Congratulations to Lucy

Congratulations to James

Wednesday 6 Nov 2013

Congratulations to James Charlwood who passed today at the first attempt with a good report (only 6 errors).  

Well done James - World Champion 2019!

Congratulations to Georgina

Congratulations to Georgina Armstrong who passed today with a good report.  

Well done - she’s a legend!

Congratulations to Deimantas

Tuesday 3 Sep 2013

Congratulations to Deimantas Brokas who passed today at the 1st attempt with only 6 driver errors.  

Well done - impressive drive!

IAM issues driving tips for young motorists

By Paul Lucas 09 August 2013

At times, it can seem like there is nothing but negativity surrounding young drivers in the UK. From high accident statistics to incredible car insurance rates, young motorists have a poor reputation that is difficult to escape from.

However, what young drivers may really need is a little help: which is why with Youth Day approaching the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has issued its top tips to help them drive safer.

Peter Rodger, one of Britain’s top advanced drivers makes the following suggestions:

- When learning to drive it’s likely you will receive information about carrying out basic checks to your vehicle, such as tyre tread and pressure; lights; mirrors and windows; and fluid levels. Remember to carry out these checks at least once a week.

- Remember the drink driving law: you are permitted up to 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. As this is almost impossible to judge, it’s better to completely avoid alcohol before driving – and remember there may still be alcohol in your blood in the morning if you attempt to drive after a heavy night out.

- When you pass your test your friends will usually ask them to taxi you around. Passengers are one of the greatest distractions for drivers so make sure you focus on the road.

- As a learner you won’t be able to go on a motorway: so it can be daunting to travel on a high speed road for the first time. However, they are statistically the safest roads in the UK. If you’re still nervous you could consider a Pass Plus course with your driving instructor to give you this experience while also helping lower car insurance quotes.

- Speaking of car insurance, many insurers will price you out of the market: take advantage of comparison websites to get cheaper deals and look out for “black box” policies that will lower your premiums if you have a telematics box fitted into your car.

Congratulations to Ian

Tuesday 2 Jul 2013

Congratulations to Ian Robinson who passed today with only 3 driver errors.  Well done - impressive drive!

Congratulations to Tiki

Congratulations to Tiki Muir who passed today with only 4 driver errors.  We're gonna miss those philosophical chats!

Congratulations to Naomi

Congratulations to Naomi Coleman who passed today at the first attempt, with only 4 driver errors. Seldom do we see such an impressive effort!

Congratulations to Danny

Congratulations to Danny Gillard who passed today with only 2 driver errors. I sat in the back and I was impressed!

Vulnerable road users need much more protection, says IAM

As UN Global Road Safety week puts worldwide pedestrian safety under the spotlight the IAM is asking the UK government and car makers to make pedestrian friendly car fronts a top priority. The government should be taking the lead in lobbying the European Commission and car makers to make radical changes so that vulnerable road users can get the same five star protection as those sitting in the vehicle.

The number of deaths and serious injuries to car occupants fell by 524 in 2011 but amongst vulnerable road users they increased:

• Pedestrians - 48 more killed, 254 more seriously injured
• Cyclists - four fewer killed, 425 more seriously injured

Since 2006, car occupant’s deaths and serious injuries have fallen by 35% but for pedestrians the fall is just 16 per cent, while cyclist deaths and serious injuries have increased by 31 per cent. Car occupants benefit increasingly from the high standards of crash protection brought about by the Euro NCAP crash testing programme, ensuring more four and five-star cars than ever are on the market. Improvements to the front of cars that would benefit pedestrians and cyclists in a collision have simply not kept pace.

New research by IAM shows that the average Euro NCAP rating for car occupants in super minis in the last three years is eighty-two per cent while for pedestrians it is much lower, at 53 per cent. There needs to be a new focus on bringing pedestrian safety up to the level now enjoyed by car occupants.

IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “While the people in the car are much safer, in the case of a crash with a pedestrian or cyclist, the front of the car is not as forgiving. Much more can and should be done through car design to minimise the damage caused by hard metal on soft tissue.”

