Advanced & Defensive Driving Courses Bedford
We provide advanced and defensive driver training for companies and private individuals in and around Bedford. Conducting an advanced driving course in Bedford is ideal for several reasons, the primary one being its location.
It’s far enough from London not to be at a constant standstill (although this is debatable during rush hour), and it has quick access to a range of rural roads and motorways, both of which are used in our training sessions.
Our Range of Courses – Available in Bedford
Our tailored driving courses include a variety of formats, including:
* Company driver training – for van and car drivers in your fleet
* Young drivers – Confidence-building sessions for younger or newly qualified drivers
* Pre-court driving courses – speeding and other pending convictions.
* High-powered vehicle training
* Confidence driving courses
* Motorhome confidence courses – Focused training to build confidence driving larger leisure vehicles
* Advanced and defensive courses – bespoke to your needs
* Motorway confidence training – Helping drivers feel safer and more in control on motorways
* UK Familiarisation – for drivers new to the UK
We cover this area + All of the UK – We come to you for the training:
We provide bespoke advanced/defensive driver training to companies and private individuals using our national network of DVSA-registered advanced driving instructors.
For all our bespoke driving courses in Bedford, we provide training on a range of roads and different areas, which can include:
Motorway training – The nearest motorway to Bedford is the M1 at Woburn, accessible via the A421. We can create a route that takes in several motorway junctions and returns to Bedford via the A509 and the A422 at Chicheley Hill. Motorway driving is something that many drivers avoid if they are unconfident, often adding hours to a long journey. The entering and exiting motorway junctions at speed and the fear of being boxed in by HGVs and vans are some of the most worrying aspects of these roads. We have helped many drivers with motorway confidence, including delivery drivers for businesses and drivers who fear fast motorways.
Many accidents occur on motorways at junctions where drivers slow down too quickly when exiting or not quickly enough when entering the motorway. Still, with some extra training, you can become much more confident on these roads, allowing you to use all motorways successfully and with confidence.
Rural Roads – Within a few miles of Bedford, you will find yourself in very rural areas surrounding the town, and driving confidently in these areas is a must. From seasonal changes like flooding or fallen trees in the winter months to slow-moving traffic, farming, and tourist traffic in the summer, there is always a wide range of risks on rural roads. No two people are the same when it comes to driving issues, and if you are more familiar with town or motorway driving, then rural driving can present its own set of challenges.
There will be significantly less lighting and signage in rural areas, which can create a temptation to speed. We have found that many rural accidents involve younger drivers and drivers who are particularly unfamiliar with the route. As a prime example, the B660, from the town centre through to Pertenahll, has seen many accidents that may have been avoided with extra driver training for rural locations – simply by reading the road and gaining a better understanding of what’s going on.
Urban Training – The A6, A421, and A4280 surround Bedford town centre and have been the sites of numerous urban accidents. Urban driving presents a set of challenges unlike any other road type; driving through busy urban routes is significantly more frustrating, especially during rush-hour traffic, so learning better observation techniques will improve your driving. Better mirror procedures and ensuring that other drivers know your intentions by using your indicators or tapping your brake pedal to show that you are slowing down are vital. Many accidents in urban areas are due to impatience. We can show you how to better anticipate the actions of other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. If you are considering a delivery role, advanced driver training in urban environments can be particularly beneficial.
During a session, we typically look at:
* Forward planning and observation
* Speed Awareness
* Developing a positive attitude towards safer driving
* How to become a safer driver on all roads
* Car or van control (gears, steering, foot controls, signals)
* Rules of the road
* Dealing with road rage
* Reversing and manoeuvres
* Dealing with adverse weather
* Town and urban defensive driving
* Driving in heavy traffic and allowing adequate space
* Skid control theory and learning what causes skids
* Eco-safe driving (effective use of speed, gears, and planning)
* Anticipation – Learning to see and not just look
* Understanding other road users and their intentions
Remember – Each driving course is bespoke to your own needs. This applies to both business and individual customers across the UK
We currently offer a range of courses based on time. These are designed for drivers of all abilities, experience and budget ranges:
3.5 hours – Our shortest course is ideal for those who need a short session for a range of reasons. Also popular for company clients who are training many drivers.
2 x 3.5 hours – If a full day is too much and a half-day is not long enough, then our 2 x 3.5-hour session is a great alternative. It allows time to absorb what has been taught in the first session and then carry on and progress in the final session.
7-hour full day – A full day can be challenging for some drivers, but for others, it’s a great duration as it allows the training to be completed in one day and is more cost-effective than splitting it over two sessions.
For those who want a more comprehensive session, we offer 3, 4, or 5 sessions of 3.5 hours each. Designed for individuals with significant issues that require attention or for those who seek the maximum level of bespoke, one-to-one training possible.
Training Options:
We can provide training for either a half-day or a full-day session. What we tend to find is that many companies opt for a 2:1 format, where one driver can go out with our tutor for 3.5 hours, and another then goes out in the afternoon for the same duration. We also offer longer-duration courses for those who want to improve their driving over a more extended period, which is more popular with private customers. You are able to book online at www.advanced-driving.co.uk/book/