Recently released statistics from the Department for Transport show that nearly a third of all crashes in England (2009) were caused by the driver failing to look properly.
The top ten reasons are as follows:
Failed to look properly - 38%
Failed to judge other person's path or speed - 20%
Careless, reckless or in a hurry - 15%
Loss of control - 15%
Poor turn or manoeuvre - 14%
Slippery road, due to weather - 11%
Travelling too fast for the conditions - 9%
Following too close - 6%
Exceeding the speed limit - 5%
Impaired by alcohol - 5%
Thursday 25 November 2010
Wearing A Seatbelt Matters
A new report from the AA reveals that a third of car occupants killed weren't wearing a seatbelt. The report shows that seatbelts more than halve the risk of death in a collision. However, the 7 percent not wearing seatbelts are overrepresented in fatalities, which suggest that the sort of driver who chooses not to wear a belt is twice as likely to be involved in a crash as someone who does wear a seatbelt.
Nearly 300 lives a year would be saved if all car occupants wore a seatbelts. The report shows lower seat belt wearing amongst men - especially young men, rear seat passengers, company car drivers and only 69 percent of drivers of vans, lorries, buses, coaches and minibuses regularly wear seat-belts.
Nearly 300 lives a year would be saved if all car occupants wore a seatbelts. The report shows lower seat belt wearing amongst men - especially young men, rear seat passengers, company car drivers and only 69 percent of drivers of vans, lorries, buses, coaches and minibuses regularly wear seat-belts.
Tuesday 23 November 2010
Boys Really Are Better Drivers...?
Dare I say this, new findings reveal that men are naturally better drivers than women, following an experiment involving over 70 pre-school boy and girls who took part in a series of controlled tests. The research was conducted using electric Roary the Racing Car ride-ons at the motor racing circuit Brands Hatch.
The findings proved that although girls were slightly quicker off the mark at the start of the race, boys were 34% better at concentrating and demonstrating visual-spatial skills whilst driving in a straight line.
Although girls' overall speed is 5% faster than boys when racing straight, boys are 20% better than girls at maintaining their line.
Pre-schoolers aged 3-4 years were deemed best for this study to test natural driving ability, according to child psychologist Donna Dawson, who went on to say 'The research proved that the boys come up trumps, but that the girls also excelled in different areas, such as listening and better hand coordination.'
When manoeuvring around cones, boys pipped the girls on speed by 10%, whilst girls had greater focus and better hand dexterity.
Surprisingly, the reverse test reveals that boys are 17% better than girls at doing two things at once, such as moving and steering whilst looking over their shoulder.
The findings proved that although girls were slightly quicker off the mark at the start of the race, boys were 34% better at concentrating and demonstrating visual-spatial skills whilst driving in a straight line.
Although girls' overall speed is 5% faster than boys when racing straight, boys are 20% better than girls at maintaining their line.
Pre-schoolers aged 3-4 years were deemed best for this study to test natural driving ability, according to child psychologist Donna Dawson, who went on to say 'The research proved that the boys come up trumps, but that the girls also excelled in different areas, such as listening and better hand coordination.'
When manoeuvring around cones, boys pipped the girls on speed by 10%, whilst girls had greater focus and better hand dexterity.
Surprisingly, the reverse test reveals that boys are 17% better than girls at doing two things at once, such as moving and steering whilst looking over their shoulder.
Wednesday 3 November 2010
DSA To Stop Publishing Theory Test Questions
- Candidates need to understand theory
- End to memorising answers
- Unpublished questions used from 1 January 2012
The Driving Standards Agency is to stop publishing the multiple choice questions and answers used in theory tests, Road Safety Minister Mike Penning announced today.
This will help to ensure that new drivers learn the principles behind driving theory rather than just learning answers.
The move follows the introduction of independent driving into the driving test and the DSA's decision to stop publishing test routes in October 2010, to make sure the test assesses a learner's ability to drive and not their capacity to memorise routes.
Mike Penning said:
“The driving theory test should help to prepare drivers for real life on the road - good driving is not just about vehicle-handling skills, but also about having the knowledge and understanding of safe driving theory.
“No longer publishing these questions and answers will mean that successful candidates will have to understand the theory rather than simply memorising answers.
“I believe that this - along with the other changes we are making to the driving test regime - will lead to better drivers and safer roads.”
In September 2011 DSA will change the format of books and other learning materials available to help people prepare for theory tests. This will take place at the same time as more challenging case studies are introduced to car and motorcycle theory tests.
Then, from 1 January 2012, DSA will create theory tests using questions which will not be published.
Practice questions and answers, not used in theory tests, will still be available to help candidates with revision.
Other companies which publish products containing DSA theory test questions will also no longer have access to the questions used in the tests.
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