per cent of cars and lorries on the road were self-driving, they could reduce traffic deaths by 1,000 per year.
The report, by the Eno Centre for Transportation in Washington DC, also said autonomous cars could produce nearly $38 billion (£23 billion) in economic savings.

Over 40 per cent of fatal traffic crashes involve alcohol, distraction, drugs or fatigue, but self-driven vehicles wouldn't fall prey to such human failings, suggesting the potential for at least a 40 per cent reduction in fatal crashes, the study said.

If 90 per cent of vehicles were self-driving, as many as 21,700 lives per year could be saved and economic benefits could reach a staggering $447 billion, (£276 billion) said the study.
'There will be many steps before we get to that, but it does feel like there is a whole new world that completely changes everything in terms of our perspective on driving that could emerge eventually,' said Joshua Schank, president and chief executive of the centre.
For example, the passenger seat could be converted so that former drivers could safely work on laptops, eat meals, read books, watch films and call friends. 

If 90 per cent of vehicles were self-driving, as many as 21,700 lives per year could be saved and economic benefits could reach a staggering $447 billion, said the study

Cars that could be programmed to pick up people, drive them to their destination and then park by themselves, may change the lives of the elderly and disabled by providing critical mobility, according to the centre.
Once a critical mass of self-driving cars is on the road, they can start 'platooning' - driving closely together but keeping a steady distance between each other without the fuel-burning, time-wasting, stop-and-go typical of traffic congestion.
The report said that this behaviour could smooth traffic flows, reduce commute times and increase highway capacity.
U.S. government research indicates driver error is likely the main reason behind over 90 per cent of all crashes.
Over 40 per cent of fatal traffic crashes involve alcohol, distraction, drugs or fatigue, but self-driven vehicles wouldn't fall prey to such human failings, suggesting the potential for at least a 40 per cent reduction in fatal crashes, the study said.
Crashes can also be due to speeding, aggressive driving, over-compensation, inexperience, slow reaction times, inattention and various other human driver shortcomings, the report noted, suggesting that computers could also reduce those too.
Spurred by what some see as the future direction of the auto industry, car manufacturers are stepping up their research.
General Motor and Nissan are furthest along, but Audi, BMW, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo have also begun testing driverless systems and Google's self-driving cars have clocked over 400,000 miles on California public roads.
Many of the features that go into creating a self-driving car are already available, especially in high-end cars.

Tesla Motors will produce a driverless car within the next three years, according to its chief executive, Elon Musk. Its autonomous car would allow the driver to hand over 90 per cent of the control of the car 

Adaptive cruise control adjusts speed faster or slower in response to traffic, while lane departure systems warn drivers when they're drifting out of their lane and some can even automatically steer the car back.
Collision avoidance systems automatically brake to prevent front-to-rear crashes and parking assist systems range from rear view cameras that show drivers what is behind them to vehicles that can actually park themselves.
The hardest part will likely be making self-driving cars 'cost effective to the point where this is not just a gadget that some people enjoy, but becomes mainstream,' Mr Schank said.

Liverpool to scrap bus lanes

A 9 month trial starts in Liverpool to let commuters use bus lanes in the city. All bus lane cameras will be immobilised.

Liverpool scraps bus lanes in nine month trial

Councillor Tim Moore
Bus lanes in Liverpool will be scrapped from today as part of a trial to reduce congestion.
Twenty-four lanes will be suspended for the next nine months.

Commuters allowed to use Liverpool bus lanes

Commuters will be allowed to use Liverpool's bus lanes in a trial that begins today. The locations are:

• Lime St inbound
• Kensington inbound
• Warbreck Moor inbound
• Horrocks Avenue
• Strand St inbound
• Kensington outbound
• Longmoor Lane inbound
• Speke Hall Avenue
• Strand St outbound
• Prescot Rd inbound
• Wavertree Rd outbound
• Upper Parliament St inbound
• Chapel St inbound
• East Prescot Rd inbound

• Picton Rd outbound (with bus gate)
• Park Rd inbound
• London Rd (bus only right turn) outbound
• County Rd inbound
• Wavertree High Street inbound
• Irvine St, Mount Vernon inbound
• Brownlow Hill outbound
• Rice Lane outbound / Childwall Valley Rd inbound
• Old Hayment
• St Johns lane - in and outbound

Liverpool scrap bus lanes in 9 month trial

Bus lanes scrapped Credit: PA

Council bosses in Liverpool will begin a trial today to allow commuters to use the cities bus lanes.
All bus lane cameras will be immobilised and work will begin to removed signage.
Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said:
"I have asked for this trial suspension so that we can explore what benefits, if any, bus lanes are bringing to our city. Keeping the city moving for our motorists, businesses, residents, commuters and visitors is absolutely vital, so it's important we take a proper look at this.
Some people have suggested to me that we shouldn't do this because the bus lanes generate income of £700,000-a-year for the council. But in my view it would be immoral to treat motorists as a cash cow.'"
The Green Party opposes the move on the basis is it discourages people to use public transport.

5 tips to becoming a safer driver

Driving safely is the most important thing you can do on the road, but unfortunately, not everyone knows how to practice safe driving so we have offered these 5 tips to safer driving skills.

Every time you get behind the wheel of your car there is going to be a risk involved. It’s always something; the lady next to you is putting on her lipstick and swerving all over the road, your favorite song comes on the radio and as your singing and dancing along you forget you’re also in control of a 3,000lb object traveling 50 mph, or a deer runs right in front of you causing you to slam on your brakes and swerve; it’s always something. You will never be able to avoid all of the things that could pop up while you’re on the road, but learning these five safe driving tips will certainly lower the risk.

