Halfords could be the new place to sit driving tests along with fire stations, leisure centres and universities. It’s all under plans to provide a more local service to candidates.

Tests will still continue to be conducted by Driving Standards Agency examiners and most test centres will remain open.

Mike Penning the transport minister said “there has been real progress with Halfords and Mantra.”
With test routes needing to be identified and working agreements to be finalised the changes will not happen yet, but in the future we could see tests being sat at the premises of many different organisations.

Glasgow, Kettering, Manchester, Watford and Worcestershire are set to be the trial locations possibly later this year.

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Most of us are great drivers. We make sure we stick to the speed limits, we wear our seat belts, we make sure that we know our car well and as such, become safe drivers. This creates a safe driving environment for everyone else on the road and we can all enjoy our driving experience.

There is no doubt though that there is a lack of safety amongst younger drivers. Just look at the stats. We need to know how to combat this. I believe that teens learn by example. No, you can’t always be looking at how your teen drives. Yes, sometimes no matter how hard you try they will do whatever they want. This is something we have to accept. But we can teach by example.

When you have your teens in the car make a point of letting them know the importance of sticking to the speed limit. Avoid losing your temper and becoming a ratty driver. If they see you doing these things it’s likely to have an effect on them.

Teaching your children about responsible driving is important and something that we can all do.

Teen icon Justin Bieber was caught by police driving at speeds of 80mph in a 60mph zone.

A former LAPD employee who was an eyewitness said “Bieber was driving like a maniac. He was weaving in and out of traffic…I would have arrested him for reckless driving.”

Bieber told cops he was trying to escape from paparazzi, the second time he was pulled over that day, a car carrying photographers were also pulled over for speeding. He was driving his Fisker Karma Hybrid at the time, as the name suggests maybe it was Karma for the paps that were following him and causing him grief.

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Research has shown that an ever increasing gap in the market has allowed companies to produce car manuals that can be viewed on Pc’s.

The manuals will include the top 50 most popular cars, which will cover a large variety of how to and maintenance tips and videos to help customers to maintain their beloved cars.
 
The online manuals will be widely available once mass produced and will include cars such as the Mini and Ford Fiesta.

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With reduced budgets some of us are looking to go on vacation at home this year. Whilst we may feel a bit gutted that the Algarve and the Bahamas may be out of reach this year,  don’t despair.

There are so many great things to see in the UK. Of course there are the major cities, Leeds, Liverpool and London. But then there are places we might not think about going to. What about Edinburgh or Dublin? You can get to these cities relatively cheaply by flying on local airlines like, Flybe, Jet2 and EasyJet. Going on sites like Airbnb or Googling cheap hotels, you should be able to find some good deals.

Then there are other beautiful places like St Ives, Blackpool and Stratford upon Avon. Sure, the weather may not be great but there is plenty of other things to see and do. Taking the time to visit the sites of Britsol and the rich history in Oxford is a lot of fun.

If you are planning on driving to these cities, take the time to plan your route. Check how much parking will be at your hotel. See if the car park is safe and secure too. You may want to have a look at taking a train or coach to certain place. Booking trains in advance work out to  be cheaper, and sometimes a lot cheaper, then booking them on the day.

We wish you happy summer travels!

There are plans for a new magnetic plate similar to that of the “L” or “P” plate to be introduced to the Highway Code and it will display a black “F”.

It would be used to show drivers on the roads, cars that are following a funeral procession. More often than not when family and friends are following a hearse and the family cars other road users do not know who is with the procession and who is not.

We all want to show our respect but it’s hard to know who belongs in the line up, this is an easy solution that would hopefully take away any further stress to the bereaved.

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So often in England we are dealing with cold weather. When it comes to driving, we are most concerned about the weather when it is raining. When it rains and the condensation starts it requires you to be extra cautious; you need to also think about braking and your increased stopping distance.

One of the few things we think about though is driving in hot weather. Hot weather can have an effect on us too. You can feel drousy, which is of course, never a good thing. To prepare your self for the heat, always keep yourself hydrated. Have a few bottles of water stashed away in the car. This will come in useful when you get into your car after shopping or visiting friends. If you do feel sleepy avoid driving and take some time to hydrate yourself.

When you are driving keep a constant flow of air coming in through the car. Should you be travelling long distances, plan for breaks at service stations. You don’t even need to buy anything. By simply getting out of the car and walking around a little you will benefit from the fresh air. Try and avoid travelling during rush hour when you are likely to be stuck in traffic.

It is exciting stuff receiving your provisional licence in the post and I am sure most people rip of the photo card and pop it in their purse or wallet. Worryingly though, people don’t appear to realise that the paper that the photo card comes on is actually the second part of your licence also known as the counterpart.

The DSA have said that more and more candidates are arriving at theory test centres and practical test centres without the counterpart, which results in them not being able to sit the test. Students must be able to produce both parts of their licence.

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Insurance premiums… we all know the feeling when the renewal letter comes through the post. But what about the extra costs involved.

Just recently my car needed a replacement windscreen, so I got on the phone to my insurers and asked about the cover on my policy. They said I was covered and it would cost an excess of just £75. I wasn’t so sure on their wording ‘just £75’ but started the process of organising someone to come and replace the glass.

I was put through to various departments before somebody could help me and was told I would need to wait 4 days before someone could come out. Any driver knows that 4 days without a car is torture, so I took to calling around for some private quotes.

I got various prices all rather high so went back to my insurers. I had spoken to friends who warned me that claiming for the replacement windscreen would affect my future premiums so thought I would double check. The surprisingly pleasant lady on the phone (I have not had great experience before) said: “no, no, it won’t affect your premium”. I asked her if she was sure and could send me something in writing quoting this, so she said she would double check. She came back apologising for misleading me and said it has to go down as a claim for the next 5 years, but shouldn’t affect the price greatly.

As you can imagine I got straight back on the phone and called one of the private companies again. So I guess the point to this article is to warn drivers to check their policy carefully, to ask questions if you are not sure and to not be afraid to ask for a second opinion.

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For those of us who had our babies before we took to the road and had a car, you will remember the times we were waiting at bus stops, in the rain, fighting against the masses of people to get a place on the bus. It’s these memories that makes us feel so utterly happy when we have our car. Even if we have to face the traffic, the fact that we have the kids tucked away in the car away from the horrid weather, buckled up and with the radio on, it makes us feel so happy.

That doesn’t mean we are always in a peaceful mind though. As we all know, children can get bored when you are driving and they need attention. It’s important to remember that although children need attention you need to be fully aware and be able to concentrate when driving.

If you have to travel with children often and the drives are often long distant, it is well worth preparing for these journeys. For younger kids, ensure you have the right booster seats, there are cushions you can haveto attach to the seat belts so it is more comfortable for them. You may also think about having some story book cds in the car to play to keep them occupied whilst you are driving. Assure them that you need to be able to concentrate when driving and it’s important to keep calm. When on a long journey plan to have regular toilet breaks. A quick freshen up can work wonders.

We hope that you find these tips useful.