A new driver feels successful and confident upon getting their driver’s license.  They have passed many tests and have learned practical driving lessons.  This is just the first step.  Driving is a very large responsibility and one that must been taken seriously.  Taking unnecessary risks while behind the wheel of a motor vehicle could result in property damage, injury, and maybe even death.  By understanding what some of these mistakes can be, driving schools are able to offer many of their students advanced driving lessons once they have received their license.

Part of the advanced driving lessons these driving schools offer include learning to “read” drivers.  Young drivers who have just got their licenses need to understand that peer pressure will cause them to make costly mistakes.  Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, being distracted by those around them or by other things such as cell phones and the radio, and simply being a show-off are all things that will make a young driver less responsible.  Advanced driving lessons will help young drivers understand that these are situations they can avoid while driving and will teach them how to overcome these obstacles.

Professional driving school instructors have the patience and expertise to help out these new drivers.  Most of their programs are structured and in a relaxed atmosphere that helps the student feel comfortable.  Parents are welcome in these classes as well and their contributions to their child’s driving skills are invaluable. 

Driving a motor vehicle is not about just one technique, as your qualified driving instructor will have taught to you when you were taking your driving lessons. A good, safe drive is about a mixture of techniques, but high on the list must be the need to use the vehicle’s brakes in a smooth and progressive way.

The way we drive begins to change as we become more confident, often within a few months after taking the practical driving test, not if you practice advanced driving techniques. Good drivers develop observation and anticipation, braking or slowing earlier as the need arises.

Many drivers leave their braking late, possibly causing that “cascade” of lights so often seen, a good driver will have left enough gap to allow gentle braking, letting the speed of the vehicle fall away without the need to brake hard. It is better by far to learn to read the road ahead, you can do this by taking the free Hazard Perception Test on Bill Plants website. Not only do you get early warning of developing hazards, you can respond by adjusting your speed using only your throttle, this technique will also help save fuel.

Learning how to drive can be both exciting and harrowing. Most students take driving lessons from an accredited driving school, like the Bill Plant School of Motoring. It helps if learner-drivers can have some extra practice between lessons with their instructor. In order for them to be able to legally get behind the wheel with only their provisional license, learner-drivers must be accompanied by an adult who has a license.

Anyone wishing to accompany their learner-driver on the road must be 21 years of age or older. They must also have had their own full driving license for at least three years, and special ‘L’ plates on the front and back of the car.

According to the Driving Standards Agency, it takes the average learner driver forty-five hours of driving lessons and twenty-two hours of private practice before they are ready to take their driving test. If you are willing to help your learner-driver, no matter what you do you must always remain calm and patient. Remember, you were a student once too.

Driving instructor Val Smithson was running her own driving school and had no intention of signing up to be a franchisee -  until her car needed replacing.

‘I was checking prices of new vehicles on the internet and saw the Bill Plant website,’ says Val. ‘The more I weighed up options it was cheaper and easier to go with Bill Plant. They supplied the car, insurance, everything and promised to help find me some pupils

Val, aged 40,was moving from Kent to Fareham, Hampshire.  She says: ‘ I was starting out in a new area; I didn’t know anybody and I genuinely had nothing to lose.

‘Within two weeks of contacting Bill Plant I had a full diary and couldn’t take any more bookings. One senior examiner told me to get established in an area like this is very difficult but I’ve had no problem whatsoever.’

Val has had an assortment of jobs from bus driver, hotel receptionist and estate agent before settling for a career as a driving instructor.

Val who is qualified to drive HGV’s, buses and motorcycles, is one of Bill Plant Fleetcraft’s experienced trainers.

She says: “I love driving, I like being out on the road but if someone said one day I’d be a driving instructor I’d have laughed.

‘Best of all I like getting to know my pupils, In fact I’m still in touch with some. Sometimes it’s a bit like being an agony aunt and counselor as well as a driving instructor.’

When we refer to “A Spitfire” on a well read website concerned with cars and learning to drive, you would be forgiven if you thought that we were referring to that ubiquitous sports car the Triumph Spitfire, popular some years ago and still seen on the roads today. However, in this context you would be wrong as we are talking about a different kind of “Spitfire”, one that became very famous in 1940 along with its sister fighter plane the Hurricane, both of which along with a Lancaster Bomber can be seen flying with the Royal Air Force’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Bill Plant has lent his support to the Royal British Legion, North Yorkshire Ripon Branch, providing much needed funds to assist the volunteers of RBL in constructing a full size replica of this Supermarine Mk V iconic fighter aeroplane. To see, touch and to actually sit in this Spitfire, will be made possible this coming weekend Saturday 17th May 2008 when it will be displayed, along with other World War 2 memorabilia on Ripon’s Market Square, for the annual VE Day celebrations.

