Author Archives: Kerry Smith

Driving safe during hot weather

Driving during the hot weather can be some what uncomfortable, especially with British summer the weather can be unpredictable and temperatures can soar up to the mid 30s during heatwaves. There are a few ways you can make it cooler for yourself whilst driving during hot weather spells such as:

  • Keeping clothing light and airy – To avoid overheating
  • Suitable footwear – Driving in flip flops the rule states you must have footwear and clothing which “does not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner”. If you’re in an accident and the police see that you have flip flops on, or no shoes at all, you may be found to be “driving without due care and attention”.
  • Taking a cold bottle of water with you – To help cool you down internally
  • Avoiding long journeys – To avoid becoming hot and tired
  • Using air con when available appose to opening windows – As air coming in from the windows will be hot
  • Using a heat shield when the car is not in use – To block the sun from heating up the car when not in use
  • Using a sun shade for kids – To help keep them cool and keep the direct sun off them
  • Using cooling sprays – To mist over yourself if you feel yourself becoming too hot
  • Wear sun glasses – To avoid becoming dazed particularly by the low morning and evening sun
  • Never leave pets or children in a hot car unattended
  • Apply sun cream before setting off on a long journey – The sun’s rays can penetrate the windows of your car
  • Choose cooler times to travel – Not between the hottest hours 12-3pm
  • Try and choose routes that may have less traffic – To reduce unnecessary time spent in your vehicle

Also you must remember to also keep your vehicle safe as well by making sure your car is well serviced,the hot weather basically exacerbates any faults already present in the vehicle. Keep your vehicle topped up with fluids, including screen wash and clearing those summer pests from the window screen. Keeping a bottle of water for your car could also be a valuable asset should you need it to cool your car down in extreme heat or long journeys. Also something to bare in mind after a heatwave is Highway Code rule 237 also states: ‘If it rains after a dry spell [the road surface] may become slippery. These conditions could affect your steering and braking’. After all this is the Great British Summer time and it can be quite lets say unpredictable .. So summer showers are to be expected so remember the roads will be more slippery than in typical wet conditions.

When the weather’s nice and warm, your car’s fuel levels drop a lot quicker than usual. This means you can’t rely on your normal estimations of how much time you have left before needing to fill up, so keeping your car fuel levels good insures you the security that you wont be left stranded somewhere you aren’t familiar with in the boiling heat.

Part 3 of ADI – Lesson Planning Secrets

Part 3 of ADI – Lesson Planning Secrets

Re cap and Set Goals with Student

In the car, ask the student what they did in the previous lesson and how they felt it went. We could ask them to rate themselves on a scale of 0 to 10. Talk about what didn’t go so well. Inquire about their objectives for this lesson.

Determine Your Goals and Objectives

Discuss how you intend to share risk with your student (verbally by mentioning it in Questions and Answers).

Discuss Other Driving and how your lesson plan may need to be changed.

When Examiner enters the car, you must briefly explain your objectives and goals, as well as what you hope to achieve from this lesson.

On the road, make sure your teaching method is based on the question-and-answer method. If a serious error occurs, you may have to stop the car and explain it to the student for no more than two to three minutes. The goal is to keep the car moving by asking questions early on to guide the student.

Remember, this is a proper driving lesson, so mention anything that has gone wrong rather than just sticking to your stated subject. Remember that if something serious or dangerous occurs, you may need to change the lesson plan.

Identify and analyse flaws (what caused the fault, the dangers of making such a fault and how you are going to put that fault right). You don’t have to stop your learner from cutting a right-hand corner. Explain the dangers of cutting a right-hand corner, why the student did it, and how they’ll fix it. Ask them what position they’ll take and what reference they’ll utilise. If that succeeds, ask if they want full responsibility to test if they can turn correctly. This strategy works for prompting and independence. End the class with a 3-minute summary. Ask how they did, if they scored themselves, what went well, what didn’t, and what they want to do in the next lesson.

Please remember to avoid subjects such as controls lessons, moving off and stopping, and turning from left to right from major to minor junctions. Manoeuvres: While a manoeuvre can be included in a lesson, it should not be the primary focus. The Examiner will confirm that the test will last 45 minutes, of which 40 minutes the wheels should be turning.

