Parking on grass verges and footpaths by Big Tom Driving School

A few years ago Dogsthorpe was chosen by Peterborough City Council to pilot a scheme that focussed on the problem of vehicles parking on grass verges and footpaths.  It designated areas with clear signs and white lines where drivers were allowed to park on the verge/footpath.


Circular street signs were put up that informed drivers that it is not permissible to park half on the road, half on the verge/footpath, and the sign looks like this:

Above is one of the larger versions of this unrecognisable sign in the Highway Code with text, in case there was any confusion caused.  Remember these circular signs are intended to indicate a "prohibition".



And this sign (right) shows the end of the prohibition.

Some Local Authorities will quite happily ticket vehicles that are parked with both wheels of either side of the vehicle on the verge/footpath citing the Disability Discrimination Act.  The logic is that wheelchair and mobility scooter users need to have access on the footpath.  In reality, little regard is given for how much of the footpath is actually affected to warrant a ticket.

My advice is to take care when choosing a spot to park up.  Leaving the four wheels fully but legally on the road, is often correct, despite the effect that has on cyclists, scooters, buses etc that then have a tougher time of passing your parked car.

Be wary of looking to see how others around you have parked, offending in numbers is little defence for the Peterborough City Council parking prohibition car that whizzes round taking photographs of offending vehicles with its camera on the top of the car, which is then used as evidence to enforce parking fines.

There was talk in the press recently that Local Authorities were being instructed to make less use of these money making parking enforcement cars - time will tell if the residents of Dogsthorpe can breathe easy yet.  

In general terms, parking on grass verges and footpaths often does present other problems.  The grass verges can get cut up badly and have very large pot holes in them.  Some drivers think nothing of parking an entire car fully on a grass verge, even when very near junctions.  This practise has road safety implications as it blocks vision for road and footpath users.

BIG TOM Driving School  Intensive Driving Course in Peterborough 01733 306016 

Taking the driving test in own car by Big Tom Driving School

I have had 2 recent enquiries asking about taking the driving test in your own car.  As it happens both are male and 62 years old, but are otherwise completely unconnected coming from different towns.  Both of them were in particular asking my opinion if the examiners would in any way frown upon taking the test NOT in a driving school car.  The concern appears to be that examiners would assume that a candidate that presented for the driving test in a private car had not received professional tuition; the suspicion would be that they present a higher risk and would be assessed in a negative way as a result. 

As I have said to both chaps, whilst I can understand perfectly why they might have that concern, I have not witnessed any such behaviour from examiners.  The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency are a Government organisation that operate under pretty strict regulations, and included in the documents that they make available for the public are guidelines that include a standard of driving (regardless of HOW that standard is achieved) as well as operational instructions for how the driving test is undertaken.  As such, it is perfectly possible for the public to get access to this information without any assistance at all from a registered Driving Instructor.

The examiners that are employed at the test centres have no regard for how a candidate learnt to drive, they ask no questions about how long it has taken, who taught them, or any related questions.  How you get to the test centre, who you bring with you, and what vehicle you use for the test is not part of the assessment criteria and in my experience of observing driving tests, the examiners are very highly trained, courteous, professional folk.

There are certain conditions relating to the vehicle that is used for the purposes of the driving test, and they can be viewed in this link.  One of the very first actions that you will be asked to do when you attend for the driving test is to sign to confirm that there is appropriate insurance cover for the vehicle that is about to be used for the test.

In summary, when you are considering taking the driving test in your own car, do not be concerned that the examiner will be influenced by sitting in a non-driving school car.  I have had plenty of pupils who have finished off their driving course with me accompanying them in their own car that they intend to drive after passing the driving test, and it is a strategy that I fully approve of that has clear advantages.

BIG TOM Driving School Intensive Driving Course in Bourne 01778 309773

Mock Driving Test Gone Mad

The problem with mock driving tests, is that any 17-25 year old will naturally compare it to an academic test.  It is instilled into us from a very early age, that if you practise enough academic mock tests, eventually..... eventually, you will reap the rewards when it comes to the actual test.  We only need to look at the energy created by enthusiastic Grammar school parents who coach their 10-11 yr old children for the 11+ tests to see this in action.  This is just a taste of things to come.  It is little wonder that by the time our 17+ year olds come out of this process of learning by continual testing, that they feel inclined to have the same attitude towards learning to drive.

I have witnessed pupils hopping across the country, repeatedly attempting the driving theory test having done very little actual study, but in effect, only learning by repeatedly failing the £23 test.  

Likewise, there are a great many young people who will shortcut the process of learning to drive, and hop on the driving mock test route, with the view that if you do enough mock tests, surely you will pass the driving test eventually.  It is not uncommon for pupils who repeatedly fail mock tests, to still insist on going to test, in the misguided hope that just like the academic tests, if they don't get their ultimate intended "grade", they will still pass.

Now at this point in my blog, I am very conscious that if I haven't already completely switched off all 17-25 year olds, then the remaining few, are actually quite serious about learning to drive well,  and doing it 'cost effectively' - yes that combination really is possible!  If you are still with me, then take a look at this video of how to monitor progress when learning to drive, and see if you can spot the fundamental trap that many poor folk will fall into that inhibits any further learning.

If you get nothing else out of this blog than appreciating how "learning by testing" is not the way forward when you learn to drive, then it has been time well spent for you, and could possibly save you several hundreds of pounds as a result!

Big Tom Driving School - 0800 689 4174 (Free from mobiles too!)

What makes a good driving lesson?

The answer to this question will differ between all of us.  An elderly African gentleman who started to learn to drive with me this week summed it up very nicely:

“How are you getting on Jo, how are you finding this?”

“Oh yes Tom, I like it very much….. my heart is much lighter”

As Jo is demonstrating here, a good driving lesson means different things to different people.

