**WIN A ONLINE DRIVER COURSE**

**** Win a Online driver course****
The course is an essential source of information that will assist you along side your driving lessons and help you in preparation for your theory and practical test.
Anyone can enter the draw all you have to do is follow the link onto my Facebook page and
LIKE THIS POST
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Travis-School-of-Motoring/162500747104343
I will post the winner selected at random on the 28th.

Driving. Someone has flashed the headlights at me.

What if someone flashes the headlights at me?

Perhaps having read the post on flashing headlights, you might be coming to the conclusion that flashing of headlights can cause as many problems as they solve, with potentially lethal consequences. So how should you respond to those who flash you?

The DSA manual 'Driving, the essential skills' offers sound advice. It states that before you act you should make sure that the signal is for you and that you understand its meaning.

It also suggests that you should ask yourself the following questions:

What's the other driver trying to tell me?
If I move, will it be safe?
Is the signal for me or another road user?
Am I causing a hold-up by staying where I am?
Is the other driver really signalling or were those headlights flashed accidentally?
I'd also like to suggest some questions of my own, namely.

Have I forgotten to turn my lights on?
Have I forgotten to turn my lights off?
Am I speeding?
With regard to the last one 'Am I speeding? ' Beware. if you warn others of a speed trap you could be prosecuted for obstructing the police in their duties (and of course, you shouldn't be speeding!).

Finally...

There are legitimate uses for flashing headlights.

For example flashing from dipped to full beam can warn of your presence on bends and at junctions after dark or to warn of hidden danger during daylight hours.
www.travis-drive.co.uk

Driving. Flashing headlights

Flashing headlights
Like the horn, flashing headlights warn other road users of your presence. They should not be used for any other reason.

Although you know who you are flashing at and what you mean, others might not.

You could for example, flash to give way to a driver on the right. While you are watching him and he is saying 'thank you', a driver on the left (who thought the signal was for him) could pull into your path. Crash!

See Highway Code Rules 110 and 111 about flashing headlights.
www.travis-drive.co.uk

Emergency Stop Part 2

Stopping under control Part 2.
Controlling the car
Control when stopping quickly is easy if you follow the two basic rules below...

Press the footbrake before the clutch
Keep a firm grip on the steering wheel with both hands until the car has stopped
Pressing the brake before the clutch helps you to keep control, especially as an inexperienced driver. One theory for pressing the footbrake first is that 'engine braking' helps to slow the car down, however, in reality this effect is negligible (unless you are stopping on an extremely slippery surface like oil or ice).

A more important reason in the early stages of learning is that it is that you must aim to get the brakes 'biting' before the clutch is pressed. Pressing the clutch down a fraction of a second before the brake can cause a brief 'surge forward' which in turn can make an inexperienced driver hesitate for a fraction of a second - in an emergency every moment counts - at 50 miles per hour you will cover well over two metres in just one tenth of a second!

You can time your use of the pedals by thinking or saying the words 'brake-and-clutch' to yourself at a normal speaking pace. Doing this will also help to keep you calm because it will occupy your mind with useful information.

The best results are obtained when you shout the words 'brake and clutch' out loud - but you might end up laughing or getting strange looks from pedestrians (especially if the car windows are open!).

As you think the word 'brake', press the brake quickly, firmly and progressively; the word 'and' provides a pause before finally pressing the clutch.

Keeping you hands on the wheel is important because in much the same way that you are thrown forward during harsh braking (hence the need for seatbelts), much of the car's weight is thrown forwards on to the front wheels.

This means that you need maximum control of the steering because the rear of the car becomes lighter and the tyres are more likely to lose their grip (causing the car to skid).

Another benefit of keeping your hands on the wheel is that it will help to stabilise you in your seat ... More stability, more control.
www.driveractive.com

Emergency Stop

Stopping under control Part 1.
During your driving test you might be asked to 'stop, as if in an emergency'. Although this isn't included in every test, you still need to know how to do it - Just in case!

