August 31, 2025
Driving Lessons, Eye Tests & Payment Tech

If you thought learning to drive in the UK was just about stalling gracefully at roundabouts and pretending parallel parking isn’t terrifying, think again. 2025 has brought a flurry of changes for learners and drivers alike—some useful, some eyebrow-raising, and all guaranteed to spice up the road to your license. But don’t panic—Britannia Driving School, with our ever-patient instructors in Richmond upon Thames, has you covered.

1. Scotland’s Driving Test Shake-Up (And Why It Matters to You)
Scotland recently rolled out a seven-point plan to tackle horrendous wait times for driving tests. Think: 450 new examiners, a better booking system, and stricter cancellation rules. Translation? Less time refreshing the DVSA website and more time practising three-point turns. While the reforms are Scotland’s test track for now, the rest of the UK could soon follow. At Britannia, our Richmond instructors are already helping learners plan smart, so when those changes hit London, you’ll be ready to ace your test instead of queuing endlessly.

2. Eye Tests for Older Drivers (Yes, Gran, This Means You) ️️
The government is steering towards mandatory eye tests for drivers over 70, with re-checks every three years. Add in whispers about tighter drink-driving limits, and it’s clear road safety is the big headline. While Granny might grumble, the truth is clear (pun intended): sharp eyesight keeps everyone safer. Britannia’s instructors often joke that checking your mirrors is only useful if you can see them. In Richmond, we mix patience with practicality—whether you’re 17 or 71, we make sure you’re confident, safe, and not mistaking a bus for a bike.

3. Payment Tech is Revving Up
Cash is so last decade. With schools across the UK turning to smarter payment tech, learners can now book and pay for lessons as easily as ordering takeaway. At Britannia, we’ve embraced the trend too—smooth booking means you spend less time fiddling with coins and more time mastering clutch control on Richmond’s charmingly narrow streets. Tech aside, our instructors remain proudly old-school in one way: they still deliver patient, calm, human instruction (no app can do that).

4. Learner Costs & Test Scheduling Woes
Here’s the kicker: costs are creeping up. Theory prep, apps, and those DVSA books all add up. On top of that, many learners are sweating over test dates, with long waits risking their theory expiring before they even get a shot at the wheel. At Britannia, we’ve seen this stress firsthand, and we guide our learners through it with good humour. We keep lessons efficient, practical, and fun—because the last thing you need when juggling costs is more pressure.

Britannia’s Advantage
From new rules to old frustrations, the UK learner landscape is shifting gears. But Britannia Driving School remains the go-to pit stop. Our instructors—patient, professional, and blessed with a sense of humour—make the difference. We believe in keeping learning accessible, affordable, and stress-free.

So, whether it’s eye tests, payment tech, or the dreaded DVSA booking screen, Britannia Driving School helps you navigate it all—with a smile, a laugh, and eventually, a pass certificate.

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August 24, 2025
Benson School of Motoring’s Big Court Blow-Up…

Well, buckle up, because the recent court drama starring Benson School of Motoring was quite the ride-complete with bullying, bizarre remarks, and a ruling that shook the motoring world like a learner driver stalling at the first roundabout.

In late 2020, around 20 instructors working under franchise contracts with Benson decided enough was enough. They sued-not for money, but to escape an “overbearing,” “intimidatory” environment, with one instructor even warning of fears Benson might come after her with a gun (yikes!). The High Court agreed and handed down judgment in early August 2025: these instructors were free to walk away from their contracts-no strings attached. Benson’s counterclaims-running into six figure sums-were dismissed entirely (ICLG Business Reports).

The court didn’t mince words. ⚖️Mr Justice Freedman highlighted the lack of good faith and trust, describing Benson’s conduct as “belligerent,” rife with demeaning, even racist, remarks—and the contracts, though framed as franchises, came off more like chains than freedoms (ICLG Business Reports). In short, the system was broken-and the instructors bravely drove themselves out.

Now, as Britannia Driving School, we won’t say “told you so”… but, um, we did quietly send cakes and sympathy ears when the headlines broke.

