https://www.viewdrivingrecord.service.gov.uk/driving-record/licence-number? and enter your details. Simples!
From Monday 8th June 2015 the driving licence counterpart (paper part) is being abolished and will no longer be valid. Licence holders both full and provisional are being advised to destroy the counterpart by shredding it. This abolition is part of the governments 'Red Tape Challenge' initiative to remove unnecessary burden. In simple terms this means that all the information that WAS held on the counterpart can now be accessed easily on-line at www.gov.uk instead. To view your driving record and licence entitlement just point your mouse to:
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So here we are, officially into Spring 2015 with the bad weather and the first quarter of the year out of the way. The clocks have gone forward and the days are getting ever longer, so is now a good time to start driving lessons?
The simple answer is YES! Maybe you are just turning 17 or maybe a little older and have been promising yourself a course of lessons for some time, but have never quite got round to it. Whatever the reasons, Spring is the best time to take that first step to getting on the road and taking your test. The weather is warm but not too hot and the roads are still quiet ahead of the visiting holiday makers in the school Summer holidays. For most people, starting lessons in Spring means they will be ready for their test by the Summer and will be able to pass and maybe get a car in time for the colder weather of Autumn and Winter. So if you are thinking about learning then 'spring' (sorry) into action and get your first lesson booked as soon as you can. Check out the 'Offers' page for a great beginner deal. The current 40 minute car driving test, although much tougher than its original 20 minute predecessor, is considered out dated by many road industry and safety experts and a review is being carried out as to how to bring it up to date and more in line with modern road demands and challenges. Changes being considered include removing the current 'turn in the road' (3 point turn) and reverse around a corner into a side road. These being replaced with driving independently for a longer period than the current 10 minutes and also being able to demonstrate the ability to follow directions given from a pre-programmed 'sat-nav' to a car park where the candidate would be required to drive 'into' a space and then reverse back out, are all being trialled to establish their viability. The current 'Show and Tell' questions may also be asked while the candidate is driving instead of static, so as to replicate real life situations such as turning on the heated rear window or the headlights etc. All of these are now seen as 'real world' requirements for a new driver and the DVSA wants to make the roads a safer place by making sure test candidates are prepared for such things. The logistics of implementing these changes are still being assessed and considered but one thing is for sure, we as approved driving instructors must be (and will be) at the forefront of such changes and able to safely teach these 'real world' skills to our customers.
Just another reason why choosing the 'right' instructor and not the 'cheapest' is essential when choosing your, or your children's driver trainer. The clips used for the hazard perception test are to be upgraded to computer generated imagery (CGI) this year which will mean the old 'film' clips being replaced with clearer and more up to date scenes for candidates taking their theory test.
The use of CGI will also allow for a wider range of hazards, for example situations involving vulnerable road users such as children or cyclists and a wider range of driving conditions such as night time or bad weather. To find out more about the new clips and how they will be used, go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hazard-perception-clips-get-a-modern-makeover Update... The new CGI clips will come into effect from Monday 12th January 2015. So, I've just done my final test of 2014 and it ended the year, as it began, with a great first time pass for Robson 'Dex' Harrison, who joins the dozens of other learners I've helped to become drivers this year. It's been a difficult year with many people finding money tight but still managing to take proper training to get their licence's and get on the road safely. The new car has proved a massive hit with all that have driven it and I think it has helped my business to grow as well. I'm looking forward to 2015 and hope the snow stays away, as it did last year, so that I can keep teaching through to spring and I'm also looking forward to meeting lots of new and interesting people to help them with their driving.
Can I wish all my customers both old and current (and anybody else reading this) a Very Merry Christmas and A Happy and Safe 2015. Safe Driving! Learner drivers booking their theory or car practical driving tests are being warned about the extra cost involved if you use a bugus or copycat website. If you type the names of some popular government services into search engines, some of your search results might be ads for sites that offer a service you could get for free (or for much less) on GOV.UK, the government’s own website.
Driving test bookings: Some of these copycat websites offer to book theory and practical driving tests, and look like they might be official, but they actually charge a premium for their services. Some websites charge:
Young drivers facing an ever increasing cost of getting on the road might be breathing a sigh of relief this week as the cost of getting a provisional licence is set to fall from £50 to £34.
Transpost minister Claire Perry said "The cost of driving, especially for young drivers can be significant and we are committed to cutting costs where we can. Thanks to the DVLA making large-scale savings to their running costs, we have been able to reduce the cost of the driving licence which will save drivers and businesses £150m over the next 10 years." The reduction starts from October 31st along with the cost of renewing a 10 year licence which will also drop from £20 to £14. It's clear to most people that we are increasingly becoming a cashless society and the driver training industry, like many others, is having to embrace this move towards technology to pay for goods and services. The old " I'll have to stop at a cash machine" excuse on a lesson has now given way to in-car card payment systems, much more convenient for both the instructor and the client, but that convenience comes at a price with the card processing company charging a small percentage for each transaction. And of course you are still relying on the client having their card with them on the lesson.
Now a new system called 'Paym' (pron 'Payem') is set to make things a whole lot easier by allowing the client to make a payment using their mobile phone through their banking app. A better system because nearly every learner has a mobile phone in there pocket or bag and payments are made directly from the clients bank to the instructors bank on an almost instant basis and the whole transaction is free! I use the card system in my car and have found its use steadily on the increase since the beginning of the year. I've now signed up to the 'Paym' system with my bank and feel it will compliment the range of payment options i can offer my clients. It also means less trips to the bank in the rain to pay-in, which is a bonus. It seems we instructors are bombarded on an almost daily basis by company's telling us that their new 'app' for iPhone or Android is 'the one' that's going to make our job easier and get us more clients. Needless to say most of them are pretty "meh!"
One app that stands out above the others is 'miDrive' which has a more professional approach, is easy to use and feature rich for learners and instructors alike. The app can be used to find and contact an instructor in the local area, revise theory on the go, track lessons via your phones built-in GPS and offers a range of articles and video's to help with learners fears and concerns. No app is perfect but 'miDrive' is pretty near for most peoples, which is why I'm on there and have already had a few enquiries from potential customers. If you're looking for an app to compliment your learning experience why not check it out for yourself in the Apple app store and the Android market. Click on 'miDrive' above for the full website experience! I got curious about these after hearing stories from instructors in other towns about 'crash for cash' incidents and although I'm sure that those scams are not something we need to worry about in this part of the world, I thought I would try out some of the latest models to see what they had to offer.
To date I've tried the Transcend DrivePro 200, the BlackVue DR500, the Mini 0801 and the Mobius Action cam, most of which gave really good results in both video and audio but one thing I have learned is that you DON'T get what you pay for. By that I mean that the most expensive, The BlackVue at around £200 with built-in WiFI, GPS logger and it's own app, was not the best overall dashcam for my needs. It had a really wide 'fish eye' type lens and the sound was out of sync with the video no matter what setting I used it on. Without going into a lot of detail I settled on the Mobius Action Cam which costs around £56 depending on lens choice and mount type, BUT it gives excellent day and night video recordings and the sound is equally as good. I have also used the camera pointing into the car and found that it gives a great way to improve lessons and help clients to build their driving skills. If you think you might be interested in one of these camera's then check out 'Techmoan' who has a full range of reviews on this stuff on YouTube and to purchase the Mobius Action Cam head along to Joovuu which is where I bought two of mine. They are quick on delivery and keenly priced. Just as a footnote, some insurance companies offer a discount if you have one of these dashcams fitted, so it might even save you money and a lot of arguments in the event of an accident claim. |
AuthorThese are the musings of Kevin Jewison ADI owner of this driving school and website. Archives
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