Driving at Christmas can be a stressful time, filled with delays due to traffic as everyone rushes around getting last minute presents and traveling to friends and family. But fear not, there is steps you can take to help you have a smoother journey.

Lots of people embark on longer journeys over the holiday season for varies reasons, if you are intending on doing so you may find this blog helpful.

Before setting off on lengthy journeys giving your vehicle a check over is essential if you want to be able to give yourself the best possible chance of a stress free journey.

Essential Vehicle Checklist:

• Check your coolant levels

Coolant or antifreeze not only protects your engine from extremely cold temperatures during the winter months, especially when idling in motorway traffic.

• Pack a carjack and locking wheel nut key

Adding both of these essential items to your list of things to pack might be the difference between being stranded and being able to carry on with your travels!

• Dipstick oil check

Oil is the lifeblood of your engine, keeping your moving parts inside the engine lubricated while also cooling and cleaning them. So that your car continues to run smoothly. Without oil, your engine would very quickly seize up, causing you not only to break down.

• Refill the screen wash

Easily overlooked, the screen wash reservoir needs to be topped up regularly, especially before a big journey

• Check tyre pressure

Running through a tyre pressure check can not only prolong the life of the tyres, but also ensure that you and your family stay safe on the road

• Check tyre tread

The minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm. This means that it is imperative to change your tyres once this limit has been reached to avoid compromising your safety and breaking the law. For reference the size of a 20p coin.

• Lights

Another essential check to consider is testing all of your car’s lights to ensure that they’re in working order. This includes car headlights, brake lights, reverse light, indicators,

As we all know to well in the UK the summer can be hit and miss. But when the sun does decide to bless us the temperatures can sometimes soar to 30 degrees or more, with that in mind here is an article to help you stay cool during the scorching days.

With grey and black cars being among the most popular color choices for cars, this increases the chance of your car heating up. The color black absorbs more sunlight than the color white. The more sunlight it absorbs, the more heat it gives off. Getting in to a boiling car on an already hot day is rather uncomfortable and can set the mood for the drive to one of easy irritation. 

So lets look at some ways to make your drive a little more comfortable.

• Air Conditioning on rather than having the windows open, it can reduce the temperature of the car very quickly. Especially whilst driving on the motor way at high speeds it will dramatically reduce the in car noise.
• Cooling mats have recently been raved about there efficiency, they are not only a cost effective and reusable option but also can be easily cleaned.
• Parking in the shade is also a good prevention method to reduce the vehicle heating up before you’ve even got in.
• Opening all windows on first entering the car will allow the hot air to escape before you crank up the air con.
• Dressing accordingly to the weather can also help you stay cool, something not to restricting and airy.
• Staying hydrated is possibly the most important one, as a cold bottle of water will cool down your body temperature.

However, wearing flip-flops when driving can pose a risk to your safety, as they don’t have a back. Therefore, a flip-flop could get caught underneath a pedal, preventing it from being pushed down.

Whenever feasible, aim to minimize driving during the peak daytime heat and plan your journeys for the early morning or late evening when temperatures are more moderate.For leather or vinyl seats, consider draping a towel or blanket over them while the car is parked to safeguard against burns and excessive heat buildup.

Never leave children or pets unattended in a parked car, even for a few minutes. The interior temperature can skyrocket, leading to heatstroke or even death.

The hot weather presents its challenges but with the correct measures followed we can all enjoy the little bit of sunshine we are granted.

UK roads are in a sorrowful state, due to the increasing amount breakdowns caused by potholes.

The government announced in October 23 that they would put forward £8.3bn of extra funding, spread over the next 11 years to fix the pesky potholes.

Britain’s ‘pothole plague’ took even more of a toll on drivers in 2023 as RAC patrols attended nearly 30,000 pothole-related breakdowns over the course of the year, up by 33% compared to 2022.

The RAC attended 7,904 breakdowns in the first quarter of 2024 due to bad road surfaces, up 53% on the last three months of 2023, a clear sign that the UK is suffering a pothole epidemic as roads continue to crumble

The consequence for colliding with a pothole can include, sidewall bulges, tread separation or a puncture. The impact can also cause damage to the vehicles suspension which have a knock on affect causing the vital elements such as shock absorbers, springs and ball joints leading to poorer handling and uneven tyre wear.

Potholes are created from roads cracking which comes from multiple causes such as age, poor drainage and utility works amongst other things.

The cold weather and rain exasperates the size of the potholes, Any cracks can fill with water which then freezes and the ice expands. This causes more damage to the surface, and larger cavities, then potholes as vehicles drive over the damage. Water logging or fast-flowing streams that appear after heavy rain do not help either. The water infiltrates the road structure.

The cost of rectifying pothole-plagued local roads in England and Wales has been estimated at £16.3bn.

