Tips for driving in Fog

Fog is basically cloud that is on the ground. Rather than looking up at them, when it is foggy we are in them rather than beneath them. There is something called a 'dew point' which is when the temperature drops to a point where the air becomes saturated and fog forms.

Fog can limit visibility to less than a 1/4 of a mile, a distance you will cover in around 10 seconds when driving at 60mph. Needless to say, drivers should limit their speed to reflect this reduction in visibility.

As with any adverse weather conditions, it is always advisable to postpone your journey if at all possible as most fog will usually not last more than a morning. If you can’t, then the following tips should help you get where you're going safely.

1)  Drive with your lights on low beam. You will only succeed in blinding yourself and anyone driving towards you if you use your high beams in fog. As fog is white, it will reflect your lights right back at you.

2)  Keep an eye on your speed. When driving in fog, you can get a false impression of your speed as the conditions create a slow motion effect. It doesn't alter your speedometer, so use it to gauge your speed.

3)  It might be an idea when driving in these conditions to refrain from to listening to music in your car. This will help you to listen out for traffic you may not be able to see. Wind down your window and keep an ear out for other cars.

4)  Don't let visibility problems you can control affect your ability to see. Use your wipers when you need to and if it happens to be freezing fog, then top up your winter windscreen wash and properly defrost all of your windows before you set off.

5)  Use visible road markings as a guide and to where you should be going. Don't use the rear lights of other vehicles in front to guide your direction as there is no guarantee that the lights you can see belong to car that is actually moving. It could be a stranded car. By the time you realise the car isn't moving, you may not have the time to avoid it.

6)  If you break down in this sort of scenario you must turn off your lights to avoid confusing others and if possible to do so safely, move away  from your car before making your calls to whichever recovery service you belong to.

7)  Don't use your fog lights unnecessarily. If you drive for long enough, you will see a lot of people putting on their fog lights at the first hint of fog. A fog light should only be used when the fog is dense enough to need it. It will cause an effect similar to blinding someone with main-beam headlights.

8)  Remember that fog has precisely the same effect on the road that rain does and the moisture present on the tarmac will mean greater stopping distances to be taking into account.

9)  It may feel natural to accelerate away from a car behind you that is driving too close to you, but you must refrain from doing so. When it is safe, you should do what you can to remove yourself from the situation by perhaps pulling over in a layby and letting them past.

10) If you appear to have made it through the fog and are in relative good visibility, don't turn off to the fact that you could be just be in a good spot and the fog could return at any moment.

   

We hope that these tips help you get where you're going to safely and in one piece!

Take driving lessons in and around London with Drive2Pass.

My practical test - when should I take it?

When Should i take my Driving Test?

When you pass your written or theory test, your driving instructor will inform you of just how ready you are for the practical stage of your driving test. It goes without saying that your driving school wants you to pass on the first attempt. With this in mind, Drive2pass school of motoring want to offer you that "edge" by giving you the tips listed below to help ensure you don't take it before you are ready, but also to help you bring

the day when you are ready, that bit closer.

Log Book

Different from the conventional logbook, meaning registration certificate for your car, a logbook filled out with the help of your instructor is a great way to track your progress. A written account you can refer to at anytime, will give you a specific record of your strengths and weaknesses. It will also give you a very precise indication of when you are ready to take that all important practical driving test.

Self-help books

There are a number of published works that give you driving tips etc, but in addition there are often testimonials and stories of others, documenting when some have either taken their test at the right time or at the wrong time. Anecdotal evidence is powerful and lets you learn from others' mistakes.

Practice on your own – with appropriate supervision!

Put what you have learnt into practice in between your lessons. There is nothing wrong with doing this and you can even get your instructor to give you things to work on before you see him or her next. It is however, important that you are insured on the owner’s car insurance and imperative that you don't pick up any bad habits from the friend or family member you practice with.

Have a mock test

There's no better indication of how ready you are than to have a 'dry run', simulating test conditions. When in this environment, it is easy to imagine the examiner sitting in the seat instead of your instructor. If you pass the mock test, then you should be more confident of  passing your actual practical.

Reasons for failure

The Driving Standards Agency (or DSA) publish common reasons for failure by students. By being aware of the pitfalls that lay ahead, you prepare yourself for success. Here is a selection taken from some of those publications.

A common place to fail is at junctions. Correct road positioning, signalling and use of mirrors are imperative to display road sense and awareness of other vehicles.

Always signal, adjust road position and use your mirrors in good time when approaching junctions and potential hazards. Getting into the habit of checking mirrors regularly will show your examiner that you are aware of your surroundings.

A lot of people slip up on lane positioning on roundabouts.There is a very specific correct way to approach and manoeuvre around roundabouts. In the whole scheme of things, road positioning is one of the easiest to rectify. By being mindful, you can make sure that you are always getting into the right lane in good time.

Touching the curb

Formerly known as the 'three point turn', the 'turn in the road' is a common place to fail your test. There isn't a maximum number of manoeuvres when turning in the road, so make sure you turn safely and without touching the curb. As long as you show that you are in control of the vehicle at all times, then you can take as many as you need....within reason.

If just one of these tips helps you through your test, or helps you decide the right time to take your test, then it has been worth us writing this and worth you reading it. www.drivingschool-ruislip.co.uk/

Good luck!

No man (or woman) is an island!

