Driving Trainigs

Perhaps THE biggest driving mistake

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-newWhX5INXA/V0aJO-UPY6I/AAAAAAAADb8/s9su0YoySb4uF4elxjpAqkwZzjf9gbGzgCLcB/s1600/danger-1294866.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-newWhX5INXA/V0aJO-UPY6I/AAAAAAAADb8/s9su0YoySb4uF4elxjpAqkwZzjf9gbGzgCLcB/s320/danger-1294866.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This blog details not just the biggest <i>driving</i> mistake you can make, I would say this affects anyone and everyone who uses roads; including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.  </span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The reason for that is because all of those road users are humans, and humans do have a tendency to make assumptions.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Assume nothing.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When you are learning to drive, or have just passed your test, get a 'post-it' note, and write in big capital letters:</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>ASSUME NOTHING</b></span></div><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and stick it on your dashboard somewhere.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The reason why I offer this advice is because to "assume nothing" is not natural for humans.  We all make assumptions every day of our lives, you could say, we NEED to make assumptions, because if we didn't, it would make for a very dull and monotonous existence.  However, when it comes to road safety, it really is sound advice.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When you hear 2 or more people having a heated discussion on any subject you care to mention, putting differences of opinion aside, very commonly you will hear these words:</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"But I thought......"</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"You never said....."</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"How was I to know....."</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"What made you think that....."</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"I can't believe you did......."</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"I had no idea....."</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and when the issue is sorted, inevitably people are thinking:</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"I wish I had checked......"</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"If only I had known......"</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"I didn't realise......"</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"I would never have thought....."</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"I wont make that mistake again"</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">....and there is the dawning realisation that assumptions have been made.  You will hear precisely these words and phrases used by people immediately after a road accident.  This is a matter of 'mindset', and it can be very difficult for us to consider the perspective of another person.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A month ago, one of my pupil's drove through a puddle on a rainy day and splashed a female pedestrian on the footpath.  Big deal?  Funny?  Not worth mentioning?   Until you have walked on a footpath and had a vehicle soak you with dirty, cold rainwater from the side of the road, then are you really in a position to judge?  Can you imagine what it might feel like to have that done to you?  Would you find it funny, would you be upset, would you be bothered?</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This morning, while walking my 9 year old to school we came to a zebra crossing.  We've walked across this particular crossing dozens if not hundreds of times.  This morning we approached it while he was deeply involved in telling me a funny story about what happened at his school the day before.  He was animated, enjoying himself, having a joke, and deeply involved in this story.  As we got to about 8 feet from the crossing, traffic to our left had already slowed and the lead vehicle had stopped at the crossing for us, but to our right, the oncoming car was still driving towards the crossing and it was not even slowing.  I immediately took hold of my son by the shoulder, said "Stop" and we stood there looking to our right, and watched this car shoot straight through the zebra crossing.  It did not appear to be speeding (over the 30 mph limit), but I reckon it was doing about 30 mph and no slower.  Wow!  Have you ever had that happen to you?  Can you imagine how it made us feel?   </span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Why did this happen though?  What are the possible reasons?   </span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Maybe the driver did not see the two of us and our dog.  Maybe the driver was distracted doing a text, or making a call on the mobile.  Maybe the driver did see us, but was running late and did not want to stop.  Maybe the driver has never passed the driving test, not done the theory, and does not even know the law regarding zebra crossings.  Maybe the driver was drunk or high on drugs.  Maybe the driver saw us but mis-judged how close we were to the edge.  Maybe the driver needs to get his eyesight tested.  Maybe the driver had some friends in the car at the time and they "dared" him not to stop at the crossing.  Maybe the driver felt he would lose face by complying with the law with friends in his car.  Maybe the driver was unable to see clearly out the front windscreen because the wipers were not working.  Maybe the driver had just had a massive argument with his partner and the "red mist" had come down, and he was emotionally unstable at the time, and not in any fit state to be driving.   Maybe he had previously learnt the law regarding pedestrian crossings but has since forgotten it, or has little regard for the law.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The point is....... we simply don't know.  </span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are two ways of viewing this.  The assumption made as pedestrians, that traffic will stop at the zebra crossing when pedestrians are waiting.  And the assumptions that some drivers will make as they drive.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We should not assume anything when it comes to road safety.  The car may not slow and stop, just as the 9 year old may walk straight on to the zebra crossing.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We don't have to live in fear of the most bizarre and unexpected thing that could crop up, but we most certainly should not assume people are going to take a certain course of action.  </span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Cyclists will avoid pot holes in the road and so can, and will swerve while riding, we should not assume all cyclists will ride in a straight line.  Pedestrians will walk straight across a busy road regardless if there is a pedestrian crossing nearby.  Cyclists will ride through red traffic lights, so when you have a green light, don't assume that cyclists will be patiently waiting on the red light.  Not all drivers can turn and see behind their vehicle when reversing in car parks, don't assume that the driver is able to see you walking near their car.  Motorbike riders will like to make progress in congested traffic, don't assume that they are going to patiently sit behind a car in slow moving traffic.  Bus drivers will want to pull out of a bus stop soon after putting on their right signal, don't assume that they will wait for a gap in traffic.  Drivers will edge out of junctions to improve their vision in certain circumstances, do not assume that everyone must wait behind give way lines on junctions.  Lorries will take up more space on roads, roundabouts and other junctions due to their sheer size, don't assume that the lorry driver can see where you are in relation to the lorry.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Stay safe.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />BIG TOM Driving School  <a href="http://www.bigtom.org.uk/home/" target="_blank"> Intensive Driving Course</a> in Peterborough, Lincoln, Grantham, Stamford, Spalding, Boston, and Sleaford.   0800 689 4174</span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>

