Motoring News » Driving Advice

Organ donation questions now part of driving licence application

Alan — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 02:39:39 +0000

From tomorrow people who apply online for their driving licences will have to answer questions regarding organ donation before they are able to complete their applications. This is a joint initiative between the DVLA website and the Organ Donor Register to encourage more people to think seriously about organ donation and to increase the numbers who are registered as organ donors.

Anne Milton, the health minister who is launching the scheme, said that they were trying to simplify the process for people to sign up with the Organ Donor Register, and that by including it in their driving licence application it also encouraged people to discuss their wishes regarding organ donation with their loved ones.

She added that donating organs after death was the ultimate act of selflessness and it was giving someone a gift that would save their life. Although 90% of the UK population has expressed an interest in organ donation, only 29% are actually registered as organ donors.

It was the Governments nudge unit that implemented the scheme with the DVLA, this unit was set up to try and encourage people to change their behaviours in ways that they will hardly notice, and that will have no recourse on legislation. Cabinet Office’s new behaviour insight scheme has been working closely with the Department of Health to draw on their insight into behavioural science to try and improve ‘health outcomes’.

Cabinet Office website contains a document which discusses the idea of prompting choice in relation to subject of organ donation. It states that prompted choice had been highly successful and has succeeded in driving up the numbers of registered organ donors in several states in the US. Since 2008, the state of Illinois has demanded that all applicants for a driving licence make the decision whether to become a registered donor or not.

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Merseyside motorist is still driving around even with 23 points

Alan — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 02:37:10 +0000

It has been revealed that a Merseyside motorist is driving around with 23 points on their licence. This information was gleaned from the DVLA after a freedom of information request was submitted by the BBC. The figures obtained from the DVLA showed that there are currently 322 drivers with more than 12 points on their licence who have not been banned from driving.

A DVLA spokesman said that despite maintaining a record of all the court ordered endorsements and fixed penalties in the UK, they themselves had no influence or responsibility over sentences imposed by the courts.

The magistrates courts, when sentencing, are guided by a framework that is published by the Magistrates Association, which sets out how they should establish how serious each case is and how best to deal with it. This also helps to ensure that penalties reflect both the seriousness of the offence and also the offender’s personal circumstances.

Nick Freeman, a Manchester lawyer, said that it was very important that the courts should have some discretion over how they deal with cases that will result in points being given. He added that if the discretion was taken away, you may as well dispense with lawyers, judges and magistrates and replace them with robots.

If something arose and the circumstances changed, you must have the freedom to argue it and the courts, who are full of wise people, will agree that it is a deserving case and thus reduce the penalty.

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Scotland’s Highlands are easiest place to pass driving test

Alan — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 02:22:38 +0000

The secret to passing the driving test on your first try is to take it in Scotland in the rural west region. The government’s DVLA figures reveal that non-pass rates in Highland and Argyll are about 20%, a great deal lower than other rates in the urban areas of Scotland where some are as high as 65%.

Mallaig which is west of Fort William by about 30 miles is the test centre where the percentages are most in you favour to pass with only 20% of first timers failing the test. The top ten in passing percentages are all in the same area of islands and towns like Islay, Skye and Inverary.

Hamilton the Lanarkshire town has the highest failure rate at 65% making it one of the most likely in all of the UK to fail. Glasgow has first time failure rates of about 60% and Edinburgh is just lower at about 58%.

Then comes Dundee at 55% and Aberdeen is a bit lower coming in at 49%. The hardest in the UK is in north east London a test centre in Wanstead. Word spreads quickly and many city dwellers are travelling to other areas to try and beat the system.

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Advice for New Drivers: 5 Things You May Not Know

admin — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 14:37:00 +0000

An Advertorial Post

It seems that one of the rites of passage into adulthood for many teenagers or young adults is the day the driving examiner turns to them and utters the words “Congratulations, you have passed!”

What then follows for most young drivers is the search for affordable first-time driver car insurance.

It is often remarked that for many young drivers, insurance premiums are very high, especially on more powerful cars. Often insurance companies are blamed for their excessively high-cost policies for this particular demographic of driver but there is a reason for this as these five facts about young drivers will illustrate:

1. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has revealed that over 3,000 car drivers aged 25 or under are killed or seriously injured on UK roads each year. Furthermore, RoSPA also found that young drivers are more likely to be involved in high-speed crashes, single vehicle crashes, incidents caused by a loss of control of the vehicle, crashes after dark and crashes while overtaking or negotiating bends in a vehicle.

