Author Archives: Kerry Smith

Is your car insurance with Admiral ?

Admiral has become the first major UK motor insurer to offer its customers partial refunds, as many drivers are stuck at home because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but industry experts say the move does not go far enough.

The group, Britain’s biggest car insurer, said it would return £110m to its policyholders – a £25 refund for each car and van it covered as of 20 April, a total of 4.4m vehicles. The refund will automatically be credited to customers by the end of May.

This will pressure other companies to follow suit, as insurers reap the benefit of reduced accident and breakdown claims under the lockdown. Some industry estimates suggest insurers could save up to £1bn as a result this year.

Gareth Shaw, the head of money at Which?, said: “People will remember how businesses treated them during this crisis, and Admiral’s decision to provide partial refunds to all of its car and van policyholders will certainly be welcomed by customers experiencing unforeseen pressure on their finances.

“Firms that act fairly now may see that they are rewarded in the future, and we encourage all other car insurers to follow Admiral’s lead.”

James Blackham, the chief executive of By Miles, which provides cover on the basis of car usage, said Admiral’s move, while welcome, does not go far enough. “We’ve calculated that over a two-month lockdown, drivers could be between £35 to £58 out of pocket, for each car they own … It’s a shame, too, that the refund won’t be processed until the end of May.”

Admiral has pledged a further £80m, mainly to reduce prices, with the biggest cuts to benefit renewing customers with above-average premiums, such as younger drivers. Some of the money will go towards measures to support NHS staff, as well as a £4m Covid-19 support fund in south Wales, where Admiral is based.

Cristina Nestares, the chief executive of UK insurance at Admiral, said: “We want to give the money we would have used to pay claims back to our loyal customers in this difficult time. We have also already reflected this change in driving behaviour in our pricing for customers and will continue to do so.”

Admiral has also been offering customers who are struggling payment holidays, although any deferred payments have to be repaid by the end of the policy term. Other UK insurers – Axa, Aviva and the AA – have also offered payment holidays to customers on a case-by-case basis.

Admiral said it is waiving any motoring claims excess fees for NHS or emergency service workers and giving them a free courtesy vehicle if their vehicle is stolen or undriveable after an accident, to keep them on the road during the lockdown.

Drivers warned that short essential journeys could lead to flat batteries

If you’ve left the car unused since lockdown rules began, you might find it struggles to start when you need it next.

It’s been Seven weeks since Boris Johnson asked the public not to leave home except for absolutely essential journeys and exercise – long enough for weaker car batteries to go flat.

Motorists can attempt to charge batteries themselves or call for breakdown assistance to get back on the road if they need to make an essential journey.

Despite a recent upturn in road traffic, Department for Transport (DfT) figures show that journeys have fallen by around two-thirds in the past 7 weeks.

RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: “Many people will find their cars have flat batteries as a result of them being left idle for Seven weeks.

“This is an unfortunate consequence of the ‘stay at home’ advice and something we’re dealing with on a daily basis.”

Jump Starting a Car Battery

Batteries will often discharge because of a combination of constantly occurring chemical reactions and energy-sapping systems such as immobilisers, that still function even when your engine is off.

Mr Williams explained that starting a car occasionally “isn’t likely to help” either, as that does not allow enough time for batteries to recharge.

“In fact, this may end up draining a weak battery,” he said.

Alternators recharge the battery as well as generating power. It takes time for them to power cells in the battery and five to ten-minute journeys are insufficient.

Households with two cars should alternate using them for essential journeys to avoid flat batteries.

Mr Williams added: “You should also consider driving the one with the older or weaker battery more often.”

Drivers should ensure that they take precautions before leaving their car parked for an extended period of time.

Using a battery conditioner or trickle charger is perhaps the best way to ensure your car makes it through lockdown. These devices keep your battery from being drained without the need to run the engine.

Topping up fuel and oil, and cleaning your interior will improve the performance of your car after social distancing restrictions are lifted.

Mr Williams said: “If your car doesn’t start after a period of not being used and it’s needed for an essential journey, please call us.

“We’re still attending customers, whether that’s people doing their food shopping or going to work because they have to, or emergency service vehicles, delivery lorries and other critical service vehicles.”

Safety Measures Here At Britannia Driving School

At Britannia Driving School please be rest assured our instructors and pupils health and well being is paramount.

Thinking as to when instructors can return to everyday teaching we have been devising ways to keep you all safe.

This will include the instructors not giving lessons if they have any of the corona virus symptoms, instructors asking their pupils if they have been feeling unwell or in contact with any body who is unwell or showing symptoms.

Some instructors are thinking about having a digital thermometer to check themselves and pupils alike.

