Feedback

We may, at our discretion, publish correspondence received. If you wish to write to us but do not want your message published, please indicate this at the time. You may also express opinions through our polls.

some of the letters we've received.

November 9th,2005. "Thank you for your quick response earlier to my question. I have been
reading through your site and I think you're doing a great job. I'm only 24 and have been driving since I was 18, although I had parkway training which is similar to motorways I believed that really really helped me. Although I have to say there should be some kind of training that also helps if you have tyre blow out or skids. We know what to do in theory, but its a lot different in reality!! I am just about to start my advanced driving test which hopefully will give me some good driving skills for life. Keep up the good work."

Mellissa.

October 6th,2003. "I have just come across your site and think what you are trying to do is fantastic. I had a serious road accident myself this week on the M6. My rear tyre blew whilst I was travelling at 70 mph. I wrestled with the wheel for a few seconds but then the car spun out of control before hitting the verge and rolling over. I had two passengers with me who thankfully had their belts on. We were also travelling in a Mondeo which I feel is a quality car for journeys such as these. I suppose my point is that even though I have had over ten years driving experience and was actually in the trade for eight of these, I simply did not know how to handle an emergency situation like this. I knew not to brake and I did keep control of the wheel for as long as I could and also more importantly remained calm. However, since the accident I have thought over and over, did I do the right thing and what is the right thing? I intend to go on an advanced driving course once I have recovered from my injuries and I want to say to everyone out there, please wear you belts at all times and make damn sure your are driving a vehicle that is fit for motorway use. I still do a fair bit of distance driving and on a recent M1 journey I was travelling at about 70 - 80 when an old Metro passed me. I expected to see a boy racer but the driver turned out to be a woman with two young children in the back!!! I do feel very strongly about this issue, and driving in general, as I have seen a fair bit of carnage in my years driving. Without doubt new drivers should have motorway lessons and maybe we should all re-sit our tests every few years. I for one would be more than willing to do this and hopefully we would be able to weed out some of the bad drivers who are a danger to the rest of us. Good Luck."

Tracey.

March 31st,2003. "I have always believed that new drivers should have some form of tuition before they are allowed to drive on a motorway and was pleased to read about your campaign in the leaflets that were included in an MSA conference in Stoke-on-Trent recently. I was asked just this week to do a Pass Plus course for a pupil of mine who passed her test at the end of last year. She told me that, after passing her test one Thursday, the very next day she borrowed her father's car and drove from Yorkshire down to Liverpool, despite me having strongly advised her not to use the motorways until she had had at least a couple of lessons. I was horrified when she said that she had been confused when she approached the roundabout to join the motorway slip road and had had drivers sounding their horn when she made a mistake. She panicked and stopped, so she could think about what she was doing, and then continued to join the motorway. She admitted she was scared and then said that other drivers had been flashing their lights at her while she was in the outside lane. She thought they were warning her of a problem with her car, but it appears she was simply driving in the overtaking lane, instead of moving back into the middle or left lane! It is so dangerous for these situations to be able to happen and I am pleased to join your campaign to see if something can be done. I have just emailed the DSA to express my concern from the link on your web site."

Carol Elliott.

March 20th,2003. "I'd just really like to say that I really support the idea of receiving training after passing my driving test on motorways. I am a 17 year old who has just begun driving lessons & I think that it seems bizarre (& rather scary) that new drivers are allowed to go on, & expected to be able to cope driving on, motorways without actually being taught how to!"

Hazel Burt.

January 9th,2003. "I must say that as a driving instructor I admire your dedication to a cause that has fallen on deaf ears for far too long. Sadly, it will continue to do so. The DSA say that compulsory tuition somehow isn't necessary as dual carriageways are available and it isn't fair to make it compulsory because not every driver has access to a motorway. Perhaps the German approach to learning to drive might one day sink in and force all new drivers to learn properly. I try in vain to persuade all my learners to take lessons on motorways, sadly 1 in 20 take up the offer. Keep up the good work. I really hope that one day you succeed in your intelligent quest."

