The most common reason for car accidents is lack of space between vehicles – Usually linked to one or more drivers travelling at an excessive speed, and therefore unable to stop in time when the vehicle in front has to brake abruptly. But how can we judge what a suitable space to leave between vehicles is?

The easiest way to ensure a safe distance between yourself and the car in front is to remember the 2-second rule. If there are chevrons on the road, always ensure you can keep a minimum of 2 chevrons visible in between your front bumper and the vehicle in front. If there are no chevrons, then try to spot a fixed point on the side of the road (such as a phone box, a parked car, etc) and ensure that you pass this point at least 2 seconds later than the vehicle in front.

As you probably know from your Theory test, this time needs to be increased to at least 4 seconds in wet weather.

Safe driving from Britannia!

More than 300 people have tested positive for drink-driving in a month-long crackdown by Wales’ four police forces: North Wales Police, Gwent Police, Dyfed-Powys Police and South Wales Police.

Police carried out more than 12,000 breath tests during the June campaign.

In North Wales, a 36-year-old woman from Hollywell, Flintshire was arrested after a reading of 125 micrograms, more than three times to the legal limit.

In Wales and England, the alcohol limit for drivers in 80 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath or 107 milligrams per 100 millilitres of urine.

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Disruption due to industrial action and migrant activity is currently affecting travel from Dover and Folkestone in the UK to the Port of Calais in France.  Eurotunnel and ferry services are being affected. It’s strongly advised to contact your travel operator before you leave to discuss the best way to carry out your journey. They may suggest rescheduling your crossing or using a different port.

Although the French police have increased their presence in Calais, it’s recommended you keep car windows and doors locked when driving in the vicinity. Should you encounter an emergency, call the European emergency number (112) from your mobile.

The French driving age is 18 so even if you’re 17 and have a full UK licence, you won’t be able to drive in France and you need to be 21 to hire a car. The equipment you’ll need is your passport, driving licence and certificate of vehicle ownership. Further, you need the following kit: a warning triangle, a hi-vis jacket for each occupant, proof of insurance cover, a set of spare bulbs and a breathalyser.

It’s illegal to have a radar detector or any system that warns you about speed cameras; this means that you will need to disable this feature on your sat nav or any system that could alert you to speed traps. Penalties include confiscation of the device, impounding your car and a 1,500 Euro fine. Speed limits are in kmph. If there are houses around you, the speed limit with be 50kmph (31mph), if not it’ll be 90kmph (56mph), dual-carriageways are 110kmph (68mph) and motorways 130kmph (80mph).

The drink-drive limit is also harsher at 0.5% BAC (compared to the UK’s 0.8%), therefore, France is somewhere that drivers should avoid drinking if driving altogether.

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When you sit behind the wheel as a driver, you automatically accept all responsibility for the safety of the vehicle, the safety of yourself and for the safety of your passengers. However this does not just mean you need to ensure you drive safely – Assuming responsibility when behind the wheel starts far earlier than ever getting anywhere near the drivers seat.

You need to make sure you are in a fit state to drive for a start – This means no drinking when you know you will be behind the wheel later on (or even early the next day), and especially no drugs under any circumstances. You also need to be aware of the rules for carrying passengers – Is your car prepared to carry passengers? What about children? Will there be any pets in the car? Any special requirements that need to be met?

When you are in the driving seat, you are in charge – It’s that simple.

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The Institute of Advanced Motorists have provided advice to those about to drive off on a family holiday.

Firstly, if you’re travelling with children under the age of three years you must use a child restraint. And any children three years and above must be placed in a booster seat, safely secured with a seatbelt. Make sure you make the appropriate adjustments before you start your journey. And if you’re using a child restraint check whether it needs to be front facing or rear facing beforehand.

Avoid placing large and heavy objects or luggage on the rear seat where your children will be seated. Allow them plenty of space without making them feel claustrophobic.

Make sure you have packed important items for your journey including a fully charged mobile phone, first aid kit, water, blanket and high-visibility jackets – you may need these items if your vehicle breaks down and you are waiting for help to arrive.

