More helpful hints and tips for after you have passed your Driving Test in Newcastle.

Further driver training in Newcastle

Passing your driving test in Newcastle isn’t the end of learning to drive: it’s only the beginning. As you become more experienced you’ll learn more about how to be a good driver, but you can also do more training to help you learn – and to bring down the cost of your insurance.

What is Pass Plus?

Pass Plus is a course of advanced driving lessons in Newcastle aimed at new drivers to help build on their skills and knowledge. It teaches you how to anticipate, plan for and deal with all kinds of hazards, to help you become a more confident and safe driver.

Completing Pass Plus will save you money on your insurance with some insurance companies.

There are six modules covering driving in different conditions

• in town
• in all weather
• on rural roads
• at night
• on dual carriageways
• on motorways.

The training will take at least six hours, although it can take longer if your instructor thinks it’s necessary.

drivinglessonsnewcastleupontyne.co.uk/pass-plus-newcastle-upon-tyne/

You won’t have to take a test at the end of the course: you’ll be assessed during the modules. Find out more about Pass Plus at GOV.UK.

You can watch a DSA video about Pass Plus.

youtube.com/watch?v=z_zi6j24F6s#t=21

You can also do further training and tests with other motoring organisations: use the links below to investigate which might suit you the best.Advanced driving courses

• DIAmond Advanced Motorist tests
• Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM)
• RoSPA advanced drivers and riders

More helpful hints and tips for after you have passed your Driving Test in Newcastle.

You’ve passed your driving test in Newcastle – now choose your new car.

After passing your driving test in Newcastle, choosing a car is exciting – it’s one of the biggest things you’ll ever buy, so think carefully about what you need as well as what you can afford.

Talk to friends and family about their cars and why they chose them. These are some of the things to think about when choosing a car

• Price – what does it cost to buy? If there’s a finance deal, can you afford the payments?
• Size – how many people do you need to fit in the car, or what might you need to carry in it?
• Age/mileage – an older car or one with a high mileage is likely to need more maintenance than a newer car.
• Fuel economy – if you’re going to be doing a lot of driving, having a car with poor fuel economy (i.e. it doesn’t do many miles per gallon of fuel) will be expensive.
• Model/engine size – sporty models and cars with bigger engines will cost more for a new driver to insure.
• History – who’s owned the car before? This will give you some clues about whether the car has been well looked after.

Keeping insurance costs down

Owning a car is an expensive business but you can help keep insurance costs down by taking advanced driving lessons in Newcastle through the Pass Plus course: drivinglessonsnewcastleupontyne.co.uk/pass-plus-newcastle-upon-tyne/

Some insurers offer ‘pay how you drive’ insurance: a GPS box is fitted to your car to record how you drive, and your premium is worked out from this information. This can save you money if you drive well.

Keeping your car secure will also help keep insurance costs down: if you can, keep it in a locked garage overnight. Having security devices fitted, such as an alarm or immobiliser, can also bring down the insurance cost.

Remember, the longer you own and drive a car without making an insurance claim, the more ‘no claims’ discount you’ll earn – so driving carefully and skillfully really pays off.

More helpful hints and tips for after you have passed your Driving Test in Newcastle.

What happens after you’ve passed your test?

Congratulations, you’ve got your full licence! Enjoy your new freedom but remember that passing your driving test doesn’t mean you know everything: it’s the first step in learning to be a skilled driver. You’ll keep learning as long as you’re driving.

Now that you’re on the road on your own, be careful you don’t slip into bad habits. The way you’ve been taught to drive is the safest way to drive.

It’s a fact that new drivers are most likely to be involved in incidents on the road, so make sure you follow the safety code for new drivers on GOV.UK. It’s designed to help keep you safe in the first year after you pass your test.

Motorway driving

Although you’ll have learned about driving on a motorway, as a learner driver you won’t have been able to try motorway driving for real. To find out more about motorway driving, you could also ask your  instructor at drivinglessonsnewcastleupontyne.co.uk for a motorway-driving lesson so you can get some experience before driving on a motorway on your own.