How to do a perfect parallel park

The parallel park is one of the set manoeuvres you may be asked to demonstrate during your practical test.

During your practical test your examiner will ask you pull up on the left about 4-5 car lengths behind a parked vehicle.  You will then be given the following briefing:

"I would like you to demonstrate a parallel park using the vehicle ahead of you as your target vehicle.  I want you to move off safely and stop parallel to the target vehicle. Then I want you to reverse into your parking position a safe distance from the kerb and finish with the wheels straight.  Please keep within 2 cars from the back of the target vehicle and leave enough room to move off in a forward gear.  When you are ready, drive on"

Congratulations to Jessi

Congratulations to Jessi Hill who passed today with only 3 driver errors.  Now that's a pretty good drive and a very nice smile!

The Full Hazard Drill

MSPSLADA

Use the full Hazard Drill in good time as you approach a hazard

Chichester 20mph Consultation

Chichester 20mph

With 20mph limits, West Sussex County Council (WSCC) aims to breathe new life into Chichester's streets. The vision of 20mph will help to create more pleasant communities for us all to enjoy. Slower speeds and reduced car use for local trips will lead to a less noisy and more people-centred community.

Safer

Residents living in 20mph streets should feel safer and more able to use local roads to go to work, school and the shops or doctors. At 20mph accidents are less serious and there are fewer deaths.

Healthier

Most people feel safer in a 20mph street, so find it easier to cross the road, ride their bicycle and play out, allowing people of all ages to make healthier travel choices.

Quieter

A 20mph limit encourages more considerate driving, particularly for short trips. This makes for quieter streets and enables neighbours to get to know each other.

Local

When people feel able to use roads safely, they choose to use local shops rather than travel out of area. Neighbourhoods with 20mph streets encourage more walking and cycling which reduces congestion and pollution.

National context

Nationally, a number of Local Authorities have already introduced a 20mph limit in response to concerns about road safety, health and the environment. Central government policy has made it easier to implement schemes without the need for road humps.

WSCC's transport policy reflects the national position and we are committed to working with communities where concerns about traffic speed are raised. In Chichester, residents have been calling for a 20mph speed limit for a number of years. We have worked closely with the community to understand the level of support for a 20mph limit, and conducted a consultation in the summer of 2012.

Over three quarters of the 5,613 residents who responded were in favour of implementing 20mph limits on residential roads in Chichester. WSCC councillors therefore approved a recommendation to go ahead with the scheme.

Design of scheme

WSCC has carefully designed the scheme to reflect national and local policy. All roads where the lower speed limit will apply are residential, less than 400 metres long and have previously had an average speed lower than 24mph. The lower limit can apply in other situations, such as where there is a history of accidents or outside a school.

After careful analysis, members of the South Chichester County Local Committee concluded that the lower limit should extend to all of Chichester’s residential roads, except A and B roads.

Engagement and education

Speed limit signs are only one dimension of a 20mph scheme. For a scheme to be successful, it is vital there is community support and ownership of the objectives. We are working with a range of community groups including: residentsand community associations, voluntary groups, schools, social clubs and local businesses.

Partners of WSCC, such as Sussex Police, the Fire & Rescue Service, Chichester District Council and the NHS, will all work together to ensure the approach is supported. When Members agreed the scheme, part of the budget was assigned specifically to carry out community engagement and education initiatives.

Cost of scheme

The total budget is £100,000, with around £70,000 allocated to install signs and/or markings on the highway. Any separate measures for education will be an additional cost, of up to £30,000.

Separate traffic calming measures may be considered at a later date but only if they are required to reduce speeds.

Enforcement

Sussex Police are able to enforce any legally established speed limit. They follow Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) advice and do not undertake routine enforcement of 20mph limits.

If a limit is correctly assessed and implemented, active enforcement should not be necessary. Sussex Police support the view that 20mph speed limits are community sponsored initiatives and as such, the community should play a major part in reducing speed and influencing driver behaviour.

