As many of us might have expected, we saw the first snowfall of 2017 last week – Waking up towards the end of the week to a blanket of snow, ice and thick frost covering all that we could see. Although it didn’t last long, with most of the country thawing out within a day or so, it seems it made a lasting impression, with delays on public transport due to the weather conditions.

It also seems to have left our roads in a particularly slippy condition – So if you will be out driving over the next few days, exercise a little extra caution by driving slower and even more safely than you do at normal.

Safe driving from Britannia!

There are few things as tricky to adjust to as learning to drive. For many it takes months (or even years) of hard work and rigorous practice, followed by a slow and steady settling-in phase even after passing the test, until one can get fully relaxed when driving.

The best advise we can give you is to relax behind the wheel – Even if you think you’re the worst driver in the world, you probably aren’t as bad as you think. We here at Britannia have seen even the least confident learner drivers go on to have great success as qualified drivers – Some even taking it a step further to drive professionally!

Safe driving from Britannia!

If you are looking forward to passing your practical driving test, or if you have recently passed, you will likely be looking for ways to quickly become a reliable, efficient driver on the roads now that you’re on your own. Our Pass Plus course is designed with you in mind to help you master the roads for yourself after passing your test.

One good tip we can offer you is to practice smart driving – No, don’t worry, it doesn’t mean more revision, just simply using your common sense when behind the wheel. For example, if you know it is likely to be a busy road – i.e. Outside a school at at 8.30am – Then take an alternative route to avoid the traffic and ensure a smooth journey for yourself.

Safe driving from Britannia!

There are so many things that can go wrong when you own a car, that you really need to be on your guard against even the most minor of faults, as it is often that these turn into full-blown catastrophes. Sometimes even a quiet rattling sound when you’re driving can have devastating effects further down the line if you don’t look into it early enough.

So don’t ignore these early warning signs. At the first sign of any problem with your car, take a look into it – If there is a dashboard warning light, look into what is causing it and do what you can to fix the problem, even if that means taking the car in to a professional. It may cost you, but it will likely cost you more in the long run to do nothing.

Safe driving from Britannia!

If you’re a regular reader of the Britannia Driving School news articles, you will likely be familiar with the wide variety of hazards you may come across when you’re driving. From poor weather conditions rendering roads unsafe for driving on to the threat of drink or drug-driving, there is certainly no shortage of dangers on the roads.

Despite this however, it is still common for people to use their mobile phones behind the wheel, not only for calling, texting or social media, but also for playing games. Not only does this risk your own safety, but the  safety of other road users including pedestrians – So keep your phone away when you’re behind the wheel!

Safe driving from Britannia!

One of the most common reasons that people may delay their driving lessons, or even put them off indefinitely, is the cost associated with becoming a qualified driver. Of course the cost can mount up over time, taking into account the price of lessons, theory and practical tests, and then the cost of a car, insurance, tax and fuel – Not to mention any MOT’s or servicing you may need!

One great way to cut the costs down on your motoring is to carpool. This is to share one car for a journey so as to reduce the cost of fuel, tolls, parking charges – And not only does this help to save you money, but it is also a more enjoyable way of travelling too!

Safe driving from Britannia!

You have most likely heard a wide variety of warnings from your friends, family and instructors when it comes to driving, whether those are friendly snippets of advice or angry shouting when you make a poor judgement error – We’ve all been there!

But there is none as important as keeping your distance – Not only from the car in front of you (Remember the 2 second rule!) but also from parked cars, pathways and any other obstacle or environment that might cause a danger to yourself or any other road user – Including pedestrians!

Safe driving from Britannia!

As learner drivers, you are probably looking for any scrap of advice you can get your hands on to help you improve your driving skills to a test-passable standard. Some may recommend the best driving footwear, whilst others may suggest which test centres have the highest pass rates!

One tip we can give you is to use your surroundings to influence your driving. If you’re performing a manoeuvre especially, make note of any road markings, road signs, lamp posts, garden fences, or anything else that you can use to better judge your position in the road – We guarantee it will help!

Safe driving from Britannia!

When you’re driving, there’s a lot of things that can affect how well you perform. It might be bad weather conditions, you may feel under the weather, or maybe you have some sort of distractions inside the car that are causing you to lose concentration.

However one thing you don’t need to affect your driving performance is being tense. We here at Britannia know that the best drivers are those who feel relaxed behind the wheel – So whether it’s your first driving lesson, your practical test, or whether you’ve been driving all your life – Be relaxed behind the wheel!

Safe driving from Britannia!

Like all January’s, this one is a particularly cold point in the year. Following on from a reasonably mild December and Christmas time, it is starting to look as though winter has hit us slightly later than expected, with snow and ice due for next week onwards.

If you’re due to be out and about driving in these conditions, please make sure to take the proper precautions – This includes setting out earlier than usual to allow more time for slower traffic and accidents, as well as driving slower and more carefully yourself to accommodate the icy conditions on the roads!

Safe driving from Britannia!