Driving Updates

Is Your Choice Of Car Going To Be The Death Of You?

Posted in: Driving Updates by admin | Comments Off on Is Your Choice Of Car Going To Be The Death Of You? Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Checking a car before leaving for work or any trip for that matter is always a must. This is taught to young people taking up driving lessons but should be practiced onwards whenever one plans to drive a car.

Car checks can prevent troubles while on the road and can definitely help save lives. There are several important areas to focus on to ensure that you have a smooth journey to and from your destination.

Fluids

The fluids cover not only the oil but as well as the coolant and brake fluids. If you think you need an oil change, its best that you do that before your trip particularly when its a long distance one. This will ensure that your motor runs smoothly and problems are prevented.

Your gas level should not be forgotten. Check that you have enough to enable you to reach your destination.

Tyres

The tires need to be checked for air pressure and wear. There should be a label on the side of the car that shows the maximum tire pressure. You need to stay within this limit as much as possible. Also, do check your spare tires pressure just in case you will need to use it during your trip.

To check for tyre wear, you can use a penny or tread gauge. This is an important step because during long trips, tyres can heat up and can blow out and you wouldnt want this to happen. Remember that the tyres need to have the right grip and should not show signs of damage.

Electrical Parts

The cars electrical connections need to be working well. These include the lights, signals and the horn. To check them, you will have to ask the assistance of another person to see that all lights are functioning. If some are not working, either the fuse or the bulb needs to be replaced.

Find out from this infographic below which cars are dangerous on the roads and additional safety tips you can use.

Is Your Choice Of Car Going To Be The Death Of You?
Source: CheapAutoInsurance.Org

Refresher Course: 4 Defensive Driving Tips

Posted in: Driving Updates by admin | Comments Off on Refresher Course: 4 Defensive Driving Tips Friday, March 29, 2013

Learning advanced driving tactics is a great way to improve your skill and safety on the road. Practice makes perfect – well almost, and you can never have too much practice with on-road vehicle handling. This experience pays off in real driving situations, and increases the chances of you remaining safe whilst driving.

Additionally, basic safety and security precautions that are always recommended can further improve your chance at a hazard-free driving experience! Things like regular maintenance, servicing and safety checks can all help keep your car in the best possible shape. Also knowing you have the right insurance in place provides peace of mind should the worst happen. Aviva car insurance is one of a number of insurers who offer a comprehensive cover plan.

In addition to advanced driving courses and proper vehicle servicing, sometimes the best way to guarantee safety while driving is to get back to the basics. Specifically, a refresher course in defensive driving can be beneficial, even for experienced drivers. Over time, we all develop our own driving styles, and sometimes it’s easy to forget some basic safety measures. With that in mind, here are four steps to keep in mind for proper defensive driving.

1. Stay Aware

Perhaps the most important safe driving tip in general is to stay aware of your surroundings. However, this doesn’t just mean keeping your eyes open and avoiding distractions. It also means literally observing the road around you for potential hazards, at all times. It’s easy to “zone out” while driving, but if you stay aware you can more effectively react to sudden changes in your surroundings, whether that means an animal darting across the road or an accident in the lane next to you.

2. Allow Space

As you stay aware, it is also extremely important to allow proper spacing around your vehicle at all times. No matter how well you pay attention, if you are too close to the cars in front of you, you won’t be able to react to things they might do in time. Maintaining a proper speed should help you to keep appropriate distance between cars in front of and behind you. It is also best to avoid driving alongside other vehicles for extended periods of time, if at all possible.

3. Watch for Reckless Drivers

You may be the most rule-abiding driver on the road, but there is always the chance that those around you are more reckless. This means that if you move off on a just turned green light without specifically paying attention, you could run into a reckless driver running a red light across the road. This scenario occurs quite commonly, which is why it’s best to always act as if yielding is proper. In addition to obeying road signs, always take an extra second to make sure others are doing the same.

