Many women have admitted that they use the rear-view mirror to apply make-up while driving, says a new study in the UK.

More than one-in-five women motorists have admitted that they regularly use the rear-view mirror to check their look.

And one in four said they have driven while wearing high-heel shoes.

As many as 2000 drivers were questioned for the poll.

“Multi-tasking is a trait often associated with women but doing it behind the wheel is extremely hazardous” the Daily Express quoted Claire Foster, a spokeswoman for Churchill as saying.

“Women get a lot of bad press for their driving skill.

“However, men can be dangerously distracted too,” she added.

Since early April pupils have been given the option as to whether they want their instructor or any another observer to sit in the back of the car. With more and more pupils taking up on this offer, it is important for the observer to know how to behave and what is required of them.

Firstly what seat should you sit on in the back of the car: examiners recommend sitting behind the pupil as this is thought to be least distracting. However, you must also consider what is most comfortable for you, as moving around too much can be off-putting for the pupil.

You may also want to consider changing your seat when the pupil is carrying out a manoeuvre. The pupil’s visibility is key and if you keep moving it could be very distracting.

It may be helpful for both you and the pupil if you take notes, especially if they do not pass the test so you can debrief them about where they went wrong. But be sure not to take copious notes as this may worry the pupil into thinking they are not doing very well.

Make sure you eliminate any form of distraction; make sure your phone is switched off, try not to fidget too much or kick the back of the seat etc.

Despite the myth that looking the way the examiner has instructed the pupil to go will lead to the pupil failing, as long as there are no secret codes, such as excessive nodding or tapping the seat, it is natural to look left, right and behind you and the pupils test will not be abandoned.

Finally it is important to remember that you are there to observe. It is not for you to get involved in the discussion at the end of the test. If you have legitimate concerns and want to follow them up, then speak to the test centre manager or contact the DSA (Driving Standards Agency).

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Blind spot, how many of you check your blind spot before moving off. Research has shown that around three thirds of motorcyclists say that other motorists seem unaware of them.

Many motorists are under the impression that as a bike is considerably smaller than a car, they will take longer to reach them. However, a motorcycle is faster in acceleration due to weight and can attain higher speeds.

It can be difficult when motorbikes decide to overtake in a queue of traffic, naturally a car overtaking is clear to see but often bikes are in a driver’s blind spot.

However, it is also silly errors such as opening a car door without looking that can have serious consequences for a cyclist or motorcyclist. It is also carelessness, such as not looking properly before pulling out at a junction and not checking mirrors as taught when learning to drive.

There is also this myth that if your vehicle is bigger then you have right of way, this right of way violation often leads to accidents as pride gets in the way.

So what is the solution, there have been numerous television campaigns to remind drivers of the importance of using their mirrors and checking for motorcyclists, but we need to change the attitude of motorists. Over half of all motorcyclists believe that by introducing virtual motorcycle lessons we could improve the attitude of motorists and make the roads a safer place.

Natasha Simper of Britannia Driving School said: “It has been suggested that the practical driving test for car drivers is out of date and needs to be seriously improved to keep up with current times and the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) is slowly amending it. So perhaps motorcycle awareness should be next on their agenda.”

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Sports fans, who may currently be distracted by coverage of Wimbledon, the World Cup and international cricket matches, may be putting themselves and the lives of others at risk.

The risk increases if the listener has an emotional attachment to a team or an interest in a particular outcome.

Reactions can be slowed by up to 20 per cent scientists at the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) found – adding a six metre stopping time if a car is travelling at 70mph.

The report said: “To put this into context, this increase in distance travelled is 10 per cent further than the additional stopping distance when driving with a blood alcohol level at the UK legal limit (80mg/ml).

The number of incidents of hard breaking at the last minute almost doubled when motorists were listening to sports commentary.

More and more parents are fronting their children’s car insurance in a bid to save money.

Research has shown that around 40% of parents are adding their children to an insurance policy as the named driver when they are in fact the main driver and often the owner of the vehicle being insured.

More worryingly is that many young drivers are driving with no insurance at all. Yet by fronting, it can invalidate the insurance which in effect is the same as driving without any insurance as a claim can be refused by the insurer or the policy cancelled altogether.

Parents believe they can save hundreds of pounds and that it is harmless. However, the risks are substantial in that they can find it hard obtaining insurance in the future and can even be prosecuted, as it is against the law.

There are a number of ways other than this to help reduce young driver’s premiums:

Choose your car carefully, different cars fall into different insurance bands.

Check the car has an alarm and immobiliser fitted.

Do your research – there are lots of insurers out there all fighting for your business.

Pass plus courses will also help to reduce insurance costs and will sharpen your road skills. Click on the pass plus link on our website for a list of insurance companies that support the Pass Plus scheme and for prices.

Natasha Simper of Britannia Driving School said: “I understand that motorists will often cut corners in a bid to save money however, insurance is one you really shouldn’t avoid. Insurance doesn’t have to be expensive if you invest a little of your time into finding the best deal and follow the easy steps highlighted above.”

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LONDON — Foreign diplomats in Britain have been accused of human trafficking, domestic violence, drink driving and threats to kill — and owe more than 36 million pounds in traffic fines, new figures reveal.

Foreign Office figures show diplomatic missions owe 36,057,690 pounds for not paying London’s congestion charge since 2003 — and half a million in parking and traffic fines in 2009 alone.

