Read the tips below & then book a refresher course: driving lessons to save fuel.

Keep Your Car in Good Shape

A regularly serviced car will be more efficient on fuel.

Keep tyres pumped up to the correct level, you can find the correct pressure for your vehicle from the handbook or from the sign next to the air at the petrol station. Max pressure is printed on the tyre itself.

Fuel economy can be improved by 5% by keeping your tyres inflated to the correct pressure and using the recommended motor oil.

Replace your air filter when necessary.

Use the recommended fuel and oil for your vehicle for best fuel efficiency.

Don’t be Lazy

Avoid taking lots of short journeys. Try and combine short trips so that once you warm up the engine, you keep it running for a while. Continually warming up your engine for lots of short errands will waste fuel.

Keeping Cool

Excessive use of your air conditioning means your car to burn more fuel. On the other hand, driving with the windows down at high speeds is also inefficient as the drag on the car increases. Use air conditioning for faster driving and windows down on slower journeys.

Lose Excess Weight

Avoid driving with an unnecessarily full car. An empty roof rack or a full boot will add to your fuel consumption.

Safer, Smoother and sometimes slower

Avoid erratic driving. Flooring the accelerator at the lights or slamming on the brakes when driving too fast increases your fuel consumption. Accelerate and brake smoothly and steadily to improve fuel economy as well as your road safety.

Drive at the recommended speed. If you drive too fast you will soon notice your fuel gauge dropping just as quick. Every 5 miles per hour that you drive over 60mph can reduce your fuel economy by 10%. Why not book a refresher lesson with Beep & save more than the cost of your lesson!

Avoid Idling

Avoid excessive idling of your engine such as running it whilst stationary, for example waiting for someone, the car is then consuming fuel but not going anywhere. Idling also adds to pollution.

Top Gear

Drive in the correct gear. Most fuel is consumed in the lower gears when starting as more power is needed but when driving at higher speeds you should drive in the highest gear possible for best fuel economy.

Keep It Clean

Keep your car clean. It’s not all about looking good! Apparently a washed and waxed car has better aerodynamics which improves fuel economy.

This would really apply to longer journeys at higher speeds and may not be a huge amount, but every little helps!Improvements

But even sensible sat-nav users can get caught out in the winter.

Unless you set it for specific road types, most sat-nav’s default to shortest route – often B roads & country lanes; chances are these roads will not be gritted.

So if you’re driving in this lovely winter weather, set the sat-nav to stick to main roads, and/or check the route against an old-fashioned paper map…

You can never predict how severe a British winter will be, but you can be prepared.

Even if the winter is mild, you’ll still face ice and fog, and if it turns nasty, you could be forced to battle through blizzard conditions, as we did earlier this year.

Improve your chances of getting through the cold months unscathed. Swot up on our top tips to make sure you’re prepared for each of these winter scenarios.

It’ll be either wet and windy or foggy and frosty. The roads will be covered with an overnight layer of slippery stuff, and you won’t be able to see very far.

The best way to be ready is to plan ahead, which is why right now is the time to do some basic maintenance checks. You should also be ready for journeys to take a bit longer as everyone gets to grips with the changing season.

• Make sure your tyres are at the correct pressures.

• Ensure your tyres have plenty of tread (1.6mm across three-quarters of the tyre, all the way round, is the legal minimum. We’d recommend more, though – at least 3mm).

• Test your brakes. They should stop the car well and allow you to apply brake pressure progressively.

• Check your brake lights work.

• If you don’t use your car often, or only for short trips, make sure the battery is always charged by taking the car for a run of at least half an hour twice a week, or connect the battery to a trickle charger.

• Top up your radiator with anti-freeze to the correct concentration for winter. Check the bottle for instructions, because amounts will vary by product.

• Check your foglights work. Remember, though, that it’s illegal to have them on unless visibility is seriously reduced (and you must turn them off once it improves).

• Check your oil level. If you need to add oil, then it’s crucial that you have the correct grade for your engine.

• Top up your screenwash, because as soon as the gritting lorries make an appearance you’ll be cleaning your windscreen regularly. If you use concentrated screenwash rather than the ready-mixed variety, make sure you dilute it to exactly the right proportions for the predicted temperatures. Get it too weak and it won’t clean the screen effectively. If it’s really weak, it may even freeze, rendering it useless.

• Test your windscreen wipers and make sure they clean effectively. Often the blades just need a wipe, but if they still aren’t effective, replace them.

• Carry de-icer and a scraper, and always ensure you can see through all your windows before driving off.

Ford Ka

This is the first of Ford`s entries on this list and these small cars have had a recent facelift and can offer excellent driving fun with very basic equipment at the bottom end of the range.

