Monthly Archives: March 2020

March 30, 2020
Can i drive my car during lockdown?

There are no rules that ban anyone from driving their car during the lockdown period, Boris Johnson announced a very specific number of reasons people should leave their homes on Monday 23rd March 2020.As long as people are only driving for one of these four reasons, they’re allowed to be on the roads.

Shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible, one form of exercise a day including a run,walk or cycle, this can be alone or with other members of your family, any medical need, providing help or care for a vulnerable person, travelling to and from work but this should be only be where this cannot be done at home.

“You should not be going shopping except for essentials like food and medicine – and you should do this as little as you can. And use food delivery services where you can. If you don’t follow the rules the police will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings.

Is Boris Johnson closing roads and motorways?

There are no plans to close roads or motorways just yet. These new measures to keep people in their homes for at least 3 weeks will hopefully lad to a drop in the number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the UK, In three weeks time the prime minster will hope to ease some of the measures rather than adding further restrictions.

What about public transport?

Public transport remains open to help key workers such as doctors and nurses but parts of this could be closed as well, in London commuters are struggling with the underground service being reduce, thus meaning the remaining carriages are even busier.

Can I drive to perform exercise in other locations?

Many people, particularly in crowded cities, have been keen to drive elsewhere to perform their daily piece of exercise in more isolated locations. The government measures only state the reasons for which people are allowed to leave their homes and do not place any official restrictions on when and where people can perform exercise However, certain police forces have stated that you should not be driving to another location to perform exercise and North Yorkshire Police have been manning checkpoints and stopping vehicles to ask where drivers are going.

Derbyshire Police were heavily criticised after posting a video on Twitter with drone footage from the Peak District, in which they criticised a couple out walking their dog.

How long will this lockdown last?

Johnson announced that these measures are in place for three weeks and they will be reviewed afterwards. The length of the lockdown will depend on how the UK responds to the measures. if coronavirus cases and deaths drop, the lockdown measures could be lifted when next reviewed.

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March 24, 2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19): driving tests and theory tests

Theory tests

Theory tests are suspended up to and including 20 April 2020.

You’ll get an email to tell you that your test has been cancelled.

You’ll automatically get a refund. You’ll get an email to confirm this has been done – this may take a few weeks to arrive.

You’ll then have to book a new theory test for a date and time after 20 April 2020 that suits you.

You can still book, change or cancel tests for 21 April 2020 onwards.

Driving tests

Driving tests are suspended for up to 3 months.

You’ll get an email to tell you that your test has been rebooked. It will tell you the new date and time of your test.

You will not get this email immediately – it should arrive around 2 weeks before your original test date.

In the meantime, do not call the DVSA customer service centre. They will not be able to help you.

It’s likely that your new test date will be around 3 months after your original date.

If you want to cancel your test

You can cancel your test if you want to get a full refund now. Email the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to request this.

You need to include your full name and 2 of the following pieces of information:

your driving licence number
your theory test pass certificate number
your driving test booking reference

DVSA customer services
customerservices@dvsa.gov.uk

You cannot book a future driving test date

If you have not booked a driving test, you’ll be unable to do so at the moment.

When driving tests start again, priority will be given to people who had their test cancelled. This means you will have to wait longer than usual.

Check back for the latest updates.

If your theory test certificate expires soon

Legally, your theory test certificate cannot be extended in any circumstances.

You’ll need to book and pay to take another theory test.

You need to pass this before you can book your driving test.

Book an emergency test if you’re a critical worker

You can still get an emergency test during the suspension period if your work is critical to the COVID-19 response, or you work in a critical sector. These include:

health and social care
education and childcare
key public services
local and national government
food and other necessary goods
public safety and national security
transport
utilities, communication and financial services

Book an emergency theory test

Email DVSA to ask for an emergency theory test.

You must send a photo or scanned image of valid ID such as your work ID badge.

If you do not have an ID badge you can send:

an email from a work email address
evidence from your employer, such as email or scanned document including company letterhead
a scan of your payslip

This is not an exhaustive list and evidence will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

You also need to tell us:

your telephone number and preferred contact time
which test centre you want to take your test at (currently only Birmingham, London, Glasgow and Ballymena)
the type of theory test you would like to take (car, car and trailer, motorcycle, lorry, bus or coach)
your driving licence number

If you meet the critical worker criteria, DVSA will contact you to explain what happens next.

Emergency theory tests
critical.worker.theory.test@dvsa.gov.uk

Book an emergency driving test

Email DVSA to ask for an emergency driving test.

You must send a photo or a scanned image of a valid ID such as your work ID badge.

If you do not have an ID badge you can send:

an email from a work email address
evidence from your employer, such as an email or scanned document including company letterhead
a scan of your payslip

This is not an exhaustive list and evidence will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

You also need to tell us:

your telephone number
your preferred test location
the type of driving test you would like to take (car, car and trailer, motorcycle, lorry, bus or coach)
your driving licence number
the driving test reference number (if you have one)
your theory test certificate number

If you meet the critical worker criteria, DVSA will contact you with a test date.

This may take a while, please do not send another request.

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March 11, 2020
Drinking coffee or water while driving could see you hit with £5,000 fine and nine penalty points

MILLIONS of UK drivers sip on a coffee or bottle of water when behind the wheel. Brits risk being hit with hefty penalties if they take their eyes off the road to have a drink when driving.

While it’s not illegal to have a non-alcoholic beverage when driving, drivers can be hit with a careless driving charge if it causes them to be distracted.If you take your attention off the road to have a refreshment, police officers can deem you were “driving without due care and attention”

Motorists can also find themselves in trouble if they’re seen eating behind the wheel.Driving without due care and attention, or careless driving, carries a £100 on-the-spot fine and up to three penalty points on your licence.

But in more serious cases where someone has been injured, you could face an unlimited fine, up to nine penalty points and even a court-imposed driving ban – although for the majority of motorists, the fine won’t exceed £5,000.An Australian man was recently fined $173 (£94) for drinking water behind the wheel on a 39-degree day.Another Aussie was threatened with a $500 (£256) fine and three penalty points on her licence because she was drinking a coffee when driving.

While officers are more likely to give a warning than a fine, it is essential to keep your concentration on other road users.If you need a drink or something to eat, you should do it when you’ve completely stopped or pulled over.Neil Greig, director of policy and research at IAM RoadSmart, said: “Eating at the wheel is just another classic example of multi-tasking that can take your attention away from safe driving.

“Obvious cases such as juggling hot drinks or a sandwich can be easily spotted by traffic police who can issue an on the spot ticket for careless driving.”That quick snack could end up costing you £100 fine plus three points on your licence so it’s always worth taking a proper break.

“Even if you try to hide that swift chocolate bar you are eating if it leads to a loss of control crash and a more serious charge, then the courts may take the fact you were eating into account and increase your fine and ban.

“It is always worth remembering with careless driving it is the impact on your driving and how it is seen by the police to effect other road users that leads to the charge, so any form of eating could land you in trouble if you end up swerving or weaving across the road.”

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Is Boris Johnson closing roads and motorways?

What about public transport?

Can I drive to perform exercise in other locations?

How long will this lockdown last?

Theory tests

Driving tests

If you want to cancel your test

You cannot book a future driving test date

If your theory test certificate expires soon

Book an emergency test if you’re a critical worker

Book an emergency theory test

Book an emergency driving test

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