Having driving anxiety is more common than you would expect. According to a survey carried out by Nissan 23% of drivers said they felt anxious about using motorways and 39% of drivers felt scared or uncertain behind the wheel in general. 

It’s horrible being struck with a bout of anxiety anytime you have to jump behind the wheel, but as a learning driver it could also get in the way of you passing your driving test. Let’s take a look into driving anxiety and some top tips and techniques for keeping it at bay.

What causes driving anxiety?

The most obvious answer to this would be the fear of crashing your car or having a driving accident, but there’s a few other things that can cause driving anxiety.

The fear of having a panic attack is actually one of the most common causes of driving anxiety according to Dr. Paul Greene. “Sometimes, people have a panic attack when driving and then have a significant fear of that happening again. This leads some people to stop driving altogether,” Greene said. 

Some other causes of driving anxiety can be from:

• past experiences of car accidents
• being lost
• traveling through heavy traffic
• watching a bad car accident on television
• having someone you know experience an accident
• a lack of trust in your driving skills

What are the symptoms of driving anxiety?

It’s likely that if you’re reading this you’ve had your fair share of run-ins with driving anxiety, so you know what it’s like. But if you’re not sure what you’re experiencing is driving anxiety, these are the most common symptoms:

• shortness of breath
• dizziness
• panic and fear, which is often excessive, persistent, and unreasonable
• strong desire to get away from the car
• racing heartbeat
• rapid breathing
• sweaty palms
• disorientation

How to overcome driving anxiety

Depending on the level of anxiety, some things will help and others may not. But a good portion of the time, driving anxiety is often reduced or overcome by building up more experience and spending more time on the road. This is something that will often be the case for learners or newly passed drivers.

However, for those learners that are suffering with driving anxiety and are nervous about their upcoming driving test, getting experience isn’t the easiest thing to do. We at RED have seen nerves get the better of students during their driving tests, so we’ve created a unique three-part course which is delivered by RED specialists to reduce driving anxiety and make sure that test day nerves don’t get in the way of passing your driving test.

Find out more about our Test Day Nerves course here.

For more experienced drivers that are suffering with driving anxiety we have some tips that could help rein in your nerves:

• Avoid caffeine and empty stomachs – cutting down on your caffeine intake or removing it entirely can have a surprisingly positive effect on anxiety. Make sure you’ve eaten something before driving and also don’t drive if you’re sleep deprived.

• Stress management – sustained or longer periods of high stress can lead to anxiety, so do your best to keep your stress levels down. Some standard techniques such as taking regular breaks at work, finding time for exercise, yoga and meditation can all be helpful in reducing stress and keeping anxiety at bay.

• Therapeutic techniques – practices such as ‘desensitisation’ involve taking small steps to put yourself in situations that trigger anxiety in order to become familiar with the situation and to desensitise yourself to the triggers. In this case, an example might be simply sitting in a parked car with the engine running.
• In-car focus – maintaining focus when you are behind the wheel is crucial to driving safely, but can also help to keep your other worries or concerns at bay. Keep your mobile phone safely out of sight and reduce your speed if you find that helps – the faster you drive, the more information you’ll need to process.

• Consider lift sharing – sometimes the worries of having to get in your car every day can wear you down and lead to you having trouble sticking with it. If possible, try and share the load with a friend, colleague or group that are travelling to a similar area. You may find your days spent as a passenger can help with perspective.

• Breathing – A really simple anxiety busting tip you can perform whilst driving is to practice our breathing technique. Simply breathe deeply in for 5 seconds, and out again for 5 seconds, repeat for up to 3 minutes or until the sensation subsides.

The post How to deal with driving anxiety and test day nerves appeared first on RED Driving School.

Driving tests are made to be difficult and thoroughly test the driver’s skills, so you shouldn’t feel disheartened if you fail a driving test. In fact, you’ll be provided with some incredibly useful information at the end of your test; your driving test results.

Understanding these driving test results, including what was assessed and what has counted as a fault will allow you to understand which areas you need to improve on. By doing this, you’ll be able to prepare a lot more efficiently and target the areas which previously led to faults.