More.........

Who, what, why: How do you parallel park? - BBC News

Who, what, why: How do you parallel park? - BBC News:

Who, what, why: How do you parallel park? BBC News A video of a driver spending 30 minutes repeatedly failing to reverse into a generous parking space has become an internet hit. But how do you parallel park successfully? As an instructional video on how not to do something it's masterful. Over the course of half an hour a hapless but determined driver tries and spectacularly fails to parallel park between two cars a good distance apart. The duration and infamy of the episode aside, it's an experience that many people can relate to. Sometimes everything just falls into place - you turn the wheel and the car slips elegantly backwards into a space that barely accommodates its length. At other times - usually with a queue of traffic building up - a wheel mounts the kerb, a hubcap is scraped, the bumper of a neighbouring car is nudged, or the car is left stranded several feet from the pavement. The woman took about half an hour to park her car There are many other failed attempts to complete the manoeuvre on YouTube to underline the fact that this is a common problem. Among the offerings are a bid to park a Mini in a space simply not mini enough for it, a man using a space so small that he has to turn his wheel a dozen times and jolts the neighbouring cars with every movement, and a car reversing heavily into the one behind it - repeatedly. So, how are drivers supposed to parallel park? "We as human beings are not genetically programmed to go backwards, so reversing in general is really quite difficult when you're learning to drive," says Kevin Delaney, head of road safety at the Institute of Advanced Motorists. "If you're driving forwards you turn the wheel quite a way and you get a gentle turn of the car. Going backwards it doesn't work like that - you get a really sharp turn with little use of the wheel. "Parallel parking complicates the issue further - you're aiming for a defined space." So, some pointers are needed to ensure success. Delaney, who admits that he "still has to concentrate" when parallel parking uses the method below and credits it with getting his daughter through her driving test when she was 18. It assumes that you are parking on the left, so reverse the turns of the wheel if parking on the right.

Congratulations to Artur

Поздравляем Артура Козлова, перешедших на день с первой попытки

Congratulations to Artur Kozlov who passed today at the first attempt

Sky high costs putting thousands off taking driving test

It seems there may be a lot fewer first-time motorists seeking car insurance quotes in the next few years with the news that the number of people taking driving test has taken a sharp drop

Recent government figures have revealed that the number of people taking tests has plummeted by 200,000 in the last five years.

Unsurprisingly, this drop has been attributed to the soaring cost of driving by motoring group.

The Department of Transport revealed that in the period between April 2007 and March 2008, 1,762, 148 people took their practical driving test in the UK. The latest figures show that, between April 2011 and March 2012, 1,569,069, attempted to gain their full driving licence.

Motoring groups including the RAC, the AA and the Institute of Advanced Motoring believe these figures will have far-reaching consequences across the UK economy as whole. They feel it will be more difficult for people to find jobs and that this in rural areas will be the hardest hit.

Emma Radwanski from Dorset told BBC Radio 1’s Newsbeat programme that not being able to driving makes her life a lot more difficult.

The 20-year-old lives eight miles outside Bournemouth, but can’t afford to pay for driving lessons, leaving her stranded in the Dorset countryside.

“It makes it a lot harder to get a job,” she said.  “It makes it harder to go and see my friends and it makes it harder just to go and do anything like the cinema or shopping.”

It’s not just the £143 it costs to take the theory and practical driving tests, there are additional costs which are keeping many young drivers off the road, such high car insurance premiums, the soaring cost of fuel and the maintenance of the car, which includes servicing and MOT.

We know all drivers, from learners to folks with a few miles under their belt are being priced off the road across the UK, here at QuantumCars we try to do our bit by helping you find the cheapest car insurance possible. Put us to the test today and see how much you could save.