Developing safe driving habits now could help save your life or the life of someone else. You could be doing yourself a huge favor and prevent major accidents which will eliminate:

• Large repair costs or insurance deductibles
• Having to depend on someone else to get you to and from work or school if your car is wrecked and in the shop
• Large auto insurance premiums

One: Learn Defensive Driving

If you didn’t learn defensive driving while you were in driving school, it’s a good idea to take a course on it. These are typically offered throughout your communities and you can usually find out where they are located by contacting your local DMV. These courses benefit drivers whether you’re young or old, male or female. Generally, a class will cover:

• Traffic crash statics – Approximate times of the day when most accidents occur, which age group is involved in the most crashes, and whether they are on long commutes or short distance driving.
• Drunk Driving – It’s not rocket science that is the number one no-no on most people’s list, and should never be done, yet there are thousands of people arrested for either a DUI (Driving under the Influence) or DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) every year. In this class you will learn about all the dangers associated with driving under the influence, and just how much it can cost you.
• All the components of a car accident – During this lesson you will learn how speed, place of impact, and size of the vehicle affects the outcome and severity of any crash.
• Crash Prevention Techniques – While some American drivers know the laws of driving, not all of them abide by them. These techniques include proper following distances, sharing the road with other vehicles and pedestrians, who has the right of way when driving, scanning roadways, proper passing, adjusting your driving to different weather conditions, and braking distance.
• The dangers of driving when you tired, angry, or stressed.

These are all things you probably have learned at some point in time but may have forgotten. If you’d like to brush up on your skills enroll in a traffic safety class today.

Two: Avoid Other Drivers

Even if you do everything right and you’re the safest driver on the road, you still need to worry about the other drivers. You can avoid other driver’s bad habits by staying alert and paying attention to their driving habits. If they are tailgating you, get over and let them pass you when it is safe, if they are swerving all over the road then get some extra distance from them and call the authorities.
If you’re going to change lanes be sure to check your blind spots. Many drivers will hang out at one speed and not realize that the person next to them can’t see they are there because they are in the blind spot. Before making any lane changes or turns, be sure to check this to avoid any collision.

Three: Avoid In-Car Distractions

It’s been said that in-car distractions such as texting, talking on the phone, eating, and listening to loud music are the leading causes in vehicle crashes in the past few years. All of these things require you to take your eyes off the road and/or your hands off the steering wheel. While you may only do this for a split second, that is all it takes to swerve off the road, or hit a nearby car.
When you’re in the vehicle avoid using your cell phone at all costs. If you must make a phone call have your passengers do so for you. If you’re headed somewhere you’ve never been before and you need directions, plug the address into your GPS before you take off. Whatever you do, you should have your eyes on the road and your hands on your steering wheel at all times.

Four: Don’t Drive When You’re Not Alert

Too often we hear of drivers falling asleep at the wheel and running off the road, crashing into a ditch, tree or another car. Many times these result in serious injury or death, and it can be avoided. If you’re feeling like you’re tired and you can’t keep your eyes open any longer pull off to a hotel or rest area. It’s much better to add extra time to your drive than to be in a car accident.
We can’t stress enough how dangerous it is to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Not only is it against the law, but it is something that could ruin the lives of so many people. Even if you have only had a drink or two, take the safe way out and call a cab or designate a driver. No matter what you may think, your reaction time is slower than it is when your system is clean, which means you are not alert. Avoid drinking and driving at all costs.

Five: Keeping Your Car Up-to-Date on Maintenance Checks

One big thing that is often overlooked is keeping your car up-to-date on all necessary and routine maintenance. This includes:

• Getting regular oil changes
• Making sure your tires are rotated and have plenty of air
• Checking all fluid levels
• Regularly checking brake pads and rotors
• Making sure there is no engine problems

These things can not only make for safer driving conditions, but they also help cut down on cost repairs. If you’re vehicle blows a tire on the highway, you may lose control and crash into the wall, or cause other drivers to get distracted and collide with each other.
There are also the safety features of your car that you need to maintain. Check to make sure the following are working properly:

• Turn signals
• Head and taillights
• Seat belts
• Air bags

If any other these things happen to break or stop working you need to get them fixed immediately. They can not only cause a major car accident, but you could also be seriously injured during that accident.

Man stopped after driving illegally for 40 years

Police are unsure if the man has even passed his driving test

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A man who was stopped on a motorway by police said he had been driving without a license for 40 years.

The unidentified man was also driving without insurance, West Midlands Police said. 
He was stopped at the Nechells area of Birmingham at 09:45 BST.
“He has committed a criminal offence, and the matter will proceed to the courts,” a West Midlands Police spokesman told the BBC.
“We don't know whether the driver had even passed his test,” he added.
His vehicle was seized and impounded, and the DVLA were notified, the Central Motorway Police confirmed.

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Petrol price in biggest monthly fall since 2008, AA says

 

Average UK petrol prices have fallen - but are likely to go up again, the AA says

The AA says petrol prices have recorded their biggest fall since 2008, taking the average cost to 132.16p a litre.

The motorists' lobby group said average petrol prices fell 5.49p a litre between mid-September and mid-October, the biggest monthly fall since prices fell 11.5p in November 2008.
The price of diesel has fallen from 142.50p a litre to 139.12p.
The AA said lower wholesale fuel prices had prompted the price drop, but warned that further falls were unlikely.

The organisation says the recent drop in prices means the cost of filling up the tank of a small petrol car has fallen by £2.74, while a larger vehicle, such as a Ford Mondeo, would cost £3.84 less to refuel.

