Joyriding is one of the more dangerous activities a person can undertake in a motor vehicle. Often the perpetrators are under the legal driving age, an offender, or in some cases both, and are likely to be driving without a valid license or insurance.

Taking a vehicle without consent does not only cause distress to the vehicle owner, but it also puts both the driver, any passengers and the public at great danger, especially if the driver then goes onto drive dangerously or irresponsibly in the car.

Safe driving from Britannia!

You have probably heard lots of people giving you tips for becoming a better driver – From your parents, friends, older siblings and your driving instructor, you may think you have heard all the advice you will ever need.

One of the most important pieces of information you need to know is how to read the road – This means your ability to look ahead of you, past what is happening directly around your car and even the car or two in front, and to determine accurately what may be about to happen in the next few seconds and minutes.

Learning to read the road will not only make you a safer driver, but it will also help you become much more fuel efficient too!

Safe driving from Britannia!

Driving on the roads in this day and age can be fraught with a variety of dangers – From terrible weather conditions rendering roads unsafe to drive in, to angry road users causing havoc – You need to be alert at all times when behind the wheel.

Another common cause of accidents is drivers not checking their blind spot – This is the area just outside of your peripheral vision that cannot be seen by a casual over-the-shoulder glance or by your mirrors – Unfortunately this is just about large enough for another car or motorcyclist to move into without being detected, so always be sure to take a good, thorough look before pulling away or changing lanes.

Safe driving from Britannia!

There are a lot of challenges to face when learning to drive – From first getting to grips with the basic controls of the car, to learning how to make those tough decisions in difficult encounters on the roads, becoming a qualified driver is certainly quite a learning curve.

One of the biggest challenges driving test candidates face on their test is that of mastering manoeuvres . These can include the relatively easy turn-in-the-road (Otherwise, but incorrectly known as the three-point-turn) and bay parking, as well as parallel parking – All of which require a good amount of control over your car, especially the clutch, brakes and steering.

Safe driving from Britannia!

Where is 2016 going? It seems like only a week ago we were bringing in the New Year, now all of a sudden we are looking forward to one of the holidays that signals the imminent arrival of Spring; The Easter Holiday.

Easter can be a great time – Not only do we get to indulge in lots of chocolate guilt-free (mostly), we also get to enjoy a well-deserved Bank Holiday – Until it comes to driving.

Remember that roads can be a lot busier at this time of year, especially on motorways, so always drive with more caution than normal.

Safe driving from Britannia!

Car insurance can be a headache to take care of sometimes – There are a lot of variables to consider, for example will you need comprehensive insurance, third-party only, or third-party fire and theft cover? What do these terms even mean?

One common query is that of being a “Named Driver” – This simply means to be an additional driver on an existing car insurance policy, allowing you to be legally covered to drive that car. This can be useful for new drivers as it may result in being cheaper for the driver than being on their own car insurance policy.

Safe driving from Britannia!

We’ve all had some sort of accident or other when driving – From the minor bump of the wheel against the pavement, to accidentally scraping another car on a car park (You know who you are!) – Sometimes these types of incidents are unavoidable.

One such event is having a tyre blow out on you – This can be terrifying for the driver, especially if they are inexperienced or if this is the first time it has happened to them. It is important to just remember to stay calm, and to maintain control of the vehicle, so that you can bring it to a gentle stop in a safe location.

Also, knowing how to change a tyre never hurts either!

Safe driving from Britannia!

You might take pride in your car – Showing off your new pride an joy to your friends and family can be a great feeling, but do you ever take a second to think what would happen if someone were to attack your car?

We’re not talking about mindless vandalism here. No, one of the main reasons for cars being damaged is leaving valuable goods on sight. Whilst is it very difficult to steal a car these days, unfortunately it is not very difficult to smash a car window and make off with a phone, handbag or wallet – Unless the would-be-thief can’t see one in the first place.

Always keep your valuables hidden safely in your car when you are not using it, otherwise you will have the costs of replacing your belongings as well as a broken window.

Safe driving from Britannia!

If you have finally managed to pass the driving test, you will likely be looking forward to getting behind the wheel of your own car and taking to the roads – But whilst this is a great privilege, it also comes with it’s own responsibilities too.

When you are driving your own car, you are in charge of everything that happens in that car whilst it is moving. Are your friends fighting on the back seat, causing you to lose concentration? Is your dog trying to join you on the drivers seat? Is the cars physical condition causing a danger to other road users? This is all your responsibility.

Remember, after having a car accident, assigning blame to others is not likely to give you much comfort – So accept the responsibility yourself.

Safe driving from Britannia!

Driving can present a wide variety of challenges – From learning to manoeuvre the car successfully, to managing to navigate traffic safely and much more, there is a long learning curve to be faced when becoming a qualified driver.

One such challenge is first mastering the feat of driving alone. For many learner drivers, it is a source of comfort having a passenger next to them such as their driving instructor or a family member, often giving prompts to help them with their driving.

Having this crutch removed can be daunting at first – Just try to act as if you are still on a driving test, and make every move as safely as possible, to ensure your first drive alone does not go awry.

Safe driving from Britannia!