John Foote, ADI

July 15th,2002. "I don't actually drive at the moment but I have enough experience of being a terrified passenger, in cars and coaches, to support your campaign. I am planning to learn to drive in the near future and I will be taking my 'Pass Plus' course as soon as I pass to make sure that I do not present a danger to other motorists. I support your campaign."

Jane Mitchell-Barnes.

May 11th,2002. "I must add my voice of support for motorway lessons not just as an ADI but as a frequent user of motorways. I am quite appalled the way some people drive generally and it must be stressed that many of them are so called professional drivers, i.e. coach and lorry drivers. The attitude of some of them is quite frightening. The law must change or the rules and even the emphasis of the test should be changed so that, when the driving test is conducted more attention should be placed on faster roads like dual carriageways and motorways and less on the manoeuvres, after all if one has a bump on reversing into a parking space it is going to be less dangerous than thundering obliviously up or down the busy motorway. I also believe in motorway lessons as part of a syllabus rather than optional since only a small percentage of people opt for motorway lessons. I get many candidates who will make comments like "Oh my dad will take me on the motorway". So one has no way of knowing if the lesson actually ever takes place. I would also go as far as to say that there should be a check test every five years so to ascertain that an individual is still at a reasonable standard when driving and of course emphasis should be on attitude towards other road users. All this would be great, however I feel that governments are too scared to introduce radical changes, after all they would be out of office and they will not like that. So, I wish you a successful campaign and hope it bears fruit."

John Cerpnjak, ADI

May 11th,2002. "A very worth while campaign. Your views are very sensible and you have my full backing in any way I can help. I have other beliefs as regards to the level of competence of today's motorists that I also believe are an issue. Road safety and driving standards are generally not an interest for most motorists today, and the standard of driving that I see daily on Britain's roads is appalling. The reason that people keep to the rules of the road stringently as L-drivers is so they can obtain a full driving licence. It stands to reason that the only way to keep people maintaining driving standards is that they MUST do so to keep their licence. Compulsory re-testing or evaluation every 5 years for example would ensure that people were mindful of keeping their skills up to date. If that idea was unfeasible, then perhaps insurance companies should insist that drivers must take a driving assessment every X amount of years. The results of the test could then be used to assess the level of their insurance premiums. That way, the inept or uncaring motorists would be driven off the roads (no pun intended) by the costs. Meanwhile, the sensible motorists would reap the benefits. This may also jump start (no pun intended again) the government into drastically improving public transport, as no doubt, there would be more need for it. Working as a driving instructor, I find it disheartening to think that the people I train display the high standards required for the day of their test, yet most are destined to join and become the feckless, moronic motorists of tomorrow. For these reasons and others, I am currently seeking a career in road safety in general."

Robert Price, ADI

March 25th,2002. "At last someone with some common sense. I drive vans and 7.5 tonne vehicles for a living and have to drive down the M3 and along the M27 every day. I also use the country's M-way systems to follow my football team around the country and can't believe the dreadful standard of driving on them. I'm not so worried about the 80-85 mph merchants but the drivers that should have taken the A road, because they are there to be seen doing 40mph and causing mayhem, knuckles white with fear as the fingers grip the wheel and nose tucked up against the windscreen......you've seen them. They are more dangerous than someone at 80mph. Even worse are the Middle Lane Owners Club. Ignorance of lane discipline is, in my humble opinion, more of a cause of accidents than speed. They are also oblivious to the problems they cause and should be banned from M-way use. It now seems that some are fed up with the view from the middle lane and have moved to clogging up the outside! I drive restricted vehicles (restricted to 62mph) and still get forced to go to the outside lane to get past them, meanwhile those behind me get more frustrated because it's taking me ages to get past them, but the fault lies with the middle laner. Perhaps a special page devoted to them would be good on your site? These are the people who complain about undertakers and lorries tailgating and flashing their lights. (If there's room to pass up the inside they shouldn't be there!). And how about the new craze of going down slip roads at 35-40 mph in order to join a road travelling at 60-70 mph on the driving lane? How many of these have you seen go straight across to the middle? Good luck and please do print my views on your page."

Paul Ridley.

