In 2019 alone, a harrowing 1,870 people tragically lost their lives in road accidents, and a further 27,650 people were seriously injured on the road during this time. These statistics are drastically higher than they could be. Although there are many factors that come into play to cause a road accident, the one thing we as drivers have most control over is being aware that an accident could occur. We cannot change weather conditions and traffic but we can reduce the risk of an accident occurring ourselves – here is how.

Anticipation

Although you have passed your test and can legally drive, your lessons have only taught you how to drive. They have not taught you how to ensure you are keeping fellow road users and yourself as safe as possible. The first thing you can do as a driver to stay safe is to pinpoint different hazards before you get behind the wheel – you could look online at the route you are going to take and find out if accidents have occurred there before or if there are currently roadworks on your route. This will allow you to be confident before every journey and you will more likely be able to anticipate potential hazards and accidents.

Concentration

One of the biggest issues in the driving world is the inability of many drivers to remain fully concentrated from the beginning of a journey to the end of a journey. Although this issue is more common in younger drivers, people of all ages struggle with their concentration and this, in turn, affects most people on the road in one way or another. It is essential that, as a driver, you do as little things as possible that could be taking your concentration away from the road. These things could be:

• Using hands free
• Eating
• Drinking
• Using a satnav
• Talking to passengers

All of these things, and many more, may seem like small things to you – but they could be the difference between life and death for people on the road. Also, if you are sad or angry then it is best to choose another time to drive, as you will not be able to put all your concentration into having a safe journey.

Adaptability

Although you may be familiar with the roads you will be driving on, no road is the exact same road every single day. Many factors such as road works, weather, traffic, and crops can affect a road. It is essential that you are vigilant and look out for any of these changes as they could come back to bite you if you drive in autopilot. As the seasons change, these factors will make your driving experience very different – try your best to become familiar with all four seasons and how they affect the roads so that you can become adaptable to different driving scenarios.

Many people think that once they have passed their test that they are immediately ready to get on the roads and drive alone. However, there are many things you need to do after passing your exam to ensure you are driving safely and correctly. Here we have a list of top tips from Beverly Slater to make sure that newly qualified drivers take the appropriate measures.

Maintain What You Learnt in Lessons

Once you have passed your driving test, you will be so ecstatic that the typical driving principles you have spent hours learning and practicing could easily go out of the window. You may struggle to focus on what your examiner says to you after you have passed due to the sheer excitement but try your best to concentrate – what they have to say could include crucial information that you may not hear again. You are going to be driving on your own for the very first time after this so the final pieces of information could prove dividends. It is essential that you carry out what you have learnt into your solo driving. Driving by yourself is completely different as there is nobody making sure you are doing the right things. Try to avoid minor faults you may have made in your exam to ensure your standard of driving remains as high as possible.

Obtain Your Driving Licence

After you have passed your driving exam, you will have to pass your provisional driving licence onto your examiner. However, many people worry that this means they are unable to drive until their full driving licence arrives – luckily for you, this couldn’t be further from the truth. You can drive straight away after passing your exam and the certificate you receive acts as proof that your full driving licence is on its way. On this day, the provisional licence you gave away will be sent to the DVLA and within three weeks you will have your full driving licence with you.

Update Your Insurance

Whilst you were having driving lessons, you may well have had a learner’s insurance so that you could drive in a parent or guardian’s car with them in the passenger seat. Once you have passed your driving exam, you will no longer qualify as a learner driver, thus meaning your learner insurance policy is not valid anymore. It does not take long to cancel your learner insurance and once you have done it, you can then focus on securing a full car insurance.

You will not be able to drive your vehicle until you have a full car insurance on the vehicle in question. Although you now have your certificate or your driving license in hand, it is still a criminal offence to drive a vehicle without having full insurance on it. It is essential that you insure yourself on the vehicle before you begin driving.

Pay Vehicle Tax

If the vehicle you are driving in has been bought recently, it is pivotal that you pay car tax on said vehicle. Luckily, if you took your exam or had driving lessons in your own vehicle, you will have taxed the vehicle already. If you don’t pay your car tax, it is highly likely that your vehicle will be crushed or clamped. This highlights how vital it is that you make sure your car is taxed all the time.

P Plates

Contrary to popular belief, P Plates are extremely useful for newly qualified drivers. Using P Plates protects both yourself, your passengers and your vehicle – other drivers on the road are clearly notified that you are a newly qualified driver and they will be more careful and lenient, allowing a safer driving experience for all. It is not the law to use P Plates after passing your exam, but it could certainly improve your first few months driving.

For more information, visit Beverly Slater today.

Not being able to drive can restrict you from enjoying some of Manchester’s biggest and best attractions. Boasting countless exciting places to visit, Manchester brings in tourists from all over the world. It is, however, important to have access to a car in order to indulge in the majority of what Manchester has to offer. If you can pass your test after lessons with Beverley Slater, you will have no problem getting to the following attractions.