Understanding faults in each area

Hopefully your driving examiner will have covered some of your faults with you and you’re aware of what specific areas you can improve on. However, here is a list of some example faults within each area of testing.

Ancillary controls

• not turning on the windscreen wipers when it starts to rain
• losing control of the car when using one of the controls
• not using the demisters to clear the front windscreen when needed

Awareness and planning

• not anticipating or showing awareness of the actions of cyclists and other vulnerable road users
• not anticipating or showing awareness of other road users
• pulling up behind a queue of parked vehicles
• not anticipating that pedestrians are about to cross the road at any time

Clearance to obstructions

• being too close to a vehicle when passing, even though the road allows for more space
• moving back in too soon after passing the vehicle or hazard

Control

• over-steering when making a turn, and mounting the pavement
• keeping the clutch pedal held down (coasting) reducing your control of the car
• selecting the wrong gear causing a sudden reduction in your speed, forcing vehicles behind you to slow down
• pressing the brake too hard, or not hard enough

Controlled stop (emergency stop)

• reacting too slowly when asked to stop
• locking the wheels causing a skid, particularly for cars without an anti-lock braking system (ABS)

Following at a safe distance

• driving too close to the vehicle in front
• not adjusting your distance when there is bad weather, such as rain, ice or fog

Forward drive (drive forward into a parking bay)

• not being positioned within the lines, and not attempting to correct position
• steering too closely to vehicle in the next bay
• not making effective all round observations when reversing out

Judgement (overtaking, meeting, crossing)

• not giving way to road users that have priority
• reacting late when meeting an approaching vehicle
• being too close to a cyclist when overtaking
• crossing the path of an oncoming vehicle when turning right

Junctions (including roundabouts)

• incorrectly judging the speed of an oncoming vehicle, forcing it to slow down when emerging from a junction
• not checking for other road users when emerging from a slip road, onto a dual carriageway
• being positioned too far to the left when turning right onto a minor road, holding up vehicles behind you
• approaching a junction too fast, making it difficult to make observations

Move off

• trying to move off without appropriate control and rolling back
• not properly checking your blind spots
• moving off into the path of an oncoming vehicle
• repeatedly stalling when moving off throughout your test

Pedestrian crossing

• stopping on a crossing (not before)
• moving off before a pedestrian has completely cleared the crossing
• approaching a crossing too fast
• failing to stop at a crossing

Position and normal stops

• partially or completely blocking a driveway
• obstructing other road users
• parking with one or more wheels on the pavement
• parking too far from the kerb

Positioning

• driving too close to the pavement, putting pedestrians at risk
• driving too close to the centre of the road, putting other road users at risk
• driving for too long in the right hand lane of a dual carriageway, for no reason
• straddling lanes causing issues for other road users

Precautions

• starting the car with the gear not in neutral
• adjusting seat or mirrors while driving

Progress

• not emerging from a junction when it is safe to do so
• driving too slow unnecessarily, holding up following traffic
• driving well below the speed limit on clear roads
• waiting unnecessarily for another road user to pass who has clearly given way to you

Response to signs and signals

• taking up space meant for cyclists when stopping at a red traffic light
• reacting late or not at all to a speed limit change sign
• not stopping at a compulsory stop sign
• driving in a bus lane when sign says you should not
• driving in an incorrect lane that was clearly marked

Reverse park (parallel park or reverse into a parking bay)

• having to reposition the car a lot, due to poor control
• touching or driving over the pavement
• not taking all round effective observations
• not finishing within the marked bay

Reverse / right (pull up on the right)

• not being aware of a hazard or other road user when reversing
• relying on just the mirrors to check surroundings
• touching or driving onto the pavement
• not judging oncoming traffic safely when moving across to the right
• being too far from the pavement when parked

Signals

• signalling left or right, but not turning
• signalling right at a roundabout when you want to go ahead
• signalling too late for the signal to be effective

Use of mirrors

• checking mirrors after or at the same time as signalling
• changing lanes on a roundabout without checking your mirrors effectively
• trying to change lanes on a dual carriageway without checking your mirrors effectively
• pulling up at the side of the road without signalling to following traffic when appropriate

Use of speed

• driving over the speed limit
• not adjusting your speed to road conditions

Vehicle checks (‘show me, tell me’ questions)

• losing control of the car when answering the ‘show me’ question
• getting one or both questions wrong

For more detailed information on each of these areas, visit the GOV.UK site.

