Ice, Snow and Rain is expected across the country whilst much of the South-West are still tackling recent floods. Of all weather conditions, snow and ice require the most care and preparation for driving.

Here are Britannia’s top tips for driving in this weather:

Antifreeze: Check the handbook or ask the dealer for the right type of antifreeze for your car. Some types of antifreeze may need to be changed after two years, check the manufacturer’s service schedule.

Clear snow: Clear all windows and the roof of snow and ice using a de-icer and scraper. Use air conditioning for faster demisting

Visibility: you must use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced. You may also use front or rear fog lights but these must be switched off when visibility improves as they can dazzle other road users and obscure your brake lights.

Preparation: Give yourself at least 10 minutes extra time to prepare your car, plan routes to favour major roads and allow extra time for your journeys.

Wear comfortable dry shoes for driving.

Pull away: in second gear, easing your foot off the clutch gently.

Speed: Reduce your risk of skidding by reducing your speed.

Brakes: Always apply your brakes gently.

Safe Driving from Britannia!

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An East Midlands man has shown that good driving is all down to experience… by continuing to drive past the age of 100.

Dennis Garratt, from Uppingham in Rutland, has been driving for over seven decades, and has entered an elite group of less than 200 centenarians in the UK still driving past this landmark.

Dennis learnt to drive back in 1943 whilst serving as a Squadron Leader in the RAF in Italy during the Second World War, and learnt to drive in a small Army truck.

Mr Garratt also employed his newfound driving skills later in the war whilst serving in North Africa, the Middle East and the Sub-Sahara.

Mr Garratt has witnesses a variety of changes in motoring over the years, and despite having to renew his license every three years since being 70, he rejects claims that he is too old to drive, saying “Only I know how I feel and it’s up to me when I want to give up.”

Britannia would like to wish Mr Garratt a very happy future of driving!

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Generally when a driver drives through a puddle, soaking pedestrians in the process, this goes unreported. Not in Essex, however.

A 22-year-old driver in Colchester reportedly failed to slow down after creating a ‘large wave’ that drenched children and their parents on the way to school.

Unluckily for him, there was a police offer in the car behind him who witnessed the incident. The motorist has now been reported for careless driving under Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act, meaning he could receive a court summons and a £5,000 fine or be ordered to attend a driver awareness course.

The driver was seen going at a relatively fast speed through the puddle resulting in children and parents walking to St George’s Junior School in Colchester getting soaked in cold, dirty rain water.

The police officer who stopped the motorist, PC Mark Hercules, said that the driver’s ‘actions caused distress to the young children’.

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It has been announced that the tax disc which shows that motorists have paid vehicle excise duty is to be replaced with an electronic system.

The disc, introduced in 1921, is said to be no longer needed with the DVLA and police now relying on an electronic register.

A new option of paying monthly by direct debit will also be introduced and is expected to cost 5% more than paying for a full year in one go.

These changes are expected to come into effect in October 2014.

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Learning to drive can be a daunting experience for many, and it is necessary to find the right process for yourself. All pupil’s experiences of learning to drive will be different- some will learn faster than others simply through natural skill, whereas others may take longer to perfect their driving ability. When it comes to your driving lessons, it is best to plan ahead.

First you should consider how you will learn; if you are in a rush to get on the roads, it may be wise to consider an Intensive Course. However beware, the clue is in the name – if you aren’t the best at handling high-pressure learning, then you may want to think twice about this. Also take a moment to consider if you would prefer to learn in an Automatic or Manual car – and consider what options this will leave you with in the future.

Secondly you should find yourself the right driving instructor for you. Whilst you can learn to drive from anyone over 21 years old who has been driving for three years or more, you may want to go for a more experienced and reputable instructor to maximise your chances. Studies have shown that nine out of ten pupils that pass first time were taught to drive by an Advanced Driving Instructor.

Finally, try to multi task – remember to revise for you Theory Test well in advance to give yourself the best chance of passing. Combine your theory knowledge into your practical driving lessons and you will have an advantage above most others!

Safe driving from Britannia!

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Britain’s first motorway pub will be opened by JD Wetherspoon tomorrow. The Hope and Champion, named after the stagecoaches that passed through to and from London, will be opened at the Extra service station next to junction 2 of the M40 near Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire.

It will be open seven days a week, only closing between 1am and 4am, and is licensed from 9am. It promises not to run any drinks promotions.

There will be hot food until 11pm every day, free tea and coffee refills until 2pm, and soft drinks and real ale from local brewers. Wetherspoons says that it will display drink-driving awareness signs.

Service areas that can be reached only from motorways are still banned from serving alcohol, but this is the first time alcohol will be sold from an outlet signposted to motorway drivers.

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The Government is considering a proposal that would give motorists a five-minute grace period before a ticket is issued. Many councils already allow motorists a limited duration before writing a ticket but it is a grey area which would be cleared up by being written into law.

This forms part of proposals that followed a report by MPs on the Transport Select Committee regarding public perception that parking fines are simply imposed to raise revenue for local authorities. Therefore, the proposed measures are considered to help councils become more transparent in their raising of revenue.

Councils will have to prepare annual reports in which they reveal how much income they make from parking charges and fines and will be reminded that parking fines are not a ‘cash cow’ to raise money for council spending.

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