Eco-Safe Driving On Test
Changes to the Driving Test
We all recognise that transport is an essential part of our lives and most of us also recognise that the environmental consequences of driving are immense. The emissions produced by vehicles cause damage to the environment. Vehicle manufacturers are devoting time, effort and money developing technology that will ensure that vehicles become more environmentally friendly.
But those of us who are learning to drive can also help by adopting a driving style to one that uses less fuel, and as a result produces less polluting chemicals. And of course the less fuel we use the more money we can save ourselves!
Over the last few years or so the Driving Standards Agency has invested a great deal of time and effort in developing the principles of ’Eco-safe driving’. During the process they looked at the following areas, and these have now been included in the revised style of driving that is examined on a driving test:-
- Enhanced hazard perception and awareness skills
- Selective use of gears
- Progressive use of accelerator
- Compliance with speed limits
- Utilisation of engine braking/torque
- Use of cruise control
The recently published version of ‘Driving – the essential skills’ has an entire chapter on ‘Eco-safe driving’ and you will find much more information there. There is also a chapter on ‘Avoiding congestion’.
You may already use some of the techniques when you are driving, but we found that even the most experienced driver can benefit from further development.
If you adopt your driving to include these changes you will become a more environmentally friendly, economically aware driver and may enjoy your journeys more as they become less stressful and more comfortable.
However, although it is good to be aware of environmental issues and save fuel it is even more important that you do not compromise your safety and that of other road users while you are doing so. At all times you should be prepared to adapt to changing conditions and it may be that you have to sacrifice fuel saving for safety.
The DSA have conducted a number of trials of this revised style using drivers of different levels of experience, ranging from novices to experts. Across that range it was demonstrated that savings can be achieved between 5% and 17%, (averaging 8.5%) in fuel used, and as a consequence a reduction in the volume of atmosphere polluting chemicals produced. As a general rule of thumb it is fair to say that the less experienced drivers are able to demonstrate greater savings.
During a recent experiment, a number of driving instructors were invited to take part in a trial at the Cardington test centre. Eddie Barnaville, Driving Instructors Association, reported in an article in ‘Driving Instructor’, ‘Over the 16km drive on the 2nd run, not only did I average 2 or 3 mph faster, saving one and half minutes, but more importantly I saved 10% on my fuel bill!’.
It is probably fair to say that some representatives arrived to take part in the demonstration with a cynical view of ‘Eco-safe driving’. But by the end of the day they had been converted and in all cases were able to show a saving in fuel used.
The EU 3rd Directive on Driving Licences, states that all licence acquisition driving tests, (excluding category B) will contain an element that considers the environmental driving of the candidate. Although category B is currently excluded, there is no guarantee that this will remain so and we should all be prepared for what may happen in the future.
Ultimately it would be good to see all drivers taking on board the principles of ‘Eco-safe driving’ and by introducing them into new-driver training , should lead to a group of drivers who from day-one drive in an environmentally friendly way.
A driver who demonstrates a ‘satisfactory’ assessment in each of the ‘Eco-safe’ topic area will use less fuel, and release less polluting chemicals into the atmosphere, than a driver who drives to an ‘unsatisfactory’ standard.
At the moment it is proposed that no matter how ‘unsatisfactory’ the ‘Eco-safe driving’ of the candidate is, no more than one driving fault will be recorded against that heading. This will be reviewed as time goes by. However, although a fault will not necessarily be recorded against ‘Eco-safe driving’ it may be that a fault, assessed as ‘driving’, ‘serious’ or ‘dangerous’, could be recorded against a different subject heading on the Driving Test Report, i.e. item 12 Control – gears, item 26 Awareness/planning.
Driving lessons for all type of Driver Training – Learners, ADI’s, Fleet & Taxi Training
With a wide network of DfT Approved Driving Instructors at Grade 5 or above throughout Merseyside, we can provide a variety of structured training and driving lessons that meets the needs of pre- and post-test drivers.
Our objective is to provide high quality training that reflects the needs and aspirations of each individual candidate. Instead of the usual ‘one size fits all’ approach to driving instruction, we tailor our tuition and lessons to the individual.
Poor driver behaviour is the cause of 95% of car crashes: Directions’ tuition and coaching targets behaviour and attitude as well as driving skills.
