Monthly Archives: June 2015

June 9, 2015
Cars to Detect Drunk Drivers

Smart cars are paving the way for the future of drink-driving prevention – By refusing to allow a person who has been drinking to drive them.

The revolutionary technology, titled DADSS (Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety) works via a breathaliser mounted on the steering wheel as well as an intelligent engine “Start” button that is capable of detecting alcohol in the drivers blood via an infared light.

These will operate passively – Meaning that as the driver breathes normally, or attempts to start the car whilst under the influence of alcohol, the car will refuse to start.

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

Safe driving from Britannia!

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June 8, 2015
Changes Come Into Force Today

Today, the paper counterpart to the photocard driving licence will no longer be valid or issued by the DVLA.

Here are the ways the changes could affect you:

If you already hold a paper counterpart, it no longer has any legal status. You should destroy your paper counterpart, but you still need to keep your current photocard licence.

If you hold a paper licence which was issued before the photocard was introduced in 1998, this will remain valid and should not be destroyed. If you need to update your name, address or renew your licence, you will be issued with a photocard only.

If you drive for a living and are asked to provide evidence of your driving record, you can do this online for free by accessing the Share Driving Licence service. The service should be used by both paper and photocard licence holders. You can generate a “check code” to pass to the person that needs to view your licence details.

If you will be hiring a car and are asked for evidence of what vehicles you can drive or confirmation of any penalty points, you can request a unique code from www.gov.uk which allows you to share your licence details or download a summary of your record.

What are your thoughts on this article? Send your views to Britannia Driving School by using the comments link below:

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June 5, 2015
Car Hire Headaches

As summer rapidly approaches, many of us will be planning our holidays for the coming weeks and months, and along with this comes the task of hiring a car when on your holidays – not an easy task for anyone who has experience of this!

Due to changes being made from Monday 8th June onwards, the paper driving license counterpart will become invalid – And as the information regarding your license will be held only on the DVLA’s computerised system, when you rent your car whilst abroad the rental company will need to access your details online.

All sounds simple, right? Not quite.

To enable this, you will need to order a special code from the DVLA website, using your driving license number, National Insurance Number and Postcode – However this code can only be used for 72 hours after being generated, so you will need to order it just before you travel.

From Monday onwards, we expect to hear tales from the headache of renting cars abroad – Let us know if this includes you in the comments below!

Safe driving from Britannia!

 

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June 3, 2015
Why are some test centres tougher than others?

It is 80 years since driving tests became compulsory for all new drivers in Britain, but why does it matter where you take the test?

Every learner driver goes through the same motions when going for their test. The nerves, ensuring you have the right documents, your last run through with your instructor before you go into the test centre. Pass and you are greeted with freedom, career prospects and that rewarding pink licence that you can show off. Fail and you have to wait just that bit longer for that rewarding moment, and the pressure of the day can even put people off trying again.

In recent years the number of people requiring 3, 4, 5 or even more tests in order to pass seems to be increasing and a lot attribute it to the test getting hard. But with some test centres boasting pass rates well in excess of that national average, does it matter where you take your test? In short, the answer is no since the DVSA states that examiners are regularly assessed to ensure tests are consistent across the country.

However, the case is more complicated than this. Learners in rural areas are effectively learning test routes in a fairly predictable environment. That way, there will be no nasty surprises. The opposite is the case in major cities as the situation is constantly changing with multiple hazards. Figures show that the lowest pass rate was in Belvedere in London with a pass rate of just 32.2% whilst the highest pass rate is in Isle of Mull, off the coast of Scotland with an 80% pass rate.

Shona from Britannia Driving School says ‘Driving tests in London are harder but this gives pupils a more varied experience, providing them with the skills to tackle all kinds of situations. The driving tests used by our pupils have pass rates above the national average and are the highest rates in the London area.’

What are your thoughts on this article? Send your views to Britannia Driving School by using the comments link below:

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June 2, 2015
Private Driving Practice

When learning to drive, one of the main things people discuss is the topic of driving instructors – How to choose the right instructor, how many lessons to have, when to book the Theory and Practical Tests – But one point many often overlook is the subject of learning to drive with private practice.

Even  professional bodies such as the DVLA highly recommend supplementing your professional driving lessons with some private lessons, as this helps to get the best of both worlds in your experience of learning to drive. But there are some thing to look out for:

Firstly always make sure that your private practice is legal – You can’t just jump into a friend or family members car and start driving! You need to have correct learner insurance on any vehicle before being allowed to drive it, and you will also need to sit with another driver in the passenger seat who is 21 or older with a minimum of 3 years driving experience.

Safe driving from Britannia!

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