Vauxhall Corsa

Always popular with new drivers, the Corsa has had several revisions over the years and it offers a good level of equipment for a relatively low price.

Toyota Yaris

The reliability of Toyota`s cars is a real draw and this cute, capable option is definitely worth a look if you want something that doesn`t bear the Ford badge.

Volkswagen Polo

VWs tend to hold their prices well and the Polo is a solid car with a decent level of street cred that feels a little bit more premium than its immediate rivals.

Renault Clio

The Clio has been a staple of the new driver`s market for many years, providing a bit of French flare and a good deal of comfort.

Ford Focus

The Focus is larger and typically offers more powerful engines than the supermini alternatives, but this means that you get more space inside, seating for five and a decent boot.

Seat Ibiza

The recent batch of Ibizas to hit the market has won many fans because of curvy good looks and solid quality of the finish throughout and its relative rarity will make it a real talking point.

Peugeot 206

The second French contender on this list, the 206 is definitely stylish and versatile, with some real bargains to be found if you look hard enough.

Volkswagen Golf

Because of the high residual values of any Golf, you will have to look at older models if you want to bag a bargain, but for a larger interior and relatively low running costs you cannot do much better than this.

Ford Fiesta

The Fiesta has always provided plenty of room inside despite being classed alongside many more cramped alternatives and it has also been a looker, with a recent facelift really bringing it into the 21st century and making it a popular choice when considering used cars for sale.

This information was published by the DSA on June 9th 2010 and explains the forthcoming changes to the driving test…

From 4 October 2010, learner drivers will be tested on independent driving as part of the practical driving test.

During their test, candidates will have to drive for about 10 minutes, either following a series of directions, following traffic signs, or a combination of both. To help candidates understand where they’re going, the examiner may show them a diagram.

It doesn’t matter if candidates don’t remember every direction, or if they go the wrong way – that can happen to the most experienced drivers.

Pass rates
Some newspapers have claimed that independent driving would lead to a fall in the driving test pass rate. This claim is based on early research where conditions did not reflect the eventual design of the new element of the test.
Subsequent trials with a larger number of participants and more closely reflecting the conditions in the planned new test showed no significant fall in the pass rate.

Length of driving tests and test fees
The length of driving tests and test fees will not change when independent driving is introduced in October. Driving test fees can be found on the directgov web site.

Manoeuvres
From October, car test candidates (category B) will have to complete one reversing manoeuvre rather than two. The manoeuvre will be selected at random by the examiner from:

turning in the road
reversing around a corner
reverse parking (either on the road, or into a bay)
An emergency stop exercise will still be conducted on one in three tests.

Manoeuvres in all other categories of tests will not be changed. Candidates for the ADI part two (driving ability) test will still have to complete all the manoeuvres.

Special needs
DSA already has procedures to identify special needs and disabilities when tests are booked online or over the phone. The examiner then knows which type of special needs the candidate has so reasonable adjustment can be made.

For independent driving this could be asking the candidate which method they prefer for the section – in other words, following signs, or a series of directions (a maximum of three) which are supported by a diagram approved by the British Dyslexia Association. In some cases this will be shortened to just two directions.

DSA recognise there are many ways of developing perfectly road-safe coping strategies in order to navigate from A to B and is satisfied that examiners will manage the situation accordingly. Independent driving is a significant road safety addition to the practical driving test but will not prevent candidates from holding a licence.

DSA is determined that no member of society should suffer detriment due to any change we introduce.

People who don’t speak English
Driving examiners are very experienced at dealing with candidates who speak little or no English and they’ll be able to manage the situation accordingly.

For example, sometimes this will include writing place names so it is clear to candidates where they are being asked to drive to. To help all candidates, when asked to follow a series of verbal directions the examiner can show a diagram, so that they can picture the route they’ve been asked to take.

Just as currently, the candidate can have an interpreter along with them on their test if they wish. Since 6 April 2010 ADIs have been able to act as an interpreter for their own pupils.

Routes and directions
If the candidate goes off-route during the independent driving section, the examiner will get the candidate back on route and continue with the independent driving section wherever possible. The test won’t be terminated.

If the candidate looks like taking a wrong turning, the examiner will control the situation as they do now and preferably step in before the candidate goes off route. If that’s not possible, the examiner will help the candidate get back on route as soon as possible by guiding them with normal directions.

Download an example of an independent driving route diagram (PDF, 305Kb)

Independent driving is not a test of the candidate’s orientation skills. If the candidate goes off route, but does not commit a fault, there’s nothing to assess. Any faults that did occur would be assessed under the circumstances at the time – as usual. There is no change to assessment.