Tackling these areas with your driving instructor

Now that you have an idea of what faults you received and what areas you can improve on, you should share these with your driving instructor and talk through each of the areas.

Your driving instructor will be able to help tailor your lessons around these areas, making sure that you’re prepared and ready for your next driving test.

You can also ask your instructor to carry out some mock tests with these areas in mind. Once you’re ready, your driving instructor will let you know that you should rebook your driving test.

If you’re interested in finding out some more tips for passing your driving test, check out our guide on how to pass your driving test.

The post Understanding your driving test results appeared first on RED Driving School.

Car tyre labels are required by a regulation that was introduced by the EU in 2012 to offer more information to consumers on tyre safety, reduce the impact tyres have on the environment and to promote road safety. The legislation was designed to make it easier for motorists to compare the characteristics of different tyres. After 10 years, the regulation is evolving to keep pace with technology and drive tyre development.

From 1^st May 2021, for every tyre sold in Europe, tyre manufacturers must specify the performance of their tyres against revised classifications of fuel efficiency, wet grip, external rolling noise and whether tyres meet specific test standards for severe snow conditions and grip on ice.

Similar in style to energy labels for white goods, tyre labels provide comparable information about a tyre, regardless of the brand or tread pattern. By using clear diagrams, the new tyre labels allow motorists to make informed choices when buying tyres, ranked on a scale from A (best) to E (worst) – a partial rescaling from those previously displayed, where rankings ran from A to G.

Certain types of tyre, such as T-type temporary use tyres, professional off-road tyres, racing tyres, and tyres designed specifically for cars registered before October 1990 are excluded from this regulation.

Tyre labels explained

Fuel economy

Tyre labelling for fuel economy ranges from A to E. Tyres with the best fuel economy have a green A rating. Tyres with the worst miles per gallon (mpg) have a red E rating, and savings are usually calculated over the life of a set of four tyres, or equivalent distance.

For every five tanks of fuel, one is consumed for tyres. With each rotation of the wheel, a tyre is deformed when it comes into contact with the road. As its structure is deformed, the tyre heats up and some of the energy is lost. Reducing this heat build-up makes it possible to lower fuel consumption and in turn decreases greenhouse gas emissions. For a vehicle driving 40,000km / (24,855 miles equivalent)  consuming 150 litres of fuel, there is a 217.50 Euros (£186.31) reduction in fuel costs for a vehicle fitted with A-rated tyre compared with one equipped with E-rated tyres ^(1).

Even within each grade, there are significant differences between tyres.  For example, the Michelin ePrimacy tyre is an eco-responsible summer tyre for petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric vehicles. Michelin ePrimacy tyres have the lowest fuel consumption and CO2 emissions in their category and long-lasting safety, from the first mile to the last.

• Based 1.45€ per litre (Source: avg Ron 95 Unleaded price in UK https://www.drive-alive.co.uk/fuel_prices_europe.html on 12 May 2021). Euros to Sterling conversion rate of 1 Euro = 0.8566p, Bank of England 12 May 2021. The effect may change depending on the vehicle and driving conditions. Performance measured in accordance with the test method set in the regulation UN ECE R117.

Wet grip

Tyre labelling for wet grip ranges from A to E. It uses a gradient colour scale to depict stopping distances in rainy weather: tyres with the shortest stopping distances have an A rating and tyres with longer stopping distances have an E rating.

On average, there is a 9m reduction in braking distance for a vehicle travelling at 50 mph  and equipped with A-rated tyres compared with one fitted with D-rated tyres ^(2).

• Performance of braking from 80 km/h (50mph equivalent) to 20 km/h (12mph equivalent), measured in accordance with the test method set in the regulation UN ECE R117.

Noise

The tyre label for noise uses a tyre diagram with sound wave bars. The overall decibel rating will also be provided, as well as a letter ranking from A to C.