Changes to Part 3 and Standards Check

Many processes and procedures have been changed to protect examiners and their clients.

  • The test’s start and end times are set by the examiner.
  • The instructor can choose a different meeting location within 5 minutes of the test centre.
  • The 45-minute exam has 40 minutes of “wheels moving.”

The examiner will confirm any such arrangements via telephone. When they contact you, they will confirm whether your student is:

  • Undertrained
  • Trained
  • Full License Holder

An introductory or static instruction is UNACCEPTABLE. Keeping the car moving and ventilated during the evaluation is recommended.

The examiner will see a portion of your lesson with this student. BEFORE the inspector enters the car, you must:

  • Set a goal
  •  Agreed on a lesson plan that accommodates client preferences
  • Selected an appropriate route/region
  • Determined your duties and responsibilities in relation to the objective
  • Discussed risk management

It is then your responsibility to summarise what you have talked with the examiner in no more than two to three minutes!

Take your time with the goal setting/risk/roles and responsibilities, as there are no time constraints, but keep in mind that if this is not done correctly, it will become apparent as the course progresses! You will still be evaluated on ALL 17 COMPETENCIES!!

Go!

If a PDI/ADI takes too much time speaking or briefing, the examiner will tell them to “get moving.” If the PDI/ADI stays still, the examiner won’t mark the evaluation as satisfactory, you won’t get a score, and your exam fee will be forfeited.

Wheels should remain turning, but you can stop if something is wrong and benefits your consumer or if something harmful has happened.

Limit analysis and feedback.

Discuss a safety issue with three questions.

How come? (Why)

WHY If not near them, risks.

How to improve next time (What could you do differently)

Take them about and assign positions and duties. If the customer is comfortable addressing topics on the go, a short analysis can be done. It’s better to find someone who can accomplish this than someone who wants to chat.

The client can reflect on their performance at the end of the session, but just for 1-2 minutes!

Just three questions will do.

What worked

What went wrong

  • What do you want to work on next time?

Remember, this is your interview to become a driving instructor or stay on the list.

Types of lessons include:

Dual carriageways could be your platform, and your goal could be “entering dual carriageways, getting the speed right, and selecting where to safely combine.”

Find a location with many on-off and looping slip roads to give students lots of learning opportunities.

As a platform, roundabouts demand speed and discernment.

A busy circular loop to test your decision-making skills. As a platform, use country roads; watch speed, gear, and limit points on curves.

Ideal for a FLH to acquire confidence on bends and gear selection, etc.

The following will be checked:

  • Learning happens
  • The car is safe.
  • Value is good.

Frank Eustace, the trainer for Britannia, states, “The majority of candidates who fail Part 3 do so because they fail to plan the driving lesson. You’ve heard the adage, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” This is especially true when teaching people to drive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Driving Tests being sold in the UK for an astonishing £200!

 

 

 

Driving tests in the UK have reached an at all time high in cost, due to the DVSA backlog. An ever increasing number of hopefuls are being fear led into paying this astronomical price in the hope of being fast tracked into priority booking. This service is being provided by online operators taking advantage of the growing number of learner drivers willing to pay over double to try and book a test date before the end of the year.

According to a BBC investigation, companies are using automated computer software to monitor part of the DVSA system meant for driving schools, and grabbing test slots as soon as new dates are added or existing bookings are cancelled.

The DVSA announced last month that learners could be waiting until 2023 to get a test date booked in, which has only fueled more learners into seeking this alternative extortionately high price option. The DVSA have stated that the covid-19 pandemic is to blame for these long delays and shortage of test dates. The delays have a knock on effect with many hopeful drivers’ theory tests will either have expired or be close to the expiry date, adding extra costs due to many aspiring drivers will now have to re take there theory test which could have a domino effect on the theory test waiting time.

The DVSA state on there website :

“We are also exploring options temporarily to contract in experienced driving assessors to qualify as driving examiners.

The Royal Society of the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) have offered to support us as we explore the feasibility of this opportunity.

We’ll keep you up to date on this area of work as it develops.”

 

Learner drivers are being urged not to book with these operating services and to only book through the DVSA website, the prices for test are:

£62 for a week day

£75 for a weekend or bank holiday

Unofficial operators and resellers are taking advantage of hopefuls by charging the extortionate prices, some may even be scams so be warned to not take up these offers no matter how appealing they may seem at the time as they may only lead to further disappointment and ultimately could be a pricey mistake to make.

