Many of us may be feeling the familiar blues associated with a New Year – Christmas is officially over now for another twelve months, and we’re by now mostly returning to work again – So it’s time to start looking forward to Summer, right?

Wrong – We’re not out of the woods yet. Whilst Christmas may be over, remember we are still in the midst of winter, and as much as you will be longing for sunny weather again, we have to make sure to always drive to the current conditions.

So whether that means snow and ice on the road in January, or driving through a wet and windy February, make sure as all year round, you drive safely!

Safe driving from Britannia!

Motorists who use a mobile phone while driving could face tougher penalties if government plans are approved.

The government is planning to increase fixed penalty fines from £100 to £150, as well as increasing the number of penalty points drivers receive. Points would rise from three to four – and from three to six for drivers of large vehicles such as HGVs.

The proposals are part of the government’s Road Safety Plan, which includes proposals to allow learners on the motorway, and are aimed at targeting those who repeatedly offend. A consultation will be held on the plans in 2016. Most first-time offenders will still be offered an educational course to help them change their behaviour. The larger increase in the penalty points proposed for HGV drivers reflects the fact that accidents involving large vehicles can be much more severe, a government spokesman said.

The proposals follow a previous increase in the fixed penalty for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving, from £60 in 2013 to £100.

What are your thoughts on this article? Send your views to Britannia Driving School by using the comments link below:

Some of us may think we’re the best drivers out of our respective groups, be it your friends, families or work colleagues – Whether it’s due to more experience on the road, or paying more attention when behind the wheel than our peers, there’s nothing wrong with a little confidence in our own driving ability.

However others of us may not be as sure of ourselves, and may wish to become better at driving. If that sounds like you, don’t worry, you’re not alone! Most drivers, when asked honestly, wish that they could improve their driving skills, and when better to start than a brand new year!

Whether you’re a newly qualified driver looking to improve your skills further with a Pass Plus course, or have been driving for years and want to brush up on the latest techniques with a Refresher course, let us know and we can help you fulfil your New Years Resolutions!

Safe driving from Britannia!

Motorists checking Facebook and updating Twitter are seen as a bigger menace than drink-drivers, according to new research.

Distracted drivers using social media services like Facebook and Twitter are now seen as a great threat to road safety than drink-driving. This is according to startling research published by the Institute of Advanced Motorists in its new Safety Culture Index report. They found that motorists now regard other drivers’ smartphone use, particularly for text messaging and checking social media accounts, as the biggest factor threatening their personal safety.

Checking or updating social media was cited by 69% of respondents as a ‘very serious threat’ to their safety. However, just 66% said driving under the influence of alcohol was a similarly serious threat.

The report shows that concern over smartphone use is growing: 77% of the motorists questioned said that driver distraction was now a bigger problem than compared with three years ago. Drink-driving, on the other hand, is not seen as an issue of increasing concern: 54% of motorists say this is about the same level of a problem as three years ago, while there is an even 23%-23% split among those who say it has improved.

A report by RAC found that most motorists do not support increased penalties for using a phone whilst four in every five wanted to see traffic police enforce existing laws more effectively.

What are your thoughts on this article? Send your views to Britannia Driving School by using the comments link below:

Happy New Year from Britannia Driving School!

We hope you have had a fantastic time over Christmas and New Year, and would like to thank all of our loyal followers, pupils and instructors for all of your support over 2015 and coming into 2016!

If you are currently learning with Britannia, why not make it your New Years resolution to pass your test? If you’re already a qualified driver, why not help out some of our learners with your tips for safe driving?

We wish you all the best for the coming year, here’s to a fantastic 2016!

As always, safe driving from Britannia!

Tonight is the final night of 2015 and it has been another successful year for both our pupils and instructors.

As the year draws to an end, we would like to wish all of our staff, pupils, instructors and fans all the best of luck for the coming year.

As always we hope you stay safe on the roads. We hope you all make this New Year’s Eve a great night, but if you are going to be out celebrating the dawn of 2016, please do remember to drive safely, and if you are going to be driving, make sure that you stay on the soft drinks, or if you would prefer a few drinks, leave the car keys at home.

Thanks from everyone at Britannia Driving School for a great 2015, here’s to making 2016 even better!

Safe driving as always, from Britannia!

Scientists and musicians have combined to create what has been dubbed the world’s safest driving song. ‘Safe in Sound’ is composed by professional musicians alongside psychologist Simon Moore and is designed to encourage ‘smooth breaking, accelerating and awareness of speed limits’.

It is designed to mimic the ‘Goldilocks tempo’ of the average human heartbeat (around 50-80 beats per minute) and contains no lyrics or repeating melodies.

The song follows a survey of around 1,000 drivers aged 17 to 25 to assess the risks associated with driving. More than half of those asked said the music they listened to influenced their driving, with Britney Spear’s ‘Toxic’ and AC/DC’s ‘Back in Black’ cited as playing a part in a collision or near miss.

Just over 90% of those surveyed they sang and danced to music as they drove, with around 60% saying the type of music they listened to affected their alertness, braking, accelerating and speed.

Young drivers are disproportionately more likely to be involved in a crash, especially men aged between 17 and 24. DfT figures released this year showed those killed or seriously injured on the roads had risen by 4% to 24,580 in the first months of 2015.

What are your thoughts on this article? Send your views to Britannia Driving School by using the comments link below:

Driving in winter can be a dangerous errand if you’re not careful enough – With the combination of cold and wet weather, the roads are becoming wetter and icier by the day, demanding full attention of all drivers behind a wheel in these conditions.

One other factor we see a lot of in winter is strong winds – When driving against strong winds, it is necessary to exercise more caution, as winds can cause rubbish and debris such as tree branches to fall into the path of your car, and also to keep an eye on other drivers who may find their driving affected by gales.

Also be aware of driving beside larger vehicles – These may shelter you from strong gusts for a time, so when you emerge into the open, you are likely to experience a strong side wind.

Safe driving from Britannia!