When you are learning to drive, the DVSA recommends a combination of professional tutoring with some private driving practise to maximise your driving ability and to cut your learning curve as much as possible.

So who can teach you to drive?

For your private practise, there are some requirements that your tutor will have to meet before they are legally allowed to educate you on how to drive.

For a start, they must be 21 years or older. They must also have held a valid driving license for a minimum of three years before starting to teach anyone, and they must also have the correct insurance for the vehicle they are tutoring you in.

Private practise can help to open your eyes wider to the world of driving – in a car with someone you are more familiar with may put you at ease more so than being in a car with a driving instructor, and this may benefit you in the long run.

Safe driving from Britannia!

Defensive Driving – what is it, and why do I need to use it?

Defensive driving is described as a practice for car drivers to drive in such a way that they consciously reduce the likelihood of falling victim to any hazards on or around the roads. This form of driving is achieved by maintaining maximum awareness of the road around you, including other drivers and road conditions, as well as by anticipating potentially dangerous scenarios and taking preventative action in advance.

Our tips for Defensive driving include:

– Constantly checking your mirrors so you are fully aware at all times what is happening inside and around your car.

– What is happening on the horizon? Don’t just react from the car in front of you, look 2, 3 4 or 10 cars ahead. This will give you the best warning far in advance of any scenario you need to be aware of.

– Keep eye contact with other drivers and pedestrians. Only by making eye contact can you be fully sure they have seen you.

– Wheels can be a tell-tale sign. If a car is parked up on the side of the road, but the wheels are facing outwards, expect the car to pull out at any moment, and drive accordingly.

– Finally, expect the unexpected. Only be anticipating any eventuality can you become a truly defensive driver.

Safe driving from Britannia!

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Road deaths due to drink driving have reached a record low, according to figures released by the Department for Transport, as a shocking new commercial is launched to coincide with the Think! road safety campaign’s 50^th anniversary.

Official government figures show the numbers deaths caused by drink driving in the UK fell from 1,640 in 1967 to 230 in 2012.

The safe driving campaign group THINK! released a sobering ‘celebration’ advert to commemorate the 50 year campaign, with the slogan: ‘that’s still 230 too many’.

The advert features scenes of a horrific car accident, with the Kool & the Gang’s 1980 hit ‘Celebration’ providing a chilling soundtrack.

A recent survey commissioned by the Department for transport found that attitudes to drink driving had changed remarkably over the past 50 years, with 91% claiming they thought drink driving was unacceptable. A further 92% said they would be ashamed to be caught drink driving – a stark contrast with data from 1979, which found over half of male drivers admitted to driving while inebriated on a weekly basis.

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DVLA has warned motorists not to fall victim to an email from fraudsters asking them to verify their driving licence details.

A message claiming to be from the DVLA has been received by a number of individuals which asks recipients to click a link in the email which leads them to an online form to fill in their personal information.

The fraudsters then use these to steal from their bank account or copy their identity. The DVLA advises anyone who receives the email to ignore it.

There are fears scammers are trying to exploit confusion at the recent industry overhaul.

The DVLA has issued the alert just four weeks after confusion at changes which saw the end of paper tax discs.

Since 1^st October 2014, drivers need only apply online for their tax disc, which is logged into a database. Anyone who hasn’t paid their tax will be detected by cameras on the roads.

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One of the key aspects many drivers seem unaware of is the importance of maintaining comfort when driving, especially on long drives across the country or on motorways.

Studies have shown that many drivers are not sat or positioned well enough in their vehicles, leading to an array of issues with comfort such as back and joint pain, and even in some cases leading to adversely affecting the motorists driving ability.

So what are the golden rules when it comes to comfort in the car? Well, in short, there aren’t any. All drivers are different and so will have different requirements when it comes to maintaining optimum comfort in the drivers seat. Factors such as height, weight, the clothing you drive in, and even health factors need to be taken into account to get the best possible positioning in your car.

Likewise, the car itself can make all the difference. Some cars may have a drivers seat situated closely to the dashboard, whereas another car may have a large steering wheel that prohibits the driver sitting too far forward in the vehicle.

The best way to get the best out of your car for comfort is to try messing with the settings, such as chair incline, chair positioning, steering wheel height, and mirror adjustments, so that your car is perfectly tailored for your needs.

Safe driving from Britannia!

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The possibility of introducing a driving test retake for elderly drivers has been heavily debated with strong arguments for both sides. However, a recent incident involving an elderly driver has prompted stronger calls for elderly driving tests.

Elaine Dunne, 30, on a cycling holiday with her husband to celebrate their first anniversary, was hit and killed by 93-year-old Alice Ross’s car in the Scottish Highlands. Dunne’s husband was also seriously injured when the couple, who had stopped outside a croft house to put on wet weather gear, were struck by Ross’ Nissan Micra when it left the road.

Ross had suffered a blackout a month before the incident and has told police she has had no memory of the accident.

In light of this, calls have been made for more regular checks on elderly motorists’ fitness to be behind the wheel to help avert similar incidents in the future. It was recommended that drivers in their 80s should renew their licences and face tests every two years and those in their 90s should renew each year. A recommendation has been made for the introduction of tests, similar to the theory test, designed to easily and quickly check visual and mental acuity such as those in use in Ontario.

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Most new drivers, feeling uneasy at first behind the wheel, take solace in going for their first few drives with family or friends in the car with them, safe in the knowledge that if anything bad was to happen they would not be completely alone in the situation.

But what happens when you are finally forced to take to the roads in solitude?

The best advice we could give you would be to drive as if it were a test situation. Approach all junctions with caution, and take extra special care in your driving, especially at first. Make mental notes along the way to keep yourself alert, for example when you are preparing for a turn, remind yourself to indicate firstly, much in the same way as you would when on your lessons.

Revert back to your lessons for more guidance – “Mirror/Signal/Manoeuvre” should come immediately to mind. Keep your speed down for the most part – remember it is always better to be cautious than dangerous.

Hopefully in time you will become more and more confident in driving on your own – one day, you may even prefer it!

Safe driving from Britannia!

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Maria Adams was seen towing her friend sitting in a borrowed wheelchair outside Tesco in Roker, Sunderland. She has been handed a two-year driving ban.

Adams repeatedly drove up and down the car park with her friend holding on to a towel hanging out of the boot of her car. Witnessed by a number of shoppers, Adams would speed up before the man in the wheelchair let go and was sent whizzing along with the momentum. This prank, which was caught on security cameras, lasted several minutes.

At court, Adams admitted to dangerous driving. The court head that the friend did not require a wheelchair and had jumped in one owned by the store for customer use. She was disqualified from driving for two years, ordered to pay £1,369 prosecution costs and a £60 victim surcharge. She was also given a four-month curfew and a 12-month community order.

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