Today’s fuel prices are a good indicator of our need to reduce fuel consumption, and of course the ever present problem of global warming is a great driving factor that we all can’t ignore. I’m sure were all sick and tired of being told to clean up our act at home by using less energy, not wasting food, recycling more, it can be tiresome, driving is no different. For any body who is required to drive to work or has to drive for work, then a few simple changes to the way you drive can save you money and if we all do it, then it can greatly reduce the harmful effect our vehicles have on the environment. If you own a fleet of vehicles then the savings could be great. Taking a short journey in your car can use more fuel, so the obvious answer is not to use the car, if only life could be that simple. If you have to use your car there are a range of simple driving techniques you can use to reduce your fuel bill. Anticipation and planning is what we do all day long, even when we are not driving. Here are a few tips on driving more economically. Don’t leave your braking so late, this increases wear and tear on your car and accelerating away at junctions will also increase fuel consumption. Look well ahead use the far horizon as your starting point, then drop your view to the middle distance, keep a good gap from the vehicle in front remember the two second rule, then check your lane positioning, just over your bonnet. By constantly changing your view you can react in plenty of time to vehicles in front braking too late, so that you can have time to check your mirrors and then apply your brakes progressively. 30% of all accidents are caused by drivers anticipating too late and colliding with the vehicle in front, the two second rule works by using the vehicle in front, as they pass a fixed point, like a speed sign or a tree, you count off “only a fool breaks the 2 second rule” you should have finished counting by the time you reach that fixed point. It’s something we all have been taught, but sometimes we forget. Stick to the speed limit, don’t exceed the limit it kills people. The excessive use of speed will also reduce your fuel efficiency, and cost you money on a higher fuel bill. Accelerating from 10 miles to 30 in the shortest distance possible is pointless, you run the risk of not seeing developing hazards in time and then having to break harshly, remember plan well ahead. Speed is an important factor, too many people accelerate because of late decisions at junctions or change up to higher gear way too late, if you can hear your engine screaming or see your rev counter near the red mark, then your wasting fuel. Anticipate the speed you will be at sooner, check your rev counter and make certain it does not exceed 2000 revs for petrol cars or 2500 for diesel ones, before changing gears. Tyre pressures are important always check your tyres in the manufactures guide, either in the handbook or on the side of the tyre, this reduces costs and environmentally harmful emissions from lower fuel consumption. Correct tyre pressure provides better overall safety through greater driving stability and longer tyre durability. These all common sense tips and most of all being a driver you can influence others with you, especially if you’re a parent, don’t forget your children watch you drive and could pick up bad habits for life, drive sensibly and point out bad drivers. Damien BurkeDriving Instructor Blue School of Motoring
Posts archive for: 6 July, 2008
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Theory Test
@ 2008-07-06 – 08:06:00
The multiple choice part is delivered using a touch screen computer and the hazard perception part records your responses through the use of a computer mouse button.If you pass one part and fail the other you'll fail the whole test, and you'll need to take both parts again.The questions in each multiple choice test vary according to the category of vehicle you're hoping to obtain a licence for, ie a motorcycle theory test will contain specific questions that don't appear in any other test.
For the hazard perception test there are no separate versions for different vehicles, each vehicle category takes the same test, however the pass mark is different for different categories of tests.
Part one - multiple choiceBefore the test starts you'll be given instructions on how the test works.You can also choose to go through a practice session of the multiple choice questions to get used to the layout of the test. At the end of the practice session the real test will begin.A question and several answer options will appear onscreen and you have to select the correct answer to the question by touching the screen. Some questions may require more than one answer.For cars and motorcycles you'll be asked 50 questions in 57 minutes and the pass mark is 43 out of 50.For lorries and buses you'll be asked 60 questions in 70 minutes and the pass mark is 51 out of 60.You can navigate between questions and 'flag' questions that you want to come back to later in the test. After the multiple choice part you can choose to have a break of up to three minutes before the hazard perception part starts.
Part two - hazard perception
After the break you'll then be shown a short tutorial video clip about how the hazard perception part works.The hazard perception part is also delivered on a computer but you respond by clicking a button on the mouse. You'll be presented with a series of 14 video clips which feature every day road scenes. In each clip there'll be at least one developing hazard, but one of the clips will feature two developing hazards.To achieve a high score you'll need to respond to the developing hazard during the early part of its development. The maximum you can score on each hazard is five.You won't be able to review your answers to the hazard perception test; as on the road, you'll only have one chance to respond to the developing hazard.The pass mark for the car and motorcycle hazard perception part of the theory test is 44 out of 75. For lorries and buses the pass mark is 50 out of 75.
