Location Introduction – Nestled in the heart of Lancashire, Preston is a thriving city built on a rich history. Preston’s origins can be traced to evidence of a Roman road running through the town. Preston is surrounded by Lancashire’s rolling hills and scenery, giving an easy balance between city living and countryside walks. Preston can effortlessly transition from colourful and energetic to relaxing and peaceful living. The river Ribble is a southern border for the city, and the Forest of Bowland forms a northeast backdrop to Preston, while the Fylde lies to the west. Preston is approximately 27 miles northwest of Manchester, 26 miles northeast of Liverpool, and 15 miles east of Blackpool. Being situated near these busy cities, Preston has been a popular place to take a range of driver training courses for extra confidence on the road or for companies with a fleet of drivers who want to make sure all drivers are as safe as possible while driving company vehicles.

Our advanced courses cover various training bespoke to the driver’s needs. Below are the common things we look at:

* Looking at a driver’s specific day-to-day driving and driving history to make a bespoke training plan
* Looking ahead and developing powers of observation
* How to avoid road rage situations
* Manoeuvres, reversing, and driving in confined spaces
* Driving safety on the motorway and dual carriageways
* How to boost driving confidence
* Learn how to drive in a more environmentally friendly way
* Learning the System of Car Control
* Increasing focus on speed and excessive speed
* Modifying attitude towards a safer, more proactive way to drive
* Becoming a safer urban driver – identifying and dealing with pedestrians and cyclists
* Identifying high-risk driving – such as at night, driving tired or when stressed

You will be issued a driving report after each session – sent by email. This report is fully documented with us and has a unique verification number attached – proof you’ve had training with a qualified professional. In your report, you will see how you improved and in what areas, along with some valuable tips to ensure you keep up your improved standard of driving.

Advanced Driver training is a little different for our commercial clients – the end client and the person who receives the training and has been asked by their employer to take a course.

While we will always help the driver to improve, from a business perspective, you will benefit from the following:

* Showing you care
* Lowering fuel costs
* Providing the opportunity to develop the driver in their position
* Potentially lowering your fleet insurance premiums
* Demonstrating your Duty of Care

The Preston by-pass was the first stretch of motorway constructed in the UK and is now part of the M6, with a shorter section forming part of the M55. Junction 2 on the M55 began in 2019 and has created a link with the A583, close by the Riversway Docklands, to lessen the traffic on the M55 and the A6 at the Broughton Interchange. The M61, Preston to Manchester via Chorley and Bolton are other motorways ending close to the city. The M65, Preston to Colne via Blackburn, Accrington and Burnley and the M55, Preston to Blackpool via Kirkham. There are many great routes to use when taking further driving tuition from Drivers Domain UK, both busy motorways and plenty of rural roads to hone your driving skills. Our courses are door-to-door. The tutor will come to your chosen address and take you out in your own vehicle. We train car and van and van drivers alike.

Our courses do vary in structure, although our courses are based and costed by duration:

3.5 hours (half day)

7-hour session (Full day), which can be split between two drivers

2 x 3.5 hours (2 half days)

Courses for more prolonged durations:

Our tailored 3, 4 and 5 x half-day sessions are more suited for those that identify as having personal issues with their driving. We cover driving anxiety, significant driving issues on particular roads, or for those who have not driven in a long time, often many years. The longer duration courses are taken mainly through our private individuals. They are also an option for our business clients with drivers facing confidence problems.

The time between each half day will be very valuable as it allows you to absorb and practise what has been covered in the first session.

Contact us for advice:

Our friendly team would be delighted to hear from you about your exact requirements. Our team are trained to advise on course information and how they run and offer a non-judgemental approach for those who wish to open up and discuss specific issues. For some folk, this is the very first step in reaching out on their journey to confident driving. Please call or email for more information and advice.

Road Safety Risks and Information – Preston

Preston is a busy city between Blackpool on the coast and Blackburn. It lies to the west of the M6 and is served primarily by the A59 and the A6, both very fast A roads with many collision sites.

Junction 31 of the M6, Preston Bypass links the A59, Preston New Road into Preston City Centre via New Hall Lane. This is a large and challenging intersection with numerous accident sites. Some can be blamed on excessive speed leading to the slip roads on the roundabouts and some on poor positioning for existing. Still, the majority could have been avoided with better observations and more attention to other drivers’ intentions. There is a lot of commuter traffic crossing this intersection of the A59 between Preston and Blackburn, and adding the traffic from the M6 makes for a particularly hazardous area, and much care should be taken. As much as it is essential to know where you are going and that you are driving to the best of your abilities, it is vital to be aware of all the other drivers around you and leave room for them if you can see they are struggling with their directions. Patience and good manners can reduce accidents immensely.

Junction 32 of the M6 joins the M55, which travels into Blackpool and links the A6 at Junction 1 into Preston from the north. This intersection, which has had numerous collision sites seen in the past few years, can again be attributed to poor lane exiting and excessive speed. The A6 continues along Garstang Road into Preston and meets the A59 at the North Road Traffic light interchange. This route travels through a residential area and is also shared with bus routes, pedestrians, and cyclists, making any accidents more severe when they happen, even if they occur at lower speeds. Some of the worst affected areas are the traffic lights at Black Bull Lane and the stretch of road between St. Vincents Road and Regent Drive, where many residential drives open onto the busy road. When driving along routes such as these, it is wise to be aware of drives that may have obstructed vision, especially during rush hours or school run times. It is advisable to reverse onto a drive to have the best view of the road when moving off, but many drivers do not do this, and the accident rates still show the problems caused.

The A59 ring road circles the northern edge of Preston City Centre and has a one-way system with many collision sites, especially at the Church Street intersection and the London Road traffic lights. Church Street, which runs along the centre of Preston margining with Fishergate and is the heart of the retail centre, has many crash sites along this route, possibly due to pedestrians stepping out into the road or overtaking delivery drivers who are pulling out without indicating. To navigate these busy areas safely, it is vital that drivers pay attention to the side of the road as well as the road ahead. Remember, a split-second distraction can lead to a lifetime of regret. So, stay focused and drive safe!

If you have any specific roads you travel on in the Preston area and you’re keen to discover what parts are at higher risk in terms of collisions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We offer a free-of-charge service to anyone who is interested. Your safety is our priority, and we’re here to provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions on the road.