Driving in fog

Stay safe when visibility is reduced by fog, rain or spray

According to the Highway Code, you must use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced – generally when you cannot see for more than 100 metres (328 feet) or the length of a football pitch.

There's no obligation to use fog lights but if your car is involved in an accident in reduced visibility and its fog lights weren't on, then it may be queried by an insurer.

If you do use fog lights they must be switched off when visibility improves. This applies equally to front and rear fog lights.

When there's fog around visibility can seriously deteriorate in a matter of seconds. Be extra vigilant and drive only as fast as conditions allow and maintain a greater distance between you and the car in front.

Fog lights

Use common sense when it comes to fog lights. Some drivers are worried about dazzling other motorists, and some simply don't know how to turn them on.

Generally it's better to be safe than sorry, so use them when appropriate. Don't keep switching them on and off, though – this can be a distraction, so wait for a consistent improvement in visibility before switching them off - front and back.

Ten tips

• Use dipped headlights at all times along with wipers and demisters.
• Familiarise yourself with your front and rear fog lights – know how to switch them on and off – and use them when appropriate.
• Beware of other drivers not using headlights.
• Only drive as fast as conditions allow and maintain a greater distance between you and the car in front.  Follow a three-second rule.
• Tailing someone's rear lights can give a false sense of security and is dangerous.
• If the road has street lights on, then you probably don't need your fog lights on.
• Be able to stop within the distance you can see clearly – this is particularly important on motorways and dual carriageways, as vehicles are travelling faster.
• Don't accelerate to get away from a vehicle that is too close behind you.
• Check your mirrors before you slow down.
• At a junction with limited visibility, stop, wind down the window, andlisten for traffic. When you are sure it is safe to emerge, do so positively and do not hesitate in a position that puts you directly in the path of approaching vehicles.

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/seasonal/driving-in-fog.html

Driving test pass rates in UK.

Driving Test Centre Pass Rates Postcodes A to M

The national pass rate, and so the average pass rate, for males is 49.1% and for females 42.8%. For pass rates relating to test centres with postcodes N to Z. To view the full postal address of each driving test centre.

