Monthly Archives: August 2020

August 26, 2020
Driving test chaos as website crashes AGAIN as 100,000 people queue to book online

THOUSANDS of learner drivers were struggling to book their driving test this morning after the DVSA website crashed again.

More than 100,000 people were placed in a virtual queue after more driving test slots were released today.

Learners had complained that the website was still crashing for them shortly after it reopened after 8am this morning.

The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), which is in charge of booking driving tests, says the website is now working – but with the queuing system in place.

It comes after the DVSA website also crashed on Friday as it opened for the first time since the coronavirus crisis.

The government suspended driving tests on March 20 as the UK was gripped by the coronavirus pandemic.

Frustrated learner drivers joked the DVSA could “keep their licence” this morning after struggling to get online.

One tweeted: “Just gone to book my driving test to be in a queue with 73,000 PEOPLE, just keep my licence who can be arsed.”

Another said: “Just logged onto the driving test… I have 105,092 users in front of me in the queue…”

A third tweeted: “Probably the longest queue I have had in my entire life 99,606. Wish me luck.”

A fourth said: “Nothing like spending four days doing maintenance on your site, only for it to crash 30 seconds after re-opening. Cracking effort.”

Another tweeted: “Absolutely ridiculous service DVSA wasted 12 hours of my time trying to book a driving test on Friday and Saturday, then closing the website until today for ‘essential maintenance’ yet all the website still does is crash!”

When Britannia Driving School tried to access the DVSA website this morning, we were placed in a queue with 192145 people ahead of us.

The DVSA is only releasing limited driving slots so that learners and examiners can comply with social distancing restrictions.

It confirmed in a tweet that it had 35,675 tests available over the next 6 weeks, but it’s not clear if the DVSA is offering spaces beyond this timeframe.

The DVSA was supposed to release more tests this Monday, August 24, but it pushed the next batch back until 8am today due to “unprecedented demand”.

It said “essential maintenance” was done over the weekend to help the website to cope with the number of bookings.

Those who had their driving tests booked before lockdown measures were introduced were allowed to rebook from July 25 to help with the backlog.

The theory tests resumed on July 4.

The DVSA apologised to those who were struggling to get online in a tweet this morning.

It tweeted: “Driving test booking service update.

“For those who have experienced a problem with getting into the booking system, please try again.

“You should now be able to get into the booking system queue. Sorry for any inconvenience.”

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August 11, 2020
How soaring temperatures could be damaging your car – and the checks you MUST make

Engine failure, tyre-blowouts and brake fade can all be caused by extreme temperatures – so are you maintaining your car well enough to avoid a breakdown as the mercury rises? Extreme temperatures won’t just give you sunburn and melt roads, but they also risk causing severe damage to your car.

Millions of motorists could be risking breakdowns by failing to complete basic checks.

Roadside assistance experts Green Flag estimate the UK will experience as many as 60,000 car breakdowns this week due to higher temperatures.

Easily maintainable car parts threaten to shut down under the sweltering sun as disinterested drivers fail to look after their motors.

The most vulnerable parts of your motor are batteries, tyres, brakes and shock absorbers.

And according to the RAC, hot weather can actually cause as much trouble for motorists as icy winters.

Battery: Your car battery is dangerous as it is composed of acid and water. The water within the battery will evaporate faster in soaring temperatures leaving lead plates exposed. When the weather turns cold again, your battery may no longer have the charge to start the car.

Tyres: The rubber of a car tyre can seriously disintegrate in hot temperatures and even more so if the tyre is of the wrong pressure. Heat can cause them to dry out and lead to a blow-out.

Coolant: An engine with no coolant is like a person with no water – it won’t survive and will die. Always keep an eye on your car’s temperature gauge.

Oil: An engine when fully running in heat needs all the lubrication it can get, so making sure you change the oil when necessary is important in the summer months. More frequent changes to your oil will be beneficial to a car’s engine and performance.

Fuel: Fuel evaporates quicker in a hot car than it does in a cold one. Keeping your car in a shaded area and less used in hot temperatures will save on accelerated fuel consumption.

An RAC spokesman said: “Motorists might think that the cold is the biggest challenge for cars, but hot weather can put vehicles under pressure too.

“During heatwaves we often experience a 20 per cent increase in call-outs, and this can even get as high as 30 per cent in coastal areas.

“In the case of tyres, for instance, drivers tend to take longer journeys in the summer months – which can lead to pre-existing problems coming to the fore.”

Oil and engine coolant are also under threat from soaring heat while fuel consumption is likely to increase.

Overheating brakes – or “fading” – can increase stopping distances and in worst cases lead to total brake failure.

Driving on under-inflated tyres in high temperatures can accelerate the chances of a blow-out by 60 per cent, too.

And engine performance can dip by 15 per cent – even more if it’s running the air conditioning.

“However, the nature of breakdowns change quite noticeably in the heat, so preparing for your journey is essential.

“Hot weather puts several crucial components in vehicles through a severe work out.

“More people on the road means more traffic jams, and more cars that might not be prepared to be stationary in the hot sun.

“We’re advising people to get their car serviced, check their engine oil, check their water, coolant, pump up their tyres and ensure they have their screen wash topped up.

“We also advise carrying plenty of drinking water in the car in case people break down.”

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