We provide advanced driving courses across the UK, including West Yorkshire. We have already helped companies and individuals alike in Halifax, Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Wetherby and Huddersfield to become safer drivers. Our courses are designed and bespoke to the unique needs and requirements of each driver, so no two courses are the same.
West Yorkshire has a number of roads we provide training on, including the M1, M62 and A1 (M) for motorway training, where we help drivers to become safer and more aware on these busy, fast-moving roads.
Remember – All our on-road driving courses are tailored to your exact requirements. For both business and private clients.
Out-of-town driving is also covered. West Yorkshire has many rural routes where we can help a driver improve their car control and handling skills in a way which is adapted to their current level of driving ability and skill. During a driving course, we head further afield where possible, and depending on where you are, we often head north into North Yorkshire or south into South Yorkshire – both areas have great roads for training.
Where possible, we try to avoid sitting in traffic, but we do like to cover urban driver training. In an urban setting, a car is more of a hazard to vulnerable road users and pedestrians than on any other road. So, with this in mind, we help coach a driver to make them more aware of their immediate surroundings and to help them constantly scan and looks for cyclists and people on foot. We often head into places like Leeds or Halifax for this portion of the training, but it does depend on where you are located.
During our advanced driver training, we cover many elements, including:
- Observation
- Speed limit awareness
- Creating a safer mindset for driving
- Adapting your driving style on a range of roads
- How motoring law applies to you, road sign awareness and what they mean
- Coping with driving stress
- Manoeuvres, parking and driving in tight areas like car parks
- Driving in high-risk weather (rain, snow, ice)
- How to become a defensive driver in city/town traffic
- Learn types of skids and how defensive driving can reduce them from occurring
- Learning to be an economical driver and save fuel
- How to anticipate what another driver is about to do
If you are looking at an advanced driving course as part of a fleet driver training plan, the advantages to training cover:
- Increase driver safety in your fleet
- Demonstrate Duty of Care
- Possibly reduce your fleet insurance costs
- Boost morale among your drivers
- Provide increased skill and confidence for your drivers
- Reduce your fleet fuel costs
The personal benefits of our advanced and defensive driver training:
- Increase your levels of skill and overall confidence
- Remove any risky driving characteristics
- Consider issues that may be specific to your driving
- Increase car control on all types of roads
- Reduce wear and tear on your car
- Improve your MPG – get more miles from your car
Whilst we have tried to detail our driving courses as much as possible, you may have more questions you would like to answer. Please email or call us, and one of our team will be delighted to assist. We always aim to respond to all email enquiries within 1 hour during office 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/
Road Risks in Yorkshire:
Below is an outline of just some of the more dangerous roads in Yorkshire, some of which will be driven on in our driver training sessions, depending on your exact location.
A64 (Leeds to Scarborough)
The A64 is a major road linking Leeds to the North Yorkshire coast, passing through York and Malton. Although it’s a busy arterial road, certain sections are notoriously dangerous due to their winding nature, high traffic volumes, and poorly lit stretches. The road passes through some rural areas and small villages, where it often narrows, and accidents are common.
Notable Hazards:
Sharp bends near Tadcaster and York.
Busy sections, especially around York, can be congested with traffic, particularly during holiday seasons.
Animal crossings in more rural areas, especially around Malton.
Higher speeds can be dangerous on some of the less populated, straight stretches, increasing the risk of driver fatigue.
A629 (Halifax to Keighley):
The A629 runs through the Pennines, connecting Halifax with Keighley. This road is prone to being slippery in winter, with snow and ice making it particularly hazardous. The road is winding and narrow in places, particularly where it runs through steep valleys, and there are several sharp corners and blind summits.
Notable Hazards:
Steep gradients and sharp bends, especially between Halifax and Keighley.
Limited visibility due to high terrain and sharp turns.
Snow and ice in the winter months, especially in higher areas.
Traffic congestion near towns like Halifax and Keighley, often leading to accidents in busy conditions.
A650 (Bradford to Wakefield)
The A650 is a busy route that connects Bradford with Wakefield, passing through some built-up areas and more rural stretches. This road is particularly dangerous due to heavy traffic, frequent junctions, and numerous pedestrian crossings. It can be hazardous for cyclists and pedestrians, and it has been the site of several accidents in recent years.
Notable Hazards:
Heavy traffic and congestion, especially near Bradford and Wakefield.
High volume of commercial vehicles, increasing the risk of collisions.
Poor visibility in parts of the route due to limited street lighting.
Dangerous driving conditions during rush hour.
Additional Road Safety Risks and Information – West Yorkshire
Several motorways serve West Yorkshire, including the M1, the A1, the M62, and the short motorways sections of the M606 and the M621. Many fast A road routes also cross West Yorkshire, linking the larger towns and cities of Bradford, Leeds, and Huddersfield, and all of these routes carry high statistics of severe and sometimes fatal accidents.
The M62 crosses West Yorkshire from Manchester through to Humberside and has a high traffic volume, especially during rush hours. It links Huddersfield to the M606 into Bradford and the M621 into Leeds; it joins the M1 at Lofthouse and the A1 at Knottingley. This route is fraught with hazards, starting at Junction 22, where the intersection of the A672 has caused issues, resulting in several fatal accidents in recent years. The roundabout and slip road from Wakefield Road A644 to the M62 at Junction 25 is particularly risky. Numerous collisions leading up to and from this junction show that the speeds at which drivers are entering and exiting the motorway could be a consideration as to why a collision had occurred. The M1 travelling from London to Leeds is very busy and, much like all motorways, has high collision rates along the whole route, with the junction areas always being the most hazardous. Junction 46 and the meeting of the A63, Selby Road, have high collision rates, and the following stretch, where it merges into the A1, is also quite challenging.
The A58 crosses West Yorkshire from Rochdale through to Wetherby. It is a hectic winding road that travels through several rural areas, and numerous accidents are noted along the route, especially along the Halifax Road through Littleborough. It then links through the busy city centres of Halifax and Leeds with a high volume of crash statistics throughout. Many of these occur during rush hours, leading to road closures affecting many commuters. The A462 from Huddersfield to Wakefield is a perilous route with numerous crash sites, especially as it travels across the rural locations of Fenny Bridge and Flockton Moor. The A629 from Skipton to Keighley is a well-travelled route and has witnessed severe collisions, especially at the Keighley Road and Station Road roundabout and the crossing of Cononley Lane and Main Street.
Rural West Yorkshire is often hit by seasonal changes in the winter with many diversions due to flooding or treefalls, and the minor roads and lanes around Hebden Bridge and the A6033 have been noted for some severe accidents very similar to the lanes around Allerton Bywater and Ledston. It is always wise to check not only driving directions but the accident statistics for your planned trip, as forewarned, will always make you a better, more observant driver.
These are only a very brief outline of collision sites in West Yorkshire. If you have any specific roads you travel in the area and are keen to discover what parts are at higher risk regarding collisions, please contact us. We offer a free-of-charge service to anyone who is interested.