Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Effective and qualified driver in Southwark

Driving lessons SouthwarkThis driving school in Southwark area is one of the best driving schools. Therefore one can surely guess the amount of experience that has enriched this driving school. This driving lessons Southwark provides them complete knowledge about the traffic principles. It is not very hard for the learners that they get all the rules in few day, you will get an experience and confidence to follow the all rules on the road. Through these types of intensive platforms, the effective and qualified driver will be produced. They will know all safety rules and regulations on the road. This is an important factor that you should take into account while looking for first class driving lessons.

When it comes to the right driving lesson Southwark will advise you to spend some time checking up on the school and its employees before calling. With the increasing ability to control and incentives for qualified teachers, students learn and gain a confident very quickly. Any kind of fright on the ways, it will be very serious situation for the drivers and the other which will be on the way. So that is the role of educators to promote the driving skills and the ability to handle the most difficult situations on the road anytime. You must be aware of every rules and regulations on the roads. You can be sure to get results that are unlike any other. There are some agencies that offer new students with special offers.

Tuesday, 16 December 2014

How to make your staff better drivers

You don’t have to run a freight company to understand the importance of being able to drive, and to drive well at that. Driving is akin to communication; it is the vital link between communities and deliveries, interviews and interviewees, and a way to speed precious objects from source to destination.

However, even though you might request that employees have an up-to-date driving license, it’s imperative that their driving skills are top notch. Imagine the embarrassment if a van with your company’s name on it was stopped by the police, or you lost half your stock because of a spillage on the M25?

Investing in your staff’s driving skills is especially important if you live somewhere with terrible weather or along roads with tricky twists and turns. Another thing to bear in mind is how you can actually save money by driving more carefully. Being a careful driver can help you to reduce your fuel costs.

So how do you make sure that your staff are driving in the safest way they can be, and that they are managing to conserve fuel costs at the same time? Try these tips and tricks:
Do a refresher driving course

Many driving schools offer refresher courses aimed at people who used to drive but don’t feel confident on the roads anymore. These refresher courses are also useful for people who learnt to drive in the countryside but now need to navigate large, busy cities with multiple junctions and lanes. David Richards, AA DriveTech director, says: “Being able to drive is vital to many people who are self-employed and who run small businesses.

“The ability to get about independently can help secure new clients as well as move goods and deliver services. Everyone who drives as part of their job can help improve their business’s bottom-line by driving as fuel-efficiently and safely as possible; savings will be made on fuel and also on insurance claims premiums and time-off after accidents. Driving is likely to be the riskiest part of any job, so it makes sense to try and mitigate that risk through better training. Just a few hours with a specialist driving coach can improve a driver’s ability to keep themselves safe on the road.”

And refresher driving courses don’t have to take ages to complete either. Sometimes just doing a single lesson will give you or your employees the confidence to get back in the car and driving. The Institute of Advanced Motoring also runs courses including assessment for mature drivers.
Learn how to make your fuel go further

Many small businesses have a tight budget, and want to ensure their expenses go as far as possible. By signing up to an institution or course, you or your employees can learn how to save fuel costs when you’re driving, ideal for small businesses who don’t have an unlimited pot of cash for driving expenses. A new driver training centre that simulates adverse weather conditions has opened, at Tadea Effective Transport Solutions. But Tadea also run courses on how to make your driving more cost-effective, sustainable and green. Based in the north of England, they provide tailored, comprehensive driver training packages to meet the demands of any organisations vehicles on the roads. According to their website, he point of these fuel saving sessions is: “Simulated driver training can lead to a reduction of over 10% in fuel costs – savings which quickly cover any training expenditure and which keep saving your business money for years into the future.”
Driving in adverse weather

Tadea’s new adverse weather system is designed to throw whatever it can at drivers wanting to be challenged. The packages that can be purchased include driving in simulators, which “put drivers through their paces with ice, snow, wind, and thick fog all in one session.” Tadea Effective Transport Solutions also points out on their website that: “Health and Safety law requires employers and the self employed to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all employees and to safeguard others who may be put at risk from their work activities - including work-related driving activities.” The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 covers “any statutory provision dealing with health and safety matters”, and includes “transport as enforced by the HSE and local authorities.”
Join a forum or a group

The Institute of Advanced motorists is an excellent place to start if you or your colleagues are regular drivers or you drive for work. According to the IAM: “These groups, all run by volunteers, represent a unique resource with unparalleled experience and expertise to share with road users. In addition, they provide a forum where members can share ideas and contribute to the IAM s important work in developing and promoting innovative road safety strategies.”
Why you should invest?

The happiest and most motivated staff are those who feel that they are being listened to at work, and also that their skills are being broadened. By investing in your employees’ driving, not only will you ensure that your employees learn to drive more safely in the roads, save on fuel costs, and learn to cope with adverse weather, but your staff will feel more motivated and committed to their work, and to driving well.

Content on this page is paid for and produced to a brief agreed with Kia Fleet sponsor of the Guardian Small Business Network Accessing Expertise hub.

BikeRight! adds cycle specific driver training courses

BikeRight! has diversified into driver training, with a specific module for operators of LGV and PCV drivers, with a focus on driving around cyclists.

The seven hour course will be offered at any one of BikeRight's four offices, found in Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham or Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.

Colin Unsworth, course instructor, comments:  “These courses provide a unique insight into the behaviour of vulnerable road users and complement BikeRight!s portfolio of cyclist training courses that we have successfully run for over ten years.“

 “This full-day CPC course offers the opportunity to gain practical experience of cycling on the roads accompanied by BikeRight! qualified instructors. This helps trainees to define who vulnerable road users are when assessing risk and to raise awareness of cyclists and how to assess a situation to reduce risk.”

A second course called 2WheelsAware is aimed at people who drive as part of their work, such as delivery drivers, taxi drivers, drivers of smaller lorries, mini-buses, and emergency services vehicles. 

The best corporate driving instructions in the states

Business Driver TrainingBill Plant Driving School is one of the leading driving schools and provides business driver training to adults, teens, seniors and corporate driving market. Bill Plant Driving School has served the best companies in Ripon and has trained a number of corporate drivers so that they can get succeed their corporate driving test. We evens provide evaluation and assessment courses online permitting a firm to validate its firm’s drivers. Bill Plant Driving School offers private driver training for each level--from delivery drivers to CEOs and even provides corporate group driving safety lessons and training courses online. Bill Plant Driving School provide a several of packages which offer some of the best corporate drivers instructions in the states.

These packages are so suitable for corporate that they can select their package as per their need. You can select a package as per the needs of your organization or you can select a customized package. Driver Risk Assessment tools give you a chance to validate and assess the performance of your drivers. It even involves self-evaluation and private learning classes. The package even provides in-car performance and specific driver enhancement recommendations. Private driver training course is a personalized training course which even involves in-car training. The trainers aid the drivers to enhance their performance and skills. Driving safety packages is designed for firms interested in enhancing the awareness and knowledge of their drivers on the road. The courses offer complete training in a short span of time and saves both money and time. Advanced driver training are a particular hour ticket dismissal class that is available at convenient school locations. The lesson is state approved and is provided by licensed and certified training experts.