Northern Ireland is the most expensive place for petrol, with an average pump price of £132.9p a litre, and London, the north of England, and Yorkshire and Humberside are the joint cheapest at 131.9p.
Scotland is still the most expensive for diesel at 140.1p a litre, while London is the cheapest at 138.6p.

Analysis

Simon Gompertz Personal finance correspondent, BBC News

---

Why are gas prices going up while petrol prices are going down?
The cost of filling up the car has fallen slightly, but the gas price bubble just seems to grow bigger and bigger.
One explanation is that petrol prices are affected by movements in the dollar/pound exchange rate, because crude oil and refined petrol are both priced in dollars.
The pound has enjoyed a significant recovery against the dollar in recent months, jumping from about $1.50 in value to around $1.60.
So while crude oil hasn't moved much in world markets, the cost to us in the UK has gone down.
Gas, on the other hand, is traded in sterling in the UK. There is less of the currency effect.
Not everyone in the energy market believes a price increase is justified.
But British Gas says the cost of getting hold of gas and electricity accounts for a third of the jump in bills.
Will the petrol drop compensate for the gas hike?
If you fill up the car once a week, you are likely to gain more than you lose.
However, occasional drivers will still have cause to shiver from this week's energy news.
The petrol benefit will be outweighed by the cost of keeping warm.

Regional variations depend on whether an area is mainly urban - in which case there is more competition - or if it is mainly rural - in which case suppliers have higher transport costs and there is less competition.

Overall, the AA says the UK has the seventh-highest petrol price and the second-highest diesel price in Europe.
The fuel price data is supplied by the research firm Experian Catalist.
Higher prices The AA said further falls in petrol prices were unlikely, because of poor refinery capacity in the UK and the likely strengthening of the US dollar.
The US dollar is expected to rise in value now that the standoff over the country's budget is over and oil is priced in dollars.
The AA's president, Edmund King, said: "A more than £2.50-a-tank cut in petrol costs for families is a dramatic improvement on its own. But, heading into winter with cars using more fuel, the timing couldn't be better.
"Alongside Asda, Sainsbury's decision to fully reflect the fall in wholesale prices has been a huge benefit for drivers and businesses.
"However, the AA is also encouraged by the growing band of non-supermarket retailers challenging the pricing of other supermarkets whose prices in many places are far less generous," he added.
The organisation said that the situation at the Grangemouth refinery in Scotland, where a dispute between management and unions has led to a temporary closure, had highlighted the UK's lack of refinery capacity.
It urged the government to find ways to support domestic refineries.

Driving test age rise considered for teenagers

Teenagers could have to wait a year longer than currently before they are allowed to take their driving test.

The government is considering issuing only 12-month probationary licences at the age of 18 in a bid to cut accidents involving young motorists.

New drivers would also face a curfew between 22:00 and 05:00 unless a passenger aged over 30 was in the car.
Ministers are due to publish a Green Paper this year after considering the Transport Research Laboratory's report.
It recommends a one-year "learner stage" beginning at 17, during which drivers would have to total at least 100 hours of daytime and 20 hours of night-time practice under supervision.
Learners can then take their test at 18 and, if they pass, will get a probationary licence and have to display a green "P" plate.
During this stage, drivers will face the curfew and all those under 30 will be banned from carrying any passengers also under 30.

Other proposals under consideration for young drivers are a ban on all mobile phone use, including hands-free phones, and a lower alcohol limit.
After the 12-month probationary period, drivers will automatically graduate to a full licence and unrestricted driving.

Statistics show that more than a fifth of deaths on British roads in 2011 involved drivers aged 17-24.
The report suggests implementing this new system could cut annual casualty numbers by 4,471 and save £224m.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "Young drivers drive around 5% of all the miles driven in Britain but are involved in about 20% of the crashes where someone is killed or seriously injured.
"We are committed to improving safety for young drivers and reducing their insurance costs - that is why we are publishing a Green Paper later in the year setting out our proposals.
"This will include a discussion about how people learn to drive.
"The research report has been produced by the Transport Research Laboratory under commission by the Department for Transport and it, amongst other things, has informed the Green Paper."

Proposals welcomed Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation motoring research charity, welcomed the proposals.
He said: "Young people are four times more likely to die in a road accident than as a result of drink or drugs.
"Yet, as a society we seem to turn a blind eye to the carnage. If this was any other area of public health there would be an outcry.
"This is about ensuring their long-term safety and mobility. Not curtailing it."

 

 

Edmund King, president of motoring organisation the AA, said the proposals were addressing the problem of young drivers in the "wrong way".
"You should prepare young drivers to be safe when they get their licence rather than give them their licence and then restrict them," he told BBC's Breakfast.
He said he would like to see mandatory lessons on motorways, in rural areas and in bad weather, and warned of the problems of policing the restrictions such as carrying young passengers.

Julie Townsend, of road safety charity Brake, welcomed the report, saying it was further recognition of the compelling case for graduated driver licensing.
She urged the government to act "swiftly and decisively" to commit to the system to help reduce the danger young drivers posed to themselves and others.

Currently drivers in England, Scotland and Wales need to pass a theory test, then a practical test before they can apply for a full driving licence. The minimum age to hold a full car licence is 17, or 16 for some people claiming mobility benefit.

Liverpool driving points scam sees more drivers jailed

The last batch of Liverpool drivers who paid a corrupt court official to illegally wipe points from their licences have been jailed.
In all, 28 customers and bogus Liverpool magistrates’ court worker David Kelly were sent to prison for more than 26 years for what police described as “blatant abuse” of the justice system.
This week, five people who availed themselves of the scam – said to be an open secret in Liverpool’s pubs and clubs – were convicted by a jury of perverting justice and fraud by false representation.


