How many New Year’s resolutions have you made for this year, and how many have you already abandoned? Those earnest intentions to lose weight, get fit, exercise more, etc., may look great in the afterglow of the festive season. However, research shows that around 94% of people ditch their resolutions within two months!

So this year why not make a resolution you know you can stick to, one which will enhance your life in so many positive ways; book yourself a course of driving lessons.

Why learn to drive?
This is a good question. After all, there are plenty of good reasons for people to cycle, scooter, walk or catch public transport to get to where we want to be. This is all very well but unless you live a ten-minute drive away from your place of work, from the kids’ school and from the supermarket, it’s just not practical.

Carrying a full week’s shopping or getting the children to their various after-school activities just wouldn’t be possible without a car. Cycling to work in the rain and snow surely only appeals to a hardy minority.
Freedom and independence

Fast forward if you can from the gloom of winter to the warm, sunny summer months. Picture you and your friends off on a weekend away or a day out to a festival or the seaside. Then picture all of you making the journey in your very own car after you pass your driving test. The freedom to go anywhere you want to go at any time, at a moment’s notice if that’s what you wish, is what driving gives you.

How do I start?
The road to freedom and independence starts with your first driving lesson so the first step is to look for a respected, professional driving instructor in your area. You could, of course, ask a friend or relative to teach you to drive. But there are compelling reasons why this is not a good idea initially.

Your relative or friend may have been driving for a long time, so you may assume that they are a ‘good driver’. The problem is that over time they will have developed driving habits that they will likely pass on to you and which may not be helpful when it comes to taking your test. A professional driving instructor, used to teaching all kinds of people, including nervous drivers, and with many years of experience is a much better option. They will teach you how to drive correctly in all kinds of conditions and will guide you seamlessly towards a successful test pass.

How many lessons will I need?
In our experience, the average learner driver usually needs around 45 hours of professional lessons but it all depends on how confident you are, how much private tuition you might have had and how quickly you can learn.

Simply put, if you’re looking to make 2025 your best year yet, why not take that New Year’s resolution and book those driving lessons today? Choose Beverly Slater to start your journey on the road today.

There are probably reasons why you never learned to drive earlier in life. Perhaps you were lucky enough to live in an area with good transport links or you simply had other financial priorities. Traditionally, most people learn to drive at 17 or 18 when, let’s face it, learning a new skill is usually much easier! But that’s not to say that it’s too late for you to start your journey to travel freedom. Here, we explain why learning to drive later in life can be such an exciting and fulfilling achievement.

Why learn in later life?
Most older learners decide they need to drive because of a change in circumstances. For instance, you may have moved to a more rural area with little or no public transport, finances have improved or you’re about to welcome a new arrival into your family.

If you’re thinking of taking the plunge into the world of motoring the first thing you need to do is find a driving instructor who is experienced in guiding older learners, whether they are beginners or having a second go at learning to drive.

If you’re worried about having to learn to drive a vehicle with a manual gearbox, fear not. There are options to learn behind the wheel of an automatic car if that’s your preference.

Don’t let other people put you off
When older learners come to us they often tell us about how long it has taken them to pluck up the courage to make the decision to learn or that others have tried to put them off! If people try to tell you that you’re too old to learn or that you should think about other commitments, don’t let them discourage you.

Hundreds of older drivers pass their test every day and agree that it’s the best thing they’ve ever done. Older people often have greater disposable income so they can afford their own car. Driving gives you independence and the freedom to go anywhere at any time without having to rely on others.

Use your natural cautiousness
Most of us develop a natural tendency towards caution as we get older, which we consider a good thing in older learners. Your natural cautiousness will make you more careful out on the road, a better tendency for habits like checking and re-checking your mirrors. You will also likely be more courteous than some younger, hotter-headed drivers. All this will make you a safer driver.

Worried about getting insurance?
As an older driver, you may be able to get a relatively cheap insurance policy. Some insurers specialise in older driver policies while some charge more for older drivers. So when it comes to getting car insurance for the first time it pays to shop around and get as much advice as you can to find a good deal.

Whatever your age, now is the time to start learning to drive and hopefully pass your test just in time to hit the road ready for those summer outings and getaways. Call us today at Beverly Slater and let’s get you on the way to being a confident older driver.

Winter is upon us and we’ve already had our first snow of the season, which brought the usual traffic jams and avoidable accidents. Snow and icy conditions make many of our learner drivers nervous – understandable when many may never have encountered wintry road conditions behind the wheel before.

With this in mind, here are a few winter driving tips which you may find useful.

