Driving Instructor Provides Advice On Most Common Driving Test Faults

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The road to passing a driving test is a major milestone in life, often filled with excitement and tension (in equal measures) for both the learner driver and their parents. To alleviate any pre-test stress, personalised number plate supplier Regtransfers have joined forces with Sophie Stuchfield, an expert driving instructor. With a wealth of experience spanning 15 years of teaching and known as @TheOnlineDrivingInstructor online, Sophie shares essential tips on the most frequent errors in UK driving tests over the last decade.

Observation at Junctions

Sophie emphasises the need for learners to carry out detailed observation at junctions - which has come up as the top error seen in tests over the last ten years. “If you don’t pay close attention to road markings or road signs, you may be completely unaware that you are approaching a junction,” she warns.

She explains that an examiner may need to intervene in these scenarios, “An examiner may have to step in verbally or engage the dual control brake to manage the vehicle’s speed or bring it to a stop.”

Sophie also highlights the importance of carrying out proper checks when leaving a junction: “A single glance is inadequate; confirming that the road is clear is crucial before joining it.”

Mirror Use During Direction Changes

Checking mirrors before signaling, turning, or changing speed is an important aspect of the test. The "Mirror-Signal-Manoeuvre" sequence should be instinctive for learners by the time they sit their test, though it can be easily overlooked in the moment.

Sophie advises, "Particularly, pay attention to your wing mirrors when changing lanes or navigating around obstacles. Ensure you check the correct wing mirror depending on the direction you're moving." She associates frequent errors in mirror usage with the pressures of being assessed, where learners may lose focus on natural hazard management.

Right-Hand Turns at Junctions

Sophie advises maintaining proper lane discipline for right-hand turns at junctions. "You should avoid cutting the corner when turning into a road on your right, even if the junction is completely clear of other road users. You should be using correct positioning at all times."

She further explains the importance of proper positioning: "Approaching the turn, if there is no oncoming traffic, drivers will often drift to the wrong side of the road before turning. It’s really important to stay on your side of the road until you reach your point of turn".

Steering Control

Sophie, drawing from her extensive teaching background, acknowledges that steering challenges, like many test difficulties, often originate from nerves.

“Test nerves can lead to tension in the body, causing us to stiffen up,” Sophie notes. “This, coupled with the mistaken belief that crossing arms while steering is not allowed, often results in rigid steering and ineffective hand manoeuvres.”

In fact, Sophie, along with other instructors, promotes flexible steering techniques, provided they maintain vehicle control: "Crossing your arms can sometimes be necessary for swift steering responses."

The Road To Savings: Tips For Assisting Your Parents In Finding The Perfect Car Deal

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Finding the right car deal for your aging parents can be a challenge. With numerous factors to consider, from budget to safety, this process requires careful planning and informed decision-making. This article aims to guide you through various aspects of purchasing a car that suits the needs and preferences of senior drivers.

 

Safety First: Key Features to Look for in a Senior-Friendly Car

Safety should be a top priority when selecting a vehicle for an elderly driver. Look for cars with advanced safety features such as rear-view cameras, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and easy-to-read dashboards. These features not only enhance safety but also provide peace of mind for both the senior driver and their family members.

 

Budgeting Basics for Seniors: Planning for an Affordable Car Purchase

Budgeting is the cornerstone of any major purchase, especially for seniors who may be on a fixed income. It’s crucial to determine a realistic budget that includes not just the purchase price, but also ongoing costs like fuel, maintenance, and insurance. Encourage your parents to explore financing options if necessary, but also to consider the long-term financial implications of their purchase.

 

Insurance Insights: Choosing the Right Coverage for Elderly Drivers

Insurance is another critical aspect to consider. It’s essential to find a policy that offers comprehensive coverage at a reasonable cost. Shop around and compare quotes from different insurers. Also, inquire about discounts that may apply to seniors, such as reduced rates for low-mileage drivers or those who have taken a defensive driving course.

 

Driving and Car Safety for your Teen Driver

 

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Your teen now drives. Going out with them in the car for the first time with them sitting behind the wheel is a sharp wake-up call. Your baby is no longer a baby, now they are in control of a large machine that can drive at speeds of 70mph (and that's if they are sticking to the speed limit) and can potentially cause serious harm, or even death. It's a bit scary when you put it like that, isn't it? Of course, the last thing you want to do is scare your teen but it is definitely worth having some serious conversations with them so they realise the full extent of the responsibility of driving alone on the roads. 

Here are a few pointers for discussion items that will help to give you peace of mind and to keep your teen safe -

Install a Car Tracker

Having a car tracker installed can be the ultimate peace of mind. You'll always be able to see where your teen is and if you've given them a radius of how far they can travel, you'll be able to spot (or even sent an alert if you set that feature to live) if they have breached that designated area. |As well as this, it is also important to have a tracker in case of theft and it makes the Police's job a lot easier if they know the location of your car. 