They include fugitive drug dealer Steven Blundell, 34, who was convicted in his absense.

The Halewood heroin baron is thought to have fled abroad after vanishing in April, just days before he was due to be sentenced over his leading role in a £1m drug ring.
Blundell, 34, of Leathers Lane, will be sentenced in Exeter when he is caught over the drugs matter.
The others convicted by a jury at Preston crown court are: Lee Cody, 32, of Capstick Crescent, Belle Vale - 18 months; Emma Sharkey, 29, of Edenfield Crescent, Huyton – eight months; Leon Wong, 30, of Carter Street, Toxteth – 12 months; Terence Nash, 27, of Marnwood Road, Kirkby – who fled halfway during his trial and is now wanted on warrant – 16 months.
Between 2004 and 2010, drivers faced with disqualification paid cash to middlemen, with forms sent from the court to the DVLA in Swansea illegally requesting that convictions be deleted.
Those detained include so-called reformed city mobster Stephen “The Devil” French, who was jailed for 10 months after he admitted paying to have convictions for speeding, jumping traffic lights and using a mobile phone erased from his licence.
Detective Chief Inspector Phil McEwan, today said: "We are quite clear, no one is above the law, the sentences given to these people sends out a clear message that we will not tolerate this type of fraudulent behaviour that serves to undermine the criminal justice system.
“This blatant abuse could have had serious implications for other road users.
“The public quite rightly have high expectations of those who work within the criminal justice system. Public corruption is an extremely serious offence that undermines public faith in the integrity of those who work in the criminal justice system. "The investigation into this matter took more than three years and I would like to thank all of those involved for their hard work in bringing all of these people to justice."
Rogue Dale Street court official David Kelly, 47, was jailed for six years last month for his “betrayal” of the criminal justice system in wiping points from drivers’ licences.
A court was told the agents were most likely middlemen linked to Liverpool’s criminal underworld, who would take a cut of the cash paid by the clerk’s customers.
The ECHO understands police believe there could be dozens more of Kelly’s customers to track down – who all paid to avoid disqualification from the roads.
It is known that Kelly helped 71 people – from all walks of society – in removing details of their convictions, disqualifications and penalty points on 110 occasions between 2004 and 2010.
Those convicted as customers of the driving points racket include former amateur boxing champion Lee Siner, members of the Ungi family and waste firm boss Jonathan Gaskell.
Dana Gledhill, Senior Crown Prosecutor said:  “I am pleased that the final defendants in the driving licence points conspiracy have been brought to justice.
“They sought to undermine the criminal justice system by paying to have endorsements removed from their driving licences.
“We have worked with Merseyside police to bring a strong case against them, and they must now face up to the consequences of their actions.”
A total of 29 people, including David Kelly, were charged as part of the investigation, launched in August 2010.
An HMCTS Spokesperson said: "HM Courts & Tribunals Service does not tolerate corruption.  Following a thorough internal investigation we have introduced more robust processes and controls to prevent or detect any abuse of this kind.
"In this case we have worked closely with the police to bring a member of staff and other offenders to justice."

Liverpool’s lawless drivers speed to top of the penalty points league

• One in eight drivers in the city have points on licence for traffic offences
• But Scotland tops the list with four out of the five worst areas for offences
• In Glasgow, one in seven drivers has penalty points on their licence
• Motorists in the 'EC' postcode of London are the country's best behaved

If you happen to be driving through Liverpool, you might want to take a little more care than usual.
Inhabitants of the city are some of the dodgiest drivers – clocking up more penalty points than any other place in England and Wales.
Figures have revealed that the city has the highest proportion of motorists with points on their licence, with one in eight drivers picking up endorsements for speeding or other driving offences.

Penalty points: A survey has revealed motorists in Liverpool commit the most traffic offences in England

Out of the 433,425 licensed drivers in the city, some 52,179 – or 12 per cent – have at least one point. And 1,802 people have collected a staggering nine or more points.
Liverpool was followed by Bournemouth where 11.5 per cent of drivers have points.
Other places on the list include Blackburn, Slough, Dorchester, Sunderland, Warrington, Chester, Manchester and Nottingham.

By contrast the area of England with the lowest proportion of penalty point transgressors is the ‘EC’ postcode of London, where just one in 18 has been caught committing a driving offence.
The area’s well-behaved motorists are followed by Truro in Cornwall, the ‘WC’ London postcode, Canterbury and Exeter.