Because here’s the thing-we’ve built our reputation on respect, professionalism, and a dose of good humour-not fear or intimidation. Our instructors aren’t contract-trapped franchisees; they’re skilled professionals who love teaching and do it with warmth (and birthdays are rarely followed by lawsuits).

Like our wonderful, endlessly patient lady instructor Samai, teaching in SE25 and SW16. She’s the kind of instructor who can calmly guide a learner through starting on a hill, all while explaining the strategic art of mirror-use-and then cheer them up when they stall (again). She doesn’t need restrictive contracts or corporate yells-just patience, a friendly nudge, and maybe a well-timed joke about cyclists.

Contrast that with Benson’s nightmare contracts-locking people in, controlling their fee structure, even dictating branding-and you’ll see why the court stepped in. Britannia, by comparison? We believe in fair, flexible contracts, transparent operations, and supporting our instructors-because happy instructors mean confident learners.

So here’s what students and instructors alike can count on at Britannia:

• Real freedom to teach and learn without contract headaches.
• Zero intimidation-only encouragement and guidance.
• Family-like atmosphere, especially with gems like Samai in South Norwood SE25 and Streatham SW16.
• A brand built on trust, not tension.

In conclusion: the Benson case was a legal wake-up call about how not to run a driving school. At Britannia, we’ve got no wild lawsuits on the horizon-or hidden fees, or dodgy contracts-just genuine, respectful instruction and driving success with a smile. And maybe cake, but only if you’re good.

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August 17, 2025
Still Driving at 70? Or Just Driving Everyone Mad?

Here at Britannia Driving School in Wimbledon, we love our older drivers. They’ve got the experience, the patience, and in many cases, a much better idea of how to use a roundabout than the 20-somethings treating the road like a Fast & Furious sequel.

But change is on the horizon…

New Rules for Over-70s Behind the Wheel?

The DVLA is cooking up new legislation that could make it tougher for over-70s to keep their driving licences. Currently, drivers over 70 need to renew their licence every 3 years—but under upcoming proposals, this process could involve more health checks, eyesight tests, and potentially some form of competence assessment.

Yes, Grandma might soon have to prove she can still parallel park without using sonar.

Are the Over-70s Really That Dangerous?

Let’s get one thing straight-older drivers are not the menace some tabloids make them out to be. Statistically, they’re among the safest drivers on the road. Why? Because they aren’t speeding through yellow lights while filming TikTok.

That said, age can bring challenges: slower reaction times, vision issues, and that one uncle who insists on reverse parking into a driveway… from across the street.

Will the New Rules Force People Off the Road?

Possibly-but that might not be such a bad thing. The aim isn’t to punish older drivers, it’s to keep everyone safe. No one wants to lose their independence, but at the same time, nobody wants to be on the A3 behind someone doing 22 in a 40 because they mistook the accelerator for the radio dial.

And let’s face it: some of us barely passed our tests at 18—retesting at 75 might be the refresher we didn’t know we needed.

What Can You Do?

If you’re approaching 70 or already there, don’t panic. Renewing your licence is still a fairly painless process. And if you’re worried about staying sharp, a refresher driving course can help-spoiler alert: Britannia Driving School just so happens to offer those.

We’ve helped plenty of senior drivers in Wimbledon and beyond keep their skills sharp, rebuild confidence, and even learn how to use sat-navs without shouting at them.

 Still Got It?

Driving in your 70s isn’t just about ability-it’s about attitude. If you’re healthy, alert, and still enjoying being behind the wheel (without mistaking your left indicator for the windscreen wipers), then carry on cruising.

Just remember: if legislation changes, it won’t be the end of the road-just a slight detour. And we’ll be here to help you navigate it.

Need a refresher before you renew? Contact Britannia Driving School in Wimbledon today. We’ll get you back in gear-no matter what your birth certificate says.

 

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May 22, 2025
Testing Times

 

Three major changes to the UK driving test are being trialed with the goal of accelerating the exam process for thousands of learner drivers.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is introducing the revised test format at 20 selected centres across the country as part of efforts to boost both testing efficiency and road safety.