For a vehicle moving at a constant speed of 50 mph, the noise generated by the tyre rolling on the road is generally superior to engine noise. Rolling noise depends on the type of tyres as well as on the road surface. An A-rate tyre is half as noisy as a B-rated tyre^(3).

• Noise is measured on a vehicle travelling at 80 km/h (50mph equivalent) with the engine switched off, measured in accordance with the test method set in the regulation UN ECE R117.

New additions

There may also be icons on the tyre label depicting whether the tyre meets specific standards for use in severe snow conditions, or ice.

Being tyre-savvy can help keep you safe on the road and reduce fuel costs. Make sure you’re up to scratch with tyre-labelling regulation changes so you know what you’re looking for! Our partner, Michelin, has a strong reputation for tyre safety. The Manufacturer makes sure its tyres are engineered to high quality standards and that they are thoroughly proven in repeatable tests on track and then in extensive road testing. Importantly, product quality control is also a key focus.

We also work closely with Kwik Fit, the UK’s leading fast-fit supplier of tyres. Every Kwik Fit centre nationwide offers a free no obligation tyre check and trained technicians will carry out a thorough inspection of all your tyres for free. If you’d like to learn more about checking your tyres, their website includes a variety of resources on maintaining correct tyre pressure, checking tread depth and looking for signs of tyre damage. All the information is also included on their website where you can get all the tyre help you need to help you maintain your tyres in a safe condition!

The post Tyre labelling: what you should know about recent changes to regulation appeared first on RED Driving School.

But where should you start your journey? We’ve put together a comprehensive guide to get you from novice to pro and out on the road before you know it!

Step 1 – Where should you start?

Firstly, before you even start thinking about lessons you’ll need to secure yourself a provisional driving licence.

What is a provisional driving licence?

A provisional driving licence will allow you to:

• Start learning how to ride a moped or light quad bike from the age of 16
• Start learning how to drive a car from the age of 17 with the following exception:
• If you’re getting Personal Independence Payment (PIP) you can learn to drive a car and take a test when you’re 16 if you’re getting, or have applied for, the mobility part of PIP.

However, this does not mean that you can now drive around on your own. A provisional licence only allows you to drive when in the vehicle with a qualified driving instructor or another individual that is over the age of 21 and has been driving for at least 3 years.

Fun fact: A provisional licence also doubles up as a form of ID!

How do you apply for a provisional licence?

Firstly, in order to apply for your provisional licence you’ll need to be:

• At least 15 years and 9 months old
• Able to read a number plate from 20 metres away

You’ll then need the following for the application itself:

• To provide a legitimate form of ID; usually a passport
• To provide addresses for where you have lived over the last three years
• Your National Insurance number if you know it
• Pay £34 by credit or debit card

Then just visit the provisional driving licence page on the GOV UK website to begin your application. It usually takes around a week for your provisional licence to arrive.

Step 2 – Plan your lessons

Now it’s nearly time to start your lessons, you’ll want to have a think about your goals and influencing factors.

• When do you want to have passed your test by?
• How much time and money do you want to invest into your lessons each week?

Deciding on these will help you then go forwards and choose the best type of lessons for you and your goals.

What are intensive courses?

Intensive courses, also known as ‘crash courses’ are a great option if you’re looking to pass your test in the shortest time possible.

These are typically flexible courses of extended one-on-one tuition that work with an instructor to create a flexible lesson plan with the goal of passing your driving test as quickly as possible.

Pros:

• Can pass in as little as a week from a complete beginner.
• Many courses offer a free retest should you fail the practical test.
• Mostly flexible and will work to your schedule.
• The costs of your theory and practical tests are included in the package.

Cons:

• They do involve a high initial cost.
• They are hard work and require a great deal of focus, commitment and dedication.
• You need to make sure you have a free period of time to complete.
• Some people may find the fast paced, intensive environment uncomfortable.

If this sounds like it meets your goals, find out more information on intensive courses and what RED can offer. If not, it’s likely that booking standard lessons will be your best option.

How many lessons should you have a week?