But across the whole of the UK it is the Scots who are the penalty points leaders of Britain.
Motoring magazine Auto Express, who have analysed the figures in their latest edition, said: ‘The city of Glasgow and the surrounding area make up four of the five worst areas for driving offences.’
In Glasgow alone, one in seven of the city’s 634,252 drivers have points. Motherwell landed in second place, followed by Kilmarnock and Paisley.
The magazine added: ‘Liverpool may have the worst penalty point rate in England, with around 12 per cent of licensed drivers possessing endorsements.
‘But four of the other worst five postcodes in the UK for driving offences come from around the Glasgow area.’
However representatives of the charity who provided the original data rushed to defend Glaswegian drivers, saying the spike was simply down to high levels of traffic policing around the city.
Cycling charity CTC’s policy co-ordinator Chris Peck said: ‘It just can’t be just down to driver behaviour that one in eight Glasgow drivers has penalty points, but just one in 20 has in Shetland.’
Worst performers in Wales are Swansea where one in 10 (10 per cent) of the 462,165 drivers have points and Newport (also 10 per cent) - both just ahead of Bradford (10 per cent).
Nationally, across the UK more than 3.3 million motorists have endorsements on their licences – or 8.9 per cent of the total. And 97,562 have nine points or more.
Across the UK, Lerwick in the Shetland Islands has the lowest proportion of licensed drivers with points where just four per cent of the 14,956 drivers have endorsements, followed by the Outer Hebrides (4.9 per cent).
Cycling charity CTC which provided the original data believes the wide discrepancies between areas is mainly due to differing levels of traffic policing.
The charity’s policy co-ordinator Chris  Peck said: ‘It can’t be just down to driver behaviour that one in eight Glasgow drivers has penalty points, but just one in 20 has in Shetland.
'The loss of road traffic policing hasn’t been even. Overall, there are a third  fewer road traffic police today than there were 10 years ago – but the reduction has been greater in some forces than in others.’

 

Streets ahead: Drivers in Glasgow are the worst offenders in the UK, where one in seven has points

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M62 crash deaths caused by lorry driver as he read text

A man who killed a couple when his lorry toppled on to their car as he read a text message has been jailed for five years and three months.

Ethen Roberts' vehicle crushed Mark and Tamsie McHale's Audi on the M62 in West Yorkshire, in 2012.
Leeds Crown Court heard he had received a message less than two minutes before he hit the car, causing his lorry to jack-knife and topple over.
Roberts, 44, of Immingham, admitted causing death by dangerous driving.
When investigators analysed Roberts' phone they discovered he had received a message from a friend one minute and 16 seconds before his lorry veered into the couple's car.
'Superb teacher' They later found he had sent and received almost 100 messages to and from the same friend in the three days leading up to the smash - all when the lorry's tachograph showed the vehicle was being driven.
Mr McHale, 46, and his 43-year-old wife, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, had been travelling west on the M62, between junction 26 for Chain Bar and junction 25 at Brighouse, before the crash.
Hair and beauty salon owner Mr McHale and his wife, a deputy head teacher at Gilesgate Primary School, in County Durham, died at the scene, on 25 July.
Colleagues of Mrs McHale described her as having been an "absolutely fantastic person" and a "superb teacher".
Roberts, of Ings Lane, Immingham, North East Lincolnshire, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

Fixed penalty changes

Most motoring fixed penalties offences rise under the changes:

• a non-endorsable (where the driver does not receive points on their licence) £30 fixed penalty notice has risen to £50
• an endorsable (where points are given) £60 and non-endorsable fixed penalty notice has risen to £100
• an endorsable £120 fixed penalty notice has risen to £200
• the fixed penalty notice for driving with no insurance has risen from £200 to £300

Graduated fixed penalties (mainly for commercial goods and passenger carrying vehicles and including offences like drivers’ hours and overloading) and financial deposits (for drivers without a satisfactory UK address) have also increased:

• a £30 non-endorsable fine has risen to £50
• a £60 endorsable and non-endorsable fine has risen to £100
• a £120 endorsable and non-endorsable fine has risen to £200
• a £200 endorsable and non-endorsable fine has risen to £300

The consultation took place from 14 June 2012 to 5 September 2012.
As with other existing fixed penalty notice offences, such as speeding, police forces are also able to offer careless drivers the option of remedial training.
Endorsable road traffic offences contribute to a significant number of casualties. For example, in 2011, excess speed contributed to 213 deaths and using a mobile phone while driving contributed to 374 road casualties.
Though penalty levels have increase, penalty points will not change. Fixed penalty notices for parking, waiting and obstruction offences remain unchanged.

Fines

Careless drivers across Britain who hog lanes or tailgate can now be punished with on-the-spot police fines.

Under the new measures, officers can issue £100 fines and three points rather than taking drivers to court.
Ministers said it would make tackling problem motorists easier.
Fixed penalties for a number of offences, including using a phone or not wearing a seatbelt while driving, have also risen from £60 to £100.
More serious driving offences will still go through the courts and could result in much higher fines and penalties.
'Lives at risk' But people caught carrying out offences subject to the new penalties, which were first announced in June, will be able to choose between an on-the-spot fine or the chance to go on a driving course.
The move, which does not apply in Northern Ireland, brings careless or inconsiderate driving offences into line with the penalties for similar non-motoring fixed penalties. Drivers can still appeal against any decision through the courts.
Among the offences police are expected to focus on are:
• Driving too close to the vehicle in front
• Failing to give way at a junction (not requiring evasive action by another driver)

• Overtaking and pushing into a queue of traffic
• Being in the wrong lane and pushing into a queue on a roundabout
• Lane discipline, such as needlessly hogging the middle or outside lanes
• Inappropriate speed
• Wheel-spins, handbrake turns and other careless manoeuvres
Many such offences currently go unpunished because of the bureaucracy involved in taking a case to court.
Not only does a motorist have to be stopped by the police, but a summons has to be issued and evidence presented in court.
Road safety minister Stephen Hammond told BBC Breakfast that the fines had been increased to "reflect the severity and the seriousness of offences".
He added: "I think it's the right level to choose, and I'm convinced that it will be a deterrent for a number of people."
'Numbers game'  Responsible drivers would welcome the changes but added that a survey of 20,000 motorists suggested one in three could be caught out hogging the middle lane.

