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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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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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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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.

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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
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
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
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
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 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
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.

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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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From the community: Andrew HS students to get lesson in dangers of distracted driving

The Andrew High School Driver Education program is bringing in members of the Tinley Park Police Department to help emphasize the importance of distracted driving. The number one cause of death in the United States for teenagers is driving related accidents.

Officer Sanchez and Officer O'Hern will be sharing their experiences as they relate to distracted driving and its impact on teen drivers.

O'Hearn is a part-time instructor at the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety. He teaches Tinley Park police accident investigation and DUI enforcement techniques, is an in-house instructor for the Suburban Major Accident Reconstruction Team and developed a training seminar on reckless homicide and aggravated DUI for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.

The presentations will take place each class period on November 26 from 8 am until 1 pm in the Performing Arts Center.

As a GP, I already look for signs of dementia in high-risk patients

Since 2013, GP practices such as ours have been “opportunistically” looking for dementia, especially in at-risk groups (patients with cardiovascular disease, in residential or nursing homes or among older patients with other conditions such as stroke, diabetes, Down’s syndrome and other learning disabilities). For complex or uncertain diagnoses, patients should be referred to memory clinics; otherwise they and their carers are offered support and care within the primary-care setting.

We have access to a very good dementia nurse, although she covers 10 practices and has a large caseload. We can access advice from the memory clinic doctors but there aren’t enough carers or advisers to provide adequate support at home. As part of the 2013 dementia directed enhanced service (DES) practices already receive 37p per registered patient to screen at-risk groups for dementia.

One of the saddest cases of dementia I have seen was Jean, 58. When I first joined the practice in 2010 she was a vivacious local driving instructor. She would come for her blood pressure review and entertain us with hair-raising stories of learner drivers. Then she started forgetting things: first it was driving lesson appointments, then routes, addresses, her name. Then came the hallucinations. She was too young to have dementia, but her test for cognitive impairment (GPCOG test) said that she did. A CT brain scan showed evidence of Lewy Body Dementia (LBD). It is the second most common type of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease and has some overlapping symptoms with Parkinson’s disease. Jean’s husband, Alex, who became her main carer, found it difficult to manage and had to give up work.

First, Jean became housebound, then bed-bound and incommunicative. She died this year aged 62. Alex felt that although her diagnosis had been made early, her quality of life had remained poor and he had felt isolated. He had to rely on family when things deteriorated and for respite breaks for himself.

It is thought that dementia diagnosis rates currently stand at 37%, with plans to improve this through a scheme which asks GPs to “actively” seek out patients with dementia for the next six months.

This would mean screening everyone whether they are at risk or not (for instance everyone over 50). This is more time consuming and expensive and would pick up earlier and milder cases. NHS England hopes that through incentivising this initiative with £55 for every extra dementia patient, the March register for GPs would show more diagnoses. What it has failed to factor in is that most practices are already screening at-risk groups and anyone else with symptoms of memory loss. It is unethical to suggest that further payments will magically increase diagnosis rates in the next six months. It is more likely to erode doctor-patient trust if relatively younger and healthier patients feel that GPs are inappropriately asking them questions about their memory.

In addition, in many parts of the country, memory-clinic waiting times are up to six months. Bristol has relatively short waiting times of six-to-eight weeks. We undertake the initial tests in all suspected cases of dementia, and refer only if the diagnosis is not clear. Often a diagnosis of mild dementia leads to anxiety and depression. Patients and their carers can feel unsupported and powerless to change the course of their lives. But this add-on scheme seems to focus solely on diagnosing patients, without resourcing the support that is the key to managing dementia.

It is misleading to suggest that an additional payment of £55 for every new dementia diagnosis is any significant investment in tackling the colossal problem of dementia. It would be more useful to invest in local support networks in the form of more memory-team staff such as domiciliary nurses, consultants and support workers. But this would cost more money than the government is able or willing to provide. Diagnosis is the cheaper option and passes over responsibility to GPs.

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Farewell from South Tama bus driver

Letter to the Editor:

The past 3 plus years I have been driving school bus for STC Schools on what we refer to as the Chelsea route. Due to a change in my personal life it became necessary that I resign that post. My one regret is that I did not have the opportunity to tell every parent what an outstanding group of children they have.

The very first day I drove, I told them my job was to get them to and from school as safely as possible. I could not do this myself, I needed their help. They responded by following rules, being polite, courteous and respectful, not only to me but everyone on the bus.

I'm not saying we didn't have a little tiff every now and then. Imagine being in a 9'x 40' box with 60 other people many 3 to a seat in cold or hot weather with all kinds of different personalities, many having good and bad days. They were all together for up to one hour in the morning and again in the afternoon. It is remarkable how well these kids handled themselves.

I will certainly miss all my friends on the bus and I will tell anyone who will listen how great these kids are. The parents and the entire Chelsea community should be very proud of their young people, I know I am.

Stan Zeutenhorst

Brooklyn, Iowa
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Round-the-world cyclist backs call to improve driver safety awareness

RECORD breaker Mark ­Beaumont has offered his support to a campaign that looks to place greater responsibility on drivers in traffic accidents with cyclists.

Known for his cycle around the globe, Mr Beaumont said the law should be changed to help safeguard cyclists and to change the mindset of motorists.

The Road Share campaign is calling for Scotland's civil law to recognise cyclists as vulnerable road users, meaning that drivers should be presumed to be at fault if there is a collision between drivers and cyclists.

It was launched due to the fact that cyclists killed in road accidents are not able to give evidence in any criminal or civil trials, while their families often have to wait years to see any compensation.

But, under the presumed liability scheme, drivers will have to prove they were not at fault during any incidents.

Mr Beaumont, who lives in Perthshire, called on the Scottish Government to afford greater protection to vulnerable road users.

He said: "This is an area the Scottish Government should be taking a closer look at if it is truly committed to safeguarding cyclists and non-motorised road users, whilst at the same time getting more Scots on their bikes.

"I believe that by ­introducing presumed ­liability to our civil legal system, and therefore bringing Scotland into line with most of Europe, it would ensure injured cyclists and pedestrians are compensated quickly and fairly," he added.

"This is vital if we are to encourage more Scots to see their world by bike and encourage a change of mindset in drivers."

The Road Share campaign says presumed liability would still allow drivers to 'allege fault' on cyclists.

Furthermore, the new law - along with the responsibility and burden of proof - would apply to cyclists during collisions with pedestrians.

The plan is supported by numerous groups, including two driving schools.

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