The average learner needs 45 hours of driving lessons, in addition to 20 hours of practice to pass the driving test. However this varies from person to person, so although this is a good figure to use as a benchmark, you should take it at your own pace and not compare yourself to others.

Generally speaking, having one lesson a week is what the average learner chooses to do. But really there is no set amount of lessons you should be having each week. Choose what suits you best!

Find out more about the different types of lessons that RED offers

Manual vs Automatic

While automatics are easier to drive, you’ll only be able to legally drive automatics. You’ll be unable to legally drive a manual car if you have an automatic licence.

Unless you’ve got disabilities preventing you from driving a manual, a manual licence will offer you more flexibility in the future and you can normally find much cheaper manual cars for your first car.

Step 3 – Find the right driving instructor for you

Finding the right driving instructor for you is invaluable. The most important thing when it comes to deciding on an instructor is choosing someone that makes you feel comfortable when you’re in the driver’s seat as importantly, you’re most likely going to be spending 40 hours in a car together!

It may be tempting to get a relative or friend to teach you to drive, as you’re already comfortable with them and they probably wouldn’t charge you any (or much) for the lessons. As tempting as that may be, an expert will have much more experience teaching and will know what’s expected from you in the test.

Fully qualified instructors will also have their own car to teach you in which will have dual controls which allow the instructor to take over or help out with the controls if they feel you need it at any point.

Where should you look for a driving instructor?

There’s multiple ways of finding a driving instructor. Many people choose instructors based on recommendations from friends and family, however you can also visit the Approved Driving Instructor page on the DVSA website.

RED offers a range of driving instructors in order to match any specific needs that learners may have such as:

• Male/Female driving instructors
• Foreign language driving instructors
• Automatic/Manual driving instructors

Find out more about the driving instructors at RED.

Step 4 – Starting your driving lessons

Now that you’ve picked your driving instructor and booked your driving lessons, it’s time to cover some tips that will help you in your learning process.

What should you bring with you to your first driving lesson?

• Your provisional license
• A positive attitude
• Highway code knowledge (beneficial, but not required)

What shoes should you wear when driving?

• The main thing is wearing comfortable shoes that you’re happy to drive in.
• Avoid heavy shoes and stick to thin shoes that allow you to feel the pedals.

Practicing in-between your lessons

• It’s good to keep practicing until your next lesson comes around as this will help you become more comfortable in the car.
• You can go out and practice driving with another driver over the age of 21 that has been driving for over 3 years. You’ll also need to both be insured on that vehicle!

Study in-between your lessons

• Studying for your theory test in-between lessons is invaluable.
• This will help you get ready for taking your theory test and will also help out when you’re on the road having your lessons.

Mock tests

• Although this is likely something your instructor will suggest, why not ask to work some mock tests into your lessons?
• This will help cement your current knowledge and will help you become more comfortable and confident when you reach the real test.

Step 5 – Taking your theory test

Once you’ve been learning to drive for a little while, your instructor will probably recommend that you book your theory test. You’ll be completing this whilst doing your practical lessons, so as mentioned previously, you’ll need to be studying between lessons!

How to book your theory test

• You can book your theory test online through the theory test section of the official GOV UK website.
• You can also book your theory test over the phone on the number 0300 200 1122.

How much does the theory test cost and how long do you have to wait?

• The theory test costs £23 which will need to be paid by credit or debit card.
• There’s usually a waiting time of around 1 to 2 weeks, however this can change depending on demand.
• You’ll also need to visit your local theory test centre to take the test, you can find your nearest centre on the GOV UK website by entering your postcode.

What to expect in the theory test

The test will be made up of 50 multiple-choice questions and then a hazard perception test. 

You’ll have 57 minutes to complete the multiple choice test and will need to score 43 out of the 50 to pass. Before the test starts you’ll be given instructions on how to complete the test, so make sure to pay attention. You’ll then be given the opportunity to take a practice session so that you can get used to the format of the test.

For the hazard perception test, you’ll have to view 14 video clips and click a mouse whenever you spot a hazard developing. There are 15 hazards to spot in total, with at least one hazard on each clip. The earlier you spot the hazard, the more points you can get up to a total of 5 points per hazard. You’ll need to score 44 out of 75 to pass.