---

It's worth bearing in mind that this isn't a new offence, it is just another way of dealing with the current offence of "careless driving".
In the past, the police might have just given you a verbal warning - or in extreme cases taken you to court. Now they can do something in the middle. Give you a fine, and maybe points.
I am told that the police are expected to focus on situations involving slightly aggressive and inconsiderate driving.
We'll just have to wait and see how many fines get handed out and for exactly what kind of offence.

"We are pleased to see that at long last new powers and fines will be given to the police to tackle the top three pet hates of drivers - tailgaters, mobile phone abusers and middle-lane hogs," said AA president Edmund King.

Motoring group the RAC said fines were "one part of the solution" to bad driving.
"The question that still remains is how the traffic police will practically enforce this law," said technical director David Bizley.
Road safety charities have welcomed the government's attempt to crack down on careless driving but expressed concerns about the way the fines would be implemented.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said a "robust monitoring system" was needed to enforce the changes, with more training on the new powers needed for police officers.
Brake said that while it backed the introduction of fixed penalties, the level of fines should be increased to between £500 and £1,000 so they were "high enough to deter all bad drivers".
The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) said driver retraining courses would be more effective than fines at improving driving.
Chief executive Simon Best warned if the move "just becomes another numbers game, with thousands of careless driving tickets issued, then the impact will be limited".

The day of your Driving Test.

Ensure you take with you your provisional driving licence, this includes the plastic card and the paper counterpart. Without both of these, the examiner will terminate the driving test. Ideally, also take the test booking details. If they were emailed to you, print them out and also your theory test pass certificate.

The driving examiner will not ask to look at either of these, only your provisional driving licence, but it's a good idea to take them just incase there are any problems.

Certain driving test centres don't have on-site parking, some are combined with other local business addresses and may be a little difficult to get into. There may be security gates that need clearance for example, so arrive at the test centre 10 minutes early to ensure you get parked up and in the waiting room in time. Try not to arrive too early or you may be arriving as other test candidates are returning from the test. Blocking their access and generally getting in their way is not ideal. Try and find a parking position that will give you the easiest exit from the test centre. Many driving tests are failed simply leaving the test centre.

When you exit your car, before heading off to the waiting room, familiarise yourself on how to exit the test centre. Is the test centre exit obscured in anyway? Is there a pedestrian footpath before you reach the main road? Looking out for little things like this will give you a good and confident start.

Test centre waiting room

You have found yourself the best parking position to exit the test centre, familiarized yourself with the exit strategy, so it's off to the waiting room. As with waiting for anything like this, this part seems the longest of all. Try to chat with your instructor or the person that accompanied you, so to feel less nervous. In the mean-time, get both parts of your provisional licence at hand, as the examiner will need to see these. When the examiner enters the room, they will call your name out and ask to see your provisional driving licence. They will ask you if the address details on it are correct. If they are not, they will ask you to fill out the correct details on the back and sign it. They will then ask you to read and sign a declaration that confirms you are fully insured for the vehicle you will be driving.

Then finally, the examiner will ask if you wish your instructor to accompany you on the test. It's entirely up to you. Your instructor or the person accompanying you cannot say or persuade your driving in anyway during the test. If they do, the examiner may terminate the test. If by accompanying you, it makes you feel more at ease, then take them along. They must sit behind the driver side of the car. If you happen to be late for your test, the examiner will wait around 5 minutes for you in the waiting room. Any longer than this then the test will be cancelled and you will lose the test fee. Once all this is complete, the examiner will ask you to lead the way to the car.

The driving test eyesight test

Whilst leading the way to your car, the examiner will ask you to read a number plate off of a car of the examiners choice. This eyesight test will require you reading a new-style number plate from a distance of 20 metres or an old style plate at 20.5 metres.

These number plates are likely to be further than 20 metres, so if you fail to read the first plate correctly, the examiner will ask you to read a second plate. If you fail to read this one correctly, the examiner will ask you to move forward to an appropriate distance (approximately 20 or 20.5 metres). If you fail this time, the examiner will choose a third number plates and measure the exact distance needed for that style of number plate. If at this point you fail to read the number plate correctly, the examiner will terminate the driving test and it will be marked as a fail. If you wear glasses or contact lenses for the eyesight test, law requires that you must wear them for the actual driving test. The examiner will require you to sign a form stating that you failed to meet the minimum standards of the eyesight test and your licence will be revoked.

You will need to re-apply for your provisional driving licence. See How to start learning to drive for information on how to apply for a provisional driving licence. The DSA may then inform the test centre to conduct a separate eyesight test on your second attempt.

Show Me Tell Me questionsUnder the stress of test conditions, it can be easy to get these questions wrong or forget them. It's only 1 minor if you get them wrong so forget about it and move on with the test.

Driving test questions Now that we have made it to your car, the examiner will require you to answer 2 driving test questions, commonly known as the 'Show Me Tell Me' questions and answers. There are 19 of these questions in total with around a combination of 12 questions they may ask.They are related to maintenance and safety of your car. It is obviously a good idea to read up on these and to fully understand the questions and possible answers. Don't worry about what the combinations are, just know the answers to all 19 questions. Some of the questions are general and can relate to any car such as the legal tyre tread depth, but some are more specific to the particular car you are taking on your driving test. This type of question might be for example; Open the bonnet, identify where you would check the engine coolant level and tell me how you would check that the engine has the correct level. In this case, you will need to know how the bonnet of your car opens, how to hold the bonnet in place, where the engine coolant is and what the minimum and maximum level indicator for it is. If you do get one or even both of the questions incorrect, it will just go down as a minor. So don't stress about it and just move on to the next part of the test.