But the 25,000 people entitled to diplomatic immunity in Britain are not simply using it to avoid traffic penalties, according to the figures revealed Monday.

Last year, 17 people were accused of drink driving and serious crimes — those warranting at least a year in jail.

This includes two people accused of human trafficking, one from the Saudi Arabian embassy and one from the Sierra Leone mission, a Saudi accused of sexual assault and a Pakistani official accused of threatening to kill someone.

A member of the Gambian mission was accused of shoplifting, a Nigerian of actual bodily harm and numerous officials — including from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain — were accused of drink-driving.

Previous years saw further accusations of drink driving as well as of dangerous driving by a Russian diplomat, domestic assault and car theft by South African officials, and robbery by one of Guyana’s diplomats.

The biggest offender in non-payment of the London congestion charge is the United States embassy, which owed 3,821,880 pounds at the end of January. It is followed by Russia and Japan.

The embassies say they are exempt from all taxes in their host nation but authorities in the British capital insist the congestion charge, levied on vehicles entering the city at peak times, is not a tax and they must pay up.

One author has suggested that by flying a St Georges flag from your car you are identifying yourself as worth avoiding on the roads. He even goes as far as to say that the number of flags indicates the degree of driver stupidity and that four flags is the icing on the cake and denotes a complete moron.

Outrageous you might say.

Flying a flag or the type of clothes a person is wearing does not determine their driving ability.

What about families that share a car, it may be a family member who has put the flag up.

There are many ADI’s that are proud of their country and decide to fly a flag, are these individuals’ bad drivers?

The author suggests that we often stereotype drivers, such as the elderly and that we are wrong to do this as statistically they are safer drivers. However, the author is condescending writing this article when there is no research or proof to suggest that flag flyers are bad drivers.

Natasha Simper of Britannia Driving School said: “The flag does not in my opinion denote the drivers driving skills however, you must fly them in a sensible manner. The flags cost so little that they can easily snap of when driving on the motorway, which not only litters the streets but could also cause damage to other vehicles or even worse fly off and restrict a motorcyclist’s view. So secure your flags and be proud of your country.”

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Insurance companies and breakdown services compete for business often by offering special discounted offers to new customers, but it is the loyal customers that lose out.

Customers who have been members for years can pay up to a third more than new customers online.

However, don’t be duped into thinking that the price they offer you as an existing customer is fixed. If you contact them with regards to leaving and taking your business elsewhere, more often than not they will lower their original quote.

Even this seems somewhat unfair, as those who are not confident enough to contact the company and demand a lower premium will pay whatever they want to charge.

You must also be aware that with most insurers and breakdown companies, after the first year they will use what is known as ‘continuous payment authority’ whereby they can charge your card the next years charges regardless whether you want them to or not.

Natasha Simper of Britannia Driving School said: “My advice is shop around for the best deal, don’t be afraid to challenge quotes and threaten to take your business elsewhere and remember to keep an eye out for your renewal date, if you don’t want to stay with your existing company, you need to opt out of the payment so that it does not automatically go through.”

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A MUM told yesterday how she was clamped while DRIVING her car.
Jessie Martin, 31, pulled into the car park of a block of flats to turn round on a road.

But as she did so two vans screeched up and blocked her exit.
Two “scary-looking” hulks who jumped from the vans told her to turn off her engine. And when she did, they clamped her car.

Sobbing Jessie, who at first feared thieves were after her, said she was ordered to pay £120 to have the clamp released.
When she refused she was told a tow truck would have to be called, costing her £434.

Jessie said the LBS Enforcement team, who operate in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, pulled on identity badges only after they clamped her car.
She added: “I phoned the manager and he was really rude. He said, ‘You shouldn’t be parked there.’ I said I wasn’t parked, I was turning around. Then he hung up.”

Jessie’s roofer partner Michael Jenner, 39, said the couple, who have four kids, paid up with a credit card and cash meant for a daughter’s birthday. They will try to retrieve it via a small claims court.
Last month Jordan Hall, 19, was clamped as he turned in a garage forecourt in the same road.

LBS manager Marvin Sanz denied his men were laying in wait for drivers. He refused to comment on claims that the company owes £14,000 to drivers who won court judgements against them.

We all know that cars can be expensive to look after and statistics show that around a third of all cars fail their yearly MOT.

When an MOT is being carried out the inspector cannot amend any faults no matter how small the defect, which can then result in it failing.

However, there are a few pointers to consider before putting your car in for its MOT which could make all the difference and save you a lot of money.

Make sure that your licence plate is clean and secure.

All seatbelt should be in correct working order, no DIY jobs allowed such as a knot to hold it in place!

Your windscreen wipers must clean the window screen sufficiently, if they don’t they are easy to replace. Your local garage or Halfords will sell them, much cheaper than paying for a new MOT.

The lights on the vehicle must all be in working order. The lens covering the light must be clean and have no serious cracks.

It is also wise to make sure your tyre pressure is correct and that there is 1.6mm tread across three quarters of the tyre as this is a legal requirement.

Natasha Simper of Britannia Driving School said: “Most of these things are simple and easy to do and with a wet cloth and a quick visit to your local petrol station, all of the above can be rectified before the MOT inspectors get their hands on your car.”

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