At the end of the test
At the end of the hazard perception part of the theory test you'll be invited to answer a number of customer survey questions.You don't have to answer the questions if you don't want to, and any information given is anonymous and confidential. The survey questions don't affect the result of the test.When you have finished the test you may leave the examination room. Once you have left the room, you'll not be allowed to enter it again. You'll then be given your result by the test centre staff.
We strongly recommend that all candidates prepare thoroughly for the test. To help prepare we recommend The Highway Code, relevant books from our Essential Skills series and Know Your Traffic Signs. The official theory test books and CD-Roms contain the multiple choice questions. The CD-Roms show screens similar to those used in the multiple choice part of the test and information about hazard perception.Being a safe driver with good hazard perception skills means being able to use speed correctly, keeping the correct distance between yourself and other road users, scanning the road effectively, anticipating and planning for potential hazards.All these skills can be taught effectively. You should prepare with a 'Blue' professional instructor as part of a structured programme of on-road tuition, covering the recommended syllabus.Your Blue School of Motoring Instructor will help you prepare for the the Theory Test, you can purchase any training material by phoning our office on: 0800 234 6823 Blue School of Motoring
Preparing for the theory test -
Driving Lessons in Wokingham
@ 2008-07-06 – 08:02:43
Blue School of Motoring in Wokingham. Learn to Drive in WokinghamBlue School of Motoring has been teaching students to learn to drive in Wokingham for several years.
Learning to drive in the Wokingham area will be great fun with a Blue School of Motoring instructor. The local area roads are sometimes a demanding experience for the novice driver, especially with so much work being carried out in the Wokingham area. With so many arriving to work and shop in the town, there are always plenty of hazards to contend with, especially the busy High Street. Learn to drive in Wokingham with the experts.
The old market town of Wokingham has some very narrow streets, and has developed to become a very prosperous town, this has lead to some very congested roads especially at peak hour times. Your Wokingham driving instructor will help you deal with all that driving in Wokingham can throw at you. The one way system that makes up the town centre is one area that you will have to deal with, there are plenty of pedestrian crossings and a busy town centre has many pedestrians who are all trying top get about in a small area, your Wokingham driving instructor will design a course that helps you to deal with the ever changing hazards.
Your Wokingham Driving Instructor will provide the complete training course that will help you to achieve the required standard to pass the Driving Standards Agency theory and driving tests. Learning to drive in Wokingham with us, will give the learner driver a better understanding of how to cope with changes in the local area. We can provide driving lessons in Wokingham in Manual cars or Automatic cars. Blue School of Motoring instructors in Wokingham have a high success rate, with most of our students for the driving school coming from recommendations, like the one below:
Holly (Wokingham)
Got through my driving test, and did all my manoeuvres with out any mistakes at all, I couldn’t believe it, my instructor was so cool, he’s now teaching my brother, and he’s enjoying it. I highly recommend Blue School of Motoring for your driving lessons in Wokingham.
Your Wokingham based Blue School of Motoring Driving Instructor will advise you where to do your theory test, and also your practical driving test. So for driving lessons in Wokingham use Blue. The below are some of the local centres where you can apply to take your tests:
Aldershot
Theory Test
Reading
Staines
Slough
Practical Driving Test
ChertseyFarnboroughReadingSlough Please be advised it’s always best to talk to your Wokingham Driving Instructor before booking your theory or practical driving test. All our Wokingham driving instructors are patient and calm, with a friendly and professional approach. The Blue goal is to provide a structured and professional training programme to all our students, who learn to drive in Wokingham, which will cover all aspects of the driving syllabus, this will enable you to develop as a safer driver for the rest of your life.
Blue School of Motoring is expanding all the time, so if you don't see your area listed here please contact us as we may be able to help you, or call us for a driving lesson in Wokingham at the driving school on 0118 9639560. If you'd like to book lessons or pay for lessons with Blue School of Motoring you can do this online via this website by filling in the form on our book lessons page.
All our Wokingham Driving Instructors follow our driving instructor code of conduct. Please click on the link to read it. -
Driving Lessons in Camberely
@ 2008-07-06 – 07:51:26
Blue School of Motoring in Camberley. Learn to Drive in Camberley.Blue School of Motoring has been teaching students to learn to drive in Camberley for several years.
Learning to drive in the Camberley area is always a good experience with a Blue School of Motoring driving instructor. The local area roads can be a demanding experience for the novice driver, especially with so much work being carried out in the Camberley area. With new building work going on near the town centre, there are always plenty of road works to contend with, and especially how to deal with the Meadows Roundabout.Learn to drive in Camberley with the experts. Your Camberley Driving Instructor will provide the complete driver training course that will help you to achieve the required standard to pass the Driving Standards Agency theory and driving tests. Learning to drive in Camberley with us, will give the learner driver a better understanding of how to cope with changes in the local area. We can provide driving lessons in Camberley in Manual cars or Automatic cars.
