Welcome to the RED Driving School Blog
RED Driving School, one of the largest national driving schools, shares its expertise and opinions on topics related to learner drivers and the driving instruction industry as a whole. The dedicated team at RED will be sharing tips and advice on the learning to drive process, driving lessons, getting you through your driving test and our passion for road safety.
Read on and leave us a comment or two to let us know your thoughts!
September 8th, 2011 by RED Blogger
It all starts here
Gaining your driving licence is tougher than it has ever been. It is not just a case of passing a short practical test. There are theory exams, hazard perception tests, mechanical demonstrations, manoeuvres, independent driving and that does not include the paperwork and revision that you will need to do.
So to help all new pupils we are going to take a step by step route through applying learning and passing your driving tests.
Today we begin our 1o step series with Applying For Your Provisional Licence.
You can apply for your first British provisional driving licence if you:
- are a resident of Great Britain
- can meet the minimum age requirement
- can meet the minimum eyesight requirement
- are currently not prevented from driving for any reason
- can pay £50.00 by MasterCard, Visa, Electron or Delta debit or credit card
- have a valid UK passport or another form of identity
- can provide addresses of where you have lived over the last three years
You can obtain a Provisional Licence application, called a D1 from your local main Post Office. Once its sent off it’ll take about 2-3 weeks for you to receive it. You will need a passport photo, proof of identity i.e. a utility bill and there is a £50 fee.
Alternatively you can apply on http://bit.ly/provisionallicence_applyonline. Be aware that you will need a valid UK passport, details of previous addresses up to 3 years and credit/debit card for £50 fee. Once you have completed the application they will endeavour to send it back within 10 days.
You will need to present both the card and paper parts of you licence on your first lesson. If you have lost all or part of your licence prior to your first lesson you will need to replace this; you can do this online, by telephone or by post.
Next Step - Choosing the right Driving Instructor.
August 15th, 2011 by RED Blogger
Learning to drive can be a daunting experience for the best of us so here are RED Driving School’s top tips on how to prepare for your first driving lesson and subsequent tuition.
BEFORE YOUR FIRST LESSON
- Provisional licence – you will need to present both the card and paper parts of you licence on your first lesson. If you need to apply for a licence you can pick up an application form from you local post office or you can apply online at http://bit.ly/dsalicenceapplication.
- If you have lost part of your licence you need to replace this; you can do this online, by telephone or by post.
- Financial backing – before starting your lesson you will need to have a plan on how to pay for a full driving course whether this is through savings, work or family. It does not pay to have lessons and then stop due to no money as it will take you longer to pass your test if you do not have regular lessons.
- Time – ensure you have sufficient time to dedicate to learning to drive – after all it is a new skill that you are acquiring that will require regular practice in order for you to progress.
- We recommend you have one, two hour lesson each week under the supervision of a professional driving instructor.
- Attitude – you need to be confident that you will learn how to drive but have the ability to laugh at yourself if you make mistakes, most of us do.
- Drink – avoid caffeine-based drinks such as tea and coffee before your driving lesson as this accelerates anxiety and you will already be nervous. It goes without saying that alcohol should be avoided both on the day of your lesson, but also the night before.
- Clothing – make sure that your clothing on your lesson is comfortable; you will be sat in thecar for at least an hour. Also make sure that you wear suitable shoes that you can feel the pedals through – no walking boots, heels or flip flops.
- Sleep – make sure you have a good night’s sleep the night before your lesson. You want to make sure you are alert as there will be a lot to take in on your first lesson.
- Be prepared – on the day of your lesson make sure you have both parts of your licence, payment for your lesson and your glasses, if you need them.
BETWEEN YOUR LESSONS
When your driving lesson is over the learning does not have to stop there. To enhance your learning you could:
- Fill out a learner driver journal or diary – once your lesson is over, fill out the journal with what you have covered in the lesson, what went well and what didn’t. You can use this to reflect on the lesson and prepare for your next lesson. If you have someone to practice with between lessons, you can use the journal as a guide on what needs practising.
- Theory and Hazard Perception practice – use the internet and books to revise for your theory test and hazard perception test. The sooner your theory is passed the better.
Finally, do not forget that if you have any questions about your lessons, your driving ability or anything else then just ask your instructor.
August 5th, 2011 by RED Blogger
We continue our series on local hazards by taking a look at “The Peterborough Triangle”. Our guide is Ian Parsons from RED Driving School.
Peterborough Triangle off Lincoln Road
- When leaving Millfield travelling north on Lincoln Road towards the triangle you will see the road forks off into two directions.
- The road to the right is no entry.