An effective “learning environment” has a delicate blend of essential ingredients.  The environment can include physical things like if the car is clean, how good the vision is from the drivers seat, whether you “feel” safe.  The preferred style in which the “transfer of learning” takes place includes physical and mental elements and is unique to all pupils.  For example, considering how often questions are used to test understanding, and the depth to the question will vary in benefit between pupils.  The manner in which content is explained by way of demonstration, graphics, and the choice of words that tap into a pupils psyche will help the message to resonate.

But by far the greatest factor to consider when thinking of the learning environment is what the pupil brings in the way of beliefs, experience, attitude, motivation, barriers and commitment – and they are purely mental factors.  Ignore these factors as a driving instructor and you will not only be doing your customer a disservice but you will directly limit the potential for job satisfaction.  I could be a top class driver, with knowledge in abundance but if I fail to tap into the mind of my pupil, effective learning will be limited.  In my experience, it matters not how anyone would care to categorise pupils – in terms of IQ, emotional intelligence, learning difficulties or disability; what matters is how willing and able the driving instructor is to adapt.

And given the fact that driving instructors are being paid to provide 1:1 tuition, are they not duty bound to “adapt”?  So if you have been struggling to have a good driving lesson for some time, my advice would be to stop doubting yourself, and go and find someone who can tap in to your potential more effectively, because potential, you undoubtedly have.

BIG TOM Driving School Intensive Driving Course in Bourne 01778 309773

School Road Safety Presentation

I had a very enjoyable time presenting to the 150 Yr 12's of my local school yesterday.  Before going any further I should give some insight as to where I am situated and the demographic.  I live in a small but expanding town (pop. 15,000) which is located about 12 miles from any significantly larger town/city in any direction.  There is a large population of elderly residents, so hairdressers and charity shops are a plenty, however, there are primary and secondary schools that are catering for over 3000 pupils such is the quality of the schools in this town and how well they draw pupils in from outside the town.  There is a bus service leading in/out of the town; the vast majority of my young pupils complain that it is an expensive and pretty infrequent (hourly) service.

I have taken care not to name the town or the school that is the subject of this blog in the interests of neutrality, but suffice to say, the school in question is a well reputed school that is known for it's high standards of achievement for end of year exam grades.

I was called on the phone a couple of months previous by the Head of Yr 6 and invited to give a short presentation on road safety.

You can imagine that with a subject as wide and varied as "road safety" there were many options for me as to what to concentrate on, especially as our local "A" roads (A15, A16 and A17) do suffer with high collision stats but I was very keen to remember my audience and provide something meaningful to them.   I wanted to demonstrate that much like my driving lessons that I provide, my preferred style is to seek engagement as opposed to "lecture".

My opening gambit was to ask for a show of hands for who intends to learn to drive.  I turned to the teacher who had remained in the hall, and we agreed on roughly 50% had put their hands up.  Now this might surprise some, but the statistics that are provided by the DVSA who monitor these things, have been indicating for some time now that this is the current trend.  For example there were 300,000 fewer driving tests (16%) in 2013-2014 than there were in 2007-2008.  The UK and indeed global economy could well be responsible for this situation, but as I raised in the presentation, there is plenty of evidence around that "learning to drive" is fast becoming an activity that is simply too costly when you take into account insurance and fuel costs.  One lass mentioned that a member of her family had been quoted £4000 for insurance, and another lass mentioned that her brother of 23 years, recognises that despite passing the driving test, he is not properly prepared for driving independently - a fact that similarly brings into question how well learners are being trained, and whether financial resources have a say in that regard too.

On the subject of insurance, I have been in this industry for 6 years now and up until my last renewal, despite never having a single accident of any kind whatsoever, the insurance steadily rose year on year.  This last year, has for the first time, seen a slight dip in the premium.  Whether this is an acknowledgement from the industry that car insurance and indeed "driving" is fast becoming financially unviable for huge numbers of the young adult population, we shall see.  I did raise the question in the presentation yesterday, how many years of driving will the pupils who had just stated they intend to learn to drive actually drive for?  There is an increasingly popular case being made for driverless cars that will have positive effects on road collisions and insurance premiums, so arguably, as a Google video from 2011 demonstrates (found on my Facebook page "driving lessons in Bourne"), the consequences of humans driving motor vehicles is doing nothing but strengthening the case for them NOT driving and allowing advanced technology to provide a safer means of transportation.

At this stage, I hadn't shown my hand as to the topic of my presentation, and I was keen to get an early indication that I suspected may well prove useful as the talk progressed.  I asked of all the pupils who had just raised their hands indicating they intend to learn to drive, how many of them, consider that they will be a "good driver".  The hands went up, and I then asked all those pupils to then stand up.  It was roughly 50% of the original cohort and all male; not one single female.  I then invited the teacher to declare if she thought she was a good driver, which she responded in the affirmative.   It led nicely into considering what makes a "good driver" and how could anyone reliably measure it.

I asked for 2 volunteers to come up front, one male and one female.  A male pupil shot up instantly, and a brave female pupil reluctantly came up.  I asked the audience to consider statistically, who the better driver will be.  I asked them who was more likely to pass the driving test first time.  I asked them if they both took turns to drive who was the more likely to cause a fatality.  I asked who was likely to get the cheaper car insurance.  It sparked great engagement.  I then offered my own opinion based on my 6 years of driving instruction, which gender learnt to drive more effectively, and I gave my reasons.  Lots of open eyes, staring at me.

I then introduced the subject of my talk, attitudes to learning and drew comparisons with pupils attitudes to learning at school and learning to drive.  We discussed goals of achieving academic qualifications, independent learning, and developing life skills of ambition, perseverance and overcoming obstacles and considered the differences with learning to drive.  I introduced the idea of the learning that occurs on driving lessons for the purpose of the driving test compared to that of life beyond the driving test.  I questioned with the pupils that given the fact that 20% of newly qualified drivers were having an accident within the first 6 months of passing the driving test, how useful is the driving test, is it fit for purpose, and I gave some figures for the pass rates of driving tests.

