Rather surprisingly this can lead to accusations of cheating!The department of transport said that each investigation into cheating can cost up to £10,000 and nine translators have been struck off the approved list of translators in the last year.

Almost 800 full licence holders have had their driving licences taken off them since 2010,  investigations by the department of transport have found evidence of translators helping learner drivers during the driving test.

Mike Penning the transport minister said “This practice is wrong on many levels, and we are going to end it. It is very hard to fathom the logic of why it was ever allowed in the first place. Road safety should be our priority, not political correctness.”
“It cannot be right to be handing British driving licences to people who are unable to read warning signs flashed up on motorway gantries.”
“But there is also a wider point about community cohesion we should be  encouraging people to learn English, instead of offering them ways to avoid it.”

The change which could be brought in the autumn will not require a change in the law but driving tests will only be allowed to be taken in English or Welsh.

However the European commission for Human rights may have an issue with the new rules unless the government can prove that there is a danger to road safety.

Mr Penning said that he thinks that there is just cause for a ban and he pointed out that most EU countries do not allow interpreters to sit in on their driving tests.

Personally I can’t help thinking that the fact that it has been allowed up to now might prove to be a problem. I can see many groups of such people getting very upset at this facility being withdrawn, whereas if it hadn’t been instigated in the first place then it would not crop up as an issue.

Having said that, I also feel that if you move to this country and you wish to reside here, the very least you can do is to learn the mother tounge of that country and fully intergrate into it’s society. I am not racist in way shape or form, I have some very good Asian friends but those who want to segregate themselves and live solely in their own community I feel are not “giving back” to our common society and are more likely to cause bad feelings towards themselves for that reason.

If you are looking for high quality driving lessons in St Albans or Harpenden area’s, then please visit my driving school website at www.kingsdriving.co.uk

If your test is cancelled because of bad weather, another will be arranged automatically at no further cost

If you are looking for high quality driving lessons in St Albans or Harpenden area’s, then please visit my driving school website at www.kingsdriving.co.uk

Lives are lost and millions of pounds worth of unnecessary damage is done to cars, trucks, bikes and property because very few of us know when it’s safe to drive through floodwater.

Driving through floods isn’t particularly difficult, but you do need to apply common sense and be aware of what you’re letting yourself in for. Charging through deep floods at an incredible speed is a bad move. It’s dangerous to the driver, to other road users, to pedestrians and to property. And if water gets forced or sucked into the engine it will result in huge repair bills.

1. You really do need to know how deep the water is. Six inches (15cm) of rapidly moving floodwater can knock a person down. And many vehicles will float in two feet (60cm) of water or less. So always stop before you get to the flood and assess how deep the water is. Look for clues.

2. If it’s deeper than the bottom of your doors, think about turning round. The water may not look very deep, but an increase in depth of an inch or so may be enough to tip the balance and make the vehicle buoyant enough to float away.

3. If there are already a lot of abandoned vehicles up to their axles in water, take the hint. There’s a good chance you won’t make it either.

4. Even trucks and four-wheel-drive vehicles, well known for the feeling of superiority and sense of security they give, can be swept away by moving water.

5. Even relatively low levels of water will damage some vehicles. If water is sucked into the engine air intake, which is often located at the front of the engine bay and can be especially low in some cars, it will cause serious damage. Catalytic converters, which work at high temperatures and are easily damaged by water (the cold water makes them crack) are also expensive to replace. Electrical components, and especially engine fuel systems and management systems, are particularly vulnerable to being splashed by even small amounts of water.

6. If you decide to take the risk and drive through a flood, provided it is completely safe to do so you should drive on the highest part of the road. If it is not possible to drive in the middle of the road, stay as far away as possible from the kerb, where the water is at its deepest.

7. Drive slowly and steadily; the bow wave you create at the front of the vehicle should be as small as possible.

8. Do not drive through a flood if there is another vehicle travelling from the opposite direction.

9. Drive through in first gear and keep the engine revs high. If necessary, slip the clutch slightly to increase engine speed. In a vehicle with an automatic gearbox, select the lowest gear and keep a steady pace. Do not back off the accelerator. Water in the exhaust can stall the engine.

10. Test your brakes as soon as you can after driving through any water. Make sure there’s no-one behind you, then press gently on the brake pedal to check that they work. If they don’t work properly, they can be dried by applying gentle pressure as you drive along. Left-foot braking is an acquired art, though, so be very cautious if you try this.

11. Driving at speed through low-level water can cause aquaplaning – the water prevents your tyres from gripping the road, and you lose control of the steering. If this happens, ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually.

12. If you drive too fast through low water and soak pedestrians and cyclists, the police could prosecute you for driving without reasonable consideration to other road users. This can result in a fine of £2,500 and between three and nine penalty points on your licence.

