February 6, 2015
Icy Driving Tips

With temperatures plummeting this week, be sure to follow Britannia’s safe tips for driving in icy weather:

– Only drive where essential. More driving puts you in more risk, so only drive when absolutely necessary.

– Drive gently. Harsh braking or excessive steering will cause you to lose control on the icy roads, so make your moves slower and gentler than you normally would.

– Remember black ice. Ice on the roads can’t always be seen, so keep an eye out for loose braking, as you could be driving over an icy patch.

Safe driving from Britannia!

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February 5, 2015
Opening of Nelson Health Centre

The Nelson Health Centre situated opposite our Head Office in Wimbledon is set to open in Spring 2015. It is described as a modern NHS facility providing integrated care for the local community.

The Cannon Hill Lane Medical Practice and Church Lane Practice will relocate here with the intention of forming a new single organisation bringing the best from both practices to deliver excellent care to their patients.

A range of services will be available from X-ray and ultrasound to outpatient clinics to a range of community mental health services.

This modern, innovative healthcare centre is a remarkable addition to the Merton area and we have been very interested in watching the project develop.

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February 4, 2015
Motorists Caught On Phones

Over 700 motorists were caught using their mobile phones while driving in a week long police enforcement campaign.

Thames Valley Police finished the joint operation with Hampshire Constabulary, on Saturday night.

Fixed penalty points and fines were handed out to drivers including 117 in Berkshire and 136 in Bucks.

This campaign served to remind motorists of the penalties of using a mobile phone whilst driving. Motorists are four times more likely to crash if using a mobile phone while driving and it slows the reaction time to 50%.

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February 3, 2015
Spy Lorry To Catch Texting Drivers

Greater Manchester Police have launched a new initiative to apprehend any drivers up to misdemeanour’s behind the wheel – by dispatching a “spy” lorry to catch the unsuspecting perpetrators out.

The unmarked HGV will be on UK motorways from March onwards in an attempt to curb those who drive whilst on the phone, texting, drinking or up to any other bad behaviour behind the wheel.

Once an offender is spotted, a Police officer in the cab will record the offence for proof later on, and radio in to a regular police car on the ground to pull the dangerous driver in.

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

Safe driving from Britannia!

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February 2, 2015
Night Nurse Against New Drug Limit

Police, lawyers and motoring organisations warned that drivers who take Night Nurse could fall foul of new ‘Drug Driving’ Law even if they had taken it the night before driving.

It has been warned that certain legally obtainable drugs on the list can impair drivers’ judgment and slow their reactions because they contain substances such as morphine, methadone and diazepam.

The new laws, which will be enforced with roadside drug-testing kits issued to police, are modeled on drink-driving legislation.  Motoring lawyers have highlighted that it is now possible to take Night Nurse to get you through the work day and the law be able to prosecute you for being unfit to drive.

The laws are designed to reduce the toll of fatal accidents blamed on drug-driving – currently around 200 a year. They come into force on 2 March and carry the same penalties as drink-driving: a minimum 12-month ban plus a possible fine or prison term.

The reason behind this is that prescription and over-the-counter the medications can make drivers very drowsy and severely affect their driving. Therefore, in respect of driving, such medication are as fatal as illegal drugs.

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January 30, 2015
Driving Tests Across The Globe

For many learner drivers the prospect of taking your driving test might fill you with a sense of dread and anxiety – However this feeling is not limited to the UK. Across the entire world, the test is feared, and if you lived in these other Countries, you might be able to see why.

In Ghana, road rage is particularly encouraged, with the highway code instructing drivers to scold other road users with their horn and headlights in the event of bad behaviour behind the wheel.

Greece insists on at least three people in the car during the test, whilst it is much harder to gain the highest driving qualification of driving in North Korea, with the minimum requirement being that you must be able to build a car!

However for those of you taking your driving test in Kenya, it doesn’t seem that bad – You need to firstly demonstrate your abilities with a toy car, and reportedly the test can last less than one minute!

Safe driving from Britannia!

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January 29, 2015
Test Changes Update

Late last year we wrote of the Practical Test undergoing some changes which will see the Turn in the Road being dropped. There are now further updates on these changes.

Both the Turn in the Road and the Reverse Round the Corner are to be scrapped from the practical test. The independent drive will last for 20 minutes instead of 10 and will involve using a Sat Nav instead of following road signs.

A new manoeuvre is to be introduced which involves driving into a parking bay and reversing back out in a similar style to the Turn in the Road. Stopping on the right is also to be introduced since this is a manoeuvre that is not tested on the practical test but is widely used in real life.

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January 28, 2015
Rise Of Impersonators Sitting Tests

More and more learners are turning to fraud to help them pass their practical test. It is clear that the process of learning to drive and taking the test has proved too much to handle for some and they are now turning to impersonators to take the test for them

Figures released from a Freedom of Information request show that there were 667 reported cases of learners hiring lookalikes between April and December 2014. This figure has significantly risen in recent years. In 2004, the figure was only 158.

Some fraudsters are charging up to £1,800 to sit an exam.

This is of concern as it puts innocent road users at risk and so the DVSA have employed stringent measures to catch out these fraudsters.

Jane Hunt of Britannia Driving School says “the test is there for a reason, people should learn to pass the test themselves instead of paying excessive amounts for fraudsters.”

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January 27, 2015
Learner Drivers Caught Cheating

It has been revealed that more and more learner drivers are attempting to fraudulently pass their driving and theory tests – by hiring lookalikes to take their place!

With almost 700 cases reported in the last 8 months, it seems that the issue is on the rise, although this has been refuted by the DVSA as a “serious, but rare” offence.

The criminal doppelgängers have been known to charge anything from less than £100 up to £1800 to sit the exams for their counterparts. 37 have been jailed for the crime, and 97 have had their licenses revoked.

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

Safe driving from Britannia!

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January 26, 2015
Cost of Being A Young Driver

The cost of being a young driver has risen significantly in the last few years. It is well known that car insurance for youngsters has become extortionate in recent years, with most young drivers spending well in excess of £2,000 a year on car insurance. However, according to recent research the exact figure has fallen since 2009. The average figure for young driver car insurance currently stands at £2,232 in comparison to £2,455 in 2009.

In fact, this is not the main expense for young drivers with car insurance only making up a third of a total bill. Another element to the cost is learning to drive, but again this is a small fraction of what is costing young drivers. The most significant expense seems to be young drivers, or their parents, splashing out on a first car. The average cost of a first car has gone up to £3,825 which is a vast increase in recent years.

In a survey of 2,000 parents, almost two third said their contributed to their children’s driving lessons, a third paid towards the cost of a car and 30% helped with insurance costs. The key to decreasing costs seems to be in choosing a car wisely (not going for the most expensive models!) and shopping around for insurance. These figures are average ones and those who pick their car and insurer carefully can find themselves spending less than £2,000 in total.

What are your thoughts on this article? Send your views to Britannia Driving School by using the comments link below:

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