Archive 20th June 2015

The Paperless Driving License in UK

Every vehicle driver or any transportation vehicle driver has many obligations in having a car. They need to have necessary papers like registration paper and a driver’s license to use their car freely on the road and in other places. This necessary paper is also needed if you want to rent a car in other places. Every government agency, mostly transportation agency, reinforces different laws regarding having a license. Like the new policy implemented this year in United Kingdom (UK), the Paperless driving license that has  been implemented by Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

The agency transforms the paper-driving license to a credit card size photo-card license. According to the agency, this newest driving license is more about online activities. They can be able to share their license details with third parties via a new digital service called “View driving License”. In this service motorists are allowed to see how many penalty points they have and what vehicle they can drive. It will also serve as a guide to those people who want to check the record of an employee or customer. The government said that they just want the motorist to have an easy access to the government services. This photo card license can be renewed by the motorist after three years. In over-all, the DVLA Strategic plan is to have an easy policy access through technology.

But does this new policy could be easy to the motorist? Is the implementation of this helpful to them? Many motorists were alarmed by this policy of DVLA regarding the new driving license that they must have this year and the paperless driving license will be no longer accommodated once the said policy is fully implemented. Many have said that it will just cause them so much time, effort and money in applying for a photo version-driving license. Many has been confused in this implemented policy mostly to those foreign  car hire firms that it may affect those individuals who are just renting a car during their visit mostly in UK. Because they need first to have necessary papers regarding this policy before they have a car they can be used. This policy may just cause them additional expenses because of the implementation of this new driving license.

But how about to those old motorists having the old version of driving license, even the government is saying and assuring that the change of their old form license will be free but are they still capable on updating their record online. They will be having a hard time in viewing and updating their records unless the government will have a special assistance that will attend to those old drivers or motorists in making those updates online.

On the other side yes, there are good effects that this new policy may have in terms of modernizing the driver’s policy through technology. But the thing is, before they implement this policy make sure that the entire individual that will be affected by this law is warned and guided enough by the government. And make sure that before implementing this new policy it should be decided by the majority.

How to view

A free View Driving Licence service lets you see what details are on your licence, including what vehicles you can drive and any penalty points you may have.  It can be accessed here.

For more information on how this impacts those starting to learn to drive, contact us at James School of Motoring.

Tips for passing the UK driving test

Even if you are the best driver in the country, it is difficult when you have to take the actual take a driving test. You are nervous, scared, and things thing you know just disappear from your memory. To pass your test, it is a good idea to know what expected of you. Some tips and tricks for passing your UK driving tests are:

  • Remember that the driving test is easy. You drive for about 35 minutes. The roads you drive on for the test are the same ones you have probably driven before. Try and remember what is on the rough and all it foibles.
  • Get extra experience and drive with parents or relatives as much as they will let you. Ask them to critique your driving.
  • Practice the general maneuvers as often as you can. Parking, stopping, turning and any other maneuver required takes practice. If you are familiar with these maneuvers, you will do fine.
  • Do not panic. If you make a mistake or feel scared and nervous or your mind goes blank, remember that this thing can happen to anyone, anywhere and at any time. Remain calm, assess your mistakes or emotions and correct them. Let your examiner know you realize you made a mistake and explain how you will correct this error.
  • Study the exam booklet. Become familiar with the DVLA standards of driving and what is expected of you as a driver in the UK. Knowing the signs and highway codes will give you confidence when driving with an examiner.
  • Learn your vehicle. Life the bonnet and have a quick look at the mechanics of your machine. If you are familiar with your vehicle, you may be more relaxed. Ask your instructor, friends and parents how to change a tire, check the oil and learn the basics of how your vehicle mechanically operates.
  • Eat before your test. Most people do not eat when they are nervous and ready to panic. You just magnify your stress levels by not eating. Eating will help settle your nerves and give you the impetus to maintain your focus on what is going on.
  • If you do not hear the instructions from the examiner, speak up. Ask what they said, don’t stay silent and try to guess the instructions. Have them repeat what they just said. This will help you confidently carry out their instructions.
  • Arrive at the testing area a few minutes before your appointed time. Take a deep breath, shake your hands, and try to relax. A nervous driver will make mistakes; so don’t be a nervous driver. You will do fine.

Follow these tips and it should help when you take your driving test.  If you have questions or are looking for a professional driving instructor, please do not to contact as at James School of Motoring, Essex.

Learn to Drive With The Best of the Best!