Rebecca at Britannia said:

“We are getting an increasing amount of calls daily from learner drivers who have managed to get a booking through these companies usually a cancellation that the unofficial operators have obtained, but we are unable to accommodate these last minute bookings, as they are usually unaware that an instructor needs to take me them out on a few lessons to check they are test ready and road safe before committing to taking them to test.”

On our website we have a range of different resources to help you with preparing for the theory test and driving test.

Do You Have What It Takes To Be An Independent Driving Instructor?

Should you work for a franchise or go it alone? Each has advantages and disadvantages, ranging from the freedom of being your own boss to joining a ready-made brand – like Britannia Driving School – where you can concentrate on developing yourself as an instructor.

It takes time and effort to build your own business and create a decent customer portfolio; by joining a franchise, you won’t have to worry about these things.

If you need to earn money quickly and have a full diary, a franchise with a well-established driving school like Britannia may be the better option. If you want to work 40 hours per week and earn a monthly salary, joining a franchise could be a good option; going independent takes time to establish.

 

 

If you’re considering joining a franchise, keep in mind that a school with a high-profile office location, a robust online presence, friendly office staff, and a track record of satisfied customers will all help to draw in new students and keep you busy on a consistent basis. Britannia Driving School provides consistency, which is a rare commodity. Working from home schools cannot possibly provide the same level of work, services, or backup.

Being on your own in any business is difficult, so it may be worthwhile to spend time as a part of a Driving School before deciding to go independent. It is critical to have a solid business plan in place before committing to becoming an independent. This business plan will entail much more than simply creating your own website and placing advertisements in store windows – though this could always be a part of your plan.

Advertisements on search engines like Google and Yahoo are not free. You can display them for free, but you must pay every time someone clicks on it. It works similarly to a bidding system in that you set a price for how much you are willing to pay per click, and bidders who offer the highest price have their advertisement displayed in the highest position. The issue is that because online marketing avenue is the preferred method for most businesses, you must pay a premium to have your advertisement prioritised. Close to £9.50 per click on the front two pages.

If you’ve been in the industry for a while before going independent, you may have developed a network of contacts through teaching, attending events, and/or being a member of membership organisations. Extending your expertise beyond in-car training (for example, motorcycles and/or vans) will result in more work and excellent opportunities for an independent trainer.

Costs can mount when you go it alone. To begin, you’ll need to decide on a company name and a phone number for your new venture. An entry-level receptionist will set you back at least £10.00 an hour at the bare minimum. What areas you intend to cover and how you intend to promote your business and the cost of advertising.

Keep in mind that you may not immediately set prices at the initial figure you have in mind. As a new business, you may initially gain customers by setting a low price to compete but be aware that if your price is too low, you may not be making a profit.

As you are aware, adding fuel to your car is not cheap, nor is the upkeep and repair of wear and tear that occurs over time due to the heavy workload of driving instructors’ cars, so these are additional factors to consider when setting your prices. Cleaning your car may not be expensive, but it does take time. Time, as the adage goes, is money.

 

Top Tips for Reducing Driving Lesson Cancellation

Top Tips for Reducing Driving Lesson Cancellations

Tip #1:  Be Direct

Consider the students, especially the teenagers, who do not have to pay to cancel a dentist, medical, or hairdresser appointment. So why does their driving instructor want to be reimbursed for a lesson that they did not provide? Don’t expect them to be clairvoyant or to just read your cancellation policies on your website or on the back of an appointment card. Spend a few minutes on the first lesson emphasising and explaining the importance of giving 48 hours’ notice if they need to cancel. Explain in a courteous manner how it may affect your budget if they cancel at the last minute. At the same time, promise them that if you must cancel the lesson, you will reimburse them as well. This establishes trust and demonstrates your honesty. Finish by simply asking for their understanding: “Are we okay with that?” Ignore this first tip at your peril. If you ignore this advice, don’t be surprised if a student calls a few hours before their class to cancel and gets a little shirty when you tell them they must pay for the lesson.