Perhaps THE biggest driving mistake

This blog details not just the biggest driving mistake you can make, I would say this affects anyone and everyone who uses roads; including...

The questionable PREMIUM PAY parking spaces at JFK, LGA, EWR need to be eliminated.

I am writing today after frustrated with <strong><u>BULLSHIT policies </u></strong>set forth by the SO CALLED agencies which claim to work in best interest of industry and public. Port Authority, ABM parking and the towing companies have extortionist policies at airports, which only leads to the best interest of the parties engaged.<br />Port Authority contracted ABM to be in charge of payment solutions for parking lots and designated authorized towing companies at JFK, & LGA. <br />In order to create extortionist revenue ABM has  designated these PREMIUM spaces at airports. These premium spaces are nothing but regular spaces, which take up half the parking lot at airport. Anyone wishing to park at these spaces has to pay $5.00reservation fee per each entry in addition to the hourly fees. These spaces are usually vacant, because no one believes in  paying an additional charge to the already pricey parking fees. These premium spaces are more of dysfunctional spaces or extortionist  tactics by forcing $5.00 extra out of your pocket or I am towing your car and charging you $150.00. The limo industry and their clients are probably the number one customer at the airport because they are using the parking lot actively. So the Port Authorities authorized vendors (ABM & Mikes Towing) companies have figured a newer way to create revenue- that is continue to make conditions difficult for the limousine industry and force more money out of their pockets. Pay premium spaces $5.00 for every entry in addition to the already expensive hourly rates or we tow your car for $150.00.<br /><br /> Limo drivers are having hard time parking at JFK INTL AIRPORT Terminal 7  TERMINAL (1,2,3) and other B terminals at LGA and C terminal at EWR. Drivers become frustrated and with very little to no options are forced to park in stretch limo lanes  or premium pay spaces in order to make timely pickups.  ABM and Mikes Towing with the help of Port Authority has been towing limousine industry's cars. The cars are being picked up from premium spaces (which are 95% of the time empty). These spaces are dysfunctional spaces can also be called the extortionist spaces.<br />Limo drivers have parked in stretch limo spaces- not seeing any harm to anyone at airport. Guess who has been having the biggest problem? ABM and Mikes Towing- the stretch limo drivers or the limousine companies are not troubled, rather Mikes Towing and ABM is irritated. And as a result they have been picking up licensed livery cars from such spaces.<br /><br />Each and everyone of you in tri state area who is reading this blog entry is experiencing this same problem.<br /><br /><ol><li>When the vehicles are towed, clients have to take a taxicab,</li><li>Towing companies are charging up to $150.00.</li><li>loss of time and income to retrieve vehicle (easily up to an hour)</li><li>extra costs associated with vehicle retrieval</li><li>dissatisfied clients/ and require explanation</li><li>the premium pay works on pre reservation basis- which cannot work for drivers who are on the road and  when flights are early or late- reservation this reservation cannot work.</li></ol><strong>This I why I bring this issue to everyone's attention now</strong>. It IS TIME THAT THE INDUSTRY raise the question on these BULLSHIT premium spaces- which create terrible conditions for the industry.<br />if this issue is not dealt with- what will you tell you clients?<br />"I AM SORRY BUT I CANT FIND PARKING SPACE AT AIRPORT?"<br />the client's overall experience hits the bottom low and they may simply consider taking a taxi cab.<br />Why should clients pay premium service for hassle transportation services?<br />I hope everyone considers in creating a petition to overturn these questionable premium pay spaces or bring this issue to table.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">This issue has been presented to prominent limousine companies in Tri State Area. I hope we resolve these dysfunctional and questionable PREMIUM SPACES at JFK, EWR, LGA.</span>

The questionable PREMIUM PAY parking spaces at JFK, LGA, EWR need to be eliminated.

I am writing today after frustrated with BULLSHIT policies set forth by the SO CALLED agencies which claim to work in best interest of indus...

