Learn to Drive with Go Driving

Joy passed her driving test at the end of February 2010 with Go Driving.

She had been to other driving schools before.  She “didn’t like” her first instructor, and by the time she had settled into her driving lessons with the second, she had to stop for health reasons.

Once well again she found Go Driving in the Yellow Pages.  On first contact with our office she found us to be “helpful and honest and very good.” After meeting Cora (our Driving Instructor in Llandrindod Wells) her first impressions were that Cora “sets you at ease” quickly and was “friendly and nice.”

The most difficult part of learning to drive for Joy was “getting confidence ” but with “patience, constant praising and constructive criticism” her driving instructor helped her overcome this.

In Joy’s own words, her driving instructor prepared her “very well” in the driving lessons leading up to her test. On test day all Joy had to contend with was “remembering to breathe.”

Go Driving are currently using Skoda fabia 2’s for training. Most pupils find them comfortable, and easy to drive with good visibility. Joy said the car was “very nice - I want one.”

Happy motoring to Joy!

From all at Go Driving.

Congratulations Emily!

Emily took her driving lessons in Hereford with Go Driving instructor John.  She passed first time with only 4 less serious faults (minor faults).

Go Driving was recommended by a family member; we asked her a few questions about her experience of learning to drive.

• On first contact with Go Driving what was your impression? “I thought it to be a good service with a good reputation”.
• What was your first impression when you met John your driving instructor? ” I thought John was very welcoming and put me at ease”.
• What was the most difficult part of learning to drive? ” To start with reversing, you had to be aware of more things, just remembering everything was difficult.
• How do you feel your driving instructor John helped you overcome this? “John made sure I felt confident before moving on to something else.”

Emily is continuing to develop her driving by undertaking the Pass Plus course with John, this will consolidate her knowledge, gaining experience in driving in larger, unfamiliar cities, use of motorways and could also reduce her car insurance by up to 30%!

Pass Plus is a must for anyone who is conscientious about safe driving for life.

Go Driving wish Emily all the best for her future on the road.

The recent conditions make for challenging driving conditions. Click here for some excellent tips  from the BBC.

In brief we advise:

If you can possibly avoid driving you should!

Slowing with the brakes or the engine both risk locking the wheels in very slippery conditions.
Use a feather-light touch on the controls and think well ahead.

Remember that ABS (anti-lock brakes) while helpful in poor conditions, don’t give any extra grip.

Road markings and signs may be completely hidden – watch out for other drivers assuming priority or taking the wrong position.

Check everything before you set out on short or long journeys.

Things to do before you LEAVE

• Levels – fuel, oil, coolant, screenwash (at winter dilution)
• Electrics – are all your lights working, do you have spare bulbs
• Air – check your tyre pressures and condition (min 3mm tread)
• Vision – clear ALL the windows and mirrors, check the condition of your wipers (front and back)
• Economy – plan your journey, take only what you need

In addition in severe weather take additional supplies, warm clothing, a warm drink, blanket, torch and perhaps shovel. Plan your trip to avoid potential trouble spots e.g. exposed roads across hills or open plains, steep hills. Have a fully charged mobile phone with you (but switched off until you have stopped of course!).

The D.S.A. are proposing that in the learner driver’s test the pupil will not only have an examiner in the car but also a third person (instructor, parent or friend) in the back of the car for extra weight.  So how can this be practiced easily?  If you’ve got your own car and enough passengers to take out on a regular basis it’s no problem.  In a driving lesson, this may be more difficult if you’re taking lessons in your lunch break, free period evening or weekend as your instructor will have to arrange to have someone else in the car.  The third person could be a friend but this may be off-putting for the pupil and also tiresome for the passenger (will they want to come again on the next lesson).  One alternative is that the instructor arranges to pick you up with their last pupil still in the car and you drive them home.  This is known as piggy backing.  The D.S.A. has frowned upon this as it doesn’t allow the instructor to debrief and close the lesson correctly.  It can also put extra pressure on a novice driver if they have to drive through areas that may be beyond their level of ability, or demoralising when watching a natural driver picking up new skills more quickly when they may have spent several weeks working on the same subject!

The idea behind this proposal is to reduce the amount of novice drivers passing their test one week (with only one passenger) and then a week later filling the car with four passengers and trying to drive the same way.  As we all know the handling qualities of a car change dramatically once it is loaded.

Other options could be:

•  newly qualified drivers drive for a short period displaying P plates limited to carrying two passengers at any one time. 
• Or make Pass Plus compulsory before a newly qualified driver can carry passengers and when doing Pass Plus there must be at least three people in the car.

Let us know your thoughts on the subject!

I’m still happy. Thank you Andy!

Jess Pearce (3 less serious faults)

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has confirmed its new test fee structure for 2009/10 following a public consultation in October last year.

The fee increases will apply to theory and practical driving tests booked on or after 30 March 2009. Fees relating to the Approved Driving Instructor scheme will increase from 24 April.

General fee increases include;

* (in October 2009)

DSA Chief Executive, Rosemary Thew, thanked the public for participating in the public consultation, and said: “We are doing everything we can to ensure that fees remain as low as possible for our customers – particularly during the current economic climate.

“Despite this, increases are necessary to cover general running costs, development work and increases in inflation.

“The Agency is largely self-funding. We receive only a small amount from general taxation and have to recover most of our costs through test fees.

“We are confident that these increases will enable us to maintain our high standards and provide a first class service to all our customers.”

I wish to confirm my availability for the course…

I wish to take this opportunity to thank you and your team (esp. Mr. John Richards) for equipping me with the necessary skills to make this possible.

Kindest Regards,

Ruel

I liked Go Driving because of the thorough tuition, care to make me a good driver not just for my test.  Lots of additional info, attention to detail and good progression.  Thank you!  Corinne Loynes – Shrewsbury (4th June 2008)

What do I need to start learning to drive?

* Provisional driving licence
* 17 years old (unless registered with motability)*
* Able to read a number plate from 21.5m (with glasses/contact lenses if needed)

* Disability living allowance – if you are receiving disability living allowance at the higher rate, you can apply for your provisional driving licence up to 3 months before your 16th birthday.  You can’t drive however, until your 16th birthday.

When/How do I get my provisional driving licence?

You can apply for your provisional licence prior to your 17th birthday by:

* Getting an application form (D1) from most post offices or
* Applying online here