Car insurance costs are perhaps the biggest worry to new drivers once passing their test. Not only are new drivers subject to high premiums, but being within the age range of 17-25 also adds to the cost of the insurance. Here are Britannia’s top tips to lower the cost of your insurance if you have recently passed your test:

Compare prices and haggle. There are many car insurance providers and the market is very competitive and this can be used to your advantage by comparing different providers. Not only should you use comparison sites but also check out various providers as well. It is usually best to call them and bargain your way to a cheaper deal.

Accelerated no-claims: Some companies offer an accelerated no-claims bonus which could give you a year’s no claims bonus after just 10 months. It is worth researching which companies offer this.

Multi-car discount: You can also get a discount by insuring two or more vehicles between friends or family members with the same firm.

Adding drivers: Consider adding a second or even third driver to your insurance, especially an older more experienced one as this can make the insurance cheaper.

Extra qualifications: if you’ve passed your test recently, consider taking a Pass Plus or Advanced driving course since some insurance firms can knock off up to 25% off the insurance cost.

Less Miles: If you know you will only be driving a few thousand miles a year, consider a limited mileage policy.

Type of car: certain cars attract more expensive insurance premiums – make sure you bear this in mind when choosing a car to purchase.

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As the bank holiday weekend approaches, more and more of us will be taking off in our cars for long drives in the warm sunshine (hopefully!), and even weekends away along the coast. However before setting off driving this Bank Holiday weekend, do make sure that you have made the correct preparations for your car on the journey.

Here are Britannia’s Top Tips for the Pre-Drive Check-list:

– Oil : Often missed, the oil level is a crucial ingredient in the smooth running of a car, and being as easy to check as it is, there is no excuse for missing this.

– Windows: Clear your windows of any dirt or grime that may hamper your visibility.

– Lights: Check your headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, interior lights, make sure that all those bulbs are working!

– Tyres: Take a quick look over your tyres to make sure they are clean and undamaged, and check the tyre pressure.

– Brake fluid: Safety comes first, and with the wrong amount of brake fluid in your car, you are asking for trouble!

– Windscreen washer fluid: Make sure that this is topped up, should your visibility be impaired without warning.

– Fuel: It might go without saying, but work out in advance how much fuel you will need to reach your destination, or even carry some spare.

– Steering and Miscellaneous: Now it would be a good time to take your car for a quick test drive, just for five minutes or so (make sure to keep the radio off). This will give you a chance to ensure that your car is running perfectly, or allow you to identify any potential problems with the vehicle, such as steering issues or warning lights.

Unfortunately you are never able to guarantee a smooth journey on a long drive – but by following these simple, basic steps you should be able to dramatically reduce the risk of any unexpected problems.

Safe driving from Britannia!

There is an increasing concern over motorists using social media whilst driving. The head of roads policing in England and Wales, Chief Constable Suzette Davenport has highlighted that there are an increasing number of motorists posting updates, taking photos and video calling behind the wheel.

The problem is more significant with young drivers with a recent RAC survey finding that 20% of 17 to 19-year-olds admitted to using Facebook or Twitter whilst driving.

Perhaps the most concerning is the new craze – the ‘selfie’. The craze involves taking a photo of yourself and posting it on a social media website. This may seem harmless, not if it is a motorist taking the ‘selfie’ whilst driving. A survey by confused.com revealed that 11% of drivers admit to taking a ‘selfie’ whilst driving with the number being significantly greater for 17-24 year-olds.

Motorists are strongly advised against engaging in this practice whilst driving. Last month, a 32-year-old driver from North Carolina died in a head-on collision just moments after posting a ‘driving selfie’ on Facebook. It is a dangerous practice with the costs being severe.

More broadly, using social media whilst driving is just as dangerous if not more so than using a hand-held device to make and receive calls, something that is already banned in the UK.

Safe driving from Britannia!

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Whilst many drivers think that the most damaging conditions for your car occur in the Winter months, most are not aware that driving in the summer heat can be just as bad for your vehicle.

With much of the country enduring almost unbearable hot spells this summer, and set to experience more heatwaves in the coming months, it is important to know the basic dangers of driving in heat and how to avoid them.

