The BBC has recently uncovered one of the biggest driving test frauds. The scam involves fraudsters taking practical driving tests for people who have paid them up to £500 to do so. The process involves the scammer to pass himself or herself off as the person in the provisional photocard.

The DSA described the problem as a very serious one. Andy Rice head of the DSA’s fraud team said “It is quite common for these people to take up to 100, sometimes over 200 tests before they are caught and arrested”.

This is a very serious problem and potentially dangerous. With people trying to cheat the system, there are so many people who are likely to have a vehicle collision. The AA recently released a post that stated that people who hadn’t took the test themselves were 9 times more likely to have an accident, which will probably be a serious one.

Britannia Driving School will not condone any cheating people and are aware that it is vital you take and pass your own driving practical test. For further information, please see our driving information pages.

It might sound ridiculous but British inventors have just launched an idea to create petrol from household rubbish! The chemical company – Ineos stated that it had now patented a method of producing vehicle fuel from waste, such as city waste, agricultural and organic waste.

They have named the fuel – ethanol and apparently one tonne of dry waste can produce 400 litres of the energy. It might sound like a tough idea but in fact it is quite simple – the new process works by heating the waste to produce gases, then feeding the gases to bacteria, which produce ethanol that can be purified into a fuel.
The launch date for this product is set for 2010. This comes as a relief as motorists have watched petrol prices soar on an average of 133.3p per litre of diesel.

Biofuels are backed fully by the governments as one of the key conducts to decrease carbon dioxide emissions.

The invention process for this new biofuel had started 20 years ago and now is finally ready to be brought into the public market. When the fuel is made in an industrial scale, Ineos will launch the product in the United States, Canada and Europe first.
Inenos expect at least 10 per cent of North America and Europe’s petrol use to be replaced with bioethanol.

This is certainly an idea that is revolutionary that will cut fuel costs and gas emissions. It looks clear that many of us will use rubbish to fuel our vehicles in the years to come!

The Sat Nav already can be considered as a sophisticated driving device, but now there are plans to better the aid completely by adding a special feature. This characteristic will warn drivers when they are travelling on the most dangerous roads in Britain. This will be programmed into the satellite device so that drivers can become aware when they stray onto a road of this kind.
The feature will warn drivers about roads such as a route in the Peak District between Macclesfield, in Cheshire, and Buxton, in Derbyshire. It will work by high rate collision statistics. For example, the A537, also known as the Cat and Fiddle will be included, which is only an 8-mile stretch but has had 21 fatal or serious collisions on it from 2004 to 2006.
The government is backing the plans and believes that this will help drivers to take extra safety precautions when travelling on dangerous roads.

This new sat nav will be tested this year and hopefully be available next summer. The device will speak to the user and state “You are entering a high-risk area. Please be careful’.”

In conclusion, the tool will help to decrease the current accident statistics that are found on dangerous roads. The devices are set to be reasonably priced and available in all good car accessory shops and super stores.

Through the past four years, deceptive motor insurance claims have increased by a massive 70%. It is true to say that the car insurance field is the highest targeted by fraudsters at present. The Association of British Insurers has recently announced that the British are submitting dishonest motor claims of up to £5 million a week!

Four years ago, insurance companies identified 14,000 people who had made false motor insurance claims. Last year the number stood at 24,000 and has further increased this year.

The motor insurance companies have concluded that because of the credit crunch, families in particular are forced to take desperate measures and this certain dishonesty is just one way they choose.

Motor insurance swindles add about £40 a year to the premiums of law-abiding drivers.

As for insurance fraud as a whole, which includes motor, household, travel and liability cover, insurance firms uncovered a total of 91,000 fraudulent claims last year, amounting to £557 million. Four years ago, the figure was £263 million.

Insurance should only be used when it is a genuine claim, so it helps with your insurance annual costs and overall will help you to be a more honest person, which is always highly regarded.

Driving fatigue is the mishap of a driver feeling sleepy or tired. As a driver, you must ensure that you are fit and healthy to commence any journey. If you are feeling in any way tired, then it is strictly recommended you do not drive.

It is reported that driver lethargy causes at least 10 % of motoring accidents and causes 1 in 5 disasters in truck driving. Most of these accidents are work related involving trucks and goods vehicles. It is perturbing to know that most of these incidents happen on the motorway or truck roads.

The body’s natural clock low points are between 2am and 6am and mid afternoon 2pm between 4pm, that is why if you are to drive between these hours then it is a necessity to be alert and awake. At these times are when most of sleep related catastrophes occur.