Weather conditions

You’re also likely to find yourself driving in weather conditions that you haven’t driven in before. Take care when driving in conditions you’re not familiar with.

Keep learning

When you’ve got your full licence, there are advanced driving skills you can start to learn. As well as making you safer as a driver, doing extra training can give you discounts on car insurance.

The Official DSA Guide To Driving is a really useful reference book to help you improve your skills and remind you about what you learned before you passed your test.

Driving with friends

It’s great being able to drive with your friends, but make sure you keep concentrating on your driving. If your friends want you to do something that could be dangerous, remember that you’re responsible for your driving: if you drive recklessly or carelessly, you could end up with penalty points on your licence or cause a serious crash.

If your passengers are making it difficult for you to drive safely, find somewhere safe to stop. Explain to them why what they’re doing is causing a problem and ask them to help you by behaving properly, or to get out of the car. If you can’t drive safely, don’t carry on with your journey.

Watch the DSA ‘Out of time’ video for a reminder about how dangerous distractions can be.

Being able to drive makes it easier for you to go out for a drink or to a party with friends. It’s only fair to take it in turns to be the driver, but having that job means it’s your responsibility to make sure you can drive safely – including not drinking any alcohol. A third of drink-drive accidents involve a driver under 25.

Penalty points

If you get six or more penalty points on your licence within two years of passing your practical test, you’ll lose your licence and you’ll have to reapply for your provisional licence. You’ll be a learner driver again and you’ll have to retake your theory and practical tests. Find out more about the new drivers rules at GOV.UK.

Penalty points can be given for all sorts of driving-related offences, such as speeding or driving dangerously.

More helpful hints and tips for after you have passed your Driving Test in Newcastle.

Would you park on a stranger’s drive?

When it comes to neighbour disputes over parking, blocked driveways are the biggest gripe.

Parking outside a neighbour’s house or using their space without asking came a close second!

But some drivers take even more extreme measures if they can’t park quickly when they’re out.

‘We found strangers parked on our drive’

A couple who live near a hospital have often come out of their house to find complete strangers parked in their driveway.

“At its worst we found people parked there about once a week!

“If I caught them I’d ask them to move but they shrugged it off claiming the hospital car park was full. They were often abusive too.”

The couple contacted the local police but found their only long-term solution was putting lockable parking posts across their drive.

Parking enforcement

Parking enforcement may once have been under police control.

But following the Road Traffic Act 1991 it’s now largely the responsibility of local authorities, which can issue penalty charge notices for parking offences on the roads.

“If it’s on the public highway, it’s a local authority or police matter,” says Paul Watters of the AA.

“But on private land like a driveway, it’s a civil matter which means it’s often a low priority for the police.”

Parking on driveways & the law

This is private land so parking on someone’s driveway counts, as trespass and the local authority should be the first port of call, according to the AA.

The police can get involved if the driver is threatening or intimidating, but if this is an ongoing problem, you may need to protect your land by putting up gates or parking posts.

“Frustrating though this may be, what you can’t do is pop a line of cones on the road outside!

To do so, will mean, “you’re then committing a criminal offence because this could cause an accident.”

If your driveway is blocked by vehicles parked on the road outside speak to the local authority.

“This counts as obstruction and a penalty charge could be issued!

This can be up to £130 in London and £70 elsewhere.

If vehicles are deemed to be causing a major obstruction, the police do have powers to remove them.

Allocated parking

If you don’t have a garage or live a flat you may have allocated parking, but what happens if your neighbour uses it?

This is private land and even if it’s a designated space and listed on the property title deeds, it’s difficult for the police or local authorities to intervene so you may need to consider putting up posts or gates.

Parking on pavements

It’s a common sight in some residential areas but pavement-parkers make life difficult for pedestrians.

