May 23, 2019
   Motoring changes drivers need to know for 2019

There’s a lot for drivers to keep track of this year, increases in tax,

More ways to fail the MOT, licencing updates and emission zone charges.

Here’s our need to know changes for the year ahead.

Driving and law changes in 2019:

1.London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone

On 8th April 2019, the new Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) IN London came into effect, this replaces the previous T- charge scheme, with the hopes of improving the air quality and reducing harmful emissions in London.

The new scheme applies to most vehicles, including vans and cars. If a vehicle doesn’t meet the ULEZ emission standards its driver will need to a daily charge to drive within the area. Cars, motorcycles and vans are £12.50 a day and lorries will be £100 a day.

The new charges will apply 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The ULEZ covers the exact same area as the congestion charge and is in addition to the already in place Congestion Charge. In 2021 the zone will be extended to cover all areas that are within the boundary of the north and south circular.

 

Clean Air zones:

The Environmental Law Organisation Client Earth Issued the UK with a lawsuit for breaching EU LIMITS FOR (NO2) nitrogen dioxide, the government called for other cities to reduce emissions thus creating Clean Air Zones (CAZ).

In January 2020 Leeds and Birmingham are expected to be introducing a CAZ, Bath, Sheffield, Greater Manchester, Oxford and Glasgow are expected to be consulting or implementing similar proposals, it is also possible that after Brexit the UK may change the NO2 limits.

 

  1. Tax increases

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) in line with inflation went up in April 2019, These rises apply to all cars not just new model so for most drivers the annual cost of car tax will increase by £5. High emission car owners will be charged an additional £15, diesel owners whose vehicle doesn’t meet the RDE2 standard emissions which is mandatory in 2020, must pay tax at the higher rate. New car owners may face an extra £65 on first year car tax. Fuel duty has been frozen until April 2020 and there are no VED rises due but with the budget in November we will see….

3. New Mot rules

The government changed the rules for MOT tests in May 2018. New regulations include:

. Exemption for cars over 40 years old

. A new certificate design

. New items being tested, headlight washers, reversing lights, fluid leaks, brake pad warning lights and tyre inflation.

. New defect categories : dangerous, major, minor, advisory and pass.

. Stricter limits for emissions from diesel cars with a diesel particulate filter  (DPF)

4.Diesel surcharges for residential parking

According Car buyer the price of residential parking permits can be a postcode lottery .Some London councils have been quietly been introducing an annual diesel surcharge with the London Borough of Barnet charging up to £10 more and the London Borough of Merton a whopping £150 !

 

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May 15, 2019
Driving test pass rate is at its lowest for a decade due to harder theory questions – can you get them, right?

Only 47% of learner drivers are passing the practical exam due to changes in the theory test. Passes are at a ten-year low because theory questions have become tough to get correct.

Over the past year only 47% of learner drivers passed the theory test a fall of a quarter in ten years. Eight sample questions were given to 2,800 drivers to test how difficult the new tests were and only 11% got them all correct.

The theory test- which was introduced in 1997 has had more multiple-choice questions added, to stop pupils memorising the questions and answers they have stopped them being shown online.

Statistics according to The Department for Transport show that women have a higher pass rate then men. To test the knowledge of driving conditions, which includes extreme weather conditions i.e. snow and sleet were added (Hazard Perception).

Example Theory Questions

 

