We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from everyone at RED.
Visit here for Christmas spirit – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A8KT365wlA
Merry Christmas and a Happy 2012!
Friday, December 23rd, 2011Driving Examiners Strike
Tuesday, June 28th, 2011
If you have a test booked on Thursday 30th June, it could be affected as there is a threat of strike action by driving examiners. However, you must still attend the test centre on time. If your test is cancelled, the DSA will rearrange a date for you and notify you of the new test date within five to ten working days. If you do not attend on the day, you will be required to rebook your driving test yourself and will not be entitled to any out of pocket expenses. It may be that your test will still go ahead as not all examiners are members of the union. This does not affect theory tests.
Is your car insured?
Wednesday, June 15th, 2011
Photo by smlp.co.uk
Take note! As of Monday, 20th June, a change in the law will mean it will be illegal to keep an uninsured vehicle, opposed to just driving when uninsured. The only exception is for a car that has a valid Statutory Off Road Notice (SORN).
The reason for this is that uninsured drivers cause 160 deaths and 23,000 injuries every year, and cost insured motorists £500 Million in extra premiums.
The new system is fairly straight forward. The DVLA will work with the Motor Insurers Bureau to identify uninsured vehicles. The owner of the vehicle will be sent a notice that their car appears to be uninsured and that they will be fined if they do not take action. If the car remains uninsured, the keeper will receive a £100 fine. If the vehicle remains uninsured, regardless of whether the fine has been paid, further action will be taken. If the car is on public land then it could be clamped, seized and destroyed. Alternatively the owner will be taken to court and face a fine of up to £1000.
Vehicles that are seized will only be released when there is evidence that the keeper is no longer committing an offence by having no insurance, and the person driving the vehicle away is insured to do so.
You can see the information released by the department for transport for more information.
Could there be changes in the driving licence rules for young drivers?
Thursday, June 2nd, 2011There is a campaign by the road safety charity, Brake, who is pushing for a radical change in the way young people learn to drive and get their driving licences. The Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) scheme is suggested as a way to improve road safety among young drivers.
The proposed changes mean that the learner drivers would need to have a minimum of one year learning to drive before they are allowed to take any driving tests. Once they pass their driving tests, they will have a restricted “novice” licence for two years before they receive their full licence.
Photo by Still Burning
The restricted licence will mean that new learners:
- Will not be allowed to drive between 11pm and 6am
- Will have a zero alcohol limit
- Will be banned from driving on a motorway for the first year after passing
- Will be required to pass a second test at the end of the first two years to get their full driving licence
- Will be restricted in carrying young passengers
Research has shown that one quarter of all road accidents are caused by young drivers, one in five young drivers will crash within six months of passing their driving test, and every year over 3,300 young people are killed or suffer serious, life affecting injuries. It is felt that the proposed changes to the process of learning to drive will ultimately save lives and make roads safer.
Here at RED we’re interested in how these proposed changes could affect young drivers; share your thoughts here, or on Facebook.
Download your copy of the Theory Test Guide
Wednesday, June 1st, 2011You can now download an interactive theory test guide for just £9.99. This guide, written by the DSA, is designed to teach you to pass your driving theory test and help you gain a better understanding of the rules of the road to help you become a safer driver.
This download provides up to date, real test questions and answers and is as close to the real thing as you can get. This will be valid until January 2012, when the actual test questions and answers will no longer be published. So get your theory test done now. You can find out more, and download your copy here. By downloading this, you will be able to start learning immediately, instead of waiting for a hard copy to arrive in the post – you also save on delivery costs!
How to pass your practical test – part three
Tuesday, May 24th, 2011This is the final part of our series on the practical manoeuvres you may be asked to do in your driving test. We have already covered some top tips and the emergency stop, and last week we covered the two parking manoeuvres.
This week we will begin by discussing the turn in the road. This exercise requires you to demonstrate smooth control of the car and good observations. It will help if you break down the manoeuvre into three stages. You may also find reference points helpful so that you are aware of where the kerb is. Using whiteboard markers to make your reference points would be useful as the ink wipes off of the windows.
Always be thinking of how much you need to turn by and when you need to turn. Make sure that you continue your observations, and in particular, that you look over your shoulder when reversing. Make sure that you use the width of the road but that you do not get too close to the kerb. There can be inconsistencies in marking when hitting or nudging the kerb, generally depending on the speed at which you were to do so.
