One of the first skills you will learn on your first driving lesson is how to pull the car away correctly and how to brake the car – Stopping it safely by applying pressure with your right foot to the brake pedal.

Whilst this sounds like such a basic task to accomplish, it can take just as much skill to master the brakes as it can to achieve a high standard of clutch control. This is something you will pick up over a period of time during your lessons, as you grow accustomed to the right amount of pressure to use to bring your car to a safe controlled stop.

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There are a variety of problems you can face if you drive day to day – From poor driving by other motorists, to bad communication in dangerous circumstances – But it is important not to lose your cool.

Becoming angry behind the wheel will cloud your judgement, and make you more prone to make a driving error. Although you may argue that other drivers might be at fault, if you lose your head whilst driving and cause an accident, it will be you who has to pick up the pieces and accept responsibility for the incident – Not whichever other driver you might hold accountable.

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For many drivers on the roads, the main source of frustration between yourself and other motorists can be a lack of communication – How exactly are you supposed to convey a message to a driver of another vehicle?

One technique many drivers employ is flashing the headlights, particularly as a “Go Ahead” signal to other drivers to continue – However this is not always the safest option.

For example if you are turning right into a junction, and a driver on the opposite side of the road flashes his headlights – Does this mean you are safe to continue turning? Or could it be that he was instead flashing a driver coming out of the junction to pull out – Leading this other driver directly into your path…

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Robotics experts have warned that self-driving cars are not yet ready for deployment, despite manufacturers rushing to have these released to the public as soon as possible.

The autonomous vehicles are not yet suitable to handle weather conditions such as water on the roads, rain or snow, and cannot yet follow the directions of a Police officer, leading to causes for concern for critics of the initiative.

Other concerns include hackers commandeering the GPS systems to remotely control the vehicles, which could lead to chaos on the roads if not prevented.

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There are many dangers to drivers on the roads – From adverse weather conditions, to other dangerous drivers – But do you ever stop to consider the danger you may pose to another road user?

This does not always mean someone else in a car. Cyclists are some of the most vulnerable people using the roads, due to their low visibility but fast speeds, as they can approach very quickly without much warning. Always take extra caution for cyclists, especially when close to a bicycle lane, and always give more space when passing a cyclist to be on the safe side.

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Technology has come a long way in the last few years, especially in the world of driving. Not only do we now have Sat-Navs and  are on the verge of fully driverless cars, there are a wide variety of mobile phone apps that we can utilise to improve our own driving experiences.

From fuel-saving techniques to being able to detect traffic in advance and reduce journey times, these apps are truly revolutionising the way we drive in the 21st Century.

Do you know any good driving apps you can recommend to our readers? Let us know in the comments below!

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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.

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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.

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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!