Tip #2: Provide them with an appointment card

If you wish to enforce payment for cancellations, you must provide a student with an appointment card and make them aware of the terms and conditions on the card. Cancellations might be difficult to enforce at times, but if a dependable client has a legitimate cause for cancelling, waiving the cancellation on that occasion can make good economic sense. You don’t want to lose a dependable client because you charged her for a class while she was in the hospital with her child.

Tip #3 – Don’t make an excuse for them

It’s a good idea to waive the lesson cost if a student is legitimately ill or in hospital, but don’t inform them ahead of time because they’ll use this excuse every time, they can’t be bothered with their driving lesson.

Tip #4 – Schedule regular lesson times

Keeping the same time and day for students as much as feasible might help lessen the likelihood of them cancelling. With the same time, the student can schedule the remainder of their week around their lessons. When lessons are moved around frequently, it is simple for students to forget when their session was or to double schedule that lesson time with other commitments. Keep in mind that if you keep altering the lesson schedule from week to week, they’ll expect you to allow them to do the same.

Tip #5 – Be Dependable

It is critically significant. Treat your students as you would like to be treated. So, if you want your students to be dependable, you must set a good example. You might want to ask your pupil if they can do the lesson earlier because someone else has cancelled, or if they can do it on a different day because you don’t want to go out for just one lesson that afternoon. If you believe it is reasonable to expect others to adjust their plans to accommodate you, they will expect the same in return!

Tip #6: Do not call them to confirm driving lessons

People may consider cancelling their class but do not contact you and will do the lesson if you simply show up. However, if you call to confirm the lesson, you are providing individuals an easy way to cancel on you.

Britannia Driving School Wimbledon SW20 8LB manager, Ms. K. Smith, stated: “Our instructors are issued with Appointment Cards containing our terms and conditions on the reverse side, which they deliver to all their learners on the first lesson. As a result, we experience many fewer cancellations than other Driving schools.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Will the last person to pass a manual driving test be born in the next 5 years?

Predictions have been made that the last person who will pass a manual driving test will likely be born in 2027 as Britain makes the switch to electric cars. This comes after research showed half of the new cars sold in 2021 were automatics, totaling 30% of cars on the road. The number of automatic tests being taken rose to 41% in 2021. It looks as though the UK is heading towards the new age of automatic cars, which has been spurred on by the petrol and diesel new vehicles ban being implemented in 2030.

 

Currently manual cars account for a whooping 70% of the 3.7 million cars on Britain’s roads, but new research showed over half of new cars sold were automatic compared to only 20% a decade ago. Half of the 2.2 million people who learnt to drive in an automatic car are under 35, providing evidence that younger drivers are the main driving force towards a more eco-friendly drive.Young people are also making the biggest waves in the move away from manual petrol or diesel cars, as currently half of all electric vehicles on the road are owned by people aged under 35.

Power supply connect to electric vehicle for charge to the battery. Charging technology industry transport which are the futuristic of the Automobile. EV fuel Plug in hybrid car.

Ian Exworth, director of emerging markets at Direct Line, said:

‘The idea of switching from a manual car may be daunting, and nearly three fifths of motorists do not feel entirely confident about switching to automatic.

‘But with eight years to go until the ban comes into effect; we’d encourage motorists to keep an open mind and explore their options when choosing a new car.

‘The change from manual to automatic, and then on to electric, may not be as drastic as people think.’

 

GB number plate sticker: What do Brits use abroad now after rule change?

Is the GB number plate sticker still valid abroad?

No, the UK must now remove old-style GB stickers or cover them up.

Now they should display a UK sticker or have the UK identifier on their number plate.

The UK government guidance has been in place since Tuesday, September 28th 2021.

The change was made to include Northern Ireland in the wake of Brexit because Great Britain refers only to England, Wales and Scotland.

What should Brits use when driving outside of the UK?

The new rules state that any driver with a GB sticker on their car now needs to replace it with a new UK one if they are driving abroad.

Drivers need to display a UK sticker clearly on the rear of your vehicle if your number plate has any of the following:

  • A  GB identifier with the Union flag
  • A Euro symbol
  • A national flag of England, Scotland or Wales
  • A numbers and letters only – no flag or identifier

  • What should be done with old-style GB stickers?

    GB stickers should be removed from the car or covered up.

    If you have a number plate that includes the Union Jack you will not need a sticker.