You may report potholes here : https://www.gov.uk/report-pothole

Motorists could be facing a lifetime ban from driving if campaigners get their way.

Campaigner’s have launched a campaign for a new law to be brought in that would mean any alcohol and drug offenders would be banned from driving for life.

They are calling for “zero approach” to be taken.

Neil Carney set up a new Parliament petition, calling for any motorists convicted of a drink or drug offence to be struck off permanently. The poll must reach 10,000 signatures to get an official response from the Government. Meanwhile, 100,000 signatures will ensure the survey is considered for debate in Parliament among MPs and lawmakers.

The current deadline to submit signatures is June 15 meaning motorists have exactly two months to take action.

He expressed that cracking down on offenders and revoking their licence would in turn discourage others to not commit the same offence’s. He urged that previous offenders pose a “severe threat” to the safety of others.

By now most people are aware of the huge backlog since covid regarding driving tests, the DVSA have been working hard to help reduce the waiting time learners have to wait in order to book a practical driving test.

Their aims are to ensure learners who fail their practical driving test are better prepared when they book their next test.

The DVSA have since consulting with 20,000 people, that due to the high demand in people awaiting to take their driving test they are changing the re booking system from 10 days after a fail to 28 days.

This is to ensure that pupils are taking time to take any additional lessons they may need to brush up on their driving before re taking the test.

Around 53% of exams are failed, according to AA data from February 2023, with the average waiting time in November 2022 peaking at 24 weeks.

Previously before covid hit the average waiting time to book a practical driving test was 6 weeks from booking the test to taking it. During the covid lockdowns tests were forbidden from being taking unless the pupil taking it was a key worker.

Figures from the DVSA last year showed there were more than 500,000 learners waiting for their driving test.

The plans, which will come into effect this summer, also include extending the notice period during which a cancelled car test will result in a lost fee from three to 10 days.

“It is clear more needs to be done to make sure learner drivers only take their test when they are fully prepared,” says Loveday Ryder, chief executive of the DVSA.

The delay causes lots of pupils to look in different areas that may have less of a wait, which causes problems for the learner as they would need to then learn the routes of the new test centre, study the roundabouts and the speed limits in the local areas. Another hump in the road for this option could be last minute cancellations, which could cause the pupil a loss of funds if they have travelled to the area with some even staying over night if they have an early morning test. When using a test centre your instructor doesn’t cover means you are taking your own car, you would need to be ensuring the care is test standard, adhering to the following guidelines taken from the DVSA website:

Rules about the car

Your car must:

• have no warning lights showing, for example, the airbag warning light
• have no tyre damage and meet the legal tread depth on each tyre – you must not have a space-saver spare tyre
• be roadworthy
• be fitted with an extra interior rear-view mirror for the examiner
• be fitted with a passenger seatbelt and a passenger head restraint for the examiner (slip-on types are not allowed)
• be able to reach at least 62mph and have an mph speedometer
• be fitted with L-plates (‘L’ or ‘D’ plates in Wales) on the front and rear
• have 4 wheels and meet the maximum authorised mass (MAM) of no more than 3,500 kg

The MAM is the limit on how much the car can weigh when it’s loaded. It’ll be in the car’s handbook.

Tax and insurance

Your car must:

• be taxed
• have a current MOT (if it’s over 3 years old)
• be insured for a driving test (check with your insurance company)

Cleaning your car

You should tidy your car before your test. This includes removing any rubbish or unnecessary items from the dashboard, footwells, door pockets, cup holders and seats.

Your car must be smoke-free – this means you cannot smoke in it just before or during the test.

Dashcams and other cameras

You can use a camera fitted for insurance purposes, as long as it:

• faces outside of the car and does not film the inside
• does not record audio from inside the car

Vehicle features

You can use a car with:

• an electronic parking brake
• hill-start assist

Manual and automatic cars

You can take the test in a:

• manual car – these have 3 pedals
• automatic or semi-automatic car – these have 2 pedals

If you take your test in a semi-automatic car you’ll only be able to drive automatic and semi-automatic cars once you’ve passed your test.

Hire cars

You can take your test in a hire car if it’s fitted with dual controls and meets all the other rules.

Cars you cannot use

Some cars cannot be used in the test because they do not give the examiner all-round vision.

You cannot use any of the following:

• BMW 218 convertible
• BMW Mini convertible
• Ford KA convertible
• Smart Fortwo (2-door)
• Toyota iQ
• VW Beetle convertible

There might be other cars that you cannot use. This is because not every model has been used in a test before, and some may not give the examiner all-round vision.

Check if your car can be used before booking a test

You can check if your car can be used by contacting the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

Always check if you want to use a:

• convertible car
• panel van
• coupe (a car with a fixed roof, two doors and a sloping rear)

Beccy from Britannia says:

The backlog is very frustrating for pupils who are ready to take their test and are finding it increasingly difficult to book their practical driving test.