Think about what games your children can take with them on long journeys to keep them occupied. If they will be using a portable device or in-car DVD player make sure they have headphones plugged in so the sound doesn’t distract you.

The longer you’re on the road the higher the likelihood your children could become irritable. Plan to take regular rest breaks at least every two hours so you can rest and they can release some energy.

If you can, travel with another adult passenger who can keep an eye on the youngsters. This will allow you to fully concentrate on the road and prevent them distracting you.

Never turn around to deal with fighting youngsters while you are driving. Always find a safe place to stop first. Don’t continue your journey with children fighting in the back – it may affect your behaviour behind the wheel.

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Many of us often forget how much time we spend in our cars.

Think about all the times you go to work, the time you sit in traffic, or the times you go to the grocery store, drive to your mum’s or mother-in-law’s homes.

Our cars can be filled with everything from chocolate wrappers and empty coffee cups, to kid’s toys and general grub from the roads.

Given that we spend so much time in our cars, it makes sense to keep them as clean as possible. This doesn’t mean spending hours hoovering it out it just means keeping in good shape so whenever you get into your care you feel a sense of peace.

Think about the quick things you can do, how about taking it to get washed; you can have it done whilst you sit in your car. Maybe pop in an air-freshener or a bottle of Febreeze to spray every so often, keep some nibbles in the car for when you get hungry. One tip I was given was to keep a notepad and a few pens in your car, you always remember to do something as you’re driving somewhere. When you park up jot down your notes and rip it out so you remember to do it!

Happy driving from Britannia!

A man has been charged after claims of repeatedly soaking pedestrians by deliberately driving through large puddles. The 20-year-old is alleged to have committed the offences on three separate occasions and on two different days earlier this month.

Officers from Police Scotland were made aware of the incidents after receiving reports of soakings, which are said to have taken place on 4^th July and again on Monday. It is alleged a man soaked the pedestrians while driving along the Esplanade at Broughty Ferry. There is regular flooding at the side of the road.

It is not known what the man has been charged under but it is most likely s3 of the Road Traffic Act, careless and inconsiderate driving.

This comes after a motorist in Essex was charged under that section after allegedly drenching young children by driving through a puddle as they walked to their primary school. He was caught by a passing policeman, who witnessed the incident in Colchester.

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Fitness to drive amongst older people is purely a matter of self-regulation. Licences must be renewed at the age of 70 and every three years after that. Yet the onus is on the driver to self-certify as being fit to drive.

At the end of last year a judge told elderly drivers that they must ‘face up to facts’ if they are no longer safe on the roads after  sentencing an 84-year-old woman who killed an 80-year-old man in a head-on smash. The judge also urged families and friends to ‘monitor’ ageing relatives as he imposed a five-year driving ban on the 84-year-old and a 24-week jail sentence suspended for 12 months.

Despite worsening eyesight, poorer reaction times and, all the other changed which come with getting older, its down to the individual to stop driving. In addition, it is accepted that a patient wouldn’t want an 85-year-old surgeon, so why should an 85-year-old be allowed to drive?

Motoring lawyers have called for a review of the current system. They have argued that bearing in mind the density of the traffic these days, that some better system is put in place to check a person’s ability to drive which might be by way of a medical or by a driving test.

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This is a difficult question to answer and it differs between people.

We have seen a general change from people having one lesson per week over a few months to people booking an intensive course whereby they have intensive lessons over a few weeks.

Some of the common reasons people choose to have an intensive driving course is that they have a new job that requires them to drive, they’ve moved away from their family and need to be able to get back, or they are needing to get on the road before moving to university.

One the things we’ve noticed that people really enjoy with intensive lessons is how quickly they see their progress develop in a matter of days. All of a sudden things begin to click, you remember how to safely pull-up and pull-off, the mirror-signal-manoeuvre becomes common knowledge and you find it easy to turn corners.

You can test-drive (excuse the pun!) an intensive driving course to see if it’s right for you, after you’ve had your first few lessons, you could book in for two 3-4 hour lessons and see how you get on.

Safe driving from Britannia!