I had prepared a light-hearted, fun exercise that required no less than 9 pupils to respond to one of my driving videos that was on the large screen on the stage, and with the use of my verbal instructions, demonstrate how difficult it is to multi-task driving actions in real time.  The first band of volunteers were unsurprisingly, all male and between them, they had achieved 41 driving actions on one circuit of my video.  The less willing but significantly more able group of female pupils managed to clock up almost double that number of driving actions.  It highlighted the necessary skills of effective communication, multi-tasking, co-ordination, and concentration when driving.  

Having witnessed this staggeringly higher achievement by the female group I then made reference to the all male assertion of who will be a "good driver" - cue the 'tumbleweed' moment.

To conclude, we had some facts given relating to the DVSA figure of the average number of hours to pass the driving test, also the price of the theory and practical tests, average driving lesson cost, and the number 1 reason for failing driving tests.  This led me nicely on to referring to a recently released dramatic video relating to THINK BIKE! which was also on my Facebook page. 

It was a most enjoyable session as I felt that I had personally learnt a great deal from the experience and the feedback from the teacher was very positive too.

BIG TOM Driving School in Bourne 01778 309 773

Assessing "quality of teaching"

OFSTED has decided that it will no longer grade individual lessons when it undertakes school assessments.  Instead there will be a “meeting of minds” once lessons have been observed where the inspectors will as a whole, assess where there have been seen to be any causes for concern.  Apparently, this change will include a meeting with the Headteacher to discuss their observations and seek an understanding if the Head agrees with the findings.  If that isn’t quite radical enough for you, then how about the suggestion of scrapping their assessment of “quality of teaching”?  The criticism that their assessment in this regard merely mirrors what the school is attaining in grades, appears to be gaining some traction.

What OFSTED do take into account when they are evaluating the quality of learning over time at any school are the views of parents, staff and pupils.  This is all in stark contrast to how driving instructors are assessed.  An examiner from the DVSA sits in the back seat and observes a 45 minute driving lesson with a pupil (this “pupil” does not need to be a paying pupil or indeed ever to have had any previous lessons with the instructor, in fact the pupil can even be a qualified driver).  Once the driving lesson is completed, the examiner calls the driving instructor into an office where their grade is given to them with a short explanation of why (unlike above, there is no desire here to seek an understanding if the instructor agrees with the findings), and the driving instructor lives and dies in their business with that grade until the next assessment.  That said, the public awareness of driving instructors’ grades is minimal compared to their awareness of a schools OFSTED inspection grade.  In 6 years I have never had anyone ever question my grade.  All of us can draw our own conclusions as to why that might be the case.

Crucially though, what the assessment most certainly does not take into account are the views of the pupil (or parents as in the case of a 17 year old pupil who is having driving lessons financed by parents).  The examiner will undoubtedly observe the pupil at all times of the “driving lesson” but they do not ask a single question of the pupil, they do not seek clarity of understanding, enjoyment, attainment, confidence, or satisfaction.  Worse than that though, as was demonstrated on my own recent assessment, the examiner is unwilling (and seemingly unable) to differentiate their assessment as appropriate for the “pupil”.  For example, my pupil was a 62 year old retired English teacher.  I was marked down on the assessment criteria of “Did the trainer ensure that the pupil fully understood how the responsibility for risk would be shared?”  My error was that before I drove off from the Test Centre to find a suitable place for my pupil’s driving lesson, despite myself turning and checking that the examiner in the back had put his seat belt on, I did not explain to my 62 year old pupil the importance and necessity of such a check.  The reason I was given for being given a zero mark on this was because I needed to bear in mind that 17 year old pupils will not necessarily be aware of such matters.  So despite never having a single collision (of any kind) in my driving school cars in 6 years of giving driving lessons, I find myself being marked down on the subject of “Risk Management” because I failed to treat my 62 year old pupil like a 17 year old.

Am I bitter?  You bet I am.  In much the same way that I imagine there will be hundreds (if not thousands) of bitter teachers across the UK who were marked down by an inspector on an OFSTED when they were grading individual lessons.  But breathe easy, as from tomorrow (01/09/2014), that will no longer be the case for any teachers in schools.

Related articles:    http://news.tes.co.uk/b/ofsted-watch/2014/08/29/ofsted-scraps-grades-for-individual-lessons.aspx

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/school-inspection-handbook

BIG TOM Driving School   0800 689 4174

Can I Film The Driving Test? by Tom of www.BigTom.org.uk/home/

Whilst the direct answer to this question is no, it is strictly forbidden in the UK, that's not to say that people haven't!

There was an example of a filmed driving test in Ontario, Canada which originally I was able to show you in this blog but I see it has now been removed from YouTube for breaching conditions - I am not surprised!  But it's a shame as it did show the driving test in it's entirety and there were some interesting comments underneath the video from interested viewers.  I have kept this blog running though because as you can see, I have split the differences between the USA driving test (as was shown in the video) and the UK driving test below. Here is the original blog.

For anyone here in the UK who might be interested in watching this video, whilst I can easily appreciate why, please bear in mind there are some pretty large differences between that driving test and the one currently undertaken in the UK.  I would like to point out right from the start that there are some people that get really excited about the finer technicalities of these kind of things (assessments), and whilst I appreciate that point, I am merely intending to give Learners in the UK a flavour of the differences between the driving tests.  Whilst I don't condone filming the driving test, this is currently available for all to see, as 45,000+ already have!

1.  The candidate is asked to turn the engine on, while the examiner checks out the signals.  In the UK, whether in a driving lesson, or on the test itself, you never turn the engine on with no-one else supervising physically in the car.  This is a point of law.