Trafford Centre

Five miles west of Manchester city centre, the Trafford Centre is the United Kingdom’s third-largest shopping centre by retail size. Not only does the shopping centre have every single shop that you could possibly want in there, but it is also home to Europe’s largest food court, (themed as a steamship) and the busiest cinema in the UK. 35 million people visit the Trafford Centre on an annual basis, and it is no surprise why – the centre’s aesthetics and the vast range of high-end stores make it the perfect place to visit no matter what your interests. 

Old Trafford and Etihad Stadium

Manchester is home to two of the biggest and best football clubs that the world has to offer. Whether you’re a red or you’re a blue, a trip to one of these two iconic football stadiums is an experience that you will never forget. The Premier League boasts some of the most exciting football talent – a lot of which grace these two beautiful pitches on a weekly basis. So, there is always an opportunity to watch a high-end, fascinating game of football in Manchester. Alternatively, both stadiums offer tours and day packages from which you can learn about the rich history of Manchester United or the somewhat recent success of Manchester City.

Science and Industry Museum

Housing the world’s longest surviving passenger railway station and the first-ever railway warehouse, the Science and Industry Museum is located right in the heart of Manchester. Prepare to have your views of the modern world change as you get an insight into the men and women who shaped the world we live in today. Demonstrations occur on the daily, not only bringing the magic machinery to life but also allowing you to attain a thorough understanding of how things worked too. There are also countless interactive exhibits that you can dive into and a programme of exhibitions that change regularly.

National Football Museum

In the heart of Manchester city centre is the biggest and best football museum in the world. Through enthralling exhibitions and objects, immerse yourself in the history of the beautiful game that we have all come to fall in love with. Explore our national team’s fortunes, including the 1966 World Cup Final ball, the Jules Rimet Trophy and Sir Geoff Hurst’s iconic jersey. Not only can you learn everything there is to know about football – but you can take part in a bunch of exciting interactive activities. These activities include; match commentary, penalty taking, shot stopping, and many others. Manchester really is the place to be if you’re a football lover.

For more information on how you can pass your driving test, visit Beverly Slater today.

Most people believe that once they have passed their test that they have learned everything there is to learn about driving. Although you can now get on the roads with ease, a Pass Plus Scheme can further your learning even more. New drivers take the Pass Plus Scheme in order to better themselves as drivers and become more confident on the road. Let’s take a look at what the scheme entails.

What is the Pass Plus Scheme?

Drivers can gain an extra driving qualification by taking the Pass Plus scheme. The course allows you to gain more practical experience by dealing with unfamiliar driving situations. In the process of getting your driving license, you will learn the vast majority of driving knowledge, but there are additional things you can learn – Pass Plus covers these and more. The idea of Pass Plus is to reduce your risk of being in an accident whilst on the road. Not only will this make your driving experience safer, but your insurance provider will see you as less of a risk, thus potentially lowering your insurance premium depending on your provider.

What is Covered in the Pass Plus Scheme?

The primary focuses of a Pass Plus Scheme are as follows:

• Driving in town – Although this is covered in normal driving courses, Pass Plus tackles this area in much more detail. Drivers predominantly drive in town areas, so confidence in driving here is key.
• Driving on rural roads – Bad road accidents occur frequently on small, rural roads. People like to drive fast on these roads as they cannot see oncoming cars. Luckily, taking the Pass Plus Scheme will assist you in avoiding these scenarios.
• Driving on the motorway – Normal driving courses do not touch upon motorway driving in the slightest. When you bear in mind how many people drive on motorways, (and not to mention the speeds cars move at) driving on the motorway without practice could prove fatal. 
• Driving on a dual carriageway – Many dual carriageways have very high-speed limits and often small lanes. Covering this section in detail will not only inform your insurance that you can drive on a dual carriageway, but you will become more confident driving on them also.
• Driving in bad weather – We would recommend avoiding driving in any poor weather conditions. Not only is visibility reduced, but braking distances are at least doubled. However, sometimes you will not have a choice but to drive. A Pass Plus scheme teaches you the rights and wrongs of driving in different weather conditions.
• Driving at night – Although you will have headlights, driving at night will massively reduce your visibility. Some roads don’t even have streetlights, so becoming familiar with night-time driving could prove pivotal. 

Pass Plus Pricing

The pricing for your course can depend on which instructor you use. Generally speaking, a Pass Plus course will cost between £100 and £180 across the UK. The full price of your course can also be discounted depending on your local council. Check to see if your local council is listed on the government’s website to see if they can reduce the pricing of your training.

For more information on Pass Plus Schemes, contact Beverley Slater.