POSTCODE TOWN OR CITY Pass rate Male (%) Pass rate Female AB12 3GQ Nigg, Aberdeen 54.4 54.3 AB22 8GT Balgownie Road, Aberdeen  50.9 45.4 AB35 5QW Ballater 77.2 54.9 AB42 1SE Peterhead  63.6 59.0 AB43 9BH Fraserburgh  68.2  55.5 AB45 1DJ Banff 54.7 57.9 AB51 4FR Inverurie 66.8 59.7 AB54 8JX Huntly 63.4 58.1 AB56 1QJ Buckie 55.5  51.8 AL1 3JX St Albans 45.7  41.2 B14 5JA Birmingham, King's Heath  43.2 38.9 B26 1EA Birmingham, Clay Lane 42.8 31.0 B33 0TJ Garretts Green, Birmingham 46.9 34.2 B44 9UL Kingstanding, Birmingham  44.7 34.1 B73 5UB Sutton Coldfield 52.1 39.5 B90 4AA Solihull  55.7 46.9 B97 6HJ Redditch 44.9 40.6 BA20 1SH Yeovil 56.4 51.9 BB3 0DB Blackburn 50.6 39.2 BB9 0AH Nelson 45.7 41.1 BD3 7AY Bradford 38.5 30.1 BD9 5AS Bradford 35.5 24.3 BD21 2BL Keighley 52.9 39.3 BD23 2BE Skipton 53.3 47.1 BH10 6BW Bournemouth 51.4 45.9 BL3 2AW Bolton 50.5 44.7 BL9 6HH Bury 52.3 45.7 BN22 7PT Eastbourne 57.1 49.5 BN12 6EA Worthing 57.0 47.0 BR4 0RL West Wickham 54.0 47.3 BS4 5JX Bristol 56.1 48.0 BS10 6PZ Southmead, Bristol  52.4 47.8 BS15 4GQ Kingswood, Bristol 49.5 44.4 BS23 3PZ Weston Super Mare  55.7 48.9 CA1 2QJ Carlisle  56.4 51.6 CA14 2QG Workington  56.1 49.4 CB4 3AP Cambridge  56.1 51.9 CB4 0DT Cowley Road, Cambridge  55.2 47.9 CF5 3AU Fairwater, Cardiff 54.5 48.5 CF31 4AD Bridgend  56.8 47.9 CF37 1HH Pontypridd  56.5 49.9 CF47 8TX Merthyr Tydfil 57.5 52.4 CF63 4JP Barry 50.4 48.8 CH44 8AT Wallasey 48.6 43.2 CH49 0UF Upton, Wirral 49.8 45.5 CH3 6EE Chester  49.9 43.9 CM1 1GU Chelmsford  41.4 36.6 CM14 5JN Brentwood 33.0 32.5 CM23 3LD Bishops Stortford  52.5 45.2 CO15 6PR Clacton-on-Sea  46.1 38.8 CO2 8HF Colchester  35.6 29.4 CR0 3HH Croydon  44.2 37.7 CT1 3AS Canterbury  44.8 40.5 CT20 2RH Folkestone 45.0 39.9 CT6 8SP Herne Bay 47.2 41.3 CV7 9EJ Coventry 41.4  33.0 CV10 8AA Nuneaton 53.7 53.7 CV22 7DH Rugby 56.4 46.7 CV34 5LZ Warwick 55.2 48.2 CW08 4BU Northwich 58.4 47.6 CW12 1JN Congleton 55.3 50.7 CW2 7LL Crewe 57.5 49.1 DA11 0HU Gravesend 51.1 45.9 DA14 5AG Sidcup 43.3 38.7 DA17 5EE Belvedere 41.2 33.9 DD10 9SL Montrose 58.0 53.0 DD11 3AT Arbroath 68.2 53.9 DE14 2QD Burton-on-Trent 45.9 40.8 DD2 3UD Dundee 50.2 44.6 DD8 3DT Forfar 59.2 55.6 DE24 9GL Derby 56.4 43.8 DG1 2SH Dumfries 49.9 38.0 DG7 1AJ Castle Douglas  51.1 48.8 DG8 6JL Newton Stewart 60.6 40.0 DG9 7DG Stranraer 64.5 55.0 DH01 3AT Durham 58.7 50.2 DL06 1NU Northallerton 61.1 49.6 DL1 4PW Darlington 48.7 46.0 DL14 7TL Bishop Auckland 60.2 51.7 DN02 6DT Doncaster 52.5 44.3 DN15 8UH Scunthorpe 51.4 41.8 DN37 9PH Grimsby 45.3 39.7 DT1 1PU Dorchester 59.7 54.8 DY3 2AY Lower Gornal 49.7 45.0 E11 2AW Wanstead 33.4 27.5 E4 6AD Chingford 40.6 36.2 EH14 5LT Edinburgh (currie) 49.8 42.9 EH21 6SL Musselburgh, Edinburgh 50.8 45.6 EH41 4NG Haddington 60.0 57.5 EH45 8DN Peebles 60.5 43.6 EH48 2AG Bathgate, Edinburgh 55.5 45.5 EN3 7NJ Enfield 38.0 33.5 EN5 1AD Barnet 35.7 33.1 EX2 5AZ Exeter 54.3 49.4 EX32 9HT Barnstaple 58.0 48.4 FK1 5HR Falkirk 54.6 43.8 FK17 8BN Callander 55.6 44.9 FK8 2HF Stirling 44.6 39.4 FY02 0XE Blackpool 48.8 40.1 G13 1XS Anniesland Road, Glasgow 43.1 39.9 G21 3UH Balornock Road, Glasgow 44.7 39.3 G51 4TH West Glasgow 38.6 33.9 G69 6GA Springhill Parkway, Glasgow 43.1 37.3 G82 1SJ Dumbarton 46.6 47.4 GL2 4LY Gloucester 49.2 47.2 GL52 2HQ Cheltenham 50.8 47.6 GU1 1SA Guildford 48.1 46.3 GU14 8JG Farnborough 51.2 47.4 HA5 2DZ Pinner 53.6 43.9 HD1 5NA Huddersfield 51.5 39.4 HG5 8QB Knaresborough 57.6 52.5 HP12 3PS High Wycombe 55.0 47.5 HP21 7SL Aylesbury 50.5 47.4 HR4 9NS Hereford 53.5 48.3 HS1 2XX Stornoway, Isle of Lewis 60.6 46.0 HS3 3DL Harris     HS6 5AA Lochmaddy     HS7 5LA Benbecula Island 72.4 37.8 HS8 5TH Lochboisdale 55.6 55.6 HS9 5XD Isle of Barra 66.7 53.8 HU6 7PY Hull 49.3 42.2 HX02 0HA Halifax  54.6 41.2 IG10 1RB Loughton 39.6 34.2 IG3 9UZ Ilford 34.27   IP3 9RR Ipswich 51.3 45.9 IP33 1TJ Bury St Edmunds 43.5 36.7 IV17 0PJ Alness 62.9 50.0 IV2 5GH Inverness 56.0 50.3 IV21 2BX Gairloch 71.4 62.5 IV26 2XL  Ullapool 47.4 52.0 IV27 4DB Lairg 66.7 56.3 IV30 1UE Elgin 52.7 48.4 IV40 8BP Kyle of Lochalsh 46.7 52.5 IV49 9AQ Broadford 67.6 47.6 IV51 9LX Portree 66.7 45.6 KA1 3RB Kilmarnock 44.2 42.5 KA18 1BY Cumnock 60.3 53.2 KA21 5RB Saltcoats 56.6 48.9 KA26 9PH Girvan 48.9 48.9 KA27 8AU Brodick 48.9 48.9 KA8 9JQ Ayr 48.9 48.9 KT16 9JX Chertsey 51.3 51.3 KT6 7RZ Tolworth 52.1 46.4 KW1 4QS Wick 53.3 51.9 KW10 6SP Golspie 67.5  48.9 KW14 7SP Thurso 58.1 57.1 KW14 7QA Thurso 58.1 57.1 KW15 1FL Orkney 59.4 57.4 KW8 6JE Helmsdale     KY1 3EL Kirkcaldy 50.3 50.3 KY11 8UH Dunfermline 54.7 48.7 L1 1BR Norris Green 47.3 43.2 L19 5ND Garston, Liverpool 52.3 43.6 LA03 2DR Heysham 53.0 47.9 LA09 6NQ Kendal 64.1  57.0 LA14 2PN Barrow-In-Furness 58.0 53.4 LD1 5HA Llandrindod Wells 76.1 76.1 LD3 7RY Brecon 57.7 59.7 LE10 2TG Hinckley 58.1 49.6 LE11 1BG Loughborough 49.6 44.6 LE13 1JY Melton Mowbray 50.9 46.6 LE18 4WS Leicester 47.1 39.5 LE4 6RH Leicester 52.2 44.1 LL18 2EL Rhyl 42.9 34.7 LL23 7SP Bala 48.5 41.8 L44 8AT Wallasey 48.6 43.2 LL57 4SW Bangor 49.7 45.9 LL53 5HT Pwllheli 55.2 53.6 LN11 0HQ Louth 56.7 45.3 LN2 4LA Lincoln 49.8 46.8 LS18 5NY Horsforth, Leeds 45.2 37.4 LS9 6NF Harehills Lane, Leeds 37.8 33.0 LU1 5BT Luton 46.8 38.7 LU7 3HA Leighton Buzzard 51.0 45.2 M33 7ER Sale 46.5 41.4 M35 0RU Failsworth, Manchester 45.2 35.9 M46 0SY Atherton 53.7 45.5 M8 0TD Cheetham, Manchester 50.8 42.3 ME15 6JZ Maidstone 54.0 46.9 NE32 3EG South Shields 53.3 44.8 ME8 0NZ Gillingham 39.9 33.9 MK3 6DH Bletchley 53.3 46.9 MK40 3LT Bedford 49.0 41.3 ML11 7DZ Lanark 50.2 36.9 ML3 6RQ Hamilton 41.1 33.5 ML6 0DA Airdrie 45.2 38.9

