As the temperature drops and we move well and truly into British winter weather, there are a few things you need to do to your vehicle in order to keep it functioning properly. Preparing your vehicle for cold weather is essential to its performance, so if you’re a new driver and haven’t driven in cold weather before, here’s what you should know.

Check your antifreeze system

Antifreeze or otherwise known as engine coolant is a vital part of your car’s cooling system. This system allows your car to function properly all year round, especially in the winter months when the weather drops to freezing temperatures. 

In order to prepare your car for winter, you’re going to need some antifreeze to ensure your car’s cooling system is in proper working order. 

Check your battery

Another thing about cold weather is that it can be particularly challenging for car batteries. Ensure your battery is in good condition by checking its charge and connections. Consider replacing an old battery before winter if you know it’s on its last legs.

Examine your tyres

Another thing you should do to ensure your car is prepared for winter weather is to examine your tyres and take the correct measures. If you live in a more rural area that’s prone to heavy snowfall, consider changing to winter tyres. 

It’s important to inspect your tyres for tread wear and proper inflation. Ensure your tyres are at their optimum level of inflation and adhere to the legal safety standards. 

Check the heater and defroster

In  preparation for the cold winter weather, it’s important to check your vehicle’s heater and defrosting systems are working properly. You should check the defroster too, to ensure it can clear frost and condensation from the windows. 

Pack an emergency kit

If you’re planning to go on a longer trip this winter, it’s important to pack an emergency kit just in case you get lost or break down in the cold. You should include items such as: blanket, extra clothing, non-perishable snacks, a flashlight, jumper cables, a first aid kit, and a basic toolkit. You should also include a warning triangle and a fire extinguisher too, as this alongside a first aid kit is compulsory to have in your vehicle in the UK.

If you’re feeling nervous about driving in extreme weather conditions such as snowfall, the team at Beverly Slater can help. We offer a pass plus course that can teach drivers to navigate the road in adverse conditions and boost their confidence. 

Driving in the dark can be intimidating for some people, especially new drivers. Without natural lighting, many drivers find driving in the dark disorientating, and it can put them off completely. Here at Beverly Slater, we’re here to help drivers feel more confident driving in trickier conditions such as low vision at night. We offer services such as a Pass Plus course and refresher driving lessons to help boost your confidence on the road. 

With the clocks going back and the start of winter happening, the nights are once again becoming longer and days shorter. For tips on feeling more confident when driving in the dark, keep reading! 

Ensure your lights are in working order

In order to feel confident driving in the dark, it’s important to assess the condition of all your lights before you head out onto the road, to ensure you can see properly. Checking your headlights, tail lights, brake lights and indicators is essential before getting on the road, especially at night. 

Making sure your lights work ahead of time can ease your nerves and allow you to feel a little more confident prior. 

Plan your route

If driving in the dark makes you feel nervous, then not knowing where you’re going can really amplify this feeling. To avoid this, it’s always best to plan your route ahead of time, so you know exactly where you’re going. This makes driving at night much easier, as you won’t have to worry about making a wrong turn or getting lost. 

Maintain a safe speed

Staying under the speed limit is essential, especially when driving in low visibility conditions. When driving at night, reduce your speed to a level that allows you to react to any sudden changes (such as obstacles in the road) promptly. Slowing down can improve your reaction time and give you more control over the vehicle, allowing you to feel more secure, in control, and confident. 

Go on a Pass Plus course 

Here at Beverly Slater we offer a specialised course designed for those who struggle with difficult driving conditions such as night driving, motorway driving, and driving in adverse weather conditions. Our team of driving instructors can guide you through what you need to know when night driving, boosting your confidence on the road. 

If you’re interested in signing up for our Pass Plus course, or any of our driving lessons, please contact our friendly team today. We’d love to help. 

Here at Beverly Slater, we’re a dedicated team of professional driving instructors that love what we do. If you’re thinking about changing careers, why not consider becoming a driving instructor? In this blog post we will be discussing what exactly makes becoming a driving instructor such a rewarding experience. If you’re looking for a job that utilises your passion for driving, as well as the opportunity to teach others and enjoy your work, keep reading. 

Below are some of the key reasons why being a driving instructor is a fulfilling and rewarding career. 

You’re teaching a valuable life skill

One of the main advantages to this career choice is that you get the opportunity to teach your students a valuable life skill. Your expertise and teaching allows these students to learn to drive, helping them acquire a crucial skill. Learning to drive is a milestone in people’s lives, it allows them to become more independent, which can be a very rewarding thing to teach someone. 

You help build people’s confidence up

When you become a driving instructor, you help boost the confidence of new drivers through your teaching. This can be incredibly rewarding, as everyday you’re helping people learn, develop, and progress in their driving journey. 

Every day, you’ll get to watch your students progress from your lessons, knowing you’re helping them gain confidence is highly rewarding

Job satisfaction

Many driving instructors receive high levels of job satisfaction, due to the rewarding nature of the role. When you become a driving instructor, you become a positive influence on somebody’s life. Your teaching guides them, giving yourself a sense of purpose.

Job stability 

Another great benefit to becoming an instructor is the security of it. Driving instructors are in demand! There are many students ready to be taught, so you won’t have to worry about not having enough hours. 

Flexibility 

Another benefit to becoming a driving instructor is the flexibility of it. You have total control over your own schedule, so you can work when it suits you best. This can make working as a driving instructor incredibly fulfilling, as you have the opportunity to manage your work/life balance yourself.

For more information about becoming a driving instructor, feel free to contact our team any time. Here at Beverly Slater, we can help you achieve your goal of becoming a driving instructor.

When you pass your test and become a new driver, there are some mistakes that you may make. Everyone makes mistakes, but it’s important to identify them and learn from them; for your safety and everyone else’s too. Here at Beverly Slater, we’re dedicated to providing our students with the right skills they need during their driving lessons. If you’re a new driver looking for some guidance on how to prevent mistakes from happening, keep reading. 

We understand that not all learner drivers make these mistakes, but it’s important to be aware of the most common errors that drivers, especially new, make. This way you can pay more attention to them and become more aware. 

Speeding 

Speeding is a very common mistake that drivers of varied experiences make. Many new drivers may be unfamiliar with the limits of their cars, and may accidentally exceed the speed limit which could lead to accidents and of course, speeding tickets. This is why it’s very important to pay attention to your speed at all times, never allow yourself to go over the limit as it can result in dangerous outcomes.  

Ignoring road signs 

Those with less experience driving tend to disregard some road signs, which can also lead to dangerous outcomes! If you’re unsure of what some road signs mean, or you’ve forgotten, it’s important to re-educate yourself. Alternatively, if it’s been a while since you’ve passed your test, but you have only now got round to driving, our refresher lessons could really benefit you. We can go over everything you may have forgotten, and boost your confidence on the road. 

Not checking mirrors 

When driving, it’s very important to always check your mirrors, especially when changing lanes or merging. Some newbie drivers may forget the appropriate times to check their mirrors, which can be very dangerous. As a new driver, it’s important to remember to check your mirrors whilst driving.

Not adjusting to weather conditions 

New drivers have much less experience on the road, and are used to driving in normal conditions. This means they may not know how to adjust their driving habits for the heavy rain downfall, snow, ice, and fog. At Beverly Slater, we offer just the thing to combat this. Our pass plus course is designed to help not just new drivers, but drivers who aren’t confident in certain situations get over their fears. 

Our pass plus driving instructors can help you become much more confident at navigating the roads in adverse weather conditions. For more information feel free to contact our team anytime.