Whilst drink driving is widely acknowledged as unacceptable, when it comes to drugs the line is blurred. The fact of the matter is drug-driving carries the same penalties of drink-driving as well as potentially doubling motor insurance premiums. With 10% of male drivers admitting to driving whilst taking illegal drugs, more people need to be made aware of the repercussions.

Contrary to belief, police can identify whether or not drugs have been taken and have various methods of testing that can be done at the roadside.

Some insurance providers can more than double your premium following drug-driving related convictions, others won’t quote at all.

With belts being tightened more than ever due to the financial climate, drivers need to be aware that being caught driving whilst on drugs results in a definite narrowing of choice when it comes to getting a good price on their insurance.

Around 85 per cent of Britannia Driving Schools students book their theory and driving test through our website with the DSA (Driving Standards Agency). Britannia doesn’t charge any additional fee to the booking fee for this service. Any learner driver in the UK, not just Britannia students are welcome to use our free booking service.

Please be aware that there are a number of alternative service providers who offer to book your theory and driving test and charge a booking fee in addition to the theory and driving test fee.

The DSA have received a number of complaints from pupils-of other driving schools –who have made use of these facilities. They were not aware of the additional booking fee and that this was non – refundable.

Simon Bush of Britannia Driving School said: “If you are an independent driving instructor or driving school, please ensure your pupils are aware of the current theory and driving test fees and remind them that if they do book through any service provider  that they read the terms and conditions fully before going ahead with any payment.”

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1. Cut your annual mileage

From time to time, all of us drive distances that, in reality, are short enough for us to walk. In situations like these, travelling on foot instead of by car is not only better for your health and the planet – it should also have a welcome effect on your wallet.

If you drive your car less each tank of fuel you purchase will last longer. In addition, your car insurance company may offer you a discount for committing to an annual mileage cap.

2. Shop around for fuel

While filling up now costs more than it did a few weeks ago, it’s important to remember that fuel can differ significantly in cost depending on where you are when you purchase it.

3. Stay safe and within the law

Driving carefully and within the law is crucial if you’re keen to keep your motoring costs under control.

If you have an accident and need to make an insurance claim, not only will you have to fork out whatever sum has been set as your voluntary excess; your insurer is also likely to hike your future premiums.

Providing affordable car insurance for young drivers is an almost impossible task.
Statistics show one in five new drivers has a crash in the first six months, and while one in eight drivers is under 25, they account for one in three fatalities.

The Department for Transport and insurers are looking at ways to cut the risks associated with new drivers, which would allow premiums to fall.

Following the Driving Standards Agency’s Learn to Drive consultation, from the end of this month, the theory driving test will include case studies and proof of understanding.

A new pre-driver training qualification is being rolled out to 14 to 17-year-olds in schools.
The Driving Standards Agency is also talking to the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and individual insurers to look at ways to revamp the Pass Plus scheme. Some elements could be incorporated into a beefed up driving test or new post-driving test course.

While insurers do offer discounts, according to ABI figures, young drivers with Pass Plus are only marginally less likely to have an accident than those without

According to the research by motor insurer Direct Line, nine out of ten drivers are in favour of statutory on road experience, six out 10 (59 per cent) also wanted learner drivers to have compulsory driving lessons with an instructor.

AS well as tightening up pre-test rules, British drivers are also keen to put restrictions on novice drivers for a period after they have passed their driving test.

Although older respondents were more likely to be in favour of restrictions on young drivers, a large proportion of young drivers themselves are also in favour of restrictions.

The Government is planning to roll out a road safety pre – driver qualification that can be taught in schools. From October 2009 this qualification will count as a partial credit towards the theory test for car drivers. This measure has overwhelming support from drivers.

 Simon Bush of Britannia Driving School said: “Once the driving test has been passed additional post – test training should be encouraged by parents and the Government to form lifelong learning for young drivers”

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A hard-hitting film designed to warn youngsters in south Wales about the danger of texting while driving has become an internet hit, attracting more than 6 million viewers around the world.

Clips of Gwent police’s film Cow have been watched by people from South America to India and has helped fuel a national debate in the US. The force said it was surprised the film had reached so many people and that at one point it was the most viewed clip on YouTube.

The film tells the story of a fictional 17-year-old girl, Cassie Cowan (nickname Cow), who is distracted for a few seconds while driving with two friends.

She causes a devastating crash which kills her friends and another couple. The crash is portrayed in vivid and bloody detail.

A full 30-minute version, which stars local drama students, is due to be shown on BBC Wales in the autumn but the writer and director, Peter Watkins-Hughes, put a four-minute clip of it on the internet to show it to a friend. Within weeks the clip had been spotted by internet users, copied on to other sites and began attracting attention around the world.

Gwent police said today it believed the clip had been viewed at least 6 million times and had appeared on at least 17 sites.

The chief constable, Mick Giannasi, said he was surprised but encouraged by the way news of the film had spread via internet users.

“The messages contained in the film are as relevant to the people of Tennessee as they are to the residents of Tredegar,” he said. “Texting and driving can have tragic consequences and the more this film is viewed, the better. Young people think they can text on auto-pilot because they do it so instinctively. For that reason we need to use strong imagery to get them to sit up and take notice.

