The famous Goodwood Motor Circuit as launched an innovative pre-learner driver programme, uniquely focused on teaching sub-17 year-old trainee drivers controlled, safe and secure driving skills; so that they are fully prepared and equipped to deal with today’s demanding public roads and driving conditions.

This new ‘Mini Drivers @ Goodwood’ youth driver training programme will be unique in using a genuine race track as its dedicated base, with fleet of brand new Mini One models fitted with dual controls to teach young drivers the essential skills of safe driving and considerate road craft. The fleet of eight ‘edgy’ new Mini One models are being provided to Goodwood by Mini UK Limited.

Teach young, first-time drivers the essentials

They will be used to teach young first-time drivers the essentials of what makes a vehicle work, before moving on to some hands-on experience manoeuvring the car around the Goodwood circuit under expert tuition from a trained driving professional. As the young drivers progress through the courses at Goodwood, they will move from automatic Minis to manual-equipped cars, with a progressive training schedule that will take the student from the basics, right through to passing his or her mock driving test theory exam.

Along the way they will have huge fun, but also learn many important live saving skills, including being taught the risks of driving too fast, the dangers of drink driving, having unruly passengers, plus the essentials of good vehicle maintenance and driving on public roads once 17 years of age.

Insurance discounts

After running the full course and passing their driving test, Goodwood intends that participating students will qualify for insurance discounts; the savings of which should more than cover the costs of the full Mini Drivers @ Goodwood training schedule.

The programme launches in August this year with a series of three introductory experiences priced at £99 each. Young people complete these modules in dual-control Mini One models. Gift vouchers will also be available for the Goodwood training so that parents, grandparents, guardians and friends can treat their significant young loved ones life-long safe and secure driving skills. Any child reaching a minimum height of 1:5m (4ft 9”) can participate, up to the age of 18.

Goodwood has also secured the support of ground breaking on-line learner & pre-learner education organisation a²om (Alpha to Omega Motoring, and pronounced ‘atom’, www.a2om.com). The company was founded to teach young people that they “drive with their minds and not just their hands and feet” and use highly interactive software to get the message across. a²om has modified its existing course and developed a programme to sit alongside the Goodwood training modules, which will be offered to the young drivers.

Mini Drivers @ Goodwood launches in August this year, but young people will also have the opportunity to try out the cars on a special driving route during this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, 2-4 July.

Book now

For all Mini Drivers bookings and more information, please contact the Goodwood Motor Circuit Mini Driver hotline:

Telephone: +44 (0)1243 755060

Email: minidrivers@goodwood.com

Book on-line: www.goodwood.com/minidrivers.

This quick comparison is based on Key Facts and policy documents available on Collingwood Learners and Provisional Marmalade web sites on 10th May 2010.

You should also always check the facts and the exact wording of the policy document to ensure that it is suitable for you.

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More about the DSA Driving Theory Test?

Theory test questions

The driving Theory Test is split into two parts, hazard perception test and theory questions. Theory questions are a series of 50 multiple choice questions of which a minimum of 43 must be answered correctly in order to pass.

These questions are randomly picked from a pool of 964 questions covering the 14 different subject areas you are required to know.

Practice questions and mock theory test

Once you are logged in you have a choice to practice your questions or take a mock test. In the practice section you can choose from 3 grades of difficulty (easy, medium and hard). This is to help assess your knowledge and progress as you work your way through the bank of questions. You also are able to re-sit questions that you have previously answered incorrectly.

The mock test is a simulation of the actual questions you will be asked in your Theory Test. Once registered with OnlineTheoryTests you will have the ability to re-take the mock tests and practice the questions as many times as you like.

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OnlineTheoryTests.co.uk allows you to pick and mix your questions. We have the complete set of 964 questions which are exactly the same as the ones on the theory test set by the DSA.

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Online Theory Tests Personal Feedback Dashboard

DSA’s information can be found at www.direct.gov.uk/Motoring.

In FirstTimeDriver’s spring 2010 Young Driver Insurance price guide, Quinn Direct came out consistently as the lowest cost provider for first year insurance for newly qualified drivers. But with Quinn unable to write any new business (except provisional driver cover) we have rerun the research using the leading insurance comparison sites Comparethemarket.com and GoCompare.com to see what the best deals available now are. We were shocked to see massive increases in premiums over those previously quoted; for example:

Premiums for young female drivers are also up around 40% on those previously quoted by Quinn.

It’s not only 1^st year premiums that have dramatically increased. Previously a young driver with a good first year driving record and no claims could expect to see their insurance on a Vauxhall Corsa drop around £1000 to around £783 for third party fire and theft cover. The best quote we could get yesterday for an equivalent risk was not £1,710 – almost £1000 more!

First Time Driver researcher Ben (my 17 year old son) is learning to drive in a Y reg. diesel Ford Mondeo. The plan was that he can use this to get to college and work once he passed his driving test. Previously with Quinn we had been quoted about £1700 third party fire and theft.

