Edinburgh is one of our most popular locations for advanced/defensive driver training. Due to the challenging roads that make up a vast proportion of Scottish roads, advanced driver training for private and business customers is often a higher priority than in most other areas.
Edinburgh is in a good location for training as we have easy access to the M8 and M9 motorways for a motorway training element, and also many rural roads to the north and south of the capital. We often head towards Glasgow with motorway training or north towards Perth, depending on the duration of your course.
All driver training is bespoke to your exact needs – for both business and private clients.
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For urban driver training, which being a large city is always popular, can be completed in areas such as Blackhall, Morningside and Newington – but this is very dependent on traffic and the time of the day for the training.
Edinburgh is taking safety in the city centre seriously; since the introduction of the 20mph limit in many of its urban areas, there has been a 24% reduction in road casualties.
During our driver training in Edinburgh, we cover a wide range of elements, including:
- Creating improved powers of observation and anticipation
- Being more aware of speed limits and controlling speed
- Looking at ways to change negative attitudes to driving
- Create a safer way of driving on motorways, town and rural roads
- Identifying and educating drivers about various rules of the road
- How to identify and defuse road rage
- Manoeuvres, parking and driving in tight spaces
- Driving in challenging weather such as rain, snow and ice
- Understanding the dangers of urban driving and being aware of vulnerable road users
- Learning the difference between under, and oversteer, and how to reduce the chances of a skid occurring
- Learning to drive in a more environmentally friendly way
- How to anticipate the actions and potential actions of other motorists
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Why take training with us? (Personal advantages)
- Boost your levels of driving confidence
- Single out and remove any bad habits
- Face up to issues that may be impacting your driving
- Improve all elements of car and van control
- Reduce wear on your vehicle
- Learn how to get more miles from your tank
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Benefits of advanced driver training from a business perspective. If you are considering driver training for your fleet, there are a number of advantages:
- Reduce the collision rate among your drivers
- Save up to 20% on fuel costs
- Save on fleet insurance bills
- Show your employees you are dedicated to a safer working environment
- Allow your employees to enjoy a higher level of driver skill in works vehicles
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Contact Us:
Whilst we have tried to outline our courses as much as possible, you may have more questions. Please email or call us and a member of our team will be delighted to help you. We always aim to respond to all email enquiries within 1 hour during working hours. If you are ready to book a course for between 1 and 4 drivers, you can do this online for both business and private customers. Please go to www.advanced-driving.co.uk/book/
Key Roads in Central Edinburgh:
Princes Street is one of Edinburgh’s most famous roads, running through the city centre with stunning views of Edinburgh Castle. It is the main shopping street, lined with department stores, cafes, and historical landmarks. Princes Street is part of the city’s tram route and is heavily pedestrianized, especially along the northern side.
George Street – Running parallel to Princes Street, George Street is a major thoroughfare in central Edinburgh, home to many businesses, bars, and restaurants. It is also lined with historic Georgian buildings and is a key part of the New Town.
The Royal Mile is one of the most iconic streets in Edinburgh, stretching from Edinburgh Castle at the top to the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the bottom. This historic street connects the city’s old town and is a popular destination for tourists due to its historic buildings, shops, restaurants, and cultural venues.
Lothian Road runs west from the city centre towards Tollcross and the West End. It is an important road for local traffic and connects various districts, including the Grassmarket, the Meadows, and the EICC (Edinburgh International Conference Centre). Lothian Road also gives access to Princes Street and the Old Town.
Leith Walk is a major route running from Edinburgh’s city centre towards the port area of Leith. The road passes through districts like Broughton and Canonmills and is a bustling area known for its shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions. It leads directly to Leith Docks and the Royal Yacht Britannia.
South Bridge connects the Old Town to the New Town, crossing over the Cowgate. It is an important arterial route, with connections to George IV Bridge and Waverley Station.
Cowgate Running parallel to the Royal Mile, Cowgate is located in Edinburgh’s historic Old Town and connects to the Grassmarket. It is known for its lively nightlife, bars, clubs, and cultural venues.
Other Notable Roads in Edinburgh:
Warriston Road connects the city centre with Leith and the Broughton area. This road is important for traffic heading toward Leith and the northern suburbs of Edinburgh.
Queensferry Road runs northwest from Edinburgh towards Queensferry and the Forth Road Bridge. It is the main road linking Edinburgh to Fife and the M90 motorway, providing access to the Forth Bridges.
Dalry Road runs west from the city centre towards Haymarket and Corstorphine. It is an important road for access to the western parts of the city.
Granton Road runs north towards the Granton area and the Firth of Forth. It serves the North Edinburgh districts and is a significant route for those traveling to the port areas.
Road Safety Risks and Information – Edinburgh
Edinburgh is one of the most visited cities in Scotland and is situated on the Firth of Forth estuary, it is served by several fast A road routes such as the A720, A1, A90 and the A199. All these routes are fraught with collision sites, and care should always be taken when using them. At certain times of the year, Edinburgh welcomes thousands of tourists into the city, such as the annual Edinburgh Hogmanay celebration over four days, and numerous accidents occur because drivers are unfamiliar with the area.
The A720 skirts the south of Edinburgh, and the M8 joins it at the challenging junction of the Edinburgh Bypass roundabout, which has sadly seen severe and fatal accidents over the last few years. Many of these collisions have resulted from poor lane exiting and forward planning. When using large urban roundabouts, it is vital that you are aware of your directions and are in the correct position for exiting, but also staying aware that other drivers may be struggling and can make sudden moves across lanes due to panic of missing an exit. This is very common, and many accidents could be avoided if drivers were more aware of the intentions of other road users. The Calder Road Roundabout linking the A71 is also very similar with regard crash statistics.
Calder Road merges into the Georgie Road and travels into the centre of Edinburgh, and the roads are also shared with bus routes. Numerous accidents have occurred along this route, mainly near road crossings and bus stops, where passengers may alight the bus and cross the road. Driving behind large, slow buses can be frustrating, but care should always be taken when considering overtaking them, ensuring you watch for pedestrians and passengers. The traffic light junction linking Balgreen Road, Hutchingson Crossing to Georgie Road is hazardous, with the meeting of Murison Road and Henderson Terrace being very similar.
The route through Princes Street, joining the A1, is littered with crash sites, and again, many of these accidents may include drivers not knowing the area. The worst affected area is the traffic light systems that intersect Lothian Road, Shandwick Place and Drumsheuge Place, with several fatal and severe life-changing collisions.
Please get in touch with us if you have any specific roads you travel on in Edinburgh and are keen to discover what parts are at higher risk of collisions. We offer a free-of-charge service to anyone interested.