We can provide all the training you need including:
- Learner Driver Training & Pass Plus
- Advanced Driver Training
- Fleet & Taxi Driver Training
- ADI Driving Instructor Training parts 1, 2 & 3
- ADI check test training
- NVQ Assessments
YOUNG DRIVERS TRAIN FOR SUCCESS
Scheme offers hope for improving road safety
Nine young people received an award on Saturday (7th February) after successfully completing a pioneering road safety driving course aimed at giving over 16’s the opportunity to learn more about road safety and responsibility and also to gain experience of vehicle control off the public highway, in a safe and controlled environment.
With over 233 road collisions across Liverpool in 2007 involving 16-24 year olds, the course has been aimed at reducing this figure in years to come. The scheme has been developed by Knowsley based Directions Driver Training, in a joint venture with Liverpool Youth Service. The group of 16 – 21 year olds have been undertaking a combination of theory workshops and in-car training sessions over several weeks.
Tina Preston, Head of Training at Directions Driver Training who has been working on the project for a year said, “By helping young people to understand where, why and how they are at risk, and giving them some practical skills to cope on today’s busy roads, they are less likely to become involved in a road collision. We are encouraging them to take responsibility for their attitudes and resultant behaviour, and giving them a viable alternative.”
Local businesses have also backed this innovative approach to tackling what is a growing problem, by helping to get the scheme off the ground. Jaguar at Halewood allowed Directions Driver Training to develop the student’s car control skills on their private land and Morrisons kindly provided use of their new training room at their popular Speke supermarket. Neil McCarthey, Store Manager commented, “We are pleased to be able to offer our support and improve the opportunities for young people in Liverpool. It’s great to see their enthusiasm for learning new skills and responsibilities.”
A further course is already underway giving young people in Speke something interesting and extremely useful to put their energies into. Carole Darnell, Senior Youth Worker at Parklands, Speke, commented, “We can see that the course will engage 16year olds and older in something that interests them. This training scheme gives them important skills as well as building their confidence.”
MIRROR, SIGNAL, MANOEUVRE!
LIVERPOOL TEENS LEARN TO DRIVE RESPONSIBLY
Liverpool teenagers were given an exhilarating spin in a Land Rover in recognition of their effort after passing a Government-funded responsible driving scheme. A group of nine teenagers aged as young as 16 from across the city were taught essential driving skills along with motoring theory lessons by Liverpool Youth Service and a local driving company in a scheme funded by a Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF). The project was made possible when car manufacturing giant Jaguar Land Rover offered land at their Halewood plant as the perfect place for the young people to practise their driving skills.
To celebrate the successful project, Jaguar Land Rover arranged for the youngsters to swap their usual driving instructor’s car for a test drive in a top-of-the-range Land Rover. The teenagers were driven by a specially trained instructor around the site’s specially constructed off road track, where utility vehicles after put through their paces. Now more teenagers are taking part in a similar project at the Halewood plant, with the possibility of the project being rolled out across the city because of its soaring popularity. The scheme was being backed by Merseyside Police, with a police traffic officer and a representative from Liverpool Council’s road safety team coming to speak to the teenagers.
Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF) and Youth Capital Fund (YCF) grants are administered by Liverpool City Council and funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) for positive leisure activities and events and facilities to improve the lives of young people. The ultimate decision about where the money is spent is made by local young people, who can apply for grants and also sit on a Youth Panel to decide who gets the cash.
The project was the brainchild driving instructors Jo Webster and Tina Preston from Liverpool-based Directions Driver Trainer Ltd, who joined forces senior youth worker Tracy Ramsey from Liverpool Youth Service. Realising that learning how to drive early could both give young people a head start in their careers and also provide Liverpool with its next generation of responsible drivers, Tracy got local young people on board. Teenagers from central Riverside, Kirkdale, West Derby and Toxteth applied for a £1,200 YOF to cover the costs of the course.
Tracy Ramsey said: “We are really grateful to both Jaguar Land Rover and the Youth Opportunity Fund for making this happen. This scheme literally wouldn’t have taken place without the relevant funding and the private land for our young people to drive on. It is really great to see a company with a large presence in the region giving something back and working with the Government to provide positive activities for young people.”
Martin McIntyre, Senior Road Safety Officer with Liverpool City Council said: “Young drivers have a higher than average representation among driving casualties. Any quality training scheme that can improve young driver education will be commended and supported by the city council.” The young people were taught basic driving skills including reversing, emergency stops, steering, changing gears and checking mirrors. They were also taught motoring theory and given ‘beer goggles’ to see first hand the effect alcohol can have on drivers.