It’s also worth noting that during covid-19, there will be some extra safety precautions in effect at your theory test centre. You can find all information regarding this on the GOV UK website.

Check out RED’s guide to passing your theory test for more information, and if you’re looking for some extra theory test training, we have multiple aids over on our REDs theory test training aids page.

Step 6 – The practical driving test

Now that you’ve had plenty of lessons, passed your theory test and got the go-ahead from your instructor, it’s time to take on the practical driving test.

How to book your practical test

• You can book your practical test online through the practical test section of the official GOV UK website.
• There is also an option to check for test cancellations on the GOV UK website. This will potentially allow you to book on an earlier test if someone cancels theirs.

How much does the theory test cost and how long do you have to wait?

• The practical test costs £62 on weekdays or £75 on weekends.
• There’s usually a waiting time of 4 weeks, however this can change depending on demand.
• You’ll also need your UK driving licence number and your driving instructor’s personal reference number (should you wish for them to attend the test with you).

When is the best time to book a driving test?

We’re sure you’ve heard plenty of discussion around when you should book a test and how that timing can improve your chances for success. Whether that’s a specific day of the week, during a certain season or even at a certain time of day. But what’s the definitive answer?

• Season – As you may have already guessed, taking your test in winter can throw you some extra obstacles such icy roads or even snow. Although these occurrences are usually rare, you never know what the weather may be like on your test day! Perhaps you might want to wait until the weather warms up a little.

• Day of the week / time of the day – Generally speaking, the issues that could arise from these are whether or not you end up having your test whilst the roads are busy, for example, during rush-hour or during school-run traffic. Trying to book your test outside of these times will mean that there are less cars on the road during your test, leading to less congestion and a smaller likelihood of being distracted by those around you.

With this being said, you should book your driving test when it suits you best and you feel most comfortable driving. If you’re interested in more information around this, take a look at our article “Ever wondered about the best time to take your driving test”.

Taking your driving test!

Now it’s time to take your driving test, you’ll need to make sure you bring your:

• Theory test pass certification
• Provisional driving licence
• Confidence!

The driving test usually takes around 40 minutes and is comprised of the following:

• Sight check – Firstly, you’ll be asked to read a number plate of a random car from 20 metres away to check your eyesight. If you cannot do this, you will not be able to progress with the rest of the test.

• ‘Show me tell me’ questions – Secondly, your examiner will ask you two ‘tell me’ questions about vehicle checks that you should carry out before driving. Later in the test, while you are driving, your examiner will ask you a ‘show me’ question. You can find a list of these questions on the GOV UK website.

• General driving ability – Next, you’ll get to the driving part of the test. You’ll be instructed to drive in various roads and traffic conditions and your examiner will give you directions that you need to follow, however you will not drive on the motorway. You’ll also be asked to safely pull over and safely pull away during this part of the test. You may also be asked to perform an emergency stop.

• Reversing your vehicle – You’ll be asked to carry out one of the following exercises during the test. Parallel-park at the side of the road, park in a bay, or pull up on the right-hand side of the road and reverse for two car lengths and rejoin the traffic.

• Independent driving – For this section roughly a fifth of drivers taking their test will be asked to drive for about 20 minutes by following traffic signs, a series of verbal directions or a combination of both.

Once you’ve completed your test and arrived back at the test centre, the examiner will discuss his/her observations with you and you’ll be given a pass or fail certificate.

What happens if I make a mistake on my test?

You can make up to 15 driver faults (also called minors) and still pass your test, however if you get 3 driver faults in the same area you will fail. You will also fail if the mistake you make is deemed ‘serious’ or ‘dangerous’ by your examiner. Any one of these will result in an instant fail.

Find out some tips and tricks from one of our most experienced instructors around taking your test.

The post How to pass your driving test – A guide from start to finish appeared first on RED Driving School.

It is always best to avoid travelling in wintery conditions, but if you want to avoid public transport this year and use the roads come Christmas time, it’s important to make sure you’re prepared. Wintery road surfaces can catch even the most experienced driver off-guard.

