Latest Driving News

Instructor: Alan Prestidge
Phone: 07778 126 599
Location:Banbury, Oxfordshire
Email:alan@ouralbert.com

Lord's plea for anonymity fails

A LORD who faces three counts of dangerous driving and had a warrant issued for his arrest has lost a battle to keep his identity a secret.

Charles Spencer-Churchill, the Marquess of Blandford and Duke of Marlborough's son, was due to face one count at Banbury Magistrates' Court last Tuesday (27), but failed to appear and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Read more - source: www.banburyguardian.co.uk

4 April 2007

Coroner warns of texting dangers

A CORONER has warned about the dangers of texting while driving, following the death of a young woman.

Marni Triggs, of Rousham Road, Tackley, died after her Peugeot 205 swerved into the path of a lorry.

The 21-year-old crashed while driving along the A4095 near Woodstock in August last year.

An inquest yesterday was told there was no obvious cause of the crash, as the car had no mechanical defects and driving conditions were good.

But Oxford Coroner Nicholas Gardiner heard evidence that Miss Triggs' phone had been receiving and sending text messages just before the crash.

'Terrier' on tail of lying speedsters

A BANBURY team is using the latest technology and a change in the law to catch speeding drivers trying to escape punishment.

PC Pat Knight, Thames Valley Police roads policing officer in charge of fixed penalty offences, has pioneered a new approach that is seeing offenders imprisoned, banned from driving and having their car seized and sold or crushed.

His team, based in Crouch Street, has started using the latest in face-recognition technology to expose people who falsely claim they were not driving the car at the time of the offence.

And its use of perjury laws and a change in magistrates' powers has seen cases dealt with quicker and more appropriate offences meted out.

Read more - source: www.banburyguardian.co.uk

12 October 2006

Driving test workers deny charges

Staff at a driving test centre in Derby have appeared in court accused of trying to award candidates fake pass certificates.

A number of employees at the centre in Mansfield Road are charged with dishonestly obtaining documents for people attempting the written test.

All denied the charges at Derby Crown Court and were granted bail until the trial in March.

The offences are alleged to have taken place in 2005.

Bad driving 'linked to hormones'

Spatial skills such as map reading and parking may be difficult for some women because they had too little testosterone in the womb.

Some men have long held that women are deficient in these skills.

Scientists from the University of Giessen, Germany, writing in the journal Intelligence found a lack of the hormone affects spatial ability.

Tough on phone toting drivers

Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander has confirmed that from February 27 drivers caught using a mobile phone will get three points on their license and a £60 fine, double the current £30.

Mr Alexander also stated that it was "impossible to do two things at once". Those of us who can chew and walk at the same time might be tempted to disagree, but driving and holding a phone does seem a challenge too far: in 2005, 13 people were killed, and 400 seriously injured, in vehicle accidents related to mobile phone use.

Read more - source: www.the register.co.uk

23 January 2007

Lady driver who had 'L' of a wait

A woman from Devon who finally passed her driving test after 23 years is now hoping to use her wealth of experience to help others.

Maria McCarthy from Sidmouth ripped up her L-plates after taking about 250 lessons, which cost her between £2,000 and £3,000.

The 42-year-old said getting her licence has given her a "badge of adulthood" and changed her life.

Criminal History Checks for PDIS and ADIS

In September's Despatch we outlined our early proposals for implementing criminal history checks for PDIs and ADIs. We can now give you more information about the process.

We have now decided, in consultation with the ADI industry, that the first check will be undertaken at the same time as an individual submits their application to start the qualifying process. This is the stage at which we currently undertake other "fit and proper" checks so that applicants do not waste time and money on training and testing only to find that they do not meet the eligibility criteria.

Criminal Record Checks

The press release - 'Driving Instructors may face criminal history checks' (19 October) - could be misinterpreted as implying CRB checks was the subject of the consultation. However, the proposal on which views are being sought is how the CRB checks will be financed.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON, LIKE DAUGHTER

A 23-YEAR-OLD woman has become the third generation in her family to become a driving instructor.

Michelle Witheyman, from Bognor Regis in West Sussex, is now a fully qualified ADI and works with her father Paul at the PDW Driving School.

Miss Witheyman passed her driving test just five months after her seventeenth birthday and began training as an ADI with her father as soon as she was legally allowed.