2.  The examiner has no central mirror on the front windscreen.  Notice how he struggles to see what's going on behind throughout the video?  (He is also blissfully unaware of the camera as a result too).  In the UK, efforts should be made to have a mirror available for the examiner (although they have been known to "find" their own in the test centre, if a candidate forgets this point).

3.  The radio is on.  Nothing particularly wrong with this, although you will see when viewing the video, this did have an effect on the candidate in more ways than one, as the test develops.  Likewise, you can turn the air con on or off to suit your personal need, window open/closed, sunglasses on/off.  This is your test, you've paid your money for it.

4.  Lane changes.  A couple of points to note here.  Firstly, notice how the candidate signals first, then does his observations, then moves?  The preferred sequence, is observations first, check it's safe to go, then signal your intention, then move.  With the observations, the candidate is doing full blindspot checks, whilst on the move, before making lane changes.  Turning of the head to the side is good practice, but turning it completely (looking over your shoulder) while the car is travelling at these fast speeds is not advisable - see this video for more on that point.

5.  Joining the faster traffic.  I think they call it freeways, we have dual-carraigeways or motorways here.  Nevertheless the point the candidate makes about the need to match speed so as to avoid creating a hazard is a good point, and equally relevant here.

6.  Stop sign, means stop.  Did you spot this one?  He definitely stopped.... and so must you here in the UK.  This is a point of law.  Whether you put the handbrake on or not is not the point, the point is the wheels must physically stop turning.

7.  Changing gear on bends.  Another good point made by the candidate and equally relevant here.  If you are actively steering the vehicle, you should have both hands doing that job, so changing gears with the left hand is best avoided, unless completely necessary.  "No steers and gears" is one quick way to remember this tip.

8.  Lane changes.  The examiner asks the candidate to swap between lanes.  You wont be asked to do this in the UK.  If the need arises to overtake a slow moving lorry doing say 40 on a dual-carraigeway set on national speed limit (70), then here, the examiner will expect you to assess that yourself, and overtake the slow moving lorry if it's appropriate.  Remember, they want to see you making progress when able, and driving with efficiency, rather than "like a learner".

9.  Speed.  Interesting to see the examiner make the comment about the slow speed.  I've never witnessed this to date in the UK.  An important distinction to make is driving to the speed limit, and driving to the driving conditions, look here for more on that point.  In the UK, if the examiner does find it necessary to tell you to slow down so as not to break the law, that will likely result in a test fail.

10.  Pedestrian crossings.  Another great point made by the candidate.  Sounds very similar to the UK.  If your vehicle is paused, straddled across a pedestrian crossing, you are potentially blocking pedestrians which could be highly dangerous to them.  Another point of law.

11.  Getting honked at.  Difficult for me to judge this one on the video, as I couldn't see the cause for the other driver honking the candidate.  Generally speaking though, it is advisable to ensure your driving does not make anybody around your vehicle, stop/slow/swerve (or swear inc honking).  Look at it from the examiners point of view, they only see your driving for a short period, they don't really want to see you affecting others on your test, they would wonder if you would spend the rest of your driving life doing the same!

12.  Emergency roadside stop.  Very odd.  Bears no resemblance to our emergency stop in any way shape or form.  1 in 3 of our tests get an emergency stop.

13.  Manoeuvre.  So this chap got the turn in the road.  You'll notice in the comments of the video that others are surprised he didn't get a parallel park.  In the UK, you get either a turn in the road, reverse into a minor road, parallel park or reverse bay park.  A small point but did you notice how he "dry steered" while doing  this manoeuvre?  He turns the steering wheel from full lock to full lock while the wheels are not turning.  Whilst this is not test failing material, it is frowned upon (unless absolutely necessary), as it puts much wear and tear on the tyres and steering mechanism.

14.  Volume of traffic.  Notice how the roads are generally wider than here, the volume of traffic lighter, depending on where you take your test in the UK, you will have an entirely different experience to that.

15.  Affected by others.  Notice how the actions of the driver in the red car seriously affected the confidence of the candidate?  It should come as no surprise when this kind of thing crops up on test, because, it happens regularly when we all do our day to day driving.  Drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, motor cyclists make mistakes, some break the law, people are unpredictable, some are aggressive..... not nice, but it happens.  The test is assessing your ability to anticipate, and manage those situations.

16.  Length of test.  Just over 20 mins for this chap.  It will be 38-40 mins in the UK, possibly more if you come across an accident or roadworks etc.

17.  General.  There was no "independent drive" section in the video, it lasts for 10 mins in the UK - following a destination on signs or a sequence of directions given by the examiner.  Very few pull overs, you'll get around 4 on your driving test, potentially including an angled start (moving off from behind a parked vehicle) and a hill start.

Any comments/questions/disagreements on the above, please feel free to share below.

BIG TOM Driving School Intensive Driving Courses in Peterborough, Grantham, Sleaford, Spalding, Lincoln, Stamford and Boston

Help! I keep failing driving tests!

Did you relate in some way to that last blog?  Could you feel the pain?  Failing driving tests costs serious money, it is super demoralising, and makes for stress city.  You agree with that?  If you had a choice you wouldn’t be where you are right now…. right?  But you are, so, what can you do about it?

I want to help you, and to start that process I need you to take the first step.  Go print off that last blog titled “I hate driving tests” (the link is in the first line of this blog).  You stand a much better chance of getting this monkey off your shoulders if you start by printing it off.  If you can’t print it off (no paper, no ink, no printer), please go and read it again, from top to bottom…. don’t 'speed read' it, absorb the emotions in it.

