November 25, 2013
Lesson in Dangerous Driving

TV presenter Sophie Morgan spoke to Richmond College students on the harsh reality of dangerous driving this week as part of her ‘Licence to Kill’ campaign.

She highlighted the risks of driving too fast and not paying attention and informed students of the statistic that driving is the biggest killer of young people in the UK.

She was paralysed at the age of 18 following a car accident after a house party, despite being sober herself, where she over-steered on a corner.

Richmond Council cabinet member for performance and community safety Tony Arbour said: ‘It is a very imaginative scheme as driving is a very important skill to learn.’

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Safe driving from Britannia!

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November 24, 2013
Driving Schools

Learning to drive can be an extremely daunting experience. Not only does getting behind the wheel of a car come with a great deal of responsibility, it also demands skill, and involves learning and remembering the Highway Code. This bombardment of information can be difficult for a learner driver to take in, and necessities the expertise of an experienced, calm and trustworthy driving instructor.

Driving schools provide access to experienced instructors who can teach you to be a confident and competent driver! Whether you have decided to take an intensive driving course, you require automatic driving lessons or you simply want some guidance on taking your theory test – driving schools are the answer!

Britannia Driving School is the most recognized brand of driving schools in the UK, providing a wealth of resources for learner drivers! If you are looking for driving lessons in London, Wimbledon, Guildford or Croydon then take a look at the Britannia website – https://www.britannia-driving-school.com/.

The Britannia driving instructors are polite, calm, understanding and licensed by the DSA (Driving Standards Agency). You can choose whether you would prefer a male or female instructor, and whether to learn in an automatic or manual dual-controlled car. So what are you waiting for? Make the first steps to passing your test today by contacting Britannia Driving Schools!

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November 22, 2013
Give Your AC Some TLC

As much as we hate to admit it, the winter months are here. Although here at Britannia it seems like mere weeks ago we were last giving out advice for safe driving in snowy months, it is that time of year again, yet the dangers of driving in colder conditions are no less apparent.

One error many drivers make is the lack of maintenance on their vehicle in the colder months. However if you do not look after your car, especially during this period when conditions are at their harshest, then you are doing a disservice to your vehicle and in return, don’t be surprised if it fails to work when you need it most.

One of the most common errors we have seen here at Britannia is the deterioration of air-conditioning in the post-winter months. This is one issue that many drivers seem unaware of, but air-conditioning works at its best when it is in frequent and regular use – therefore it is necessary to keep using it throughout the winter too.

Although we know that a blast of cold air is the last thing you want when you step into your car on these bitterly cold mornings, try to allow just a couple of minutes a day to give your AC the TLC it requires. If you fail to do this, then the lack of use your air conditioning unit has endured throughout winter will lead to a possible failure to operate at its best performance… and probably just in time for the blazing summer of 2014.

Safe driving this winter from Britannia!

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November 21, 2013
Cyclists On The Roads

There have been a number of accidents in recent weeks involving cyclists with a number of motorists calling cyclists to observe certain safety measures. Many cyclists have been caught breaking road laws – most notably by jumping a red light. Bystanders of the accident in which a cyclist in Croydon was killed saw the cyclist blocking the bus’s right of way. This is common behaviour among many bike commuters.

On the other hand, cyclists have raised uproar at the behaviour towards cyclists by other road users. Earlier this year, Emma Way, was convicted of driving offences after a collision with a cyclist which she then tweeted about.

One thing both arguments have in common is that much change is needed to improve the safety of cyclists on roads.

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November 20, 2013
Practical Test Day

The day of the practical test is nerve-wracking for most. Here are Britannia’s top tips for your test day.

– When booking your test: choose a date and time suitable for you, choose the test centre you’d prefer (your Britannia instructor will be able to advise you on test centres).

– Get plenty of rest the night before: don’t think about your test, relax and take your mind off driving. Make sure you get a good night’s sleep.

– Before the test: Make sure you eat a good breakfast beforehand, remember your documents and leave early so you don’t have to rush.

– Relax: It’s normal to be nervous on your test day, it is important to not let the nerves affect your driving. Keep calm and just think of the examiner as your instructor; examiners are not there to fail you.

– Confidence: Your instructor would not have allowed you to go on test if they didn’t think you were ready; this means that you clearly have a good chance of passing. If you make a mistake, don’t dwell on it and don’t assume you’ve failed – you are allowed 15 minor faults. Most fails happen when the learner thinks they have failed when they haven’t, lose concentration and make a silly error.

Follow these tips and good luck from Britannia!

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November 19, 2013
Call for Complete Ban on Phones in Cars

A road safety group known as Brake have suggested that mobile phones should be turned off whilst driving, and even hands-free mobile sets should be banned from use in the car.

