learning to drive in Somerset

Test fees.

2010-06-08T08:37:00.000+01:00

Length of tests and test prices won't change when independent #driving is introduced.

Independent driving from October 2010.

2010-06-06T10:40:00.008+01:00

Independent driving will be included in the driving test from October 2010.

Candidates will be asked to drive for a period of about ten minutes by following direction signs and road markings without instruction from the examiner.

Please use the link on the main web site to view the DSA official video.

http://www.kelvinwhitedrivingschool.co.uk/view/6

The passes keep coming.

2010-06-04T14:28:00.002+01:00

The passes keep coming with 12 passes in just 9 days.

Special praise for STAR driver Scott Webber who passed at the first attempt with a FAUTLESS drive.

You can all enjoy the joys of independent driving and the June sunshine for cruising.

Congratulations to all concerned.

Test booking site's

2010-05-21T08:07:00.002+01:00

Beware of unnoficial test booking site's.

The cost of the theory test is £31.00

The cost of the practical test is £62.00

DO NOT PAY ANYMORE THAN THIS.

Use the official DSA test booking site at http://bit.ly/DSA-bookings
OR use the link on our test booking page.

Grade six trainer.

2010-05-21T07:20:00.002+01:00

Last week 11th May was our bi annual O.R.D.I.T. assessment and pleased to announce that during the check test of ability to provde driving instructor training a maximum score of 14 sixes were recorded.This is the highest score that can be recorded and it's great to know that the service we supply to the general public is of the highest standard.

8 Practical Passes in just Five days.

2010-05-21T07:10:00.003+01:00

Lots of hard work has paid off for eight of our student's.We are delighted that we have produced eight new full licence holder's in the last 5 days.What a great time to pass your driving test with a spell of hot summer weather it's time to go cruising.

Congratulations to the following:

Emily Elson
Aaron Carter
Colin Mathews
Abi George
Ollie Biddulph
Liam Bowden
Daniel Case

STAR DRIVER Mark Wardle Passed with NO FAULTS.

Londoners rated as the worst learner drivers

2010-04-19T08:37:00.001+01:00

Londoners rated as the worst learner drivers

Learners located in London and South East England need more attempts at the driving test to pass compared to every other part of Britain, based on a new survey by the AA.

An overall total of 20,109 people responded to the survey, which revealed that Londoners sat the test on average 2.09 times, while those in the south east needed 2.11 tests, which is five percent worse compared to UK average.

Simon Douglas, the AA Driving School director, said: "Busy, complex roads in London and the South-east appear to contribute to learners there finding it slightly more challenging."

Drivers in the east of England returned the best result, taking just 1.9 attempts to pass. They were closely followed by the North East, Yorkshire & Humberside and the East Midlands.

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is quoted as saying that those who have passed their test have had 45 hours of professional training and 22 hours of private practice - on average.

Douglas sums up the findings: "Many factors shape local pass rates. But, wherever you reside, professional tuition using a fully-qualified driving instructor will give you the best possible head start towards passing your L-test and beyond."

The full league table is below:

East of England 1.87

Yorkshire & Humberside 1.91

North-east of England 1.91

East Midlands 1.92

Scotland 1.97

South-west of England 1.97

West Midlands 1.98

Wales 2.02

North-west of England 2.03

Northern Ireland 2.03

London 2.09

South-east of England 2.11

New driver insurance guide.

2010-04-15T12:27:00.001+01:00

If you’ve recently passed your test and tried searching looking for insurance, you’ve probably already discovered how expensive insurance for inexperienced drivers can be.

Motor insurance for first time or young drivers can be expensive enough, but with reason. Moneysupermarket.com says: “There are several reasons why younger drivers pay more for their car insurance.

These include:

Drivers are statistically more likely to have an accident in the first two years after passing their test than at any other time. One in five drivers will have a crash in within their first year on the road.

A third of fatalities on UK roads are caused by young drivers aged 17 to 25.

Young drivers also experience more theft, fire and vandalism to their vehicles, which contributes to more claims on their car insurance.

Young drivers are more inclined to be ferrying around a vehicle} full of friends and for that reason face a much greater risk of being involved in an accident than somebody that just uses their car to nip out to the shops mid-afternoon.”

It may seem like the odds are stacked against you somewhat, but by following a few of the tips below, you can save a packet on your young drivers insurance.

Buy a Low Powered Car.

Unfortunately, engine size is one is probably one of the biggest factors with regards to the price of your premium whatever your age, a car with a smaller engine will always be cheaper to insure than a big one. Search for cars in as low an insurance group as you possibly can in order to acquire the least expensive policy.

Take a Pass plus Course

This course is designed to teach recently passed drivers a few advanced driving techniques that could make them better and safer drivers. Many companies offer cheaper car insurance for first time drivers who have completed a pass plus course, up to 35% in some instances. There isn’t a test at the conclusion of the course and it takes only six hours to complete, so for those sorts of savings it’s a bargain!