Driving instructor Jo Webster from Directions Driver Training said: “We have wanted to do a project like this for more than a year, as we were keen to put something back into the community and to encourage young people to do something constructive with their spare time. We were very clear that the teenagers would not get behind the wheels of a car unless they put the time in with the motoring theory lessons. The young people have responded really well, and I’ve definitely seen a major change in their awareness of issues like drink driving and wearing seat belts.”
If you are a young person and would like to apply for a YOF or YCF grant, you can get more information by logging onto: www.lys.org.uk. The money distributed is part of the Government’s Aiming High for Young People strategy for positive activities, and more than £3.96m has been made available to young people in Liverpool between 2008 and 2011. The purpose of the fund, which is administered by Liverpool City Council, is to enable local young people to decide what positive leisure-time activities and facilities should be available to them and other teenagers and at times when young people most want them, such as Friday and Saturday nights. Experience shows that young people are more likely to get involved in positive activities when they have a say in what is available, and that taking part helps them to learn new skills, as well as divert them from behaviour that might be considered by the wider community as anti-social.
Joint drink-drive initiative launched by DIA and DDE+
Drink driver education plus (DDE+), the drug and alcohol road safety charity, is working with the Driving Instructor Association to take a different approach to drink driving.
DDE+ Project Leader Roger Singer said “It’s all very well saying don’t drink drive, but people need to know not to – they need to know the numbers – how long that pint of Stella, glass of wine or Alco pop takes to process till they are alcohol free and therefore fit to drive”. Charity Trustee Mrs Jo Black added “This year we want to tell younger drivers and those who will get their licence in the near further, how to manage alcohol and driving. We are doing that through an interactive DVD tutor pack which many schools and colleges are building into their tutorials.”
The DVD pack takes about 45 minute, it has a before and after questionnaire a calculator to show students how to calculate when they will be alcohol free and therefore fit to drive. The DVD tells the story of Jane and Rob, who go out for a drink one evening. They don’t drive home of course but think they will be fine to drive the next day. Next morning they get stopped because they have a brake light out, get breathalysed and are still over the limit from the night before. We see them go though the arrest process, get photographed, DND sampled, fingerprinted and placed in a cell. Next we meet them in court where they are banned for a year.
At this point the DVD pauses for a discussion on how that would be for the viewers: what would be for the implications, effects and outcomes, for them, their families and society in general? What if the worst happened: a crash, injury, death?
When the DVD resumes it has a short quiz to see what people know before learning module. It then gives the answers and goes on to show how long certain drinks take to process and how to work out when you will be fit to drive. Each drink has a time attached to it e.g. a pint of Stella takes on average three hours for your body to process. By the end you will know how long all your favourite drinks take so you can calculate when you will be fit to drive. Recent research from road safety charity Brake found that 24 per cent of convicted drivers were less than 24 years of age. Mr Singer said “Add to that the number of ‘morning after’ convictions – almost one in five – and you can see potential for change”.
DDE+ is the charity arm of Drink Driver Education, a none-profit organisation that runs course for convicted drivers under the department for transport drink driver rehabilitation scheme. Mrs Black said “We meet many convicted young drivers who would not have done it if they had known the facts.
For more information visit DDE+
Setting the standard?
Having read a recent press release from the Driving Standard Agency (DSA) one couldn’t help wonder why only ‘new drivers’ are targeted when it comes to death & serious injury in road related incidents. Sensibly the Agency is advising newly-qualified drivers to take up a course aimed to producing safer drivers, helping to reduce road deaths and injuries in the process.
DSA Chief Executive Rosemary Thew was quoted in the press release as saying that “one in five deaths on British roads involves newly-qualified drivers”. We agree this figure makes grim reading and this is the perfect time of year to drive in typical British weather; but I feel we may be missing the bigger picture. These figures are also saying that four out of every five deaths on British roads each year involve experienced drivers, yet what is being done to promote ‘safe driving for life?’ I appreciate that newly qualified drivers make up only a small percentage of all drivers and that they are over represented in KSI statistics, but what example are novice drivers being set by these supposedly better qualified drivers?
Older, not wiser
Only the other day I was following a driver displaying P-plates, who was obeying the 20mph speed limit, along a road containing a series of blind summits, hidden junctions and a continuous white line system. A following 4×4, driven by a well dressed middle-aged gentleman, decided to overtake the pair of us, narrowly avoiding oncoming traffic, while on the wrong side of the carriageway, before cutting up in front of us while braking sharply, down to avoid setting off a safety camera. One could argue that just because the gentleman was driving a 4×4 and well dressed doesn’t necessarily mean he was an experienced driver; but how often have you heard drivers say “If I took my driving test again I know I wouldn’t pass,” and then offer you a lift home? It is as if they take great pleasure from being incompetent.