Death and serious injury are the most likely results in accidents where drivers are tired, fallen asleep and fail to break.

Most at risk are men aged 18-30 and account for 50% of sleep related accidents. Sleepiness takes more lives than drunkenness on the road.

Last year there were at least 40,000 serious injuries and 3500 deaths caused by drowsiness.

If you have read your Highway Code you will be aware of the rules that state as a driver you must have sufficiently rested before driving. Also that you should plan ahead any journey you are to make.

If you do drive and are unfortunately succumbed to tiredness, then the correct procedure to carry out, is to stop in a safe place then either swap drivers or take a nap in an appropriate place, till then, open a window or ensure a supply of fresh air.

If you experience regular fatigue, then consult your doctor as soon as possible because you may have a health problem.

Remember tiredness kills, make sure you are alert and save lives by being a responsible driver.

It has been compulsory to wear seatbelts in vehicles for many years now, in fact January 31st 2008 marked 25 years since the law was passed. The law stated that it is vital for any persons travelling in front of a vehicle to wear a belt or would face police discipline, may this be a fine, caution, or in some cases harsher punishments. It has been 17 years since the law has been conceded for persons to mandatory wear them in the back of a vehicle also. 

The driver of the vehicle is responsible for ensuring that all passengers are belted up before a journey commences. If they do not adhere to this then they could face charges of up to £500.
No points will be endorsed on the driver’s license, but a fixed penalty notice will be issued.

Recently released figures indicate that although it is common routine to belt up in front, many are not using safety belts at the rear of a vehicle, the figure states that this it is one in three people who fail to do this.

In regards to a child, a child up to the age of three must only travel in a vehicle if a correct child restraint is used.

Children from 3 years old up to 12 years old, or 3 years old and up to 135 cm (whichever they reach first) must only travel with a correct child restraint. These are things like Child Car seats etc.

A child over 135 cm or 12 years old must always wear the vehicles seat belt whilst travelling. Children over the age of 14 years are classed as adults in this case only and they must wear a seatbelt. Although the seat belt law is compulsory, there is rule for exemption but these are only in the following cases:

• The driver of or a passenger in a motor vehicle constructed or adapted for carrying goods, while on a journey which does not exceed 50 metres and which is undertaken for the purpose of delivering or collecting any thing;
• A person driving a vehicle while performing a manoeuvre which includes reversing;
  a qualified driver (within the meaning given by regulation 9 of the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1987) who is supervising the holder of a provisional licence (within the meaning of Part III of the Act) while that holder is performing a manoeuvre which includes reversing; a person by whom, as provided in the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1987, a test of competence to drive is being conducted and his wearing a seat belt would endanger himself or any other person; a person driving or riding in a vehicle while it is being used for fire brigade or police purposes or for carrying a person in lawful custody (a person who is being so carried being included in this exemption);

• The driver of—

(i)             A licensed taxi while it is being used for seeking hire, or answering a call for hire, or carrying a passenger for hire

(ii)            A private hire vehicle while it is being used to carry a passenger for hire;

• A person riding in a vehicle, being used under a trade licence, for the purpose of investigating or remedying a mechanical fault in the vehicle;
• A disabled person who is wearing a disabled person’s belt; or a person riding in a vehicle while it is taking part in a procession organised by or on behalf of the Crown.”

All new cars must have front and rear seat belts fitted. Older cars that do not have belts do not have to necessarily get them fitted but children are not authorised to travel in the vehicle.

We strongly recommend the use of a seat belt as common practice within our driving school and that all pupils beforehand are made fully aware of all the safety elements when driving a car including the seat belt.

For further information on the seat belt and law please read the Highway Code or if you require further information on Britannia Driving School’s seatbelt regulations, then please do not hesitate to contact us.

The Driving Standards Agency reports that over 250,000 learner drivers who have passed the theory test have yet to take the practical test. The practical test must be taken within 2 years of the theory test – introduced in July 1999. The DSA is writing to all successful theory test candidates to remind them of the time limit.

Instructors’ training cars are included in the UK-wide public places smoking ban in force from 1st July 2007. All instructors will be required by law to display a ‘no smoking’ sign prominently in their training car. Failure to do so could incur a maximum fine of £1000.

The DVLA deals with what it describes as “a never-ending barrage” of applications for full licences with the pass certificate being sent in beyond the permitted two years of the test date. This is despite the fact that the time limit is stated on the back of the pass certificate and a reminder from the examiner at the end of the test.  If you have passed your test, remember to send your certificate to the DVLA as soon as possible.