There are a variety of mishaps that can occur to you or your car as a road user – From getting lost in unfamiliar roads, or even being involved in an accident, you need to stay alert to make every journey a safe one.

One tip we can offer is to be aware of how to detect an impending breakdown in your car – For example, you should know that cold weather can have adverse effects on your car, such as flattening the battery – So try to keep your battery fully charged or keep some jump leads in your vehicle in case of an emergency.

Safe driving from Britannia!

Spring is slowly approaching, and with it comes the first Bank Holidays that you may want to use for a family holiday. One aspect any drivers dread about Bank Holiday Driving is the car journey to your destination, which can be from under an hour up to several long, arduous hours, especially on motorways.

One tip to reduce the boredom of long journeys is to introduce car games to the journey. From the classic “I Spy” to other more inventive activities, a little creativity can go a long way to relieve the monotony of a long car journey.

Safe driving from Britannia!

There are a lot of legal requirements when it comes to keeping your car on the road. From making sure you have correct and valid insurance to getting your car MOT’d, there can be a lot to take care of.

One of the important aspects is having your car taxed, or to make it SORN. If your car will be off the road for a period of time, you may want to stop taxing and insuring it, in which case you will need to make a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). This must be done if the vehicle is not taxed or insured, or if you want to break a vehicle down for parts prior to scrapping it.

SORN cannot be transferred from a previous owner – So if you buy a new or used car that is kept off the road, you must make a new SORN.

Safe driving from Britannia!

Becoming a driving instructor can be a very rewarding career choice – Not only does it give you the freedom to be your own boss with times to suit you, it will also let you become a pivotal figure in the lives of many young people and inexperienced drivers, helping them on the road to independence. We here at Britannia are sure we all remember our first driving instructors!

As long as you have passed the Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) Part 2 Test, and have done at least 40 hours of training with a qualified ADI, you will be eligible to apply for a trainee driving instructor license.

Safe driving from Britannia!

Driving with a disability can present many challenges to the driver – However it can also give the driver an immense amount of freedom and independence if approached correctly.

A disability needn’t keep you from learning to drive – As long as you are truthful about any condition you may have with the DVSA when applying for your license, and keep them updated on any changes in your condition, as well as finding a suitable car for your requirements, you will be able ot get out and about without any problems.

Safe driving from Britannia!

As drivers we all share a responsibility to drive in a safe and appropriate manner when on the roads. As a parent who is also a driver, you may feel that responsibility multiplies when your child is in the car.

Using a child seat is one aspect of your responsibility as a parent. This is a legal requirement until your child turns 12 years old, or reaches the height of 135cm tall – Whichever comes first.

Additionally, all car seats must be EU-approved to be used in the UK. This can be identified by by a capital E in a circle on the label.

Safe driving from Britannia!

Joyriding is one of the more dangerous activities a person can undertake in a motor vehicle. Often the perpetrators are under the legal driving age, an offender, or in some cases both, and are likely to be driving without a valid license or insurance.

Taking a vehicle without consent does not only cause distress to the vehicle owner, but it also puts both the driver, any passengers and the public at great danger, especially if the driver then goes onto drive dangerously or irresponsibly in the car.

Safe driving from Britannia!

You have probably heard lots of people giving you tips for becoming a better driver – From your parents, friends, older siblings and your driving instructor, you may think you have heard all the advice you will ever need.

One of the most important pieces of information you need to know is how to read the road – This means your ability to look ahead of you, past what is happening directly around your car and even the car or two in front, and to determine accurately what may be about to happen in the next few seconds and minutes.

Learning to read the road will not only make you a safer driver, but it will also help you become much more fuel efficient too!

Safe driving from Britannia!

Driving on the roads in this day and age can be fraught with a variety of dangers – From terrible weather conditions rendering roads unsafe to drive in, to angry road users causing havoc – You need to be alert at all times when behind the wheel.

Another common cause of accidents is drivers not checking their blind spot – This is the area just outside of your peripheral vision that cannot be seen by a casual over-the-shoulder glance or by your mirrors – Unfortunately this is just about large enough for another car or motorcyclist to move into without being detected, so always be sure to take a good, thorough look before pulling away or changing lanes.

Safe driving from Britannia!

There are a lot of challenges to face when learning to drive – From first getting to grips with the basic controls of the car, to learning how to make those tough decisions in difficult encounters on the roads, becoming a qualified driver is certainly quite a learning curve.

One of the biggest challenges driving test candidates face on their test is that of mastering manoeuvres . These can include the relatively easy turn-in-the-road (Otherwise, but incorrectly known as the three-point-turn) and bay parking, as well as parallel parking – All of which require a good amount of control over your car, especially the clutch, brakes and steering.

Safe driving from Britannia!