Wednesday, 10 December 2014

Cemex UK begins driver apprenticeship scheme

Nine driver apprentices have started on the first ever Cemex Driver Apprentice scheme. The one-year scheme is run in conjunction with a training organisation, Systems Training, and at the end of the year they will achieve a DGV apprentice qualification as well as learning about one of the leading building materials suppliers, Cemex UK.
They join the scheme after a national recruitment drive to encourage young people into the industry, all the apprentices are 23 years old and under. The national recruitment drive resulted in 50 applications for the nine positions based at Cemex quarries and Logistics depots throughout the country.
“This is the first time that we have introduced a scheme in logistics to deal with an industry-wide issue,” said Matthew Wild, VP Cement Commercial, Logistics and Building Products. “The scheme is in response to a national shortage of drivers. Only 0.2% of our drivers are under 25 years old and 10% of our LGV drivers are aged 60 or over. In the next five years 10% of our drivers will retire. This scheme will help to fill the gap and if successful, we plan to run it every year.”
As well as producing highly skilled drivers trained to put safety first, the apprentices will graduate with a sound knowledge of the business and undergo significant personal development. Each driver has a driver and logistics manager mentor, with two Regional Logistics Managers, Carl Milton and Rob Wilkinson overseeing the scheme.

VTNZ to take over practical driver testing from 1 May 2015

 VTNZ has been chosen as the preferred supplier by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) to take over all practical driver testing from 1 May 2015.

VTNZ to take over practical driver testing from 1 May 2015

VTNZ has been chosen as the preferred supplier by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) to take over all practical driver testing from 1 May 2015.

VTNZ customers can already apply for or renew a driver’s licence at 25 out of VTNZ’s 82 stations nationwide – now New Zealand’s road safety experts will be able to test them as well.

“We’re excited to have another opportunity to positively influence safety on our roads,” says CEO Mike Walsh.

“Getting a driver’s license is an important rite of passage for many Kiwis – unfortunately for some it can be complicated, confusing and scary.

“We want to improve people’s experience of the testing process, just as we have with other services, and the aim is a process that’s simpler, clearer and more accessible for everyone. We’ll be working closely with the NZ Transport Agency to ensure the integrity and consistency of the process.”

“VTNZ already performs over 1,000,000 car and truck inspections in New Zealand every year, as well as a host of other services, such as pre-purchase inspections and roadside assistance.

“Now, we’re in a position to offer our customers an even more inclusive service,” he says.
Assuming responsibility for driver testing is the first step in a major expansion of VTNZ’s services for New Zealand drivers. Over the next year, VTNZ will be rolling out a series of initiatives aimed at improving New Zealanders’ experience on the road.

“Getting a driver’s licence isn’t just about the practical test – the process starts much earlier with the theory and training,” says Mr Walsh. “We’ll be working with other providers such as driver training specialist AMS Group to provide a complete service to help train skilled, confident drivers.”

Tuesday, 9 December 2014

Interested driving instructor training in Glasgow

Driving Lesson GlasgowOne of the best driving service providers ready to help you to get right skill at right place. During a car driving lesson, an expert and highly professional driver would teach you the basic principles of driving and the road signs as well as symbols. We will also assist you in obtaining the learner's license after the successful completion of your training module. It will provide all of our services at the reasonable rates. By selecting an Interested driving lesson Glasgow for you, you will got a double benefit, you are providing yourself the best possible opportunity to successfully pass the examinations, and the best possible begin to your profession.


Our experts provide lessons regarding good or bad driving habits, traffic rules and codes, and other driving considerations. Enhance your driving related skills at the driving centers. We will offer you our reliable services with the added advantage of flexible class timings, flexibility on charges as they will charge on according to your specific hourly requirements. Glasgow provide best service by having fewer amounts because money value is more important so if you are here means you are at right place. We, at Glasgow driving school are dedicated to driving safety, which is why we provide classroom training in which driving lessons Glasgow are given regarding the things that should be both attended to and avoided while driving.

Monday, 8 December 2014

CT's Own Safe Teen Driving Week Started Sunday

WETHERSFIELD, CT - Sunday marked the beginning of Connecticut’s Safe Teen Driving week (Dec. 7-13) and state leaders are saluting the advocates statewide who help everyday to deliver to teens, their parents and their communities the message about following state laws and using safe practices behind the wheel for the protection of themselves and their passengers.

"Motor vehicle crashes kill more teens than disease or other circumstances. Many crashes are preventable when safety is foremost in minds of these drivers,” said Governor Dannel P. Malloy. “This week helps to continue our state's efforts to remind our young drivers that safety is everyone’s responsibility. I want to thank the safety advocates and educators who work to drive this message home and save lives.” Three mothers whose teenage sons were killed in car crashes in 2002 championed this special week in Connecticut and formed a safety advocacy group called !MPACT also known as Mourning Parents Act. Much of the credit for the teen driving awareness goes to these and many other advocates who each day give time, energy and money to promote safety to novice drivers, their parents or guardians, and their communities. Because of tougher teen driving laws and the public outreach from these advocates, Connecticut has seen an 82-percent decrease since 2004 in 16- or 17-year-old driver deaths.

“Our many community supporters and advocates should be congratulated for their work. This is a special time for community leaders, schools and others to talk about this critical safety issue in every community throughout our state. We have come a long way and we still have work to do in spreading this safety message,” said DMV Commissioner Melody A. Currey.

Connecticut in 2014 marked the 10th anniversary of starting its first set of teen driving restrictions in its Graduated Driver Licensing law for 16 and 17 year-olds. The last decade saw a re-make of the ways that parents, teens, school officials, state policymakers and safety advocates confront issues with this young, vulnerable group of drivers killing and injuring themselves and others on the state’s roads and highways. The result has been tremendous improvement as well as new challenges, such as:

• An 82-percent decrease since 2004 of 16- or 17-year-old driver deaths.

• A 64-percent reduction in the deaths of 16- and 17-year-old drivers when comparing the four-year period prior to the imposition of restrictions (1999-2003) to the four-year period after enhanced restrictions (2008-2012) in Connecticut.

• How safety risks are developing for 18 and 19 year-olds who delayed getting a license and now possibly face increased chances of crashes, deaths and injuries.

• How drivers on a 2-to-1 basis are more often killed or injured in crashes than passengers.

• Reductions in police summonses, but no clear reasons for the downward trend.

• Continued dangers of distracted driving for teens behind the wheel and in the vehicle.

• Reaching out to teens in various multi-cultural communities in Connecticut as a new legislatively approved program begins January 1 for undocumented residents who want to obtain driver licenses.

The Governor’s Highway Safety Office at the State Department of Transportation, along with the DMV and others, have special programs geared toward this age group.

“The Connecticut Department of Transportation is committed to teen driver safety,” said DOT Commissioner James P. Redeker. “As a member of the State Coalition for the Prevention of Underage Drinking, our Highway Safety Office has funded and promoted a variety of safe-driving programs, visiting high schools around the state, using state-of-the-art distracted driving simulators and an educational documentary that has impacted thousands of students in our state.”