Photo by rosipaw
The final manoeuvre is the left reverse around a corner. Once again, you need to demonstrate smooth control of the car. You might find that breaking the manoeuvre into sections may help make it easier. Always remember to look behind your shoulder as you are reversing, and make sure you have a safety check over your right shoulder before turning in.
As with the other manoeuvres, markers should make the process much simpler and easier. Like before, think about when you need to turn and by how much. Observations are crucial in every manoeuvre; you must always be aware of what is going on around you. Make sure that you do not go too wide and that you do not cross the central lane markings. Keep close to the kerb but not so close that you risk hitting it. Make sure you straighten up on time and that you finish the manoeuvre looking behind you.
If you follow these tips, and spend time talking to your instructor about the manoeuvres, you have a better chance at passing your test. You could always discuss the manoeuvres with other learners and driving instructors on our Facebook group.
Happy Birthday to the Highway Code!
Friday, April 15th, 2011
Photo by mikeyashworth
This week, the Highway Code has celebrated its 80th birthday.
On the 14th of April 1931 the Highway Code was introduced to help reduce the number of road accidents in the UK. Considering that there were only 2.3 million drivers on the road, there were still 7,000 deaths as a result of traffic accidents in the UK that year!
The Highway Code has helped to save thousands of lives by increasing awareness and making our roads, and drivers, safer. It is an essential read, not just for learner drivers, but for experienced drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
You can now download the Highway Code from the Direct Gov website.
The DSA will no longer accept Maestro cards for payment as of 14th April
Thursday, April 7th, 2011
Photo by mueritz
As of the 14th of April, the DSA will no longer accept maestro cards for payment, including for test bookings. The DSA will still accept:
- MasterCard
- Visa
- Delta
- Visa Electron
Therefore, if you are soon to be booking your theory or practical test, you should have one of the above cards to hand in order to make payment.
Brake are backing the lighter later campaign
Friday, March 25th, 2011
Photo by Chris Campbell
Well it’s that time of year again. The sun has been lasting that little bit longer each day, but next week you’ll really notice the evening sun as the clocks go forward one hour this Sunday!
Brake, the road safety charity, are backing the lighter later campaign in the hopes that by putting the clocks forward by two hours in the summer and one in the winter, there will be less road accidents due to better visibility.
According to the Department for Transport, road deaths would be reduced by about 80 per year and serious injuries by about 212 per year.
If this change was to go ahead, it could mean that your driving lessons are taken in daylight more often than in the dark. Do you prefer to take your driving lessons in the day or the evening? Share your thoughts with us on Facebook!
RED Driving Schools top tips for revising for your theory test
Friday, March 4th, 2011
Photo by dbrooker1
Despite the cold, frosty evenings, there’s no doubt that spring is on the way. With daffodils blooming and the sun beginning to warm up those once chilly afternoons, you may be thinking ahead to those summer holidays and camping trips with friends.
With this in mind, you may be planning to take your theory test soon in order to get that bit closer to the ultimate goal of passing your driving test, and the freedom of being able to drive anywhere you like! Therefore, we have created a list of top tips for how to revise for your driving theory test.
- Only use DSA publications to revise so that you do not become confused with different wordings and phrases
- Use your practical lessons to practice Theory and Hazard perception on the move
- If you come across any questions or answers you don’t understand, take them to your instructor on your lesson and ask them to explain it – understanding why helps you remember more easily
- A Hazard Perception technique enjoyed by pupils, used in practical driving lessons, was to gently tap the steering wheel when you would click on the Hazard perception video. This way your instructor can help you with learning what to look for and when to react.
- Make a timetable of when you are going to practise and stick to it – you could record you progress too
- Buddy up with a friend to ask each other questions, it’s fun and you both learn together
Photo by Valley Library (Oregon State University)
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Get the setting right, practice in a place with no distractions – either quiet or if you prefer to listen to music play something that won’t distract you
- Having your mobile phone off and closing other computer programs will reduce the number of distractions and will help simulate the test conditions for the day
- Revise early in the day and take regular breaks so that you don’t feel too tired to take in more information. You’ll also be less likely to make mistakes.
- Do lots of mock tests! This is the best way to prepare for the day!
- Make sure you eat well, exercise and get a good night’s sleep the night before your test!
If you have any tips of your own of fun effective ways to lean your theory, why not pop onto our Facebook page and share your thoughts with us!