They will all be carrying hand sanitizer which each pupil will be asked to put on just before they enter the car, Before and after each pupil the car will be cleaned with antibacterial wipes, handles, steering wheel, mirror, gearstick, seatbelt etc.

We are asking that the pupils wash their hands immediately prior to the lesson commencing.

When we return to the office we will still be social distancing so ask that if at all avoidable to contact us by telephone or email, we will be sanitizing everything in the office and the two meter rule will be in place, also only allowing one person at a time in the office.

We will of course be thinking of other ways we can all keep ourselves in the office, our instructors and of course our pupils.

Like everyone in the country we have been following the Downing Street Briefings for rules to abide by when we return to work and of course all of the above is subject to any changes that the Government make, The Dvsa (Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency) and the DIA (Diving Instructors Association) have both been a great help to us and our instructors during the last 7 weeks. Boris Johnson our Prime minister will be making an announcement on Sunday 10th May, Britannia Driving school will be taking information from that briefing.

Please check back for any new news here on our website or on our Facebook page, For the past 7 weeks our fantastic office staff have been remotely working from home, rest assured we are still here for you.

More than 9,000 motorists are still legally driving with 12 or more points on their licence

SOME 9,349 drivers are still legally on the roads with 12 or more licence points, data shows. Most have pleaded “exceptional hardship” in court to avoid a driving ban of up to two years.

Being unable to work is more than  often an argument — but footballers and celebs have got off the hook by claiming they would have to stop helping charities.

The DVLA told Auto express Express: “A court can exercise its discretion and not disqualify the driver.”

Jack Cousens, of the AA, said “eyebrows will be raised” at the figures. “There are concerns from the Sentencing Council that the ‘exceptional hardship application’ used by drivers to keep their licence is used too frequently “It’ll be interesting to see what conclusions they come to.” Lord Justice Holroyde, chairman of the Sentencing Council, said: “The Council is aware of public concern that offenders w ho have incurred 12 penalty points or more are not always disqualified from driving.

 

“There are legitimate reasons why this might happen; the law allows for such a disqualification to be avoided or reduced for reasons of exceptional hardship.

“We have recently consulted on proposed new guidance that will set out clearly the matters to be considered by the courts when deciding exceptional hardship applications.

“We will consider the responses to that consultation, and will issue guidance that will help make sure these cases are dealt with fairly, consistently and in accordance with the law.”

 

NASP guidance for training critical workers

The three joint associations of NASP have put together some guidance if you have customers who are granted a critical worker practical test with the DVSA.

We have already published the operating procedures that volunteer DVSA examiners will use when conducting a test and have reiterated some of those in the document. This list is not exhaustive, however it hopefully covers all you will need to consider before taking on any critical worker training before a test.

The three joint associations of NASP have put together some advised guidance if you have customers who are granted a Critical Worker practical test with the DVSA.
Firstly, you should appreciate that all Critical Workers will not necessarily be granted a critical worker test and we would advise that you do not give training until your customer actually has a practical test confirmed by DVSA, those are at the ,moment only being given to front line NHS, Police & Fire Service personnel, that may change as time goes on and we will keep you updated.
We have already published the operating procedures that volunteer DVSA examiners will use when conducting a test and have reiterated some of those below, this list is not exhaustive, however hopefully covers all you will need to consider before taking on any Critical Worker training before a test.
• Make sure your customer has checked with DVSA at: critical.worker.driving.test@dvsa.gov.uk to ensure they will be granted a practical test. • Check with pupils before each lesson to ensure they have not been exposed, or are experiencing symptoms which could be related to Covid 19, or have travelled recently from a region severely impacted • You should note, that any test booked will be carried out with a volunteer examiner as they will have to break the social distancing rules and check where the test is actually booked, do not assume it will be at the customers usual test centre • We would suggest you wear suitable safe clothing when giving lessons/training, the examiner has been advised to wear long sleeves and full-length trousers. • Your customer will be asked on arrival at the test centre to wash their hands before the test will start, please advise your customer not to shake hands with their examiner • In these unusual times, you should consider wearing gloves and the examiner will, however you should be aware that some people are allergic to latex based materials, always ask first • If you or your customer present for the test with any clear symptoms, excessive coughing, high temperature etc, the examiner will refuse the test and another test will be rebooked. If during the test, any of these symptoms present themselves, the examiner will terminate the test • All the normal procedure will be carried out on the test as it normally would following the DT1 guidance • You will not be invited to travel in the back of the test or be involved in the debrief at the end.

