Recent Test Passes

Mike Gallafent, Anthony Broadrick, Alan Dockree, James Crust and Nigel Joslin.

Congratulations to Mike Gallafent, Anthony Broadrick, Alan Dockree, James Crust, Nigel Joslin who have passed their test within the last month.

When receiving his certificate from Deputy Chairman, Max Power, Nigel thanked all observers who had given up their time to coach him. But he particularly praised the whole Mid Kent Group who, under the excellent chairman Linda Davis, were making such a difference to road safety. "I appreciate you are all giving up your time to improve driving standards throughout the country."
Anthony said he was impressed with how the group communicates with its associates. "The emails are all clear, just excellent," he said.
Mike thanked Graham Aylard, particularly, who had given up so much time for him on our Alternative Course. He said he had been thinking of doing the IAM course for 30 years but is glad he has now taken the plunge. Alan praised Jill Taylor for "really putting me through my paces on estate roads to make sure I got The System correct."

Congratulation to all.

David Hill, Margaret Robertson and Stephen Poile

Also pictured are David Hill, Margaret Robertson and Steve Poile who recently have passed their National Observer tests.

Congratulations to our observers.

Test pass congratulations

Well done to Marie Newnham who receives her pass certificate from Examiner Lester Parsons

and also Charles Darley who receives his F1rst certificate from Lester Parsons too

 

Congratulations to Marie & Charles from everyone at Mid Kent

Younger drivers

There's nothing that terrified me more than when I first started to drive. I know I could have benefitted quite a bit from advice like this – so I hope you find it useful. And as for the experienced motorists – well, we all need a reminder every now and then!

As a young driver, shopping for car insurance can be a stressful task – you're likely to be faced with many unaffordable insurance quotes. Use comparison sites to shop around, and consider having a telematics box fitted to bring your premiums down. Further driver training will also bring costs down.

As part of learning to drive, it's likely that you will have been taught how to do basic checks on your vehicle – tyre tread and pressure, fluid levels, lights, and mirrors and windows. It's important that you spend a few minutes each week doing each of these checks in order to avoid a breakdown and drive safely.

The law states that you are allowed up to 80mg of alcohol per 100mg of blood before you are over the drink-drive limit. However, it's impossible to judge how much you can drink and still be under the limit – so make it none for the road. And beware the morning-after effect – there may still be enough alcohol in your system to land you with a conviction for drink-driving.

It's inevitable that once you pass your test you'll be expected to taxi about groups of your friends. But passengers are known to be one of the greatest and most disruptive in-car distractions. Make sure you keep your concentration on the road, rather than those in the passenger seats.

Learner drivers are currently not allowed on the motorway. This means that once they pass, they are faced with the often daunting task of driving on high-speed, unfamiliar roads. But there is no need to be anxious – motorways are statistically our safest roads, and the skills you learned to pass your test will equip you to take them on. Remember to check your mirrors more regularly and leave a minimum two second gap between yourself and the car in front

Speeding driver leads police to cannabis farm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A driver who set fire to a speed camera in an attempt to avoid a driving ban inadvertently alerted police to a cannabis farm in his basement.

Adrian Smith was snapped by a fixed roadside speed camera on the A57 near Dunham Bridge, Lincolnshire, in February.

The nightclub bouncer mistakenly believed he would receive six points for being 8mph over the 60mph limit, and feared that would result in him losing his licence due to previous endorsements.

Instead of waiting for a speeding ticket to arrive in the post, Smith returned to the speed camera the following day and set fire to it using petrol and old tyres, causing around £24,000 worth of damage.

Unfortunately for him, his actions were caught on a separate speed camera, which led police straight to his door. It was then that they discovered that Smith had been growing cannabis on a large scale in his basement.

Smith was sentenced to two years in prison after admitting arson and cannabis cultivation with intent to supply, at Lincoln Crown Court.

Handing down his sentence, Judge Sean Morris said: "You are not the first person to stand before me for setting fire to a speed camera. People need to know that anyone who does that will go to prison,"

"These speed cameras save lives. They moderate people's driving. This county has the worst roads in England for death and serious injury. That is why we have so many speed cameras.

"People who set fire to speed cameras must realise the consequences are a hundred times worse than taking the fine. A custodial sentence is inevitable."