This initiative follows data collected between 2019 and 2023, which showed that 48% of injuries in crashes involving young drivers happened on rural roads.

The same data also revealed that 16% of young motorists involved in accidents were not wearing seat belts — the highest rate across all age groups.

The new test format is designed to better reflect real-world driving conditions, helping newly qualified drivers feel more prepared for everyday situations.

Additionally, the updated approach aims to streamline the process, allowing more learners to take their tests sooner.

Lets take a look at the proposed changes:

Independent Driving:

The tests currently being conducted will include a period of independent driving accompanied by sat nav, under the new tests the learner will have to navigate the whole test independently

Emergency Stops:

Emergency stops will decrease from the current one in three to one in seven.

Number of stops:

At the moment learners will have to carry out four stops but during the trial this will be reduced to three.

The trial comes to light following the recent changes to the frame to cancel a test came into play, increasing the previous time period of 3 working days to 10.

According to the official government website, the main reason behind the proposed rule changes is the growing number of unused driving test appointments.

Many learner drivers choose to cancel or reschedule their test at the last minute, often because they don’t feel adequately prepared as the date approaches.

However, when changes are made so close to the appointment, it becomes difficult for others to step in and take the slot—resulting in many tests going unused.

In 2024 alone, around 60,000 driving test slots were wasted due to candidates not showing up, as reported by the government.

This has contributed to longer waiting times and made securing a test appointment more challenging. In response, the DVSA is exploring new measures to discourage last-minute cancellations.

At present, learners must wait 10 working days before booking a new test if they cancel or miss their appointment. However, this waiting period may be extended in the future.

The DVSA is also considering introducing a penalty fee to reduce the number of last-minute changes and no-shows.

Exceptions will still be made for those facing special circumstances, such as illness, injury, bereavement, or if they need to attend an academic exam or have had their licence stolen. In these cases, a refund can be requested.

You can book a Practical Driving Test directly here : https://www.gov.uk/book-driving-test

Check or change a Practical Driving Test here : https://www.gov.uk/change-driving-test

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November 11, 2024
Scam Alert

A new text message scam has been doing the rounds, motorists are being told to be wary of receiving this message.

Scammers are sending out fake parking ticket texts, the DVSA have urged people to be vigilant when receiving these messages urging the individual to pay the fine, stating they have been caught parking illegally.

The text message warns people that they have a ‘parking penalty charge’ and that, if they do not pay on time, they could be hit with a number of penalties including having to pay more, being taken to court, and even being banned from driving.

The major tell tale that the message is fake, is the amount of spelling mistakes the text contains.

The text message claiming to be from the DVSA reads: “Dvsa notice for you: You have a parking penalty charge due on 2024/9/30. If you do not pay your fine on time, Your car may be banned from driving, you might haeve to pay more, or you could be taken to court. Please enter your license plate in the link after reading the information, Check and pay parcking penatly charge. Thank you again for your copperation. Dvsa.”

DVSA say drivers should be aware that they never issue parking tickets or fines, and no such messages would ever be sent out by them.

Instead they say, if you receive a message, you should contact and report it at the National Cyber Security Centre here.

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May 11, 2023
Blood Tests For Sleepy Drivers

Blood test studies recently carried out showed a risk of having an accident whilst driving tired could double if the driver has had less than 5 hours sleep in the 24hrs leading up to getting behind the wheel.

Which has led the question to be asked, should a new law be brought into affect for a minimum number of hours of sleep to be required to be able to drive? One-fifth of road accidents are thought to be linked to tiredness, the new tests would be able to detect if someone is too tired to be safe enough to drive.

Nature and Science of Sleep published a study last month, which suggested the risk of having a crash could be doubled if a driver has slept for less than four or five hours in the previous 24 hours.

Its well known that alcohol and drug usage can be measured via breath and blood tests, the same does not exist. But a team has now claimed it has identified 5 substances in the blood that includes Lipids which is produced in the gut that can distinguish if someone has been been awake for 24hrs.