Great news if you live in Somerset,in addition to any savings on insurance you can attend a 2 hour attitude and behaviour workshop completely FREE of charge.They are held every month in Bridgwater,Taunton and Yeovil and Somerset road safety partnership will provide you with a £60.00 grant towards the cost of your pass plus course.See main web site for dates and venues.

Try a Multi-Car Policy

If you still live with your parents, it could be worth contacting their insurance providers – some companies offer heavy discounts on multiple cars within the same household, providing a budget car insurance many new drivers would like.

Policies with Restrictions

Some policies offer cheaper premiums at the expense of adding certain restrictions to them – not driving within certain hours of the night, for instance, or paying on a ‘per mile’ basis. Obviously, these might not be of use to everyone, but if you don't use your vehicle during the night time or only travel short distances, policies such as these can help you save significant amounts of money.

Consider Your Excess

The larger your excess, the cheaper your insurance is going to be – this is true of all policies, whether or not you are a new driver or not. However, you need to consider whether you are able to pay this should you have a crash– could you afford to pay a £600 excess after a nasty accident?

Keep it Stock

It’s another sad truth, but induction kits, spoilers, flared arches and the rest all add to your insurance premium – anything that adds value, performance or desirability to the vehicle will probably make that cheap car insurance quote more expensive, although different insurers treat modifications differently.

Add a Named Driver

Adding a mature and more experienced driver to your policy can decrease your premium quite substantially – this really is often one of the better options for cheap car insurance for new drivers. Don't let yourself be tempted to put yourself as a named driver on another person’s policy if you are the main user though; this is called ‘fronting’ and could result in the younger driver being convicted of fraud.

Obviously, it’s is best to check around – Moneysupermarket.com compare a massive amount of insurance firms, and can assist you to find the most effective possible deal for you quickly and easily.

Beware when buying second hand cars.

2010-03-19T06:57:00.000Z

Consumers are paying an average of £425 each to fix faults with second-hand cars that are the dealer's responsibility to correct. A study by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) also found that many dealers are using illegal disclaimers like 'No Refund'. Make sure you know your rights when buying a second-hand cars.

Click here for full story.

http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTc1MjM1MyZtZXNzYWdlaWQ9UFJELUJVTC03NTIzNTMmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xMjE1NzE4MDc1JmVtYWlsaWQ9a2Vsdmlud2hpdGVAa2Vsdmlud2hpdGVkcml2aW5nc2Nob29sLm9yZyZ1c2VyaWQ9a2Vsdmlud2hpdGVAa2Vsdmlud2hpdGVkcml2aW5nc2Nob29sLm9yZyZleHRyYT0mJiY=&&&100&&&http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_186525

Instructor on test.

2010-03-18T13:20:00.001Z

DT1 changes for observer on test
Observer on test for category B (car) practical tests will be implemented on 6 April 2010. This will need changes to how the examiner administers part of the test.
The DT1 - the standard operating procedure that examiners follow - has been updated to reflect these changes.
View the DT1 (PDF, 780Kb)
Here’s the procedure that will be used from 6 April 2010:
In the waiting room:
The examiner will ask, ‘Would you like your instructor/accompanying driver to accompany you on the test and be there for the result and end of test feedback?’.
If the customer says ‘no’, the examiner will ask, ‘Would you like your instructor/accompanying driver to be there at the end of test for the feedback?
‘Thank you, will you lead the way to your car please.’
End of test - pass and fail
The examiner will say, ‘Please switch off the engine and give me a moment to complete my paperwork.’
If the test was not accompanied and the instructor/accompanying driver comes over to the vehicle to listen to the conclusion of the test, the examiner will confirm with the customer that they want their instructor/accompanying driver present.

New weekly quiz

2010-02-08T20:29:00.001Z

Visit "the learning to drive in Somerset group" on Facebook and win weekly prizes.

FREE accident Insurance

2010-01-08T09:05:00.002Z

A car crash can mean weeks off the road while insurance companies thrash out the details.

We can supply a replacement car and repairs through our driving school insurers completely FREE of charge with no string attached.

We are delighted to have completed the deal for 2010 and can offer the service to ANYONE (you do need to be a customer)If you have 3rd party insurance and are involved in a non fault crash ,simply call our customer services number 0800 612 7251 with brief details of the crash and we will pass your details to our insurance partners for swift action.

A flying start to the new year

2010-01-07T07:21:00.002Z

I would just like to take the opportunity to wish all of our current and future customers a very happy new year.

If your new year's resolution is to become a full licence holder,then we look forward to making that become a reality.

Since starting back to work on the 4th January the call centre has been inundated with bookings and enquiries,lesson availability is being snapped up very quickly but with several tests in January we still expect to be able to offer a reasonable selection of dates.

A Very Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T16:49:00.002Z

A very merry Christmas to all of our customers.

We would like to thank you all for your custom and for choosing us as your training provider.

Congratulations if you have become full licence holders during 2009 and

those of you that are still learning ,I am sure that 2010 will be a year to remember.