http://www.driving-test-success.com/dsa_driving_test_centre_pass_rates.htm

Help me to pass the theory test..

Help me to pass the theory test.
Every now and again a pupil will struggle to pass the theory test.
There could be a number of reasons:
1.  The pupil has not prepared enough.
2.  The pupil has gone into the test thinking they will pass.
3.  The pupil is using the wrong material.
4.  The pupil is not asking for advise or help.
5.  The pupil is feeling the pressure of not passing.

The first 4 reasons are linked together, and the 5th is a result of the others.

So, let me say that I am only a phone call away and I am happy to give you some advise.

What you want to do is look at your study material first.  Sometimes an app on your phone is not enough or a disc from the local supermarket( but that does work for lots).

It could be that you need to look at different types of ways of learning i.e. the theory test game on DVD(its fun). Or just go back to basics and read from a book.  Check out different websites on theory tests.  I have a couple of free ones on my links page of my website www.travis-drive.co.uk If you are failing the test repeatedly and its the same questions then either have driving lessons and work on them areas.
On the theory mock tests if you are getting a score of 48 out of 50 consistently on10 tests then you are ready to take the test.  If you are getting 44 ish then more practice is needed.

Top tips.
A.  When you start the test don't waste time on a question if you don't know it(flag it, and come back to it at the end).
B.  If you notice that later on in the test that a previous answer is wrong(go back and change it).

Good luck
James

 

I was dreaming about my clutch control..

My first lesson of the day. 
The pupil sits in the car and says "I have been dreaming about my clutch control all night, and now you are here I am a bit nervous." 
It is the pupils 5th and 6th hour.
I told the pupil that it is normal to think about wanting to get better at your driving. The pupil then set up the car and pulled off without stalling. 

At the end of the lesson I congratulated the pupil on a much improved clutch control. 

Sri Salagrama

Sri Salagrama

Are you finding it hard to pass your driving test in Milton Keynes?

If you are failing your driving test in Milton Keynes then you need to ask why.
It could be:
1   You are not up to the standard of driving that is required to pass the driving test.
2.  You are too worried about failing your test that it affects your driving.
3.  You are being taught by a family member.

If the answer is YES to any of the three points above then YOU NEED ME.
I am James Travis  fully qualified driving instructor.  I have helped 100's of people pass the driving test.
Give me a call 07747742842 for a free friendly no obligation chat about how I can help you pass your driving test.
You could also visit my website www.drive-travis.co.uk and read what some of my pupils have said about the training on my testimonials page.

Good luck with your driving

James Travis