Lorry rural speed limit to rise to 50mph

HGV drivers will no longer be restricted to 40mph on single-carriageway country lanes, under new plans announced by Government.

Ministers today announced that they were bringing an end to decades-old legislation, which would allow lorries to travel at speeds of up to 50mph, in line with most other European nations.

The move is an attempt to reduce congestion in rural areas, and also to reduce the likelihood of drivers performing dangerous overtaking manouevres in frustration or being held up by slow moving vehicles.

The Government is also considering whether to raise the dual-carriageway speed limit for lorries from 50mph to 60mph.

The increased speed limit is expected to save haulage companies an estimated £11million each year.

Claire Perry, the new transport minister, said: "We are doing all we can to get Britain moving and boost growth. This change will do exactly that and save our haulage industry millions a year," 
"Britain has one of the world's best road safety records and yet speed limits for lorries have been stuck in the 1960s.

"This change will remove a 20mph difference between lorry and car speed limits, cutting dangerous overtaking and bringing permitted lorry speeds into line with other large vehicles like coaches and caravans.

"Current speed limits for HGVs were introduced around 50 years ago and need to be updated given improved vehicle technology."

Do you think the raised speed limit for lorries on rural roads will benefit road safety? 

Come fly with glee

It's that time of the year which some parents dread. It's the summer holidays. That's right. Six weeks of constant entertainment for the kids. While the mere thought might fill the average parent with terror, the rest of us may enviously look wishing we had six weeks off from our daily routine.

Alas, there is some good news that comes with the school holidays (apart from the quieter roads), that is – you guessed it – a summer holiday. So this year, as you prepare to drive to the airport – as well as making the usual checks for your passport, travel insurance, plane ticket, spare some time to check your vehicle is ready for the journey too. Remember, a little preparation goes a long way.

You should do a thorough check of your vehicle before the big day, including fluid levels, tyres, mirrors and windows – you'll be on a tight schedule on the day, so the last thing you need is a breakdown.

Make sure you pack your luggage packed into the boot of your vehicle. If you do need to put some belongings on the back seats, make sure they do not obstruct your view out of the rear window and secure them in place before setting off.

Leave in plenty of time – if you feel rushed on your way to the airport then you are likely to make silly mistakes or even creep over the speed limit.

Plan your route to the airport the day before, and check travel reports for any disruption or road closures before you set off.

Make sure you get plenty of sleep the night before you travel to ensure you're alert from the very beginning of the journey. And if you have to travel a good distance to get to the airport, leave enough time to schedule in a rest stop to fight the onset of fatigue.

When parking up at the airport, try to find an area which is not too crowded – the fewer cars around you, the less chance there is of someone clipping your vehicle with their luggage. Nobody wants to return from a relaxing holiday to a damaged vehicle.

The last thing you need on the day you start your holiday is unwanted stress from a lack of preparation and a shortage of time. Preparing yourself and your vehicle before the big day and setting off nice and early will remove the obstacles to you taking full advantage of Duty Free.

 Enjoy your holiday

Council agrees to pay back £1.8m in fines

York City Council has agreed to pay back more than £1.8million after an independent review found fines generated by restricting access to a bridge may have been unlawful.

Around 60,000 motorists were hit with penalty notices after crossing Lendal Bridge in the city, after controversial traffic calming measures were introduced last year.

The Council, which defended the restrictions as necessary to resolve traffic issues in the area, is now deciding on a process through which motorists can claim back money paid in fines.

Councillor David Levene said: "Whilst the trial achieved some of its aims, it had become too polarising an issue, requiring too much resource, and so detracting from other necessary transport policies," reported the Daily Mail.

He went on to say that refunds would not be volunteered and that motorists would have to apply for them:

"An application will have to be made for refunds to be given as 'a statement of goodwill' and will not be volunteered as that would legally say the scheme was wrong."

The debacle has led to call for the Council's leader to resign. Cllr Keith Aspden, leader of York's Liberal Democrats, told the Daily Mail: "The closure of Lendal Bridge was botched from start to finish and has done deep reputational damage to York," referring to the large proportion of tourists who were subject to penalties, making up around 80 per cent of those fined.