Location Overview: Basingstoke is a traditional market town that expanded rapidly in the mid-1960s after the Second World War to accommodate part of the London overspill. It is the largest town in the county of Hampshire and is situated in south-central England, lying across the valley at the source of the River Loddon at the western edge of the North Downs.
Basingstoke is oddly known as ‘Donut City’ because it features many roundabouts. The M3 running through Basingstoke takes you to Southampton via Winchester and, in the other direction, to the southwest of London. The A339 circles around the city’s eastern and northern parts, and the A33 takes you straight to Reading and the M4. The A30 runs east to Hook and west to Salisbury. The A303 to Wiltshire and the West Country begins a few miles southwest of Basingstoke, sharing the first few miles with the A30. B3400 Worting Road brings you into the city from Whitchurch and Oakley.
Remember – Each driving course is totally bespoke to your own specific needs and requirements. This applies to both our business and private client courses.
Course Content:
During our advanced courses, we cover a range of elements bespoke to the driver’s needs. Below are the everyday things we look at:
- Looking at the driving style and driving history to make a customised session
- Looking ahead and developing better observation skills
- Increasing focus on speed and excessive speed consequences
- Improving driver attitude towards a safe and proactive way of driving
- Tutoring by using the System of Car Control
- Understanding and avoiding road rage situations
- Manoeuvres in confined spaces, parking and reversing techniques
- Safe driving on motorways and dual carriageways
- Identifying and dealing with pedestrians and cyclists in urban driving
- Using environmentally friendly ways of driving and saving fuel
- Boosting overall driving confidence
Key learning points of our driver training:
- Become a safer, more skilful driver
- Address any issues which could be impacting you as a driver
- Demonstrate your intention to become a safer, improved driver
- Dealing with and addressing issues which may have been holding you back
Training is a little different for commercial clients – the end client, the person receiving the training, is often not the person who decides to do the training. While we help the driver to improve, from a commercial perspective, your business will benefit from:
- Demonstrating your Duty of Care
- Potentially lowering your fleet insurance costs
- Providing the opportunity for an employee to improve their driving
We have carried out many advanced driver training sessions in and around Basingstoke for private clients wanting to gain more confidence and corporate fleets, ensuring their drivers are as safe as possible.
We have tutors across the UK with superb knowledge of their local areas who come to you for training.
Our courses do vary in structure, although we have several courses based on duration:
- 3.5hr session
- 7hr session (which can be split between 2 drivers if needed)
- 2 x 3.5hr sessions
- 3 x 3.5hr sessions
Courses with Longer durations:
Our tailored 3, 4, and 5 x 3.5hr sessions suit drivers with specific driving issues, such as driving anxiety, significant issues on particular roads, or a long break from driving. These longer courses are booked mainly by private individuals, although they are also open to our business clients.
These longer-duration courses are great for those facing particular (often very specific) issues, as it can take time to build up your skill and confidence. The time between each session will also be valuable as it gives you time to reflect, absorb and practice what has been covered.
Talk to us:
We have several training options and packages. Please call us for more information. Our friendly, knowledgeable team members will explain everything you need to know and manage your enquiry through to the delivered training.
If you’re looking to train many drivers, we will be happy to provide a detailed quote and explain how we can best arrange the training based on your organisation’s specific requirements.
Key Roads and Training Routes in Basingstoke:
M3 Motorway – The M3 is a major motorway that runs through Basingstoke, connecting the town to London to the east and Southampton to the west. The motorway is a crucial link for both local and long-distance traffic, making it an important route for commuters travelling to London and the surrounding areas.
A30 – The A30 runs east-west through Basingstoke, connecting the town to London in the east and providing access to towns like Farnborough and Camberley. It is a key road for those travelling towards London and other parts of Surrey and Hampshire.
A33 – The A33 connects Basingstoke to Reading in the north and Winchester in the south. The A33 is an important route for travellers heading to both the M4 motorway to the north and the M3 motorway to the south. It also passes near Basingstoke’s town centre and provides access to various residential and commercial areas.
A340 – The A340 runs from the A33 at Basingstoke to Tadley to the north. It serves as a local route connecting Basingstoke to nearby towns and villages in northern Hampshire.
A339 – The A339 connects Basingstoke to Newbury in the west and runs through the town’s northern areas. It is a key road for those travelling between Basingstoke and surrounding towns in Berkshire and Hampshire.
A325 – Running southeast from Basingstoke, the A325 connects the town to Farnham in Surrey and further connects with the M3. Commuters use it to travel towards Farnham and Guildford.
Road Safety Risks and Information – Basingstoke
The M3 encircles Basingstoke to the south and the A339 to the north and east of the town, and it is a bustling town with numerous collision statistics showing high traffic volume. There is a very high number of collisions around Junction 6 on the M3, including accidents on the exits and slip roads joining and on the roundabout linking to the A339. These collisions may be due to speeds- too slow or too fast- and poor lane positioning. The roundabout at London Road, Ringway South, and the A339 is particularly accident-prone as three fast and busy routes meet, which is even more hazardous during rush hours. Junction 7 shows some collisions, but worryingly, numerous collisions lead to Junction 8 and the merging of the A303. This could be due to last-minute panicking and quick lane changing.
Churchill Way, East and West, runs through the centre of Basingstoke, and many accident sites are along the route; these are mainly around traffic lights and roundabout junctions and could be due to frustration and poor observation. While many accidents may be less severe due to lower speeds in urban areas, the roundabout at Victory Way has seen a few severe and sometimes fatal collisions in the last few years, so it is essential to be fully aware not only of your driving but also of other drivers’ intentions. The A340 creates a ring road from the A339 at Winklebury, through Basingstoke and linking back to the A339 along the Ringway West and South, where it meets the M3 linking to Junction 6. This ring road entirely surrounds Basingstoke town centre and is relatively accident-free, apart from a few junction areas such as the Worthing Road traffic lights and the Ringway South Roundabout. Closer to the town centre, the roads begin to narrow, and commuter traffic competes with public transport. As a result, collision statistics rise dramatically, especially along Winchester Road and Sarum Hill. The one-way system of New Road and New Street has numerous crash sites, and the area around the Basingstoke rail station is another concern. Busy urban areas are always frustrating to drive in, but staying alert to other drivers and knowing your direction is essential.
This is a small outline of collision sites in Basingstoke. If you have specific roads you travel in the area and want to know which parts are at higher risk of collisions, please contact us. We offer this service free of charge to anyone interested.