• You should ensure your customer, that everything the examiner uses before, during and at the end of the test has been thoroughly cleaned and will be before each test • We would advise you to continue with the earlier guidance we gave regarding using antibacterial hand gel and wipes to ensure you keep clean all areas, you or your customer touch. • During the test, the examiner may ask you to take off any roof board you may have, this is simply to avoid abuse from other members of the public. The examiner will supply a pair of L plates if you don’t have any, preferably marked with NHS above the L

A key worker trainer voluntary register will shortly be available providing certification for driver and rider trainers to be able to display whilst training, as well as allowing members of the public, police etc to check with the register than the trainer is indeed carrying out essential training. Trainers applying for certification will have to complete a short online course and theory test on safe training protocols, designed to mitigate the risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19, as well as provide evidence they are training key workers.
We hope this gives you some useful advice, please Stay Safe

A $265K Mclaren supercar car driver insists driving is a form of exercise.

A $265K Mclaren supercar driving insists driving is a form of exercise when pulled over by police after breaking Coronavirus rules, he went on to tell the officers a fine would not make a difference to his $15 million fortune!

The 43-year-old male was pulled over in his $265,000 McLaren 650S in Kings Cross in Sydney’s CBD just after midnight on Saturday. He told officers he was on his way to Wolloomooloo to get petrol with a friend – despite living over 30 kilometres away in Fairfield in the city’s south

When police told him he was breaking the law, he lashed out at officers and boasted about his fortune.” Do what you want mate, i dont care” he told the officers from the Kings Cross Police Area Command, “This $1.000 fine wont hurt my $15 million”

Police have issued at least 45 infringement notices regarding the coronavirus lockdown policies in the last 24 hours in New South Wales alone. Australians have been urged to stay home unless absolutely necessary, and cannot travel in groups of more than two people.

The only acceptable reasons for leaving the house include daily exercise, collecting essential supplies like food or medicine or to go to work.

Other infringement notices that were handed out on Saturday included a group of four men – aged between 18 and 23 – who were travelling in a car together on the mid north coast and a Mount Druitt man who told officers he was on his way to a friend’s house to ‘smoke weed’.

Two men, aged 71 and 77, were also fined after they were moved along with warnings twice on the same day before being caught breaking the rules again.

Speed awareness courses will be held via online video chat app Zoom during coronavirus lockdown

TTC, which runs them for UK Road Offender Education, is now offering remote options. One speeder reckoned: “I couldn’t stop laughing when I saw the course was being run via Zoom. I thought we were meant to watch our speed.”

Courses are offered to offending drivers as an alternative to prosecution, a fine and/or points. Anyone who does not want to take an online course will be contacted by police over “the next steps available.

TTC’s Jim Kirkwood said: “We’ve always taken great pride in delivering excellent face-to-face driver training across our business that changes the attitude and behaviour of drivers for the better.

“The business environment has changed out of all recognition and we needed to react quickly.

“We are now moving drivers to take their currently booked classroom course onto the online version, via a secure video link within a Digital Classroom.

“These courses are offered by UK police forces to drivers who commit offences as an alternative to prosecution, fine and/or points on the licence.

“If drivers choose not to participate in the online course the police will make contact to advise the driver directly about the next steps available.”

Zoom has become a household name since the start of the COVID 19 outbreak- connecting families and friends, hosting Cabinet meetings and even online gym classes.

Last December, Zoom hosted ten million meetings a day. By the end of last month, the figure had increased to more than 200 million!

BRITS tiring of lockdown have hit the roads this week – with the AA seeing a 10 per cent rise in journeys since the start of restrictions.

BRITS tiring of lockdown have hit the roads this week – with the AA seeing a 10 per cent rise in journeys since the start of restrictions. As the UK heads towards  the fifth week of full coronavirus lockdown more people have been seen struggling to stick to the rules.

As Brits were first easing into lockdown our  major roads were mostly empty, but now as the restrictions carry on with no end date in sight there are more cars out and about.

Edmund King, AA president said: “The majority of drivers are still following Government advice to only make essential journeys by car, however, this week we have seen traffic and breakdowns creeping back up. “It is a worry that some drivers seem to have got bored being locked up at home and are now venturing out in their cars.

“Breakdowns have increased by about 20 per cent this week and traffic seems to be 10 per cent  higher than under earlier lockdown conditions. “It is important to cut out non-essential travel as one crash can tie up the emergency services for hours and may also result in a precious NHS hospital bed being taken. The message is still to stay home and help to save lives.”

Shoppers have been seen heading to DIY stores as cooped up Brits relax to the rules. This morning MP Brandon Lewis told of his fears people will be struggling to stick to the lockdown after so many weeks inside.

He said: “I think there is always a risk when you are doing something like this, particularly those living alone, will be finding it really difficult. “We’ve got to look at the success we’ve had in flattening that curve. We’ve lost too many lives already. “When you follow the guidelines, when you stay home, you are doing something directly personally that is not just helping the NHS, but saving lives.”