January 29th,2002. "I write to you firstly to congratulate you on an excellent campaign and website. Secondly, I thought I'd share my thoughts with you on the subject of learners, or new drivers, and their ability to cope with motorway driving. I write from my own experience. I remember, many weeks into my course of driving lessons (BSM, Cambridge), that I went onto dual carriageway for a few miles to get the experience in driving at higher speeds. Apart from learning to adjust to having to plan my actions well ahead, it also brought to my attention the need to concentrate more, and use my signals in plenty of time; I also used fifth gear for the first time. This was on a stretch of the A14 north of Cambridge. I remember how unnerving it was, although I coped all right. A few more goes and I was fine. Although I've held my licence since 1997, I haven't driven much (parents' car) and motorways are still stressful. Of course, there is no substitute for experience. Hence the 'knowledge gap' in motorway driving. This brings me to suggest that at least a reasonable compromise may be worked out. Namely, at present learners are not allowed on motorways. OK. But there are at least as many miles, if not more, of motorway-standard A-road in the country, where NSL of 70mph and lane discipline apply, and there are grade junctions. If every driving course stipulated that the learner must have some experience of such roads, the more the better, then the eventual transition, post-test, to motorways would not be so sharp. More importantly though, bad habits would not (be allowed to) develop whilst driving under instruction. From what I can tell, bad driving habits are probably the main cause of 'motorway madness'. Now of course I benefited from having fast roads very near to where I lived. There are others--not many--who are not so fortunate. Yet by stating this I risk treading in Lord Whitty's footsteps: brushing the real issue aside by saying that there aren't enough motorways (read: motorway-standard A-roads)... so I won't, and I reiterate that as-near-as-possible motorway experience on quality dualled A-roads can and should be gained as part of a standard course of driving. As for the driving test itself, I can't comment. Maybe stipulating some fast driving on a suitable stretch of road would take the test unacceptably past its current 25-30 min. duration. On a side issue, most drivers, if they have space, move into the middle or outside lanes in anticipation of a merging slip road. This is common sense, and common courtesy. Yet is not part of the Highway Code, to my knowledge. Such a simple rule should be embodied in the next revision of the Code. A related point would be to stress that the outside lane is for overtaking, not cruising. However, this last point has all but been forgotten by the majority of drivers it seems."

Paul Berry, Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

November 15th,2001. "In my job, which I love very much, I and my work mates get to see far more than the average motorist during the course of our shifts. We get verbal abuse from many motorists and also we get hit by passing vehicles, all because people have no time for anything these days. Far too many motorists drive with tunnel vision not looking any further than the end of the bonnet, and when they do see us it can be far too late to avoid us despite the fact that we have very bright flashing beacons. We are the countries Breakdown and Recovery Services. We are the people that see the carnage left over from insecure loads, tailgaters, speeders, drunks and go faster boy and girl racers. We have to pull the cars with body bits from lakes, hedges and the like. So please will motorists give us room to work when we are recovering a stricken vehicle from the hard shoulder, and remember that a flashing orange beacon does not always mean there are road works ahead. Just take 2 seconds to look a little further ahead and remember that one day you may need us, and we do have the right to a life and our families."

Nigel Couldwell, Recovery Operative.

July 6th,2000. "I fully endorse all your comments on the need for motorway training, a need that over time can only increase as does the amount of traffic using our motorway systems. We endeavour to encourage all our pupils to take motorway training, sadly only a small percentage decide to take the training available to them. Until the day motorway training is made part of the driving syllabus I fear this is a trend that will continue."