Outreach work across the state during the last several years has taken many forms. It included new and ramped up programs at DMV and DOT. Among DMV programs are a teen safe driving video contest, co-sponsored with the insurance company Travelers, and a new teen driver-passenger safety awareness program called “You’re NOT Just Along for The Ride – Safety Is EVERYONE’S Responsibility.” DOT has funded the “Not My Kid” public service announcement and media campaign this past summer to educate parents and teens about the dangers of teen drinking and driving and will have this message in 22 movie theaters in Connecticut during the holiday season. In addition, the Department's 'Save a Life Tour' distracted driving program has visited over 70 Connecticut high schools.

In addition, outreach has also occurred at other state agencies as well as at hospitals statewide that have increased their attention to the issue. Safety advocates have formed numerous groups, including !MPACT and Mothers Against Drunk Driving, to address issues. High schools and law enforcement officials have teamed up to give educational presentations, including mock crashes. Communities developed programs, including those overseen by the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Corporations, such as Travelers, State Farm and Allstate, joined with others in the state to lend financial support and other resources to send the message.

In one instance, a teen driving book for parents, recently published by Timothy Hollister of Bloomfield, has come from this growing chorus of people.

Below in a small sampling of some advocates, they describe their reasons for championing this safety issue and work they have done:

Sherry Chapman, President of !MPACT: "We raise awareness of the dangers of teen driving through our Drive 4 Tomorrow program. !MPACT's Drive 4 Tomorrow presentations are offered throughout the state free of charge to high schools, hospitals, driving schools, and other large groups. !MPACT has also been a strenuous proponent of legislation to protect the novice driver and teen passengers. !MPACT, along with other safety advocates in the state, was instrumental in Connecticut's adoption of the graduated licensing laws in effect today."

Dr. C. Steven Wolf, Chairman of Emergency Medicine, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center: “Underage drinking and driving can have tragic consequences and part of our mission is educating teens about the life-altering effects such a crash can have. In our programs students from across the state come to the hospital to visually see and feel the consequences of unsafe driving choices.” Timothy Hollister, sponsor of the Reid’s Dad blog on teen safe driving, and author: “With my book Not So Fast -- Parenting Your Teen Through The Dangers of Driving and my blog as tools, I am collaborating with Connecticut and national organizations to tell parents of teen drivers that they have the ability to prevent the very predictable, most dangerous situations from happening before their teens get behind the wheel.”

Garry Lapidus, Director of the Connecticut Children’s Injury Prevention Center: “We are working to reduce teen motor vehicle crashes by: 1) examining the two-hour mandatory teen-parent driver safety orientation program and working with the DMV, commercial driving schools, and others, on how it might be improved, 2) educating pediatricians and pediatric residents in training on how to provide teen driver safety anticipatory guidance in their clinical practice and, 3) organizing/mobilizing local communities to fully adopt Connecticut teen driver safety laws.”

Dr. David Shapiro, trauma surgeon at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center and advisor in the DMV-Travelers Teen Safe Driving Video Contest: “Saint Francis has been dedicated to keeping our young citizens safe for decades. The “Let’s Not Meet By Accident” program has hosted thousands of our 13-17 year-olds over the last 20 years, providing hands-on exposure to the experience of being a trauma patient and provider. Participants see everything from the trauma team to the helipad, and learn the importance of making safe, healthy decisions through their teenage years. In addition to discussions include alcohol and substance abuse and decision-making about risky behaviors. The teens participate in a Safe Driving Promise program and learn to become safer drivers. Our dedication to the safety of these young citizens prepares them for making better decisions as adults and live healthier, safer lives.”

Pina Violano, RN, Injury Prevention Coordinator, Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospitial: “As a Level I trauma center, we have witnessed firsthand the devastation that families face following a motor vehicle crash resulting from unsafe teen driving practices. Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital is committed to our relationship with the DMV as well as other safety advocates to make an impact in reducing these types of events. We do this reaching diverse populations and preventing unsafe driving practices among all teens in the state of Connecticut.” - See more at: http://www.stamfordplus.com/stm/information/nws1/publish/News_1/CT-s-Own-Safe-Teen-Driving-Week-Started-Sunday22330.shtml#sthash.J5EEzkk9.dpuf

C.R. England seeks exemption to let new drivers behind wheel quicker

Since July 2011, drivers who have passed their commercial driver’s license testing aren’t allowed to operate a truck without a licensed driver – until they have their state-issued CDL.

C.R. England is making a run at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to get an exemption from the regs and get those drivers behind the wheel faster.

The motor carrier wants to be able to allow students of its driving schools who have passed their tests to go ahead and haul freight, as part of a team. C.R. England proposes in their exemption request that this would allow the soon-to-be CDL holder to “participate in a revenue-producing trip back to his or her state of domicile to obtain the CDL document.”

The motor carrier also contends that restricting learners places C.R. England in an “untenable position of either sending the (permit) holder home without having hired him or her (because the person does not yet have a CDL) with no assurance that the driver will remain with C.R. England after obtaining the CDL; or, hiring the CLP holder and sending him or her home in an unproductive non-driving capacity. Granting the exemption would allow the CLP holder to drive as part of a team on that trip, resulting in reduced costs and increased productivity.”

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association calls the request “laughable” and considers any such request – given C.R. England’s 17-day training program – “ludicrous,” according to OOIDA Executive Vice President Todd Spencer.

“Making special accommodations that could have a negative impact on highway safety is not something the agency should consider at all,” Spencer said.

“Given the meager level of instruction that passes for training, it is laughable to consider any sort of request. In absence of driver training standards, the fact that C.R. England considers a 17-day school adequate training is ludicrous, and the agency should not fall for that.”

Spencer went on to challenge C.R. England’s assertion about boosting productivity.

“Where the company attracts or recruits prospective students is totally up to them, whether they be from another state or another country. It’s totally a management decision on how they want to operate their company,” he said. “Likewise, it’s management that has total control on how many new drivers they need at any particular time, and that’s totally controlled by turnover and attrition.”
- See more at: http://www.landlinemag.com/Story.aspx?StoryID=28156#sthash.t8tJ6vqb.dpuf

Getting Your Driving To The Next Stage

Advanced Driver TrainingIn advanced driving, the driver is constantly scanning the road ahead as well as to the sides and rear of the vehicle. There is constant eye movement as opposed to the static staring ahead of the average driver. If that you choose to could have a clear driving license, then which you are able for that you choose to apply for an education course. Advanced driver improvement course will help to keep your car driving safe. Advanced Driver Training offer the chance for regular motorists to get the best possible use out of their vehicles by providing an advanced driving experience that transforms one from a regular road user into a certified driving professional.

Driving Lessons is valuable for everyone who has the wish and energy to comprehend to drive. Generally these motorists have to be much more prompt and accountable.

Corporate drivers are in outstanding need for the conveyance of the employees. Corporate driving course will help to keep your driving protected. Driver training courses in most of the have experts on the school as instructors who successfully transfer the necessary abilities to successfully pass a motorist's test and become comfortable. Driving sessions are very important in the modern age. There are many ways to learn driving. Business Driver Training offer you top high quality and essential driving session which will make you confident while driving on street in very brief period of time interval.