The warm and sunny weather has made  the corona virus lockdown even harder for Brits, with the forecast to be hotter than Lanzerote today and tomorrow.  Its bringing fears the high temperature will be too tempting for some as the the weekend comes at the end of five very long weeks being stuck at home .

As the death toll hit 18,000 yesterday, Hyde Park in London was packed with young Brits exercising, while a group of paramedics were seen enjoying a well-deserved break in the sunshine.

In the government press conference, it was announced that traffic on Britain’s roads is beginning to increase during lockdown. Graphs show all motor vehicle traffic spike since yesterday – the first significant rise since April 14.

 

 

LOCK AND ROAD Drivers racing at THREE TIMES speed limit on empty coronavirus lockdown roads with one clocked at 134mph in 40mph zone

RECKLESS drivers have been speeding at over three times the limit on empty roads during the coronavirus lockdown.

Police chiefs have slammed the speed demons for using empty motorways as a “personal racetrack”, as one driver from London was recently clocked doing 134mph in a 40mph zone.

While data from the Department of Transport has shown a decrease in motor vehicle use of two thirds over the past month, senior officers say that speeding is up by nearly 50 per cent, the Daily Telegraph reported. Police have warned that incidents caused by speeding could take up “vital resources” in the NHS and the police that are already stretched by the coronavirus crisis.

Superintendent Julie Ellison, from the Greater Manchester Police, said the force had seen “a massive increase in speeding offences” since the beginning of the lockdown. She added that one driver in the city was recorded doing 115mph on a 40mph road, with another reaching speeds of 129mph on the M62.

It comes as the Metropolitan Police are even set to launch a special unit to crack down on speeders in the capital, which has seen seven people killed in road traffic accidents since the beginning of the lockdown. Superintendent Andy Cox, from the Met Police, will be heading the unit and vowed that police would come down hard on “unacceptable” speeding. He told the Telegraph: “In some roads where we have checks, the average speed has increased by more than 50 per cent and one 20mph road is averaging 40mph. “Such behaviour is totally unacceptable and increases the chances of a serious collision.

 

It comes after police arrested a biker who was caught doing 150mph on a motorway earlier this month. Police followed the bike off the M23 to Fulking, West Sussex, where the rider momentarily managed to slip out of sight. Chief Inspector Michael Hodder said the biker was “lucky to be alive” and urged drivers not to speed on empty roads.

It was revealed today drivers booked on speed awareness courses will be taken online as all class based courses are suspended until June.

PUMP WARS Petrol prices set to be slashed at historic levels due to coronavirus – with 10p discounted per litre

PETROL prices across the country are set to be cut at historic levels following the coronavirus outbreak, experts reveal. Forecourts around the country are under more pressure than any point in the past seven years to slash the cost of fuel.

The recent figures from the RAC reveal the price of oil has dropped  more than $50 a barrel to just $30 in the past week. This results in the gap between what UK petrol stations are paying and what drivers are being charged is at the widest in recent history. In some cases, this difference is around 12p per litre for petrol and 9p per litre for diesel. Despite this difference, the RAC is  expecting big price cuts to take effect from as early as next week.

If retailers reduce pump prices to reflect what they’ve been buying on the wholesale market, around 10p per litre should come off the price of fuel. This should mean average unleaded prices would drop to around 112p per litre and diesel to 115p per litre, prices which we last saw in late 2016.

Supermarket chains are expected to be the first to reduce their fuel prices during periods of declining wholesale prices. Normally, cuts of around 2p per litre are announced first, although last month Asda cut diesel prices by up to 4p in a single day. This is an indication that the major retailers are expected to cut further in one go than they have ever before.

It currently costs an average of £67 to fill a standard 55-litre car with unleaded petrol, and £68.50 with diesel. But if prices fall as they’re expected, this would save drivers around £5.40 per tank of petrol and £5.30 per tank of diesel.

Decreasing consumption of oil as a result of the coronavirus is considered to be the biggest reason for the cheaper fuel prices. Simon Williams, fuel spokesman for the RAC, said: “The oil price has fallen dramatically as a result of several major oil-producing countries ramping up supply at a time when demand is reducing due to the coronavirus outbreak.

This has led to wholesale petrol prices dropping to their lowest levels in four years and means there is now enormous pressure for pump prices in the UK to drop significantly, by around 10p a litre from where they are today. A drop of this size would see average petrol prices fall to 112p per litre, and diesel to 115p per litre, and we’d expect supermarkets to sell the fuels for as little as 108p and 111p respectively.

All eyes are now on the UK’s fuel retailers, large and small, to cut fuel prices considerably, and fast. It is vital that drivers are given a fair deal and retailers accurately reflect the lower wholesale prices at their forecourts.