The controversial statement comes after an evaluation of the issue gave results implying that anyone using the phone behind the wheel, to any degree, posed a supposedly similar threat to those driving whilst intoxicated by alcohol.

It also indicated that drivers can, regardless of responsibility when driving, become involved in “horrific” accidents simply through the sheer carelessness of using a mobile device when behind the wheel.

The use of mobile phones when driving was banned over a decade ago, yet the problem persists to this day, remaining, if not growing as a threat to road users, with more drivers on UK roads now than ever before in history, and with mobile phones now much more popular than they were ten years ago.

Some even call for action to be taken as extreme as having it illegal for a river to have a mobile on their person when in the driving seat, suggesting that instead phones should be turned off and placed in the boot for the duration of the journey.

What are your thoughts on this article? Sound off in the comments section below!

Safe driving from Britannia!

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November 15, 2013
Drug-Driving Crackdown

For a long time drink-driving has been publicly lambasted by society and authorities alike. However, now a new motoring menace is beginning to gain infamy on UK roads… the danger of drug-driving.

Many motorists still believe they are in a perfect state to drive after taking illegal drugs such as Cannabis. Now, the government is suggesting a zero-tolerance crackdown on the use of such substances when behind the wheel – meaning that drivers found guilty of taking drugs before or during driving are liable for an automatic driving ban for a minimum of twelve months, as well as facing a potential prison sentence of six months and a £5,000 fine.

This new hardened crackdown is expected to save up to 100 lives each year. The ruling will include testing drivers for use of any of the following eight substances: Cannabis, Heroin, Cocaine, Ecstasy, LSD, Ketamine, Methamphetamine (or “Crystal Meth”) and benzoylecgonine, which is the main ingredient in Cocaine.

The harsh limitations have been especially designed so that when testing drivers under suspicion of drug-taking, even the slightest intake of any of these drugs will mean that they are over the limit, whilst at the same time ruling out any possibility of “Passive Consumption”, whereby a person may have traces of it on them by being around other users, while not actively drug-taking themselves.

These strict measures are being put in place to save lives. These drugs are illegal for a reason, and any driver willing to risk his/her safety as well as the safety of others by abusing these substances is surely not fit to be behind the wheel, and deserves any punishment that this new ruling includes.

Safe driving from Britannia!

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November 14, 2013
Driving Instructor At 22

22-year-old Paul Hodgson from Whiteley has now become one of just 13 qualified Approved Driving Instructors (ADI) currently aged 21 or 22 in the country.

To become an ADI you have to be 21 or older and should have had a full licence for at least three years to supervise a learner driver. In addition, Paul had to complete 52 hours of training with an instructor and complete three tests.

The first, similar to the normal driving theory test, consists of 100 questions. The second is a driving exam but with the threshold being lowered to allow for just six minors or less. Then, Paul took a driving instructor on two mock lessons where the instructor first pretended to be a new driver and then a driver who has passed.

The standards set by the DSA but Paul says that he looks forward to his driving lessons and says he is ready to teach anyone. He says he enjoys teaching and has been interested in driving for a long time.

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November 13, 2013
Flying Cars

A ‘flying car’ – the AeroMobil 2.5, has been unveiled at AeroTech, an airshow exhibition held in Montreal. The vehicle was designed by Stefan Klein and Jaruk based from Bratislava, Slovak Republic.

The hybrid vehicle has a maximum speed of 99mph when driven as a car but in airplane mode can soar through the skies at 124mph. It is built from light-weight steel framework and carbon coating and when in plane mode measures 8.2m wide and 6m long to accommodate two people. When the wings are stowed it measures 1.6m wide.

The car can be parked in a standard parking space and can be driven on normal roads.

Jane Hunt of Britannia Driving School says ‘I would love to drive one of these vehicles’.

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November 12, 2013
“Unlimited Driving Tests” Advert is Banned

The Advertising Standards Authority has banned an online advert erroneously advertising an unlimited amount of driving theory tests for a mere £31.

The advertisement declared “”£31 Book Your Driving Theory Test Unlimited Retests until You Pass!” – Despite the fact that it actually charged unsuspecting buyers almost twice the amount shown.

The ASA ruled that the advert must not appear again online, due to its inherent misleading information, as when online shoppers looking for a bargain attempted to take advantage of the offer, they were in fact being charged £59.50 for the unlimited amount of theory tests – as well as an additional £8.50 compulsory booking fee!

Whilst the details were made clear on the website itself, the Google-sponsored advert was inaccurately promoting a much cheaper deal that was in fact, non-existent.

So if you’re looking for a bargain on so-called “unlimited tests”, be wary about where you are buying from. Read the fine print, or simply stay to the more legitimate routes, otherwise you may end up paying much more than you ever intended to.

Safe theory-test hunting from Britannia!

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