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It’s Raining Again!

It’s Raining Again!

Mar 23, 2023

Spring Showers

It’s starting to feel like spring at last, with slightly warmer weather we’re also getting a lot of ‘April showers’. Actually the last month has been a lot wetter than usual, the Berkshire area has seen 160% of the months average rainfall, which in turn has led to a much higher flow rate for our rivers. Whilst most of them haven’t yet burst their banks this sort of weather can be a hazard for everyone, especially new drivers who might not have driven in these conditions before. So what do we need to be aware of when driving in heavy rain, or flood conditions?

Heavy Rain

If you are driving in a sudden storm you should first put your lights on, it is important to be visible at all times. If conditions are really bad you might want to use your fog lights, but make sure you turn them off as soon as visibility improves. Next you should slow down and leave a larger gap between yourself and the car in front. Your stopping distance may be larger in very wet conditions, and you want to give yourself time to see their break lights and stop. You will also need to put the de-misters on, it may help if you turn the heat onto high and turn the air-con on. The air con will dry the air blown out of the vents, so your car doesn’t mist up.

Be aware of pedestrians as well, don’t drive too fast through deep puddles as you can soak anyone walking on the pavement. You might think this is fun, but you could be fined or get points on your licence, and you wouldn’t appreciate it if you were the pedestrian!

If you’re driving and the steering suddenly feels very light you need to be aware you are aquaplaning. Don’t panic, just ease off the accelerator and allow the car to slow down gradually. Don’t make any sudden changes in speed or direction until the car feels like it is back to normal again.

Driving in heavy rain
driving in floods

Floods

If you have to drive through a flood be very careful. The first thing to check is if it’s standing water or flowing (a ford for example). If water is flowing very fast it can move your car – it doesn’t take much depth to get a driver into real difficulties, just 30cm of fast flowing water can move a car, and 60cm of standing water will float a car.

You need to stop before attempting to drive through a flood to assess the situation. Think about how deep the water is, and if it’s flowing. You also need to think if there could be other hazards that you can’t see, such as open manhole covers – if the water is moving strangely it may have pushed a drain up and there could be a hole you can’t see. Fords can be extremely dangerous, take a look at any measuring poles and signs that will help you to decide if it’s safe. If you are in any doubt turn the car around and find another way.

Take Care

If you decide to proceed drive very slowly and steadily in water so you don’t make a bow wave. When you get out of the water you need to continue to drive slowly until you have had a chance to check that your breaks work.

If you drive in water that is too deep you will find your car will break down – it only takes a very small amount of water sucked into the engine to break it. This is a very expensive mistake, and one of the reasons it’s better to turn around if you’re unsure. Of course the main reason for not entering water is your own safety. A third of flood related deaths are in vehicles, and two-thirds of people that die in floods are good swimmers, you don’t want to add to those statistics!

In this country we’re used to a bit of rain, and with a bit of care and attention it will never cause us a problem when we’re on the road.

Driving in heavy rain

At Always Pass we like to teach people to be confident drivers that includes driving with caution when the weather turns nasty. If you’d like to learn to drive (so you can keep out of the rain!) get in touch.

Yellow Box Junctions

Yellow Box Junctions

Feb 13, 2023

New Government legislation is now in place for yellow box junctions..

It’s coming to a road near you!

The Government last year stated it was expected to allow all authorities in England to carry out enforcement of moving traffic offences, such as stopping in yellow box junctions.

What is a yellow box junction?

A box junction is a traffic control measure designed to prevent gridlock at junctions. They’re easy to recognise – in the UK, it’s a yellow box filled with criss-cross yellow lines painted on the road.

Under the rules of the Highway Code, you’re not allowed to enter the yellow box unless your exit is clear and there is enough space on the other side of the junction for your car to clear the box completely without stopping.

box junction
yellow box junction

Exceptions

There is an exception; if you want to turn right, you are allowed to enter the box and wait if you’re prevented from turning by oncoming traffic, or by other vehicles waiting to turn right. It’s perfectly legal for you to wait on the yellow criss-cross provided your exit road is clear.