Get Black Box Insurance

Insurance can be a major cost when your teen first starts to drive, and one way to keep this cost down is to take (telematics) black box insurance. This device records how your teen is driving in regard to speed, braking distance, cornering, accelerating etc, and creates a score for their overall driving performance. If your teen knows they are being monitored and potentially their insurance premium could be impacted this will have a positive impact on their responsible driving. 

Set an Example

Once your teen is old enough to be interested in driving you should be setting a good example to them in your driving. Talk through the different maneuvers that you do, and why you make the driving decisions that you do, and also give them an awareness of how another's driving style might impact your safety. Demonstrating braking distances, using your mirrors and being aware of what is around you will make a marked difference. 

Pay for an Advanced Driver Course

Defensive driving could be the difference between an accident or not, so it is definitely worth investing in an advanced driver course for your teen. They will normally do around four sessions which will not only increase their driving confidence but also teach them a healthy respect and awareness of what is going on on the roads. Being aware of other drivers and driving to anticipate their errors is an essential life skill as far as I'm concerned. 

Discuss the Rules

This may seem very obvious but you need to have a conversation with your teen about what your expectations are for them driving, especially if you are footing the bill for their car, and associated costs.  Some people may assume their teen knows what is expected of them, but they are not mind readers. So spell out your expectations and make it really clear so there is no room for ambiguity.

• How far can they travel?
• Are there particular times they can use the car?
• Who is responsible for fuel costs and maintenance?
• Can they drive with friends in the car who are under the influence or smoking/ vaping?
• What is the maximum number of passengers they can take?
• Who will clean the interior and the exterior of the car?

Yes, it can seem a bit scary at first to have your teen driving but think of the time it will free up for you. They can become the taxi and take younger siblings places they need to go and you can make good use of this extra free time that you have gained back. Sit back, relax and enjoy the fact your teen is developing into a responsible adult. 

6 Top Tips for Avoiding Points on your Driving Licence

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Every driver dreads the time that they happen to be over the speed limit and the yellow camera catches them speeding. It happened to me a few years ago, I was driving in a new area and one side of the roundabout was 60 and the other went straight down to 30, I missed the signs and was doing 38mph and ended up with a nasty letter in the post advising me of my offence.

Of course if you get caught speeding it isn't the end of the world, but penalty points can soon add up and here in the UK once you have 12 points you'll be instantly disqualified. Luckily for me it was my first offence and as such I chose to pay the fine and attend a speed awareness course (which you also have to pay for the privilege to attend) rather than take points on my licence.

To help you avoid getting points on your license, here are a few easy to follow tips -

1.  Be a Responsible Car Owner
When you agree to lend your car to someone else, always make sure there is the necessary insurance in place for them to drive legally. Then if you receive a notice of intention to prosecute in the post for a time you know you were not driving, don't just ignore it, that could cost you 6 penalty points and up to £600 for failing to respond.

Also don't forget to update your driving licence and vehicle registration document when you move house. These are easy ones to forget, but if you do and you are caught speeding, the notice will go to your old home and as you will not provide the necessary details, the case will be heard in your absence and you'll end up with a hefty fine and 6-8 penalty points on your licence, all without your knowledge!

Keep an Eye on your Tyres & Stay Safe in the Family Car

Get them checking the tyres young!

Safety and our families well-being are always our primary concern. For this very reason, we all like to choose a reputable family car that gives a better chance of safety on the road. We service them regularly, monitor the oil and cooling liquid levels, check the condition of our brakes and so on. However, there is one major thing that many people seem to forget and that is to keep an eye to ensure we have functional tyres.

Tyres are our cars only points of contact with the road surface. Damaged or worn tyres can’t fulfil their role properly and can pose a threat to our and our family’s safety. So how do you know when it is time for new tyres? Here are some warning signs from mytyres.co.uk:

Driving myself crazy

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I know some people adore driving, they find it relaxing and could happily do it all day. Some do it as their job of course; there are plenty of delivery drivers and sales reps travelling around and spending more time in their vehicle than out of it each day. Never, ever could I do that! Last week I had to collect one of my daughters from my parents, this is just a 80-mile journey, so not far in the scheme of things but the round trip of just under 5 hours, much of that spent on the M25 absolutely wrecked me. All I wanted to do when I got home was sleep.

I’m a bit of a conundrum nowadays really as I think I am both an excellent and terrible driver all rolled into one. When More Than asked me to write about the worst driver I know, the only person that came to mind was me. This may well be because I don’t trust many people to drive me around and as such I am rarely a passenger to experience their driving nowadays. I’m not a terrible actual driver though, I consider myself to be an astute and cautious driver, even better since I had to go on the road awareness course for speeding and it even made me think about signing up for an advanced driver course. I think too many people underestimate the skill needed to drive really well.