The Maidstone Automatic Driving School

We're pleased to announce our newest sister company, the Maidstone Automatic Driving School, where we'll be offering specialist automatic driving lessons in and around Maidstone. Don't forget that if you are in the Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks area we also have the Tunbridge Wells Automatic Driving School too!

Winter Driving Advice From The RAC

The last few winters in the UK haven’t exactly been conducive to safe, easy driving. Between, the snow, freezing temperatures, wind and driving rain, motorists in the UK have a lot to deal with through the dark months of the year.

But with the correct preparation and some considered planning and forethought there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to safely stay on the road this winter.

The 10 point check

1.     Check your car battery strength and charge it if necessary. If your battery is more than 3 years old it’s even more important to do this.
2.     Make sure you have plenty of tyre tread. Also check for damage such as splits or bulges and make sure the tyres are inflated to the correct pressure.
3.     Check your screen wash and use one with protection that works down to -35c at dilution one part screen wash to one part water.
4.     Make sure your coolant is between the minimum and maximum markers and that there is sufficient anti-freeze in the coolant.
5.     Test your windscreen wipers for damage and replace them if needed.
6.     Carry extra items in the car just in case you get stuck. It’s a good idea to carry the following items:

·         A Shovel to help clear ice

·         Bottled water

·         Snacks – chocolate or cereal bars

·         Bits of carpet or thick cardboard to place under driven wheels to help regain traction on ice or snow

·         Salt, sand or cat litter – to help clear snow and ice

·         Reflective jacket(s)

·         De-icer and ice scraper

·         Extra screen wash

·         Warm clothes and a blanket or sleeping bag for you and your passengers

·         Battery jump leads

·         Torch with spare batteries

·         Tow rope

·         Snow chains (if you live in a remote or rural area)

7.     Plan your journey, and if the weather is really bad consider whether the journey is really necessary. Even if you’re not embarking on a particularly long journey, tell someone where you are going – it could even be the people you are going to see – what time you’re leaving and when you expect to arrive.
8.     Take extra care when driving in snow and ice and follow our tips:

·         Accelerate slowly using low revs. You might need to move off in second gear to help decrease wheel slip

·         Leave as much as 10 times the normal recommended gap between you and the car in front

·         If you skid, steer into it.  e.g. if the rear of the vehicle is sliding to the left, steer to the left. Don’t take your hands off the steering wheel or stamp on the brakes

·         If the road hasn’t been gritted, be careful when driving in the wheel tracks of other cars as compressed snow can be icy

·         Operate the brakes, steering, brakes and accelerating smoothly and slowly

9.     Make sure you have full visibility before you set off on a journey. If you can’t fully see where you’re going, you’re not safe. That means ensuring all your windows and lights are clear from frost and in working order.
10.  Take care when driving in heavy rain and flooded roads:

a.     Look out for large or fast-moving vehicles creating spray, which reduces visibility.

b.    Reduce speed and leave more space between you & the vehicle in front to account for greater stopping distances.

c.     Don't use rear fog lights. They can mask your brake lights & dazzle drivers behind you.

d.    If you do go through water, drive in the highest section of the road.

A great list of driving tips to put into practice this winter! If you need further help with winter driving (or any aspect of driving) then why not contact our driving school to see how we can help?

Save on the cost of running your car – a simple guide

With the cost of motoring currently standing at over £3000 each year, motorists are looking at every option available to reduce expenses. It’s easy to make savings if you do the right research. Here are some common areas where car drivers are likely to feel the pinch and what can be done to keep costs down.

Fuel
According to Sainsbury’s Bank, the average car owner now spends almost £1800 on fuel each year. You could save on fuel bills by:

• Finding the best fuel prices in your area, by going online or using smartphone applications.
• Driving slowly and smoothly. According to the AA, driving at 70mph uses 15% more fuel than driving at 50 mph.
• Regularly servicing and maintaining your car at a reputable garage.

Car insurance
Sainsbury’s Bank also found that car insurance premiums cost motorists almost £815 on average annually, and are one of the main factors for the overall rise in motoring costs. To find the best insurance that suits your needs:

• Shop around. You could save on your car insurance by phoning around or going online. Always remember to compare like-for-like policies.
• Read the fine print and find out if your policy charges you extra depending on your personal circumstances (e.g. age or driving experience) and type of car.
• Park your car in a garage or on your drive, instead of in the street – this could reduce the cost of your premium.

Car tax
The car tax rates which came into effect on 1 April 2011 are aimed at reducing emissions, so it makes more sense than ever to drive a more fuel-efficient car. If your car falls in a high-polluting band, it will be taxed higher than a more fuel-efficient model.

Car owners with new, high-emission cars may have to pay an additional, one-off ‘showroom tax’ based on their car’s CO₂ emissions. Consumer campaign group Which? says a big family car could cost you up to £540 more than the standard rate for the first year of motoring. Consider sticking to a more eco-friendly model.

Servicing
Keeping your car well serviced could save you money in the long run. Don’t be tempted to ignore faults, as these could turn into major expenses. The AA advises car drivers not to compromise on important things such as timing belts and oil changes.

Instead, the organisation suggests drivers get a better deal by using reputable garages. Make sure you get a quote before agreeing to any repairs.

MOTs
Ensuring that your car is roadworthy is a legal requirement and, although the MOT itself may not cost a lot, it’s often the repairs that follow a failed MOT that push up costs.

It might be worth considering doing your next MOT at a local council run MOT centre instead of a private garage. These centres don’t handle repairs and therefore have nothing to gain from failing your car – so you might be less inclined to question their objectivity.