Extreme heat can cause problems to your battery, just as much as the cold spells do – be sure to check your battery at the start and end of every journey undertaken in high temperatures, to ensure that no adverse effects have befallen your battery.

Although it is not just your car that may suffer – keep an eye out for warped road surfaces, such as buckled or cracked tarmac, that could pose a danger to you and other road users.

Finally, take care of yourself when driving in heat – make sure to use your air conditioning when needed, and stay plenty hydrated when behind the wheel, as this will help you to stay much more alert and to drive at your best for as long as possible.

Safe driving this summer from Britannia!

Road safety campaigners and insurance companies have called for the law to be changed to make autonomous emergency braking (AEB) to be compulsory in all new cars.

This new technology uses radar, camera and laser sensors fitted to the vehicle to detect potential collisions. The system works by using sensors fitted to the car which can detect if the car in front is slowing down or braking sharply. The system would then judge quickly if the car needs to come to an automatic emergency stop.

Currently, this system is only fitted in approximately a fifth of new cars but campaigners are calling for it to become as common as seatbelts. However, critics are worried that the system could make drivers too reliant on the technology whilst insurance industry research suggests that 1,220 lives could be saved over the next 10 years if AEB became mandatory in cars. Critics are also concerned over the cost of the technology as prices range from several hundred to several thousand pounds.

Do you think this technology should become mandatory in all new cars? Send your views to Britannia Driving School by using the comments link below:

Whilst it is important to ensure that your driving skills are up to scratch, many young motorists seem to forget one of the basics of safe driving – that of wearing safe and appropriate clothing when behind the wheel.

A recent survey has revealed that a vast proportion of young drivers admit to wearing unsuitable footwear when driving, such as sandals or even high-heels and stilettos!

Young drivers between the ages of 18 to 30 are the most dangerous culprits, with almost one in three admitting to wearing clothing deemed unsuitable for driving, comparing to half of that amount with older drivers.

Experts have said that unless you are wearing shoes with a flat sole, and a good amount of grip, you are risking your feet sliding off the brake and accelerator pedals, which could likely result in a crash.

Don’t endanger yourself and other drivers – ensure that you always wear the appropriate clothing when driving.

Safe driving from Britannia!

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Young drivers aged 18 to 30 are most likely to wear inappropriate footwear whilst driving with 29% admitting to wearing high heels or sandals whilst driving. Some motorists have even admitted to driving barefoot, putting themselves and other road users at risk.

Of older drivers, on the other hand, only 15% have admitted to donning inappropriate footwear when driving.

Experts say that drivers who do not wear flat shoes with a firm grip could find their feet slipping off the brake or clutch pedals of their cars, putting them at risk of having a crash.

57% of young drivers believe they are better drivers than anyone else; however, 59% of young drivers admit to driving with one or no hands on the wheel, 56% admit to accelerating through amber light, in addition to driving in inappropriate footwear, compared with 34% and 32% respectively for older drivers.

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For many young people, passing their driving test is a source of celebration – finally earning liberation from the monotony of public transport and constant lifts from friends and other family members, and being allowed your freedom on the roads at long last. And so, to celebrate this, many teenagers will pick up their friends and go driving as a novel new means of exploring the world.

However, studies have shown that teenagers with friends in the car are up to four times as likely to be involved in a crash than their adult counterparts. It seems that many youngsters that are in their early driving careers are still fatally unaware of the dramatic effect having their peers in the car will have on their driving ability, without even knowing it.

It has been proven that teenagers with their friends in the car pay as much as 50% less attention to the roads when driving with acquaintances, when compared to driving alone or with family members. Whether it is due to bickering over which music to play in your new car, back-seat drivers giving instructions to you or arguing that they deserved the “shotgun” seat, or shouting Inbetweeners-style obscenities out of the window, it is proven that your motoring skills are drastically impaired with friends around you. Also be aware that whilst you may be the designated driver chauffeuring your comrades to the pub, this also makes you more likely to come under peer pressure to drink and drive – which goes without saying as being illegal.

The camaraderie of enjoying your primary driving experiences with your closest friends may seem like a fun and exciting new world, but do remember that it can also be a dangerous one if you are not paying full attention.

Safe driving from Britannia!

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