Monthly Archives: July 2014

July 16, 2014
Driving Licence Records Go Online

By autumn 2014, insurers will be able to access DVLA records online due to a MyLicence initiative as part of a government pledge to transfer services online. This will lead to cheaper insurance. At the moment, insurers cannot check licence records when selling policies which leads to insurers adding in risk facts such as mistakes or lies made by drivers. This often results in premiums being slightly higher.

Once the MyLicence initiative is in place, license numbers will be used by insurers to access the necessary driving records to process their car insurance cost. An automatic check will be made to the DVLA database, giving insurers access to information such as driving points, entitlement to drive, speeding endorsements and the type of licence held.

The advantages of this system is that most customers would be able to save money on their insurance and less questions will need to be asked of them when obtaining a quote. In addition, the likelihood of mistakes being made during application will be severely reduced.

The paper counterpart to the driving licence is also turning digital and is set to be phased out by the end of 2015. The tax disc is also set to be abolished as part of this new move.

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July 15, 2014
Driving With Friends

For many young drivers, one of the best experiences they can have is passing their driving test, and pulling up outside a friends house to pick them up, and take to the roads with a car full of friends, fully enjoying the freedom driving your own car can grant you.

However many younger drivers may not be aware of the potential risks of having passengers in the car with you – particularly when they are of a similar age to yourself. Research shows that driving with peers in the car can render you up to four times as likely to have an accident, something that you certainly don’t want to be increasing the likelihood of this early in your driving career.

As the driver you are responsible for the passengers in your vehicle – make sure that everyone is wearing their seatbelt and behaving themselves in your car, otherwise you are simply putting yourself and your passengers at risk.

Safe driving from Britannia!

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July 14, 2014
A Record Number Of Theory Test Attempts

A 28-year-old woman from Southwark has spent £3,410 sitting her theory test 110 times and is still yet to pass her test. After that, she then has to attempt the practical test.

The driving theory test, costing £31 a time but set to drop down in price, comprises multiple-choice questions and a hazard perception exam.

Although no learner has come close to this incredible number of theory test attempts there a number of learners who have taken significant attempts to pass. A 41-year-old from Birmingham passed on his 80th attempt whilst a 27-year-old man from Pembrokeshire failed 64 tests and a 46-year-old male from Reading failed 61 times.

Figures from a Freedom of Information request to the DVSA also showed that even when learners managed to pass the theory test, they still struggled to master the practical exam. The highest number of practical test attempts comes from a 40-year-old man from Stoke-On-Trent who took 37 attempts to pass the practical test. A high proportion of the top 20 of highest number of practical test attempts taken come from candidates of the Heckmondwike test centre, renowed as the worst test centre. In London, Hendon and South Norwood feature with the learner taking 33 and 32 attempts respectively. The majority of these learners were aged over 35 whilst those candidates struggling with the theory test range in ages.

A DVSA spokesman stated that ‘It is essential that all drivers demonstrate they have the right skills, knowledge and attitude to drive safely.’

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July 11, 2014
Dangers of Driving with Hayfever

Most of us will prefer driving in the summer to any other time of the year – the bright nights, the hot days, no rain or snow to contend with, and of course, glorious sunshine beaming down on us, it certainly is much better than driving during the winter months.

However one aspect of summer driving many people will be aware of is the sudden onset of hay fever. Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen, which tends to be at it’s highest volume during the summer months. Approximately one in five people suffers with severe hay fever, although many more may experience mild to uncomfortable symptoms of this.

It has been suggested that driving with hay fever can impair your driving skills just as much as driving under the influence of alcohol – not only can it cause itchy and tired eyes, a runny nose, and fits of uncontrollable sneezing, which can be especially hazardous when behind the wheel, but it is also reported to have a negative effect on cognitive functions such as memory and concentration – which pose a risk to any driver as well as those in the same car or around them.

A recent study at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands has concluded that drivers suffering from hay fever show symptoms similar to those in drivers after two to three units of alcohol – which is over the legal alcohol limit when driving on UK roads.

If you do suffer from hay fever, be advised to be on alert this summer. Whilst hay fever treatment may help to temporarily relieve the symptoms, they are also known to cause drowsiness and fatigue in users, so do take these with caution. If in doubt, do not get behind the wheel until the symptoms have cleared up.

What are your thoughts on this article? Do you or any drivers you know suffer from hay fever, and does this impair your driving ability? Let us know in the comments section below!

Safe driving from Britannia!

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July 10, 2014
Calls For Change In Traffic Laws

The family of a teenager who suffered life-changing injuries when a car went through a red light and knocked her down are calling for changes to made to the law after the driver merely faces a fine and points on his licence.

The crash left Miriam Parker, then 17, was left with severe brain injury and reduced mobility. The collision occurred at a pelican crossing in Selsdon Park Road, South Croydon, on New Years Day. Parker was left in a coma for a month and, despite defying doctors’ warnings she might die, will need care for the rest of her life.

The driver, from Selsdon, last month admitted to driving without due care and attention – a charge that means he may not lose his licence. A spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service highlighted that the law only considers the standard of the defendant’s driving rather than the consequences of their actions which is why the driver could not be convicted of dangerous driving.

Parker and her mother will need to be rehoused by Sutton Council since the flat they currently live in are now unsuitable due to the block’s concrete stairs.