How many electricians do you hear say “If I wired up a house today it would probably burn down,” and then give you a quote? If you take some time to look at the drivers, who block junctions, break speed limits or drive dangerously, it is generally not the ‘at risk’ age groups. If we want newly qualified drivers to act responsibly they have to see responsible driving as the norm. we spend too much time stereotyping sections of the driving public and focusing on what they do badly rather than promoting what they are doing competently. For example: we tend to label older drivers as ‘dithery and always driving up motorways the wrong way’ and youngsters as ‘hooligans with no respect for anyone other than themselves’.
Pass Plus vs advanced
If you consider that around 11 per cent of new drivers take up Pass Plus, which some may see as disappointing, and then compare this figure with the number of drivers as a whole who undertake an advanced driving test each year, you will find those taking Pass Plus outweigh the advanced candidates by almost ten to one. Those people taking Pass Plus are to be congratulated rather than tarred with the same brush. Presentations have been made to shock youngsters into developing safer attitudes or planning what might happen to them once they lose their licence. All of which contain sound advice and do make them think; but all of the time they see other people getting away with bad driving it is hard to convince them that they could end up the same way as those unfortunate people in the presentations.
Setting the standard
As in many countries experienced drivers set their own highway code and decide on what rules they wish to break. The current ‘Think’ campaign has helped to bring the subject of road safety into the public domain, but we do need to build on this positive initiative. In France they are making encouraging progress by labelling dangerous driving as ‘road violence’. Gradually it is becoming socially irresponsible to speed and this is already having a knock on effect for less experienced drivers. Recent partnerships between DIAmond, Lancashire County Council and the Army have seen young soldiers benefit from our ‘Enhanced Driving’ Course. Although many have held their licences for just a few months they respond well to the additional training in exactly the same way as the more experienced drivers. It is noticeable while training, on a ratio of two trainees to one trainer, how the more competent driver can set a positive example. These novices do not want to drive badly – quite the opposite: the majority are responsive and enjoy the experience of tackling new situations.
Learning to drive
As for ‘safe driving for life’, the Learning to Drive consultation document indicated that vocational qualifications would be set up to help employers who feel that the current standards of the driving test do not provide them with the confidence to employ new drivers. Ever since I began to deliver fleet training it became clear there really isn’t a uniform standard for trainers to follow, or a recognised qualification for the poor unwilling company driver who is told “You’re on a driving course tomorrow”. Rewarding drivers with recognised qualifications could be a positive step forward to improving road safety and one that would relieve the ‘duty of care’ burden now placed on employers. Let’s hope that in 2009 we can put as much effort into finding solutions as we have done researching the problems.
Flu as dangerous as drink driving behind the wheel
Driving while suffering from flu increases the risk of a road accident as much as two glasses of whisky, according to a new study. Using a driving simulator, researchers found that people who drove with heavy colds or the flu took 10 per cent longer to react than healthy drivers. This caused them to travel up to two extra metres at 60mph before they started to brake. Drivers under the influence were also less aware of potentially hazards on the road if they were feeling ill, the study found. Road safety experts warned that the effects could be further compounded by many cold remedies, available without prescription which can cause severe drowsiness, and by drinking alcohol.
The department for transport figures show that there were at least 93 fatal accidents on Britain’s roads in 2007 for which illness or disability was a contributing factor. The study found the reaction times of 60 volunteers suffering from cold or flu with those of 50 healthy drivers. Having a headache or suffering from premenstrual tension was also found to impair driver’s abilities, but not as much as the flu, the study, carried out by the firm PCP in York, on behalf of Lloyds TSB insurance.
Jo Stagg, from the Royal Society for the prevention of accidents (RoSPA) said “if you are not well enough to undertake your journey you could be putting yourself and other people on the road at risk. We know that illness can impair driving ability as they can slow reactions, reduce observation and even limit the ability to make good judgements. Drivers who are feeling ill should always exercise care with the medicines they use, for instance cough syrups which can cause drowsiness, and always read the label.”
Experiments by the Australian Academy of Science have shown that drinking alcohol, the equivalent of two glasses of whisky, can impair reaction times by 10 per cent.