Tuesday, 2 December 2014

Northfield bucks the trend as trucking industry begins to experience driver shortages

The trucking industry has rebounded from economic downturn and demand for drivers is expected to continue to grow, according to industry analysts and local trucking companies. Demand for drivers is expected to grow by 21 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and enrollment numbers at truck driving schools are running high. It’s expected the country will need 330,000 new truckers by 2020. “We went three or four years with very few people getting trained in the industry,” said George Brooks, general manager of Taylor Truck Line Inc. in Northfield. “The demand is back and everybody is short drivers.”
Locally, McLane held a job fair in October as well as in the summer to attract new drivers, but President Ernie Hurlbut said the driver shortage isn’t affecting business.
Both McLane and Taylor have focused on driver retention.
“You’ll have to pay better and provide good working conditions to keep the drivers you have,” Hurlbut said.
Truck companies have increased pay in an attempt to attract drivers in a competitive atmosphere and more routes offer drivers the opportunity to have weekends off.
The amount of experience companies require as a minimum has decreased as well. The minimum typically ran at two years in the past, but many require just six months experience.
Heavy Metal Truck Training in Inver Grove Heights offers classes for prospective drivers and recently opened another training facility in Rochester in October to meet the demand.
First-year average earnings run from $38,000 to $42,000, said Gary Pressley, president of Heavy Metal Truck Training. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual median pay is $38,200. The pay gets substantially better after drivers get three years of experience. Wages can reach $60,000, Pressley said.
The increased use of rail to transport oil from North Dakota and other areas has increased the need for trucks to move more freight. The trucking industry is short about 35,000 drivers, according to the American Trucking Association. In order to fill the need, the industry has started to attract women drivers as well. Women make up just 5 percent of the truck driving workforce, according to labor statistics but that number is rising.
Finding women trainers also poses a problem. With so few women in the industry to begin with, trucking schools and carriers have a difficult time finding women as trainers.
“It’s kind of a catch-22 because the industry needs more women to train women,” Pressley said.
Heavy Metal Truck Training offers a variety of courses and job placement for trucking students. A student can receive a 160-hour Class A CDL in four weeks for $3,995. The cost of training turns some away but many carriers offer tuition reimbursement and unemployed workers can be eligible for funding as well. Minneapolis residents can also qualify for funding through the city of Minneapolis RENEW program.
Federal regulations recently limited the number of hours drivers can log on the road, which has driven the need for more drivers as well.
Fewer younger drivers have entered the workforce. The average age of a truck driver is 48 years old, according to the Bureau of Labor of Statistics. Less than 8 percent of drivers are 25 to 29 now.
The urgent demand for drivers has driving schools like Heavy Metal Truck Training getting students pre-hired and placing nearly 98 percent of students in trucking positions, Pressley said.
Carriers have extended sign-on bonuses for new drivers and over the road companies have increased wages 15-20 percent, Pressley said.
Some carriers have started their own training schools in order to combat the driver shortage. Some have contracted with Heavy Metal Truck Training to help fill the shortage.
The industry faced a shortage before the economic downturn, but it went largely unnoticed because there wasn’t as much freight to ship at the time.
With the economy taking a turn for the better, even more drivers will be needed to meet the demand.

Greenville County Schools holds bus driver recruitment fair

GREENVILLE, S.C. —A high turnover of bus drivers at one Upstate School district is leaving some big holes, and educators are trying to fill them fast.
A bus driver recruitment fair was held Tuesday night at Wade Hampton High School in Greenville.  Dozens showed up.
The district said it's short nearly two dozen drivers. The problem is getting quality drivers to stick around, officials said.
“Forty percent will leave in the first year,” said Mike Humbert with Greenville County Schools.
And the lack of drivers is disrupting class.
"Children get to school late and it delays the education process,” said Humbert.
Mack Rumph said he sees that problem with his own children.
"She doesn't get there until 9 or 9:15 and the bus is supposed to pick her up at 8,” said Rumph.
That's part of the reason Rumph is applying.
In an effort to reduce the turnover rate, the district is raising starting pay from $11.68 per hour to $12.80 per hour.
That's a nearly 10 percent increase.
“Pay is good.  You can't argue with that,” said Rumph.
All drivers working at least 30 hours a week will also get full-time benefits.
But district officials are warning applicants the job isn't for everyone.
“You have 40 to 50 kids behind you and that's a challenge,” said Humbert.
It’s a challenge many said they are up for.
“When you're driving the bus, you are more than a bus driver.  You got to be a friend sometimes,” said applicant Eddie King.
All applicants must pass a drug test and criminal background check.
The district said it will start the interview process next week.

Monday, 1 December 2014

There Is a Need to Enroll in Driving School

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Friday, 28 November 2014

Porsche’s Sport Driving School a lesson in driving and humility

IF you ever want to annoy a motoring writer — and who wouldn’t? — demand to know their favourite car. They roll their eyes, implying you are an idiot for asking, then issue some cryptic platitude like “The next one”. Push beyond the boundaries of politeness, however, and eventually they add, “ ... but nothing drives like a Porsche”.
Is that right? There’s nowhere better to find out than Porsche’s Sport Driving School at Mount Cotton, half an hour south of Brisbane.
The 45ha complex is a bitumen fantasy of skid pans and slaloms, cross-country trails and a closed road track. Gathered for the morning briefing is a group of about 20 enthusiasts. Some of them are real Porsche owners, and there is one pretend Porsche owner, thanks to the Boxster I have just collected from Hertz at the airport.
We’re here for the precision driving course, the first of four levels of training offered by the school leading, if you’re good enough, to the GT3 Cup course in a racing car, on a proper racetrack. We are nowhere near that level, but the beginner’s course is informative and entertaining.
Chief instructor Tomas Mezera, who won Bathurst in 1988 at his first attempt, starts with the basics and, sure enough, we are shown how to position the seat and how to hold the wheel. Then we split into three groups and head to different parts of the training area to start driving.
First, however, we learn to stop. In a brilliantly simple demonstration, we are invited to predict where the 911 will stop from 40km/h, and are ­astonished when it pulls up almost in its own length. At 80, though, the car sails way beyond where any of us have guessed. It’s a graphic lesson in what distance to leave at freeway speeds.
“But if you do that some dickhead jumps into the gap,” one of our number protests. The ­instructor reveals his solution to this eternal problem: “You drop back,” he says. “Get wherever you’re going a couple of minutes later.”
The pros get their thrills at ridiculous speed on the track, amid equally gifted and experienced drivers, not by mixing it with hoons and drunks. On public roads attack turns into very cautious defence. I’m making mental notes to repeat all this to my L-plate daughter; I wish every teenager in Australia could watch and listen.
Then into the vehicles to get a feel of what the brakes can do. Being much older than ABS, I cannot quite believe I can stamp on the pedal as hard as I do without the car sliding all over the place.
Reassured, it’s on to the slalom course where we are timed in three different cars — Boxster, 911 Cabriolet and Macan turbo — seconds added on for hitting cones or overshooting the stop line. I keep hitting the same cone and note with dismay that a pretty girl 30 years younger than me is beating me, but put it down to the 45kg weight advantage. I’m also being beaten by a much bigger man, so put that down to weight advantage too.
After lunch the skid pan is splendid fun. The cars for this exercise have virtually no tread on their tyres, a mixture of fuel oil and water is spread all over the concrete and the traction controls are switched off. The result is hilarious but instructive: oversteer and understeer, and tips on how to recover skids. We slide around like sugar-loaded toddlers until we’re called in for the serious stuff.
If you were looking for a definition of the word disconcerting, recognising your passenger from the Bathurst 1000 TV coverage might do the trick. Alex Davison, one of the instructors, finished fourth on the mountain in October, and now has the pleasure of being chauffeured in a Carrera 4S around the switchback road circuit.
Fortunately I have been in cars with racing drivers before, and know how unutterably pointless it is to try to impress them, so I promise Alex a gentle ride; in return he points out the racing lines, when to brake and how hard to accelerate.
After a couple of laps I am running at what I consider a most remarkable speed. Then we transfer to a GT3 with Alex at the wheel, and — well, you know what happens next. Suffice to say everyone should have this experience: it’s rare to acquire so much humility in so short a time.
Later, heading into town with the top down, I’ve fallen under the Boxster’s spell. Its balance is extraordinary; a couple of the instructors confide that for pure driving pleasure they’d pick it over the more powerful 911s. As a hire car it’s a wild extravagance, but don’t we all deserve a little treat?
Back in Sydney, I climb into my own car and wonder who’s been at it while I was away. Someone seems to have loosened the steering wheel, replaced the shock absorbers with marshmallows and cut the brake lines.
Newly converted, I find myself accosting strangers to talk about the day at Mount Cotton.
“I mocked them, but it’s true,” I whisper. “Nothing drives like a Porsche.”