With the backlog on tests slowly wilting away, many pupils may now be looking at booking a practical Driving Test soon.

With that in mind, this weeks article will be based around the ‘show me, tell me’ part of the test.

You will be asked 2 vehicle safety questions during your driving test.

The examiner will ask you one:

• ‘tell me’ question (where you explain how you’d carry out a safety task) at the start of your test, before you start driving
• ‘show me’ question (where you show how you’d carry out a safety task) while you’re driving

You’ll get one driving fault (sometimes called a ‘minor’) if you get one or both questions wrong.

1. Tell me how you’d check that the brakes are working before starting a journey.

Brakes should not feel spongy or slack. Brakes should be tested as you set off. Vehicle should not pull to one side. One way to demonstrate this is to pump the foot break with the engine off, it should feel hard to push.

2. Tell me where you’d find the information for the recommended tyre pressures for this car and how tyre pressures should be checked.

Manufacturer’s guide, use a reliable pressure gauge, check and adjust pressures when tyres are cold, don’t forget spare tyre, remember to refit valve caps.

3. Tell me how you make sure your head restraint is correctly adjusted so it provides the best protection in the event of a crash.

The head restraint should be adjusted so the rigid part of the head restraint is at least as high as the eye or top of the ears, and as close to the back of the head as is comfortable. Note: Some restraints might not be adjustable.

4. Tell me how you’d check the tyres to ensure that they have sufficient tread depth and that their general condition is safe to use on the road.

No cuts and bulges, 1.6mm of tread depth across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tyre, and around the entire outer circumference of the tyre. One way to check this is just take a 20p coin and insert it into the tread grooves on the tyre. If you can’t see the outer band on the coin, your tyres are above the legal limit. However, if you can see the band and that section of the coin is still visible, your tyres could be unsafe and require professional inspection by a mechanic.

5. Tell me how you’d check that the headlights and tail lights are working. You don’t need to exit the vehicle.

Explain you’d operate the switch (turn on ignition if necessary), then walk round vehicle (as this is a ‘tell me’ question, you don’t need to physically check the lights).

6. Tell me how you’d know if there was a problem with your anti-lock braking system.

Warning light should illuminate if there is a fault with the anti-lock braking system.

7. Tell me how you’d check the direction indicators are working. You don’t need to exit the vehicle.

Explain you’d operate the switch (turn on ignition if necessary), and then walk round vehicle (as this is a ‘tell me’ question, you don’t need to physically check the lights).

8. Tell me how you’d check the brake lights are working on this car.

Explain you’d operate the brake pedal, make use of reflections in windows or doors, or ask someone to help.

9. Tell me how you’d check the power-assisted steering is working before starting a journey.

If the steering becomes heavy, the system may not be working properly. Before starting a journey, 2 simple checks can be made.

Gentle pressure on the steering wheel, maintained while the engine is started, should result in a slight but noticeable movement as the system begins to operate. Alternatively turning the steering wheel just after moving off will give an immediate indication that the power assistance is functioning.

10. Tell me how you’d switch on the rear fog light(s) and explain when you’d use it/them. You don’t need to exit the vehicle.

Operate switch (turn on dipped headlights and ignition if necessary). Check warning light is on. Explain use.

11. Tell me how you switch your headlight from dipped to main beam and explain how you’d know the main beam is on.

Operate switch (with ignition or engine on if necessary), check with main beam warning light.

12. Open the bonnet and tell me how you’d check that the engine has sufficient oil.

Identify dipstick/oil level indicator, describe check of oil level against the minimum and maximum markers.

13. Open the bonnet and tell me how you’d check that the engine has sufficient engine coolant.

Identify high and low level markings on header tank where fitted or radiator filler cap, and describe how to top up to correct level.

14. Open the bonnet and tell me how you’d check that you have a safe level of hydraulic brake fluid.

Identify reservoir, check level against high and low markings.

New camera’s will be rolled out in the UK, which can zoom in and see you behind the wheel.

Testing is being conducted for the cameras which will be able to see in your vehicle, catching motorists who use their mobile phone or don’t wear a seat belt.

Ten police forces will be testing out the new technology.

The new equipment is mounted to a vehicle or trailer and has multiple cameras. The cameras offer multiply views from all different angles of the driver and the passengers.

The idea is to fix the cameras to gantries similar to the existing speed cameras.

Durham, Greater Manchester, Humberside, Staffordshire, West Mercia, Northamptonshire, Wiltshire, Norfolk, Thames Valley and Sussex Police forces are set to be trialing out the cameras for 12 months.

“Working with our police partners we want to reduce such dangerous driving and reduce the risks posed to both the drivers and other people. We believe that using technology like this will make people seriously consider their driving behaviour.

“We will continue to invest in technology that could help make sure everyone using our roads gets home safe and well.”