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July 9, 2014
The Worst Driving Experiences

Nerves make learners commit the strangest of errors. We have heard of quite a few, and I am sure we have all committed various blunders whilst learning to drive.

It is commonplace to hear of learners driving on the wrong side of the road, cutting people up on roundabouts and crossing their hands over the steering wheel. We have even heard people selecting reverse gear instead of first gear and crashing into a wall. But have you heard of the pupil saluting each time they turned the corner or the pupil who wished to take her driving lessons in an Eskimo outfit? These are all real-life stories experienced by instructors in the UK.

Driving tests have seen even stranger occurrences. One particular learner from Guildford drove straight into the river Wye at the start of her 5th driving test. The car sank, she swam ashore and the examiner, who could not swim, crawled onto the roof of the vehicle screaming for help. Another learner accidentally drove the car straight through the test centre, demolishing the building.

On another test, the blunder was committed by the examiner. The examiner was working at a different test centre to usual and went out to conduct a test. Colleagues started to get concerned after the examiner hadn’t returned in two hours. The examiner and pupil then arrived back at the test centre in a taxi. The examiner had gotten completely lost and apologised to the driving instructor that he had no idea where his car was.

Do you know of any strange stories surrounding driving tests and lessons? Send your views to Britannia Driving School by using the comments link below:

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July 8, 2014
Ambulance Drivers to Take Driving Lessons

Many drivers are well aware of the presence of emergency vehicles on the road. With their flashing blue and red lights, and screeching sirens wailing from half way down the road, we are taught as driving pupils to notice these from as far off as possible, and to allow them to pass wherever is possible.

If only they were just as cautious.

Ambulance bosses at East Midlands Ambulance Service have decided to draft in a series of driving instructors to train their ambulance drivers in the skill of driving, after a recent amount of road traffic accidents involving the vehicles.

In the year running up to April 5th, over 400 incidents were recorded of ambulances colliding with other vehicles – however even this figure was down from 462 the previous year. The cost of these mishaps totalled over £400,000.

In light of these shocking figures, a team of skilled driving instructors has been called in to help improve the skill of those behind the wheel of ambulances, to reduce the number of collisions, and to reduce the bill of funding repairs to other vehicles.

A review of the situation revealed that the most common flaw was ambulance drivers leaving the hand-brake off – followed closely by clipping wing mirrors, bumping into parked cars, and poor reversing technique.

Whilst it is true that ambulance drivers are often required to drive in high-risk situations, it is surely a great idea to help improve the amount of accidents caused by these vehicles.

What are your thoughts on this article? Sound off in the comments section below!

Safe driving from Britannia!

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July 7, 2014
Driving Test Superstitions

Many learners are resorting to various rituals in the hope they pass their practical test. One particular student’s mother cracked an egg on every tyre before the test whilst another pupil spent the last lesson prior to the test parking up and standing on drain covers every time she spotted them in pairs.

These rituals may seem far-fetched but both students passed.

A driving instructor has been reported to make sure his cuddly monkey toy is safely strapped in for every test. He also gets his pupils to book tests in the morning.

Other anecdotes include a pupil wearing the same T-shirt on her test that she wore when she gave birth to her daughter.

With the number of first-time passes falling, the message is ‘if at first you don’t succeed, try again’. One 24-year-old pupil even took 24 attempts before passing her test and was one of either Britons who have racked-up at least 20 tests by the end of 2013 according to the DVSA.

In the end, it is good driving that will ensure a learner passes. However, if superstitions ease the nerves, then this can’t be harmless.

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July 4, 2014
Intensive Courses: Are They For Me?

The debate is ongoing as to the nature of an intensive driving course – many people argue that it is much more beneficial to experience all of one’s driving tutorship in one large block, whereas others will contest that this puts too much strain on the learner and is not as efficient as a steady stream of individual lessons over a prolonged period of time.

So how do we know who is right? Should you go for the “normal” route of learning to drive, or should you take an Intensive Driving Course and get it all over and done with faster?

The truth is, it depends entirely on the learner. Some pupils will enjoy the idea of one large block of learning, and find that they will absorb information better when it comes at a much faster rate. However this style of learning is really only suited to those who can pick up information fast, and can handle high pressure situations – if you would not consider yourself one of these, then perhaps an Intensive Course is not for you.

On the other hand, many people find it more beneficial to take their time to learn to drive, as this allows them to learn at their own pace, over a series of driving lessons. If you are not in a particular rush to get behind the wheel, and would like to learn in a more relaxed manner, then the traditional route of driving lessons may well be the better choice for you.

Safe driving from Britannia!

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July 3, 2014
When To Take Your Lessons

It is very common for learners to be fitting their lessons into a schedule around school or work. The result of this is that learners will tend to take their lessons at the same time each day and even the same days each week.

This is not the productive way to take lessons since you must get used to all driving conditions to prepare you for the road. Over the course of the day, there are a number of different conditions – quiet roads in the early morning, the rush hour commute, steady daytime traffic, the evening rush-hour and night-time.

It is important to experience all these conditions before going for your practical test. In particular, tests take place during the day and so only having lessons in the evenings will not prepare you for the conditions when you take your test. Even if you work during the week, most driving instructors work weekends and so you should be able to take a lesson in the weekend in addition to your evening lessons during the week.

If you can experience as many conditions as possible once taking your lessons, you will become a much more confident driver once you pass.

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