The debate is raging and it is likely to become more vociferous in the coming years as it has been announced that all new cars are to be fitted with automatic daytime headlights within four years. Government has been against the idea, arguing grounds that using lights in the daytime would increase fuel consumption and emissions.

Motoring groups are united in their opposition to the move claiming that fuel consumption will increase by three percent, a figure that the European Union refutes claiming that it is only 0.3 percent a figure which would not be noticed by vehicle users. Anything that makes a vehicle more visible to all road users, and that includes cyclists and pedestrians, can only be a good thing. However what could be more important is if road users used dipped headlights in fog and poor visibility, something that all students learn during their driving lessons at the Bill Plant School of Motoring.

It is true to say that modern tyres have never been better; the technology has advanced, possibly through F1 racing teams with their millions of pounds pouring into research at all levels. Tyres are made to very high quality standards, but there are still slight variations in thickness of the rubber as well as the steel belt and radial webbing, causing slight variations in weight easily compensated for by wheel balancing.

Bill Plant Driving School believes that road safety is one of the most important aspects of driving.

Tyres should be checked on a weekly basis, always when cold, this check should include not just the tyre’s pressure, but also a visual check for cuts, bulges, nails or screws embedded in the tread. These weekly checks will ensure that your tyres will not suffer premature wear, and your car will ride and steer as the makers intended. Almost certainly you will see an improvement in fuel consumption, which at today’s price is important. Your life and the lives of other road users could be dependant on drivers taking care of their tyres and changing them before the legal limit of tread depth is reached.

Reports of the tragic death of a man driving the wrong way down the M6 in Cumbria highlight the need for advanced tuition following the passing of the practical and theoretical driving test. At Bill Plant School of Motoring we advocate that pupils consider enrolling for the Pass Plus and motorway driving instruction as part of their driving tuition.

Experienced drivers will be aware that to access a motorway “the wrong way” has to be extremely difficult, but clearly it can be done as this report and others before it demonstrate. By becoming involved with a plus pass course or an advanced driving course you will become a much better and safer driver all round and you will be eligible for a reduction in your insurance premium following this.

You have successfully passed your theory test as well as the practical section of the driving test and are about to embark on the road on your own for the first time, naturally you are either terrified, excited, scared, or more likely all of these. Previously, you will have driven many miles in a driving school car or in your parents’, sitting alongside a fully qualified driver, but now you are a fully qualified driver and about to embark on the road by yourself.

If you plan your journey you will enjoy this newly found experience so plan the time to go, avoid the rush hour traffic and go out in daylight for the first few trips. The weather is something to consider, although if you have done a pass plus course you will have experienced a wide variety of weather conditions, if not go out when the weather is settled and dry.

Plan your route ahead of your intended journey, if possible avoiding roads you may not be familiar with. Try to restrict your journey time to less than one hour which will be enough for your first solo drive. Above all enjoy the newly found freedom!

Remember, the Bill Plant Driving School is always there to offer you friendly and helpful advice even after you have passed your driving test.

It’s not always that easy to know where to start when learning to drive. For any learner driver it can be confusing to know what you need to get started. That’s just one of the reasons we provided an informative driving school website to help you every step of the way.

All topics are covered from your provisional driving licence application to more advanced driver training. For those looking for a career change Bill Plant may just have the answer for you, the website gives great advice on becoming a qualified driving instructor.

 The Driving Test

The Bill Plant Website also provides information about theory tests and the hazard perception test. Questions and example tests are available all just a mouse click away. For those about to embark on that all important practical test you can find out what to expect on the day and learn valuable information on those manoeuvres.

 Passing The Driving Test

Ok, so you have just passed your driving test. Help! Now what ? It’s OK, don’t panic, the Bill Plant Driving School will continue to help you even when you have passed your test. With Pass Plus and Motorway Driving Lessons as well as offering valuable information on the UK Driving Law you can be confident Bill Plant will not let you down.

