Monthly Archives: February 2019

February 27, 2019
VanGo: ‘Uber for Kids’

The second shift for working parents…

“I really love VanGo,” says Juana Gomez of Norwalk, a nanny with a 16-year-old daughter who often needs to be picked up from school while her mother is working. VanGo is a new Connecticut-based startup ridesharing operation that caters to teens and pre-teens. Is Gomez speaking as a user or an employee of VanGo? Actually, she’s both.

“My daughter often gets out early, and I didn’t have anyone to pick her up because I was working. I also needed a part-time job to earn a little more money. I was so happy to find a company that met both of my needs, and is really safe for our kids.” – NORWALK, Conn. – reference.

VanGo’s drivers are fingerprinted and background checked, and their driving records are checked and their references called. Even their cars are thoroughly vetted. Drivers also need to have at least three years of child-care experience.

It’s interesting that school bus drivers aren’t as thoroughly vetted.

Safe driving, from Britannia!

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February 25, 2019
How to get an International Driving Permit

So you can drive in Europe after a no-deal Brexit read more below.

After a long 2 year wait since the UK voted to leave the EU, we haven’t got a deal for when we leave in March. Each year thousands of our population travel to Europe by train or ferry to reach their destinations and if we do get a deal, we can continue to do this. However, if not you’ll need something called an International Driving Permit.

 “In the event that there is no EU Exit deal, the government will seek to put in place new arrangements for EU and EEA countries to recognise the UK driving licences when people are visiting, for example on holiday or business trips. – A government spokesman.

How do you get an IDP?

You can apply for an IDP from Post Office branches.

You will need:

  • A full valid UK driving licence (photocard or older paper licence)
  • A passport photo
  • The £5.50 application fee
  • A valid passport if using an older paper licence.

If you would like to ask our team any questions please do not hesitate to do so. Click here.

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February 20, 2019
Prince Philip ‘Voluntarily’ Gives Up Driving

Following the recent car crash, The Duke of Edinburgh has surrendered his driving license.

London (CNN) – The Duke of Edinburgh has surrendered his driving license, Buckingham Palace announced Saturday, weeks after the 97-year-old was involved in a car crash that left a female driver injured.

How Many Over-90s Still Drive?

Prince Philip Doesn’t Wear a Seat Belt

 

Read our most recent blogs above where we discuss what Philip did and the age of driving. Let us know your thoughts – Comment below!

Safe driving, from Britannia!

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February 20, 2019
“Middle Lane Hogger”

This driver has been reported after being followed down an otherwise empty toll road in Cannock for three miles.


“The motorist may be invited to attend a retraining course as an alternative to penalty points and a fine. Press Association analysis shows as many as one in four drivers have attended a course since 2010.

No figures are believed to be kept for the number of drivers caught for middle lane hogging.” – Mirror.

Safe driving, from Britannia!

 

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February 18, 2019
Enhanced Criminal Record Checks – Taxi’s

Every council in England will be told to carry out checks on all applicants for private hire drivers.

It has been discussed that taxi and private hire drivers could have to pass an enhanced criminal record check, before being granted a licence. Also introducing national minimum standards and a database to stop applicants applying to councils after being refused elsewhere.

What are your thoughts on this? Comment below.

Currently, the guidelines allow councils to set their own driver standards and whether they actually make the checks.

Here are the proposed guideline for convictions:

Reference:BBC

The Department for Transport has discussed whether taxis and hire vehicles should have to be fitted with CCTV.

Safe driving, from Britannia!

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February 15, 2019
Where is the Hardest Place to Learn to Drive?

Does it really matter where you take your test?

Rewarded with freedom, career prospects and new friends, getting on the road can be the best thing you’ve ever done. But, some areas of the UK can be more difficult to pass your test. Should this be allowed? Why isn’t it all the same standards?

Advanced Driving Instructor Sandra Macdonald-Ames, who was the driving expert in the BBC documentary So You Think You Can Drive, said: “test centres with higher pass rates tend to be in rural areas.”

