F1 Champion sent for driving lessons

Former triple Formula One motor racing champion Nelson Piquet has been ordered to take a driver awareness course - for repeated speeding and parking offences.
The Brazilian lost his driving licence for having too many penalty points.
Piquet and his wife Viviane must attend a week of lessons to learn good and safe driving conduct, and will then have to pass an exam - a lot more stringent than many UK speed awareness courses.
Onl when he has passed the test will he be allowed back on the road!

Co2 Emmisions

The UK Government has launced a new website at vcarfueldata.org.uk with details of co2 emissions of all cars. VW have launced a Polo who's emissions are low enough to mean zero road tax.

The Instructor College

The TV adverst from The Instructor College continue inexorably. Comments I've heard haven't been to favourable. Certainly you don't see a lot of Instructors around with their Driving School - Red. A guaranteed job, but do they provide any work. Comments from people who've trained with TIC are invited!
Further info about learning to drive at http://www.wanadrive.co.uk/DrivingInstructorTraining.htm

Theory Test Questions

The new Theory test questions were released on 23rd July. The new cd from Driving Test Success is already available.

Raise driving age to 18?

The minimum driving age must be raised from 17 to 18 to stop young people "killing themselves and others", MPs have said.
The Commons transport committee also wants learner drivers to spread lessons over a year before taking the test and a complete alcohol ban for new drivers.

New drivers should also be banned from carrying passengers aged between 10 and 20 late at night.

The "new" proposals (many of which have actually been around for some time!) involve people being able to start lessons at 17 but not take their test till 18, a more structured syllabus, a minimum number of lessons required and hazard awareness training in schools.

Many proposals in the past from the DSA have involved blaming Driving Instructors for poor standards of driving. These parliamentary proposals take a wider more balanced view.

Smoke Free Driving School Cars

From 1 July 2007 smoking in vehicles used as workplaces has been banned in England. The ban is already in place in Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Thus driving school cars have to be no smoking zones. Although the legislation will only apply to driving instructors’ vehicles, candidates for test need to be aware that if they bring their own vehicle to the driving test it is the DSA policy to provide a "smoke free working environment" for all staff. This means the examiner may therefore refuse to conduct the test if the vehicle contains tobacco smoke.

Theory Test Rush

The DSA are expecting a rush of candidates applying to take the Theory Test before 3rd September. On that date. the number of Theory Test Questions is increasing for the Car and Motorcycle theory test. The number of questions will increase from 35 to 50. The pass mark will be 43 out of 50. If you wish to take your test before September, you will need to book soon!

Driving test Online Bookings

Many people will not be aware that the web address for online test bookings has changed to www.direct.gov.uk/drivingtest and may have trouble if they are using out of date links.

DSA misses targets

The Driving Standards Agency have announced that they have failed to reach 30% of their targets at the end of the financial year ending March 2007.