Steve Waterson was a guest of Porsche and Hertz. More: porsche.com/australia; hertz.com.au

Google's Self-Driving Vehicles to Get Lesson in Defensive Driving

Google's self-driving vehicles have logged almost three-quarters of a million miles on public roads. Now its Safety Drivers have decided that the vehicles are safe enough if they take on a more human-style assertiveness.
Google spokeswoman said recently that its Safety Drivers, or Google employees that go out in cars and take notes on how they're doing, have seen instances where it's actually safer for the vehicle to speed up to change lanes, instead of slowing down or maintaining speed while waiting for an opening.
The spokeswoman added that Safety Drivers have seen the vehicles do best at a four-way stop when they indicate their intentions by creeping forward, not by using a more computer-like style approach like waiting for all other cars to stop for a specific amount of time.
Priscilla Knox, Google Safety Driver, tested the car's behavior on the road in a recent video, and mentioned that it's important for the car "to drive in a naturalistic way. Because when it's natural and the car abides by social norms on the road, it's also safer."
The Google's spokeswoman said to Edmunds that the company provides feedback so that engineers can "fine tune the whole driving experience." This allows the company to provide information on how the vehicles will be adapted to this new understanding.
Google's testers have strictly been using Toyota and Lexus models so far, like the RX 450h SUV, which has been adapted to add the search engine giant's radar and other enhancements.
Back in May, Google debuted its prototype of a consumer self-driving vehicle that doesn't have a steering wheel or pedals. It also doesn't have a brake or accelerator, making things exciting and nerve-wracking for an occupant.
Google is leading the way amongst its tech rivals when it comes to autonomous driving, and is putting the pressure on other automakers to catch-up.

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Wednesday, 26 November 2014

Make professional training must for licence, driving schools ask state govt

PUNE: The Pune City Motor Driving School Association has urged the state transport department to make professional training compulsory for those learning to drive cars and two-wheelers before they get permanent driving licences.


The association claims that professional training sessions will help people, particularly those learning to ride two-wheelers, understand rules of safe driving better, thereby curbing accidents caused by rash driving and violation of basic traffic rules. "Many people learn driving from friends and relatives. We are not against it, but we want them to be thorough with rules and regulations so that they become responsible drivers," said Raju Ghatole, the association's president.


"Various surveys have highlighted why two-wheeler riders are at a higher risk of dying in accidents. Pune records a high number of such accidents. Incidents of rash driving are on the rise. Drivers need proper training at the initial stage. Motor driving schools can play a vital role in providing basic information of laws and safety measures to riders, who are otherwise unaware of such laws," Ghatole said.

Virgin to step in at Shropshire Enterprise Hub

Telford-based Young Britain campaign supports would-be entrepreneurs by helping them gain access to loan funds and providing a base for them to grow their businesses.
Now it has sealed a deal which will see it link up with Virgin Startup, with the Hadley Park-based Enterprise Hub ultimately earmarked to become the first base outside London for the not-for-profit Virgin company.
Fay Easton, Young Britain’s project manager, said the move was a significant step in securing support for the future of the programme.
“What connects us is that we are all linked to the government’s start-up loans,” she said.
“They are a fabulous company with a great team, and they are really keen to get the message out that not all great businesses start in London.
“Virgin wants us to be the first start-up brand for Shropshire and Herefordshire.”
Virgin StartUp helps entrepreneurs aged 18 and over in England with small business funding, resources and advice necessary to make their business idea a reality.
“What it means for me is our start-ups get a route straight into Virgin,” Ms Easton added. “We will be the link to Virgin.
“In the new year they will be bringing events here, and by March or April they want to be talking about having this start-up hub which is our space as a Virgin space.
“This is about great people running businesses and running their lives.”
The Enterprise Hub was launched in the summer of 2012, with government advisor Lord Young visiting Telford to lift the lid on the new facility in the town.
Graham and Jenny Wynn, who run Telford-based driver training company the TTC Group, pumped £250,000 into kitting out the building, which can accommodate up to 100 small businesses.
Ian Mason, head of strategic development with Virgin Start Up, visited the hub yesterday to launch the new partnership, sealing the relationship with the Telford establishment, and to participate in one of the hub’s Start-up Bootcamps.
“Once a month all the heads of companies get together and want to hear about stuff that’s happening on the ground,” Miss Easton added.

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Tuesday, 25 November 2014

Fla may ban cell phone use driving in school zones

A new bill has been filed for the upcoming legislative session in Tallahassee that would prohibit drivers from using their cell phones at all while in a school zone.  Newly elected State Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Lake Mary, says the bill will be considered.

"If there is a place where it should be a primary offense, that would be probably taken more seriously than kind of general use.  Again a lot of schools have that policy."

This bill covers much more than texting and driving. It would make any use of a cell phone, even reading your phone in a school zone a "primary offense," meaning police could pull you over if they believe you are doing it. It would also mean a ticket could be issued that would put points on a person's driver's license. Plakon says making any use of a cell phone in a school zone a "primary offense" could hurt the effort to pass it.

"You always have to be concerned about consequences. Now you are talking about putting points on somebody's license that could ultimately lead to their license being taken away versus I think it is a 30 dollar fine. So that has to be looked at through a different lens before you talk about removing somebody's rights like that."

Plakon says the bill, filed by State Rep. Irv Slosberg, D-Delray Beach, has a hill to climb in Tallahassee.

"Probably three House committees, three Senate committees, the House floor, the Senate floor, and then the governor's staff."

If passed, drivers could be fined 60 dollars plus court costs, and would receive points on their license for a violation.