TEST CENTRES WITH HIGHEST PASS RATES (2013/14)%
Isle of Mull80
Barra77.8
Brodick73.1
Isle of Skye (Portree)72.2
Ballachulish71.4
Kendal70.8
Ballater69.8
Barrow in Furness68.3
Mallaig68.2
Llandrindod Wells68.1
TEST CENTRES WITH LOWEST PASS RATES (2013/14)%
Belvedere (London)32.2
South Yardley (Birmingham)32.4
Barking (London)33.3
Wednesbury33.4
Wanstead (London)33.5
Wood Green (London)34.2
Kingstanding (Birmingham)35.1
Leeds36.3
Enfield (London)36.4
Luton37

Every year, Britannia teaches in excess of 10,000 new drivers and trains over 50 driving instructors, and the numbers increase every year.

Our bookshop offers a wide range of driving manuals, books and interactive products. Book lessons online today, or you can purchase gift vouchers for someone.

Teenage learner? Never quite got round to taking lessons? Need a licence for that dream job? Whatever your needs, contact Britannia Driving School and our experts will put you on the right road to life-changing success.

If you have any questions about our driving school, the practices of this website, or your dealings with this website, please write to our customer service manager Miss Emily Smith at the address below or contact her by email

Head Office: Britannia Driving School Limited, Britannia House, 285 Kingston Road, Wimbledon London SW20 8LB Freephone 0800 252 692 Registered in England Number: 5503007

Safe driving, from Britannia!

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February 13, 2019
How Many Over-90s Still Drive?

Well, certainly 97-year-old Duke of Edinburgh still does – and he had a car crash very recently.

But where do we draw the line on age?

Graphic showing breakdown of UK drivers by age group

Prince Phillip was 94 when he drove the Obamas and his wife, the Queen back in 2016 also.

What’s the law on age when driving?

When a person has reached the age of 70/80, their driving license automatically expires. If you would like to renew it, you must fill a self-assessment declaring you are medically fit to be on the road still. But, this does not include a test. Then reapplying every 3 years.

If you have slower reaction times, difficulting in turning to see when reversing and many other problematic confusions, you simply aren’t fit to drive anymore and should give up.

Safe driving, from Britannia!

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February 11, 2019
Tiny Snow Peephole

A driver in Caithness, Scotland has been stopped in the early hours by Police with just a small square of windscreen cleared.

Police issued the driver with a fixed penalty notice after he was stopped in the Highlands

Winter has been biting for most of us this week, which means it is more important than ever that your vehicle is suitably prepared for the roads. Unfortunately not everyone follows this advice – officers stopped this car on the #A9 at Thurso early this morning. #OpCedar – Northern Police.

Police did issue the driver with a fixed penalty notice and then warned other motorists to clear snow and ice from their cars before setting off.

You’d think people had more common sense than this?

Safe driving, from Britannia!

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February 8, 2019
World’s Worst Drivers Captured

Here at Britannia Driving School, we show you a complication of photos we have found online of the “worst drivers”.

Enjoy!

SPLITPICS.UK

SPLITPICS.UK

SPLITPICS.UK

This unlucky driver ‘somehow’ ended up stuck in wet concrete in a construction site.

Learn how to drive with us, and we will make sure you won’t make these mistakes!

Safe driving, from Britannia!

 

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February 6, 2019
Mysterious Potato Attack

Josh Delaney was driving his Toyota Landcruiser towards Parliament House at 2.30am when his windscreen was struck and cracked by a potato.

An hour earlier in the same area, another motorist said his car was hit by what he first thought was an apple.

Chris Ciantar said, “I heard a very loud bang and thought I’d hit a small Roo but discovered substance on my car when I arrived at work.”

The fear is that what may be a prank, possibly done by kids, will lead to a serious crash if a windscreen is smashed.

Safe driving, from Britannia!

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