Wimbledon driving schools are feeling the effects the snow is having on business, due to the hazardous weather conditions.
By Ben Penty, Rufus Thompson, Tom Moore, Leah Roach
Wimbledon driving schools are feeling the effects the snow is having on business, due to the hazardous weather conditions.
Lessons are being cancelled and instructors cannot make it into work, causing businesses to lose money.
This also means driving tests are being cancelled because of the Driving Standards Agency policy of not conducting tests in bad light or adverse weather conditions.
Sarah Moore, from Earlsfield School of Motoring, said: “To be honest the snow has affected us.
“There are still schools in business but it all depends whether the school wants the driver to take the risk. It certainly has affected our lesson schedule.”
Driving lessons normally take place on back roads but, because they are too icy, learner drivers are being taken to main roads.
Shona Felton, from Britannia Driving School, said: “The snowy weather has been like a curate’s egg, beneficial in parts.
Mrs Felton said Britannia Driving School have been running lessons for people in the advanced stages of learning to drive.
She also said they have had requests from full license holders who want to gain experience driving in snowy and slippery conditions.
“The DSA requires learners to drive in adverse weather conditions, so the bad weather has been a godsend to some, giving them an opportunity to improve their driving skills”, she said.
“We ask instructors to save for a rainy day, in this case a snowy day.
“Despite this we have had advanced bookings for January, with many people making their New Year’s resolution to learn to drive.”
Merton council are taking the adverse weather conditions seriously.
They have spread over 200 tonnes of grit across 2,767km of the borough’s roads and pavements since the cold weather started in mid-November.
Councillor Stephen Alambritis said: “We can understand people’s frustration when they see untreated roads, but we need to prioritise our major routes to ensure the least disruption as possible.”
