Grange Park School of Motoring Blog

Rules of the road - lines you can and cannot park on

Joanne Barton — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 18:19:11 +0100

Finding a space in a town centre is a job in itself and avoiding rip-off multi-storey car parks is a must if you want to save cash.

But where you can leave your car and for how long can be confusing - and cheeky traffic wardens dine out on your bewilderment.

The Government has announced that new legislation will come into force in November to ban clamping on private land, so drivers can breathe a small sigh of relief, but there's still plenty of ambiguity about parking in public areas.

Just how long can you leave your car on a single yellow line for, and what does a red route really mean? We've scoured the Highway Code to reveal the facts so you don't have to find out the hard way.

Yellow lines
It's common knowledge that double yellow lines alongside a kerb mean no waiting at any time, but in some cases there are signs nearby indicating that you can park there at certain times of the day or year, so it's worth a look if you're desperate.

Single yellow lines are where the biggest source of ambiguity lies. According to the Highway Code, single yellows should be accompanied by a sign that displays when you can and can't park there. It's usually a case of no parking at peak times (i.e. between 8am and 6pm), but check the sign to be sure.

Red routes
Double and single red lines are a common sight on London's congested roads. Parking, unloading or even stopping for a second to let a passenger out are all strictly prohibited on roads with these along the side.

In a similar vein to a single yellow, a single red line will have a nearby sign that shows the times when the enforcements are more relaxed. Double reds should be avoided at all costs and at all times. The only exceptions to the rules are for licensed taxis and blue badge holders.

Loading
If you need to park for a short period of time to load or unload the boot then look for yellow marks on the kerb. Two yellow marks mean no loading at any time, while one yellow mark means that you can load at certain times. Both markings should also have nearby signs that tell you whether and when you can stop to load there.

Specific loading bays are marked in white with the words LOADING ONLY displayed on the ground alongside the bay, so parking and walking away is not allowed. A white sign with a blue 'loading only' symbol will also be displayed nearby.

Other road markings
White zigzag lines mean you're near a zebra crossing and stopping on them is out of the question as you may obstruct the view of pedestrians crossing the road. The same goes for yellow zigzag lines outside a school, which are usually accompanied by the words SCHOOL KEEP CLEAR in yellow.

Bus lanes and bus stops should be avoided for obvious reasons, and cameras to keep them free of anything but buses and taxis are now widespread, particularly in cities. A criss-cross yellow box means that you can't stop for any reason as you may obstruct other traffic and yellow box cameras are now very popular with city councils.

Some parking spaces are reserved for specific vehicles like doctors' cars or vehicles that belong to nearby businesses - such spaces are always marked, either on the road itself or with signs and, while you may or may not be fined for leaving your car in them, you'll almost certainly leave the locals a little peeved, which is never a good move.

If you're still unsure then check out the Government's motoring guidelines on: www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring.

Jack Carfrae

'Are you ready?' video

Joanne Barton — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:32:05 +0100

DSA's 'Are you ready?' video - the official step-by-step explanation of the driving test - has been updated so you know what the whole test will look like from 4 October.

Watch 'Are you ready?' on YouTube

Get ready for independent driving

Joanne Barton — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:30:34 +0100

From 4 October 2010 your practical driving test will include a section of ‘independent driving’.

During your test you’ll have to drive by either following traffic signs, a series of directions, or a combination of both, for about ten minutes.

If you're asked to follow a series of verbal directions, you'll be shown a diagram to help you.

It doesn't matter if you don't remember every direction, or if you go the wrong way - that can happen to the most experienced drivers.

Independent driving is not a test of your orientation and navigation skills. Driving independently means making your own decisions - this includes deciding when it’s safe and appropriate to ask for confirmation about where you’re going.

Independent driving video on YouTube

Joanne Barton — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:23:56 +0100

Independent driving video on YouTube Watch independent driving in action in this video on YouTube. It shows how the examiner will give you verbal directions, and how they will ask you to follow traffic signs. Watch the independent driving video on YouTube

Driving test to be revamped

Joanne Barton — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 22:18:19 +0100

Yahoo News - 4th June 2010

The UK driving test is to be revamped in an effort to make it more relevant to real world driving situations.

