With the current threat of gale-force winds attacking our roads this season, safe driving has never been more important.

Here are our top tips for driving in severe winds:

Find an alternative route if possible. Find a route sheltered by buildings which can block dangerous wind, and way from trees which are a hazard of falling over. Although the urban roads may be busy with traffic, they will be much safer.

Be aware of other road users. Strong gusts of wind can cause unpredictable road behaviour, so be on your strongest guard.

Drive slowly. This will reduce the risk of losing control of your vehicle should a sudden gust of wind hit your car.

Allow yourself plenty of room. Do not get too close to buildings, pedestrians or other road users, as your close proximity is likely to exacerbate the strong wind and lead to a dangerous situation.

By following these simple instructions, you should be able to drive safely through the treacherous conditions and head straight on into summer driving.

Safe driving from Britannia!

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A 10-mile section of the M2 in North Kent was closed for 2 days due to a 15ft-deep hole was discovered in the central reservation. This stretch of the motorway was closed in order for the Highways Agency to find out what caused the hole to open and also for safety reasons.

This only occurred on the central reservation; had this hole opened up on a carriageway, the consequences would have been much worse. The fact that it occurred on a busy motorway is a significant concern and by staying shut this has caused traffic problems.

Sinkholes have been a common problem recently. A giant sinkhole that opened up in a residential street in Hemel Hempstead caused more than a dozen houses to be evacuated whilst another sinkhole in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, swallowed a car earlier this month.

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The Driving Theory Test is a part of the learning to drive process that is often overlooked by driving pupils who focus more on the ominous practical test. But without your Theory Test under your belt, you will not be able to sit the practical test at all, let alone become an accomplished driver.

The test is comprised of a multiple choice section and a hazard perception section. The multiple choice is often considered the more difficult part of the test, as some of this will be trick questions, so you will need some genuine knowledge of driving theory. Here you will need to answer a minimum of 43 correct answers out of a maximum of the 50 asked – so make sure you get revising.

The hazard perception will show you a series of 14 one-minute long clips from a driver’s point of view, where you will be required to select the hazards apparent in the video. Be careful though, too many wrong clicks and you will fail this section.

You will need to pass both parts of the test to be able to progress onto your practical test.

Most people would recommend allowing space of at least a month for revision before taking your theory test, if not longer. It is good practice to get your friends and family and even your driving instructor to quiz you on the Highway Code, to make sure you are up to scratch.

Good luck from Britannia!

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MPs are to vote on whether to back a ban on smoking in cars when children are present. The Commons are to vote on an amendment to the Children and Families Bill which, if agreed to, will give the Health Secretary the power to bring in a ban in England which would make it a criminal offence for drivers to fail to prevent smoking in their vehicles when children are present.

A significant number of GP appointments each year are a result of children suffering from the effects of secondhand smoke which includes passive smoking in the back of a car.

Bans on smoking in cars carrying children already exists in countries including Australia, Canada, South Africa and the US.

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All drivers are aware of this menace – crater-like cavities in UK roads have caused problems for many drivers, ranging from uncomfortable journeys to irreversible car damage in the more extreme of cases.

Pot holes are caused by a combination of nature and neglect – the constant stress of vehicles on the asphalt road surfaces causes the roads to crack, leaving room for water to eventually seep into these cracks from rain, which then freezes in the colder months, therefore expanding as it turns to ice, pushing the gravel slowly apart. And when this ice melts in the warmer months, it has often left a very noticeable crack in the road surface known as a pot hole.

Whilst these are unsightly and a hazard to road users, the consequences of pot holes can be easily avoided with some safe driving. By driving slowly, you give yourself time to manoeuvre around any deformations in the road you may see, minimising the risk of damage to your car.

It is also advisable to stick to roads you are familiar with, as you are more likely to notice any pot holes. Also, experts suggest that should you run inadvertently into a pot hole, the best course of action will be to drive straight over it, as braking into the hole could cause more damage to your car.

Safe driving from Britannia!

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Three-quarters of parents who do the school run have witnessed aggressive behaviour by adults as they look for a parking spot, according to a new survey.

In the survey 1,000 people who do the school run regularly, 39% of respondents said they had witnessed or know about accidents involving parents’ vehicles outside the school gates. In addition, 79% of respondents said they would support 20mph speed limits around schools, with a quarter-of-a-mile radius being the most favoured distance.

While 70% of respondents said they felt their child is safe during the school run, 19% worry about their child going to and from school on their own during the dark winter months. Because of this, walking to school becomes a less popular option for parents during winter.

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A new onslaught of speed cameras are set to be introduced to UK motorways in order to prevent drivers from travelling at speeds in excess of 70 mph.

The new devices, known as “Stealth Cameras” will be breaking the mould, with a subtle grey design rather than the traditional yellow, and will be placed along so-called “Smart motorways“.

The move of adding speed cameras to motorways has come under attack from various driving-related groups, who suggest that the introduction of such cameras is more about increasing revenue than encouraging safety in driving.

As the cameras are less visible than their previous counterparts, many argue that they will not function as a deterrent, but instead are only being introduced to boost profits through a subsequent increase in fines of speeding drivers.

What are your thoughts? Is this a new motorway menace, or are more speed cameras a godsend?

Let us know your views in the comments section below!

Safe driving from Britannia!