For the car lovers out there, there can be a number of different factors that come into play when buying your new car – These can be the shape or colour of the car, the transmission type or more technical such as the horsepower or energy efficiency of the vehicle.

When it comes to buying a family car, the requirements are quite specific – Depending on the size of the family, you may want to opt for a larger car such as a people carrier, which will give your children more room on the back seats, which can be handy on the longer journeys.

This can also be useful for more storage space in the boot when on longer drives such as going on holiday. Just remember to plan your car games in advance!

Safe driving from Britannia!

Driving a car can open you up to a great sense of freedom, especially if you are a new driver. From road trips to family holidays, being behind the wheel can be a real privilege.

However driving is also a serious responsibility – Not only are you in charge of the people inside your car, but you have to keep an eye on the car itself. This means making sure that your vehicle is roadworthy, which includes checking the lights, tyres, wheel fixings, bodywork, trailer coupling, and any other load or equipment attached to the car, amongst others.

It is advisable to check this before any journey, especially longer ones – This will help to avoid problems in the event of an on-the-spot vehicle check.

Safe driving from Britannia!

One of the most worrying things that can happen to a driver is your insurance becoming invalid. This can happen for a number of reasons – If the policy expires, or if you drive the car in circumstances that are not covered by the policy, such as on a motorway if you are not covered to drive on one, or abroad if you don’t have insurance to do this.

One event that can cause confusion is driving without a valid MOT certificate. If the certificate has expired, your insurance will likely become invalid too – Unless, you are driving the car directly to an MOT test station where you have an appointment made.

You can also drive the car directly back home if your car fails the MOT, if it is roadworthy, or within a reasonable distance to a garage or another MOT test station for a re-test.

Safe driving from Britannia!

As a learner driver you probably had your fair share of other drivers overtaking you in the car – Although many deem overtaking a learner driver to be poor etiquette !

Overtaking can be safe if performed correctly – But in the wrong circumstance, it can be reckless and dangerous. Always ensure there is plenty of room on both sides of the car before planning an overtaking manoeuvre – And of course, make sure no cars are coming towards you on the opposite side, so never start overtaking close to a bend – And this goes double on Country roads!

What other tips can you give our new drivers for overtaking?

Safe driving from Britannia!

One of the first skills you will learn on your first driving lesson is how to pull the car away correctly and how to brake the car – Stopping it safely by applying pressure with your right foot to the brake pedal.

Whilst this sounds like such a basic task to accomplish, it can take just as much skill to master the brakes as it can to achieve a high standard of clutch control. This is something you will pick up over a period of time during your lessons, as you grow accustomed to the right amount of pressure to use to bring your car to a safe controlled stop.

Safe driving from Britannia!

There are a variety of problems you can face if you drive day to day – From poor driving by other motorists, to bad communication in dangerous circumstances – But it is important not to lose your cool.

Becoming angry behind the wheel will cloud your judgement, and make you more prone to make a driving error. Although you may argue that other drivers might be at fault, if you lose your head whilst driving and cause an accident, it will be you who has to pick up the pieces and accept responsibility for the incident – Not whichever other driver you might hold accountable.

Safe driving from Britannia!

For many drivers on the roads, the main source of frustration between yourself and other motorists can be a lack of communication – How exactly are you supposed to convey a message to a driver of another vehicle?

One technique many drivers employ is flashing the headlights, particularly as a “Go Ahead” signal to other drivers to continue – However this is not always the safest option.

For example if you are turning right into a junction, and a driver on the opposite side of the road flashes his headlights – Does this mean you are safe to continue turning? Or could it be that he was instead flashing a driver coming out of the junction to pull out – Leading this other driver directly into your path…

Safe driving from Britannia!

Robotics experts have warned that self-driving cars are not yet ready for deployment, despite manufacturers rushing to have these released to the public as soon as possible.

The autonomous vehicles are not yet suitable to handle weather conditions such as water on the roads, rain or snow, and cannot yet follow the directions of a Police officer, leading to causes for concern for critics of the initiative.

Other concerns include hackers commandeering the GPS systems to remotely control the vehicles, which could lead to chaos on the roads if not prevented.

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There are many dangers to drivers on the roads – From adverse weather conditions, to other dangerous drivers – But do you ever stop to consider the danger you may pose to another road user?

This does not always mean someone else in a car. Cyclists are some of the most vulnerable people using the roads, due to their low visibility but fast speeds, as they can approach very quickly without much warning. Always take extra caution for cyclists, especially when close to a bicycle lane, and always give more space when passing a cyclist to be on the safe side.

Safe driving from Britannia!

Technology has come a long way in the last few years, especially in the world of driving. Not only do we now have Sat-Navs and  are on the verge of fully driverless cars, there are a wide variety of mobile phone apps that we can utilise to improve our own driving experiences.

From fuel-saving techniques to being able to detect traffic in advance and reduce journey times, these apps are truly revolutionising the way we drive in the 21st Century.

Do you know any good driving apps you can recommend to our readers? Let us know in the comments below!

Safe driving from Britannia!