2. RoSPA also reports that one in five drivers crash within their first year of driving and one in three male drivers between the ages of 17 and 20 will be involved in an accident in the first two years after they have passed their test. An 18-year-old driver is also three times more likely to be involved in an accident than a 48 year-old.

3. 40 per cent of young drivers feel it is acceptable to break a 30 mph speed limit by 10 mph or more, according to a survey conducted by Brake, the Association of British Insurers (ABI).This is, in spite of the fact that statistics have shown that at 40 mph, nine out of 10 children hit by cars either die or receive life changing injuries.

4. Almost a quarter of young drivers aged between 16 and 21 see nothing wrong with drinking up to one and a half pints of beer, or the equivalent in alcoholic units, and then getting behind the wheel of the car to drive afterwards. A 2007 report by Newsbeat revealed that a quarter of all drink driving arrests in London was of drivers aged between 17 and 24 and similar figures are being reported in many locations across the UK.

5. The survey by Brake and ABI also revealed that young drivers were prone to driving more recklessly and dangerously when carrying other young people as passengers. RoSPA reports that the attitude of young drivers, particularly men, is often over confident and they see good driving as being able to drive the car and control it at high speed.

In isolation, these five facts about young drivers go some way towards explaining why first-time driver insurance can be so high and highlights many of the problems that are facing young drivers on the roads today.

The good news for young drivers however is that they can take positive steps to ensure that their first driving experiences are good ones and do not result in an accident or worse.

Young drivers can use ‘P’ plates to indicate that they are a new driver, which will alert other drivers to their lack of experience. It is also a good idea to ensure they do not bite off more than they can chew initially by gaining as much experience as possible driving alone, or with just one trusted friend or relative who is an experienced driver and can give further advice. Many driving instructors offer additional lessons when you have passed, on motorway driving for example, and these are a good way to learn additional skills.

Passing your test should not be seen as a licence to drive recklessly because you can, but a sign that you have only reached the minimum standard required to be allowed onto British roads safely and that it is now up to you to improve your skills until you become a truly proficient and competent driver.

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Easter getaway may be hard work on the crowded roads

Alan — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 13:50:43 +0000

As the weather gets warmer and British Summer Time officially starting, the news reaches us from ‘Trafficmaster’ that the roads this coming Easter break will be heir busiest for years. This is despite the current fuel prices.

Three Bank Holidays being s close together coupled with a late Easter seems to be encouraging many to take a longer break than normal. Threatened airline strikes and general unsettlement abroad is also encouraging many to stay at home, despite how much it will cost to fill their tank. The roads around holiday resorts are expected to be manic, so plan your journey carefully and avoid peak times.

“After a gloomy winter both in terms of weather and the economy, we are expecting to see one of the busiest Easter breaks for several years,” says Graham Smith at Trafficmaster, “It’s anticipated that the majority of Britain’s registered road vehicles will be on the road at some time over the Easter weekend, with Maundy Thursday on 21st April likely to be the busiest day across the Easter holiday period.”

Although most school holidays across England and Wales have now commenced their Easter Holiday break, one of the main “getaway” days for the holiday period is likely to occur on Friday 15th April. There will also be significant traffic movement on along the M6/M1 corridor throughout the weekend with both Manchester football teams meeting in the FA Cup Semi-Final at Wembley on Saturday 16th April, Bolton and Stoke City playing at Wembley in the other FA Cup Semi-Final on Sunday 17th April and Arsenal playing Liverpool on the same day. Sunday is also the day of the London Marathon, with its associated road closures and restrictions throughout Central, East and South-East London. It is anticipated that nearly 20 million vehicles will be on the move over this period.

Most road works will see restrictions lifted during the period covering Easter, the Royal Wedding and the Mayday Holiday to minimise disruption.

On Thursday, 21st April, when the worst traffic congestion is expected, the roads to watch are as follows:

- To & from West of England: M5 along most of its length, and especially between Junctions 15 (M4 interchange) and 31 (Exeter). A303 through Hampshire, Wiltshire, Somerset and into Devon. A30 and A38 through Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. A39 within North Cornwall. Also M4 from the London area to & from Bristol (J19) and the South West (J20).
- To & from Hampshire & Dorset coast: M3 along most of its length, and especially south of Winchester. M27 along most of its length and A31 between M27/J1, Ringwood and Dorchester. A3 through Hindhead
- To & from South Coast: A21 through Sussex.
- To & from Channel Tunnel and Channel coast ports: M20, A20 and A2 to and from Eurotunnel, Folkestone and Dover will be exceptionally busy.
- To & from East Anglia & East coast: A11 around Elveden and Thetford, and A47 between East Midlands and Norfolk coast. M11 to & from Stansted Airport. A12 to and from East Coast.
- To & from North East: M1 between East Midlands (J21) and South Yorkshire (J32), A1 and A1M through West and North Yorkshire, and A64 to Scarborough.
- To & from North West: M6 between West Midlands (J11), Lancashire and Lake District (J36).
- To & from North Wales: M56 and A55 between Manchester, Chester and along the North Wales coast.
- Within Scotland: M90, A90 and Forth Road Bridge between Edinburgh, Fife and Tayside. A9 between Perth and Inverness, A82 between Glasgow, Trossachs and Highlands.