Students Learn Hazards of Texting and Driving with Simulation

Many roads are covered in ice and slush, so one Northern Michigan school is trying to teach young drivers the importance of focusing on the roads and not their phones.
Roscommon High School held a special driver safety program today using texting and driving simulations.
Nine and Ten's Cody Boyer checked it out to see how students are learning about the dangers of texting and driving using technology.
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Each year, more than 400,000 people are injured in distracted driving crashes across nation, many of them on snowy, icy roads.
Roscommon Schools want to help decrease that number.
"It is a concern," said Ron Alden, Roscommon High School principal. "Every year, you get a little better at it but it's always an adjustment."
With around 3,000 deaths in the United States each year due to distracted driving, Roscommon High School's principal says there's reason for concern.
Students used state-of-the-art technology to learn firsthand what dangers can come with texting and driving.
"Driving in the winter in Northern Michigan is a lot different than driving in the summer months and when you throw the cell phone factor in there, it definitely makes that task a little more challenging," Alden said.
The program is simple. Once you sit down and start driving, it takes about 30 seconds and then they send you a text using a phone that's attached to the system. That way, it simulates a text conversation while you are on the road.
"The program really focuses on putting a spotlight on what's really just a choice for them in the car," said Clay Martin, a tour manager for Kramer Entertainment, which puts on the "Save-a-Life" program.
With snow and ice covering many roads, it's important to remember that focus needs to be kept on the road... Not on your cell phone.
"Your duty to drive is more important than anyone that can ever ride with you because that's how you take care of them," Alden said. "Ignore them, focus on what you are doing, especially when conditions worsen because that's when you need your attention the most."
The school is also holding a night program for students and their parents to come back and try out the simulation. 

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Monday, 24 November 2014

How to drive in winter (since no one asked) 17

It's that time of year when many motorists in Winnipeg look as though they've never driven during a Manitoba winter.
Whether it's sliding through slippery intersections or hammering on the brakes due to following too close, many don't know how or refuse to drive to the conditions.
Unfortunately, it's also the time of year when Dane Wilson, owner/instructor of Crossroads Driver Training, sees his business slow to a crawl.
"Nobody wants to take their test in the winter time because they know their chance of passing is somewhere between slim and nil," Wilson said. "A lot of the driving schools don't teach people how to drive in the wintertime, they just teach them how to pass the road test."
Manitoba Public Insurance reported on Monday more than 10,000 people have signed up for its new winter tire financing program, which offers loans of up to 48 months at prime plus 2% up to $2,000 per vehicle.
"I would definitely take advantage of the program, because (snow tires make) a world of difference," Wilson said.
Wilson prefers to go with a good name brand rather than a cheaper manufacturer. Shoppers should make sure the tires they purchase were recently manufactured and haven't been sitting on the shelf for years, he said, noting the rubber can break down over time regardless of whether the tires have been used.
There is a code on each tire that lists the number of the month and year of when it was manufactured. I found several YouTube videos on how to find the code, but you can also ask your retailer to find the code.
Winter tires are generally only expected to last three to five years, Wilson said. Those who drive four-wheel or all-wheel drive vehicles have an advantage in winter driving, but winter tires will still improve their ability to stop, he said.
The most common error Wilson sees from drivers in the winter is they don't leave enough room behind the vehicle they're following. In winter, drivers should leave about five or six seconds or car lengths between them and the vehicle they're following.
Unfortunately, that often results in another driver jumping in the gap, in which case he said to remain calm and continue to back off.
"In winter, I tell my students 'everything you do, do it slow,'" he said. "If it's braking, longer braking, if it's accelerating, accelerate at a slower rate."
Wilson commonly finds inexperienced drivers don't turn the steering wheel properly, using hand-over hand steering, and "it's an accident waiting to happen," he said.
"Most of the time when they're taking a corner they turn the steering wheel too much to make the turn, when they should only be turning the wheel enough to make the turn," he said. "The more you turn it, the more you have to turn the wheel back to go straight."
Wilson teaches the "push/pull" method of turning, with the hands at 5 and 7 o'clock, rather than 9 and 3.
"You push the steering wheel with your right hand and your left hand would meet your right hand at 12 o'clock and pull the steering wheel down, then your right hand goes back to the five o'clock position," he said.
Wilson has a specially equipped skid car, which simulates winter driving, and those who use hand-over-hand steering quickly lose control, he said.
To learn more about the skid car or to view videos on how it works, go to Wilson's website at crossroadsdrivertraining.com.

Students get texting, driving crash course

LOGANSPORT – Half of high school students in the nation age 16 or older text or email while driving. Some Logansport High School students took behind the wheel Wednesday to simulate that distracted driving.
The simulator, provided by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, is a computer program that takes the driver through a city with many distractions, including deer crossing, pedestrians crossing and an uncooperative passenger who wants the driver to text and call while driving.
Retired Logansport Police Lt. Cathi Collins and Cass County Sheriff Maj. Jill Rife teamed up to bring the simulator to Logansport High and Lewis Cass Junior-Senior High last week.
Collins said she was first contacted by Dawn Fisher of Fisher Funeral Chapel, since her daughter, Sarah Fisher, wanted to bring a simulator to the schools.
Collins said Logansport police haven’t issued any texting and driving tickets, as a law went into effect in 2011 banning texting and driving in the state. But Collins said it’s definitely a distraction to drivers.
“You can’t drive down the street without seeing someone with a phone,” Collins told the Pharos Tribune. “It’s more distracted driving than it is necessarily texting and driving.”
She added that many people also talk on the phone, fix their hair, put on makeup or eat and drink while driving.
The simulator program had a steering wheel controller with buttons to check to the right and left as well as turn signals.
The passenger asked the driver to call her brother, who didn’t answer, and so she then asked the driver to text the word “hello.”
The students then had to make the call and text while trying to navigate the roads and keep the appropriate speed. Junior Ryan Haney said it was easy to get distracted on the simulator.
“Merging on the highway while trying to text him hello is very difficult,” Ryan said.
Ryan, who just got his license in September, said the simulator wasn’t as realistic because the steering wheel was harder to turn than a car. Cameron Dibble, senior, agreed.
“It was really sensitive, a lot more sensitive than an actual car,” Cameron said, “but the whole point of it, for texting and driving and how hard it is to look at your phone and the road, that’s the realistic part of it.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 660,000 drivers are using a cellphone while driving at any moment. Cameron, who has been driving for almost two years, said there were times in the simulation when he was looking too much at the phone than the road.
The safety administration also states that the average text is read in 4.6 seconds, which doesn’t include time to respond to the message.
If a person drives at 55 mph, then five seconds of driving is equal to 100 yards, so a driver would look at their phone instead of on the road for about the length of a football field.
Matt Jones, Logansport High School principal, said teenagers texting while driving, as well as people of all ages, is an epidemic.
“There’s no doubt that texting and driving is a big problem in our society and people are way too tempted to look down at their phone and it’s very dangerous,” Jones said. “And so the more that we can do as a school to promote not to text and drive, the better for our young drivers.”
Collins took the simulator to Logansport High on Nov. 14 and Lewis Cass on Monday, with 90 total students participating those days. The simulator was at Caston High School on Thursday.
Ryan added that it’s easy for anyone to get distracted while driving, so it’s important to stick to the basics.
“Keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel,” he said.