Insurance industry effects

This is not just bad for the newly qualified drivers.  The driver training industry employs around 95,000 people, with over a million people learning to drive and 650,000 who go on to pass their test each year, many of whom will purchase cars, road tax, servicing, etc. If they can’t get affordable insurance at the end of it then one of two things is going to happen: either they will take the risks and join the ranks of uninsured drivers (approx. 1 in 5 young drivers have no insurance vs. 1 in 20 other drivers nationally) or they will simply put off learning to drive until they can afford to. This is bad news for the driver training and motor industry that is already struggling to recover from the recession.

We simply can’t afford these astronomic insurance prices and will have to look again at options for Ben. Ben lives in a rural area with little in the way of public transport where, being able to drive means access to college, work and life generally.

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FirstTimeDriver.info has started a campaign for a new approach to young driver car insurance on Facebook. The campaign calls for a fixed £500 deal on 1^st year basic insurance cover to be funded by the Insurance Premium Tax and the Motor Insurance Bureau who pay out on uninsured drivers. Please look at the campaign, add your support and share with your family and friends.

What does the driving theory test contain?

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) driving theory test has two parts:

• Multiple-choice questions and answers
• Hazard perception – a video test where you need to spot potential driving hazards.

You need to pass both parts of your DSA driving theory test.  You can then apply to take your practical driving test.

DSA’s information can be found at www.direct.gov.uk/Motoring.

>>How to book your driving theory test.

What to expect on driving theory test day

The DSA have produced a very useful video explaining what documents you need to take with you, and what to expect, when you arrive at the driving theory test centre:

	What to expect on your driving theory test

Getting ready for your driving theory test

You can’t book your driving practical test until you have passed your DSA driving theory test. So time to start studying.

Remember, there are two parts to the driving theory test, multiple-choice and hazard perception:

DSA theory test part 1: multiple-choice

You will be asked 50 multiple-choice questions (randomly picked from a pool of 964 questions). You must answer 43 questions correctly to pass.

Practice DSA theory multiple-choice tests

Why not try out two free multiple-choice practice tests (2 x 50 questions)?

• DSA – Practice Test 1 multiple-choice
• DSA- Practice Test 2 multiple choice

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FirstTimeDriver has partnered with OnlineTheoryTests (a website created by approved driving instructors) to offer you some great discounts on their extensive multiple-choice driving theory practice tests.

The tests include the entire DSA 964 question bank. There is also a useful  ‘Dashboard’ tool that highlights which sections you need to polish up on.

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DSA theory test part 2: hazard perception

The hazard perception part of the DSA theory test, examines your awareness of potential hazards (or dangers) as you drive. Most candidates find this the most difficult part of their driving theory test.

About the hazard perception test

In this part of the DSA theory test, you will be shown 14 clips with 15 possible hazards to spot (one clip has two hazards). A maximum of 5 points is scored for each hazard you spot. You must get a total score of 44 out of 75 to pass this part of the driving theory test.

Getting prepared for your hazard perception test

Get test ready with an online resource such as the Driving Test Success DVD from Amazon.

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Your local library may also have hazard perception test study aids to use.

Start learning, you can do it. Good luck!

Study aids for your DSA theory test:

Buy books such as The Highway Code, Know Your Traffic Signs and the Official DSA Guide to Learning to Drive from Amazon. Or, if you use a PC, why not buy a DVD or CD-ROM version? Buy now:

Everyone has at least one driving lesson that does not go so well but hopefully not as bad as this learner who managed to flip her instructor’s car on to its roof.

Full story below from BBC News:

A learner driver taking her second lesson managed to flip her instructor’s car on to its roof in Oxford.
The woman, in her mid-20s, hit a gatepost on Old Road in Headington, causing the Fiat 500 car, owned by driving instruction firm BSM, to flip.

Paramedics treated the woman and the instructor for cuts to their hands and elbows at the scene of Sunday’s crash.
BSM described the crash as a “freak incident” and said it took health and safety very seriously.

BSM communications manager Paul Shepherd said: “We have spoken to the learner driver who is fine and is already hoping to book her next lesson with us soon. “The instructor responded calmly, professionally and swiftly, and is back on the road in a new car.”

Russ Dunne, 30, of Old Road, was talking to a political candidate on his doorstep on the opposite side of the road when the crash happened.
He said: “I heard the car accelerating then I heard a loud bang when it hit the gatepost.
“I saw it roll on to its side and on to its roof. I hoped no-one was seriously injured and I was worried it would catch on fire if fuel was leaking.”

Mr Dunne rushed over to help pull the learner driver out of the passenger window. The instructor had already managed to pull himself free.

“The instructor was very quiet and calm he just said ‘accidents happen‘, but the driver was in real shock and kept saying she couldn’t believe it.”