Archive for November, 2009

Important note for Practical Driving Tests!

Sunday, November 15th, 2009

Latics has been alerted to a temporary software compatibility problem between the administrators of the driving theory test, Pearson Vue, and the DSA.

This is resulting in the need for all provisional test candidates to take their theory test pass certificate information with them to the driving test centre for the examiner’s inspection before conducting the practical test.

Driving tests have been refused and cancelled as a result of a candidate not having these documents for inspection, despite the request to do so in the practical test application literature.  For full details on what you need to take with you to the test centre, click here. This video gives you full information on the practical driving test:

Please ensure you take the correct documentation with you! ;)

Hybrid vehicles are a danger to pedestrians

Friday, November 13th, 2009

hybrid-car-soundA recent study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in America has found that hybrid vehicles are involved in more accidents with pedestrians and cyclists than regular petrol and diesel vehicles.

The study found that 0.9% of hybrid cars were involved in accidents with pedestrians compared to a 0.6% pedestrian accident figure for regular cars.

The NHTSA’s report may help support the need for fitting hybrid cars with noisemaking systems to alert pedestrians, cyclists and especially blind people.  With no engine noise the hybrid vehicles can potentially put pedestrians and cyclists at significant risk.

In Japan, hybrid cars have become the country’s top selling vehicles.  A transport ministry official said: “We have received opinions from automobile users and vision-impaired people that they feel hybrid vehicles are dangerous.  Blind people depend on sounds when they walk, but there are no engine sounds from hybrid vehicles when running at low speed and on the electric motor.”

The ministry consulted with a panel of police, consumers, vision impaired groups, scholars and the automobile industry to discuss options.  In the first meeting, it was decided to introduce a sound making function.  The panel has not decided on what kind of sound should be used, only that it should induce a response of caution.

Ford showcases world’s first inflatable seat belts

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
inflatable-seat-belts

Photo: Ford

Car manufacturer Ford is introducing innovative new seatbelts that inflate like airbags to give extra protection to passengers in the event of a collision.

Ford is fitting the back seats of vehicles with belts that inflate automatically during a crash.

Ford will be fitting the new seatbelts into the new Ford Explorer 4 x 4 which goes into production in 2010.  Experts say the new technology will be particularly effective at preventing broken ribs, internal damage and bruising.

Inflating over the shoulder and torso in a mere 40 milliseconds, a cylindrical airbag stretches from the buckle to the shoulder and fits inside a pocket in the belt.

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Merseyside drivers fined £1.2m for using mobiles

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

mobile-phone-drivingIn the past year, drivers in Merseyside were fined more than £1.2m for using their mobile phones while driving.

The Liverpool Daily Post reported that between April and September this year, police gave out tickets to more than 20,000 drivers for using handheld mobiles while in charge of their vehicles.

Even a driving instructor was among those hit with an £60 penalty and three points on their licence. The driving instructor was teaching a learner driver at the time!

Merseyside Police warned that the number of killed or seriously injured on the road could potentially increase unless they enforced the law. The cause of accidents while driving is not recorded, so there is no available data for how many people may have perished on UK roads because of mobile use.

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Latics launches ‘Pass in a Week’ Crash Courses

Saturday, November 7th, 2009

At Latics Driver Training, we have always been proud of our high pass rates and we will be continuing the trend but at a much faster rate for some of our customers.  Our intensive and semi-intensive courses have always proved popular and now we can offer our customers an even quicker way to get their licence.

Our new fast ‘pass in a week’ crash course means that customers can now start their lessons on a Monday and pass on the Friday!

Although these courses are referred to as ‘crash courses’, rest assured, we will not be teaching you to crash!  Quite the opposite.  Lessons taken intensively mean that with little time to forget in between lessons, learning is much quicker.

In fact, latest Government research found that of all successful test candidates, the average number of hours taken with an instructor was 47 and the average time taken to pass the test was 13 months!  With our pass in a week crash course, the cost will be much lower than taking weekly lessons.

Our all-inclusive ‘pass in a week’ crash course is being offered at an introductory price of just £599, which means that compared to taking lessons weekly, you could save hundreds of pounds.  Although the majority of our customers pass in less hours than the national average, based on the national average figures, you could save over £400 with our ‘pass in a week’ crash course!

We’re also so confident that the vast majority of our customers taking the ‘pass in a week’ crash course will achieve a pass at the end of the week that we guarantee to pay for your next test if you are unfortunate enough not to pass on the first attempt!

Places on the ‘pass in a week’ crash course are limited so to avoid disappointment, we recommend that you ring us on 0161 345 3452 or contact us through our website asking for an application form.

Observer on driving test – The DSA backs down

Friday, November 6th, 2009

The controversial plan for all learner drivers to be accompanied on driving test by their driving instructor from October 2010 has been partially scrapped.

learner-driver-on-testA meeting was held at DSA’s Headquarters with ADI representative organisations on 24th September 2009. At the meeting, the DSA responded to the objections raised by ADI’s and ADI organisations to the original proposal of making it mandatory for supervising drivers to accompany candidates on all driving tests.

DSA Chief Executive Rosemary Thew explained that the DSA had reflected on the points raised.  Chief Operating Manager Brian Gilhooley read out the following statement:

“The proposal that candidates should be required to take an observer with them on their practical car driving test from October 2010 has generated a great deal of debate. DSA has received comments from a variety of stakeholders and has met with the ADI Consultative Groups and the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS). We have listened carefully to all the views expressed. We remain convinced that an observer sitting in on test will enhance the learning process, which, in turn, will provide road safety benefits. We recognise, however, that there are valid reasons why an approach based on education and incentivisation might be preferable to mandating through regulation at this stage.

“So this is the approach we suggest: at the start of the test, driving examiners will ask all candidates if they would like their driving instructor (or another observer, such as a parent, guardian or friend who has taught the candidate to drive) to sit in on their test. The examiner will then ask the candidate if they would like their instructor be present for the test result and debrief. This will allow candidates to take advantage of the opportunities available to support their ongoing learning and development, but will leave the final decision with them.

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Happy 8th Birthday Latics!

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

happy-birthday

We are officially 8 years old today!  Latics Driver Training was launched on 5th November 2001 by business partners Claire Wilmot and Glyn Crossley who have more than 25 years experience in driver training between them.  The company has expanded steadily over the years to become Oldham’s biggest and best driving school and has helped thousands of happy customers pass their test.  Our team of dedicated instructors and our happy customers have been paramount to the success of Latics Driver Training.

Over the last 12 months, we have been busy expanding and offering new products.  Director Claire Wilmot has visited local schools to give presentations and deliver road safety messages, our new ‘Pass in a Week Crash Course’ has been launched, and all the vehicles have been signwritten with the fantastic new Latics Driver Training branding.

Over the next 12 months, we aim to deliver the same high standard of driving instruction and customer service.  We will also be launching our new and improved pupil progress system and updating our instructors with some of the new breed of extremely successful coaching methods being introduced to the driver training industry.

The driving school provides driving lessons in Middleton, Ashton, Rochdale, Oldham, Saddleworth, Hyde, Manchester and most surrounding areas.  See our website for more information.