Sunday, 23 November 2014

Driver Risk Assessment- Increase Your Possible safely

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Wednesday, 19 November 2014

Mark D. Cagle, 60, Of Stamford, Worked For High Ridge Driving School

agle was born in Bridgeport, to Hollis Cagle and Lorraine Cagle. He retired from Newfield mobile and was recently employed at High Ridge Driving School.
Cagle is survived by his wife, Patricia Ann Gilronan Cagle; children, Eric, Austin, Lauren, Katie Cagle, and Carley Smith; brother, Scott Cagle; two grandchildren; and in-laws, John and Sue Gilronan. He was predeceased by his son, Shawn Mark Cagle.
Calling hours are Wednesday, Nov. 19 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Shippan's Thomas M Gallagher Funeral Home, (Next to Knights of Columbus), 453 Shippan Ave., Stamford.

Mumbai driving schools steering learners the right way

Mumbai was once known as the most disciplined city traffic wise. Today, that reputation no longer exists. With more and more people seeking driving licences in the city, the demand to learn at driving schools has also increased.
A man learns to drive on the car simulator. Pics/Pradeep Dhivar
A man learns to drive on the car simulator. Pics/Pradeep Dhivar
Patience is key
Since a licence is a photo identity document, many people apply for one though they may not want to drive. This has compounded problems. The low cost of new and second hand cars in the country in recent years, has also added to the number of cars on the roads.
Theory driving class at a school
Theory driving class at a school
Hanif Chohan, who owns Chohan Driving School says, “At our school, there are special lectures on Sunday for all drivers. We have lessons with audio-visuals. In addition to this, we also show them car details so every driver knows the machine that he or she is driving.
Besides congestion, bad driving adds to woes, say drivers
Besides congestion, bad driving adds to woes, say drivers
Though a lot has changed over the years, I always tell driving students that patience is the most important skill you need when you drive on the streets of Mumbai. When the traffic is chaotic, keeping a cool head always helps. “Power steering, automated clutch and gears have made driving much easier that it was 20 years ago.
Simulator lessons are an important part of driving lessons
Simulator lessons are an important part of driving lessons
But the roads have become more dangerous as the number of people driving has gone up. Bad roads and potholes negate the comfort of the car. For drivers, I suggest that they keep their eyes on the road at all times to avoid bumps and potholes as much as they can,” says Chohan.
The city’s reputation of safe driving is in doubt. Pic/Shadab Khan
The city’s reputation of safe driving is in doubt. Pic/Shadab Khan
The driving school has a simulator where students can learn how to drive a car and get familiar with the steering wheel, gears, clutch, brakes, etc. “In Formula One, drivers use simulators to get familiarised with the tracks. Many people at our school learn a lot about the details of driving thanks to the simulator,” adds Chohan.
A teacher explains the internal workings of a car
A teacher explains the internal workings of a car
Follow the rules
At Maruti Driving School too, simulation learning is a very important part of driving lessons. Julius Daffu, the manager says, “About 80 per cent of our teaching especially when it comes to steering wheel familiarity and driving judgments is done on the simulator.
The machine tells the driver what he or she has to do; there is an accident which can also happen on the simulator if one isn't careful. The reality of the roads is recreated well by the simulator.” Bhagyashree Chavan, incharge of the driving school says, “We have two courses an advanced for people who need confidence while driving and learners — where we teach basics.
There is a demonstration where car details are explained, then the theory where we explain road statistics and precautions. We also have simulator practice and then car practice on the road.” She adds, “Judgment, parking, uphill and downhill driving and steering are generally the things most drivers have problems with.
If people do not drive well we insist that they practice and work harder. We also teach our students during practicals to maintain a healthy gap between their car and the one ahead as well as the one behind. This helps prevent accidents.”
Practical teacher at the school, Rupesh Padwal adds, “Practice is very important. No one is a born driver, people need to practice and drive responsibly. The experience every time you drive is different and so people need to get more confidence as drivers.
Using the rear view mirrors, pressing the clutch and brake is difficult for many people, so we suggest that they practice daily with an experienced driver to get better. Earlier, the hand brakes and steering was tough to get a hang of, so we had to work harder when we taught. Now teaching people to drive is much easier.”
Drive cautiously
Good Luck Driving School Manager Sayed Haider Kaidri swears by a three point formula that he uses to train new drivers. He says, “When I take my students in the car for a test drive, I tell them, ‘adjust the mirror, do not speed and drive in a straight line’. If drivers follow these three basic rules as a discipline, there will be fewer accidents.”
“I always tell students to never drink and drive as well as to avoid zig-zag driving as these cause accidents and could lead to road rage. If people are disciplined, they will drive responsibly. There have been times, especially with youngsters when I have found them speeding and told them to not get a licence,” says Kaidri.
As teachers, Kaidri says his team and he encourages people to have self confidence and at the same time drive with caution. He adds, “There are often people who are very good at theory but struggle at practical and vice-versa. As a driving school, we are very much like a school and have to teach all kinds of students. Our aim is to have safer drivers on the road.”
Safer roads
According to Chohan, driving schools have increased just like cars on the street but very few of them teach quality driving lessons. He explains, “Money is now the aim of most people, and sadly not all schools teach learners driving.
Driving class should be an all-round teaching of theory, practical, demonstration and simulation which when well learnt, will culminate in a good driver.”
Agreeing with him, Chavan says, “As a drving school we have evolved over the years. From having limited scope to really efficiently teach students, we now have an array of teaching aids and can really contribute to making the roads safer.”
“Driving schools have a responsibility to produce good drivers; we need to improve teaching methods to cater. If a student is not fit to drive, we need to tell him that loud and clear so that there are no accidents.
If our student drives rashly and causes an accident then as a driving school, we have failed to teach road rules and correct etiquette,” ends Kaidri.
- See more at: http://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-driving-schools-steering-learners-the-right-way/15774189#sthash.w1g3xiaH.dpuf

Make professional training must for licence, driving schools ask state govt

The Pune City Motor Driving School Association has urged the state transport department to make professional training compulsory for those learning to drive cars and two-wheelers before they get permanent driving licences.

The association claims that professional training sessions will help people, particularly those learning to ride two-wheelers, understand rules of safe driving better, thereby curbing accidents caused by rash driving and violation of basic traffic rules. "Many people learn driving from friends and relatives. We are not against it, but we want them to be thorough with rules and regulations so that they become responsible drivers," said Raju Ghatole, the association's president.

"Various surveys have highlighted why two-wheeler riders are at a higher risk of dying in accidents. Pune records a high number of such accidents. Incidents of rash driving are on the rise. Drivers need proper training at the initial stage. Motor driving schools can play a vital role in providing basic information of laws and safety measures to riders, who are otherwise unaware of such laws," Ghatole said.

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DriveTest Centre performance reports kept secret

The provincial government is keeping secret DriveTest Centre performance reports conducted by the private company that examines all new drivers, including tractor-trailer licence seekers.

Under its 10-year contract with the Ministry of Transportation, Serco, the multinational corporation that operates as DriveTest, has had the power since last year to “self audit” and “self report” any violations of provincial testing standards.

This confidential system of self policing, approved by the provincial government, means the public has no easy way to learn if Serco is properly testing all new driver candidates or if contractual requirements are being met.