You probably can relate to some of the feelings, thoughts and emotions expressed in that blog.  I have observed on enough occasions now how this hurts to be on the receiving end of a driving test fail.  It rocks your faith, it makes you angry.  You question yourself, your driving instructor, the examiner, the test, the other drivers around you at the time of the test, the weather, the time of the test – in fact, anything and everything that you can possibly think of.  Think it through, cry, talk/shout at your friends about it, tweet about it, do what some others do and stick a video up about it on YouTube, just get that stage out of your system…. it’s important before you move on.

In the UK, anyone in possession of a provisional licence, a theory test pass and with access to an insured and suitable car, has the right to take the test when they want to.  There are great differences across the globe regarding learning to drive; the age you can start driving, the process of undertaking the training, the standard and frequency of the tests – for good or bad, it greatly differs.  As the law stands currently in the UK, a 17 year old, in possession of the theory test certificate, and no training whatsoever in how to drive a car, has the right to book up a driving test and assuming s/he has access to an insured car, take that test.  If on the other hand, they do not have access to a car for the purposes of the test, then they will be needing to contact a driving instructor who will at the very least, be keen to ensure that if they were to use their driving school car for the test, there is every good chance that the car and everyone in it will survive the experience.  I mention this, as it is often at the heart of the problem when people cannot pass the driving test. 

Imagine you are that person in the previous blog, here are a few questions to think about:

    1.        “Liking” the driving test.  Does anyone?  Some might be better at managing the situation than others, but does anyone actually like the experience of the driving test?  Is it correct to draw a comparison between the driving test and taking a school/college exam?  What are the differences?  Ultimately, what is the purpose of the driving test?

    2.       Mock tests.  Do your mock tests “feel” the same as the driving test?  Are you passing the mock tests?  How important is the mock test in helping you prepare for what is coming in the driving test?  What benefit (if any) do you get from taking a mock test?  Would it be an idea to skip taking mock tests, or perhaps just simply ignore the results of the mock tests?

    3.       Examiners.  Why do they act and talk the way they do on the driving test?  What training does an Examiner undertake to do their job?  Is there such thing as a “good” or “bad” examiner?  If they make a mistake doing their job, what are the consequences?

    4.       Preparing for the test.  What things are you in control of, and what things are you not in control of before you take the driving test?  What are some of the typical signs from other drivers when they are actually affected by your driving?  In a nutshell, regardless of the driving test, what must you be able to demonstrate to show you can drive on public roads?

    5.       The test.  Are the results of the driving tests so far, in any way different to what you have experienced on your driving lessons?  If you are confused about how you are still failing driving tests, what options do you have available to get some clarity on that?

It is very common in these situations of continually failing tests, to withdraw, close up shop, put the shutters down, and retreat somewhere quiet.  When in fact, this is the time right now, to do exactly the opposite.  It is NOT the time to book another test, not at all.  Instead, analyse why this is happening.  You can’t resolve this by throwing money at it with repeated driving tests, it requires a different solution than that, it needs you to analyse where is your weakness.  There are professionals like myself, who actually like this kind of work, have experience in turning these situations around, and actually enjoy the challenge.  You do not necessarily need to be paying for their services, but if you are not getting your issue resolved, think differently about it, don’t just book up another driving test, as that is a recipe for you to keep failing driving tests!

P.S.  Quick question.  Did you print off the last blog?  The answer to that question will be a measure of how prepared YOU are to resolve this problem that you are in.  It was a small request.... "I want to help you, and to start that process I need you to take the first step".  Although a small request, it was definite enough to be a measure of how prepared YOU are to help yourself.  All the best!

Big Tom Driving School   Intensive driving course in Peterborough, Grantham, Sleaford, Spalding, Stamford and Boston 0800 689 4174

I hate driving tests

I hate driving tests.  Any kind of test really stinks.  I remember very well that feeling of loneliness and complete despair when I would read a question in a school exam and not have a clue what the answer was – that really is a horrible place to be.  But this driving test business is something else.  Why do they make people go through this process?  Doesn’t seem right to me.  I don’t even like these make believe tests they do at work, all those faces watching me, or listening in to my calls with customers, it is so intimidating.  Is this all designed to be “character building”?  “Character demolishing” more like.

I did a few mock tests with my driving instructor – boy he takes it so seriously, “get a life you saddo!”.  I’m pretty sure he just loves sitting there watching me mess up.  And I pay him to do that!  How stupid am I?  I never felt brilliant after the mocks, there was always something that he would have to nit pick about – where I was looking on one of those stupid manoover things (is that how you spell it?), or leaving my signal on, or my speed, it was never ever completely right.  But I got fed up with them in the end.  I’d rather pay the money and do the real test, even if I fail right?  I did think about changing instructor again, but I couldn’t be asked to have to listen to yet another one’s endless life story, I’m fed up with driving instructors.

So, I didn’t sleep well last night.  Just like the night before my other driving tests…. my heart is going so fast, I can’t fall asleep.  All I’m thinking about is what the examiner is going to be like.  When I do finally fall asleep the alarm goes off.  I didn’t know what to wear this morning (again).  Every time I’ve gone down there, I see some of them are wearing really scruffy stuff, and that’s just the instructors! LOL! It’s difficult to know what to wear really.  My friend said she wore something revealing to please the examiner, and ended up with a female examiner!  Whoops!

Couldn’t eat breakfast.  Texted my best friend, she’s the only one who knows about this one.  Told my work I’ve got a dentist appointment.  My instructor texted me to remind me to bring both bits of the driving licence, yea, like I’m gonna forget that aren’t I?

And then it was the same old stuff again.  Instructor turns up, I’m embarrassed because my fingers are shaking, even my left leg wobbles, why does it do that?!  I pay him (again), what a rip off.  I then try and drive, but keep stalling, or I forget to put the clutch down when I change gear, and the stupid thing wont go in gear (he keeps telling me not to do automatics, but I think it would be so much easier).  This stupid lady this morning even bibbed me from behind because I didn’t turn left quick enough for her.  I hate it when they do that, everyone is so impatient these days, they have no respect for us learners.