AI technology will be used to process images taken by the new technology, anything considered to be a breach of safety will be passed over to the relevant police force. Fines for such those who commit an offence, such as not wearing a seat belt whilst driving could be as high as £500 and could also be given penalty points in addition. The more serious offence of using your mobile phone could see users fined up to £1,000 and issued up to 6 penalty points.

The technology was first trialled by National Highways back in 2021 with any offenders only sent warning letters.

Dr Jamie Uff, Technical Director at AECOM, explained: “Our work to date has highlighted the scale of the issue, has shown that technology can play a valuable role, and that there is much still to be understood about driver behaviour given the new insights gained.”

A survey recently conducted, disclosed that a huge percentage of drivers find the parking apps to be a nuisance. The survey revealed that a staggering 83% of the 1387 people who partook, stated they would rather use a pay and display machine than downloading and creating an account for the many different apps used today.

The survey, from Autocar, discovered that drivers were concerned about online fraud and that some apps were overly complicated.

A small percentage expressed they would use parking apps as a  preferred way of payment, stating it was more convenient to pay for parking at a push of a button on their mobiles.

You can view the full survey findings here.

Motorists in the UK have a selection of 30 different parking apps, which will need to be downloaded to park in the chosen areas. Each of them will need an account and access to personal details in order to pay for parking. Each of them will need an account and access to personal details in order to pay for parking, which is a factor that some drivers find off putting or confusing, others have expressed they worry that submitting all their details could lead to cases of fraud.

Another concern is that phones aren’t always 100% reliable, a loss of internet service or a low battery could be what throws a spanner in the works.

In response to the growing concerns around parking, in October 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Transport Secretary Mark Harper revealed plans for a ‘national parking platform’.

The aim is to streamline this process of paying for parking, where drivers can use one system – no matter where they are leaving their vehicle.

At the time of the announcement, the Government stated that it will be live by Autumn 2024.

Could this be the end for the pay and display system? We asked some Instructors and Training Instructors their thoughts, the majority agreed it was convenient to pay via the app but the app also comes along with its own disadvantages. Of course it eradicates the scramble looking for change to pay, but also does need to be more reliable.

Kerry at Britannia said;

I do like the convenience of the App, providing it works when you need it to. There has been some occasions i have clicked on the App for it to have completely logged me out, which therefore takes more time to re log in and pay than if i would use the old simple method of pay and display. But when i had small children in the car this would of been a godsend to be able to do it all from my vehicle.

Recently here at Britannia we have had some pupils being turned away from their practical driving test due to their pictures not being up to date.

The staff at the test centers are on high alert to be on the look out for fraudsters who are trying to take the test on behalf of someone else. Whilst you may be completely innocent and not up to no good, it is something to bare in mind.

If you have had a change in appearance such as but not limited to :

• Dramatic hairstyle change
• Beard/no beard
• Dramatic weight loss/ weight gain

Anything that could of altered you appearance could cause a problem, For instance if your provisional license picture if of you with no make up on and you go to your test with a full face of make up this could cause the staff to doubt your picture. The staff have to make a decision on a limited time frame.

Your provisional license is valid for 10 years so if you got your license in 2014 being age 17 then take your test in 2024 being age 27 then you could of undergone a lot of facial changes.

This is just something to bare in mind, as I’m sure we are all aware of the huge back log regarding tests. It would be extremely unfortunate and frustrating to have your long awaited test to be cancelled on such grounds.

You need to renew your full or provisional driving licence if you want to update your photo. You’ll get a new licence. You can apply online with the DVLA if you have a valid UK passport and want to use your passport photo. It costs £14 when you apply online.

A man who attempted to take a practical driving test on behalf of someone else has been sentenced.

Police officers from Nottinghamshire Police fraud team made contact with the Worksop Test Centre to alert them of the fraudulent Driving Test about to take place on the 24/10/23.

The fraud team had reason to believe Mr Ali Mohammed 48, would be providing the test centre with false details and would attempt to take the test on behalf of another man later that day.

The staff at the test centre had promptly flagged that the man undertaking the test looked vastly younger than the ID documents, Mohammed was arrested upon arriving back to the test centre on suspicion of fraud.

Mohammed, of Estone Walk, Birmingham, was given a jail sentence of 20 weeks, suspended for 18 months, when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday (2 January).

He will also have to carry out 20 days of rehabilitation activity and 150 hours of unpaid work in the community as part of his sentence.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by false representation at the same court.

Police Constable Bethany Childs, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“Driving tests are vital in ensuring motorists have a decent level of skill and experience in order to safely use our roads.

“Impersonating another individual on a test for financial gain is obviously a serious offence which potentially puts other road users at risk and undermines the principle of the testing process.

“I hope this case sends a clear message to those who believe they can break the law for their own financial gain that offences will be uncovered and you will be brought before the courts.”