    Drivers also need to remember that number plates featuring the blue band and letters GB next to the European golden stars are no longer valid.

    The stickers only cost a few pounds and can be purchased online or at stores selling motors accessories, such as Halfords, Post Office, or in garages.

Is it safe to keep a container of fuel in my car?

HOARDERS have been filling up jerry cans at petrol stations across the country amid the fuel crisis.

But they could be breaking the law by stockpiling in their boot. Here is everything you need to know.

Motorists can legally store up to 30 litres of petrol in a maximum of two suitable containers in their vehicles.

But it must be kept away from the passenger compartment and in suitable portal petrol storage containers.

This means plastic petrol containers up to 10 litres in capacity, metal petrol containers up to 20 litres, or demountable fuel tanks up to 30 litres.

The caps on containers should be secured tightly during transmit to prevent them from leaking.

And fire services recommend not filling to the brim as fuel expands and vapour can build up in warm weather.

Despite being legal, the Health and Safety Executive advices not to store petrol unless you absolutely have to.

And there is a grey area in the law, as police can deem your container as a “dangerous load” or “may be hazardous”.

The AA has also previously said it was “desperately worried” about people storing petrol and diesel in their cars, which is described as “incredibly, incredibly dangerous”.

A spokesperson said Brits shouldn’t even contemplate storing it at all”.

Drivers have about three months from filling up a container before the quality of the petrol starts to degrade.

If in a sealed container at 20C, petrol can have a shelf life of six months, or three months if at 30C, according to the RAC.

The heat it is exposed to, the more quickly it will go off.

Diesel on the other hand can remain usable for between six and 12 months.

If a car with fuel in the tank hasn’t been driven for six months or so, experts recommend getting it drained at a garage as it could damage for car.

Brits can store up to 30 litres of petrol at home or non-workplace premises without informing their local Petroleum Enforcement Authority (PEA).

But it must be stored in a suitable portable metal or plastic container, one demountable fuel tank, or a combination of the two, providing it remains below 30 litres.

There are also strict rules on whereabouts it can be stored at home due to petrol being highly flammable.

The Health and Safety Executive dictates it must not be kept in living accommodation and it must have a direct exit to open air and ventilation.

No ignition sources, excessive heat or sunlight should be present, and there should be no smoking or naked lights in the vicinity.

Containers should also be kept out of reach of children and animals.

 

Always decant fuel in the open air – not inside a garage or shed – and use a pouring spout or funnel.

An HSE spokesperson said: “Petrol is a dangerous substance; it is a highly flammable liquid that gives off vapour which can easily be set on fire and when not handled safely has the potential to cause a serious fire and/or explosion.

“This means there is the risk of serious personal injury if petrol is stored or used in an unsafe way.”

An empty container that previously held petrol may also be unsafe because of the fumes that remain, so ensure you keep the cap securely fastened and follow the same advice for storing petrol.

Despite it being legal, several fire and rescue teams from across the UK have warned Brits against storing petrol at home.

A spokesperson for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service said: “We strongly advise against the storing of petrol and diesel due to their high flammability.

“Because of the fire risks they should be stored in approved containers, in a well-ventilated area, and never inside the home.”

And the RAC warns: “There is always a risk when storing flammable liquid, so for the average driver, keeping fuel at home isn’t advisable.”

Safety Checks Now Autumn is upon us.

It’s the equinox, and as the darkness draws earlier into our evenings, it is important to ensure that your van lights work correctly 🔆
Before any journey we would advise checking that:
✅ all lights and indicators work correctly
✅ all lenses are present, clean and are the right colour
✅ stop lamps come on when the service brake is applied and go out when released
✅ marker lights are present and work
Drivers behind the wheel of cars with faulty headlights could be fined up to £1,000 if they’re pulled over by the police.Shockingly, around 7 per cent of drivers admitted to never checking that their lights are in working order.

Failing to keep your headlights in a decent condition can affect its brightness, which can drastically impact your ability to see at night and during winter conditions.

Under the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989, “No person shall use … on a road a vehicle unless every lamp, reflector, rear marking and device … is in good working order and, in the case of a lamp, clean.”

