Monthly Archives: September 2015

September 30, 2015
Learner and teacher caught drink driving

Two men allegedly two times over the legal drink drive limit were a learner and his supervisor, police said.

Officers tracked down learner Lucas Herliczka, 39, in a Vauxhall Corsa after police were called about a road traffic incident. He was arrested with his ‘acquaintance’ who was supervising in Southampton. The legal limit is 35mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The two men were twice the legal limit, police say.

Herliczka was charged with drink-driving on the Southampton road and will appear before Southampton Magistrates’ Court on 13 October. The passenger who was with him, a 32-year-old man from Oxfordshire, was later released with no further action.

Learner drivers can be supervised by someone at least 21 years old who holds a driving licence for three years or more – but on the rather sensible condition they are not under the influence of drink or drugs.

Hampshire Constabulary was unable to explain why the second man was released without charge.

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September 29, 2015
Driving Test in Bad Weather

For many learner drivers, the practical driving test can be a nerve-racking and ultimately terrifying prospect, and we all know of at least one driver who was happy to postpone the test at any chance, procrastinating to buy themselves more time before the dreaded exam.

But what about those times when the test will be cancelled from the other side? This is a common occurrence during the winter months, when the DVSA considers the weather to be sufficiently dangerous enough to seriously affect the safety of you or your examiner.

If there is bad weather on the day of your test, simply call up your test station to see if your test will still be going ahead. Better to be safe than sorry!

Safe driving from Britannia!

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September 28, 2015
Driving From The Age of 11?

Young drivers account for almost a quarter of all road accidents so why does one company put children behind the wheel of a car from the age of 11?

A lot of drivers would most likely be apprehensive about the idea of even letting anyone between the ages of 10 and 16 get near the steering wheel of their car. However, there are a number of programmes across the country offering off-road training for children aged 11-16.

A former off-road instructor in Leeds argues that the issue with the current UK driving test is that it contains no motorway tuition, no lessons how to drive on country roads, overtake safely, night time tuition. Essentially, if you’re lucky on your test and you have no upsets, after 40 minutes you are given free rein on the road, including country lanes and motorways.

The driving test is indeed outdated. There are plans to add a sat nav into the independent drive and other changes. However, major changes need to be made. For example, there ought to be a mixed amount of tuition, with hours of driving at night, on the motorway, rural roads and also some element of monitoring after you pass your test also.

In addition to this, giving youngsters early experience of driving is the best way to improve our roads. There are calls to see driving on the national curriculum.

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September 24, 2015
14 Facts If You’ve Ever Failed Your Driving Test

If you’ve ever failed your driving test (especially if you have more than once) the following facts will most likely apply to you:

1. You think every examiner is out to get you.

2. You seem to be spending all your money on retests and driving lessons.

3. It’s always other road users’ fault.

4. Your eyesight becomes blurry.

5. You completely forget how to drive on test.

6. You don’t tell your friends, family or work when your next test is.

7. You wish people would stop saying ‘you’ll do better next time’.

8. You start to resent the friends with driving licences.

9. You grit your teeth when accepting lifts from others.

10. You watch other people’s driving like a hawk.

11. And then you realise they’ve already picked up bad habits since passing.

12. You feel embarrassed taking public transport.

13. You feel even more embarrassed when you have to show your green licence as ID.

14. You give up believing you’ll pass before your start your test.

As disheartening as it is to fail your test, the key is perseverance and staying calm despite the nerves.

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September 23, 2015
New Rules For Smoking in Cars

From 1 October 2015 it will be illegal to smoke in a vehicle with anyone under 18 present. The new law will apply in England and Wales.

Both the driver and the smoker could be fined £50. The law applies to every driver, including those aged 17 and those with a provisional driving licence.

The law does not apply if the driver is 17 years old and is on their own in the car.

The law is changing to protect children and young people from the dangers of secondhand smoke.

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September 22, 2015
Learner Insurance

When learning to drive, many people may find themselves longing to spend more time behind the wheel – After all, sometimes one hour a week is not enough to keep progressing at the level needed to pass the driving test.