Is this happening near you? It Reading it starts on Monday 20th February

The list below is where all of the box junctions in Reading are, not all affected straight away

  • Junction of London Street with Queen’s Road
  • Junction of Oxford Road with Bedford Road
  • Junction of Oxford Road with Grovelands Road
  • Junction of Church Street with Church Road
  • The Oracle Gyratory
  • Junction of London road with Eldon Road and Craven road
  • Junction of Queens road and Sidmouth Street
  • Junction of Kings Road with Orts Road and Eldon Road
  • Junction of Wokingham Road with London Road
  • Junction of London Road with Chomeley Road
  • Junction of London Road with Kendrick Road
  • Junction of A33 and Rose Kiln Lane
  • Junction of Bath Road and Berkeley Avenue
  • Junction of Bath Road and Burghfield Road
  • Junction of A329 and the A33

What are your thoughts on this? Take a look at the news here for the fines, how it works, and more…

Spread the word so every driver is aware of this.

At Always Pass we’ll teach you to drive safely and keep up to date with all the new rules. If you’re thinking about getting driving lessons why not get in touch today?

Top 10 reasons people fail their test

Top 10 reasons people fail their test

Dec 21, 2022

Pass With Us!

Here at Always Pass we have a good first time pass rate, as we make sure our learners are well prepared for their test.  The driving test is difficult to pass, you have to be a good driver to pass. It wouldn’t be worth having a test if it wasn’t tricky! It’s there to ensure only good drivers are allowed out on the road. The DVSA have published a guide showing the top ten reasons people fail their test. It’s worth being aware of them so you can ensure you’re not falling into any of these common faults.

Not making effective observations at junctions

This is the top reason people fail. It seems so simple, we all know to be safe we have to make sure we’ve checked before exiting a junction, but it’s not just learner drivers that are failing to check properly. Unfortunately drivers failing to check properly was a factor in 37% of all reported accidents in 2019.

This fault encompasses failing to judge the speed of an approaching vehicle. Turning onto a road or roundabout if you’ve made the correct observations but think a gap is big enough to pull out, but you cause an approaching car to slow you will get this fault. You will also get it if you look too late when emerging from a junction, or not looking properly when joining a dual carriageway.

Not using mirrors correctly when changing direction

We know you have to use the mirror – signal – manoeuvre routine whenever you intend to change direction. You also need to check your mirrors if you need to change speed. Forgetting to check your mirrors could cause an accident, you should always be looking for bikes and other vehicles when you change direction.

Car mirrors
learner driver

Not having proper control of the steering

This sounds a bit daft – of course you need to have control of your car to pass your test! But 1 in 10 accidents in Great Britain in 2019 were caused by drivers making a poor turn. This could be cutting the corner when turning into a road, or turning too late. You could be steering too late when moving past parked cars. This would mean you’re too close to the cars and could hit them.

Incorrect positioning when turning right at junctions

If you’re turning right you need to leave enough room for other cars to pass you on the left hand side. If you’re turning right at a roundabout you need to be in the right lane so other traffic knows where you’re going.

Not moving off safely

When pulling away you have to check your blind spot, and check behind your car. It’s important to check it’s safe to pull away. You should get into a routine of checking before you move every time, so you don’t fail your test this way, or worse cause an accident.

Not responding appropriately to traffic lights

Obviously if you go through a red light you will fail your test, and could cause an accident. There is more to this fault though. You have to stop at the correct white line, the junction could have a line for cyclists, and you have to give them room. You also have to react correctly to a green light, it’s no good being too hesitant at a green light, or just going through if the light is green but the junction isn’t clear. You need to apply a little common sense when going through a light controlled junction. In 2019 there were 1,308 reported accidents caused by drivers disobeying traffic lights.

Poor positioning on the road during normal driving

When you’re driving you shouldn’t cross the white line in the centre unless you have checked it’s safe and signalled your intention. You should not be driving too close to the curb either. You’re aiming to drive in the centre of your lane. If you’re on a dual carriageway you need to be in the left lane unless you’re overtaking or turning right. You should always aim to be in the left lane.

Driving test traffic lights
Driving test speed limit

Not responding correctly to traffic signs

Speed limits, bus lanes, stop and no entry signs are there for a reason. You have to obey these signs. This is why you have to pass your theory test before you take the practical driving test, to prove you understand what these signs mean.

Not having control of the vehicle when moving off

When moving off you need to be able to drive without stalling or rolling back if you’re on a hill. You need to make sure you’re in the correct gear and have proper control of your vehicle. It sounds so simple, but if you’re nervous it can be easy to be flustered and stall or forget to check you’re in first gear before moving off. You will achieve this with plenty of practice. A mock test should help you to sort problems like this out before you take your test.