I made sure I had a smoke this time though, outside the test place.  I think it did actually help my nerves, but I forgot to put the mints in my bag…. embarrassing.

Could not believe how quiet it was today.  I was really lucky, I think the mid-morning test is a good time, or I might just have been lucky.  Had a lady this time, she was really nice, kept saying “my lovely”, she sounded like my Mum!  But she still failed me.  I made someone slow down too much because I didn’t know I was in a 50.  Is that my fault?  Council should put more stupid signs up.  She didn’t mention about my stall, I knew I’d failed it after that stall.

I’m not sure I can do this much longer.  It doesn’t do my health any good, sometimes my heart goes so fast when I’m driving, I feel a bit dizzy.  That can’t be right can it?  So I suppose I’ve got to fork out another £100 now for another go…. it’s too expensive, I can’t afford to keep on failing.  I haven’t cried so much this time.  I never do in front of my instructor, but I haven’t cried that much at home this time either – I’m feeling more lonely and sad than want to cry.  I don’t know.  I think this testing business is stupid, my Mum said she passed first time after 8 lessons……WHAT?!

I see all these photos on Facebook with people holding up there pass, and it just makes me feel inadequate.  What is it about me that means I can’t pass the test?  Is it because whenever I take it, they need to have more fails to even up the pass rate?  The whole thing is just so unfair.  My best friend has told me to just book up another test as soon as they will let me – that’s another thing that annoys me, why can’t I just re-book a test straight away?  Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!  The whole thing is stupid! 

I hate driving tests.

Anon

BIG TOM Driving School   Intensive Driving Courses in Peterborough, Stamford, Spalding, Boston, Sleaford, and Grantham.

How To Find Time For Driving Lessons

These are busy times for everyone.  Wondering how to find time for driving lessons can be tricky, this blog will give you some practical tips to think about.

If you are wanting to learn to drive, let's say as a complete beginner, then the DVSA have stated that on average it will take 40 odd hours of driving lessons with a Driving Instructor and 20 odd hours of driving lessons with friends/family.  At an hour a week, that would be coming on for 10 months worth of driving lessons, and it would probably be more realistic to add some more if you don't have the opportunity to practise with parents/friends in between lessons with a Driving Instructor.

It would also probably be wise to take into account events that crop up that are another drain on your time, and I am sure there will be many... school/college exams, holidays, special events, and work commitments. Things simply crop up, that will have more priority than your 1 hour driving lesson per week.  Not to mention of course, sudden illness, or an injury that prevents you from driving.  In the winter months we have less daylight hours of course, and whilst some night time driving practise is recommended, like everything in life, you will need to balance it.  As such, it is very easy for that 10 month period to realistically be a year.  

The BIG TOM 5 day intensive driving course offers an alternative to deal with this problem of time.  In fact, if budget allows, it is normally possible to fit in any amount of hours over a given period so as to take into account your own learning preferences and time pressures in any given times of the week or month.  Customers from across the UK in London, St. Neots, Oakham, Huntingdon and Nottingham are making use of the flexible service offered by Big Tom Driving School in finding a solution that fits their needs.  

Contact us here for more information on how to get your driving licence faster
 

The Power of an Intensive Driving Course in Grantham

Watch this short video to witness the sheer power of an intensive driving course in Grantham!

There is no fun in using up your time and hard earned money on driving lessons if there is no winning line in sight!  My advice would be to take control of the situation.  If the pace of your progress is not as fast as you would like, then do as Kim did, and convert that hard effort into the result you want. 



To reserve an intensive driving course in Grantham, call 01476 850 050

BIG TOM Driving School

3 ways to be a great driver

The following 3 tips on how to be a great driver will save you hundreds if not thousands of pounds over the course of your driving life.

Have you noticed how drivers get very defensive about the standard of their driving?  Seldom will you hear a person admitting they are not a good driver.  Have you ever considered why that might be?  What is it about driving that makes people get so defensive?  Fear, pride, nerves, over confidence, lack of co-ordination, uncertainty about a car?  Does gender make a difference, the age of the person, what kind of vehicle they drive, how often they drive, where they drive, how well they were taught to drive, who and how they were influenced about standards of driving from childhood upwards?  

Well, any given person you choose to ask these questions to, could give you a different answer – for such a common activity that millions of us undertake on a daily basis, it is actually a highly personal subject.  The path a person takes on their journey to passing the driving test, and then driving for the rest of their life, can be a highly emotional one and very personal.

It still remains a fact that on average, less than 50% of people taking the driving test in the UK will pass first time, and the car insurance premiums are a constant reminder of the difficulties we all experience on the roads.  But spend a minute considering those two factors alone:

Each driving test costs £62 for the test itself, and if a driving school car is being used, typically an attempt at the driving test will cost in excess of £100.

Having a collision in a vehicle is costly in terms of the potentially raised insurance premiums, and the excess that may need to be paid, but also the effect on your health with injuries, loss of pay due to lost work, not to mention any psychological trauma that may result.  So this is most certainly a fluid situation, forever evolving, dependent on many factors that alter as you go through your driving life. 

What is the answer to this problem? 

My work experience for nearly 20 years now has given me the opportunity to see for myself, in close detail, the problems encountered with the process of learning to drive, and also the general consequence of poor driving.  It is fair to say that whilst a lot of media attention is afforded to laying the problem at the feet of young drivers, there are dozens of reasons why the standard of driving of any driver can start to dip.  Let me offer 3 tips that will help you on your path to be a great driver:

1.       Train well.  The training for this skill that you will be using on a daily basis for the rest of your life, will equate to less than 10p per day if you start to drive as a teenager.  See the bigger picture, take the long view, and plan for safe driving beyond the driving test – this will be money well spent.