In London it’s an offence to park on the pavement unless the roads are extremely narrow, in which case there may be signs showing how to park partially on the pavement.

Beyond London it can be a grey area.

Some local authorities ban parking on grass verges but seem to turn a blind eye to vehicles parked partially on the pavement in residential roads.

However if vehicles are causing an obstruction or parked across any yellow lines then they can get a penalty charge so call the local authority if you’re concerned.

Parking in front of dropped kerbs.

Under the Traffic Management Act 2004 drivers shouldn’t park in front of dropped kerbs as they’re there for access reasons.

Local authorities can issue penalty charge notices for this but in reality many of them don’t always have the facilities to actively enforce this on a regular basis.

What do you think?

Would you park on stranger’s drive?

Have you had a stranger park on your drive? If so, how did you deal with the situation?

More helpful hints and tips for after you have passed your Driving Test in Newcastle.

Should parking on pavements be banned?

The law on pavement parking

The current legislation is hazy at best!

Driving on a pavement has been an offence since the Highways Act of 1835.

But while parking on a pavement is against the law in London, it’s not elsewhere.

That’s why The Highway Code states, in rule 244, that motorists “must not” park partially or wholly on the pavement in London but says that motorists “should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it”.

Should Councils act?

Councils do have powers under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to restrict or ban parking on individual streets by the making of a Traffic Regulation Order.

And a few councils, including Exeter and Worcester, have banned parking on pavements through private Acts of Parliament.

But these processes can be time-consuming.

This has led to Guide Dogs for the Blind is calling for a ban that operates throughout the UK, with councils being able to specifically permit it on certain roads.

Justice for pedestrians!

It is an excellent idea, as it would give flexibility for councils to allow pavement parking in some specific locations – such as very narrow streets – and freedom from pavement parking for the rest of us.

The charity Living Streets, which champions the rights of pedestrians, also campaigns against pavement parking.

It has information on the legal issues, posters that can be downloaded for display in local shop windows or libraries and template letters you can send to your local council or police.

So if it’s an issue that infuriates you as well, then get in touch with them.

What do you think?

Should parking on pavements be banned?

Or maybe you think that roads are so narrow and parking in such short supply that pavement parking should be permissible?

When on driving lessons in newcastle upon tyne you will be encouraged to obey the amber light and stop safely where you can!

Whether through impatience or ignorance many drivers are seemingly unaware an amber traffic light means STOP. Are you an amber-gambler?

At traffic lights red means stop, red and amber together mean stop, and amber alone means stop, as explained on page 119 of the Department for Transport Know Your Traffic Signs booklet.

A TS10 conviction – Is failing to comply with a traffic signal, what’s more, it could lead to a 24% increase in your car insurance premium.

What do you think?

Are you an amber-gambler? Do you know traffic light law?

At Experience Driving we want to hear from you!

With all the rain we have had over the last few weeks I thought I should include how to drive through deep water.

Drive slow, use the biting point to slip the clutch to prevent speed up whilst in the deep water.

DO NOT create a splash, this not only splashes outwards, but also inwards under the bonnet where your electrics are “water and electrics together = BAD.

It is an offence to splash someone on the footpath.

This can also get into the air filter, which stops the engine breathing in so in turn making it stall.

Keep engine revs high to prevent water entering the exhaust, and stopping the engine breathing out, so in turn making it stall,maybe in the middle of the deep water.

Test your brakes when at the other side, this also has a squeegee effect taking the water from the brakes.

In general, cars aquaplane at speeds above 53 mph (72 km/h), where water ponds to a depth of at least 1/10 of an inch (2.5 mm) over a distance of 30 feet (9 meters) or more.

Do you check your lights regularly? How often?

Are they correctly adjusted? If your not sure go to your local garage to have them checked.

Make sure you have a stronger solution to normal weather or risk your water bottle freezing.

Make sure your tyres have the correct pressures, as this can have quite an effect of fuel economy, too little pressure, and it will take longer to stop.