The test was 90 per cent accurate in real-life situations, reported the researchers. However it is yet to comprehend the difference between people who have had say, five hours or just two.

The researchers have said that, with a sleep test, new laws could eventually be written to stipulate a minimum number of hours of sleep that are needed before driving.

Leader of the team Clare Anderson, an associate professor at Monash University in Australia, said: “When you look at the major killers on the road, alcohol is one of them, speeding is another and fatigue is one of them. But our capacity to manage [tiredness] is impaired because we don’t have tools to be able to monitor it like we do with alcohol.”

Professor Shantha Rajaratnam, also at Monash University, said: “With the right investment to be able to scale this, I reckon that within five years we will be able to implement these biomarkerbased tests — at least in safety-critical industries such as trucking, commercial aviation and mining.”

Professor Ashleigh Filtness, a driver fatigue expert for Road Safety GB, said: “There is already legislation stating that all drivers must be fit to drive their vehicles. Alertness is no different to any other requirement for safe driving.”

The Department for Transport said: “Drivers have a responsibility to ensure they are awake and alert on the road and should seek rest when feeling tired. The government is not considering this type of testing but we always note new ideas to make our roads safer.”

Rebecca at Britannia says: When you are tired it definitely impacts your ability to be able to make speedy and rational decisions and when it comes to driving especially on motor ways you need to be on your A game. If you are running on little to no sleep it could impact your reaction time plus also increase road rage!

 

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May 5, 2023
Futuristic New ‘AI’ Speed Cameras

The worlds first ever ‘AI’ speed camera has been put up in the UK, which has the capability to be able to see into your car.

The 10in unit’s “4D” radar and super-resolution cameras can detect if drivers are using there mobile phones, the number of passengers that are present and if they are all wearing a seat belt. There are 8 ways it can track you:

  • Speeding:

£100.00 minimum fine and 3 penalty points – can range up to 6 points and unlimited fines

  • Using a phone whilst driving:

£200.00 fine and 6 penalty points – drivers will lose their license if they passed their test within the past 2 years.

  • Running a red light:

£100.00 minimum fine and 3 penalty points – max fine £1000.00

  • Driving without a valid MOT:

£1000.00 max fine or £2,500 for an HGV license

  • Driving without insurance:

£300 – £500.00 fine

  • Failing to wear a seat belt:

£100 – £500 fine

  • Too many passengers or dangerous load:

£2,500 fine and 3 penalty points

  • Running a level crossing:

£100.00 fine and 3 penalty points – max fine £1,000 fine and 3 penalty points.

Redspeed Sentio camera has also been linked to the DVLA and Police databases to check road tax and insurance on the spot. It monitors 6 lanes at a time and can share data with other units to check average speeds, day and night.

Brian Gregory, from the Alliance of British Drivers, said: “It’s clear that the hollow assurances the motoring public was given about speed cameras being used exclusively to prevent accidents was always a total sham. The objective is actually to maximise their revenue-generating potential”

The camera has been installed on the busy A23 in Lambeth, South London, as part of a Transport for London trial before it can be given Home Office approval.

Lawyer Nick Freeman — who specialises in motoring offences and is known as Mr Loophole — said: “As drivers we are all becoming sitting ducks. This could just be a step too far.

“It could help alleviate the lack of police on our roads. But we will always be missing something when we don’t have that human element.”

Campaigner Jake Hurfurt, head of Big Brother Watch, said: “This kind of intrusive and creepy surveillance which treats every passer-by as a potential suspect is excessive and normalising. It poses a threat to everyone’s privacy.

“People should be free to go about their lives without being analysed by faceless AI systems.”

 

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April 3, 2023
4 Vital Changes Regarding Your Driving Test

Last week it was announced the DVSA will be making some important changes to government policies regarding Driving Test bookings.

They ran a consultation between 25 January and 8 March 2022 about changing some policies that affect learning to drive and driving tests.

