Monthly Archives: February 2014

February 13, 2014
Counterpart To Be Abolished

Ministers have take the decision to scrap the paper counterpart by 2015. This decision follows a public consultation that ran from 2011, ‘The Red Tape Challenge’, in which a lot of public feedback asked for the counterpart to be scrapped.

The DVLA is now running a survey to find out how people (including ADIs) currently use the counterpart so they can make sure alternatives are in place when it is scrapped. No decisions have been taken on what all of the alternatives will be as yet, but DVLA is developing a secure online enquiry system.

Jane Hunt of Britannia Driving School argues that ‘Instructors need the counterpart in order to see whether a new pupil has been banned. It is more complicated, especially for instructors who do not necessarily have smart phones, to check this when the learner gets in the car.’

However, many drivers and learners argue that the counterpart is unnecessary paperwork, only required in limited circumstances and so it is often misplaced forcing drivers to pay for another one in the event that it may be needed at some point.

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February 12, 2014
Theory Test Fraudster Jailed

A serial fraudster, who was paid hundreds of pounds by dozens of learner drivers to take their theory tests for them, has been jailed for two years at Norwich Crown Court. Gurmeet Singh was behind a scam that involved taking 26 theory tests for learner drivers all over the country, between 2010 and 2011.

He escaped conviction initially by going on the run for two years and then continued the fraudulent activity last year; this was when he was caught by staff at the King’s Lynn test centre who recognised him. Police were called and, when arrested, he accepted he had impersonated learner drivers at various test centres.

Chris Youell, prosecuting, said the average charge was between £400 to £750 to take the theory tests for drivers. All of the matter involved taking the theory tests, apart from one unsuccessful attempt to take the practical test.

Singh admitted conspiracy to defraud, between 2010 and 2011, and six frauds in 2013. He was jailed for two years and the court heard he had overstayed his visa so would also be deported.

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February 11, 2014
When Should I Do My Theory?

The Driving Theory Test is a part of the learning to drive process that is often overlooked by driving pupils who focus more on the ominous practical test. But without your Theory Test under your belt, you will not be able to sit the practical test at all, let alone become an accomplished driver.

The test is comprised of a multiple choice section and a hazard perception section. The multiple choice is often considered the more difficult part of the test, as some of this will be trick questions, so you will need some genuine knowledge of driving theory. Here you will need to answer a minimum of 43 correct answers out of a maximum of the 50 asked – so make sure you get revising.

The hazard perception will show you a series of 14 one-minute long clips from a driver’s point of view, where you will be required to select the hazards apparent in the video. Be careful though, too many wrong clicks and you will fail this section.

You will need to pass both parts of the test to be able to progress onto your practical test.

Most people would recommend allowing space of at least a month for revision before taking your theory test, if not longer. It is good practice to get your friends and family and even your driving instructor to quiz you on the Highway Code, to make sure you are up to scratch.

Good luck from Britannia!

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February 10, 2014
Ban On Smoking in Cars With Children

MPs are to vote on whether to back a ban on smoking in cars when children are present. The Commons are to vote on an amendment to the Children and Families Bill which, if agreed to, will give the Health Secretary the power to bring in a ban in England which would make it a criminal offence for drivers to fail to prevent smoking in their vehicles when children are present.

A significant number of GP appointments each year are a result of children suffering from the effects of secondhand smoke which includes passive smoking in the back of a car.

Bans on smoking in cars carrying children already exists in countries including Australia, Canada, South Africa and the US.

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February 7, 2014
Driving Over Pot Holes

All drivers are aware of this menace – crater-like cavities in UK roads have caused problems for many drivers, ranging from uncomfortable journeys to irreversible car damage in the more extreme of cases.

Pot holes are caused by a combination of nature and neglect – the constant stress of vehicles on the asphalt road surfaces causes the roads to crack, leaving room for water to eventually seep into these cracks from rain, which then freezes in the colder months, therefore expanding as it turns to ice, pushing the gravel slowly apart. And when this ice melts in the warmer months, it has often left a very noticeable crack in the road surface known as a pot hole.

Whilst these are unsightly and a hazard to road users, the consequences of pot holes can be easily avoided with some safe driving. By driving slowly, you give yourself time to manoeuvre around any deformations in the road you may see, minimising the risk of damage to your car.

It is also advisable to stick to roads you are familiar with, as you are more likely to notice any pot holes. Also, experts suggest that should you run inadvertently into a pot hole, the best course of action will be to drive straight over it, as braking into the hole could cause more damage to your car.

Safe driving from Britannia!

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February 6, 2014
School Run Tensions

Three-quarters of parents who do the school run have witnessed aggressive behaviour by adults as they look for a parking spot, according to a new survey.

In the survey 1,000 people who do the school run regularly, 39% of respondents said they had witnessed or know about accidents involving parents’ vehicles outside the school gates. In addition, 79% of respondents said they would support 20mph speed limits around schools, with a quarter-of-a-mile radius being the most favoured distance.

While 70% of respondents said they felt their child is safe during the school run, 19% worry about their child going to and from school on their own during the dark winter months. Because of this, walking to school becomes a less popular option for parents during winter.

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February 5, 2014
Fronting: Parents Breaking The Law

It is a well known fact that car insurance costs for young new drivers are very high. In order to resolve this issue, a number of parents are committing fraud by pretending to be the main driver of a vehicle used predominately by their son or daughter.

The practice, named ‘fronting’, involves a low-risk and older driver insuring a vehicle in their name as the main driver, naming the higher risk driver, who will be predominately driving the vehicle, as the ‘second’ driver. Using this method, young drivers can avoid extortionate insurance premiums.

However, this practice is not as simple as it seems. It can have serious financial and legal implications. If detected, insurers can refuse to pay out for any claims and in such a situation the young driver could then be treated as ‘uninsured’ and could be fined hundreds of pounds, face prosecution and an automatic driving ban. They will also face higher insurance costs in future.

This practice is fraudulent and people should be made aware of the serious risks in engaging in ‘fronting’.

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February 4, 2014
New Cameras to Stop Speeding Drivers

A new onslaught of speed cameras are set to be introduced to UK motorways in order to prevent drivers from travelling at speeds in excess of 70 mph.

The new devices, known as “Stealth Cameras” will be breaking the mould, with a subtle grey design rather than the traditional yellow, and will be placed along so-called “Smart motorways“.

The move of adding speed cameras to motorways has come under attack from various driving-related groups, who suggest that the introduction of such cameras is more about increasing revenue than encouraging safety in driving.

As the cameras are less visible than their previous counterparts, many argue that they will not function as a deterrent, but instead are only being introduced to boost profits through a subsequent increase in fines of speeding drivers.

What are your thoughts? Is this a new motorway menace, or are more speed cameras a godsend?

Let us know your views in the comments section below!

Safe driving from Britannia!

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February 3, 2014
UK’s Worst Driving Instructor?

An instructor in West Yorkshire has been revealed as the worst driving instructor in the country. The instructor has only achieved a 15 per cent pass rate over a three-year-period whilst one of her students failed the test a staggering 27 times. Only 26 of the learners out of the 169 she had prepared for test passed.

Three other instructors were also revealed as being ranked amongst Britain’s top 12 worst driving instructors.

According to a DSA spokesman, ‘the pass rate of a driving instructor is no reflection of their teaching standard. Instructors may not have trained the candidate but only presented them for the test. Others focus on training candidates who have difficulty in learning to drive.’

Another possible reason for the low pass rates of these particular instructors is the area in which they teach, as it had been revealed earlier that this particular region is home to the worst learner drivers in the UK perhaps due to its narrow rural roads, bad surfaces and busy junctions.

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