The change, which comes into force in October, is the inclusion of a ten-minute journey that the pupil must make unassisted, known as the 'independent driving' section.

Depending on where the test is taking place, the examiner will tell the learner to either follow signs for a city centre or landmark, or give them a series of directions.

When directions are given, the examiner will also have a set of cards to mark out the route, as a visual prompt for the learner.

The point is not to make learners memorise directions, but to evaluate how they cope with driving as they would after passing the test. Therefore, the examiner will not guide them during every turn and junction.

Early research by the Driving Standards Agency indicated the new section would lead to a fall in pass rates.

However, the learner will not fail the test if they get lost or make a wrong turn. In those circumstances the examiner will guide the learner back on course.

A DSA spokesman said: “Subsequent trials with a larger number of participants and more closely reflecting the conditions in the planned new test showed no significant fall in the pass rate.”

Other changes to the test will include more focus on high risk driving, like turning right across traffic and using slip roads. In addition, only one of the three low speed manoeuvres will need to be taken, rather than two.

Mark Nichol

Driver crashes car through seventh floor wall

Joanne Barton — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 18:55:17 +0100

Yahoo news - 30th April 2010

It's a parking manoeuvre 67-year old Ralph Hudson will never forget, when he mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake pedal and nearly plunged seven stories to the ground through a car park's brick wall.

Luckily for Mr Hudson his Mercedes C-Class was left dangling half out of the wall and he was able to get out of the car. The cars below were not so fortunate and seven were badly damaged by the falling bricks.

Mr Hudson was parking in the Bank of America car park in Tulsa, Oklahoma when his foot slipped and caused the car to reverse out of control.

Corporal David Crow, of the Tulsa Police Department, said: "We received a report about a car that had hit the side of a building, but didn't realise we'd be dealing with a Mercedes hanging halfway out of the seventh floor."

No one was hurt in the accident and Corporal Crow commented: "I was amazed when we were able to drive the car back into the car park as the rear wheels still had enough grip."

Fire rescue crews arrived to clear up the fallen bricks and to make the wall safe again.

The police added that they would not be issuing a ticket to a shaken Mr Hudson.

Alisdair Suttie

Premier League - N'Zogbia arrested for fraud

Joanne Barton — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 01:01:36 +0100

BBC News - 22nd April 2010

Wigan Athletic footballer Charles N'Zogbia has been arrested over allegations that someone else completed the written part of his driving test.

He was held on suspicion of causing fraud by false representation as he turned up at Sale Driving Test Centre in Greater Manchester on Wednesday.

The French winger, 23, was at the centre to sit the practical part of his test when he was arrested, police said.

He has been released on police bail until 3 June.

Mr N'Zogbia, who joined Wigan last year from Newcastle United, scored the winning goal when his team beat Arsenal 3-2 on Sunday.

'Naive mistake'

Wigan's manager Roberto Martinez said: "The way I see the whole situation is that Charles has made a naive mistake.

"We're going to look into every single detail before I give my full side of the story, but what is important is Charles has reacted in a very mature way.

"We need to remember he is a very young man, but he knows he is also a public figure, and he needs to make sure he becomes a stronger and more experienced human being.

"In that respect, we'll help him to ensure he is available to do what he does best, which is playing football.

"We'll collaborate with the police and with Charles to make sure we get out of this situation in a positive way."

Although he is French, Mr N'Zogbia is eligible to represent England on the basis of residency and there have been calls for him to be selected by manager Fabio Cape

Speed Surveillance cameras on trial

Joanne Barton — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:15:56 +0100

Yahoo News - 21 April 2010

A new speed recognition system is being trialled in the UK. Called 'SpeedSpike', the latest type of camera uses number plate recognition to 'track' cars on busy roads.

The trial, conducted by the Home Office and the Police, was secretive until a House of Commons report unveiled it.