Male drivers more likely to risk lives by overtaking blind and speeding on rural roads

Male drivers more likely to risk lives by overtaking blind and speeding on rural roads:

11 April 2013
Brake, the road safety charity
Tel: 01484 559909, e:news@brake.org.uk 
Male drivers are being urged to use their head and not lose it at the wheel, as a survey out today by Brake and Direct Line reveals almost one in four (24%) risk catastrophic head-on crashes by overtaking blind, while more than four in 10 (44%) admit speeding at 60mph+ on rural roads. Men are much more likely to take these deadly risks than women, and more than twice as likely to have been involved in an overtaking near-miss or incident.
 The Brake and Direct Line survey of 1,000 UK drivers found:

• Almost one in four men (24%) and one in six women (18%) admitted overtaking when they couldn’t be certain nothing was coming, in the past year.
• One in five men (20%) and one in 10 women (9%) have been involved in an overtaking near-miss or incident while driving in the past year.
• More than half of all drivers (54%) have witnessed an overtaking near-miss or incident by another driver in the past year, with one in five (19%) experiencing a vehicle approaching on their side of the road.
• Over half of women (52%) have been afraid when travelling as a passenger when their driver has overtaken another vehicle in the past year, compared to 44% of men
• More than four in 10 men (44%) have broken a 60mph limit on a rural road, compared to one in four women (24%) and men are twice as likely to do this monthly or more (20% compared to 9%).

In 2011 (latest statistics available), six in 10 UK road deaths were on rural roads; that’s 1,197 people violently and tragically losing their lives. Four in 10 serious injuries were on rural roads, meaning 9,952 people suffered serious and often long-lasting or permanent harm [1]. Three in four people (75%) killed on UK roads are male [2].
Brake and Direct Line are urging the minority of male and female drivers who take the deadly risks of speeding and overtaking blind to recognise that driving safely protects themself, the ones they love and people around them. Drivers are urged to make Brake’s Pledge to show their commitment to keeping themselves and others safe.
Brake is also pressing for government and local authority action to lower speed limits on rural roads to 50mph, 40mph or lower and implement measures to deter speeding and overtaking, especially on crash black-spots and road that pass through rural communities. Brake is highlighting that simple, often low-cost engineering measures can significantly reduce casualties [3]. It is also calling for the government to get tough on rural road risk by funding wider traffic enforcement and running publicity campaigns to raise awareness of the dangers involved in driving too fast and overtaking. Read about Brake’s campaign on rural roads.
Ellen Booth, senior campaigns officer at Brake, the road safety charity, said: “Overtaking dangerously or driving too fast on rural roads puts yourself and others in grave danger, risking needless deaths and injuries. Some people kid themselves they can get away with excessive speeds and dangerous manoeuvres, because they know the road. Yet driving on rural roads is highly unpredictable, and the consequences of risk-taking often horrendous. Every mph faster you go, you reduce your chance of being able to react in an emergency. Overtaking is an especially risky manoeuvre, because it’s impossible to be 100% sure you have enough free road ahead. That’s why our advice is avoid overtaking unless essential, stay well within limits, and slow right down for bends, brows, in bad conditions and in communities. Hang back, slow down and chill out.  Prioritising safety above arriving a few minutes faster could spare your family or someone else’s a huge amount of heartache.”
Simon Henrick, spokesperson at Direct Line Car Insurance, said: “More than three people die on rural roads in the UK each and every day and many of these deaths could be prevented. Our own data suggests that young drivers and their passengers are even more likely to die on this type of road. Drivers should remember that patience is a virtue when it comes to deciding to overtake another vehicle, as it could be a life saver.”
The facts
Many drivers mistakenly think rural roads are safer, because they are often quieter. In reality, they are shared by all types of road users and there are many hazards, such as tight bends, blind corners and brows, and narrow roads. This means drivers may have little time to react to hazards, and this is reduced considerably by driving faster. At 60mph, a driver’s stopping distance is 73metres, about three tennis courts’ length. The high speeds with which many people navigate these roads also mean that crashes are more likely to cause serious injuries or death than on slower roads. In fact, per mile travelled, rural roads are the most dangerous for all kinds of road user, and it’s on these roads that the majority of road deaths occur [4].
Overtaking on single carriageways is incredibly dangerous, given that it involves driving on the wrong side of the road at speed. It is impossible for drivers to accurately judge the speed and distance of approaching traffic, and whether they have sufficient clear road to complete the manoeuvre. They also cannot be certain the vehicle they are overtaking will not speed up. Where overtaking is concerned, a small error of judgement can easily be fatal. The gap between you and oncoming traffic can disappear very fast. If you are driving at 60mph and the oncoming vehicle is also travelling at 60mph, the gap between you closes at 120mph, or about 60 metres a second.
There is clear evidence that in general male drivers take more risks [5], are hurt or killed more [6], and cause more deaths on roads than women [7]. Some researchers argue it is down to biology, others say it’s more about societal expectations placed on boys from a young age, rewarding riskier behaviour [8]. Whatever the reasons, it is certain that risk-taking on roads leads to terrible consequences for many men and women every day. That’s why Brake is urging everyone to make its Pledge to use roads safely.

