For some months, I've been developing the idea of turning all my teaching into "threes". 3 sentences. 3 words. 3 letters. Another website is underway... and maybe a book (for people with ESL*).

If 3 letters are enough, is 4 too many? Here are some four-letter words, MOST of which we should try to avoid when teaching / learning to drive:

* ESL = English as a Second Language. (But then, why not do it with just hand gestures?)

Can't answer questions, won't do as they're told
In their own world or bossy and bold
Over prepared, Anxious and scared;
A spectrum so wide, But they all bring us pride
When autism touches our lives.

Of the 243 operational test centres, Bradford (Thornbury), Bolton (Manchester), Hamilton, Hendon (London) and Glasgow (Shieldhall) had the longest average delays (nearly 6 months).  By contrast, Cardigan and Carmarthen has the shortest (1 month).

By travelling further, candidates can dramatically shorten these times: learner drivers in Bolton, for instance, might reduce their waiting period from six months to 2.5 if they book 16 miles away in Sale or Rochdale.  Those in London prepared to travel 6.6 miles from Hendon (23.1 week wait) to Barnet (13.1 weeks) could save 10 weeks.

Averages in Birmingham (18.9 weeks) shrink to 10.8 and 7.7 weeks in Nuneaton and Stafford respectively (only 30 miles away).  Learners living in Liverpool can expect to wait 18.4 weeks but centres less than 10 miles away in Upton and Wallasey can offer less than 11 weeks.

Other instances north of the border include lengthy waits, such as 18.8 weeks in Edinburgh, but are much shorter in Kirkaldy and Galashiels (12.3 and 10.4 weeks, respectively). And while the average delay in Glasgow is 22.3 weeks, it is only 7.7 weeks in Ayr.

Well, naturally.  Without confirmed evidence I think I see causes for such an effect: people ...

• have less spare time (so they rush and are distracted, not taking as much care)
• have less money (so cars aren't looked after, develop uncorrected faults like failed lamps)
• suspect they've been affected more than strangers around them (so are less patient)
• need to "be somewhere else" to earn money ...only professional drivers do that WHILE moving!