With winter on its way, you might ask yourself as a driver – should I consider getting more suitable tyres for the cold weather? Winter tyres are designed to offer maximum grip in cold conditions, such as rain, ice and snow. They have a softer compound and deeper tread, which helps improve contact with the road.

You can tell a winter tyre from normal tyres by the snowflake emblem on the sidewall. The supplier you buy your winter tyres from should also fit them for you. Winter tyres work best at temperatures below 7 degrees celsius. Without question, they outdo normal tyres when it comes to traction, cornering grip and braking in cold weather conditions – even if there isn’t any snow or ice.

The cost of winter tyres will depend on your car and the size of its wheels, but they are generally more expensive than normal tyres, as you would expect. That said, they may well be worth investing in as they offer additional safety and peace of mind!

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Upon hearing the wail of an approaching siren, drivers will instinctively do what they can to move out of the way as fast as possible.

Even though this is ideally the right thing to do, you still run the risk of being hit with a hefty fine – purely because road laws still apply in the event of encountering an emergency services vehicle, and you’ll still be required to comply with relevant traffic signs.

In your haste to get out of the way of an approaching police car, fire engine or ambulance you could inadvertently enter a bus lane, a yellow box junction or drive through a red traffic light, which could result a fixed penalty notice for £100 and three penalty points on your licence.

The Highway Code states that in the event of encountering an emergency services vehicle, do not panic but take appropriate action to allow it to pass, while complying with all traffic signs. If it is safe to do so pull over, but avoid stopping before the brow of a hill, a bend or on narrow roads.

It is vital not to endanger yourself and/or others and avoid driving onto the footpath. When approaching a junction or roundabout, do not brake harshly as the vehicle behind you may not have the same field of vision.

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Hopefully we all had a great Bank Holiday weekend to start this week off – We know we did! But here at Britannia, we think about more than having a lie-in on our days off, or where we’re going to for the weekend… We’re thinking about our driving pupils of course!

If you had a driving lesson this Bank Holiday Monday, you may well have noticed more traffic on the roads than usual. It’s a good idea to bear this in mind for future reference, as when driving on Bank Holidays after you’ve passed your test, you may want to reconsider your route to avoid the typical traffic associated with Bank Holidays!

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When it comes to driving, concentration is everything. If you’re sat behind the wheel, things can often change in a split second, so you need to maintain your focus to make sure you can always react exactly as you need to to avoid making any mistakes or putting yourself or others in danger.

Because of this, keep an eye on how much you talk whilst driving. We’re not saying to be silent 100% of the time you’re in the car, but holding long, in-depth conversations with your passengers – Or talking on the phone, even – Can cause you to lose your focus and puts you at a higher risk of missing something important.

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With the bank holiday approaching it’s likely you will want to get away, make the most of the good weather and enjoy some quality family time. And of course, if you’re going on a trip, you might also be planning on towing a caravan or trailer – and with so much space available it’s all too easy to overload!

Your driving licence lists the different categories of vehicle you are permitted to drive, including the size of caravan or trailer you are allowed to tow.

The weight of the loaded caravan or trailer must always be within your car’s towing capability. The combined weight of the loaded car and loaded caravan or trailer must be below the maximum ‘train’ weight for your vehicle. To ascertain what your loaded caravan or trailer weighs, take it to a local weighbridge, or weigh everything separately and then add it to what’s known as the caravan’s ‘Mass in Running Order’ or MRO (90% full fuel tank and the driver, but no other load apart from standard equipment/tools).

Unless you’re very experienced and confident, experts recommend that the weight of your loaded caravan or trailer shouldn’t exceed 85% of your car’s MRO.

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You have the right to report a car or vehicle if you suspect it has been abandoned – signs of which include the vehicle having been stationary for a long time (at least 21 days) subject to extensive damage – such as rust, broken windows or burn damage – missing registration plates, flat tyres or missing wheels.

Any vehicle considered to be abandoned is dealt with using the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 and the Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005 which contain relevant legislation used to remove abandoned vehicles from both public highways and private land. The whole process generally takes between 3 – 4 weeks.

The abandoned vehicle section cannot deal with cars that are taxed; by law they can’t be considered abandoned unless they have undergone serious damage and/or neglect.

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We’ve all done it at some point – parked up, gone off to do whatever needs doing and then come back to wonder where on earth we left our car… Well, Google has launched a nifty phone app that can be used to find where you parked your car, so say goodbye to aimless wandering around car parks!

All you have to do is set your parking location by turning on the option to “know where you parked” and allow Google Maps to access your motion and fitness activity. Tapping on the pin label will bring up a card where you can set a reminder to pay any parking meters, take a photo of your parking space, share your car’s location or make any handy notes. It really is as cool and simple as it sounds!

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You can be fined up to £1,000 if you don’t inform the DVLA of a medical condition that may affect your driving, and may even be prosecuted if you’re involved in an accident as a result. Anxiety is no exception.

While a little bit of anxiety may keep you alert and focused on what’s around you, experiencing a panic attack behind the wheel can be alarming. The symptoms of a panic attack overwhelm the senses and make it extremely difficult to focus.

If you haven’t yet, visit your GP and/or take an anxiety test to find out more about how panic attacks and anxiety can affect your ability to drive safely. A person who suffers from anxiety is in absolutely no way a potentially dangerous driver – like any medical condition, if managed accordingly it should have no impact on any aspect of their lives.

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Perhaps one of the trickiest things for some drivers when stuck in heavy traffic on the motorway is holding their temper. Congestion is a frustrating business, especially as we’re all trying to get somewhere on time. Losing your cool will achieve nothing, except heighten your blood pressure and possibly trigger road rage.

If you are stuck in heavy motorway traffic due to an accident and/or fatality, remind yourself that you could be a lot worse off. You may arrive at your destination late, but at least you will get there in one piece. Suggestions to help you remain calm in traffic jams include practising controlled breathing – this is not only a proven technique for eliciting relaxation, it’s also simple enough to do behind the wheel.

Stay tuned into the traffic news on your radio or listen to soothing music, providing it does not distract you once you’re back on the move. It’s important to stay aware and be ready to react accordingly, even when stuck in traffic jams.

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All vehicle passengers need to be correctly restrained by seat belts or safety seats to avoid injury in the case of road traffic accidents. Children are among the most precious and vulnerable of passengers, being smaller, still developing and less aware of dangers. Specially designed child car seats reduce the risk of injury to children by 82% and reduce the risk of death by 28% when compared to children wearing seat belts alone.

Even if they are wearing a seat belt, normal car seats offer far less security to a baby or small child, and will not protect them in the event of sudden swerving or stopping, or if you are involved in a car crash.9

Babies should always be in a rear-facing car seat until they are at least 24 months of age. Children should travel in a child car seat with a functioning harness until they are seven years of age, while children between 8-12 years old will likely require a booster seat to remain safe when travelling.

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