2.        Have a professional review your driving ability on a yearly basis.  Consider it like a health check.  Big Tom Driving School provides a comprehensive assessment that reviews eyesight, reaction time and forward planning skills in today’s busy and hectic driving conditions for as little as £30.  When you consider the possible consequences involved, the price to pay for this assessment will be tiny in comparison.

3.       Form good habits.  Just like many other aspects of our life, whether it is to do with health, gardening, cooking, playing golf, nurturing relationships, construction, when you do things well, because you have got in the habit of doing them well, it takes less mental effort to obtain the same high standard.   A high driving standard is no different.  By gaining the knowledge of good driving techniques, and getting used to applying them so that they form habits, you are well on your way to becoming a great driver.

You have the opportunity to greatly influence the experiences that will be coming your way in the future on the roads.  Experiences that are as much to do with how you may possibly affect other road users (mostly inadvertently), as they are to do with how others affect you (again, mostly inadvertently). As a rule, drivers don't deliberately drive round, intentionally upsetting others with their poor driving.   

There is a vast array of drivers out there on the public roads, all with varying degrees of confidence, ability, and experience, but one thing you do have control of is reviewing how you fit in to that complex mix.  In that regard, the future is indeed, in your hands.

BIG TOM Driving School  Intensive Driving Courses in Lincoln, Peterborough, Grantham, Spalding, Sleaford, Boston, Bourne and Stamford  Tel: 0800 689 4174

What is a good driving lesson in Stamford

What does a good driving lesson in Stamford look like, how does it feel?  Is it about feeling more confident, or driving places you haven’t driven before, in weather you’ve not driven in before, or with a friend in the back chatting to you while you drive?  Is it all about not stalling once?  Take a look at this video to help answer what is a good driving lesson?

Taking driving lessons at this moment in your life, will be just that.....a moment on reflection in years to come.  Right now, at THIS very moment, with your busy diary and pressures on money, it is hard to see past the very next driving lesson, but try to believe me when I say, the skill you are developing now, is very likely to be used for practically every single day of every single year ....... FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.  What you are doing now, is literally just a moment in time.  You wont necessarily realise it, but the experience you are now going through is going to mould your driving experience for the rest of your life.

Close the door on the “noise” of modern life, cut the distractions for 30 seconds, and see things for what they are.  

This period of time right now, when you are learning to drive, is going to influence how well you drive, how considerate you are to other road users, how much control you have of the car, how well you will respond in an emergency situation, how comfortable you will feel parking in superstore car parks...... for the rest of your life.

My advice? 

Aim high. 

Please tell me down below, what a good driving lesson in Stamford feels like to you.

http://www.bigtom.org.uk/home/

Best Intensive Driving Course in Grantham

Kelly took our intensive driving course in Grantham and passed first time saying "Great guy who knows what he is doing I would definitely recommend" and gave us a 5 star customer review

How To Find the Best Intensive Driving Course in Grantham ?

When you are looking for the best intensive driving course in Grantham there are some signs to look out for that show a commitment to Quality & Value.  BIG TOM Driving School (01476 850 050) have years of experience providing intensive driving courses in Grantham, and have produced in this blog a short list of key ingredients that you can refer to when comparing driving schools in Grantham.

·         In-car training hours and price – take care when comparing this one, with some providers it is not so obvious!  At Big Tom Driving School we provide exceptional value intensive driving courses.  Be sure to check that the hours quoted are actually hours spent driving in the car, and not chatting in classrooms..... you have been warned!  We give choice of start times, we pick up and drop off at home or work.

·         Resources – ask about the range of training resources that are made available.  We provide free access to the reputable Theory Test Pro.  We also provide access to quality driving videos, DSA approved DVD’s and publications.  Our customers benefit from a Driving Instructor in Grantham who has sat in on 100's of driving tests and knows the driving test standard.

·         Driving Test Centres – do you have choices where to do the driving test?  We provide tests at Grantham, Lincoln, Peterborough and Boston.

·         Express courses – want an intensive driving course fast, and an express driving test to be arranged? Our customers benefit from our quick booking of intensive driving courses and also our unique driving test booking service that helps our customers jump driving test waiting queues. We handle all of this for our customers.  We allow them to concentrate on the driving.

In our experience, by far the biggest trap to fall into of the above is the very first one.  If it is not clear to you how much time you will spend driving on your intensive driving course, then beware!  

Take a moment to check out our wonderful customer reviews, no pre-set computer generated comments there, 100% authentic feedback from satisfied customers.

When looking for the best Intensive Driving Course in Grantham, use the above as a template to ask questions that will demonstrate the commitment to Quality & Value.

Check here for more frequently asked questions on our intensive driving courses in Grantham.

BIG TOM Driving School  Intensive Driving Course in Grantham 01476 850 050

Booking a Driving Test in Spalding

I recently got a call from a resident in Spalding asking about booking a driving test in Spalding.  The driving test centre in Spalding was closed down a few years ago, leaving the two nearest choices as Peterborough or Boston.

As you can see from this video here, there is much to be gained from taking driving lessons in Spalding; it’s a great place to learn to drive and offers a wide range of driving conditions.  It has the new bypass to Peterborough with it’s national speed limit, it has very tight residential areas such as around Spalding Grammar School, and it has a good variety of roundabouts to navigate.  Emma from Bourne who is seen in the above photo, proudly showing her new driving licence, took the BIG TOM intensive driving course and loved it.

But, as I mentioned to this caller, unfortunately, you simply cannot book a driving test in Spalding any longer.   The caller has decided to go for Boston Test Centre next Monday, as it has much more availability for more recent driving test slots.  Peterborough Test Centre typically has a 4-6 week advance booking (although there are ways to overcome this problem, see here).