Sue Newbon, ADI

March 24th,2000. "I read with interest your email, especially as a recently retired Motorway Police officer from the Lancashire Constabulary. I worked on the motorway for the best part of nine years and before that, most of my service on the traffic side of policing. It never ceased to amaze me throughout my time on the motorway the replies we used to get as to the poor lane discipline or any other senseless manoeuvres that used to be witnessed. I was involved in the plain camera car in our force area and was in fact the group training officer for that vehicle for a while. It was only when presented with the video evidence of their misdemeanours that drivers actually realised that they may have been a hazard to other road users, before that most would consider the other person or someone else to be the danger. I agree completely that training is the only solution to the problems encountered on the motorway, and mere questions by a driving examiner at the time of taking the test is totally unsatisfactory. Anyone can study and come up with the right answers in a theoretic examination, but try to put it into practice is another ball game altogether. It is quite apparent that these people in positions of so called power have never had to deal with the consequences of the ignorance of drivers on the motorway and the resulting chaos and heartache that their shortcomings as drivers can cause. On many occasions I saw cases where bad driving could have resulted in serious situations, many times I would stop and point out the problems that may come their way as a result of what they had just done. More often than not it was either a blank expression or denial that they could be so dangerous. One began to feel that one was p-----g in the wind so to speak. Police officers on their own cannot save the proverbial day, it needs to be Government and legislation. For example, I and many of my ex-colleagues believed that it ought to be a fixed penalty offence for not returning to the nearside lane after an overtaking manoeuvre. [We wholeheartedly agree! - L2L] We feel this is one of the main causes of traffic congestion on the motorway, everyone thinks that they are travelling faster than the driver in front so want to make that bit more progress before pulling over. Rubbish, they are just closing the gaps between themselves so as not to lose position, which increases the danger as there is no safe distance now between the vehicles. That is one of the many problems faced out there and I do not intend to get on a soap box and preach to the converted. I wish you all the best in your efforts."

Mike Chalmers.

February 4th,2000. "I'm contacting you from Roundabout Driving School in Surrey to endorse your initiative. We find that more and more people are using the internet to find a school but that there still is a very low percentage of new drivers using the Pass Plus Course for their Motorway Training. Despite the discounted insurance, compulsory motorway tuition would be the best solution. Keep up the good work."

David Barrett.

February 3rd,2000. "I also wrote to my MP, Tony Baldry, about this issue, among many other issues regarding transport. He forwarded my letter to Lord Whitty who replied: "Mr. Davey believes there should be a separate test following further training to cover areas such as motorway driving and the driving of powerful cars. There are substantial practical obstacles to including motorway driving in the test as less than half the present network of test centres are within easy reach of motorways. The safety record of motorways is better than that of other roads. It is doubtful that there would be sufficient benefits in road safety terms to justify changing the present system. However, following the recent changes to the driving test, there is more time for general driving including on higher speed roads. Although learner drivers and riders are prohibited from motorways, we consider it important that approved driving instructors cover knowledge of motorway driving within their tuition and all learner drivers are advised to take tuition on motorway driving after passing their test." So there you have it. Appalling."

Jeremy C.R. Davey.

December 30th,1999. "I have long felt that the DSA driving test does not set relevant standards. The absence of any motorway driving is only one of the ways in which the format of the test is completely out of date; after all, it has hardly changed since it was set up in the days when the most important driving skill was to be able to operate some really quite difficult mechanical controls whilst manoeuvring between an assortment of horse-drawn vehicles. The skills which are needed for safe motorway driving are no different from the skills which are needed in town (good anticipation and planning, maintaining a safe space, good all-round and long distance observation etc.) - it's just the timing and the priorities, and the speed, which is different. In many ways, motorway driving is actually simpler than town driving because there are fewer possibilities to prepare for. Here in Milton Keynes we have a long stretch of dual carriageway with slip roads on and off just like a motorway but with only two lanes. When I was an ADI, I found it very useful to take pupils along there not only because it was the nearest I could get to motorway training, but because it was one of the few driving environments where you could finish making a teaching point before the situation had totally changed! The public highway is probably about the worst possible place for beginners to learn to drive. It is rather like giving a child a flute, showing him or her where the finger holes are, and then putting them on stage with a professional orchestra! If you're still alive at the end of the concert, the DSA will probably give you a driving licence which will last you for the rest of your life."

Kevin Alder.

November 6th,1999. "I live in Switzerland (Autobahn speed limit 120 kph). Learners are not only allowed on the Autobahns, they drive on them - under instruction - as part of their driving lessons. With the difficult Swiss driving test, written and practical as only recently adopted in the UK, one would therefore assume that driving standards here are higher than in the UK. This is debatable and if you look at the statistics, the Swiss accident rate is actually higher than the UK's (per driver mile). Much has to do with driver temperament, which cannot be taught. Just a thought..."