Driving test procedure

Now the driving part of the test will begin. The type of roads taken during your test largely depend on where the test centre is situated. The examiner will require that you show a sound knowledge, regard to others and safety at such road systems as:

• Roundabouts - These may include large, multi lane roundabouts and mini roundabouts.
• Junctions - From small, difficult to manoeuvre junctions, to major junctions leading onto high speed roads.
• Crossroads - Assessing your ability for making left and right turns.
• If one-way-systems are present on the test routes then these may be implemented.

If the test centre is located in such an area, then rural country roads could be implemented in the test and also dual carriageway roads. Just because all these road types may be present close to your test centre, it doesn't necessarily mean you will drive on them all. It is a good idea to get plenty of practice on all the road types just in case.

Driving test manoeuvres

During the test, the examiner will require that you demonstrate at least one manoeuvre. Generally, the independent part of the test had replaced one of the two manoeuvres previously required. Having said that, time permitting. the examiner may still ask you to demonstrate two manoeuvres. Possible manoeuvres are:

Turn in the road Reverse around a corner Parallel parking Bay parking

Turn in the road tutorial Reverse round a corner tutorial Reverse parallel parking tutorial Bay parking tutorial

Bay parking is only likely to be requested if there are bays present at the test centre. This manoeuvre will be requested at the start or the end of the test if applicable. If another test centre within appropriate range has bay parking available, it is also likely that you may drive to this test centre to perform the manoeuvre.

Generally, the turn in the road and reverse around a corner manoeuvres are the most common. Practice all of them to perfection however as this is the area of the test where the examiners are at their most lenient.

Driving test changes - independent driving

The driving test now incorporates the independent driving element. This will involve the examiner asking you to park on the left. They will then inform you that the independent part of the test is about to begin. This part of the test lasts around 10 minutes. The examiner will show you a basic diagram or map that they would like you to follow. For example, in relation to the map on the right, the examiner will point out where we are, which is the arrow at the bottom of the map. They will then say something similar to: "I would like you to move off and at the end of the road I'd like you to turn left. At the end of that road I would like you to turn right. At the roundabout, I would like you to turn right, third exit." They will then ask you if you understand and if you would like it repeated. The independent part of the test isn't to test your ability at navigation, it is about you following road signs safely. If you forget where you are supposed to go, simply ask the examiner to repeat, they will then have to. If you take a wrong turn, it doesn't matter providing you do it safely. If you get really muddled and confused as to where you are going, the examiner will simply give you directions to put you back on course.

Emergency stop

There is around a 1 in 3 possibility of the examiner asking you to demonstrate the emergency stop procedure. The examiner will ask you to park up and will then explain that he wants you to demonstrate the emergency stop. They will explain clearly what the command is for you to stop. The examiner will ensure that it is safe for you to perform this procedure.

At the end of the driving test

Once you have stopped, secured the car and turned the engine off at the test centre, the examiner will inform you if you have passed or failed the driving test. They will produce a test report and call your instructor over if they didn't go with you on the test. The examiner will describe to you and your instructor any errors you made and if applicable, why you failed.

If you passed, the examiner will provide you with a test pass certificate that will entitle you to drive immediately. They will also ask if you would like to have them send you your new licence. If so, they will require that you hand them your provisional licence as it is no longer valid. If you attended the test with a driving instructor, the instructor will usually drive you back home. The driving test will last for around 40 minutes.

Sat nav dangers

A mother killed a cyclist after taking her eyes off the road for almost 20 seconds as she fiddled with her sat-nav in her car, a jury heard yesterday.
Victoria McClure, 38, 'drove blind' as she attempted to use the zoom function on the device while driving down a 60mph road, the court was told.
There was no evidence that she braked before crashing into 46-year-old cyclist Anthony Hilson near Twyford, Berkshire, on a long straight section of road, the jury heard.
Mr Hilson, who was out for an early Sunday morning ride, died after suffering 'devastating and unsurvivable' injuries.
McClure, who was on the way to a baby shower, has admitted causing death by careless driving but denies the more serious offence of causing death by dangerous driving.
Prosecutor Matthew Walsh said motorists on the A4 Bath Road where the married father was killed would have typically had about 500m of clear visibility.
'Assuming for a moment she's travelling at the speed limit of 60mph, it takes about 18 seconds to cover the distance - that's the length of time she would have had the cyclist in her view,' he said.
'In other words, she had a window of about 18 seconds - maybe more, of course, if she was going slower - approaching the cyclist in order to see him.
'But she didn't. Did she try and take any avoiding action, braking or steering?
'Well, from the witnesses that were in the general area, nobody heard the sound of braking or horns or anything of that nature.
'There weren't any skidmarks on the road to suggest emergency braking or any evasive action.'
McClure was at the wheel of her Honda Accord when she crashed into the cyclist on September 16 last year.
The jury was told steering lightly to the right would have been enough to pass Mr Hilson as he travelled in the same direction on his Specialized road bike.
McClure said at the roadside and in a police interview that she had taken her eyes off the road to use her sat-nav, the court heard.
She allegedly told police officers she had been zooming in on her sat-nav and added: 'I looked up and it was too late. In the blink of an eye I just hit him. I didn't think I was going that fast.'
There was no suggestion McClure had been speeding, Mr Walsh added.

Crash scene: The accident happened on a long straight section of the A4 Bath Road (pictured) near Twyford, Berkshire, the court was told

During her police interview she was asked if she could offer any explanation as to where Mr Hilson had come from.
She replied: 'I think the cyclist was there all the time. I think I just didn't see him.'
McClure had admitted causing death by careless driving, Mr Walsh told jurors.
'In other words, she accepts she caused Mr Hilson's death that day, she says by careless driving.
'The prosecution say it goes beyond that, it was more than careless driving - it was dangerous driving.