He does also have first hand knowledge of travelling in and around Boston which is a key consideration.  At Big Tom Driving School we specifically do NOT drive only on driving test routes; but it is very sensible to get yourself at least acquainted with the area in which you intend to take your driving test.  It is quite surprising how the driving conditions do vary between driving test centres across the UK, not just in terms of the road layout and designs, but also in terms of the quantity of foreign or elderly drivers, the amount of large lorries in the area, the landscape with steep hills can make a difference, and university cities often will have more cyclists for example.

So as unfortunate as it is for residents of Spalding that they can no longer book a driving test in Spalding, all is not lost – there is a driving test centre within about half an hour drive from Spalding, and my advice would be to take the time to familiarise yourself with the area.

For another driving in Spalding video, click here.

BIG TOM Driving School   Intensive driving course in Spalding 0800 689 4174

Perhaps THE biggest driving mistake

This blog details not just the biggest driving mistake you can make, I would say this affects anyone and everyone who uses roads; including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.  

The reason for that is because all of those road users are humans, and humans do have a tendency to make assumptions.

Assume nothing.

When you are learning to drive, or have just passed your test, get a 'post-it' note, and write in big capital letters:

ASSUME NOTHING

and stick it on your dashboard somewhere.

The reason why I offer this advice is because to "assume nothing" is not natural for humans.  We all make assumptions every day of our lives, you could say, we NEED to make assumptions, because if we didn't, it would make for a very dull and monotonous existence.  However, when it comes to road safety, it really is sound advice.

When you hear 2 or more people having a heated discussion on any subject you care to mention, putting differences of opinion aside, very commonly you will hear these words:

"But I thought......"
"You never said....."
"How was I to know....."
"What made you think that....."
"I can't believe you did......."
"I had no idea....."

and when the issue is sorted, inevitably people are thinking:

"I wish I had checked......"
"If only I had known......"
"I didn't realise......"
"I would never have thought....."
"I wont make that mistake again"

....and there is the dawning realisation that assumptions have been made.  You will hear precisely these words and phrases used by people immediately after a road accident.  This is a matter of 'mindset', and it can be very difficult for us to consider the perspective of another person.

A month ago, one of my pupil's drove through a puddle on a rainy day and splashed a female pedestrian on the footpath.  Big deal?  Funny?  Not worth mentioning?   Until you have walked on a footpath and had a vehicle soak you with dirty, cold rainwater from the side of the road, then are you really in a position to judge?  Can you imagine what it might feel like to have that done to you?  Would you find it funny, would you be upset, would you be bothered?

This morning, while walking my 9 year old to school we came to a zebra crossing.  We've walked across this particular crossing dozens if not hundreds of times.  This morning we approached it while he was deeply involved in telling me a funny story about what happened at his school the day before.  He was animated, enjoying himself, having a joke, and deeply involved in this story.  As we got to about 8 feet from the crossing, traffic to our left had already slowed and the lead vehicle had stopped at the crossing for us, but to our right, the oncoming car was still driving towards the crossing and it was not even slowing.  I immediately took hold of my son by the shoulder, said "Stop" and we stood there looking to our right, and watched this car shoot straight through the zebra crossing.  It did not appear to be speeding (over the 30 mph limit), but I reckon it was doing about 30 mph and no slower.  Wow!  Have you ever had that happen to you?  Can you imagine how it made us feel?   

Why did this happen though?  What are the possible reasons?   

Maybe the driver did not see the two of us and our dog.  Maybe the driver was distracted doing a text, or making a call on the mobile.  Maybe the driver did see us, but was running late and did not want to stop.  Maybe the driver has never passed the driving test, not done the theory, and does not even know the law regarding zebra crossings.  Maybe the driver was drunk or high on drugs.  Maybe the driver saw us but mis-judged how close we were to the edge.  Maybe the driver needs to get his eyesight tested.  Maybe the driver had some friends in the car at the time and they "dared" him not to stop at the crossing.  Maybe the driver felt he would lose face by complying with the law with friends in his car.  Maybe the driver was unable to see clearly out the front windscreen because the wipers were not working.  Maybe the driver had just had a massive argument with his partner and the "red mist" had come down, and he was emotionally unstable at the time, and not in any fit state to be driving.   Maybe he had previously learnt the law regarding pedestrian crossings but has since forgotten it, or has little regard for the law.

The point is....... we simply don't know.  

There are two ways of viewing this.  The assumption made as pedestrians, that traffic will stop at the zebra crossing when pedestrians are waiting.  And the assumptions that some drivers will make as they drive.

We should not assume anything when it comes to road safety.  The car may not slow and stop, just as the 9 year old may walk straight on to the zebra crossing.

We don't have to live in fear of the most bizarre and unexpected thing that could crop up, but we most certainly should not assume people are going to take a certain course of action.  

Cyclists will avoid pot holes in the road and so can, and will swerve while riding, we should not assume all cyclists will ride in a straight line.  Pedestrians will walk straight across a busy road regardless if there is a pedestrian crossing nearby.  Cyclists will ride through red traffic lights, so when you have a green light, don't assume that cyclists will be patiently waiting on the red light.  Not all drivers can turn and see behind their vehicle when reversing in car parks, don't assume that the driver is able to see you walking near their car.  Motorbike riders will like to make progress in congested traffic, don't assume that they are going to patiently sit behind a car in slow moving traffic.  Bus drivers will want to pull out of a bus stop soon after putting on their right signal, don't assume that they will wait for a gap in traffic.  Drivers will edge out of junctions to improve their vision in certain circumstances, do not assume that everyone must wait behind give way lines on junctions.  Lorries will take up more space on roads, roundabouts and other junctions due to their sheer size, don't assume that the lorry driver can see where you are in relation to the lorry.

Stay safe.

BIG TOM Driving School   Intensive Driving Course in Peterborough, Lincoln, Grantham, Stamford, Spalding, Boston, and Sleaford.   0800 689 4174