Ian McIntosh, CEO of RED Driving School, has some helpful hints on how to stay safe when driving home for Christmas.

Ian says:

Invest in all season tyres

All season car tyres combine the best properties of summer and winter tyres to create an all-round performance tyre. By investing in them early, you can avoid the hassle and cost of changing between summer and winter tyres. Regardless of whether you live in a part of the country that’s especially prone to harsh weather and slippery conditions, we’d recommend using Michelin CrossClimate tyres, available through Kwik Fit. 

Don’t Rush

Allow plenty of time for your journey and make sure your car engine is warmed up before you embark. Ensure you have de-iced the vehicle thoroughly and you can see clearly through all windows in your vehicle before you set off.

Slow down

Road experience aside, no-one has the skill to drive at speed on an icy road – it’s simply not possible. High speeds can make your vehicle difficult to control and even more difficult to stop. Only drive on ice if your journey requires it – when the weather is treacherous, it’s best to stay off the roads.

Take it up a gear

If you have no option but to drive on icy surfaces (and particularly set off on ice), you might find it beneficial to drive in a higher gear, as this can help your tyres to grip to the ice.

Give it space

In snow and ice, stopping distances can be up to 10 times more than usual, so leave a large gap between the vehicles in front and be sure to go slowly. If traffic in front of you starts to slow, gently apply your brakes, as slamming them on can cause you to lose control.

Stay calm in a skid

If your car begins to skid, press down on the clutch and turn the steering wheel into the direction of the skid. As you start to straighten up, steer along the road. It’s important you resist the temptation to brake heavily – this will cause your wheels to lock and you’ll only skid further. 

Take a skid pan training course 

You can prepare yourself for icy conditions with RED’s skid pan training course. Most drivers will at some stage find themselves in a situation where the car is likely to break traction and skid. This unique skid control experience teaches valuable driving skills in a risk-free environment at Donnington driving course. To find out more, please click here. 

Pack winter essentials

You never know when you might get stranded due to heavy snow and snow drifts making roads impassable. Be prepared. Pack a torch, a blanket for warmth and a snow shovel. Your vehicle should always also carry a warning triangle in case of vehicle breakdown. Stay safe!

The post Tips on driving home for Christmas appeared first on RED Driving School.

Turning into a junction 

Ever seen a driver turning into a junction and beep at a pedestrian crossing the road? The Highway Code states that If someone has started crossing the road and you want to turn into the road, then the pedestrian has priority, so you should slow down and give way until they’ve crossed. 

Once someone has moved onto a zebra crossing 

Rule 195 in the Highway Code states that you must give way when a pedestrian has moved onto a zebra crossing. You are only legally required to stop at a zebra crossing once a pedestrian has moved on to the crossing.

However you should be prepared to stop when approaching a zebra crossing. When you see a zebra crossing with someone waiting on it, you should be slowing down and stopping. 

Even though this is not a legally required practice of the Highway Code, it is best practice for the safety of pedestrians and drivers alike. 

Pulling out of a driveway 

Rule 206 in the Highway Code states that you must give way to pedestrians on the pavement as they have right of way – and so this applies to pulling out of or reversing out of a driveway. 

Where possible, you should reverse onto your driveway so that you can pull out more safely. This is mentioned in Rule 201 of the Highway Code – when using a driveway, reverse in and drive out if possible. 

This is to ensure better visibility of the pavement and any obstructions. It’s especially important to reverse into your driveway if it’s on a major carriageway, as this can be very dangerous as it’s likely to be busy.  

When the pavement is closed 

Unlike the States, ‘jaywalking’ is perfectly legal in the UK. Though if the pavement is closed and pedestrians need to walk on the road then they should keep to the right hand side so that oncoming traffic can more clearly see them. (Highway Code: 2) 

Guidance for pedestrians on sharp right hand bends is to take extra caution and cross to the other side of the road.

As a driver turning into a sharp left hand bend (especially on country lanes) you should be extra cautious that pedestrians may not be following this guidance and be walking into oncoming traffic. 