Accused: McClure outside court where she is standing trial accused of causing death by dangerous driving. She has already admitted the less serious charge of causing death by careless driving

'To in effect drive blind for upwards of 18 seconds is dangerous driving.'
A post-mortem examination revealed that Mr Hilson had died of severe head and chest injuries.
Gill Cox, an editorial designer, told the court she and her husband Pete were on the way to church when she spotted what she initially thought was 'a pile of clothes' in the road.
While her husband, an ex-police officer, went to try and help Mr Hilson, Mrs Cox said she went to McClure's side.
She said: 'She was clearly very stunned and said "What have I done? I have probably wrecked some lives. If I have, how am I going to live with this?"'
Off-duty ambulance nurse Matthew Bailey was passing the scene at the time and stopped to offer assistance.
McClure, of Charvil, Reading, denies a single count of causing death by dangerous driving but has admitted causing death by careless driving.

DSA clamps down on illegal driving instructors

DSA clamps down on illegal driving instructors

Last month DSA and the Metropolitan police carried out a joint operation targeting illegal driving instructors in the Ilford and Barking areas.

Marked police cars were used to stop vehicles displaying L-plates and driving school signage. Candidates were asked if they had paid for instruction and instructors were asked to provide evidence of their entitlement to charge for giving lessons.

Andy Rice, DSA's Head of Fraud and Integrity, during the operation

During the operation, using 2 police cars, 48 vehicles with L-plates and driving school signage were stopped, the candidates asked if they’d paid for instruction and the instructors’ accreditation checked. This resulted in:

• the arrest of 1 person suspected of carrying out illegal instruction
• another person being issued with a warning and told not to instruct until they’d received their new ADI badge
• confiscation of 2 photocopied badges where the original was in another car
• confiscation of 2 out of date ADI badges
• 4 warnings for failure to display a valid badge

DSA’s Head of Fraud and Integrity, Andy Rice, said:

Operations of this nature are a vital part of our attempts to stop illegal driving instruction. Those carrying out the fraud have often not undergone any background checks, or an assessment of their ability to drive or teach, and their car insurance may also be invalid. This puts learners and other road users at risk.

I would like to thank all the approved driving instructors and members of the public who continue to give us information about illegal instruction. It is largely through their efforts that we’re able to continue our effective work in stopping fraudulent instructors.

We investigate all reported cases and work closely with the police to identify offenders and bring them to justice.

ADI Registrar, Mark Magee, said:

The message is clear: if you’re not approved by DSA, but continue to undertake paid instruction, then expect to face the penalty.

Find out how to report illegal driving instructors

safe driving for life

New website to help road users improve their skills

The Safe Driving for Life website (www.safedrivingforlife.info), developed by DSA in partnership with its official publishers, TSO, will be rolled out in 4 phases. The website has useful information for both learners and experienced drivers and riders, instructors and professional drivers and riders.
Phase 1 is available now and includes:

• the learners’ section
• the Safe Driving for Life shop
• practice theory tests for car, motorbike, lorries, buses and coaches
• a suitability tool for people to test whether they’re cut out to be an ADI

The learner driver section of the Safe Driving for Life website

The other 3 phases will all be launched by August 2013, with development continuing beyond then according to user needs and interests.
GOV.UK remains the official website for all government services and information about learning to drive, including booking tests.

spending review

Spending Review: Energy and transport to get share of £100bn

The government has unveiled what it claims is the most ambitious modernisation of the UK's national infrastructure in a generation.

Between, 2015-2020, £100bn will be spent from on projects including road maintenance, new homes and boosting new sources of energy, including shale gas.

Treasury Minister Danny Alexander said it was putting "long-term priorities before short-term political pressures".

But Labour says investment was needed sooner to turn round the economy.

The announcement of the government's infrastructure plans came a day after Wednesday's Spending Review, in which £11.5bn of cuts to Whitehall departments were announced.

The first £50bn will be committed to infrastructure projects starting in 2015-16 and the rest for 2016-20.

The main funding commitments include:

• £3bn to build 165,000 new affordable homes
• £28bn for road improvements
• £10bn to clear "backlog" of school building repairs
• 850 miles of railway to be electrified as part of £30bn rail investment
• £250m for extended super-fast broadband to rural areas
• £370m for upgrading flood defences
• £150m for health research including into dementia

"This is an ambitions plan to build an infrastructure that Britain can be proud," he said.

Mr Alexander said the road building programme was the largest for 40 years and the support for new homes the most substantial for more than two decades.

He said unused government-owned land will be sold to facilitate home building, while there will be new guarantees to help the building of new nuclear plans and tax incentives brought in for shale gas projects.

His speech came as a report was being published showing that the UK's shale gas reserves were much greater than previously thought.

The transport plans focused mainly on roads and railways.

Mr Alexander said £10bn would be spent on dealing with the UK's "decaying" road network with 21,000 miles of roads to be resurfaced and new lanes to be added to

Among to the roads which will be upgraded the A14, which runs from Catthorpe, in Leicestershire, to Felixstowe, in Suffolk.

Mr Alexander said the spending on roads was the same as the cost of filling 19m potholes.

On rail, he restated plans to electrify large parts of the network and increased the budget for the proposed HS2 line connecting London and seven of the largest ten UK cities, to more than £42bn.

He also confirmed that £2m feasibility funding would be provided for London's proposed Crossrail 2 project, but said Mayor Boris Johnson's challenge was to work out how the private sector could meet half the cost of the scheme.