As much as we hate to admit it, the winter months are here. Although here at Britannia it seems like mere weeks ago we were last giving out advice for safe driving in snowy months, it is that time of year again, yet the dangers of driving in colder conditions are no less apparent.

One error many drivers make is the lack of maintenance on their vehicle in the colder months. However if you do not look after your car, especially during this period when conditions are at their harshest, then you are doing a disservice to your vehicle and in return, don’t be surprised if it fails to work when you need it most.

One of the most common errors we have seen here at Britannia is the deterioration of air-conditioning in the post-winter months. This is one issue that many drivers seem unaware of, but air-conditioning works at its best when it is in frequent and regular use – therefore it is necessary to keep using it throughout the winter too.

Although we know that a blast of cold air is the last thing you want when you step into your car on these bitterly cold mornings, try to allow just a couple of minutes a day to give your AC the TLC it requires. If you fail to do this, then the lack of use your air conditioning unit has endured throughout winter will lead to a possible failure to operate at its best performance… and probably just in time for the blazing summer of 2014.

Safe driving this winter from Britannia!

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There have been a number of accidents in recent weeks involving cyclists with a number of motorists calling cyclists to observe certain safety measures. Many cyclists have been caught breaking road laws – most notably by jumping a red light. Bystanders of the accident in which a cyclist in Croydon was killed saw the cyclist blocking the bus’s right of way. This is common behaviour among many bike commuters.

On the other hand, cyclists have raised uproar at the behaviour towards cyclists by other road users. Earlier this year, Emma Way, was convicted of driving offences after a collision with a cyclist which she then tweeted about.

One thing both arguments have in common is that much change is needed to improve the safety of cyclists on roads.

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A road safety group known as Brake have suggested that mobile phones should be turned off whilst driving, and even hands-free mobile sets should be banned from use in the car.

The controversial statement comes after an evaluation of the issue gave results implying that anyone using the phone behind the wheel, to any degree, posed a supposedly similar threat to those driving whilst intoxicated by alcohol.

It also indicated that drivers can, regardless of responsibility when driving, become involved in “horrific” accidents simply through the sheer carelessness of using a mobile device when behind the wheel.

The use of mobile phones when driving was banned over a decade ago, yet the problem persists to this day, remaining, if not growing as a threat to road users, with more drivers on UK roads now than ever before in history, and with mobile phones now much more popular than they were ten years ago.

Some even call for action to be taken as extreme as having it illegal for a river to have a mobile on their person when in the driving seat, suggesting that instead phones should be turned off and placed in the boot for the duration of the journey.

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Safe driving from Britannia!

For a long time drink-driving has been publicly lambasted by society and authorities alike. However, now a new motoring menace is beginning to gain infamy on UK roads… the danger of drug-driving.

Many motorists still believe they are in a perfect state to drive after taking illegal drugs such as Cannabis. Now, the government is suggesting a zero-tolerance crackdown on the use of such substances when behind the wheel – meaning that drivers found guilty of taking drugs before or during driving are liable for an automatic driving ban for a minimum of twelve months, as well as facing a potential prison sentence of six months and a £5,000 fine.

This new hardened crackdown is expected to save up to 100 lives each year. The ruling will include testing drivers for use of any of the following eight substances: Cannabis, Heroin, Cocaine, Ecstasy, LSD, Ketamine, Methamphetamine (or “Crystal Meth”) and benzoylecgonine, which is the main ingredient in Cocaine.

The harsh limitations have been especially designed so that when testing drivers under suspicion of drug-taking, even the slightest intake of any of these drugs will mean that they are over the limit, whilst at the same time ruling out any possibility of “Passive Consumption”, whereby a person may have traces of it on them by being around other users, while not actively drug-taking themselves.

These strict measures are being put in place to save lives. These drugs are illegal for a reason, and any driver willing to risk his/her safety as well as the safety of others by abusing these substances is surely not fit to be behind the wheel, and deserves any punishment that this new ruling includes.

Safe driving from Britannia!

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A ‘flying car’ – the AeroMobil 2.5, has been unveiled at AeroTech, an airshow exhibition held in Montreal. The vehicle was designed by Stefan Klein and Jaruk based from Bratislava, Slovak Republic.

The hybrid vehicle has a maximum speed of 99mph when driven as a car but in airplane mode can soar through the skies at 124mph. It is built from light-weight steel framework and carbon coating and when in plane mode measures 8.2m wide and 6m long to accommodate two people. When the wings are stowed it measures 1.6m wide.

The car can be parked in a standard parking space and can be driven on normal roads.

Jane Hunt of Britannia Driving School says ‘I would love to drive one of these vehicles’.

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The Advertising Standards Authority has banned an online advert erroneously advertising an unlimited amount of driving theory tests for a mere £31.

The advertisement declared “”£31 Book Your Driving Theory Test Unlimited Retests until You Pass!” – Despite the fact that it actually charged unsuspecting buyers almost twice the amount shown.

The ASA ruled that the advert must not appear again online, due to its inherent misleading information, as when online shoppers looking for a bargain attempted to take advantage of the offer, they were in fact being charged £59.50 for the unlimited amount of theory tests – as well as an additional £8.50 compulsory booking fee!

Whilst the details were made clear on the website itself, the Google-sponsored advert was inaccurately promoting a much cheaper deal that was in fact, non-existent.

So if you’re looking for a bargain on so-called “unlimited tests”, be wary about where you are buying from. Read the fine print, or simply stay to the more legitimate routes, otherwise you may end up paying much more than you ever intended to.

Safe theory-test hunting from Britannia!

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