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Showing posts from January, 2016

The new driving test?

Most of us have been there – that daunting moment when you get behind the wheel of a car and hope that you pass your test. The latter half of 2015 marked a change in the way that future driving students could pass – and I must admit, I wish I could have sat this test. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) introduced a trial for a new driving test that can better assess if someone is a safe driver or not. So over the last few months, the DVSA has allowed 2,000 – 3,000 learners to try the new test. The trial is scheduled to end in the spring. So what does it mean for future learners if the trial takes over the current test? Well, I have compiled a list of differences between the existing test and the trial. Currently both "show me" and "tell me" questions are asked at the beginning of the test. However in the trial test "tell me" questions are asked at the beginning, and "show me" questions are asked whilst the learner is driving. For the

‘You must have seen me... No I didn't!’ Well there’s no excuse now

The on-going dispute between lorry/van drivers and cyclists shows no sign of being settled any time soon.  Both parties are often at fault especially during rush hour in the UK’s largest cities. However of the UK’s leading supermarket Sainsbury’s has launched a lorry designed specifically for the safety of cyclists and pedestrians. The specifications include 360 degree monitors, extra side lighting for road users at night, a warning sticker to alert road users that they are in the driver’s blind spot, a tail lift operation warning- so that there will be an audible sound when the tail lift is being lowered and low side guards and reflective infill’s to help stop cyclists from falling under the vehicle. There are a number of vehicles ready for the same specifications but this lorry will be the first of its kind in London. The benefits of this lorry are extended wider as it reduces the environmental impact due to maximum aerodynamics, reduces noise for residents via low noise under mount

Five high risk driving behaviours

Accidents happen. Fact. But there comes a time when people need to take responsibility and realise that sometimes it’s not always the other person fault. There are many things that contribute to a crash – from someone not having enough sleep, or someone speeding down the motorway in poor driving conditions. Below are a list of five high risk behaviours that drivers need to be careful of! Driver fatigue Long shifts that drag into the night, short sleeps and being unable or reluctant to take a break can all contribute to fatigue and increase crash risk. Speeding Driving too fast is a main contributing factor for work-related crashes. There is a positive relationship between increased vehicle speeds and injury severity with excessive speed being a predictor of fatal crash involvement. Time pressure A combination of issues, including personality, motivation and organisational influences can make a driver feel pressured for time and increase risk taking and crash involvement rates. Distract

Dashboard Cameras - will they catch on?

Dashboard cameras or Dash Cams are on the rise in the UK market but will they soon be a staple in every car?  In-car cameras can record valuable footage in the event of a crash, as the evidence it provides can be relied on in court should the worst happen. Some cameras can also record rear views & some equipped with infra-red sensors to enable recordings in the dark too. Insurers and law enforcement are the most likely to benefit from this device being used by consumers. This is because they greatly contribute to the resolution of traffic accidents and claims. It can be an accident due to an unexpected manoeuvre from the car in front of you or a fraudulent incident that is almost impossible to recognise or simply a solution that will require a detailed examination later. There a number of benefits that could come in the future as a result of dashboard cameras. Firstly insurer discounts, there could be insurer products linked to having a video camera in your car. This could also sig