Paul Bilton.

September 25th, 1999. "Regarding the two questions printed on page 5 of October's issue of Newslink, Q1.No Q2.Yes.
I live in Sevenoaks, on the edge of the M25. In order to travel almost anywhere locally, one has to take either the A21 (two lanes), M25, M26, M20 or M2. I have been an ADI in Sevenoaks for 3½ years. In my opinion, only newly qualified drivers who could actually probably cope without it, ever take up the offer of motorway lessons with me. I offer two hours, taking in the M25, through the Dartford Tunnel, parking in Lakeside Shopping Centre, back over the Dartford Crossing Bridge, on to the next service station, off at the next exit and then back on again home to Sevenoaks, incorporating the awful "split" on the M25 for Sevenoaks, (when the motorway exits to the left and the A21 exit is in the right hand lane of three). I have personally stood in the garden of an ex-pupil, hours before his test, (which he passed later that day), when he informed his mother that if he passed on the day in question he was going to drive to Lakeside, which would mean driving on the M25, through the Dartford Tunnel Crossing, and returning using the above mentioned split, non of which he had never driven before. His mother looked to me for advice. I informed both of them that if he was my son, I would take away the keys. He passed, he drove on the motorway that evening and lived to gloat. I, on the other hand taught my own daughter to drive, and did not allow her on the motorways here until she had had 6 months experience generally. Our first trip together almost made her cry with fear on the M25. I consider her to be a very good competent driver (after all, I taught her!). Friday last, I drove myself to Bluewater Shopping Centre, via the M25 and A2. The signs for Bluewater are very ambiguous, the lane markings on the three lane roundabouts are inconsistent which leaves one in the wrong lane on the roundabout, and on the two lane slip road down on to the A2 a situation developed which made ME uncomfortable, let alone a novice. It look all my 30 years of driving experience to cope well with it. I am all in favour of your campaign, and agree wholeheartedly with it."

Lindsay Sharp, ADI

September 23rd,1999. "My wife and I are both "class1" truck drivers, and are appalled by the standards that we are forced to witness each day. So many drivers have to be "front of the queue" and tailgate the car in front that it is amazing how few accidents follow this reckless and wanton behaviour! The problem as we see it is; in today's society, everything has to be INSTANT! People are always in a rush to get anywhere, and do not care who they affect. We will soon be leaving our trucks behind and joining the ranks of Driving Instructors (cars not trucks) and it has been a desire since we decided to take this step to promote road safety. We are therefore delighted to add our voices to your own and wish you every success in the future. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!"

Anthea & Dave Simpson.

September 21st,1999. "As a teacher of Learner Drivers I find it unacceptable that someone can pass their driving test and then drive on a motorway without any additional training whatsoever. Living near a motorway network around the Merseyside area, I try to encourage extra lessons on the motorway when the driving test has been passed. The Pass Plus scheme appears only to attract those who are trying to save money on their insurance premium. I find Pass Plus is really used as a safety factor. Compulsory motorway tuition is the only safe way. Fingers crossed, let's hope all the hard work at 'Learn-2-Live' pays off this time."

Ray Williams, ADI

September 7th,1999. "Received your E-mail and have looked at your Web Page. I agree with the campaign and I am quite willing to put my vote in favour. I am based in Wakefield, West Yorks, which is at the heart of the M1/M62 Motorways. I am a Driving Instructor which is how you found me through AOL Member Services I presume. My own figures of drivers taking Motorway lessons after passing the Driving Test is 2 out of 35 for this year to date. All pupils passing are advised and offered Motorway lessons but only a handful ever bother. Speaking to other Instructors they tell me the same story."

John Guest, ADI

1999. "As a former Driving Examiner I try my hardest to encourage all my pupils to take motorway lessons on passing their test, but only a very small percentage actually take up the offer. Those who do all admit they have benefited greatly from the tuition, most stating they thought it was going to be a great deal easier, but every one was surprised by the need to concentrate 100% for the entire time. You have my wholehearted support for your campaign and hope you are successful."

C.W.Jones, ADI