- You must follow the road to your left into Maskew Avenue.
- This stretch of road is one way with give-way road markings marked on the road.
CAUTION: these road markings are not very visible and are consequently often missed by learners and qualified drivers alike.
- You will then be giving way to traffic coming southbound from Lincoln Road on your extreme right!
- The road ahead splits into three lanes. The left lane will take you onto Bourges Boulevard heading back towards the city centre, the middle is to go straight ahead following Maskew Avenue and the third is to turn right into Bourges Boulevard leading back towards Lincoln Road.
- If you are turning right into Bourges Boulevard (keeping on the triangle) you will then notice the road comes back down to two lanes. The left lane will take you back to Lincoln Road heading towards New England and the right lane will hold you in the triangle, taking you back southbound on Lincoln Road toward Millfield.
CAUTION: if you are turning right be careful as you will encounter a sharp turn to your right with a pedestrian crossing on it, which is often missed.
- Immediately after the pedestrian crossing you must once again give way as you are emerging into traffic from your left.
- On emerging from this ensure you are in the correct lane. The left lane will take you back to Millfield. If you follow the road on your right this will lead you back into the triangle towards Maskew Avenue.
- Keep an eye on the traffic on your left as you re-enter the triangle as you are on the other side of the road from where it all started. Remember at the beginning of this I said to make sure you see the give way markings on the road? Well you are now approaching that area and you are now the person on the extreme right! Beware of traffic not seeing the faded give way road markings and suddenly emerging onto the triangle!
Maybe it should be renamed the Bermuda Triangle!
Key lessons to take from the Peterborough Triangle:
- Always proceed at an appropriate speed to the road situation
- Pay attention to road signs and road markings
- Ensure you are in the correct lane for the direction of travel
- Always anticipate other road users – especially as you now know the key areas where other cars and pedestrians might unexpectedly enter the triangle!
Click here to view the Peterborough Triangle on Google’s Streetview.
July 29th, 2011 by Sarah Drew
Perhaps not for the driving test - adleyqtarvins.blogspot.com
Whether you are learning to drive with a driving school or not, you may be considering using your own car when taking the practical driving test. If you are, then take a look at the DSA website for the rules for using your own car.
The rules cover what the car condition should be and what is required for its use by the examiner. In addition the rules also state which cars can not be used for your driving test. So if you are thinking of taking the practical test in car of your own choosing we would recommend you read this first, after all you do not want to miss the test date that you have been waiting for.
http://bit.ly/DSA_rules_for_cars_used_for_drivingtest
July 8th, 2011 by Sarah Drew
Dedication to in car music - pro-zine.blogspot.com
When you think of taking your summer holiday in the UK, what comes to your mind? Is it long lazy days on the beach? Perhaps strolls through lush green valleys? Or even a visit to the historical landmarks throughout Great Britain? For most of us though it also means long trips in our cars and what better to help time pass than a selection of the nations favourite driving music.
We have compiled a list of our 10 favourite songs to drive to, but do you agree? Join us on Facebook now and vote for your favourite driving tunes.
RED’s favourite driving tunes:
- Gary Numan – “Cars”
- The Beatles – “Drive My Car”
- Stealers Wheel – “Stuck In the Middle With You”
- Jimi Hendrix – “Crosstown Traffic”
- Talking Heads – “Road to Nowhere”
- Billy Ocean – “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car”
- AC/DC – “Highway To Hell”
- Lenny Kravitz – “Are You Gonna Go My Way”
- The Cars – “Drive”
- Snow Patrol – “Chasing Cars”
Follow RED Driving School on Facebook.
July 1st, 2011 by Sarah Drew
When you’ve successfully passed your driving test for the summer, you have a world of opportunities and loads of new places to explore. During the summer, no doubt you’ll be visiting one or two Barbeques and if you’ve driven there, won’t be able to enjoy a cold beer with people who are not driving. So we have written up a list of some top non-alcoholic beverages that you could enjoy as a refreshing substitute.
Picture by Kincuri
- Red Bull
- Coca Cola
- Lemonade
- Fruit juice
- Lime and soda
- Root beer
- J2O
- Kopparberg (non alcoholic)
- Shloer
- Sparkling water
You could also make your own non-alcoholic cocktails, take a look at the drinkaware website which provides videos and recipes for some unusual and tasty drinks! Share your ideas with us by making a comment below, or visiting our Facebook page.
June 28th, 2011 by Sarah Drew
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.
June 15th, 2011 by Sarah Drew
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.
June 2nd, 2011 by Sarah Drew
There 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.
June 1st, 2011 by Sarah Drew
You 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!