Jolly teen girl sitting in her car tearing a L-sign after having her driver’s licence

OK, so you haven’t heard from us in a while and for that, we apologise! You see, it’s that time of year when people who want to learn how to drive tend to look for a good driving school, and we’ve been busy.

As you’re no doubt aware, James School of Motoring is based in Braintree, Essex and we’ve been helping new drivers gain a full licence since 1980. You may well be asking yourself what makes us so different from the many driving schools you have to choose from in our area. Well, let us explain!

What Makes Us Stand Out….

From the crowd:

Like any professional driving school, we at James School of Motoring are committed to providing an excellent service to all of our learner drivers (no matter how young or old). What makes us different is the approach we take.

  • You’ll never find yourself paying for more driving lessons than you need. We’re not about making as much money as possible we’re about making sure we have a great pass rate for all our students. After all, it’s our reputation (and your safety) at stake.
  • We understand that learning to drive can, and is a pretty stressful thing to go through. In fact, we would go so far as to say it’s possibly one of THE most stressful exams you’ll undertake. For that reason we not only make sure all our driving instructors are properly qualified, we also ensure they know how to deal with people so you feel completely at ease.
  • When you decide to learn to drive with us, we won’t turn you into a “fair weather” driver because as you all know our weather can be a little, shall we say, unpredictable!

Those Added Extras

If you pay a visit to our website you’ll find we don’t charge for advice! It doesn’t matter if you need more information on how to apply for a provisional driving licence, how to go about your theory or practical driving test and of course, everything you need to know on the packages we offer on driving lessons.

Speaking of lessons, we offer plenty of packages to suit all needs and if you don’t find what you’re looking for just give us a call where a friendly ear is waiting to talk to you.

Passed But Still Nervous?

At James School of Motoring we understand that just because you’ve passed your test and gained a full driving licence, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re comfortable with driving on your own. Nerves can take a while to settle even when you’ve done all the hard work.

If this is you, try taking a look at our Plus Pass Lessons which are available in Braintree and the surrounding areas. Not only will we help you become a more confident driver, our instructors will also teach you the following:

  • Night driving.
  • Motorway driving.
  • Driving on dual carriageways.
  • We will also teach you how to deal with driving in town and the countryside.

All in all, if you’re looking for a professional driving school that has a reputation second to none, James School of Motoring is here to help!

UK driving test information 2015

Driving tests in the UK are designed to measure if you can drive safely in different road and traffic conditions and if you know the Highway Codes. You need to show this through your driving ability, eyesight check, two vehicle safety questions, and theory test.

The eyesight check requires you to read a license plate number 20 metres away for vehicles with the new-style number plate. You will also need to read a license plate that is printed in the old style at least 20.5 metres away. If you fail the eyesight test, you will not be allowed to carry on with the theory or the practical driving test.

The driving ability part of your test will last 40 minutes. The examiner will be looking for safe driving habits. You should follow the directions the examiner gives you. The test will include normal stops, angle starts or pulling out from behind a parked vehicle, a hill start and an emergency stop. If you are nervous, you may ask someone who is older the 16 years to accompany you.

You will also need to reverse your vehicle by reversing around corners, turning in the road, and reverse parking. An independent driving test will also be administered to assess your ability to drive safely while making your own decisions.

The written tests include fifty questions that test your ability to know the rules of the road. These questions are multiple-choice, and each has four answers. The theory test has a time limit of 57 minutes. You must correctly answer 43 of these questions to pass.

Some of the questions you will encounter are: On a standard three-lane motorway, what is the purpose of the right-hand lane? The answer choices are: for low-speed cruising on the motorway, for the purpose of overtaking, for high-speed cruising on the motorway, or for use by high sided vehicles.

Another question could be: While driving behind a vehicle on a road that is slippery and wet, what time gap should you have between their car and doors? The answer should be: one second is not enough time, 4 seconds would be better.

When you feel confident about your ability to drive and take the driving test, you can book your practical driving test by going online to www.gov.uk and following the links for Driving & Transport. The fees for the Theory Test are £25.00, and all tests are conducted in English or Welsh. There are no foreign language tests currently available.

During the theory test, you will see computer generated clips that feature every day road scenes and contain developing hazards. You will need to watch the screen and make a response. The quicker you spot the problems and solve them, the higher your score will be. If you pass the theory test, you will get a certificate. You must have a passed certificate in order to take the practical tests. Keep your certificate safe and take the practical test within two years.

If you are interested in taking lessons to help you pass your driving test, James School of Motoring can help.  Please contact us for a friendly chat.