The cameras use similar technology to the average speed check units currently in use on motorways. The difference is that they can track cars in built up urban areas. If they find that a car has covered a distance at an average speed higher than the limit, fines can be automatically generated.

Two places currently have cameras on site - one in Southwark, London, and another on the A374 in Cornwall.

The US company that makes the cameras, PIPS Technology, is hoping to secure a contract to install them nationwide. It claims SpeedStrike is cost-effective, and is proven to reduce speeding in busy areas, including outside schools.

However, the cameras have attracted criticism, notably from Conservative MP Geoffrey Cox, who said "you always have to ask if it is really necessary to watch over people, to spy on them and film them. We will get to a point where it becomes routine and it should never be a matter of routine that the state spies on its citizens."

Superintendant Tim Swarbrick, chairman of the Devon and Cornwall Safety Camera Partnership, defended the cameras, saying "average speed recorders have proved to be very successful in roadworks on the major trunk roads. The have reduced injury and deaths and we would like to replicate this positive effect."

Londoners rated as worst learner drivers

Joanne Barton — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 10:09:53 +0100

BT Yahoo News - 16th April 2010

Learners based in London and South-east England need more attempts at the driving test to pass than in any other part of Britain, according to a new survey by the AA.

A total of 20,109 people responded to the survey, which revealed that Londoners sat the test on average 2.09 times, while those in the south east needed 2.11 tests, which is 5% worse than the UK average.

Simon Douglas, the AA Driving School Director, said: "Busy, complex roads in London and the south east appear to contribute to learners there finding it slightly more difficult."

Drivers in the east of England returned the best result, taking just 1.9 attempts to pass. They were closely followed by the North-East, Yorkshire and Humberside and the East Midlands.

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is quoted as saying that those who have passed their test have had 45 hours of professional training and 22 hours of private practice - on average.

Douglas sums up the findings: "Many factors shape local pass rates. But wherever you live, professional tuition with a fully qualified Driving Instructor will give you the best possible head start towards passing your L-test and beyond."

The full league table is below:

East of England 1.87

Yorkshire and Humberside 1.91

North -east of Eng;land 1.91

East Midlands 1.92

Scotland 1.97

South-west of England 1.97

West Midlands 1.98

Wales 2.02

North-west of England 2.03

Northern Ireland 2.03

London 2.09

South-east of England 2.11

Learner flips car on roof!

Joanne Barton — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 21:50:43 +0100

Yahoo News - 14th April 2010

Learner driver Krisztina Jaksa ended her second driving lesson by crawling out of an upside down car.

The bizarre accident happened in Headington, near Oxford, when the 24-year-old was crossing a junction.

The BSM Fiat 500 she was driving hit a gatepost then flipped onto its roof, smashing the side windows and windscreen. When local resident Ross Dunne heard a crash, he rushed to the scene and helped Ms Jaksa out of the car; the instructor was already getting himself out.

Both Ms Jaksa and her instructor emerged relatively unscathed. According to witnesses, Ms Jaksa said that the steering locked, and panicking, she hit the accelerator hard.

There is no indication that a mechanical fault contributed to the accident in any way.

An ambulance arrived shortly afterwards and police closed the road briefly, but both the driver and instructor were treated only for minor cuts.

BSM Communications Manager Paul Shepherd said that "the company had spoken to the learner driver who is fine and is already hoping to book her next lesson with us soon."

Winter Driving Tips from ROSPA

Joanne Barton — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:40:30 +0000

ROSPA Winter Driving Tips

This country's variable weather conditions pose a wide range of problems for road users. In order to minimise accident risk, drivers need to fully adapt their driving to the different conditions. Extremes of temperature (even those experienced in the UK) will soon show up any deficiencies both in your vehicle and in your skill as a driver.

The following tips may help you cope better with the various seasonal weather hazards. However, as we all know, many of these conditions can occur at any time of year.

Reduced visibility and slippery road surfaces make winter driving particularly hazardous. Good observation is essential so that you can interpret conditions accurately and adjust your speed accordingly. No matter what the other conditions, if you can't see the road clearly, you will need to reduce your speed so that you can stop within the distance you can see to be clear. This is a simple and fundamental principle of defensive driving.