Kelvin White,

Director.

Christmas lesson vouchers.

2009-12-21T17:30:00.002Z

Just one day left to send out Christmas lesson vouchers.

Last posting Tuesday 22nd.

The passes keep coming.

2009-11-27T18:35:00.004Z

Five tests this week and five 1st time passes.

Congratulations to those that now have their full licences.

Elliot Butler

Sarah Shaw

Jade Foxwell

Alana Reed Fry

Megan Cole

I would also like to thank our Instructors for their hard work and who make it a real team effort.

Fautless drive

2009-11-26T19:38:00.002Z

Congratulations to Eliot Butler who performed a faultless drive during his driving test today 16/11/09.

It was Eliot's 1st attempt and he breezed through to gain his full licence.

Eliot's instructor Fred Hemmings is very proud of the achievement and would like to wish him best wishes for the future.

Eliot joins Aaron Mogg,who achieved the same result just two weeks ago.

Thanks to the instructors involved and the hard work by Eliot and Aaron we remain the PASS MASTERS.

Congratulations to Jade Foxwell

2009-11-26T10:44:00.002Z

Jade Foxwell passed her practical driving test at the first attempt on 25/11/09.

A superb drive by Jade with just a few driver faults,best wishes Phil and all at the school.

3 More passes this week

2009-11-21T06:59:00.002Z

Passes are coming thick and fast at the moment .

Congratulations to the following for gaining their full licences in the last week.

Nick May

Natalie Taylor

Joe Houlihan

Congratulations to Natalie Taylor

2009-11-19T08:34:00.002Z

Congratulations to Natalie Taylor who passed her practical test on 18/11/09.

Best wishes from Keith and all at the driving school.

Learner drivers have a right to know.

2009-11-17T19:07:00.002Z

Ninety-seven percent of AA members say learner drivers should have the right to be told if their driving instructor is still learning the job,according a recent survey.

The AA is demanding government action to force driving schools to come clean when they use trainee instructors to teach young people to drive.

The call comes as the survey reveals that motorists have serious concernes over the safety of new drivers that have been taught by trainee instructors and the overwhelming rejection of the practice of driving schools charging full price for lessons with a trainee.

Up to 7,000 trainees are believed to be working with driving schools across the U.K. Driving schools can place a learner with a trainee instructor and charge full lesson prices without telling the pupil or their parents that the instructor is not fully qualified.

Congratulations to Joe Houlihan

2009-11-17T15:15:00.002Z

Congratulations to Joe Houlihan who passed his practical test at the first attempt on 17th November.

Joe will soon be driving the 1983 mini that he is restoring with his dad,but until then he will have to make do with mum's Ford Ka.

"Good times"

Best wishes and good luck for the future ,Lee.

7 practical test passes this week.

2009-11-13T11:18:00.002Z

We are delighted to report 7 successes this week.

Role of honour:

Aaron Mogg
Alex Keirle
Joe Harding
Simon Richards
Tom Lewis
Nikita Mosedale
Steve Chillingworth (instructor part two test)

Best wishes from all at the driving school.

Attitude Advisor Questionnaire

2009-11-12T15:19:00.005Z

The driving standards agency are currently trialing an attitude test with a view to making an assessment of new drivers.

It has to be stressed that this is very much in the early stages and feedback is most welcome.

It is likely to be some considerable time before any such scheme is introduced.

Simply click the link to take the test.http://opinio.sigmer.net/opinio/s?s=4003

Let us know how you get on.

Pass plus workshop

2009-11-12T09:23:00.001Z

I have just received the attendance list for tonight's workshop and it would seem to be another healthy turnout.

Remember all those that turn up will gain credits towards MAX CONTROL.

Alex becomes the 300th.

2009-11-11T17:43:00.003Z

Congratulations to Alex Keirle who passed his practical test at the first attempt on 11/11/09.

Alex had a lot to live up to ,as sister Leanne also passed 1st time with the school.

Alex already has a Vauxhall Corsa and will now be out burning up the miles I'm sure.

The test pass proved to be a mile stone for the driving school as it was the 300th since the school was formed back in 2001.

Best wishes for the future , Keith.

Ask a question!

2009-11-11T17:36:00.002Z

Learning to drive in Somerset,something holding you back,lack of progress?

Post a question and I will do my best to help.

I am not here to condradict your instructor, if you have one ,but I may be able to help.

We have just had our 300th test pass,so we no what it take to succeed,tell me what's on your mind and make progress with your driving.

Aaron is the star driver.

2009-11-11T16:07:00.000Z

We could not have picked a better time to launch the driving school daily report.

Tuesday 10th November and we presented four clients at the test centre and it proved to be a good start to the week with four passes.

Special praise must go to Aaron Mogg who passed on his 1st attempt and delivered a faultless drive,a very rare occurrence with today's very high test standards.

Aaron who is training to be a caterer at SCAT college in Taunton can now give the bus a miss and travel at his leisure.

Best wishes for the future, Lee.