Not keeping control of the vehicle during reverse parking

Whether you’re parking in a bay or a parallel park you need to complete the manoeuvre without hitting the curb and have control of the car at all times. It might feel like a trivial thing, but in the rest of your driving life you’ll need to be able to park your car.

Pass with us!

As you can see there are a lot of ways to fail the test, but don’t give up! We focus on passing your test. With comprehensive lessons, mock tests and plenty of support you’ll soon pass your test. Passing a difficult test should give you the confidence that you’re a good driver for years to come.

Check Your Lights

Check Your Lights

Dec 8, 2022

Darker Nights

Now the nights are drawing in and everyone is looking forward to Christmas it’s a good time to think about lights, and not just the ones on your tree. It’s very important to be seen in the dark afternoons and evenings. It’s not something everyone thinks about, we often get into the car, and as long as we’ve remembered to flick the light switch on we forget about it. We know it’s good practice, whatever the time of year to periodically check your lights.

How do I check my lights?

It seems a daft question, but how do you check the lights on a car? It’s easier if you have a friend to help you, but you can do it on your own.

Running and Side Lights

First you should check your daytime running lights. You might feel these aren’t as important as they’re on during daylight hours, but they’re there for your safety. They will help you to be noticed even in the day, and your car will fail it’s MOT if they’re not working. To check them make sure you’re parked somewhere safe, where you can walk around your vehicle safely. When the engine is running get out and look at the front of your car. You should see both of your running lights are visible. Not all cars have running lights, so it’s worth knowing if this is part of the specification for your vehicle. Next turn on your sidelights, and get out of the vehicle to check they work.

Headlights and Indicators

Now check your headlights and indicators. Get back in the car and turn on your headlights and hazard lights. Get out to check everything is as it should be, you should see headlights, rear (red) lights and indicators on the front and rear. It’s worth doing this in the dark if you can, as you will be able to check your headlight alignment as well.

Alignment

Headlights should be angled so they don’t blind oncoming traffic. If one of your lights seems to be a bit off you can get it realigned in a garage, or you may be able to adjust it yourself.

To check alignment you will need to make sure there’s no weight in the car, so you don’t have anything in the boot or a friend sitting in the car. You also need to know your tyres are all inflated as they should be. You will need a wall that you can use to measure the field of light on. Park about 60cm away from the wall (facing it) the ground should be flat.

Turn on your headlights, not fog lights or full beam. The headlights will produce circle shapes on the wall. You need to use tape or chalk to make a cross on each circle. One line should go vertically from the top of the circle to the bottom and the other should go horizontally across the widest part. Where the two lines meet in the middle is the centre of your headlights.

The centre of both plus signs should be the same height, so use a tape measure to check. If they aren’t, you may need to lower one plus sign so that they are the same height.

Once you’re happy with your marks and they’re both the same height, reverse your car so it’s about eight metres from the wall. If the middle of your headlights still fall within your markings, then you don’t need to make any adjustments. If they are falling above, below, or to the side of the plus symbols, then you’ll need to realign your headlights. If you’re not sure about checking this on your own, don’t worry. Most garages will check your headlight alignment for you.

 

Fog Lights

Next you should check your fog lights work, turn them on and walk all round the car. You should see at least one rear fog light as well as your bright front beams.

The last lights to check are your brake lights. To do this if you don’t have a friend to help you you will need to park in front of a reflective surface. Apply the brakes and look back to see the reflection of your lights. If you don’t see two lights reflected you will need to get a new bulb.

It might feel like a lot of effort, but it’s worth it if it keeps you and other road users safe. The last thing you want to hear is ‘sorry I didn’t see you’ after someone’s bumped into your car.

 

Learn to Drive With Us

Are you a bright spark? If you need lessons we have a high pass rate, so why not get in touch today?

Speed limits

Speed limits

Nov 10, 2022

The First Speeding Ticket

The first speeding ticket was given way back in 1896. Back then the speed limit was a heady 2mph, and the law required you to have a man with a red flag walking in front of your vehicle. Walter Arnold was driving without this precaution at a heady 8mph! Of course the police man that caught him to give him a ticket was on a bicycle, so it must have been the slowest police chase that you can imagine!

The publicity that surrounded this case when it reached court didn’t do Mr Arnold any harm, he had to pay a 1 shilling fine plus costs, but at the time he was one of the earliest car dealers in the country. Having shown how fast you could travel in one of his new cars the publicity created a great demand for his Arnold Benz horseless carriages. The law was changed soon after to increase the limit to 14mph, and the man with the flag was no longer required. I can’t help thinking this was a clever way to earn a lot of publicity by a salesman who didn’t mind using the law to his own ends.