He added: “We’ve had callers from Canada ringing our force control room to tell us how moved they’ve been by viewing the clip. Another young driver emailed me personally to say he was deeply moved by the film and that it should be shown as part of the theory test for young drivers.”

Fox TV News in the US discussed the value of the shock tactics used in the film and the New York Times has written about it.

Watkins-Hughes said: “Texting while driving is a fairly new behaviour and this film aims to encourage people to modify their behaviour, making it socially unacceptable in the way that drink-driving is a social taboo.

“The film is hitting home because it has a hard edge and it taps into something that lots of people do but know they shouldn’t. If we can get one person to change their behaviour then it will have been worthwhile.”

Gwent police is now working on a learning pack to give to schools so every teenager over 14 can view the film.

Motorists will face extra pain at the pump from today as the 2p rise in fuel duty comes into force — the third increase in the tax on petrol in nine months.

Motoring groups attacked the move, saying that motorists were being treated as a “soft target” for tax rises. They fear that rising global oil prices could push the price of a litre up by 5p, which would see the typical family spending £120 a year more on petrol.

The Freight Transport Association, which represents haulage companies, said that the increase could force some hauliers out of business.

The inclusion of VAT takes the rise to 2.3p, while the price of a litre of unleaded remains high at about 105p, up from about 85p at the start of 2009.

Despite the price of oil falling by almost half over the past year, from a high of $147 a barrel to about $70 a barrel, the cost has not been passed on to motorists at the pump, while tax accounts for about 65p in the price of each litre.

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The head of BSM has managed to avoid a driving ban despite having 17 points on his driving licence.

Abu Haris Shafi, managing director of British School of Motoring (BSM) appeared in court after his car was clocked by a speed camera breaking a 50 mph speed limit.

But when asked to admit who was driving the car at the time Mr Shafi, 47, refused, earning him six points on his licence, on top of 11 he already had.

Mr Shafi managed to persuade Bournemouth magistrates that banning him from driving would risk his job. Instead he was fined a paltry £750

Simon Bush of Britannia Driving School said: “It’s unacceptable for the boss of Britain’s biggest driving school to have 17 point on his driving licence and be caught speeding at 50mph; it’s the case of do as we say,  but not as we do.”

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POLICE today revealed they were regularly being called in to challenge the identity of people sitting driving tests in a bid to put the brakes on bogus pupils.

It is feared fraudsters are assuming the identity of provisional drivers to help them pass the test, either as a favour to friends or for a cash payment.

The problem is so bad that Birmingham is considered one of the country’s “hot spots”.

Elsewhere in the Midlands, there is a regular police presence at test centres such is the prevalence of fake pupils sitting the tests to help people get a driving licence.

PC Steve Rogers, from the West Midlands Police’s Road Traffic Department, said officers worked with investigators from the Driving Standards Agency to beat the cheats.

“Birmingham is one of the hot spots for the country,” he said.

“While officers are not routinely stationed at test centres we are routinely asked to assist the Driving Standards Agency.

“There are regular interventions taking place at test centres in Birmingham to challenge the identity of people and people have been arrested for a number of offences.

“We don’t want people on the roads who have not been trained properly but there are potentially people on the streets of the city who have never taken a test.”

Zhiar Rostam, aged 24, of Colonial Road, Birmingham, was jailed for six months by a judge at Coventry Crown Court after pleading guilty to fraud.

The court heard he had posed as another man to take his driving test for him at the Nuneaton centre.

Vicki Lofrese, prosecuting, said a man called Ahzo Mohammed was due to take his practical driving test at the Nuneaton centre but when examiner Paul Owens went to the waiting room to collect him, Rostam stepped forward.

He was caught because he looked nothing like the person on the provisional driving licence.

Miss Lofrese said: “Staff at the centre were on their guard. It was known that this type of offence was becoming prevalent, and there were police officers at the scene for this reason.”

Sally Cairns, defending, said Rostam was a Kurd who had fled Iraq in 2002 because his family had been persecuted, as a result of which he has emotional difficulties.

Jailing Rostam, Judge Coates said he needed to make an example of him.

In 2003, detectives in Alum Rock uncovered a major driving test scam which could have put dozens of unqualified drivers onto the roads of Birmingham.

The six-month police probe led to the arrest of three people on deception and conspiracy offences.

Drivers need to check the small print on their car insurance or they could end up out of pocket.

To keep prices competitive, policies may not be as comprehensive as people believe.

One great motoring myth is that those with fully comp cover are insured to drive any car.

The reality is increasing numbers of insurers no longer offer the “driving other cars” extension and those that do place restrictions.

Even when it’s available, motorists could lose out as it is for third party only, meaning you will have to pay your own repair costs. It doesn’t cover under 25s or named drivers, only those with their own policies, and it’s for use only in an emergency.

Graeme Trudgill, of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association, said: “Insurers are wary as this cover has been misused in the past . Drivers should check the small print.”

To insure yourself for driving someone else’s car, either get yourself added as a named driver to their policy or get them to take out cover for any driver over 25.

Don’t risk having the wrong policy or, even worse, driving illegally. You could end up with a conviction – six points on your licence and a fine of as much as £5,000.