4. Don’t Retaliate

Finally, never retaliate to another driver’s recklessness or road rage. Not only does this distract you from the road, but it may result in further road rage, which is a recipe for disaster. Other drivers can always make you angry, but it’s important to remember where you are and what you’re doing.

New Driver Training Developments

Posted in: Driving Updates by admin | Comments Off on New Driver Training Developments Wednesday, March 13, 2013

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The team at Drivers Domain UK are very excited about the future.

Currently we offer advanced driving courses for businesses and private individuals. However, in the future we are looking to expand our service offering to include other forms of driver driving.

Driver training covers such a wide range of sectors. I initially started Drivers Domain UK as I was, (and still am!) very passionate about improving road safety and driving skills and standards in the UK. However, I think also focusing on more sectors will be a great way to help promote not only driver training, and grow the business from a commercial perspective, but to also help drive the core elements which underpin what we are about, to help improve road safety and driving skills and standards in the UK.

If you stop and think. Without trying to sound too self righteous, these core elements can be driven (no pun intended!) into all areas of driver training. When people are starting a new driving profession, whether it be learning to drive an LGV, or taking a residential course to pass the basic L test, then this is a great opportunity to not only help them achieve what they want, but to ensure they do it whilst having a true appreciation and understanding of keeping safe on the roads. The resources and information on our site continues to grow and will cater for these people….

Who Will They Be?

Over time we will be looking at offering courses for:

1. HGV/LGV Drivers
2. Bus and Mini Bus Drivers
3. Learner Drivers – Residential Courses
4. Train drivers
5. Taxi drivers
6. Spaceship Pilots

Ok so number 6 may be a little ambitious  but the rest are what we are seriously considering. We do need to be working with only the very best trainers in these sectors. So if you currently have expertise in any of the above, then get in contact with us.

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The System of Car Control – How You Can Use It

Posted in: Driving Updates by admin | Comments Off on The System of Car Control – How You Can Use It Tuesday, March 12, 2013

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The system of car control is a systematical way of driving which was initially developed and taught by Police drivers.

The system of car control is also used when training advanced drivers, or those taking an advanced driving course.  The system of car control is also taught with all our advanced driving courses.

What is it?

The system of car control is simply a procedure for safe, systematic driving. The “system” as it is commonly referred to, can be applied in the following steps:

1. Position – Before anything else it is important to position the vehicle correctly
2. Speed – The alter speed according to the situation
3. Gear – Once in right position at right speed you can change gear, block changing!
4. Acceleration – Once past the hazard you can accelerate away.

During this system, from start to finish there is an INFORMATION phase. This can be broken down to T-U-G (Take, Use and Give) Take as in see, use as in process what you have seen, and give, deciding if you need to give information, such as an indication.

How can you use it?

The system of car control is a great way to plan your driving. You can use it for the following:

1. Approaching a left or right turn
2. Approaching a corner
3. Approaching a roundabout
4. Dealing with parked car
5. Any hazard you may see when driving!!

The list is endless…. What the system does is allow you to plan. However, it is flexible. Sometimes elements of the system can overlap – such as speed and gear, if you overlap both for quicker and shorter braking when you are making a turn off a road downhill.

There are many views about the system of car control and how to apply it which I won’t go into now. Often these are nit-picking thoughts and ideas….or what people feel is best. All you need to understand that the system is flexible. The main thing to do is go and test it out, you will be surprised how it improved your driving in many areas.

system-of-car-control

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Top 10 Most Expensive Fuel Prices by Country and Top 10 Cheapest

Posted in: Driving Updates by admin | Comments Off on Top 10 Most Expensive Fuel Prices by Country and Top 10 Cheapest Sunday, February 24, 2013

 

If you think fuel prices in the UK are expensive, well your not wrong. According to recent research British prices are the 7th most expensive in the world!

If you can remember back to 1983….a litre of petrol would cost you just 38p..! Back in 1918 tax just made up just short of 14% of the total pump price. Nowadays it is nearer 70%!