An ongoing Star investigation found that the province’s truck-driver licensing centre in Woodbridge, operated by Serco, was violating ministry standards by not testing tractor-trailer candidates on expressways or roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or higher. Serco has told the Star that all Woodbridge test routes had ministry approval.

Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca has since ordered a review of road test standards at the centre, the province’s only exclusive testing facility for trucks, to ensure provincial guidelines are being followed. The review is expected to be complete by year’s end. When the Star looked into issues of oversight with Serco, it discovered Serco has the right to police itself.

Serco began auditing itself when the company renewed its contract with the province on Sept. 1, 2013. The Star asked the province for copies of Serco’s self-audit reports, as well as the ministry’s reviews from the last five years, but was told it would have to file a request under freedom of information legislation to obtain them.

The Star also asked Serco for a list of compliance issues identified in the past five years, but the company would not provide any information. Instead, Serco spokeswoman Angela O’Regan said that any specific details and associated penalties “are reported to MTO in accordance with the provisions of the contract.”

Ajay Woozageer, a transportation ministry spokesperson, told the Star in an email the province’s contract with Serco allows the company to “self-audit and self-report their level of compliance to the ministry each month” to encourage accountability.

“This process is consistent with other public private partnerships and places more accountability on the service provider for oversight of their business operations,” Woozageer stated.

The Star asked the ministry for examples of other public-private partnerships in which the service provider self audited and self reported violations, but was not provided with any.

Woozageer said the ministry “continues to maintain a robust audit and oversight regime that is used to validate (Serco’s) reported level of compliance through onsite audits, as well as audits of DriveTest transactions and monitoring systems.” He said MTO inspectors “continue to visit DriveTest locations” once a month, on average.

The ministry would not tell the Star how many MTO inspectors are involved in overseeing Serco’s operations.

In addition, Woozageer said KPMG performs an annual audit of Serco’s “processes and procedures,” but said the public cannot access these reports without filing a freedom of information request.

The agreement between the province and Serco is available online but is heavily censored, with entire pages deleted from public view. One such deleted page was headlined “Customer Satisfaction Survey.”

Details of performance benchmarks to be met by Serco, along with financial information about testing, are redacted from the agreement.

The Star’s investigation also found that would-be tractor-trailer drivers require no formal instruction to obtain their licence. Of those who do seek instruction, many students take their training at cut-rate, unregulated schools that simply teach to the test. The Star found two dozen of these schools in the GTA operating by taking advantage of a provincial loophole that allows them to avoid provincial oversight by charging less than $1,000 for a course.

In response to the Star’s findings, Transportation Minister Del Duca called for mandatory entry-level training for truck drivers. The province has not said when such training would be implemented.

UPS opens three UPS Integrad driver training sites

United Parcel Service Inc. opened three new driver training sites across the country.

The Atlanta-based package shipper said UPS Integrad driver training locations opened in Dallas, Phoenix, and Portland, Ore., to supplement locations in Franklin Park, Ill., and Landover, Md.

UPS Integrad uses a mixture of 3-D computer simulations, webcast learning modules and traditional classroom instruction to compliment hands-on safety, delivery and customer service training in a controlled environment. UPS Integrad also provides driver supervisors with an experiential "train-the-trainer" education.

Since the first UPS Integrad site opened in Landover, Md., in 2007, UPS (NYSE: UPS) has seen dramatic improvement in safety, production and service indices, as well as workforce retention.

Sunday, 16 November 2014

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Friday, 14 November 2014

Drivers must learn to merge properly to avoid accidents

ABU DHABI // Merging on to the motorway can be a high-risk manoeuvre and source of anxiety for many new and inexperienced drivers.

But experts say this high-anxiety situation can be avoided if drivers practise safe, responsible driving.

“I always tell my students to be always attentive – buckle up, check their mirrors, use their indicators, and look at the cars behind you before safely entering a road,” said Farman Sarwan Swabi, a 65-year-old driving instructor at a motor driving school in Abu Dhabi.

“It takes a lot of practice and experience to learn a variety of driving skills, especially when entering a motorway.”

Slowing down or abruptly joining on the motorway without adjusting one’s speed to traffic flow can cause collisions and tailbacks.

In the first eight months of the year, entering a road without making sure it was clear led to 232 accidents in the UAE, resulting in 19 deaths, according to Ministry of Interior statistics.

Mr Swabi sat next to his student Kashif Khan, 30, and gave pointers on how to make a U-turn, enter a road, overtake and negotiate a roundabout during a one-hour practical driving lesson in Mussafah last week.

“I’ve been training with him for three weeks now,” said Mr Khan, a banker in Abu Dhabi. “It’s very important for me to learn how to drive under different road and traffic conditions and follow the rules.”

Novice drivers need more supervision. This month, Brig Hussein Al Harthi, director of the Traffic and Patrols Directorate at Abu Dhabi Police, said drivers in the 18 to 30 age group were involved in the majority of accidents in the first nine months of this year.

Speeding remains the main cause of accidents, followed by neglect, lack of attention and sudden swerving, failure to maintain a safe distance between vehicles, running red lights and blown tyres.

At Emirates Driving Company, students learn defensive driving principles, hazard perception skills and how to assess risks, brake safely and keep safe distances, and crash avoidance by leaving sufficient space in front of the car to stop safely.

“You need to adjust your speed to that of the traffic on the motorway before joining it,” said Khaled Al Mansoori, chief executive of Emirates Driving Company. “It’s important to give priority to traffic already on the motorway and join where there is a suitable gap in the right-hand lane. A quick sideways glance may be necessary to verify the position of other vehicles.”

Drivers must stay calm and focused and not let aggressive drivers intimidate them, said Roshanara Sait, director of Ciel Marketing & Events, which organises road safety awareness campaigns.

“Remember the rule, merge like a zip,” she said.

Drivers should also be educated on how to exit a road, such as getting into the exit lane early rather than a last-minute swerving manoeuvre across three lanes of traffic, said Charlie Arnot, 44, an environmental consultant in Dubai.

“It seems to be a matter of local pride as to how late you can leave your exit manoeuvre,” he said.

To prevent sudden swerving and abruptly entering or leaving a motorway, authorities can place unmarked police cars on the road, install closed-circuit televisions at major junctions and launch public awareness campaigns, he said.

HCSO deputy suspended for using patrol car for driving lesson

HOUSTON -

A Harris County sheriff's deputy has been suspended after using her patrol car for a relative's driving lesson.

Last month, Local 2 received a tip that Deputy Yraci Huerta recorded the driving lesson and posted it on her Facebook page.

The grainy video appears to show someone behind the wheel of a marked Harris County Sheriff's Office patrol car.

The person shooting the video outside the car can be heard instructing the driver to "put your foot on the brake" and give it "a little bit of gas."

The car is seen slowly inching forward before the driver is instructed to "put it in park."

The post was later deleted from her Facebook page but Local 2 asked the Sheriff's Office about it.

Local 2 also went to Huerta's home for comment but she refused.

"You have to talk to my attorney through media relations," Huerta said through a crack in the front door.

An HCSO spokesperson responded Wednesday, saying Huerta had been suspended without pay for eight days.

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