Read more about speed and overtaking on rural roads.

Advice for drivers

Country roads often have speed limits that are far too high, dangerous sharp bends, and unexpected hazards. You never know when a cyclist, horse rider or jogger will be round the corner or over the next brow. When passing people on foot, bikes and horses, slow right down and give them plenty of space. Never risk overtaking on rural roads unless you are overtaking a very slow moving vehicle such as a tractor, the road is clear and straight, and you won’t have to drive at excessive speeds or above the limit to do it. Otherwise, just hang back from the vehicle in front and enjoy the journey.

The consequences

Richard and Gill Clutterbuck, from Great Bowden, near Market Harborough, were riding their horses along a rural road, on a bright Tuesday morning in August 2010. They had stopped at the side of the road to allow a passing vehicle on the other side of the road to go by without scaring the horses.
Suddenly a sports vehicle overtook the car, passing onto the wrong side of the road and crashing   head on into Richard and his horse.
Richard’s horse went over the bonnet of the vehicle and was killed by the impact. Richard was thrown and broke vertebrae in his lower back and three ribs when he hit the road. Gill’s horse collapsed on top of her, rupturing a ligament in Gill’s knee.
Richard had to undergo surgery and it was feared he would be paralysed because of damage to his vertebrae. Surgeons managed to stabilise his back by injecting cement into the damaged bones before pinning them with titanium rods.
Richard said: “It is sheer luck that I wasn’t killed that day, and I put this down to the size of my horse Linford – who sadly lost his life – and the excellent work of medical professionals. It was an awful, terrifying experience that I would not wish on anyone, and it’s taken me a long time to recover physically. It has had a terrible emotional impact on both me and my wife. It’s vital that drivers understand that rural roads are shared roads, so they must drive cautiously, and never overtake unless it’s absolutely essential and 100% safe. A lot of the time overtaking makes very little difference anyway – and it could have appalling consequences for you or another innocent person.”
Brake
Brake is an independent road safety charity. Brake exists to stop the five deaths and 66 serious injuries that happen on UK roads every day and to care for families bereaved and seriously injured in road crashes. Brake runs awareness-raising campaigns, community education programmes, events such as Road Safety Week (18-24 November 2013), and a Fleet Safety Forum, providing advice to companies. Brake’s support division cares for road crash victims through a helpline and other services.

Road crashes are not accidents; they are devastating and preventable events, not chance mishaps. Calling them accidents undermines work to make roads safer, and can cause insult to families whose lives have been torn apart by needless casualties.