Further demonstrating the forward thinking of our driving school, Bill Plant has now published the Highway Code in full as an addition to the already comprehensive web site, considered to be further evidence that this driving school offers its students the best from their offices throughout the UK.

All students will be familiar with the Highway Code, but what better than to look up that important piece of advice which can be accessed literally at the click of the mouse. The format for the Highway Code is simple with the introductory page divided into 24 main categories, as an example section 103 to 158: General rules, techniques and advice for all drivers and riders.

The online publication is comprehensive and fully covers the Department for Transport’s current printed version, although in the case of any court proceedings, whether civil or criminal, is the only one which should be replied upon.

One of the most aggravating things described by most drivers is what is known as “tail gating”, in other words sitting on the tailgate of the car that is in front, remember those stickers that said “if you can read this you are too close!” Being shunted from behind, or worse being responsible for hitting the car in front can be the cause of you and your passengers serious injury, remember you will be considered to be at fault if you hit the car in front of you!

Stress levels will be reduced by keeping a safe distance between you and the car in front when driving and the driving instructor at the driving school will tell you to use “the two second rule”, Leave at least a two second gap between you and the vehicle in front. And this rule should be increased to double this distance on wet roads and even further on icy roads.

Dramatic changes to the way we drive has been happening since the first Highway Code was introduced in 1931, one of the first recommendations in this was that drivers should use their horn when overtaking, can you imagine the reaction if that was the case now?

Other changes over the years have included; car numbers have increased from 1.5 million in 1931 to a staggering 30 million today! In 1966 the government of the day introduced a drink-driving limit of 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood, which still stands today. The breathalyser followed in 1967, and the very controversial, at the time, wearing of seatbelt was made compulsory in 1983.

Most people do not like changes and those affecting the way we drive are less popular than most. However, we have to agree that all of the legislation is introduced to ensure, or to improve our road safety. Bill Plant Driving School is always up-to-date with the latest driving news.

The understanding of driving procedures in a safe way on today’s roads is paramount. Bill Plant teaches driving instructors to develop their own driving skills and fully understand road safety. In order to be a driving instructor you need to be able to assess a learner driver’s driving knowledge and skill level.

The driving instructor would then use information about the learner’s driving skills to target the driving lessons in areas that need attention to make sure the learner gains a driving licence. The driving lessons will of course follow a well constructed pattern.

Lets look at some of the areas that will be covered in the Bill Plant driving lessons:

• A good understanding of the UK driving law
• Safe driving and operation of all the car controls
• Driving attitude and correct approach
• Safe manoeuvring of the vehicle such as reversing, turns and car parking

Dual controls will of course be used when you are in the car with your driving instructor. When a learner driver has more skills and the driving instructor feels they are ready they will be taken  to busier roads and experience different types of roads such as dual carriage ways and learn roundabout skills as well as road junctions.

The Bill Plant Driving School promotes road safety and expects all learner drivers to follow the Highway Code. Learner drivers can be confident that when the driving instructor thinks they are ready they will advise them to make an application to take their driving test. The driving school will cover the theory test and conduct hazard perception training.

Whether you believe that the speed camera is a safety device, a revenue raising device, or do not have an opinion, one thing that you can be sure of and that is that they are here to stay. They certainly raise revenue; about that there is no argument, for as long ago as the year 2003, cameras raised £120 million from the 2 million motorists who were caught by camera, exceeding the speed limit.

For a number of years now, the fixed speed camera has been easily recognisable, as by law they had to be painted a bright fluorescent yellow, with reflective paint making them visible even in the dark.  This is now no longer the case and the camera can be neutral in colour and it can even be placed unobtrusively, or in other words hidden! As always here at Bill Plant driving school, we emphasise that the law and the Highway Code should be obeyed at all times for both the sake of other road users and to keep your all important driving licence clean, breaking the speed limit means three points on your licence, or in the case of excessive speed six points. Keep it clean.