Right of way or not, this isn’t one that should need too much explaining!  

When a traffic light is amber at a pedestrian crossing

When a traffic light is amber and there are pedestrian signals, you are allowed to either keep driving, or pull away if you’re stationery. 

Pedestrians must only cross when the traffic light is green (when pedestrian signals are provided), however you must stop if the traffic light is amber and a pedestrian is still on the crossing.

The post 5 times you didn’t know that pedestrians have right of way appeared first on RED Driving School.

10,000 of our learners have already accessed the Road Brain Trainer e-learning tool

…with more signing up every single day. This is a great big milestone for RED, and for our learners – we’re happy to be the pioneers for this unique, kinesthetic learning tool. If you’re a Brain Trainer user, and you’d recommend it to a friend, why not vote for it in the Drivinginstructor.tv learning tools poll?

Many learners and certainly all of our instructors will already be familiar with the Road Brain Trainer tool, this free of charge tool is well worth a look if you haven’t already. Brain Trainer supplements your in-car learning with visual, practical online exercise in a number of areas – distraction training, hazard perception and even weather-specific driving simulation.

This month alone, 500 users have accessed modules designed to help learners with driving in poor conditions, modules driving in rain, snow and fog, as well as grip techniques and how to correct a skid.

Driving in adverse driving conditions, such as wind or snow can be difficult for even the most seasoned learners, 15 e-learners not managing to pass the module. The advantage here is practise, meaning 15 of our learners are able to practise this skill set before even getting into a car!

For those of you who haven’t heard of the Brain Trainer tool, why not take a look (did we mention it’s FREE?) and once you’re a registered RED learner you should be able to access the MyRED section of the site – with a proven 14% improved pass rate with its use, it would be silly not to!

Check out the demo video below, visit the myRED site for more details and to use the Brain Trainer tool:

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There have already been a number of teasers for the launch the latest installment in the Grand Theft Auto series. Check out the release of the new GTA soundtrack via the Rockstar soundcloud channel, websites teasing the landscapes and vehicles and of course, check out our infographic too!

Will you be first in the queue for the new GTA release? Why not take a look at our graphic and let us know what you think, Tweet us or find us on Facebook and let us know what you think of our Graphic.

For websites, blogs and journalists, see below to find out more about hosting this infographic or the findings of RED’s research.

Embed this on your site: http://live-red-driving-school.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/GTA-infographic.jpg

The post GTA V inspired graphic hits the road appeared first on RED Driving School.

This one was put together by confused.com as part of our ongoing Get Road REDdy campaign, and is based on RED Driving School’s learner materials. Advice and materials are given to our learners in many forms, from the Road Brain Trainer tools, to physical handouts, helping you learn in whichever learning style best suits you.

For more information about learning with RED, and to find out where your nearest driving instructor is check out the RED Driving School website.

Sign Language – An infographic by the team at driving lessons from RED Driving School

The post Confused.com? Get REDdy to make sense of road signs appeared first on RED Driving School.

Enter RED’s Road Brain Trainer! This interactive e-learning tool is designed to train your brain to spot and assess potential risks – just like in the real world.

We want to provide our learners with the tools to develop ‘cognitive driving skills’, and we’re pleased to say we’re the very first driving school to offer this service in the UK. To access the RED’s Road Brain Trainer online, simply register on MyRED , to access it FREE for a limited time only.

Available now, the Brain Trainer tool is aimed primarily at helping the newest and youngest drivers. It is known  that this group are at a higher risk on our road – with one in five experiencing a crash within their first year of driving.

Ian McIntosh, CEO at RED Driving School said:

“The number of road casualties involving young people is a major issue, which we feel needs to be tackled during the learning to drive process through the training of better drivers.

Research shows that there are genuine scientific reasons why young people are less likely to anticipate danger and assess risk and we want to do what we can to help develop this ability as much as we possible.”

For more information about Brain Trainer, lessons with RED Driving School, and to access these learning tools visit the RED Driving School website or MyRED.

See below for Screenshots from the RED Brain Trainer. What Do You See?

The post Get road REDdy with RED’s Brain Trainer appeared first on RED Driving School.