  1. Turn on your car and switch on the headlights
  2. To ensure they are in working condition, wait until dark and park your car on an even surface facing a wall.
  3. Walk around to the front of the vehicle and make sure the lights are bright and working.
  4. If one bulb is dimmer or blown, you may need to replace both bulbs as the other is likely to follow shortly.
  5. If replacing the bulbs doesn’t work, the issue is most likely a fault connection which will need to be repaired by a mechanic.”We realise that replacing blown bulbs on vehicles is not easy and have designed our own service to provide a helping hand for motorists who need to replace their blown bulbs.

    “Cars with defective lights can cause a danger on the roads, so it is important that you check your bulbs regularly and change them if needed.

 

Drivers urged to check dashboard warning lights or face ‘£500 repair costs’ – here’s 30 signs you NEED to know about

DRIVERS have been urged to check their dashboards for warning lights or they could end up facing up to £500 in repair costs, it has been revealed.

Research into 2,000 motorists found 60 percent do not understand what their warning lights mean and a third have no intention of addressing them any time soon.

Of these, 43 per cent claim there are too many warnings to fathom, and 30 per cent have no idea what action to take when they appear.

Notifications that windscreen washer fluid running low are likely to be ignored for the longest, closely followed by the fuel light, faults with the rear fog lights, and tyre pressure.

And more than one in 10 have found themselves in a bit of a pickle as a direct result of ignoring the warning lights – either by breaking down on the road, having to pay repair bills or being stopped by the police.

Other issues experienced by motorists after turning a blind eye to their warning lights include stalling in traffic, failing their MOT and suffering a punctured tyre.

A spokesperson for Vertu Motors, which commissioned the research, said: “As many drivers are now back on the roads, it’s vital not to ignore your warning lights on your vehicle’s dashboard as this may lead to serious consequences in the long run.

“What’s more concerning is that several drivers only understand some of the warning lights on their dashboard.

“It’s crucial people read up on what their warning lights mean so they can respond with the appropriate action.”

The research also found a third of adult motorists are unsure what action to take when they see a warning light appear, regardless of what it is.

TOP 30 WARNING LIGHTS BRITISH DRIVERS IGNORE ON THEIR DASHBOARD:

1.           Windscreen washer fluid level

2.           Low fuel level

3.           Replace car key battery

4.           Seatbelt buckles

5.           Rear fog lights

6.           Tyre pressure monitoring

7.           Rain and light sensor

8.           Lane assist – system fault

9.           Doors

10.         Bulb monitoring

11.         Boot lid

12.         Key not in vehicle

13.         Airbag and seatbelt system

14.         Engine management warning light

15.         Emissions control light

16.         Engine oil level

17.         Tower hitch

18.         Rear spoiler

19.         Convertible roof

20.         Engine oil pressure

21.         Headlight range control

22.         Brake lights

23.         Recharge adblue

24.         Air suspension

25.         Steering lock

26.         Electronic stability programme

27.         Brake system

28.         Adaptive light system

29.         Bonnet

30.         Anti-lock brake system

Worryingly, six in 10 adults polled don’t know what it means when a green alert appears on their dashboard, with 21 per cent assuming it means something needs servicing.

While 31 per cent of drivers don’t know a red alert means there is a serious problem, with one in 20 assuming it means the car system is operating as normal.

But when motorists do pay attention to the dashboard and its symbols, 34 per cent will first refer to the vehicle’s manual for the next steps.

Around a quarter will pull their car from the road to a safe location to assess the situation while 18 per cent immediately take their vehicle to the garage for inspection.

For instant advice, 32 per cent call on their partner to help with understanding their warning lights while only 12 per cent reach out to the parents for assistance.

But the study, via OnePoll, found 23 per cent of drivers are guilty of ignoring their warning lights as they fear they won’t be able to afford the repairs – with those who have been hit with a bill forking out an average of £500.

A further 27 per cent will only tend to their vehicle’s servicing when it has actually broken down, or the car won’t start.

A spokesman for Vertu Motors added: “There’s a clear link between the time it takes for people to tend a warning light and the cost associated with repairs, which is why most drivers find it a bothersome task to do.

“But to protect yourself, your vehicle, and others on the roads, it’s important to cover all the checks to ensure your car is running as smoothly as possible.

“If you’re unsure on what to do, there are plenty of useful guides and resources online from the get-go.”