Direct Line

Started in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home, travel and pet insurance cover direct to customers by phone or on-line.
Direct Line general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales no 1179980. U K Insurance Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
Direct Line and UK Insurance limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.
Customers can find out more about Direct Line products or get a quote by calling 0845 246 3761 or visiting www.directline.com.
End notes:
[1] Reported road casualties Great Britain annual reports 2011, Department for Transport, 2012 and Police recorded injury road traffic collisions and casualties Northern Ireland annual report 2011, Police Service of Northern Ireland, 2012
[2] Reported road casualties Great Britain annual reports 2011, Department for Transport, 2012 and Police recorded injury road traffic collisions and casualties Northern Ireland annual report 2011, Police Service of Northern Ireland, 2012
[3] Engineering a safer future report, Road Safety Foundation, 2012
[4] Reported road casualties Great Britain annual reports 2011, Department for Transport, 2012
[5] Sex differences in driving and insurance risk, Social Issues Research Centre, 2004
[6] Reported road casualties Great Britain annual reports 2011, Department for Transport, 2012
[7] Criminal justice statistics motoring tables 2011, Ministry of Justice, 2012
[8] Sex differences in driving and insurance risk, Social Issues Research Centre, 2004

Top 15 Driving Fears for New Drivers

It takes new drivers three-and-a-half years to REALLY grasp motoring!:

We all know how some new and young drivers can be at times. Once they pass the practical driving test, that's it, they are officially the BEST drivers in the world. I mean, confidence is GREAT, because you would've needed something to pass the test in the driving test in the first place. Having said all this, new drivers are being urged to 'kerb their enthusiasm.

So, a recent study has found a number of things in relation to new motorists. 

1. Two-thirds of motorists under 25 say they lack confidence when driving. 

2. More than half afraid to drive in snow and freezing weather.

3. A quarter said young drivers do not wear a seat belt behind the wheel.

The study also showed that a typical young driver would've had three near misses since passing their practical driving test and, to top it off, they've openly admitted it being their fault too! 1,000 of the 2,000 drivers polled by Swinton also admitted that weather conditions were a major fear when driving. 

Top 15 driving fears:
1. Driving in snow
2. Driving in freezing conditions
3. Driving in fog
4. Motorway driving
5. Parallel parking
6. Roads you don't know
7. Driving in city centres
8. Driving in the rain
9. Over taking lorries
10. Driving on country roads
11. Over taking
12. Narrow streets
13. Heavily congested roads
14. Driving in the dark
15. Parking in car parks

Steve Chelton of Swinton said: ‘It's understandable that young drivers are nervous about certain situations on the roads. However in most cases the more you drive, the more experience on the roads you will gain and as a result confidence grows."

Have your say, leave a comment below, sharing is caring – tweet & like this for your friends to see!

Become a DriversEdgeUK.com member here..

Eco-driving

Research and analysis: Eco-driving: what determines take-up of post-test training

from Inside government - Driving Standards Agency

This research was commissioned by the Driving Standards Agency to find out:

• how eco-driving training can be provided and promoted in a more engaging way
• how take-up can be increased amongst existing car drivers

On approaching a roundabout take notice and act on all the information available...

On approaching a roundabout take notice and act on all the information available...: On approaching a roundabout take notice and act on all the information available to you, including traffic signs, traffic lights and lane markings which direct you into the correct lane. You should:

- use Mirrors – Signal – Manoeuvre at all stages
- decide as early as possible which exit you need to take
- give an appropriate signal. Time your signals so as not to confuse other road users
- get into the correct lane
- adjust your speed and position to fit in with traffic conditions
- be aware of the speed and position of all the road users around you.

Rule 184
https://www.facebook.com/HighwayCodeGB?ref=stream

Congratulations to Naomi Coleman on passing her theory test on Tuesday. Well done:)

Congratulations to Naomi Coleman on passing her theory test on Tuesday. Well done:): Congratulations to Naomi Coleman on passing her theory test on Tuesday. Well done:)

Do you know the history of the driving test?

Do you know the history of the driving test?:

The driving test has drastically changed over centuries and now, with another set of changes being pushed through for new and young drivers, we thought it'd be a good idea to show you all how things got started. Before I go there, below is a list of the green paper currently being proposed to government, it includes:

1. Enabling learner drivers to take lessons on motorways, and perhaps during adverse weather conditions or during darkness to encourage greater practice prior to taking a test.