One of England’s greatest poets once wrote of our need to communicate and connect with others. He tells us not to isolate ourselves and cut ourselves off from the rest of humanity. We could consider the deep philosophy attached to this sentiment, or we can take it a bit more literally and get the map out! Airports are full of people jetting all over the world, on journeys of self-discovery and personal growth. We salute your sense of adventure, but we do have to ask – have you thought about finding yourself in Europe, behind the wheel of your car. The Dover to Calais sea crossing, and Eurotunnel, is the gateway to Europe. Once in Calais, you can be in Bruges, the Belgian chocolate capital, within two short hours. The battlefields of World War I are within easy reach of the French coast, so taking time to make a visit before next year’s centenary commemorations can be achieved. If you want to go further, Paris and EuroDisney are a couple of hours from Calais – without any airline baggage restrictions. Easy access to Europe is just one of the best things about living in the South East. Germany’s Black Forest, the Swiss Alps, the Seven Hills of Rome, Athens! These places are all accessible by car in mainland Europe. With a thick wallet, a strong heart and a fistful of visas, you can drive all the way to Vladivostok on Russia’s Pacific coast… It’s not about driving all the way around the globe, but it does go to show how powerful the ability to drive can be. As another of our great writers, Will Shakespeare, wrote ‘The world is one’s oyster’, it can help open up infinite possibilities! Give the world to someone you love this Christmas. Give them the Drive2Pass Christmas Offer.

Cheaper Car Insurance Infomation

Choosing car insurance after learning to drive

Having a car on the road, as we all know, costs a lot of money when you take into consideration petrol, road tax, mot tests, maintenance and of course, insurance. The sky-high premiums charged to young drivers has seen the number of those people learning to drive drop by 19% since 2005.Whereas there’s little you can do about most of those costs, there may be significant measures you can take in regards to your car insurance and keeping your premiums down.

Pass Plus

Car Insurance is not optional, so if you want to drive, it’s something that you will have to face sooner or later. The first big step you can take is obtain your Pass Plus certification, which can take as little as 6 hours to complete with an accredited driving instructor. A good selection of insurance companies recognise Pass Plus as an indicator that you have the extra experience and less like likely to have an accident, making you less of an insurance liability and therefore cheaper to insure. Not all companies give a discount for this, so it’s important to check when getting insured. For those that do, you can expect a reduction in the region of 30% as a reward for your efforts.

Don’t ‘soup up’ up your car

A key factor in your insurance company deciding your category is the performance of your vehicle. If it has been modified with low-profile alloy wheels and a spoiler etc, then you can expect your premiums to rise to ‘eye-watering’ levels.  

Telematic car insurance

Although you will be required to pay a relatively high cost at the start of your policy, telematic insurance rewards safe driving. According to the AA, a small ‘black box’ GPS device is fitted in your car to record how the car is driven. Factors like speed and cornering are measured to give you a score which may lead to a reduced premium if you drive safely. The advantage is that you pay a premium that’s based on your driving record, rather than the record of all young drivers.

Improve your car's security

Another of the major factors used in calculating your premiums is your car’s overall security. For example, where the vehicle is kept overnight. If it’s kept in a garage, that is better than if it’s kept out on a busy road. Others details include security measures such as alarms/immobilisers, glass etching and removing valuables from your car.

Limited hours policy

Not the sexiest policy around, but when needs must a measure that could result in a reduction of up to 40% is to take out a limited hours policy. A policy aimed at 17 to 25 year olds, it asks that you don’t drive your car between the hours of 11pm and 5am, a time when it is much less likely you’ll be out and about anyway.

Again, check with your insurer to see if this is an option when getting quotes.

You really can change your driving landscape with these different approaches. It could be the difference between you driving and not being able to drive at all. If you would like to take driving lessons with a company who cares, then opt for Drive2Pass Driving Schools covering many areas in London.

Learn to Drive Tips

Learn to drive

There is lots of information about what you should do and how you should do it, with regards to going to a driving school and getting professional tuition. But what about when you just want to jump in your car with L plates on (and a driver over 21 with a full car licence with 3 years’ experience under their belt of course!) and get out on the road to get valuable experience. It is definitely recommended that you combine this with professional tuition, so that any bad habits that are picked up are highlighted by your instructor.

Who should I drive with?

Anyone you practice your driving with (without paying them) must be over 21, they must be qualified to drive the type of vehicle you want to learn in, e.g. they must have a manual car licence if they’re supervising you in a manual car and they must have had their driving licence for 3 years. Although this is the legal requirement, it’s important that you feel relaxed and not under pressure when you get behind the wheel, so try and make sure that the person with you is normally calm in the car and has lots of patience.

Keep a log

It can be very useful to keep a log of your driving to pinpoint any points of focus for your instructor to work on with you. If you don’t note it down and forget what you are struggling with, then it will take much longer to get better at it.

Safe driving

When not under the watchful supervision of an instructor, it is easy to let standards slip, but try to obey the same standards even when with a relative or a friend.

i) Try not to turn the radio on as it may distract you

ii) Take time to adjust to different vehicles. There can be big differences between different models and makes of car such as power steering, car size etc.

iii) Try and drive in all the different driving conditions. In the dry, in the wet, and night-time driving are just a few to speak of.

Getting on the road

When you are satisfied that you have accomplished all the necessary precautions before getting behind the wheel, then make sure you;

i) clearly display front and rear L plates, making sure that you don’t obscure either registration plates on the car.

ii) do not use a mobile phone whilst driving.

iii) don’t drive under the influence of prescription drugs. Read all the bumf that goes with medication, so that you are sure you can drive whilst taking them.

iv) only drive vehicles that are stated on your learner licence

v) It goes without saying, but do not drink ANY alcohol prior to driving...just in case. No one can accurately tell whether they are over the limit without a breathalyser and if you are stopped, pleading ignorance as a learner driver will not cut any ice.

When you get out there, be confident, be legal and above all, be safe.

If you would like to learn to drive with us, please visit http://drivingschoolhillingdon.co.uk/#/the-cars/4572823753