  1. Following a car collision, someone has suffered a burn. The burn needs to be cooled. Given that one of the below is correct, what’s the shortest time it should be cooled for?
  2. a) 5 minutes b) 10 minutes c) 15 minutes d) 20 minutes
  3. You’ve just passed your motor practical test. You don’t hold a full licence in another category. Within two years you get six penalty points on your licence. Given that one of the below is correct, what will you have to do?
  4. a) Retake only theory test b) Retake theory and practical tests c) Retake only practical test d) Reapply for full licence immediately
  5. Given that one of the below is correct, what colour are the reflective studs between a motorway and its slip road?
  6. a) Amber b) White c) Green d) Red 4. You wish to tow a trailer.
  7. Given that one of the below is correct, where would you find the maximum nose weight allowed on your vehicle’s tow hitch?
  8. a) In the vehicle handbook b) In the Highway Code c) In your vehicle registration certification d) In your licence documents
  9. Given that one of the below is correct, when are anti-lock brakes (ABS) most effective?
  10. a) When you keep pumping the foot brake to prevent skidding b) When you brake normally but grip the steering wheel tightly c) When you brake firmly and promptly until you’ve stopped d) When you apply the handbrake to reduce the stopping distance
  11. Given that one of the below is correct, what does the law require you to keep in good condition?
  12. a) Gears b) Transmission c) Door locks d) Seat belts
  13. You’re driving on an open road in dry weather. Given that one of the below is correct, what should the distance be between you and the vehicle in front?
  14. a) A two-second time gap b) One car length c) Two metres (6ft 6in) d) Two car lengths

The answers are at the bottom of this article

Moneysupermarket the price comparison website run a study which showed that four out of ten drivers were confident enough to pass the theory test if retaken. A third of drivers were able to identify correctly the reflective studs between the motorway and slip road as being green.

Learner drivers have to pass the theory test before they can take their practical driving test,they are asked 50 multiple choice questions and to pass must answer 43 correctly, to pass the hazard perception part they are required to answer 44 correctly out of 75 after watching clips to spot road dangers.

The Department of Transport have reported 1.34million learners took the theory test in the last year with 47.4% passing, this is the lowest percentage since 2007-2008 when figures were first published and down 48.7% in 2017-18.The pass rate in 2007-2008 was 65.4% which dropped in 2013-14 when new theory questions stopped being published online.

Answer: 1=b, 2=b, 3=c, 4=a, 5=c,6=d, 7=a

For help with practicing the hazard perception or theory questions why not use our sample papers on our website or book in with one of our trainers for one to one theory training at our head office.

 

 

 

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January 6, 2016
Motorway Lessons for Learners

Learner drivers will be given motorway experience with an instructor before they can pass their driving test under new plans announced by the government.

The Department for Transport is considering the move as a way to make sure learners are properly prepared for everyday driving before they pass their tests. Under the plans, they would be allowed to gain experience on motorways under the supervision of an approved driving instructor.

Currently motorists are only allowed on the motorway once they have passed their practical test. The possibility of learners on motorways will be explored under a £2M project of examining driver education. It will look at whether the current regime gives the best training for learner and novice drivers. Compulsory basic training for learner motorcyclists will also be reviewed.

As part of a plan of reforms known as the road safety plan, transport ministers are also planning a £50M grant for better cycling training in schools, and looking at forcing lorries to keep their sideguards to better protect cyclists.

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December 3, 2015
Passing First Time Doesn’t Make You A Safe Driver

Those who take three attempts to pass their driving test are the safest drivers on the road. By contrast, ‘overly confident’ motorists who pass their driving test first time around are most likely to be in an accident. That is because they seem to be more ‘rash’ in their behaviour and take more risks compared to more cautious drivers who may fail at their first attempt, a new report has revealed.

The report by LV= car insurance also found that those who have to take their driving test multiple times before passing are less likely to be pulled over for drink-driving or dangerous driving.

The study looked at the driving records of those who passed after one, two, three or four or more driving tests. Researchers said they uncovered a connection between the number of times a driver takes his or her practical driving test and the likelihood of being involved in an incident such as a collision or being caught driving dangerously. This is thought to be down to over-confidence. The report notes that those who fail their first test say it was largely down to nerves and lack of confidence, which while temporarily denying them a licence, ironically means they may be safer once they do pass.

Selwyn Fernandes, managing director of LV= car insurance said that those who pass first time pass because they are confident. By contrast, he said if you fail first time, you could take comfort in the fact that your natural nervousness or caution will serve you well once you get a licence.

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November 26, 2015
Further Examiner Strikes

Some driving examiners are planning to take strike action at various times from Tuesday 1st December until Friday 4th December 2015.

Some driving examiners who are members of the Public and Commercial Service (PCS) union are planning to take strike action.

PCS has planned action at various times from Tuesday 1st December until Friday 4th December 2015.

