Albenny SOM

01/11/2024

Pres Macmillan SOBER FOR OCTOBER. Approx £300+raised. Many thanks.

Been out for some beer, this is tea.

Join in in if you want .

Cheers to those that did

02/01/2022

Hope everyone had a good Christmas and a good new year.

Now the bad news. !

Due to continuing rising costs of fuel, insurance etc.
I am going to have to raise prices to £30 per hour 😥.

Very sorry about this , but it can no longer be held at current prices.

Thanks for your understanding .

04/07/2021

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Safe Driving for Life: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
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Learn to drive safely in summer showers
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Summer showers can be sudden and violent. Learn about separation, tyre grip and journey planning and get prepared for driving in downpours.

It’s blazing hot outside today and as summer has its last gasp, my thoughts naturally turn to an evening spent winding round country lanes in an open-top car. (I have not got an open-top car and I live in a city, but I can dream.)

Anyway, you have not arrived at this page to read about that kind of thing; you’ve come because you know that the Safe Driving for Life blog is always at the ready with useful facts and inside information.

That’s why I want to talk about rain. Yes, rain. ‘Why?’ I hear you ask. Didn’t your intro just celebrate the last gasp of summertime? Well, yes it did, that’s true. It’s also true that sudden and violent rain showers are a fact of summer life. Why else do you see people at festivals who only half an hour beforehand were raving to their favourite band, suddenly drenched and tobogganing in the mud?

Strategies for safer driving
The truth is, a really heavy shower can be a dangerous event for anyone driving on our roads. So, whether you’re about to set off in wet weather or you’re the victim of a sudden downpour, here’s some of our best advice.

Check the weather forecast before you leave. This is obvious but important – keep checking your weather app up until the time you set off. You’ll be able to find weather forecasts for your local area and your destination, as well as important weather warnings.

If it’s really bad, do not feel you have to leave. Always put your safety and the safety of other passengers over any other consideration.

If you choose to set off, remember that wet weather reduces your tyres’ grip on the road. To stay safe:

Allow at least double the usual separation distance between your vehicle and the one in front.
Keep your speed down. Windscreen wipers struggle to cope with very heavy rain, so your view of the road ahead will not be as good as it could be. Driving at a lower speed will give you more time to react to hazards that are not immediately visible through the rain.
Use dipped headlights so that other drivers can see you.
Stop somewhere safe
If you’re caught unawares by really heavy rain, visibility is poor and you’re feeling anxious, pull over in a safe place (a roadside service area, for example) and take a break. While you’re waiting, do something different to help you relax. For example, you might buy a coffee and read a newspaper or see what’s happening on Facebook.

Stay calm and carry on
If the road’s busy and it’s going to take time before you can stop for a break, then try and focus your mind on your driving. The more you think about getting out of the rain, the more anxious you’re likely to feel. Remind yourself that you’ve driven in rain before and always arrived at your destination safely.

Better driving
During your driving life, you’ll encounter many different situations. Some you’ll be familiar with, but even familiar things can be challenging – particularly if you’re returning to driving after a break or are struggling with your confidence at the wheel. If that sounds like you, then head over to the Safe Driving for Life shop and pick up a copy of The Official DVSA Guide to Better Driving. You’ll find lots of hints and tips to help you deal with different scenarios, and a whole host of strategies designed to reduce anxiety and boost confidence. Oh, and there’s plenty of stuff about wet weather, too!

Related blog articles
Tips for safe driving in winter: part 1
Tips for safe driving in winter: part 3
Winter driving: 5 tips for dealing with low sun
Tips for safe driving in winter: part 2
Our guide to driving safely on country roads

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05/06/2021

Just to put people in the picture about the DUAL CONTROLS that Driving Instructors have!

They are not a magic solution to driving, they don’t control a pupils decision making, their nerves or their fears about other drivers!

If you drive too close to a Learner car and the pupil happens to press the brake by mistake or too hard, there is absolutely nothing the instructor can do to override it, other than tell them to come off the brake, if they don’t and you go into the back of us it’s because you are too close!

We also have a clutch pedal, which if they struggle due to stalling we can help them with, though we would rather not, believe it or not, beeping the horn doesn’t make them pull off any quicker, more likely they will stall again!

We don’t have an accelerator pedal, we can’t make them go faster from our side of the car only encourage them verbally!

Often approaching a junction you may find they slow down quite early, the reason for this is because they are listening to where we want them to go on the junction!

Multi tasking is difficult for new drivers, please be patient and try and understand what’s happening in the car!

With regards instructors having nerves of steel, we don’t, we are ordinary family men and women, trying to help other people’s very nervous children learn to do what you are doing, drive a car!

THANKS for taking the time to read this.

REMEMBER YOU WERE A LEARNER ONCE 🤔

30/05/2021

31/03/2021

Lots of theory tests for May if anyone needs one 😃

29/03/2021

Update on private practice in England
From today (29 March) essential journey guidance is changing in England. This means that learner drivers in England are able to take private practice during non-essential journeys.

The private practice must still be with someone from their own household or support bubble.

Letting your pupils know
We are emailing all theory test and practical test candidates with a test booking to let them know that from today they can practice driving with someone from their household or support bubble on more than essential journeys.

For your pupils with a theory test booked this is a good way for them to put the knowledge and theory they have learnt in to practice. This is particularly important for your pupils who learn whilst doing.

For your pupils who have a practical test booked this is a good way for them to practice their skills before restarting lessons with you. DVSA research with learners found that those who had practice with friends and family were 1.4 times more likely to have passed their test compared to those that didn’t have private practice.

There is guidance on getting the most from private practice in the official learning to drive guide available from TSO Shop.

It’s important that you discuss which areas of driving each of your pupils need to work on during private practice. This will help them cover areas they need to improve on as they prepare for their test. Your pupils can record their private practice using the useful free record which can be downloaded from GOV.UK

More information
Check GOV.UK for the latest about:

theory tests
driving tests
instructor guidance

GOV.UK - The place to find government services and information - Simpler, clearer, faster

23/03/2021

🤯 Can’t believe it’s 1 year ago today that the first national lockdown started in the uk forcing us to close the driving school and stop all pupils lessons due to the covid restrictions, what a 12 months it’s being, it’s being beyond tough having to close for pretty much 7 months of that time on and off depending on the governments restrictions and never knowing what the next month will bring.

Hopefully back to business very soon to get you guys back on the roads learning again, so fingers crossed for the 12th April as long as we get the go ahead in the next couple of weeks, should know by the 5th for definite🤞🏻

Il be in touch soon to book lessons as previously mentioned 😊

11/03/2021

🚗🚗🚗🚗 Driving lesson update guys In accordance with guidlines(Unless anything changes in the meantime)

Driving lessons can resume 12th April onwards.

Pupils who was with me before lockdown will have priority and who have tests booked.

Can you all let me know days and times available and will get you in will start booking in from end of march.
I may have a couple of spaces will know at end of march when fit all my pupils back in.

Many thanks will be nice to see you all again x

24/02/2021

🚗 Driving tests and lessons in England 🚗

In line with the government's roadmap announcement, driving and theory tests will resume no earlier than 12 April in England.

We'll provide more information about when driving and riding lessons and other test types including vocational and motorcycle tests can resume as soon as we can, but this has not yet been confirmed.

We're also working with the Welsh and Scottish government on resuming testing and lessons and will provide more information on this when we can.

DVSA POST