When we say 'just in case', we don't mean in case you need it for the driving test - we mean in case you need it to save your life or someone else's.

Whether you are in a real emergency or just doing the driving test exercise you must react quickly - every moment counts!

This means that you might not have time to make your normal safety checks, your mirrors become a low priority, stop first, look later.
www.travis-drive.co.uk

Passed the driving test first time.

Congratulations to Chris Hallam on passing his driving test today, first time and with only 8 minors. Well done, safe driving for life.

see more of my pupils who have passed.
www.travis-drive.co.uk

Independent driving on the driving test

Find out about the independent driving on the driving test.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXd6npRMyFI

I am afraid to drive in the snow.

An interesting day with the snow/slush on the roads. My first lesson was a snow lesson with a pupil who was ready for her test. At first the pupil wanted to cancel the lesson because the thought of driving in the snow was making her nervous. So I explained that next winter she will be driving alone in her own car where now you have the opportunity to be taught to drive in snow by a professional who will be at your side helping. At the end of the lesson my pupil thanked me for encouraging her to drive in the snow. :)
www.travis-drive.co.uk

Be careful driving in the snow

If you are driving to school or work this morning. Give yourself extra time and remember the main roads might be ok to drive on but the side roads will not of been treated and be still covered in snow.

WIN A DRIVER ON-LINE COURSE

WIN a on-line drivers course.
Every month for the next six months I will be giving away to one lucky follower FREE access to a on-line drivers course.
All you have to do is click on like on my facebook page   http://www.facebook.com/pages/Travis-School-of-Motoring/162500747104343                                                                                                    be in with a chance. So everyone has a chance. 
You can tell all your friends that they have a chance all they have to do is like this facebook page and follow my posts. 
SPREAD THE WORD
Open to UK only.

Show me tell me. Part of the driving test

At the beginning of your driving test you will be asked two questions about the car/ controls.  These are the questions and answers that you will be asked
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Travis-School-of-Motoring/162500747104343?v=app_2347471856
Hope it helps you with your preparation to pass your driving test.

Great driving lessons today. Well done

Well done to my pupils today for some good driving. 
Sri Nageswari on a good lesson after a break from Christmas.
Adam Edwards on better clutch control in busy traffic.
Danielle Bentley on a good lesson on braking and anticipation.
See you all next week.
James www.travis-drive.co.uk

Seat belt law in cars

SEATBELTS.
Seatbelt laws were first put into place thirty years ago but we still face issues with their use. One in five (19%) motorists claim to know someone who doesn’t use a seatbelt in the front of their car.
Today (31 January 2013) will see the anniversary of the introduction of compulsory wearing which came to effect in 1983. Latest figures show 95 per cent of drivers and 96 per cent of front seat passengers wear a seat belt; 89 per cent of rear seat passengers use one. Yet every year, not wearing a seatbelt is still a contributory factor in more than 220 deaths and serious injuries.
A higher number of younger motorists know someone who does not wear a seatbelt compared to the older age group.
In the back of the car, 41% of 18-29 year olds know someone who doesn’t wear a seatbelt compared to 25% of 45+ year olds whilst for in the front of the car, 36% of 16-29 year olds know someone compared to 11% of 55+ year olds.
Drivers and passengers aged 17-34 have the lowest seat belt wearing rates combined with the highest accident rates.
Yet 14 per cent of adults still admit to being inconsistent seat-belt wearers.
IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “In the past three decades seatbelts have made a fantastic contribution to road safety success in Britain helping to save thousands of lives. But the ongoing message needs to be reinforced to all age groups.”
“All the modern technology in a new car assumes the occupant is wearing a seatbelt. Younger drivers know that not wearing a seatbelt is dangerous, but they must still be reminded that no matter where you are sitting in a car, a seatbelt will save your life.”
http://www.iam.org.uk/media-and-research/media-centre/news-archive/20197-30th-anniversary-for-seatbelts