In winter, road surfaces are frequently covered by frost and ice, but often not uniformly. Isolated patches and certain gradients will remain icy when the other parts have thawed. The good driver will therefore be on the lookout for these areas. If you drive too fast on a slippery or wet road surface your tyre grip will be substantially reduced and the risk of skidding increased. Remember - it is better to arrive a little later than not at all!

Smooth control is another essential element of safer winter driving. You should always aim to plan your action early and brake, steer and change gear as smoothly as possible so as not to affect the grip of your tyres on the road surface.

In poor weather especially, better, safer driving is about good preparation, good self-maintenance, good vehicle maintenance, the right knowledge, the right attitude and a thoughtful driving plan.

Prepare your vehicle for winter

Have your vehicle fully serviced before winter starts and have the anti-freeze tested.

Check that your lights are clean and working. Make sure your battery is fully charged. A faulty battery will let you down, probably at the most inconvenient time - so if in doubt change it before it fails!

Always keep the windscreen and windows clean and the washer bottle filled with screenwash to the correct concentration. This will prevent the solution from freezing.

Carry rescue equipment throughout the winter:

In the Boot
tow rope
spare bulbs
spare fuel
shovel
hazard warning triangle or similar
spare wheel (with tyre at correct pressure and tread)
high visibility jacket
jump leads
emergency tyre weld (for temporary 'low speed' repair)
wellington boots or similar

In the Car
de-icing equipment
first aid equipment (in good order)
working torch
car blanket
fire extinguisher (fully operative)

BEFORE setting off on a journey during wintry conditions:

Make sure you know and understand the hazards and risks of all types of weather conditions, especially ice, snow and fog - before you venture out.

Short-term weather forecasts are now very accurate, so listen to local/national weather broadcasts and to travel information bulletins on the radio. If conditions are very bad, avoid making your journey unless it is absolutely necessary.

Clear your windows and mirrors completely of snow and ice before you set off. (Make sure the heater is blowing warm air before setting off - it will keep your windscreen clear).

On the road in snow and ice

Hail, heavy snow and rain all reduce visibility - use dipped headlights. Only travel at a speed which you will be able to stop within the distance you can see to be clear.

Driving in windy conditions is stressful and tiring. RoSPA recommends a stop every two hours, for fresh air and hot drinks - but no alcohol. This is just a general guide - the important thing is that you stop before fatigue steps in, irrespective of how far you have travelled or how long you have been on the road.

Keep your vehicle well ventilated. The car heater full on can quickly make you drowsy.

REMEMBER - TIREDNESS KILLS!

Always reduce your speed smoothly and in plenty of time on slippery surfaces. Avoid harsh braking and acceleration, or coarse steering.

Slow down in plenty of time for bends and corners. Black ice, caused when rain freezes on the road surface, will make your steering feel light. Respond by easing off the accelerator and being delicate with your steering movements.

To brake on ice and snow without locking your wheels, get into a low gear earlier than normal, allow your speed to fall and use your brakes gently.

In icy conditions, increase the gap between you and the vehicle in front. You may need to allow up to TEN TIMES the normal distance for braking.

Take care around winter maintenance vehicles. Salting vehicles are extremely powerful and travel at about 35mph spreading salt across all lanes of motorways and trunk roads. Keep a safe distance behind them - do not attempt to overtake.

In snow, stop frequently to clean the glass area, the wheel arches, the light and number plates.

KEEP YOUR SPEED DOWN AND GIVE YOURSELF TIME!

Avoiding Skidding

Skidding can generally be avoided through good observation and anticipation - and smooth use of the vehicle's controls. Your risk of skidding increases if your tyres do not have adequate tyre depth. The legal minimum tread depth for cars and light vehices in the UK is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre tread width and around the entire outer circumference of the tyre. If you are unsure about the tread depth of the tyres, get them checked by professionals. You won't want the police to check them!

Faulty tyres could cost you up to £2,500 - per tyre!