The legal drink-drive limit is 80mg per 100 millilitres of blood, although the department of health warns that this cannot easily be translated into units of alcohol.
Examiner wins court case for driving test whiplash
An examiner could be awarded up to £15,000 after suffering whiplash injuries during what he called ‘the worst test of his career’
Andrew Carmichael, 35 suffered injuries when test candidate Lisa Connolly braked sharply with the wrong foot, forcing another vehicle to take evasive action. He subsequently sued NIG insurance, insurers of the Vauxhall Corsa used on test.
The Court of Session in Edinburgh ruled that the examiner’s injury, describing Mr Carmichael as a ‘reliable and accurate’ witness. The judge said that Mrs Connolly ‘was not in control of the car as she ought to have been, and her inexperience and nervousness is not a defence.’
In what Mr Carmichael described as a ‘memorable’ examination, Miss Connolly mounted the pavement during the reverse parking manoeuvre and got stuck during her turn in the road. A further hearing will determine damages.
Driving test impersonator sentenced to 15 months
A driving test fraudster was joined in the dock at Luton Crown Court by the candidates with whom he had conspired to impersonate.
Following a lengthy investigation by the Driving Standards Agency and the police, Mohammad Ahmed Hameed, 37 of Luton was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment. At a previous hearing the court heard that Hameed had carried out over 40 theory test impersonations in an 18 month period. Four of the candidates he had falsely represented were also in court having been convicted on charges of conspiracy.
Sobhi El Husseini, 37, of Maida Vale; Mohammad Zaatari; 32, of West London; Omar Benlfekier 35, of Croydon; and Aziz Hassan, 28, of West London were sentenced to a two month imprisonment each.
Judge Burke at Luton Crown Court said that the imprisonment of the fraudsters was intended to act as a deterrent to others who conduct impersonations at driving tests.
DSA Head of Fraud and Integrity Team Andrew Rice said; “People who impersonate driving tests present a real risk to all road users as they provide an entitlement to drive to those who have not been assessed to show that they are competent to do so. In addition to obtaining the qualification to drive, many people seek possession of full U.K driving license to establish proof of identity. Once obtained that licence may also be used as proof of identity in a variety of other circumstances.”
Transport Commitee’s Report
The long awaited report from the Transport Committee outlining recommended reforms to the driver licensing system, aimed at tackling the high number of casualties on the roads among young drivers was presented to Parliament and the Media last week.
A radical overhaul has been recommended to the driver training system in the UK, including a mandatory 12-month minimum learning period taken with a qualified A.D.I., a raise in the minimum age of learner drivers to 18 years of age and a rudimentary form of graduated licensing. The proposals were released to the media last week amongst much anticipation and are included in a report entitled Novice Drivers and includes 6 out of 9 recommendations made in a DIA report, Safer Drivers, Safer Roads. If taken up by Parliament, the changes would represent the most radical shake up of the driving training process since the introduction of the driving test itself.
Other recommendations in the report include: a new structured syllabus with hazard perception training; mandatory dual controls for all cars presented for test; an extension of the driving test to include motorway driving; and restrictions on newly qualified drivers (regardless of age) for a 12-month post-test period (e.g. a zero alcohol limit and a prohibition on carrying passengers aged 10 – 20 between the hours of 11pm and 5am.
There have been many unsubstantiated claims and interpretations of the (now) proposed changes but remember – it is not law until passed by Parliament and until that time the current rules still apply!
Despite representing only one in eight licence holders, 17 – 25 year olds are involved in a third of all deaths on UK roads.
Chairman of the House of Commons Transport Committee (responsible for the report and its recommendations), Gwyneth Dunwoody MP said, “Bold measures are required to reduce the number of people killed and injured in crashes involving young drivers. Novice drivers are extremely vulnerable and pose considerable risks to their passengers and other road users. Our report recommends a wholesale reform of the driver licensing regulations. Anything less will not address the reality of the risks.
“We cannot continue to waste young lives. The implementation of the measures in this report would go a long way to improve the safety of young and novice drivers, and other road users. The government and the police must ensure that no-one can ignore the licensing system and drive illegally. There may be in excess of a million people driving without a valid license. Enforcing existing traffic law, must be a top priority.”
The Chief Executive of the D.I.A. Eddie Barnaville said, “This represents a victory for common sense. The Transport Committee’s report must not be left to gather dust and die like so many young people.”
Read the full report at: www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmtran.htm.
