Page 41 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • November 2009 41
Too many learner drivers present dangers in the West

We’ve all got to learn how to drive somewhere, but since the driver test centre moved to Peatmoor the high number of L plated drivers around
West Swindon is posing a danger, according to some residents, who are fed up with driving schools from throughout the region descending
upon the area to practice in advance of the test.
One resident of Liskeard Way, constantly blocked by drivers they don’t need to be a nuisance.” for instructors to take greater care.
Freshbrook, unwilling to be named, reversing round the corner by A Peatmoor resident who lives “Recently, between Shaw Village
has written to the Driving Standards her house further down Liskeard close to the test centre, is calling Centre and Swinley Drive, I passed
Agency, as the corner of his house Way. “There seems to be six learners and at least four
is specifi cally mentioned on the test an over-concentration of of them were stationary.
route, and so instructors are always learners here. Since the test “There is an accident wait-
taking their pupils there to practice centre moved to Peatmoor ing to happen on Swinley
reversing. “Sometimes the cars are it’s become ridiculous. Drive which has a series of
queued up to use the corner. This “They have to practise blind bends. It is particularly
is a main bus route, a busy road, somewhere but this is a dangerous at the roundabout
there are children walking and on main road with a lots of on Purton Road. It was
bikes; it’s clearly dangerous to have parked cars and buses trav- amazing to see an instructor
inexperienced drivers struggling to elling up and down; I think supervising a three point turn
navigate corners here. it’s too dangerous.” as cars came quickly round
“There must be quieter places But Lyn Jacobs, whose the corner.”
which challenge drivers’ skills but house is also on another The Driving Standards
do not pose signifi cant dangers to Liskeard Way corner, said, Agency - who set the test
the public.” “as long as the driving routes - were unable to com-
Jane Dobson said her drive is instructors vary the course The DSA test centre at Peatmoor ment in time for our deadline.
Thamesdown Drive lights bad for the environment says electronics engineer

Toothill resident Matthew Marrs is fed up with the poor traffi c light sequencing on Thamesdown Drive
and is calling on Swindon Council to back up its green credentials by sorting out the problem.
“The traffi c lights are not se- they’re working effi ciently. “They to through traffi c would result in
quenced in a way that enables are equipped with sophisticated longer delays for drivers wanting to
motorists to drive from one end microprocessors that detect ap- join or leave the main road.”
to the other without endless proaching traffi c and respond to Bob endorses the advice from
stop-starting,” he said. “Apart the changes in traffi c fl ow that oc- the Energy Saving Trust that driv-
from the frustration the amount cur throughout the day. They are ing more smoothly, and within the
of braking and accelerating along designed to minimise delay, and speed limit, are key ways not just
the road causes excessive gas are shown to reduce delays by an to increase road safety, but also to
emissions that are damaging to average of 13 per cent in comparison reduce gas emissions and improve
the environment.” with signals that have fi xed timing fuel economy. “Further savings
According to the Energy Sav- programmes. will accrue as more cars are fi tted
ing Trust, it is possible to drive “It is inevitable that through traf- with automatic engine stop/start
greener by changing driving style fi c will have to stop to give access to controls,” he pointed out.
to avoid sharp acceleration and the residential and commercial areas This will be cold comfort to Mat-
heavy braking. But residents and adjacent to Thamesdown Drive. One thew and other residents without
those passing through fi nd that driver's delay is another's opportu- the high tech feature on older
the way the traffi c lights operate nity to proceed, and giving priority vehicles.
on Thamesdown Drive does not
encourage this.
“As an electronics engineer I MOBILE CAR SERVICING & REPAIRS
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ment says the traffi c signals are (No VAT to pay)
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