New proposals flagged by the Government recently, are suggesting that passing a Driving Test in the future is to become much more difficult. Basically the proposals include; that learner drivers will have to complete four separate stages, including two practical tests, to gain that all important licence. In the biggest shake up of the Driving Test, it is being proposed to split the on-road exam into two which will represent the biggest overhaul of the driving test in more than 50 years.

Candidates will be expected to present a “readiness certificate” before taking the test itself, making a total of four stages with a tougher theory test and two practical exams. According to road safety experts, around 300 drivers and passengers are killed annually by motorists who have passed their test within the previous two years. For this reason alone, we at Bill Plant always encourage newly qualified drivers to continue with their driving education, starting with our Pass Plus course which will make for a safer driver as well as reducing insurance premiums.

When former bank manager Ian Sherwood took early retirement, he had no fixed ideas as to future work but felt he had a wealth of valuable experience in both business and dealing with people to offer prospective employers.

However, applications were rejected and Ian discovered being over 50 was a serious handicap to finding a worthwhile job.

Ian, who worked at Barclays Bank for 32 years, says “I’d heard about ageism but this was the first time I’d ever experienced it for myself.”

‘I applied for a few jobs. I know I was over qualified for them but I was rejected without an interview and it had to be down to my age. At 53, I felt I was on the scrap heap.
 
‘At the bank, I admired people going into business on their own, taking risks and relying on their skills and determination to be successful. I’ve always enjoyed driving and meeting people so I thought I’d train to become a driving instructor.

‘That way I could become my own boss and put all my experience helping people to good use instead of being made to feel useless at over 50.”
After qualifying, Ian signed up to a Bill Plant franchise nearly 4 years ago. Within a week he was swamped with a full diary of pupils and has never looked back since.

Ian, now 59, who lives in Dalton-on-Tees, near Darlington says: “I really enjoy my work and get a buzz every time a pupil passes their driving test - it’s terrific. I’m now also training other people to become driving instructors. Also, if I decide to semi-retire at some time in the future, then all I need to do is cut back on my hours and fit the work around my life.”

We all have to be concerned regarding the current high cost of fuel, whether that is standard petrol or diesel, even though in many cases this precious commodity is paid for by a company. So what can we do to improve the fuel efficiency of our vehicles?

Some simple tips to use less fuel are; firstly drive the way that you did when you were under the care and control of one of the qualified driving instructors. Lift your foot off the accelerator earlier on your approach to traffic lights etc thereby reducing your braking. Be sensible about accelerating; vary your foot pressure on the accelerator pedal so you don’t have to brake as often or as hard. Surprisingly to many, one of the pillars of fuel efficient driving is accelerating briskly to a safe cruising speed and then taking the highest gear quickly. Most drivers tend to go straight from accelerator to brake, which is when fuel consumption suffers. Plan your arrival at roundabouts so that you decelerate for a longer period in a higher gear. Save that fuel and save yourself money, become an advanced driver.

You may have successfully completed your driver training, just started off and enrolled at one of the Bill Plant Driving Schools, or like many of us have been driving for years. Maybe it is the latter category that could do with some refreshment on the pages of The Highway Code. Bill Plant has always been to the forefront in keeping up with the very latest in cars and constantly ensuring that the Qualified Driving Instructors are aware of new legislation, and checked to ensure their performance is kept up to hi high standard. 

So it is no surprise that this highly rated School of Motoring has made available online the full pages of the Highway Code that can be easily accessed through their online pages. The revision of these can help when taking the Driving Test, or help mature drivers keep up to date with changes that may have taken place over the years since they took the practical test. The online Highway Code is free to access, why not look at it today, you may be surprised how it has changed!

Mother-of-two Rachel Darby believes becoming a driving instructor is an ideal job for busy women juggling childcare arrangements.
 
She says; ‘It’s a perfect job for mums like me.  Yet it’s not a career most women with kids would think about entering.   What else could I do to be in control of when I work as well as earning a good salary?’
 
Rachel, 29, lives with her two children Oliver, three, and one year old Owen at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire. While her husband Dave, a sergeant in 5 Regiment Royal Artillery, was away on a seven month tour of duty in Afghanistan, Rachel qualified as an approved driving instructor.
 
She signed up with Bill Plant due to the low weekly franchise fee, compared to other schools, and the company’s ongoing support package.
 
Rachel says: “At any point my husband could be posted elsewhere in the UK. Thankfully doing this means all my efforts to build up a business as a good instructor won’t feel wasted. This is one job I’ll be able to carry on doing because my skills are totally portable and Bill Plant will help me fill my diary with new pupils in another part of the country.’
 
Rachel switched to become a driving instructor after working as a graduate trainee restaurant manager in the catering industry.  She says: ‘The shift work didn’t suit me even when I had no children. Being an Army wife when Dave is away is like being a single mum. I need set working hours which I control to fit round childcare and the kids. 
 
‘I’ve always liked meeting people and passing on new skills. The feeling I get when one of my pupils passes their driving test is fantastic.’