How DriveSQ Driving School Manchester collects, uses, and protects your personal data. Last updated June 2025.
This privacy policy explains how DriveSQ Driving School (“we”, “us”, “our”) collects, uses, stores, and protects your personal information when you use our website, book driving lessons, or communicate with us. We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Data Controller: DriveSQ Driving School, Manchester, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom.
We may collect and process the following personal data:
We do not collect sensitive or special category data unless strictly necessary for providing our services (for example, information about a physical condition that may affect your ability to drive, provided voluntarily by you).
We use your personal data for the following purposes:
The legal bases for processing your data under UK GDPR are: performance of a contract (when you book lessons with us), legitimate interests (to improve our services and communicate effectively), and consent (for marketing communications, which you can withdraw at any time).
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data to third parties. We may share your data only in the following limited circumstances:
Our website uses cookies and third-party services to improve your experience and help us understand how the site is used.
Google Analytics (G-CQP798G5TW): We use Google Analytics, provided by Google LLC, to collect anonymised data about website traffic and usage patterns. Google Analytics uses cookies to track how visitors interact with our website, including pages visited, session duration, and traffic sources. This data is processed by Google in accordance with their Privacy Policy. Google Analytics does not collect your name, phone number, or email address. You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
WhatsApp (Meta Platforms): When you contact us via WhatsApp, your messages are processed by Meta Platforms, Inc. in accordance with WhatsApp’s Privacy Policy. WhatsApp provides end-to-end encryption for messages. We use WhatsApp as our primary communication tool for booking confirmations, lesson reminders, and general enquiries.
Essential cookies: Our website may use essential cookies required for basic functionality such as navigation and page rendering. These cookies do not collect personal data and cannot be disabled without affecting the website’s functionality.
Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 8 below. We will respond to your request within one month, as required by law.
If you are not satisfied with how we handle your data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk or by calling 0303 123 1113.
We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected:
After the relevant retention period, your data will be securely deleted or anonymised.
We take the security of your personal data seriously and implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect it against unauthorised access, loss, destruction, or alteration. These measures include:
While we take all reasonable steps to protect your data, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but are committed to protecting your information to the best of our ability.
If you have any questions about this privacy policy, wish to exercise your data rights, or have concerns about how we handle your personal data, please contact us:
We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated “last updated” date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
Last updated: June 2025
Building local road knowledge is one of the most underestimated aspects of driver training. Knowing which junctions require extra observation, where speed limits change, and where vulnerable road users are most likely to appear turns a competent learner into a genuinely safe driver for life. DriveSQ lessons are planned around the actual roads you will drive every day after passing.
Highway Code update 2022: The Highway Code was substantially updated in January 2022 with a new hierarchy of road users placing pedestrians at the top and motorists at the bottom. Key changes include: pedestrians have priority at junctions when drivers are turning; cyclists may use the centre of a lane; and 'Dutch reach' door-opening technique is now recommended. All DriveSQ learners are taught the updated 2022 rules.
DriveSQ instructors bring nationally-accredited teaching methodology to every lesson, combined with deep local knowledge of Greater Manchester roads. Every lesson is planned to build on the previous one, creating a progressive learning journey from first drive to test-ready confidence.
Greater Manchester's road network covers over 4,500 miles of road managed across ten metropolitan boroughs. The network includes motorways (M60, M62, M56, M61, M63), A-roads of regional importance (A6, A34, A56, A57, A580), and an extensive local road grid of B-roads and unclassified roads. Understanding the network hierarchy — and the different driving demands at each level — is a key part of driver education.
Manchester's city centre road network is managed by TfGM (Transport for Greater Manchester) using a SCOOT adaptive traffic signal system that responds to real-time vehicle detector data. This means signal phases can be shorter or longer than expected — learners should always approach signals prepared to stop rather than accelerating in anticipation of a green phase.
Roundabouts are one of the most statistically safe junction types — they reduce fatal collision risk by up to 75% compared to signal-free crossroads. However, they are also one of the most commonly misunderstood features of UK roads. The fundamental rule is that circulating traffic (already on the roundabout) has priority over entering traffic. Signal use at roundabouts follows a specific code: signalling left when taking the first exit, signalling left after the last exit before your own, and keeping no signal until past the last exit for exits beyond 12 o'clock. Approaching lane selection at a roundabout should be determined by your exit direction: left-hand exits typically use the left lane, right-hand exits typically use the right lane, and 12 o'clock exits can use either lane depending on road markings. At mini-roundabouts, all vehicles must circulate clockwise but the roundabout is too small to realistically circulate — in practice, drivers yield to right and then pass over the marking if space permits. Double mini-roundabouts are treated as two separate junctions.
The independent driving section introduced in 2017 has significantly changed test preparation. Approximately 80% of independent driving is conducted using a sat-nav (a TomTom provided by the examiner). The remaining 20% uses road signs and verbal instruction from the examiner. In either case, following an incorrect turn does not automatically result in a fault — what is assessed is how safely the driver responds to having made the error, not the navigation error itself.
The green novice driver plate (displayed voluntarily by new drivers) has no legal status in England, Scotland and Wales but is widely respected by other drivers. Northern Ireland requires new drivers to display R plates for two years after passing. The DVSA recommends new drivers consider using N-plates or green P-plates for at least three months to encourage following drivers to give additional space and patience. The plate also serves as a self-reminder — research shows drivers who display a novice plate in the first months after passing drive more carefully and have fewer incidents.