The first thing that we should stress is that drinking alcohol and driving a motor vehicle do not mix and the law in this respect is quite clear. However, there could be occasions when we perhaps visit friends or go out to a restaurant for dinner as part of an evening out or as a family celebration. It would be normal to have a glass of wine with our dinner over the evening, but what is the strength of that wine and what constitutes a glass?

Drink Driving

A few years ago, if we asked for a glass of wine in a pub or restaurant it would be 125ml, long gone are those days! Now it is perfectly normal for wine to be served to you in a glass that is 175ml and increasingly this is now 225ml, this latter represents an increase in volume of 80%! It is not just the size of glass that you should be aware of; it is the increasing strength of the wine. Again in the 1980’s a bottle of wine with an alcohol by volume of between 9% & 11% was the norm and one of 13% was virtually unknown, now this is quite normal and wine, even from Europe can be 14% ABV. So please be aware of this and the law in this matter.

On Sunday night a pensioner was stopped by police after driving the wrong way up the M6. Fortunately there was no serious injury caused by this incident. The woman who was 82 may now face a charge of dangerous driving after travelling at speeds of up to 70mph in the wrong direction up the motorway.

We should all remember this lesson in motorway driving.

To be a driving instructor in the UK you need to make sure you are keeping the right side of the law. If you become a driving instructor with Bill Plant you will know that you have been trained by a Driving Standards Agency approved team.

Legally any driving instructor who intends to charge for driving lessons is the UK must be qualified.

There are certain the requirements you must fulfill in order to be an Approved Driving Instructor in the UK:

You should be 21 years old or more.

Have passed 3 driving exams.

Have held a driving license for 3/6 years prior to being on the AID register.

The first part of the driving examinations is the Theory Test which now includes the Hazard Perception Test. A pass mark for this part of the driving test must be over 80% or more. The second part of the driving test to become a driving instructor is centred around driving ability including road types and conditions. Part 3 of the driving instructor test focuses on your ability to teach driving and lasts approx 1 hour.

Remember though that the DSA is looking at raising driving standards in the UK so expect some changes both for driving instructors and learners alike.

An article published in the Times on Thursday 25th October 2007 drew attention to the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act coming in to effect on April 6, 2008 which will affect all companies regardless of their size.

The Times article pointed out that employers will face prosecution over crashes that involve the 3 million company cars and the 1 million employees whose own cars that are used on company business. In this latter category, employers have a duty to ensure that the employees own vehicle is properly insured for business use, has a current MOT certificate and is regularly maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines.

It is a know fact that driving when part of ones job is the most dangerous of all work related activities, with over one third of UK accidents involving someone driving for work, it is sobering to note that 150 deaths and serious injuries are incurred in accidents involving someone driving for business each week.

Regrettably, there will always be accidents involving motor vehicles, but research has shown that drivers who have participated in fleet training are far less likely to be involved in an accident, with the added benefit of less wear and tear on the vehicle and a reduced fuel consumption. Driving at work is a high risk activity and the time to act is now.

Take the first step to getting your full driving licence and the freedom of being able to drive a car unrestricted from place to place, forget the bus or train, and just join the many that have successfully passed through the Bill Plant Driving School.

To help you on your way to taking your practical and theory test, your first driving lesson, subject to terms and conditions, is free and the following lessons are competitively priced, for example if you take five, these will be priced at only £56, with subsequent hourly lessons £18.95 each. Although there will be a lot for you to learn, you need not worry as your qualified driving instructor is at hand to help you pass your driving test and become one of the many safe drivers that have passed through our hands.

Make yourself comfortable, adjust you seat and driving mirror, fasten your seatbelt and begin your journey to that date with the driving test examiner.

Under new proposals being considered by the government, young drivers may have to wait until they are 18 years of age before they are allowed to take their driving test, according to a report in the Daily Telegraph’s transport editor David Millward. Proposals that are being considered include:

•    A series of questions designed to spot over confident motorists.

•    A minimum 12 month tuition period to give young drivers more time to experience a range of differing conditions.

•    Introduction of some form of psychological evaluation.