2. Increasing the existing probationary period from two to three years for a new driver’s licence to be revoked if they receive six or more penalty points.

3. Making the driving test more rigorous to better prepare learners to drive unsupervised.

4. Incentives for young drivers to take up additional training after passing their test.

So, when driving tests were brought to the United Kingdom, can you imagine they weren't mandatory. Drivers were given minimal instructions and to top it off there were no rules to police driving tactics, in comparison to the highway code we have now, introduced in 1931. Road safety looks much different now too, in the 1930s there were over 2 million vehicles on British roads and over 7, 000 casualties. Nowadays, there’s almost 30 million vehicles on the road but half the casualties. 

In 1930, the first driving tests were introduced in the UK. However, these were only for disabled drivers, whose licenses were only valid for 12 months. Five years later, voluntary tests were made optional for all drivers. It was not until June 1935 that driving tests became compulsory for all

Driving tests were suspended throughout the UK in 1939 due to the disruption of the  Second World War. Testing began once again in 1946 as the post-war period led to the establishment of various driving schools throughout Britain

It was suspended again during the Suez crisis when learners were briefly allowed to drive unaccompanied. Up until 1975 learner drivers had to demonstrate their ability to use hand signals. Other manoeuvres included being able to perform a three-point turn and reverse around a corner. Further changes included the requirement to be able to reverse into a parking space, which was incorporated into the test in April 1991.

Have your say, leave a comment below, sharing is caring – tweet & like this for your friends to see!

Detailed guidance: National standard for driving cars (category B)

Detailed guidance: National standard for driving cars (category B):
Updated: Updated the standard and syllabus downloads, and added more explanation of what the documents are

The standard

The standard sets out what it takes to be a safe and responsible car driver.

It’s split into 5 main sections, which are all things you must do.

They are:

• prepare your vehicle and its occupants for a journey
• guide and control your vehicle
• use the road in accordance with The Highway Code
• drive safely and responsibly in the traffic system
• review and adjust your driving behaviour over your lifetime

For each of these, the standard tells you:

• what you must be able to do
• what you must know and understand

National standard for driving cars (category B)

PDF, 634KB, 38 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request a different format.

To request this document in an alternative format such as braille, audio
or a different file type please email
customer.services@dsa.gsi.gov.uk
quoting your address, telephone number along with the title of the
publication ("National standard for driving cars (category B)").

The syllabus

The syllabus sets out a way of training drivers in the skills, knowledge and understanding they need to be a safe and responsible driver.

The syllabus is for:

• trainees - including provisional and full licence holders
• trainers

The syllabus is split into 4 sections:

• prepare a vehicle and its occupants for a journey
• guide and control a vehicle
• drive a vehicle in accordance with The Highway Code
• drive safely and efficiently

For each of these, the syllabus tells you:

• the areas to be covered and why it’s important in the lifelong learning-to-drive process
• what you’ll learn as a result of studying the section
• what you need to be able to do to prove that you’ve learnt what’s in the section
• what you need to know and understand to prove that you’ve learnt what’s in the section

Safe and responsible driving syllabus for cars (category B)

PDF, 607KB, 34 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request a different format.

To request this document in an alternative format such as braille, audio
or a different file type please email
customer.services@dsa.gsi.gov.uk
quoting your address, telephone number along with the title of the
publication ("Safe and responsible driving syllabus for cars (category B)").

Competence framework

The competence framework sets out how the standard was made. You can use it to identify the original research, statistics and professional opinions which form the basis of the standard.


Car driver competence framework
[MS Excel Spreadsheet, 175KB]

Changes to the standard

DSA updates the standard on a regular basis. It’s updated straight away if any safety critical issues are identified. You can keep up to date with new versions by email.

Sign up for DSA email alerts

Further information

You can contact DSA if you have:

• questions about the standard, syllabus or competence framework
• ideas about how they could be improved
• evidence, from research or practice, that will make the standards stronger

Email: national.standards@dsa.gsi.gov.uk

DSA

Telephone: 0115 936 6283

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm