May 4, 2015
Provisional Licence Facts

The first step to gaining a full UK licence is to apply for a provisional licence. This can be done either online (which costs £34) or by posting off the hard copy form, which can be obtained from the Post Office, to the DVLA (which costs £43). In Great Britain, you have to be at least 15 years, nine months old to apply for a provisional licence but you can’t start taking lessons or attempt your theory test until you are at least 17.

Once you have applied to the DVLA, you will receive your provisional licence through the post. This currently comes in the form of a photocard and paper counterpart but from June 2015, learners will receive only the photocard as the counterpart is phased out.

To get your provisional driving licence you must meet the minimum age and eyesight requirements and live in Great Britain.

The photocard is only valid for 10 years, however. Most learners pass before the provisional expires. However, if you do leave a long gap in your lessons or don’t take lessons on your provisional, you will need to renew it after 10 years. You will get a reminder to renew from the DVLA. This again can either be done online (at a cost of £14) or by post (at a cost of £17).

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April 22, 2015
Counterpart abolition update

From 8th June 2015, DVLA will no longer issue the paper counterpart to the photocard driving lessons. This means from that date, existing paper counterparts will no longer be valid and the DVSA is advising drivers to destroy their counterpart after this date. Drivers who hold a paper only driving licence (issued in 1998) remain valid and should not be destroyed.

The abolition of the counterpart campaign materials provide targeted messages to specific customer segments, notably, hiring a vehicle and professional driving such as for driving instructors.

The additional information contains advice for individuals and business who currently check the counterpart of their employees or customers. The materials also offer advice to people who may need to provide evidence of their record after 8 June 2015.

The communication toolkit is available online.

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April 2, 2015
Identifying the speed limit

It is common for drivers to not realise what the speed limit is, so here is a handy guide to help you figure it out in the absence of signs:

Roads with regular street lighting usually have a speed limit of 30mph unless it is indicated otherwise such as with a sign. If there’s no street lighting, but a 30mph limit is in place. 30mph repeater signs are used to remind drivers of the limit. Where there is street lighting, but a limit other than 30mph applies, repeater signs are also used to show the speed limit.

Where there’s no street lighting, the speed limit for cars and motorcycles is usually 60mph for single-carriageway roads and 70mph for dual-carriageway roads. This is known as the national speed limit. Single and dual carriageways are defined by the presence of a central reservation – those without are single carriageways.

Don’t treat the national speed limit as a target speed. You may drive up to this speed, if the conditions allow you to do so safely. You should take into account the time of day, the weather conditions and other drivers, and then drive at an appropriate speed.

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March 26, 2015
New Safety Measures On French Roads

France has introduced a range of road safety measures including the lowering of the driving age and drink-drive limits.

Twenty-six measures have been introduced including the lower of the driving age to 15 from the current age of 16. Following the probationary period, the driving test can now be taken at 17 and a half rather than 18.

In addition, there will be trials of a reduced speed limit from 90 to 80 kmph on secondary two-way roads with poor safety records and parking within five metres of pedestrian crossing will be banned. The measures also include the lowering of the drink-drive limit for 18-24 year-olds to 0.2% g/l of blood – the equivalent of a small glass of wine or a small beer – and there will be trials of mouth swab drug detection tests.

The use of earphones and earpieces with mobile phones for hands-free calls in cars is now banned if they “reduce drivers’ auditory attention”. The changes also include improvement of road infrastructure safety including lowering the risk of driving the wrong way on the motorway with the installation of no-entry signs on a retro-reflecting background at turnoffs and the modernisation of 4,200 radars.

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March 23, 2015
Paper Counterpart Scrapped in June

From June, the paper counterpart of the licence will be replaced with a new online system that holds details of all licensed drivers. The two-part licensing scheme which requires drivers to carry both a photocard and the green paper counterpart which lists nay penalty points or endorsements has only been in force for 17 years but is now to be scrapped.

New drivers will cease to be given the paper counterpart of the licence from June when the new system comes into effect.

However, there is widespread criticism of this change with many arguing the change could cause confusion. Not all drivers are comfortable with computers and surfing online. It could also cause a lot of resentment. People will also be concerned at who exactly will be able to access your electronic driver record, and the potential for fraud and scams.

The introduction has already been delayed for six months because of concerns that the IT would not be ready. Drivers are being urged to check the electronic record to ensure that it matches up with their paper counterpart.

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March 19, 2015
Learners to drive at night

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) claims that UK driving tests should be given a ‘comprehensive overhaul’ to tackle the modern problems faced by young people on the road. Though the test has undergone a number of changes, it still does not evaluate a driver’s ability to cope with country roads, poor weather or driving at night.

It is argued that the driving test need to become a much more integrated part of a graduated licensing system that picks up on best practice from around the world. For example, in Austria, young drivers come back in the first 12 months after the test for further interventions to examine attitude changes and skills.

At the moment, a trial is taking place over the introduction of satnavs into modern day tests. It will see learner drivers have to follow a satnav for about 10 minutes of their test because it’s seen as a more modern way of driving. Things like driving at night, country roads and adverse weather are all covered in the pass plus test, which is an advanced training course for drivers.

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March 12, 2015
40 points without a licence

A man from Lewisham, London has managed to accumulate 40 points for 12 driving offences despite never possessing a full or even provisional driving licence making him the second highest penalty point holder in England and Wales ever. He was caught for exceeding 30mph limits on six occasions and was also caught without insurance on six occasions.

The driver who holds the record for most number of points is a man from Liverpool who has 45 penalty points on a full driving licence.

Institute for Advanced Motorists (IAM) chief executive Sarah Sillars said: ‘It’s been three years since the IAM raised this issue with the DVLA, but we still have drivers on the road with multiple points allocated to them. Now we discover that some of them have never held any kind of driving licence. We all have to share the road with these unqualified, uninsured and dangerous drivers. We need to punish offenders as well as give them the opportunity to change their ways. Offenders are unlikely to drive legally if they face a ban or points on their licence as soon as they pass their test.’

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March 11, 2015
Worst Learner Barred From Local Schools

Janine Mars, 31, from Chatham in Kent has been barred from local driving schools having forked out more than £5000 on 14 years of lessons but still not being up to scratch. She has taken 250 lessons, used five different instructors and failed her practical test four times.

After driving the equivalent of London to Perth, Australia, she still can’t master pulling away from a junction without stalling. And now instructors in Kent won’t take her on because they know how bad she is.

Janine started driving in 2001, but changed instructor after 15 lessons because they didnt get on. When she moved to her second teacher, she had more than 100 lessons before realising he wasn’t going to put her forward for a test. As work got in the way, it wasn’t until 2012 that Janine got back in the driver’s seat. After switching to a fourth tutor and even sitting double lessons with him, she moved to her fifth instructor last August but still couldn’t pass her test.

She now says she took a break after her last test in October but wants to do an intensive course. She puts down her issues with driving to a lack of confidence. She has now adopted a routine before every driving lesson. She said: ‘Before I get in the car, I eat a big breakfast and drink a mug of tea. Then, without fail, I play Happy by Pharrell to get myself into a more relaxed mindset.’

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February 25, 2015
Practical Driving Test Trials

Following the announcement that the driving test is to be updated, the DVSA have announced that they will shortly begin research into how these changes could be implemented.

The research, which is to be conducted at 20 test centres, will see how the driving test could be made more realistic and better prepare drivers for modern day driving. This will involve trialling a new version of the driving test where candidates will use a satellite navigation system, carry out different manoeuvres, answer ‘show me tell me’ questions on the move.

Amongst the 20 trial locations is Mitcham test centre, one used by some Britannia instructors with a few of our instructors looking to get involved in the research and help assess whether the changes will be an improvement to the driving test.

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February 18, 2015
Chainsaw Drink-Driver Loses Appeal

An Australian learner driver has lost a Supreme Court appeal to consider his case ‘trifling’. The effect of such a ruling in Australian law is a lighter punishment.

The learner, Timothy Withrow from Port Willunga near Adelaide, cut himself whilst using a chainsaw at his residence in February last year. He phoned two emergency departments, but was told they were very busy and would not be able to treat him for more than 10 hours. He then used a large sewing needle and some fishing line to sew up the wound and washed it with gin to prevent infection. He also drank gin to help with the pain.

He later decided to drive to the hospital for treatment after not being able to contact his wife. He said he could not afford an ambulance. He had previously held a US driving licence but did not hold a full Australian licence.

In court he pleaded guilty but before sentencing asked for the matter to be dealt with as trifling. However, the judge agreed with the earlier ruling that Withrow had had other options and posed a clear danger with the appeal being dismissed.

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