Nobody really enjoys cleaning up – That’s a fact of life. Whether it’s tidying your bedroom, doing the dishes, or keeping your car clean, I’m sure we would all much rather be doing something more enjoyable with our valuable time.

However it is important to keep your car clean for more reasons than you might think. Not only will a filthy vehicle be unpleasant for other drivers to see you in (Not to mention your passengers!), but an accumulation of dirt on your car can impact your performance and hinder safety. Unwashed windows and windscreens can limit visibility, putting yourself and others at risk – So try to stay on top of keeping your car clean every once in a while!

Safe driving from Britannia!

As a new or inexperienced driver, you are going to start hearing lots of different tips about driving. How to watch your speeds, advice on keeping your eye on other drivers, how to drive when in adverse weather conditions, and much much more.

Our advice? Listen to all of it.

Take in as much information as you possibly can, and what’s more, don’t disregard anything other (more experienced) drivers say to you. The chances are they’re looking out for your best interests, and are speaking from their own experience – So any advice is good advice at the end of the day!

Safe driving from Britannia!

If you’re planning to start learning to drive, it’s understandable that this can be a daunting time for you. Not only is there the cost associated with learning to drive – The price of Driving Tests, Theory and Practical Tests, and maybe even a car to learn in – There is also the additional stress of needing to learn all there is to know about driving to a high enough level to pass your test.

Our advice is to throw yourself into the deep end – Start taking driving lessons a minimum of once a week, and spend any free time revising for your theory test and brushing up on your Highway Code. Book your theory test straight away to give yourself a deadline to work towards, and this will help keep you on track to passing your driving test.

Safe driving from Britannia!

If you are a young driver – Especially if you have recently passed your driving test – You might be yearning to get out in your car as much as possible, picking up friends or family members and take to the roads to get a taste of life behind the wheel without L-Plates.

However it is important to stress the importance of safe driving – Statistically as a newer driver, you are more likely to be in an accident than a more experienced motorist. So despite your eagerness to get driving as often (And sometimes as fast) as possible, make sure you are always practising safe driving first and foremost.

Safe driving from Britannia!

As an experienced driver – Or, even if you are still learning, perhaps – You may well be aware of the types of challenges you can face when behind the wheel. From hazardous weather conditions to faults with your own vehicle, there’s certainly no shortage of things that can go wrong for a driver in the modern age.

By far one of the biggest challenges will be learning to deal with traffic. Especially if you’re a commuter who travels in or out of a city around rush hour, you will be forced to contend with hordes of other motorists eager to get in (Or out) of work, as well as parents doing the school run, taxi drivers, couriers, truckers, and even cyclists and pedestrians. So make sure to be aware of the types of challenges you are likely to face, and be ready to know how to tackle those.

Safe driving from Britannia!

If you are a learner driver, you will likely find that many people offer you various pieces of advice to improve your driving. This could include tips on how to drive economically to reduce your fuel consumption, or even what to do in the event of a breakdown.

If you’re familiar with these type of tips, one thing you have probably heard a lot of is “getting into the zone” for driving. But what does this mean? We here at Britannia identify this as being in the right mindset for being behind the wheel – Not too tired, hungry, or thirsty, with no distractions around you and with the optimum amount of concentration to guarantee a safe and secure drive.

What are your thoughts on getting into the zone? Let us know in the comments below!

Safe driving from Britannia!

Although the more harsh conditions of the winter weather seem now to have passed us by, we’re not quite in the clear yet. With temperatures staying low across the country, we still need to be on our guard for symptoms of winter driving that could prove potentially hazardous to drivers.

One such symptom is fog when driving – Of course we don’t need to tell you how dangerous thick fog can be when you’re behind the wheel, but we can’t stress enough how careful you have to be when driving in it. Keep your speeds down, your headlights on, and your wits about you – Do all that, and we’re sure you’ll come out the other side with no problems!

Safe driving from Britannia!

There has been a lot of talk of late in regards to the development of self-driving, as well as speculation as to whether autonomous vehicles will really help to reduce the rate of accidents on UK roads.

One topic that leaves many scratching their heads is whether or not people will still be required to undertake driving lessons, if these innovative cars will do the work for us? The answer will most likely be a yes – Despite advancements in technology helping to make self-driving cars as safe as possible, it will certainly be important for the person behind the wheel to have a solid understanding of the cars controls and the Highway Code.

Safe driving from Britannia!

If you use your car in connection with your job, standard car insurance may not offer the protection you require. After all, normal car insurance provides cover for social use and commuting only. Any driver whose occupation demands they drive their own car for work purposes will need to have business car insurance.

The premiums might be higher, but don’t let this make you run the risk of sticking with standard protection as this could lead to your policy being invalidated.

There are several different business car insurance options and it’s important that you know what type is most suited to your particular needs. These include the following:

Business use by you, which allow you to drive in connection with the business, including away from your normal place of work – for instance, if you were a sales rep.

Another type of policy is business use for all drivers – this offers a similar level of cover as the first option, but with the added benefit that more than one driver can be included on the policy.

Finally there is the commercial travelling policy, covering individuals who drive as a permanent aspect of their job. The fact that you will be spending a lot of time on the road and/or driving long distances will more than likely reflect in the policy price.

Safe driving from Britannia!

The number of vehicles that fell victim to vandalism last year apparently increased by 10% when compared to the number of incidents recorded in 2013 – with England and Wales has experiencing a significant upsurge in criminal damage to vehicles, including smashed wing mirrors and slashed tyres.

The RAC Insurance director has labelled vandalism as one of the most frustrating crimes, warning that the true number of cases is probably much higher, with many drivers afraid to claim on their car insurance for fear of a premium rise. Others will simply not report such crimes to the police.

210,418 vehicles in total were reported to have been vandalised in 2016, with damage including broken windows, snapped windscreen wipers and deliberate scratches. According to reports, Greater Manchester Police has regrettably had to deal with the largest increase in reported cases, up by a staggering 37% over a three-year-period.

Should your vehicle fall victim to vandalism it is advisable to take pictures of the damage, contact the police and obtain a crime reference number to help with any subsequent insurance claim. To avoid the liklihood of your vehicle being vandalised, it is wise to park safely in well-lit or well populated areas, under a streetlight if in darkness or in view of CCTV.

Safe driving from Britannia|!