8:20am Thursday 5th March 2009
By Lucy Tatchell
LEARNER drivers are clogging up the streets of a quiet Worcester housing estate.
Quiet residential roads in Warndon Villages are not only on test routes but are also used by learners to practise their manoeuvres.
Worcestershire County Councillor John Buckley said a young girl was almost knocked down in Corfe Avenue and is asking instructors to alter the routes they use for training.
“It is becoming so dangerous, it really is becoming horrific,” Coun Buckley told Warndon Parish Council.
“They need to move it around a little bit and give the people a respite.” He said that at times there were cars queuing along Hastings Drive waiting to reverse around the corner into Corfe Avenue, which was forcing other motorists onto the wrong side of the road.
Les Bishop, clerk of the parish council, said he had seen a learner driver doing an emergency stop in Woodgreen Drive, a main road through Warndon Villages.
“There does seem to be some irresponsibility among instructors,” he said.
Mr Bishop said when the issue was raised several years ago, the manager of the test centre put up a notice advising instructors about the problem.
A spokesman for the Driving Standards Agency, which registers instructors, employs examiners and conducts theory and practical tests, said instructors have a right to use public highways but it would take any complaint seriously.
“Some people do overuse roads because they are particularly good for learning on,” said the spokesman.
“Instructors have got a right to use the road but we do not want them to upset people. We will do our best to try and help and alleviate the problem by putting up posters and talking to approved driving instructors.”
The parish council agreed to set up a meeting with the test centre and instructors to discuss the problem.
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