When you have passed your driving test and are setting off on the open road for a lifetime of independence, we at RED are confident that you will have been fully equipped with the level of driving skill required to be a responsible driver.
The Secret to Responsible Driving
Monday, November 19th, 2012Could you be facing driving restrictions?
Tuesday, October 9th, 2012Currently, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) is proposing that young people should spend at least a year learning to drive. The ABI also wants a lower alcohol limit for new drivers and a ban on intensive courses as the only method of learning. So, what does RED think?
75% of driving instructors think a cycling safety element is needed in UK driving test
Monday, September 24th, 2012It’s education not just legislation that’s needed
Findings from our recent research with instructors suggests that 75 per cent of driving instructors in the UK believe the driving test needs more consideration for cycling awareness.
In the RED driving seat: Anthony Fuller
Tuesday, September 4th, 2012In the RED driving seat this month is York based driving instructor Anthony Fuller.
Anthony is a retired police officer, teaches in an automatic car and is fully trained in teaching those with disabilities how to drive.
Low cost, low risk learner driver insurance
Wednesday, August 15th, 2012Here at RED, we know that being taught driving skills from qualified instructors is just as important as having the opportunity to practice driving outside of tuition time. Indeed, The Driving Standards Agency recommends that in addition to the lessons with your instructor, you should also practice for at least 20 hours privately.
Now, those of you who have already made a start with this will know that persuading your parent, guardian, big sister or cousin to practice in their car is hard enough, but then you have to worry about insurance on top.
France’s new breathalyser legislation: should the UK follow suit?
Monday, July 16th, 2012Ian McIntosh, RED’s chief exec, provides his thoughts on the new ruling.
Every year, 4,000 people are killed on the roads in France and one of the major causes for this is drink driving accidents. According to road security authorities, alcohol has been the main cause for mortality on roads since 2006, and a third of deaths caused by drink-driver related accidents.
In the hope of reducing the number of accidents and deaths on the road caused by drivers who are under the influence of alcohol, the French Government has introduced new laws which demand that motorists carry a breathalyser in their vehicle.
Drive safe with driveRED
Friday, June 15th, 2012
So apparently it is summer but, in true British style, the rain is blessing us with its presence and, to add to this joy, heavy winds are due over the next few days. Here at RED Driving School, we want to provide you with some top tips on how to drive in adverse weather conditions which most of you will inevitably experience at some point. Whether you are learning to drive or have just passed your test, bad weather can be daunting to go out in if you are not used to it. Here are some tips to help you drive safely.
The Peterborough Triangle
Friday, August 5th, 2011
We continue our series on local hazards by taking a look at “The Peterborough Triangle”. Our guide is Ian Parsons from RED Driving School.
Peterborough Triangle off Lincoln Road
- When leaving Millfield travelling north on Lincoln Road towards the triangle you will see the road forks off into two directions.
- The road to the right is no entry.
- You must follow the road to your left into Maskew Avenue.
- This stretch of road is one way with give-way road markings marked on the road.
CAUTION: these road markings are not very visible and are consequently often missed by learners and qualified drivers alike.
- You will then be giving way to traffic coming southbound from Lincoln Road on your extreme right!
- The road ahead splits into three lanes. The left lane will take you onto Bourges Boulevard heading back towards the city centre, the middle is to go straight ahead following Maskew Avenue and the third is to turn right into Bourges Boulevard leading back towards Lincoln Road.
- If you are turning right into Bourges Boulevard (keeping on the triangle) you will then notice the road comes back down to two lanes. The left lane will take you back to Lincoln Road heading towards New England and the right lane will hold you in the triangle, taking you back southbound on Lincoln Road toward Millfield.
CAUTION: if you are turning right be careful as you will encounter a sharp turn to your right with a pedestrian crossing on it, which is often missed.
- Immediately after the pedestrian crossing you must once again give way as you are emerging into traffic from your left.
- On emerging from this ensure you are in the correct lane. The left lane will take you back to Millfield. If you follow the road on your right this will lead you back into the triangle towards Maskew Avenue.
- Keep an eye on the traffic on your left as you re-enter the triangle as you are on the other side of the road from where it all started. Remember at the beginning of this I said to make sure you see the give way markings on the road? Well you are now approaching that area and you are now the person on the extreme right! Beware of traffic not seeing the faded give way road markings and suddenly emerging onto the triangle!
Maybe it should be renamed the Bermuda Triangle!
Key lessons to take from the Peterborough Triangle:
- Always proceed at an appropriate speed to the road situation
- Pay attention to road signs and road markings
- Ensure you are in the correct lane for the direction of travel
- Always anticipate other road users – especially as you now know the key areas where other cars and pedestrians might unexpectedly enter the triangle!
Click here to view the Peterborough Triangle on Google’s Streetview.
Is your car insured?
Wednesday, June 15th, 2011
Photo by smlp.co.uk
Take note! As of Monday, 20th June, a change in the law will mean it will be illegal to keep an uninsured vehicle, opposed to just driving when uninsured. The only exception is for a car that has a valid Statutory Off Road Notice (SORN).
The reason for this is that uninsured drivers cause 160 deaths and 23,000 injuries every year, and cost insured motorists £500 Million in extra premiums.
The new system is fairly straight forward. The DVLA will work with the Motor Insurers Bureau to identify uninsured vehicles. The owner of the vehicle will be sent a notice that their car appears to be uninsured and that they will be fined if they do not take action. If the car remains uninsured, the keeper will receive a £100 fine. If the vehicle remains uninsured, regardless of whether the fine has been paid, further action will be taken. If the car is on public land then it could be clamped, seized and destroyed. Alternatively the owner will be taken to court and face a fine of up to £1000.
Vehicles that are seized will only be released when there is evidence that the keeper is no longer committing an offence by having no insurance, and the person driving the vehicle away is insured to do so.
You can see the information released by the department for transport for more information.
Could there be changes in the driving licence rules for young drivers?
Thursday, June 2nd, 2011There is a campaign by the road safety charity, Brake, who is pushing for a radical change in the way young people learn to drive and get their driving licences. The Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) scheme is suggested as a way to improve road safety among young drivers.
The proposed changes mean that the learner drivers would need to have a minimum of one year learning to drive before they are allowed to take any driving tests. Once they pass their driving tests, they will have a restricted “novice” licence for two years before they receive their full licence.
Photo by Still Burning
The restricted licence will mean that new learners:
- Will not be allowed to drive between 11pm and 6am
- Will have a zero alcohol limit
- Will be banned from driving on a motorway for the first year after passing
- Will be required to pass a second test at the end of the first two years to get their full driving licence
- Will be restricted in carrying young passengers
Research has shown that one quarter of all road accidents are caused by young drivers, one in five young drivers will crash within six months of passing their driving test, and every year over 3,300 young people are killed or suffer serious, life affecting injuries. It is felt that the proposed changes to the process of learning to drive will ultimately save lives and make roads safer.
Here at RED we’re interested in how these proposed changes could affect young drivers; share your thoughts here, or on Facebook.