Good Driving Examiners

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4M0_h3FSMoc/V0aJ3PzSFtI/AAAAAAAADcE/t4sHdo0KVCgMzVs70DFXq1_Qsd2odbV9ACLcB/s1600/IMG_1616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4M0_h3FSMoc/V0aJ3PzSFtI/AAAAAAAADcE/t4sHdo0KVCgMzVs70DFXq1_Qsd2odbV9ACLcB/s320/IMG_1616.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another example of good Driving Examiners cropped up yesterday at Peterborough Driving Test Centre.</span><br /><div><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">David seen here proudly displaying his Test Pass Certificate, had his driving test after completing his Intensive Driving Course in <a href="http://www.bigtom.org.uk/intensive-driving-course-in-spalding/" target="_blank">Spalding</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He had the reverse parallel park and emergency stop on his test.  After doing the parallel park, having got within 2 car lengths behind the parked car, the Driving Examiner asked "Are you happy with this?" which is code for, "Take a look at your position, and check you are ok".  In David's case, he needed to be just a bit closer to the kerb for the liking of the Driving Examiner.  It is worth making a mental note of these things.  If a Driving Examiner asks you a question like that, you need to be checking all around you to ensure everything is as it should be.  </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Generally speaking, you need to finish up, no more than a drains width from the kerb on that manoeuvre.  Any more than about a foot, and you may get marked down, as David was yesterday.  He still passed his test, but just picked up a fault for the end position.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Badly parked cars on the side of the road can cause hazards for cyclists, motor cyclists, pedestrians and can even end up with damaged side mirrors if they are really sticking out, so it is good to pay attention to the final position.  </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">BIG TOM Driving School observes over 95% of the driving tests that our customers take at Peterborough, Lincoln, Grantham and Boston Driving Test Centres.  Whilst we respect our customers wishes, there is a lot of good sense in having the driving test observed independently.  This means that we are able to see the very high standard of assessment being consistently applied by Driving Examiners, regardless of location.  They are highly trained professionals with a very important job on their hands; they are responsible for allowing drivers to then drive for the rest of their life unsupervised.  </span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">UPDATE:  6/11/15  They are also in short supply!  There is currently a national recruitment of Driving Examiners over literally several dozens of driving test centres across the UK.  The DVSA have publicly apologized for the shortfall in Driving Examiners to service the increasing demand for driving tests.  </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">BIG TOM Driving School - Intensive Driving Course in Spalding -Bookings 01775 660525</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>

Good Driving Examiners

Another example of good Driving Examiners cropped up yesterday at Peterborough Driving Test Centre. David seen here proudly displaying his T...

Where is Grantham Driving Test Centre

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTl6NXdYqqs/Vo7FQIkLCjI/AAAAAAAADRk/zyhR20tGovo/s1600/grantham%2BBR%2Bsign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTl6NXdYqqs/Vo7FQIkLCjI/AAAAAAAADRk/zyhR20tGovo/s320/grantham%2BBR%2Bsign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am very often asked the question �Where is Grantham Driving Test Centre?�, it used to be tucked away in a dense residential area.  Unless you are specifically going there, you were very unlikely to stumble across it in your travels.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But how things have changed!  Now it is on the main A52 road coming into Grantham where the goods vehicle testing station used to be.  If you google it, there are still many links that direct you to the old location, but the address is now:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><h2 style="background-color: white; color: #0b0c0c; font-family: nta, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 2.6rem; line-height: 1.11111; margin: 10px 0px; padding-bottom: 0.3rem; padding-top: 1.25rem; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">Grantham (Somerby)</h2><address style="background-color: white; color: #0b0c0c; font-family: nta, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;">Spitalgate Airfield<br />Blue Harbour<br />Grantham<br />Lincolnshire<br />NG31 7TX</address></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Latest figures from the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/driving-standards-agency" target="_blank">Driving Standards Agency</a>, indicate a continuing trend of above national average pass rates.  Grantham Driving Test Centre itself is rather large, with loads of space around the bay parking spaces in the car park, and the town itself is strikingly small in comparison to the catchment area of nearby Peterborough Driving Test Centre.  As such, it does not offer the diversity of driving conditions experienced elsewhere.  Putting the A1 dual carraigeway aside, there are not many other dual carriageways, there are few what I would call �large� roundabouts, and even fewer multi-laned roundabouts.  This may go some way to explaining the consistently higher pass rates achieved at this test centre.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A very large new bypass is currently underway in Grantham and has resulted in even more traffic congestion in what was already an excessively slow moving traffic flow through the town.  As a consequence, it is not unusual for the driving test to last longer than the target of 38-40 minutes, while you make your way through very slow moving traffic.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One other notable feature of the driving tests offered at Grantham Driving Test Centre is the fairly high frequency of driving up and down relatively steep gradients.  This is not immediately apparent when at the test centre itself, but within a few minutes drive, it is very likely that you will experience driving up and down hills, being stopped at traffic lights on a hill, and of course, you will certainly be asked to pull over, and move off from a gradient at least once on the driving test in Grantham.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Feel free to ask any questions below relating to Grantham Driving Test Centre and I will be happy to assist.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">BIG TOM Driving School  <a href="http://www.bigtom.org.uk/intensive-driving-course-grantham/" target="_blank"> Intensive driving course in Grantham</a> 01476 850 050<br /><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

Where is Grantham Driving Test Centre

I am very often asked the question �Where is Grantham Driving Test Centre?�, it used to be tucked away in a dense residential area. Unless ...