Prepare for the journey
It’s important to prepare yourself and your car before you set off in wintry conditions. You should already have checked that your tyres have adequate tread before the start of the winter. If not, check now that they have at least the minimum 1.6mm.

Other pre-driving checks include:
· Make sure windscreen wipers are clean and the screen wash is topped up
· De-ice windows
· Pack an emergency kit
· Wear dry, comfortable footwear to avoid slipping off the pedals
· Allow extra time for the journey

When driving
Moving off in first gear may prevent the wheels from gripping the road so move off in second gear to reduce wheel slip. Accelerate gently, use low revs and change up to a higher gear as soon as it’s safe to do so. Drive slower than usual; especially if the road is icy.

Maintain safe stopping distances between you and the vehicle in front, leaving a larger gap than usual. Use the correct speed for the gear you’re in and avoid sudden or harsh acceleration.
If you need to drive up a steep hill, leave plenty of room in front of you so you can maintain a steady speed without changing gear unnecessarily. When going downhill use a low gear – second if the descent is steep – and again maintain a steady speed to avoid erratic braking.

Stay alert for any hazards such as black ice under bridges and in shaded areas, being wary of any pedestrians who may be walking on the road. If driving in heavy snow use dipped headlights.

Points to remember:
· Always leave plenty of space between you and the vehicle in front
· Avoid harsh acceleration, braking or steering

What to do if you get into a skid
First of all, don’t panic. Don’t hit the brakes or the accelerator. You have to steer gently into the skid. That means if the car is sliding to the right, steer gently to the right. If it is sliding to the left, steer gently to the left.

What to do when approaching a bend
When you know a bend is coming up, take your foot off the accelerator and brake gently before you get to the bend itself. The idea is to drive round the bend as smoothly as possible without the wheels losing grip so don’t panic. Approach in a lower gear, keep your hands relaxed on the steering wheel and accelerate gently out of the bend.

Drive safe this winter
With careful preparation and calm, smooth driving you will find you can safely navigate wintry roads. But should you need a confidence booster, why not book a Pass Plus course with us to improve your winter driving technique?

Summer 2023 went by in a flash, and it has to be said, the weather was distinctly underwhelming. Now, the winter months are fast approaching. The weather forecasters are undecided right now on whether we’re going to get mild temperatures or properly cold winter temperatures.

Whatever the forecast, we always advise students who are learning to drive about the importance of being prepared for anything the weather throws at us. This includes making sure your car is fully winter-ready.

First things first

It’s a good idea to get your battery checked. Summer driving puts less strain on car batteries as you generally don’t have lights, radio or heating on etc, but winter driving draws more power from the battery. Make an appointment with your local garage or Halfords for a full battery check. Replace it if it’s old or failing to avoid getting caught out with a flat battery this winter.

Next, get your car serviced if this hasn’t been done for a while. Check the manual for recommended service intervals – and don’t ignore any red warning lights which appear on the dashboard. If any do appear, find out what they mean and get it checked as soon as possible.

Check oil and fluid levels

If you’re unsure how much oil and brake fluid your car needs, or how to check and fill up if needed, consult your car’s user manual or book it into a local garage. Too little oil can result in engine damage and too little brake fluid can affect the car’s braking capacity – the last thing you need on icy roads!

Check brakes and tyres

Worn tyres and brakes are lethal on slippery roads. Get your brakes fully checked and serviced before the winter. Check the depth of your tyre treads – the law says this should be a minimum of 1.6mm. However, because you may need greater stopping distances on winter roads, the experts recommend a minimum tread depth of 3mm.

Top up antifreeze

Antifreeze, or coolant, is essential to stop the water in the radiator from freezing and damaging the radiator.

Check wiper blades, screen wash levels and lights

A clear windscreen is essential, and a legal requirement, so if wiper blades are worn, get them replaced. Dirty blades can be cleaned with a damp cloth. Keep your screen wash bottle regularly topped up through the winter to keep the windscreen clear at all times.

Lights, including number plate lights should be clean at all times.

Finally, be prepared for any breakdown or lengthy traffic hold-ups by keeping an emergency kit in your car. This could include:

• Warm clothing or blanket and practical footwear for if you need to get out of the car.
• Torch and batteries.
• Snow shovel.
• Snacks and drinks for long waits.
• Mobile phone – fully charged!
• De-icer and windscreen scraper.
• Warning triangle.

The key to safe winter driving is good preparation. Making sure your car is fully prepared means the wintry conditions won’t catch you out. 

And finally, if you feel you need a helping hand with your winter driving skills, the team here at Beverly Slater are here to help boost your confidence.