Correct tyre pressures are also very important. Under-inflated tyres will increase your fuel consumption. Over-inflated tyres will reduce your grip on the road, making it vital that you reduce your speed.

Skid correction

This is a complex subject, full coverage of which is beyond the scope of this web page.

Generally however, the first requirement in all skids, is to identify and remove the cause, whether it was too much speed for the circumstances, harsh braking or acceleration, or coarse steering. The appropriate response after doing this will then depend upon the type of skid and whether your vehicle is front wheel, rear wheel or 4-wheel drive.

It is better to avoid skidding rather than hope you can control a skid when it happens. Such a hope is rarely realised.

If you get stuck in a snowdrift

Try to get out of a rut by moving slowly backwards and forwards using the highest gear you can.

Abandoned vehicles can cause problems for rescue vehicles and snowploughs. To ensure that the road is cleared as quickly as possible, you are advised to stay with your vehicle until help arrives. Do not leave your engine running, as this can lead to a dangerous build-up of fumes.

If you have to leave your vehicle to get help make sure you can be seen by other vehicles.

Fog

The ability to see and to hear clearly is vital for drivers to take in information and to be able to make appropriate decisions. Fog is therefore the most potentially dangerous of all weather conditions. Freezing fog - when poor visibility is compounded by the road surface being slippery - is a driver's worst nightmare.

Remember to drive defensively and always to be able to stop in the distance you can see to be clear. If the fog closes in, then lose more speed.

In any conditions of reduced visability, an accident involving one vehicle can quickly involve many others, especially if they are driving too fast and too close to one another. Multiple vehicle pile-ups reported in the media demonstrate that many drivers do not adjust their driving sufficiently for the conditions.

AVOID DRIVING IN FOG UNLESS YOUR JOURNEY IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY!

If you must drive:

Follow the weather forecasts and general advice to drivers through the local and national media.

Allow plenty of extra time for your journey.

Check your car before you set off. Make sure everything is in good working order, especially the lighting systems.

REDUCE YOUR SPEED AND KEEP IT DOWN - CAN YOU STOP IN TIME?

Switch on headlights and fog lamps if visibility is reduced.
If you can see the vehicles to your rear, the drivers behind will be able to see
you - switch off your rear fog lamps to avoid dazzling them. Think of them as rear main beams!
Use the demister and windscreen wipers. Remember that fog also makes the road wet and slippery.
Do not 'hang on' to the rear lights of the car in front as you will be too close to be able to brake safely.
Switch off distracting noise and open the window slightly so that you can listen for other traffic, especially at crossroads and junctions.
Beware of speeding up immediately visibility improves slightly. In patchy fog you could find yourself 'driving blind' again only moments later. Always imagine that there is a broken down vehicle just on the other side of the fog bank. Could you stop in the distance you can see to be clear?

If you brake down, inform the police and get the vehicle off the road as soon as possible. Never park on the road in fog and never leave it without warning lights of some kind if it is on the wrong side of the road.

Winter and spring sun

Winter and spring sunlight can present drivers with an unexpected hazard. The angle of the sun in the sky will frequently be too low for your visor to be able to help. If you are blinded by glare, reduce your speed.

Reduce the effect of glare by keeping both the inside and outside of your windscreen clean and grease free.

Dark lenses (or dark prescription lenses if you are short-sighted) are suitable for combating glare, but all dark tinted lenses should be removed whenever the sun goes in. Dark lenses must not be worn in duller weather or at night as they seriously reduce the ability to see.

The above text is an excerpt from RoSPA's Driver Development Handbook, which is available for £9.95 (1-9 copies) £8.95 (10+ copies). Quotations for copies customised with your organisation's own logo are available on request. Call 0121 248 2099 to order.

Welcome to our Blog!

Joanne Barton — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:32:02 +0000

Hello and welcome to the Grange Park School of Motoring Blog!

We have created a space, where our visitors can comment about us and the work we do, or even add any news or topic which they think may be of interest to others.

Also, if you have any questions about motoring or driving issues, please add them here and we will endeavour to get them answered!

Thanks!