  • encourage learner drivers to be better prepared when they take their car driving test
  • reduce the number of car driving test appointments that are wasted
  • update when and how we carry out the eyesight check at the start of the driving test

They currently have very high demand for driving tests. There are 3 main reasons for this:

  • fewer tests than usual have taken place because of restrictions and other factors related to the pandemic
  • learner drivers who are not yet ready to take their test have heard that waiting times are high, causing them to book earlier than they normally would
  • the pass rate for driving tests – for many years, less than half of people pass on their first attempt, meaning they’ll need to take at least one more test

Many driving instructors have said that some learner drivers want to pass their driving test as quickly and cheaply as possible. They say they are unable to stop their pupils from booking a test before they are ready.

They put forward some of these proposals because they think they’ll:

  • encourage learner drivers to be better prepared for their driving test
  • help to reduce the number of driving test appointments that are wasted
  • give us more flexibility in how and when we can carry out driving tests

Other proposals were to help them to:

  • find out more about what information learner drivers and their families want to know when choosing a driving instructor – which in the longer term will help learner drivers to find the best driving instructor for them
  • move to replace paper pass certificates with digital versions, saving millions of sheets of paper each year

1. Encourage learner drivers to be better prepared when they take their car driving test:

What’s been decided

Ministers have decided to extend the period a candidate can take another car driving test from 10 working days to 28 working days.

They have decided this because:

  • the period gives candidates time to take extra training
  • it will have a positive impact on car driving test waiting times
  • gaining more knowledge, skills and experience will help keep new drivers safe at the crucial point that they drive on their own for the first time
  • better prepared drivers should have a positive effect on road safety
  • one-third of learner drivers admit this will encourage them to only book their test when they are ready while waiting times remain the same – this increases to 42.8% if waiting times reduce

What will happen next

This change can be made by ‘secondary legislation’. This is law created by ministers under powers given to them by an Act of Parliament (primary legislation).

The Department for Transport will draft a document called a Statutory Instrument (SI) to make changes to the law. This will be published with an explanatory memorandum, which outlines the purpose of the SI and why the change is necessary.

When the change will happen

The dates the SI will be made and come into effect as law have not yet been confirmed.

2. Reduce the number of car driving test appointments that are wasted:

What’s been decided

Ministers have decided to extend the notice period a candidate must give to change or cancel a car driving test from 3 full working days to 10 full working days.

They have decided this because:

  • it is currently difficult for DVSA to make tests cancelled with 3 working days’ notice available to another candidate, which means that a test slot is wasted
  • it will free up wasted test slots, which means these slots can be offered to other candidates to make tests available more quickly

What will happen next

This change can be made by ‘secondary legislation’. This is law created by ministers under powers given to them by an Act of Parliament (primary legislation).

The Department for Transport will draft a document called a Statutory Instrument (SI) to make changes to the law. This will be published with an explanatory memorandum, which outlines the purpose of the SI and why the change is necessary.

When the change will happen

The dates the SI will be made and come into effect as law have not yet been confirmed.

3. Update when and how we check someone’s eyesight at the start of the driving test

 

What’s been decided

Ministers would like to introduce the proposals to:

  • do the eyesight check in the driving test in any level of light – not just good daylight
  • use more methods of checking people’s eyesight when they take the driving test

We will look at options available to introduce an alternative means to conduct an eyesight test that is not dependent on good daylight or reading a car number plate, but that will continue to ensure a driver’s eyesight is assessed consistently with the current test.

What will happen next

We are exploring alternative means of assessing eyesight. This is being done with DVLA’s Medical Panel. This is necessary because DVLA is the driving agency responsible for licensing drivers and it is important for any new procedures to meet the standards that currently apply. It will be necessary to ensure that any alternative is thoroughly tested and assessed to ensure it replicates the requirements of the current test and is sufficiently rigorous.

In the consultation, a majority of respondents supported the proposal for DVSA having the flexibility to conduct the eyesight test by means other than reading the number plate attached to the vehicle. This will enable us to provide driving tests at more times, in different levels of light, and will give us the flexibility to test eyesight if there are few vehicles parked nearby.