Top 10 Most Expensive Fuel Prices by Country:

10. Belgium – 140.8p per litre
9. Eritrea – 141p
8. Sweden – 141.3p
7. Britain – 142p
6. Denmark – 143p
5. Greece – 145p
4. Italy – 146.5p
3. Netherlands – 148p
2. Turkey – 162p
1. Norway – 164p

Top 10 Cheapest Fuel Prices by Country:

10. Iran – 21p a litre
9. Algeria – 17p a litre
8. Kuwait – 17p a litre
7. Turkmenistan – 17p a litre
6. Libya – 15p a litre
5. Bahrain – 15p a litre
4. Qatar – 12p a litre
3. Saudi Arabia – 10p a litre
2. Egypt – 9p a litre
1. Venezuela – 8p a litre

To put things into perspective, the last time petrol was around 8p a litre in Britain was in 1971. In Britain, along with the rest of the world prices will continue to rise.

More fuel efficient cars will become available, and with increased technology they will continue to get even more economical. Within the next 10 years cars will be able to return over 500 mpg – hybrid/fuel cell + petrol/diesel cars….watch this space!

 

Do Racing and Rally Drivers Make Good Road Drivers?

Posted in: Driving Updates by admin | Comments Off on Do Racing and Rally Drivers Make Good Road Drivers? Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Many people think if your a racing or a rally driver you will be a great driver on the road. Is this true? Or do you think such a driver would be over confident and even arrogant?

If we look at the well know statement –  road driving is 90% concentration and 10% ability then a racers skill would translate to little more than nothing on the road – in the REAL world.

Whats a Component of What?

However, I tend to disagree. The thing is, surely concentration is component of ability, and likewise ability is part of concentration. You need to have the ability to concentrate, and you also need to have the ability to know what to concentrate on and when.

Having worked with and personally know a few racing and rally drivers, I know from what they say that the different between failure and success is often down to concentration. Racers have a great ability to concentrate and make split second judgements based on what they are concentrating on.

Are They Any Good?

Removing egos and the like, if I was to take a punt I would say racing and rally drivers have the basics (if thats the right word?) to be fabulous road drivers – as long as they don’t practise their trade on the highway! I still feel the 90/10 rule stands, but it is far too black and white and to be totally honest I find it misleading, as I am sure others do too.

Stop the Sweeping Statements!

The basis for this post was really to outline how sweeping statements in the driver training world can confuse. Using the question point of a racing driver was really just to challenge if “ability” is actually such a small part of driving. Clearly it is not.

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Five Things To Do – After Your Advanced Driving Course

Posted in: Driving Updates by admin | Comments Off on Five Things To Do – After Your Advanced Driving Course Sunday, February 17, 2013

 

The tips and advice here are generic for anyone who has done an advanced driving course (including ours of course!) and who want to ensure their new found skills don’t fade, as they often do!

After a course, you have the basics in place, fresh in your mind to continue being a safer driver. But how do you keep the skills you acquired during the day fresh ? Its all too easy over time to forget what you have been taught.

So here are a few tips:

1. Write a list – If you did not receive a post course report which you can refer back to, then write a list of all the things you need to work on – and then work on improving them.

Also make a note of any hints and tips you found useful on your training day. Refer back to these every few weeks to start, if needed.

2. Drive – Driving is a great way to practise your advanced driving skills..!! Remember to put into practise the things you have listed in point 1 above.

3. Talk – On your advanced driving course you may have been taught how to give a commentary when driving. This can be done with someone or alone. It really helps you think and plan (and notice things more) when driving, as opposed to driving on auto-pilot!

4. Watch – When you are a passenger subtly watch your driver (please, dont make them nervous or even tell them!) when they drive. You should be able to pick up on things THEY should be looking for and doing. Are they using the mirror much? are they keeping within the speed limits?

5. Talk again – Why not talk to people about what you have learnt? Passing your skills onto another motorist will not only be of benefit to them, it will also help keep the skills you have learnt fresh in your mind!

Taking an advanced driving course is a great way to become a safer driver, but like with any other skill, you need to keep what you have learnt fresh in your mind.

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