Many learner drivers might instead opt to take an Intensive Course and pass their test faster – However for others not as intensively-inclined, there is the option to take out some learner insurance and to learn at your own pace.

This does require sitting with an experienced driver who has passed their test over 3 years previously and is over 21 years of age, as well as attaching L-Plates to your car – But the experience you can get driving at your own pace can be invaluable.

Safe driving from Britannia!

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September 21, 2015
Tesco Delivery Driver Overtakes Learner

Shocking dashcam footage has emerged that shows a Tesco delivery driver cut up a learner with a dangerous overtake before swerving down a side street.

As the learner driver slows to make a left turn down a residential street, the Tesco van is seen passing the car before making the manoeuvre. The quick-thinking student suddenly brakes just in time, furiously beeping the horn at the van as it sped off up the quiet road.

The learner was left so distressed by the incident that they had to pull over to regain composure. The Bexleyheath driving instructor captured the footage on her dashcam. She referred to the Tesco driver’s overtake as ‘disgusting’, saying students can be left ‘paralysed with fear’

She commented that the driving displayed by the driver was possibly the worst driving she had seen. She added that learner drivers get a lot of abuse and people tend to take advantage. She set up cameras after witnessing a lot of abuse on the roads. She argues that most people forget what it was like to learn to drive.

Tesco said it was disappointed in the driver yet he will keep his job. They stated that the driving does not meet the standards they expect from their drivers and that this driver has been given additional training following the incident.

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September 17, 2015
Britain’s Best Young Driver

Car mad Robbie Robertshaw has been named one of Britain’s best young drivers – three years before he can officially take to the highway.

The 14-year-old proved himself a wiz at the annual Young Driver Challenge, where tests included navigating tight chicanes, an obstacle course and, that most dreaded of all motoring tasks, parallel parking.

He came second in the competition’s 14-16 category despite the fact everyone else was quite a lot taller than him. It was a proud moment for the former go-karter as his love for cars, wheels and motoring dates back more than a decade.

Robbie has dreams of owning his own bus company, which is how he fell into driving in the first place. His dad, 44-year-old railways project manager, said that they were looking for a bus driving experience for his 11th birthday. They couldn’t find one but came across Young Driver so bought him a driving lesson.

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September 16, 2015
New Self-Driving Pod

Self-driving vehicles designed for use in pedestrianised areas have made their debut in Milton Keynes. The LUTZ Pathfinder pod was developed by the RDM group as part of a Transport Systems Catapult (TSC) trial of autonomous vehicles in pedestrianised areas.

Passers-by in Milton Keynes were given a ride in the electric-powered pod, including student Harry Hess who was enthusiastic about self-driving vehicles:” I’d use it for trips into town, and I think this is the way all cars will go once people get more used to the idea.”

Capable of carrying two people, the pod can reach a maximum speed of 15mph and shoppers will be able to order them using their smartphones.

The LUTZ Pathfinder pod on show is still at research stage. The next step is the installation of an autonomous control system by the Mobile Robotics Group at Oxford University.

Sensors will provide the vehicle with a 360-degree view of its surroundings to help navigate and detect vehicles, cyclists and cars – stopping if it detects a hazard.

Many people will be worried by the safety aspect of autonomous vehicles, so when public trials begin in Milton Keynes, the pods will initially use a trained operator.

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September 15, 2015
When to Drive Safely

For many drivers on UK roads, being behind the wheel is a part of life. Whether it is commuting to or back from work, leisurely cruises through the countryside at weekends, or even driving long-distance for a Bank Holiday weekend, we are all used to being on the roads.

What many drivers don’t realise is that there are points when behind the wheel when you will need to exercise more caution than normal whilst driving. These include later at night, when you will likely be tired and therefore more susceptible to danger, driving on motorways when everyone is travelling at much higher speeds, and driving through built-up areas where there are likely to be a lot of pedestrians around, such as outside a school.

Not that you shouldn’t always drive as safely as possible – But sometimes that extra thought goes a long way.

Safe driving from Britannia!

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