There will be times when, due to poor or obscured signage, the examiner may have to intervene. If this happens the examiner would say, ‘There are no signs here. Just continue ahead please’ and then, ‘Now, carry on following the signs to ………’

If the candidate asks for a reminder of the directions, the examiner will be happy to confirm them. Driving independently means making your own decisions and, just like when driving with friends, this includes deciding when it’s safe and appropriate to ask for confirmation on where you’re going.

Independent driving is designed to test the learner’s ability to drive unsupervised and make decisions without guidance and in unfamiliar contexts. DSA is therefore taking the opportunity to review the appropriateness of current route publication practices.

The independent driving section of the test is approximately 10 minutes when you will be asked to drive making your own decisions. A sat nav gives directions in much the same way as the driver trainer, or the examiner, so it’s not appropriate to use for independent driving.

Guidance and paperwork
Watch ‘Independent driving in the driving test: what is it?’ on YouTube

The DL25 driving test report form will not be changed when independent driving is introduced, as there is no change to assessment.

At Beep driving school we’ve been teaching independent driving from the first lesson, ensuring that our students can drive independently, following directions, following road signs and generally keeping safe on the roads. After all that’s what driving is all about. Once you have passed your test you need to be confident to go out on your own. If you aren’t then maybe you aren’t ready for your test!

Here’s a video from the DSA which explains in more detail what the new element of the test involves

Warning! Drunks on the road”, is the new road sign that Romanian motorists will be seeing. It comes “following an increase in traffic accidents involving drunks stumbling into the road”, reports Mirror.co.uk. They say there is a universal increase of drunk drivers, but the problem in Romania isn’t the people behind the wheel, it’s the people who stumble in front of them.

There are lots of distractions facing drivers on the road, but this latest addition for the Italian motorists may raise a few eyebrows!!!

…and lets hope this one doesn’t confuse too many of us in the U.K.

If you’d like a motorway lesson then why not give us a call today:  07791 628 840 or use the contact form on the Beep Driver Training Website

Young drivers have the odds stacked against them – research by a comparison website in November 2009 revealed they pay an average of £5,731 just to get on the road after the average cost of a car, driving lessons, insurance, a provisional licence, test fees and tax is taken into account.

So it is reassuring then, to know that there is one way for young drivers to save money on their car insurance while enhancing their driving – the DSA Pass Plus course.

What is the Pass Plus course?

The Pass Plus course is an established training course aimed at young drivers, designed by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA). Though it can be taken at any time, it is primarily aimed at new drivers during the first year after passing a test.

The Pass Plus course consists of six modules with the aim of enhancing a new driver`s experience in unfamiliar environments. The modules are:

- Driving around town: Focusing on observation, eye contact, showing caution, keeping space around your car and consideration for vulnerable road users.

- All weather driving: Looks at driving in various conditions including rain, snow, fog and bright sunshine. It also looks at what causes skidding and how to prevent it.

- Driving in the countryside: Helps drivers prepare for dealing with farm entrances, slow moving vehicles and horse riders; as well as bends, hills and uneven roads.

- Driving at night: Teaches the importance of correctly using headlights, dealing with dazzle, hard-to-see road users and adjusting to the dark.

- Driving on dual carriageways: Includes joining and leaving a dual carriageway; lane discipline; the correct use of speed; judgement and planning ahead.

- Driving on motorways: Looks at journey planning; joining and leaving a motorway; safe speeds in different circumstances; dealing with motorway fatigue and more.

Where can you take the Pass Plus course and how much does it cost?

To take the Pass Plus course you need an approved driving instructor to train you and he or she must be registered with the DSA as a Pass Plus instructor.

Costs of the course vary depending on the individual instructor. Many local authorities support the Pass Plus scheme and offer financial support to those undertaking the course.

How does it help to save money on car insurance?

Many car insurance providers recognise that the Pass Plus scheme creates safer driving, which in turn reduces the risk of an accident occurring. As such, several offer discounts for those that complete the course in their first year of driving – the discount could be as high as 35 per cent, depending on the insurer you choose.

Though the discounts can be significant, don`t assume that the largest discount will necessarily equate to the cheapest deal. You should still use a comparison website to compare quotes and policy features to ensure you`re receiving value for money.

Don`t forget too that there are other ways to save including:

- Agreeing to a mileage cap;

- Increasing your vehicle`s security;

- Increasing your voluntary excess but keeping it an affordable level;

- Parking in a garage overnight;

- Paying premiums annually to avoid interest charges.

If you`re a new driver you may also wish to consider a learner drivers car insurance policy from a specialist provider which won`t tie you into a long term contract if you don`t plan to drive as soon as you pass your test.