Darren Howlett ADI with The Driving School South West

Congratulations and well done for a cracking driving test pass early this morning Ollie, enjoy your driving & stay safe mate. Have a fab lunch today you've earned it.
For driving lessons in the Torbay & Nrwton Abbot area, contact www.Thedrivingschoolsw.co.uk

Too many tailgaters lately.
Too many cars sitting far too close.
Too many instructors getting rear ended for doing nothing more than driving properly.

This is not the odd incident anymore.
This is daily.
You can be out on a normal lesson, doing the correct speed, reading the road, keeping everything calm and controlled… and there it is.

A car right on your bumper.
Not drifting close.
Not misjudging it.
Sitting there.
You can almost feel the pressure through the mirror.

I see what it does to learners.
They start second guessing.
They rush decisions.
They look in the mirror more than they look ahead.
That shift alone is enough to change the whole drive and when pressure replaces patience, everything speeds up in the wrong way.

Then you get the ones who refuse to sit behind at all.
Three or four cars back and they have already decided they are coming past everyone.
No clear view no proper information.
Just a decision made too early.

They pull out, commit to it, and then rely on speed to get them out of a situation they should not have put themselves in.
You watch it and think… you were not even involved in that situation yet.

You created it and for what?

To sit one car ahead at the next roundabout.
To stop at the same red light.
To gain seconds that mean nothing.

It is not progress it just feels like it in the moment.
That is what a lack of patience looks like on the road.

Roundabouts are another one.
Drivers so focused on looking right, they forget the most basic thing.
There is a car directly in front of you.
They creep forward without thinking.
They follow movement instead of making a decision.
They assume.
The car in front hesitates or stops then it’s too late .
Straight into the back of it.

It is one of the simplest things to avoid, yet it is the most common.
Not because people cannot drive because they are rushing the moment instead of managing it.

Patience would solve most of this.
Patience to sit behind.
Patience to wait for a proper overtake.
Patience to hold your position at a roundabout.
Patience to let situations develop instead of forcing them.

But patience feels uncomfortable to some drivers now.

Sitting behind feels like losing.
Waiting feels like wasting time.
Holding back feels like weakness.

It is none of those things.

It is control.
From where I sit, teaching someone to drive, the difference is obvious.
The drivers who struggle are the ones who cannot wait.

The ones who cannot tolerate being behind another vehicle.
The ones who need everything to happen now.

The drivers who improve, who stay safe, who build real skill…
They are the patient ones.
They let the road come to them.
They give themselves time to think.
They do not force situations that are not ready.

They understand something very simple.

The road is not against you.
There is nothing to win.
You are not being delayed.

You are moving with everything else around you.
Most of what we are seeing right now comes back to that one missing piece.

Patience.

Without it, drivers sit too close.
Without it, they overtake blindly.
Without it, they run into the back of cars at roundabouts.
With it, most of those problems disappear before they even begin.

If any of this feels familiar, take it as a moment to reset.
Create space again.
Slow things down.
Give yourself time.

Patience is not just a personality trait on the road.
It is a safety skill and right now, too many people are driving without it.

Sheena Ahmed
Motorvation School of Motoring

🚗Introducing.... Tip Tuesday!

Did you know… maintaining a safe following distance can prevent most rear-end collisions?
A good rule to follow is the “2-second rule”:
👉 Pick a fixed point (like a sign or lamppost)
👉 When the car in front passes it, count “one thousand and one, one thousand and two”
👉 If you pass the point before you finish counting—you’re too close!
⛔ In wet or icy conditions, increase this to 4 seconds or more for extra safety.
Staying alert and keeping your distance gives you more time to react—and could prevent an accident.
💬 Drop a 🚗 in the comments if you’re practicing your driving skills this week!

🚗 **TOP DRIVING TIPS FOR NEW DRIVERS** 🚗

Learning to drive can feel overwhelming at first — but a few simple habits make a huge difference! Here are some key tips to help you stay safe and confident on the road:

✅ **Stay calm & don’t rush**
Take your time. It’s better to be safe than sorry — confidence comes with practice.

👀 **Always look ahead**
Don’t just focus on the car in front — scan the road ahead to spot hazards early.

