How do I Start?

Something to think about
Driving (whether its commuting, popping to the shops, taking the kids out, etc.) is an essential part of personal, family and work life for millions of us. It can be enjoyable and pleasant, but it can also be stressful and dangerous.

In 2005, 3,201 people were killed in road crashes in Great Britain, 28,954 were seriously injured and about 238,862 slightly injured.

It’s incredible to think that these appalling figures are actually a vast improvement. In the mid 1980s, over 5,500 people died on the roads each year, and almost 75,000 people were seriously injured. But, despite massive increases in traffic, road casualties have fallen steadily, largely due to improved vehicle design, engineering measures (such as traffic calming), enforcement (e.g., the breathalyser and safety cameras) and road user education, training and publicity. However, we still kill 9 people a day on the road.

Almost all road crashes are caused by, or involve, human error. Of course, no one thinks they are going to crash, and we all consistently under-estimate the risk and over-estimate our abilities. Recent studies have shown that more and more crashes are caused by drivers losing control of their vehicles and by careless, reckless or aggressive driving. This includes 1,000 deaths due to speeding, and close to 600 deaths due to drink driving.

Most of us take professional lessons when learning to drive, but very few of us take any training after passing the driving test. We all develop our own driving style and bad habits over time, and many of us would probably fail the driving test if we re-took it today. With these figures, the need for advanced training speaks for itself.

Being a good driver means that you never stop learning. Becoming an advanced driver or rider will not only make you safer, update your driving skills and attitudes and increase your enjoyment of driving, but can also lead to improved petrol consumption and reduce wear and tear on your vehicle.