The Christmas Season is finally upon us; Christmas parties are in full swing, families are journeying to visit, hectic shopping has taken over the next few weekends and mothers across the country are dropping presents off to friends and family members like there’s no tomorrow.

So I’m sure we all have plans for our cars to break down this winter?

No? Then you had better read our top tips to avoid breaking down here:

– Always be prepared. You will always break down when you least expect it, so always keep a kit in your car ready for this eventuality. In this emergency kit you will want some water, some back-up fuel if you have ran out, a flash light, some blankets to keep you warm and a mobile phone with it’s battery charged full. This is also a good idea if you are involved in an accident.

Have we missed any items off? Let us know!

– Remember your Hazards. If you break down, you will need to switch on your Hazard lights to alert other drivers of your presence and your vehicle status. This is especially important on winter nights as the dark will make it harder to see you.

Safe driving from Britannia!

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Chancellor George Osborne has said fuel duty is to remain frozen in his Autumn Statement. The freeze has been confirmed to last until May 2015. Many motorists have seen this freeze on duty as a very welcome relief; however, there seemed to be disappointment amongst some motorists who would rather see fuel duty reduced and not frozen.

Osbourne also announced that following the severe winter weather, he was making an extra £200 million available to local authorities to repair potholes.

These announcements come alongside the Department for Transport’s announced that it will trial fuel signs for motorway petrol stations early next year. This is to avoid drivers being ripped off by petrol prices on motorways.

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Happy December folks!

We have arrived at the last month of the year, and what a year it has been! Hopefully we have all managed to stay safe on the roads in 2014, and hopefully our new drivers have been successful in their driving test and driving theory test attempts – and if not, don’t worry, a new year can be a new start!

With Christmas looming ever nearer, it is necessary to remain vigilant, especially in the Winter conditions on the roads. With nights getting darker earlier and cold, wet conditions all over, be sure to take extra precautions when driving, and keep your speed down when driving this Christmas!

Safe driving from Britannia!

It is one of the most commonly heard phrases during one’s driving lessons: “You need to pay attention”.

But in this day and age of motoring mayhem, paying attention to the roads more is not just a method to try to help you pass your driving test faster, but potentially to save your life.

A lot of driving instructors will emphasise the importance of paying attention to road signs – which is true, after all they give you a lot of information when you’re behind the wheel, as to what to expect in the coming roads, or warning on what to watch out for. Although we here at Britannia would wager that they would 100% rather you keep your eyes on the traffic at all times, rather than road signs, if it has to be a choice.

This is because traffic is dynamic, and therefore dangerous. Many drivers are happy to pull out of junctions without due care, which outs yourself and all other road users at risk. So next time you are on your driving lesson, remember that really paying attention will make all of the difference.

Safe driving from Britannia!

Cardiff Council has just revealed plans to install a network of fixed and mobile cameras and penalise drivers who use bus lanes or stop in yellow box junctions as much as £70.

This new system similar to that which is already in force in London is due to come into effect in December.

The scheme will apply to unauthorised use of bus lanes, cars which stop in box junctions and parking that blocks access to schools.

This gives rise to the question of money-making by local authorities, something that councils in London have been under fire for. An investigation found last year that some councils in London were discussing financial targets for certain junctions.

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

Motorists are calling on the government to take urgent action to stop the extortionate costs of fuel on the motorway. A new study found that three-quarters of drivers think petrol and diesel sold by service stations is too expensive, with almost two-thirds demanding that prices be capped to stop profiteering.

The report should that many motorists risked their fuel tanks running dry by only buying the bare minimum of fuel on the motorway and then hoping to find a cheaper alternative later. In 2013, ministers announced plans to introduce a system of motorway signs showing prices from all the service stations on a particular stretch of road.

A pilot is due to be run in 2015. An app has been designed to help motorists who need to fill their tanks up on the motorway. The PetrolPrices app allows drivers to find the cheapest provider of fuel within a chosen radius.

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One of the many factors that can affect how well a person learns to drive is the issue of confidence – driving is one of those things in life where a little confidence can go a long way, but without it, you are likely to struggle.

Nobody likes a boy racer driving behind them who thinks he owns the road. But confidence is a necessity when you’re behind the wheel. For example, are you preparing to pull out of a junction when there is a gap in the traffic? If you hesitate, being unsure of if you can pull into the available space in time, or worried that you may stall, you are likely to waste valuable time that could have been used making the perfect manoeuvre.

A lack of faith in your own driving abilities can be a major hindrance on your driving lessons. But if you want to get past this stage, try to pick up on any small praise that your instructor gives you – something as simple and reassuring as a “Good job” on a three-point turn can make all the difference to putting you in a positive mind frame. Likewise, don’t take any negative comments to heart – just see them as constructive criticism, and remember that without them, you could never improve and progress onto being a fully road-legal driver.

Safe driving from Britannia!

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The paper counterpart is to be axed from 1 January 2015, following the tax disc. However, there are concerns that this move could mean that drivers face car hire delays in the UK. In addition, motorists could become more susceptible to fraudulent emails.

The DVLA recently warned fraudsters were sending out emails asking people to click a link to verify their driving licence, which if followed could see them compromised and their bank cards stolen.

An online service is yet to replace the paper part which could lead to people hiring cars facing higher bills and longer queues, car rental companies have warned, since car rental firms would be required to use the DVLA’s premium rate telephone enquiry number. a cost that would be passed on to the consumer.

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