For the latest traffic and travel update: Call 0906 470 1740 from your landline, or 1740 from your mobile before you travel or during your journey for Live Traffic Reports. Alternatively for more information about Trafficmaster’s other services and a live view of traffic on the roads go to www.trafficmaster.co.uk.

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Holiday Driving Tips – How to avoid driving accidents during your holiday

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:16:26 +0000

Research from AXA shows that one in ten of us has had a prang while driving either to or from a holiday destination in the UK, while 7% more have had a bump on the way to or from their UK airport, railway station or ferry port on the way to their holidays.

The research showed that while the biggest factor in these accidents is other drivers, 19% of drivers put it down to tiredness, a further 18% blamed unfamiliar roads while 10% felt that in-car distractions such as children or excess baggage were to blame.

Here are some tips from AXA for safe holiday driving:

· Plan your route. Unfamiliar roads were sited as one of the biggest distractions for holiday drivers and while you may not know the roads, if you have a good idea of where you’re heading and the route you’ll be taking it will help you drive more confidently and safely. Nearly a quarter of us (24%) head off without checking the route out in advance.

· Once you know your route, use a traffic information provider to check that there are no major problems along the way – only 31% of drivers will specifically check out any traffic problems in advance.

· Factor in somewhere to stop en route. Tiredness is a big cause of accidents and the heat of the summer, the stress of unfamiliar roads and a packed car full of arguing kids can increase fatigue.

· Make sure your car is safe to drive. Only half (54%) of us check oil and water levels before setting out on a long journey and a similar number (50%) check tyre pressure. 39% check that we have enough windscreen wash.

· Pack something to keep the kids occupied – only 21% do this so we really only have ourselves to blame when they ask for the hundredth time “are we there yet?”

· Make sure you have snacks and drinks in the car. Dehydration and low blood sugar are not good for anyone but behind the wheel they can have very serious consequences.

· Check you have breakdown cover in place and you have the numbers to call if you do grind to a halt.

· If you can be flexible on the day you travel then try and avoid the very worst days especially Friday.

· Make sure you have a hands free kit for your mobile phone or ensure you pull over at a designated place to use your phone.

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Road Rage Video – Kids Style

admin — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 08:54:26 +0000

This is a great short video using kids to highlight exactly how ridiculous we look as adults when we indulge in road rage.

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Finding the right driving school

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:55:07 +0000

The internet is rapidly becoming primary source for learner drivers trying to find a driving school. There are a myriad of schools and instructors to choose from at a wide variety of prices. But cheap driving lessons won’t necessarily mean failing the driving test over and over. Take your time and select a company with a reputation you’re happy with. Check with friends who have recently passed their tests.

Driving Schools are the tried and trusted friend of people who want to get confidently behind the wheel as soon as possible. Finding a good deal on driving lessons cost doesn’t mean finding a bad deal on the quality of training and having to redo the driving course over and over. No one wants to waste money.

A good instructor will get you through all the demands of today’s complicated test with the personal support and local area knowledge that you need, without necessarily making a hole in your pocket.

Today’s driving test is complicated – there’s no getting away from it – and a common reason for failing is that your driving course didn’t cover the syllabus. Driving schools such as RED guarantee instructors will help you through each step, not letting you get in over your head, and keeping you a safe road user from the very first lesson. Your mastery of each part of the test syllabus is monitored and checked by your instructor to ensure YOU feel comfortable and confident as you gradually improve your knowledge and skills, both theoretical and practical. Professional driving lessons will prepare you thoroughly to cope safely with the varied conditions you will face in normal driving, urban and countryside. You shouldn’t take your test until YOU and your instructor feel you’re ready.

Whether you are a student or a mum, or maybe a late starter, an instructor helps the L-plater get calmly and confidently to grips with all the requirements of the driving test, with all the latest updates in the law and road signage. Driving instructors hate to see a potentially good driver fail but they know what it’s like to be behind the wheel for the first time and they’ll help you with those nerves. Pass rates show instructors’ commitment to making you a confident driver and a safe driver for others on the road.

