It has been found that ‘Siri’ and other voice-activated systems designed to keep drivers’ eyes on the road are as distracting as making a mobile phone call.

The studies conducted on this measured the drivers’ mental capacity, reaction time and heart rate during the tests. They found that not all the in-car systems were the same, with some significantly more distracting than others, but the majority of them were as distracting as a demanding mental maths problem.

In a simulator, interacting with Siri caused two virtual crashes despite the driver only interacting with Siri using their voice and not looking at the screen or tapping any buttons.

The research concluded that while well-designed voice control systems with minimal steps and accurate recognition could potentially be less distracting than manual controls, clicking a button or flicking a switch was much faster and less dangerous.

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

Many drivers have horrific horror stories of their experiences learning to drive – some involving minor misdemeanour’s on driving lessons, others as severe as having a road accident during the dreaded driving test.

Here at Britannia we have heard all sorts of stories in regards to bad driving tests, including multi-car pile-ups on the test, and sometimes even tales of nerves getting the better of some participants resulting in cancelling the test part-way through.

It is best to prepare yourself in advance before attempting the driving test – we do recommend mock tests prior to taking the real thing, so that you have an idea of how well you will perform. Also read our guide on dealing with exam nerves, which should help you to deal with any pre-test anxiety.

Have you got any stories about your driving lessons or test? Let us know here!

Safe driving from Britannia!

After the abolition of the tax disc on 1st October 2014, it appears that there is another DVLA change on the horizon.

From January 2015, the paper part of the driving licence will officially disappear as the DVLA continues to transfer motorists’ records online. Last October, the Department for Transport launched a review into the DVLA’s services. Following this, roads minister Stephen Hammond concluded that, amongst other reforms, the paper counterpart was to be removed.

For those who only have the paper counterpart, approximately 46 million motorists, no action is required. The paper licence will continue to be valid until it need to be updated with a change of details. When it is renewed, these motorists will be issued with only a photocard.

Those with a photo card should continue using it, remembering to renew it when necessary.

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

Here at Britannia we spend a lot of our time dealing with young drivers, particularly learners and those who have recently started driving and are trying to improve their motoring skills with a Pass Plus course. However, when we’re not instructing the young how to become the better drivers of tomorrow, we like to help existing drivers improve their own proficiency behind the wheel, and elderly drivers are one of those groups that we feel could benefit from our professional advice.

Many older drivers are quite willing to admit that they would probably not pass the driving test if they were to take it today – however just because it has been several years since you passed your test does not give you an excuse to slip into bad driving habits. As a driver of a certain age, you are just as required to adhere to the rules of the road as a driver who has just passed their test.

If necessary, it may be an idea to have a health and physical check-up, to ensure that you are still fully capable behind the wheel if you feel that your eyesight and/or hearing may have deteriorated over time. If you feel you need to brush up on your driving skills with some professional mentoring, then our Refresher Courses may well be the best option for yourself.

Safe driving from Britannia!

If you’ve ever been stuck behind a bin lorry, either as a driver or a passenger, you know how annoying it can be. However, it has emerged that some drivers are too impatient, putting themselves and others in danger trying to get round them.

Island Waste Management, in The Isle Of Wight, created a montage of footage, taken between 2012 and 2013, which was then presented to Hampshire Police. Motorists were filmed mounting the pavement, swerving round lamp posts and careering into people’s gardens to get around the vehicle as rubbish collectors made their rounds. In one clip, a white van with a roof rack squeezes itself in between the lorry and a roadside shop, ploughing into its fabric canopy as it slowly pushes past. Dozens of other drivers mount the pavement on residential streets to get around the vehicle, forcing rubbish collectors to jump out of their path as they try to empty wheelie bins. One driver, somewhat unnecessarily, even careers into a front garden to scoot around the lorry.

Twenty of the drivers received a fixed penalty notice between £50-£100 and three points on their licence. Around six others were taken to court for dangerous driving placing serious or imminent risk to life. All pleaded guilty once shown the video evidence and were given six points and a fine of approximately £600.

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

The paper tax disc, first issued on January 1, 1921, has finally had its day after being in existence for 93 years. From today there will be no need for vehicle owners to display the tax disc on their windscreens but vehicle excise duty still needs to be paid. Motorists will now be offered the choice of applying for VED renewal online or by visiting a Post Office.

Critics said the physical paper disc in the windscreen was a timely reminder to drivers to pay their road tax. It also alerted house-holders to cars abandoned with expired tax discs in their street. Nearly three million used cars change hands each year, but a poll found fewer than half of drivers knew the change prevented car tax being passed to new owners.

Under the new system, drivers will be able to pay monthly by direct debit, although this will cost five per cent more than paying the full sum at once.

The DVLA has digital records of who has and has not paid vehicle tax and they will be spotted on automatic number plate recognition cameras or by police checking VED data information.

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

For many people, learning to drive can be an uncomfortable experience – however to ensure that your driving lessons go as well as possible, you need to ensure that you are wearing the right clothes.

While this may seem like a small inconsequential issue, what we wear when we drive can make a huge difference. For example, wearing clothes that you feel comfortable in will instantly put you at ease and make it much easier to focus on your driving. Alternatively, wearing ill-fitting clothes that you are not as comfortable in, or excessive jewellery, may distract you from the road and lead to driving mistakes.

Always make sure you wear correct footwear especially, as your feet will be doing a lot of the work when you are behind the wheel (sorry ladies, no high-heels!) Flat shoes are a must, so some comfortable trainers are a good idea. Also try not to have too much jewellery or baggy clothing around your wrists too, as when you are changing gears, indicating or steering, these could prove a distraction. Also remember that you will have a seatbelt tight around your torso, so wear something comfortable up top too.

Safe driving from Britannia!

Vauxhall has called owners of Vauxhall Corsa and Adam models registered from May 2014, of which there are approximately 3000, to stop driving them until inspection because of a steering concern.

The discovery was made during a routine quality control at one of the two manufacturing plants.Vauxhall has said they’re not aware of any accidents or injury relating to the problem and merely advises as a precaution that these vehicles are not driven until inspection.

These particular vehicles had been manufactured with a steering system part which did not meet specification.

The company said that customers could check on their website to see whether their vehicle was affected.

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

An anti-drink driving campaign has been launched in an unexpected place – the men’s bathroom of a North London pub.

The campaign was certainly aimed to hit viewers with the “shock” factor, as a hidden video of the campaign in action shows.

The experience caught unsuspecting pub-goers off-guard as they enjoyed an afternoon having a few drinks in the London bar. However, as the unwitting men ventured into the bathroom, the campaign was launched into action.

As the men stand calmly washing their hands at the sink in front of a large mirror, without warning a life-like mannequin is suddenly hurled crashing from behind the mirror itself into the glass pane, causing the mirror to shatter, and the seemingly lifeless face is left gaping vacantly through the broken mirror, dripping “blood” into the sink. . . and leaving the started men visibly traumatised.

The campaign was intended to replicate the effects of a driver hitting a pedestrian at full force, with the “pedestrian” sent smashing into the windscreen.

To see footage of the campaign, simply search on YouTube for “pub loo shocker”.

What are your thoughts on this campaign? Shockingly effective, or just a cruel prank? Sound off in the comments section below!

Safe driving from Britannia!