4. Replace paper pass certificates with digital pass certificates

What’s been decided

Ministers would like to modernise the administrative process of notifying candidates that they have passed their test by replacing the current paper pass certificates with digital test pass certificates.

What will happen next

It will be necessary to update legislation to do this. This will require both primary and secondary legislation. We plan to make provision which requires primary legislation when an opportunity is available.

We will need to make sure that the electronic record, when provided without a paper version, will be available to successful candidates as soon as a test is passed.

 

 

 

 

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March 6, 2023
DVSA Issued warning to anyone who has a test booked in March

Civil servants from the PCS union are staging 11 days of strikes this month which could impact driving tests.

The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has issued a warning to learners who have driving tests booked this month.

It comes as civil servants begin their next round of strikes in March, which will affect some driving examiners who are members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS). It is part of national industrial action by the PCS union over pay, pensions, jobs and redundancy terms.

Ten days of regional strikes and one day of national strikes will be held in March. The DVSA has advised learners on what to do if their driving test is scheduled for a strike day.

The DVSA’s official Twitter account said: “If you’ve got an appointment on a strike day, please attend as planned, unless you have been contacted directly to say it has been cancelled. If you turn up for your test and it is cancelled because of strike action we will automatically reschedule it for the first available date and you will be able to claim out of pocket expenses.

“If you want to rearrange your car, motorcycle, vocational or instructor test, you can do this through our change your driving test service. Keep checking emails, texts and GOV.UK for updates and confirmed strike dates.”

 

When do civil servants go on strike?

Civil servants strike for 11 days in total, with 10 taking place regionally and one nationally. The dates include:

  • Monday March 6 and Tuesday March 7 – London and south east England
  • Thursday March 9 and Friday March 10 – South west England and Wales
  • Wednesday March 15 – All areas of Greater Britain
  • Monday March 20 and Tuesday March 21 – East of England, East Midlands, West Midlands and parts of London
  • Thursday March 23 and 24 – North west England and Yorkshire and the Humber
  • Monday March 27 and Tuesday March 28 – North east England and Scotland

 

Which driving tests will be affected?

The strikes could impact car driving tests, motorcycle tests and vocational tests for lorry, bus, coach and minibus. Tractor or specialist vehicle driving tests, approved driving instructor (ADI) tests and ADI standard checks and moped and motorcycle compulsory basic training might also be affected.

 

Kerry from Britannia Driving School said:

Please keep an eye on your emails and any texts you receive from the DVSA regarding your test bookings, for any cancellations or rescheduled test dates.

 

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February 20, 2023
Issued Warning From The DVLA

The DVLA issued a warning to every driver who passed there test before 2014 that they must renew their licence before its 10-year expiration date arrives or face a heavy fine.Driving licenses are only valid for 10 years from date of issue, anyone who doesn’t renew their licence risks a £1,000 fine or having there vehicle seized.

A recent tweet from the DVLA reads: “You must renew your driving licence every 10 years. You can do this via the this renewal link or by post or via the post office.You will need to hold a valid UK passport, be resident in Great Britain (Northern Ireland has its own system), not to have been disqualified from driving and be able to show your current licence, or explain why not if you do not have it, as well as your National Insurance number and last three addresses.

Sourcing all the correct information and sending it off correctly will help avoid any delays in receiving your new licence.

You will also be asked to pay a £14 processing fee by debit or credit card online or £17 if submitting by post. Over-70s or those with a short-term medical driving licence are exempt from paying.

 

Once your application has been received, you should receive your new licence within a week, the DVLA advises.

The renewal process is slightly different for drivers aged over 70, lorry and bus drivers and those with a short-term medical driving licence. You will find all the information you need on the links provided.

Rebecca at Britannia said:

I would advise everyone to just have a quick check of when their licence expires and keep a note of the date, don’t leave it too late to apply as you could be caught out and landed with a hefty fine! Keeping all your important documents together can help you to be able to apply quickly and easily.

 

 

 

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