Maybe you want to cut your car insurance by improving your skills with the Governments pass-plus scheme. Some schools offer intensive driving lessons that will help cut insurance premiums and help you become more secure in your skills in more demanding driving conditions.

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10 Top Tips for Fuel Economy

admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 11:36:22 +0000

With ever increasing fuel prices due to the soaring cost of oil and various unrelated planned UK tax hikes, the cost of living is increasing ever higher.

There are many creative ways to improve fuel consumption; from chipping your engine management system to using magnets that are supposed to increase fuel burn by agitating fuel particles. Some may work; others may be products preying on those desperate to save money on their monthly bills. The fact remains that there are many less expensive and easier ways to save money when it comes to cutting your fuel bill.

Each of the 10 tips listed below may not increase fuel economy by much on their own but together they could you save a substantial amount of money on your fuel bill each month:

1: Keep your tyres inflated; fuel efficiency can be decreased by around 3% if they are below the manufacturers recommended pressure – also shortening their lifespan through increased wear.

2: Keep your car serviced; ensuring you replace your oil and air filters regularly and your engine well tuned will allow your vehicle to operate to its maximum level of efficiency.

3: Drive smoothly; Speeding away from traffic lights and junctions with rapid bursts of acceleration can use up to 60% more fuel than even paced and controlled acceleration.

4: Use your high gears; making sure you use the highest gear possible at all speeds (where safe and allowable) will improve your fuel economy as the engine will need to perform fewer revolutions to maintain its speed.

5: Stick to the speed limit; you will use much more fuel travelling at 80mph than at 70mph, in fact between 10-20% more in the majority of cases. Not forgetting the fact that it is also illegal to travel at this speed.

6: Air con; you should only use your air conditioning when absolutely necessary. At slow speeds and on urban journeys fuel consumption can be heavily effected. Smaller petrol engines suffer more than their larger petrol/diesel counterparts.

7: Walk where possible; this may seem an obvious piece of advice but many of us drive to our local shops each day when we could be walking. A cold engine can return half its usual fuel economy – go on, take a walk for that morning paper.

8: Don’t warm up in winter; hands up who’s guilty of leaving their car warming up on the drive in winter, we’ve all most probably considered it at some point. The fact is, it not only increases engine wear and increases the risk of it being stolen, but also waste’s large amounts of fuel in a cold and idling engine.

9: Don’t rev your engine unnecessarily; sitting at traffic lights revving your engine to impress the car next to you wastes a large amount of fuel needlessly and also makes you look like a fool.

10: Watch the road ahead; keeping an eye on the road ahead for changing driving conditions which could mean you have to brake. Easing off on the accelerator and maintaining a constant speed (cruise control can be handy for this) will really improve your fuel economy on long motorway journeys.

An article by moneysupermarket.com; helping you to compare car insurance

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Advice for driving in wintry conditions

admin — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:37:03 +0000

Here are some tips for driving in snow and ice from compensation claims website, Nowinnofee.co.uk.

Take it Slowly

When driving in heavy snow the most crucial step is to go slow. Remain in a low gear for optimum control and don’t be tempted to rush, no matter how late you are for work. Even when roads look clear, hidden black ice can be fatal so take your time. It is better to arrive late than not at all.

Brake the Habit

If you start to skid it’s only natural to want to hit the brakes, but this will only make things worse. If your car starts to slide, release your foot from the brake immediately and reapply slowly. Try to regain control by steering into the skid to straighten up your car and change to a lower gear to slow things down and avoid a nasty accident.

In a Spin

Pulling away from standstill in the snow usually results in wheel spin and a “one step forward two steps back” scenario. This is a major cause of minor accidents as cars spin backwards into the vehicle behind. Try to pull away in second gear rather than first as this will limit your wheel spin and if you begin to slide remember the rules on how to control a skid.

Turning a Corner

The cornering ability of a car is almost non-existent in snow. Vehicles often start to slide sideways and without proper control this will result in an accident. Remain focused and avoid any sudden braking. Slow down long before taking the corner and approach the turn in a straight line to avoid loss of control.

Expect the Unexpected

No matter how prepared you are you can’t assume that everyone around you is just as cautious. In fact, you should assume just the opposite. Don’t expect that somebody is going to stop for you – they may be trapped in a skid and unable to control their vehicle. Be aware of what is around you – other traffic and pedestrians – and remain vigilant. Increased concentration will result in better control and a lower chance of accident.

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