•    Possibly introduction of motorway driving into the standard driving test.

•    Consideration to make formal tuition compulsory rather than parents teaching their children.

•    A graduated licence scheme imposing some curbs on drivers following passing their driving test.

It is believed that the full set of proposals will be published by the end of the year and whilst the current practical driving test is a good eye, hand and foot co-ordination assessment, and the driving theory exam tests the candidates memory, the government is keen to overhaul the system in an effort to cut the number of deaths amongst novice drivers.

Booking your driving lesson online could not be easier than with Bill Plant. At the Bill Plant Driving School all you have to do is call us or just fill in the form and we will do all the hard work for you. With driving lesson prices geared to even the tightest of budgets you can be reassured that you will always receive the highest level of driver training from highly experienced driving instructors who are LOCAL to your area.

Making the choice of who will teach you to drive is a big decision and we recognise this. We know that you need to trust your driving instructor and feel relaxed when learning to drive. Our team of dedicated driving specialists are always on hand to guide you through the process of becoming a competent safe driver and of course ultimately pass your test.

Why should I book a driving lesson with Bill Plant?

• Our driving instructors are experienced, patient and trustworthy
• Free collection from your point of work or school
• Extensive offers always available to suit your budget
• Bill Plant Driving School supports you all the way even after you have passed your driving test

Go ahead : Book Driving Lessons Online today

It’s all very well us talking to you about a Driving Instructor Franchise, we know that a franchise would not be possible without the backup of a dedicated driving instructor training programme.

The Driving Instructor Training Programme

• Our courses are both flexible and affordable.

• The training programme is delivered Nationwide and comes with all relevant training materials.

• Training in the car, telephone backup support and specialist support from your allocated local driver training officer.

• Pay as you train option, so you will not be confronted with a large up-front training fee

With an established reputation for delivering the best driving instructor training nationwide we aim to train you to the best possible standard. Bill Plant’s driving courses really do work and we promise that you will get the very best out of your training budget.

Dedicated local trainers are ready and waiting to help your dreams of becoming a business owner a reality and pass down years of driving experience and knowledge.

Put your trust in Bill Plant and benefit today.

Once again Bill Plant leads the way with Free online theory test and hazard perception:

It is now well known that the driving test comprises two parts, the practical driving test for which you will be prepared through your series of driving lessons, and the theory part of the driving test.

We recommend that if you have not already done so, you should obtain and read the Highway Code upon which the theory part of the test relates. Your theory tests is in two parts and comprises a multiple choice test of 50 questions, and hazard perception test utilising video clips from which you will have to identify 15 hazards.

Your chosen driving instructor will, of course help prepare you, but you should use as much resource material that is available through bookshops and the DSA online bookstore. However at Bill Plant Driving School, you will be able to access our online theory test where you can preview the hazard perception part of the test, get practical demonstrations and knowledge of your local area giving you a head start toward your driving test, part of our ongoing commitment to make you a safe driver.

Reports on the price of crude oil have indicated that this has reached an all time record high of $85 per barrel, signaling what will inevitably mean a further rise in the price of petrol and diesel fuel. Regrettably we cannot avoid paying the extra cost, but there are ways in which we can reduce the consumption of this precious commodity by the way we drive our cars and commercial vehicles.

New drivers of motor cars, who have learned their skills through the Bill Plant Driving School will have been tutored not just in road craft and safety, but the art of fuel saving through skilled driving techniques. However, the ones who will benefit the most will be commercial operators running trucks, vans and company cars.

An extensive range of services aimed at the commercial sector is provided through Bill Plant Fleetcraft and is one the UK’s leading specialists in the field of occupational road risk management and driver training. Skillful training using classroom and in your vehicle, backed by computer assessment help your company reduce costs and improve safety, reduce fuel costs and lower your insurance premiums.

Through a combination of computerised, classroom and in vehicle assessment and training techniques our team will help your company to reduce accidents, comply with heath and safety legislation, and drive down your operating cost, with reduce fuel consumption and lower insurance premiums.

Cut your business costs
Increase driving awareness & safety
Protect your staff and your vehicles