If you can avoid going out, do so. If you have to travel, consider taking sensible clothing and preparing for the worst, including food, drink, blankets and mobile phone. Sometimes driving skill alone simply isn’t enough to get you home safely.

If you are looking for high quality driving lessons in St Albans or Harpenden area’s, then please visit my driving school website at www.kingsdriving.co.uk

For years, the DSA has published the test questions in learning materials allowing candidates to look, read and in some cases memorise the answers before the test. When I was taking my test, I did EXACTLY the same thing :0 ). But… from Monday 23rd January 2012, it’s all change.

The DSA are no longer publishing learning materials ‘to stop candidates from simply memorising theory test questions and answers and learning by rote’. There are still revision materials available and the DSA published new official driving theory books in September this year to help candidates to prepare for the amended test. Everything else stays the same, including the format of the test multiple choice with a hazard perception test, the time and marks given.

The new books contain:
- New sections of text for motorcyclists, a free e-book for car drivers and full references throughout to help candidates learn and revise.
- Questions and answers for revision, including practice for case studies.
- The official DSA explanations for every revision question, helping candidates fully understand the answer.

This marks a big change for the way people learn to drive. It adds yet another dimension to the process and personally think it’s becoming even harder for new drivers to become fully licensed.

If you are looking for high quality driving lessons in St Albans or Harpenden area’s, then please visit my driving school website at www.kingsdriving.co.uk

The accident itself happened outside there family home in Rochester on Wednesday (20/07), Kent. Sue was thought to have been guiding Lauren when the Ford KA, suddenly lurched backwards. Sue had been crushed between the ford KA and another parked car which lead to serious head injuries and severe bleeding.

For all of you that ARE learning to drive with your parents still, this is not deterrent for you not to do so, after all, you want to pass your driving practical tests. However, please be careful and be mindful of the pedals you have your feet on.

Now we know this tragedy happened practicing a manoevre, but please see a guide below on what do when planning on learning with parents or dependants:

Plan your route – Poor route planning could lead to the learner making critical mistakes and undue stress as the decisions on where to go have been made last minute. Know where you are going, how you are going to get there, and stick to it!
Take one step at a time – You may find yourself trying to prevent yourself from stalling, or hitting the kerb when reverse parking. Take one step, maybe you’re not ready for that particular aspectof the learning experience.
Talking Sense – Sometimes, your parent or dependant, may not be talking sense when teaching you. Ask them to be clear on what they are trying to say so neither of you don’t panic. Screaming at you will not help at all.
Speed – Be aware of the road signs and how fast you are going, approach all junctions at a steady speed and ask your parent / guardian for advice.

If you are looking for high quality driving lessons in St Albans or Harpenden area’s, then please visit my driving school website at www.kingsdriving.co.uk

The 44 year old male from Dewsbury taught learners for cash despite not being qualified. He is thought to have taken around £9000 from pupils between 2007 and 2010.

Not only were learners duped into thinking he was a qualified instructor, but he did not hold the correct car insurance making what he offered a dangerous service.
The defendant said he knows what he has done is wrong but he just wanted to work, he apologises for what he did.

Peter King of Kingsdriving said: “Always look for a reputable company when taking driving lessons. Ideally a company should have a shop premise for their clients. This allows you to know who you are dealing with and what you are signing up for.”

If you are looking for high quality driving lessons in St Albans or Harpenden area’s, then please visit my driving school website at www.kingsdriving.co.uk

The British Government are proposing to raise the speed limit on motorways from 70 – 80 miles per hour. However, some rural road and single-carriageway speeds could be reduced in an attempt to reduce the number of traffic accidents.

Back in 2009 the Department for Transport voiced their concerns at the number of injuries and deaths on the road, stating that “the high casualty figures suggest therefore that speed limits are not at the appropriate limit on some of these roads.”

Philip Hammond, the Transport Secretary, has indicated that the Government are ready to increase the motorway’s speed limit as long as it is in the best economic interest of the UK.

Mr Hammond has begun an investigation to look into the cost benefits of speed limits, looking at a wide range of road related issues, not only safety. Mr Hammond dryly observed that if they were to solely look at safety alone then there would be “10 mph limits everywhere.”

He went on to add:

“We need to look at the value of safety benefits and the cost in terms of additional journey time. It is a bit of a no-brainer that is how it should be done.”

In spite of this proposed speed limit change the Liberal Democrat climate change minister, Chris Huhne, has suggested that an increase in speed limit could burn more fuel, effecting the environment and costing customers more in the long run.

If you are looking for high quality driving lessons in St Albans or Harpenden area’s, then please visit my driving school website at www.kingsdriving.co.uk