Advanced & Defensive Driving Courses Sunderland
Our advanced driving courses in Sunderland are designed to improve the safety of your drivers. Our courses in the city are based on a range of roads, typically for urban and town driving; we provide training in the centre of Sunderland. A key part of our advanced training in Sunderland involves training on rural roads. For this, we often head north towards Newcastle on a range of roads, including the B1296, A167, and other A/B roads, as well as occasionally unclassified roads.
Our Range of Courses:
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 provide full UK coverage and come directly to you. All training is delivered in your own vehicle and is fully tailored to your individual needs, whether you’re a business or a private customer.
Benefits of our courses:
* Training can start from your office or home
* Expert advanced driver training tutors
* Flexible training options
* UK coverage
During a session, we typically look at the following:
* 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
We score a driver in over 20 areas of driving, both before and after a course, from Excellent to Poor, so that you can see the areas of improvement and in what areas, along with handwritten notes from the tutor. Each driver taking the training will also be graded on an overall road risk from low to high.
For all our bespoke driving courses in Sunderland, we provide training on a range of roads and different areas, which can include:
Motorway training – The A1 motorway is located to the west of Sunderland, connecting to the A194, which leads to South Shields. These routes are very busy, and many drivers may be apprehensive about motorway driving. When using motorways regularly, they can be very safe and great for getting to your destination quickly and directly. Still, if you only use them sporadically, then they can be stressful. Advanced driver techniques such as IPSGA – information, planning, speed, gear and acceleration, and understanding how to enter and exit busy junctions at the correct speed can increase your confidence with motorway driving. Many accidents occur on motorways, and although they are statistically very safe, the higher speeds involved can lead to multiple-vehicle collisions and severe consequences.
Rural Roads – Sunderland has both rural and coastal routes nearby. The A1018 runs from Seaburn to Seaham, and the minor B roads that join it, such as the B1286, Ryhope Street and Ryehope Road running north, have seen many collisions. Rural or coastal routes can be hazardous for drivers who are unfamiliar with the area, such as tourists, and the involvement of young, newly qualified drivers are among the most at risk, so rural driving regulations must be understood and respected. Seasonal changes significantly impact rural roads, presenting distinct challenges compared to city or motorway driving. These challenges include narrow, often single-track lanes, minimal street lighting, and the potential for flooding and diversions in adverse weather conditions. In the summer, many rural and coastal routes are busier, so being vigilant for oncoming vehicles and the possibility of horse riders or cyclists around every corner is vital.
Urban Training – The retail centre of Sunderland is mainly pedestrianised. Still, the busy ring road and streets adjoining are laden with minor accident sites, especially Vine Place and Holmside, and the ring road of the A183 circling the outskirts of the city centre. Many accidents on busy town roads and streets are due to driver frustration, a lack of clear indications, and poor overall observations. While everyone is trying to get to their destination in a hurry, especially during rush hours, this is when mindless accidents are most likely to occur. Hence, a calm and composed driving style is essential. Anticipating what other road users may intend to do is a skill quickly learned, as not every driver will indicate, and in town and city centre driving, there may be many more cyclists, motorbikes, and pedestrians to be aware of at all times.
Remember – We build all our driving courses from scratch and are built around your specific needs. This applies to both business and private customers all over the UK.
Contact us:
All our courses are bespoke to the needs of the driver, whether that’s a session for one or 100+. As a result, we can provide a course which best fit’s your needs. Please call us or use the contact form upper right for more information.