🚦 **Anticipate, don’t react**
Watch other drivers, pedestrians, and road signs so you’re prepared before things happen.

📏 **Keep a safe distance**
Use the 2-second rule (or more in bad weather) to give yourself time to react.

🪞 **Check mirrors regularly**
Make it a habit every few seconds — awareness is key!

🚗 **Smooth driving = better control**
Gentle braking, steering, and accelerating will keep you safer and more in control.

📵 **Avoid distractions**
Put your phone away — your full attention should be on the road.

🌧️ **Adjust for weather conditions**
Slow down in rain, fog, or ice — conditions change how your car behaves.

💡 **Don’t be pressured by other drivers**
Ignore tailgaters. Drive at a safe speed for YOU.

👍 **Practice, practice, practice**
The more you drive, the more natural it becomes!

---

👇 Got a question about driving or lessons? Drop a comment or message us!

🔥🔥🔥🔥 A CRACKING PASS 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Congratulations and a huge well done to Amy who despite a few nerves kept her cool and smashed her driving test earlier today in a sunny Newton Abbot. Enjoy your independence and getting to work should now be much easier. See you out on the road, take care and stay safe 😁
For driving lessons in the Torbay and Newton Abbot area, contact www.Thedrivingschoolsw.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HGkqysFTg/

We talk about this all the time in the car..........

WHY AGGRESSION IS RISING ON THE ROADS

It is not that drivers suddenly forgot how to drive.
It is that patience is disappearing.

Aggression on the roads is rising because entitlement has grown.
Too many drivers believe their journey matters more than everyone else’s safety.

Impatience fuels it.
Running late.
Feeling delayed.
Seeing other road users as obstacles instead of people.

Misplaced power amplifies it.
A car feels like armour.
Anonymity removes accountability.
People behave in ways they never would face to face.

Modern driving conditions add pressure.
Congestion.
Overstimulation.
Constant noise.
Constant urgency.

Technology plays a role too.
Driver aids soften consequences.
Mistakes feel less severe.
Confidence rises faster than ability.

But the most dangerous shift is emotional.
Anger is normalised.
Aggression is excused.
Intimidation is justified as frustration.

Tailgating.
Lane bullying.
Horn abuse.
Punishment braking.
All signs of emotional driving, not skilled driving.

Aggression does not save time.
It removes thinking.
It narrows vision.
It increases collisions.

The road reflects the driver.
If you carry anger, it shows up at junctions.
If you carry impatience, it shows up in gaps you force.
If you carry entitlement, it shows up in who you think should move.

Calm is not weakness.
It is control.

Safer roads will not come from faster cars or louder horns.
They will come from drivers who regulate themselves.

Because the most dangerous driver is not the inexperienced one.
It is the angry one who believes they are entitled to win.

Sheena Ahmed
Motorvation School of Motoring

This was borrowed from another Instructor on Facebook but is sound advice to anyone wanting to learn to drive.........

I say this to every pupil who gets in my car.

I will teach you to drive first.
Only when you can drive safely, independently and consistently will we talk about a test.
If that does not fit your expectations, then I am not the instructor for you.

Too many people want the quick route.
Minimal hours.
Fast pass.
In and out.
Rush it.
Hope for the best.

That mindset is dangerous.
It is careless.
It is how people end up in situations they never saw coming because nobody taught them the real skills, the judgment, the awareness, the instinct.

This is not a tick-box exercise.
This is a ton of moving metal on a public road with lives at stake.
Your life.
Your passengers’ lives.
Other people’s children.
Other people’s families.

Cutting your training down to the bare minimum does not make you smart.
It makes you unprepared.

The test doesn’t make you safe.
Good training does.
Good habits do.
Time behind the wheel does.
Real instruction does.

So if you’re looking for an instructor who will sign you off after the smallest number of lessons just to keep you happy!

There are plenty of people who will take your money and hand you false confidence.

I’m not one of them.

I train drivers, not box-tickers.

I will not apologise for putting safety first ever.

Congratulations Harry, what a result, well done on passing your driving test this morning in Newton Abbot. A great drive which is what all the hard work is for. Now to look for your first car.
For driving lessons in the Torbay and Newton Abbot area contact www.Thedrivingschoolsw.co.uk