Tyres
Maintaining good tyres can help keep your car running costs down. The AA recommends driving smoothly, slowly and braking less often, to help preserve tyre condition. Tyre pressure should be checked every 2 weeks, and tyres with a tread depth of less than 2mm should be replaced. It’s especially worth checking tyre condition before autumn and winter.

Breakdown cover
Having the right breakdown cover for your car can put your mind at ease on the road. It’s important to consider the kind of cover you need, before deciding on a provider. If your car is prone to frequent breakdowns, you might need more thorough cover, but if it’s brand new you might only need basic roadside recovery.


Click the links for driving lessons in Tunbridge Wells and  an automatic driving school in Tunbridge Wells

Eco safe driving - a way to save money!

In the current economic climate we can always do with ways to save some cash and with petrol prices set to rise again what better way than to look at how you drive? With just a few changes to the way we drive our vehicles it's estimated you can save up to £400 per year on fuel. Have a look at the following tips to help:

Drive smoothly - Avoid sharp acceleration and heavy braking which increases fuel usage. Look ahead and

                             read the road and hazards to limit stop-go driving.

Stay in gear       - Don't take your vehicle out of gear and in to neutral to coast down hills as this uses more

                             fuel. Stay in gear and ease off the gas, this will reduce fuel usage to almost nothing.

Check the revs  - Try and drive in the highest gear without the vehicle struggling, changing gear smoothly 

                              and ideally before 2000 rpm.

Drive light          - Dump all the weight in the car that doesn't need to be there, this will greatly reduce fuel

                              costs.

Slow down          - Take your time to reach your destination, you'll get there safer and more calmly as well 

                              using less fuel.

Put these tip into action and you'll see the difference it makes, not only to your safety but also your bank balance!

For more eco-safe tips or if you need a driving instructor in Tunbridge Wells click the link.

                  

Eyes: The most important part of your body!

Recently I've been doing some research into how poor eyesight can affect a person's ability to drive. It's been estimated that around 90% of the vital information that a driver needs is taken visually, so clearly it's the most important physical tool we have when on the roads. When a person takes the practical driving test they are required to be able to read a number plate from a minimum distance of 20.5 metres. This is a legal requirement and should be checked regularly to avoid a deterioration in the eyes, often that a person will not realise over time. However, how many of us do this? A recent nationwide survey carried out by opticians found as many as 3.5m people could be driving with eyesight below the legal minimum. A survey has also revealed that 22% of British drivers who wear corrective eyewear have knowingly driven without them. Ultimatley it's up to each person to ensure that their vision is up to legal requirements - it could end up saving your life!

Remember we offer the very best driving lessons in Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks and automatic driving lessons in Tunbridge Wells. Click on the links to find out how we can help you learn to drive.

DSA guide on preparing for the practical test.

Further to an earlier post I made about what to expect on your practical test, I've come across these two videos, made by the DSA, that will help you in preparing for both the theory and practical tests. This is all information that your driving instructor should be giving you but of course sometimes it's a lot to remember so helpfully these videos will come to the rescue!!

Remember click the following  link if you are looking for driving lessons in kent, or if you need help with any aspect of learning to drive. It doesn't matter if you're learning with another driving school, we're always happy to help out if we can!

The Tunbridge Wells Automatic Driving School

I'm pleased to announce the launch of my new business, the Tunbridge Wells Automatic Driving School, where we specialise in automatic driving lessons. Currently we are providing lessons in and around the Kent and East Sussex areas, covering Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks test centres. We use a modern VW polo with many optional extras such as aircon and heated mirrors. I've noticed an increased demand in customers looking for automatic lessons for various reasons - some have tried a manual and can't get on with using the clutch/gears and some need to pass quickly for various reasons and this is done more easily in an automatic. We've decided that by opening an automatic driving school we can offer specialist automatic tuition and provide a better service to automatic customers. You can click the various links below to get more info (our Facebook and Google + pages are still in their infancy so you can expect more content to be added to those in the coming weeks!)

Website - automatic driving school    
Facebook - click here
Google + - click here

What's in the driving test?

There seems to be a certain amount of confusion amongst new drivers about what exactly the driving test involves, so I've decided to try to take some of the mystery out of it!

When you arrive at the test centre, you're going to need to have brought both parts of your provisional licence - the photocard and counterpart - and a copy of your theory test certificate. Failure to bring both parts of your licence would result in you not being able to take the test and losing the test fee, currently at £62. Once your examiner has checked this, you'll be required to read a numberplate from a minimum distance of 20 metres, again failure to be able to do this will result in a cancelled test. Once this has been completed you'll walk over to your car, where the examiner will ask you one "show me" and one "tell me" question. These questions relate to the maintenance and operation of your car, and each is worth 1 minor markdown should they be answered incorrectly (a candidate is allowed no more than 15 minors on their test).
Once these have been answered, the examiner will ask you to move off out of the car park. Your driving test should last between 35 - 40 minutes, although this can differ depending on traffic conditions. For the most part, your examiner will be giving you step by step instructions on which roads to take and where to turn at junctions.  However, for roughly 10 minutes, you will be asked to do the 'independent driving' part of the test, where you'll be asked to follow roadsigns or a diagram to a certain destination. You will also be asked to carry out just one manoeuvre (Turning in the road, reversing around a corner, parallel parking, or at some test centres bay parking) and 1 in 3 people will be asked to carry out an emergency stop (it will be completely random whether you're asked to do this).
Once you get back to the test centre, the examiner will let you know the result of your test once all of the marks have been counted. As mentioned earlier, a candidate will fail a test for either a) receiving more than 15 minor faults, b) getting a major fault, or c) failing to carry out a manoeuvre adequately.

That's about it! Hopefully it's now clear what to expect on your test day. For further info or to book driving lessons in Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks, please click the link.