Learning to drive in Camberley with Blue School of Motoring can help get through some of the more challenging road systems around the town centre, like the Meadows Roundabout, which is on the Farnborough test route. There are plenty of complex junctions that one of our Camberley Driving Instructors can help you negotiate, especially along the A331.
The town centre gets very busy and its always a god idea to know an alternative route, so that will make driving in Camberley that much easier. Blue School of Motoring instructors have a high success rate, with most of our students for the driving school coming from recommendations, like the one below:
Jo (Camberley)I passed my driving test with Blue School of Motoring, I only got just a few minors, and did bay park did it first time no faults and have already driven to work on my own. I have recommended all of my friends to use them for their driving lessons, their great.
Your Camberley based Blue School of Motoring Driving Instructor will advise you where to do your theory test, and also your practical driving test. So for driving lessons in Camberley use Blue. The below are some of the local centres where you can apply to take your tests:
Theory Test
Aldershot
Basingstoke
Reading
Staines
Practical Driving Test
BasingstokeChertseyFarnboroughReading Please be advised it’s always best to talk to your Camberley Driving Instructor before booking your theory or driving test. All our Camberley driving instructors are patient and calm, with a friendly and professional approach.The Blue goal is to provide a structured and professional training programme to all our students, who learn to drive in Camberley, which will cover all aspects of the driving syllabus, this will enable you to develop as a safer driver for the rest of your life.
Blue School of Motoring is expanding all the time, so if you don't see your area listed here please contact us as we may be able to help you, or call us for a driving lesson in Camberley at the driving school on 01276 805227. If you'd like to book lessons or pay for lessons with Blue School of Motoring you can do this online via this website by filling in the form on our book lessons page.
All our Camberley Driving Instructors follow our driving instructor code of conduct. Please click on the link to read it.
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Driving Lessons in Reading
@ 2008-07-06 – 07:49:15
Blue School of Motoring in Reading. Learn to Drive in ReadingBlue School of Motoring has been teaching students to learn to drive in Reading for several years.
Learning to drive in the Reading area is a great experience with a Blue School of Motoring instructor. The local area roads can be a demanding experience for the novice driver, especially with so much work being carried out in the Reading area. With new building work going on near the town centre, there are always plenty of road works to contend with, especially the Black Boy Roundabout, which is on the Reading practical test route.Learn to drive in Reading with the experts. There are some challenging driving conditions in Reading, but if you have had some professional guidance from one of our Reading Driving Instructors you won’t have any trouble. The Black Boy roundabout is very straightforward if approached in the correct lane, and there are various other routes to take if there is a game playing at the Madejski Stadium. The roads around Whitley can become very congested, and as this is a favourite place to be taken for your practical driving test, our Reading Driving Instructors can show you the most common routes, and also cover you’re manoeuvres at the same time.
The town centre driving is also covered, dealing with the Oracle, and if you like how to do some bay parking, and of course dual carriageway driving around the IDR(Inner Distribution Road). So learning to drive in Reading is so much easier with a Blue Driving Instructor. Your Reading Driving Instructor will provide the complete training course that will help you to achieve the required standard to pass the Driving Standards Agency theory and driving tests.
Learning to drive in Reading with us, will give the learner driver a better understanding of how to cope with changes in the local area. We can provide driving lessons in Reading in Manual cars or Automatic cars. Blue School of Motoring instructors have a high success rate, with most of our students for the driving school coming from recommendations, like the one below:
Tom (Reading) Cant believe I passed my driving test, I thought I had failed but my driving instructor told me never to give up, and I got my worst manoeuvre reverse round the corner, and I did it first go, I find driving around the Oracle not a problem. I would highly recommend Blue School of Motoring
Your Reading based Blue School of Motoring Driving Instructor will advise you where to do your theory test, and also your practical driving test. So for driving lessons in Reading use Blue. The below are some of the local centres where you can apply to take your tests:
Theory Test
Aldershot
Reading
Staines
Slough
Practical Driving Test
ChertseyFarnboroughReadingSlough Please be advised it’s always best to talk to your Reading Driving Instructor before booking your theory or driving test. All our Reading driving instructors are patient and calm, with a friendly and professional approach.The Blue goal is to provide a structured and professional training programme to all our students, who learn to drive in Reading, which will cover all aspects of the driving syllabus, this will enable you to develop as a safer driver for the rest of your life.
Blue School of Motoring is expanding all the time, so if you don't see your area listed here please contact us as we may be able to help you, or call us for a driving lesson in Reading at the driving school on 0118 963 9560. If you'd like to book lessons or pay for lessons with Blue School of Motoring you can do this online via this website by filling in the form on our book lessons page.
All our Reading Driving Instructors follow our driving instructor code of conduct. Please click on the link to read it.
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