DVSA is doing all it can to make sure that tests go ahead as planned. Not all examiners are union members, and many test centres are expected to be operating as normal.

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November 19, 2015
UPDATE: Driving Examiner Strikes

There is the potential for strike action by some driving examiners on Thursday 19th and Friday 20th November 2015. The DVSA wants all instructors and their pupils to turn up for their driving test despite this.

DVSA is doing all it can to make sure that tests go ahead as planned and recommends that you turn up for your test. You’ll get details of your new appointment within 5 to 10 working days.

You can claim out-of-pocket expenses if your test is cancelled, but you must have turned up for you test to do this. If you don’t turn up for your test, you’ll have to rebook your own test and you won’t be able to claim out of pocket expenses.

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November 18, 2015
Your Reaction Age

A new test has been developed that tests your reaction age. The online game gives you a driving age from 18 to ‘a very, very old person’ based on your ability to perform an emergency stop.

The game was created by London-based start-up Justpark.com, which matches drivers with spare car parking spaces.

It places a player behind a virtual steering wheel as they begin to drive down a road. They are asked to strike a key on their keyboard as quickly as possible to perform an ‘emergency stop’ when a red stop sign appears on the screen. The driving age is then swiftly displayed on the screen.

The results are based on the results of a survey of 2,000 people aged 18 and over who were asked to play the game. The reaction time was plotted against their age. The predicted age is the age that most closely matched the age of people with that reaction time.

The company behind the game found left-handed people had better reactions times than their right-handed peers, and men were very marginally faster on the ‘brakes’ than women. Drivers who get behind the wheel at least once a week reacted more swiftly than less regular motorists, while heavy drivers who consume between 31 and 40 units of alcohol a week had slower reaction times than occasional drinkers. People who reported drinking between one and five coffees or teas a day were more alert during the test than those who avoided caffeine.

You can try out the test here.

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November 12, 2015
Driving Examiners To Strike

Driving test examiners have voted to go on strike in a row over working hours. The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) said its members had walkouts by 91% and other forms of industrial action by 96% in a turnout of 64%.

The union represents 1,600 DVSA staff at 360 sites across the UK, including driving examiners and officers who carry out vehicle and traffic safety checks. The row is over new working patterns which the union say will lead to longer shifts.

The union said it will now consider possible dates for industrial action.

Britannia Driving School will advise pupils who may be affected by this as more details are announced.

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November 9, 2015
Driving Tests And Bad Weather

The DVSA have released guidance on exams during bad weather. The main priority for the DVSA is to make sure that it’s safe to go ahead with the driving test for the candidate, other road users and the examiner. All candidates should be assessed fairly, to prove they are capable of continuing to learn without further supervision. Therefore, letting them take their test in adverse weather conditions may disadvantage them.

During the winter, driving examiners actively try to continue testing wherever possible. They will regularly check the road conditions and use areas which are unaffected. They’ll also regularly monitor local weather forecasts and use this information to make informed local decisions. This means that although early morning tests may be cancelled, there’s still a chance the afternoon appointments may go ahead.

During snowy spells, examiners have to consider issues such as visibility of road markings and general road conditions of the local area. They may also need to make some adjustments, for instance, offering to meet the candidate at a suitable location close to the test centre if the test centre car park is covered in snow.

Pupils can get in touch with DVSA and stay up to date about whether or not driving tests are going ahead by either phoning the test centre, calling the DVSA, or contacting them via social media.

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October 28, 2015
Blind Man Fulfils Driving Dream

An 88-year-old blind man has fulfilled a lifelong ambition to drive a car. John Cramond from Stranraer, South Scotland, lost his sight as a young boy and never had the opportunity to get behind the wheel until last weekend.

He mentioned his dream of driving a car to Leonard Cheshire Disability volunteer co-ordinator Bill Milven. He approached driving instructor James Edgar who has a dual control vehicle and together they hatched a plan to allow Mr Cramond the chance to drive.

Last Saturday morning Edgar took Mr Cramond to a war-time airstrip near Stranraer where he spent an hour behind the wheel. He proved to be a speedy learner and stated he was buzzing with excitement all day and couldn’t wait to tell his family.

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