Know Your Speed Limits

These days a speeding ticket won’t help you in your business. There were sadly over 2.4 million cases of speeding recorded last year. These will have led to fines and points on people’s licences, and in extreme cases people losing their driving licence. This in turn can lead to people losing their job, as 1 in 5 jobs require people to have a driving licence. Speeding is a serious offence. If you have an accident the amount of damage done to your vehicle, and whatever you have collided with, is directly related to how fast you were travelling. You are also less likely to have an accident if you are travelling at the right speed. Road deaths are prevented every year by people obeying the speed limits.

know your speed limits

Safe Driving

When you learn to drive you have to learn what the limit is on different roads in the UK. We are all familiar with speed limit signs, they’re the round ones with the maximum limit on them. It’s also important to remember the limits for motorways, dual carriageways and single carriageways. You should also know the appropriate speed for a built up area, in case you’ve missed that all important speed limit sign. Not knowing what the limit is won’t be a good defence if you’re stopped by the police. Knowing your speed limits isn’t just to help you to pass your theory and practical driving test. It’s to keep you and other road uses safe for years to come.

We’re experts in teaching people to drive safely, if you’re interested in driving lessons get in touch.

Get in Touch

Nervous Learners – We Can Help

Nervous Learners – We Can Help

Oct 31, 2022

Nervous Learners

It’s completely normal to be a bit nervous or apprehensive about taking your first driving lesson. It’s something you’ve never done before, and that’s always a bit scary.

Some people will suffer from nerves more than others. Lockdown has increased anxiety in young people, it wasn’t good for anyone’s mental health, and being a teenager has never been easy. With the worry of schools closing and separation from the people that matter young learners have been suffering more than most. We understand that learning to drive is a big deal for most people, and some people are just a bit anxious.

What Can I Do?

So if you need to be able to drive to get your life back on track, but are feeling too worried to start what should you do? There are ways that you can help yourself to relieve the anxiety. If you don’t feel ready to find an instructor yet why not start small? Try just sitting in the drivers seat of a parked car and asking questions. If your parents or a friend has a car they will probably be happy for you to sit in the car and ask what everything does. If you can have an idea of where the gears are, and what they do and the peddles and various other controls you will start to find you can make sense of it. This will help you to find the confidence to look for a driving instructor.

Choosing the right driving school and driving instructor can really help. You need to be able to trust your instructor, and be able to talk to them as a friend as well as a teacher. All of our driving instructors have experience teaching people to drive. They are all kind, friendly and caring people that would like to help you to overcome your fears and achieve your goal. Remember our instructors are highly qualified and all of our cars have dual controls, so you will never be in any danger.

nervous learners

Talk

Before you even book your first lesson it might help to talk to a family member or friend that you trust. Make sure you choose someone that will listen and be sympathetic, not a joker that will make things worse! Think about the type of person that might be able to help you. Ask yourself if you’d rather have lessons from a man or woman, or whether manual or automatic lessons might be the best path for you to choose. When you have got the right instructor you can feel a bit more confident about taking your lessons. On your first lesson you can explain that you’re worried about learning to drive, and they will be able to talk to you about your fears. Talking will really help – they won’t judge you, they want to help you.

Breathe

When you start your lessons taking control of your breathing may help you to feel calmer. Take a few deep breaths and make sure you’re sitting up straight. Just sitting in a calm and confident way may help you to feel calmer and more in control.

Give Yourself a Break

Don’t be too hard on yourself. Everyone makes mistakes, it’s how we learn. You can’t expect to never stall the car or to get the manoeuvres right first time, because no-one does. If you blame yourself and hold on to these things in your mind it will make you feel more nervous. Allow yourself the time and space to make mistakes and learn from them.

Set small goals. Saying I want to pass the test might be too large a hurdle if you’re on your first lesson. Of course it’s your ultimate goal, but you can celebrate the little wins along the way. When you’ve managed to pull away without stalling, or have parked perfectly you should congratulate yourself for a job well done. A bit of positivity will help to dispel nerves and keep you moving towards the goal of passing.

We’ve helped hundreds of nervous learners to become confident drivers, if you don’t try you’ll never know what you can achieve.

nervous learners

Get in Touch

We’d love to help you to learn to drive. Why not ask about lessons today?