Driving Lessons Gloucester- Driving Test Pass.

First Time Pass- Ruth Woodcock of Gloucester.

Congratulations to Ruth Woodcock on passing your #driving test first time at #Gloucester test centre. We know how important this pass is to you, with your work and busy family life. You have a lot of people relying on you, and this success will ease the pressure a lot. Well done, Ruth, and all of us at #John Lowe Driving wish you all the best for the future.
http://www.drivinglessonsgloucester.org

Driving Lessons Gloucester. Driving Test Pass.

Driving Test Pass- Emma Hodgkinson-Last of Cheltenham.

Congratulations, Emma, on passing your #driving test today at #Cheltenham test centre. You can now look forward to driving Felix and Winter to their various activities in your lovely Mercedes.
All of us at #John Lowe Driving are delighted for you and wish you and your family the very best for 2015. Well done!!
http://drivinglessonsgloucester.org

CGI Makeover for Driving Theory Test.

The following information is from the DVSA, regarding the hazard perception part of the theory test.

The hazard perception part of the driving theory test is set to be updated with computer generated imagery (CGI) early next year (2015).

Filmed video clips are currently used to test the reaction of candidates to developing hazards on the road. The scenarios in these clips are still relevent, but the image quality is not as clear or defined as modern digital technology allows.
The first new clips show the same situations as the filmed clips, but are clearer on the screen and include updated vehicles, roads and surroundings to reflect modern day living.

These updates should be an improvement, as the ones I have seen are very clear.
As always........Be careful out there!

Thanks, John.
http://www.drivinglessonsgloucester.org

Photocard Driving Licence

From 8 June 2015, the photocard licence counterpart will not be valid and will no longer be issued by DVLA.

What this means for you

Photocard driving licence holders:

When DVLA stops issuing the counterpart, you should destroy yours but you still need to keep your current photocard driving licence.
You’ll still be able to use the counterpart driving licence to change your address with DVLA. You can also change your address online.

Paper driving licence holders (those issued before 1998)

These will remain valid, and should not be destroyed. From 8 June 2015 endorsements/penalty points will no longer be recorded on these driving licences. This information will be held on DVLA’s driver record, and can checked online, by phone or post.
The next time you need to update your name, address or renew your licence, you will be issued with a photocard only.
Entitlements/penalty points and the status of your driving licence won’t change

Organisations and businesses that check the driving licence counterpart

DVLA is developing new digital enquiry services for launch later this year that will allow organisations and businesses (such as employers and car hire companies) to view information they can currently see on the driving licence counterpart.
These new services will be offered in addition to the existing services, but are designed for those who have a business need for real-time access to the information, and may not wish to call DVLA or be in a position to use an intermediary.
Driving licence information via these services will only be made available to those who have a right to see it, and with the knowledge of the driving licence holder.
DVLA stakeholders and commercial customers can keep up to date with developments of these services through following our blog on GOV.UK.

Why is the counterpart being abolished?

The decision to abolish the counterpart was as a result of the government’s Red Tape Challenge consultation on road transportation. It also aligns to DVLA’s Strategic Plan which includes commitment to simplifying our services.
The counterpart (or D740) was introduced in 1998 as part of the photocard driving licence to display information that could not be included on the photocard. This includes provisional driving entitlement categories and current endorsements/penalty points.
http://www.drivinglessonsgloucester.org

Interesting Driving Lesson.

Nick Butters of John Lowe Driving gave a joint lesson to friends Anna Russell and Kelly Turk.   They were able to compare and give friendly thoughts on each others skills whilst having their knowledge tested by Nick.  It also allowed them to drive under additional pressure.  Certainly not a normal lesson but Anna and Kelly considered it enjoyable and beneficial.

http://www.drivinglessonsgloucester.org/

Driving Lessons Gloucester- Customer Review.

Customer Review from Anna Stec of Cheltenham.

"On my lesson this morning with John Lowe, I reversed around a corner, and reverse parked behind a parked car, with no help at all from John. We agreed the manouevres, I drove to the chosen area and got on with it! I did them each three times and all of them were up to standard.
I'm really happy, because I know that I can do them now. John has some great tips to help you remember what to do."
http://drivinglessonsgloucester.org/view/18

Driving Lessons Gloucester- Customer Review.

Customer Review from Dale Cooper of Gloucester.

"Nick Butters of John Lowe Driving taught me clutch control and a simple technique to reverse park into a bay."

Dale Cooper, Gloucester.
http://drivinglessonsgloucester.org/view/1

Driving Lessons Gloucester- Customer Review.

Customer Review from Abbie Woods of Gloucester.


"My first reverse park into a bay was successful!  Nick Butters of John Lowe Driving taught me a simple technique to achieve this."

Abbie Woods, Quedgeley, Gloucester.
http://drivinglessonsgloucester.org/view/1

Christmas Wishes.

All of us at John Lowe Driving School wish all of our loyal learners, past and present, a very happy Christmas and a brilliant new year.
All our thanks to you all!
Always remember.........Be careful out there!

Petrol Prices.

I saw an article today, hinting that if the cost of oil keeps on sliding, then we may see the price of petrol down to 90p a litre.
It's a very nice thought in this pre Christmas week.................

Thanks, John.

Drink/Driving- It's not worth the risk!

DRINK DRIVING- It's not worth the risk

In the last 50 years road casualties caused by drink driving have fallen dramatically, but in 2012, there were still 230 deaths due to drink driving – accounting for 13% of all road fatalities. By drinking and driving, you risk your life, those of your passengers and others on the road.
Any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive. You risk a fine of up to £5,000, a minimum 12-month driving ban and a criminal record.

The law

There are strict alcohol limits for UK drivers:
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the legal alcohol limit for drivers is:

• 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath
• 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood
• 107 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine

In Scotland (from 5 December 2014) the legal alcohol limit for drivers is lower at:

• 22 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath
• 50 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood
• 67 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine.

However it is not possible to say how much alcohol you can drink and stay below the limit. The way alcohol affects you depends on:

• your weight, age, sex and metabolism (the rate your body uses energy)
• the type and amount of alcohol you’re drinking
• what you’ve eaten recently
• your stress levels at the time

So if you’re driving, it’s better to have none for the road.

The consequences

There are strict penalties if you are convicted of drink driving, including:

• A minimum 12 month driving ban
• A criminal record
• A fine of up to £5,000
• An endorsement on your license for 11 years

However, this list does not reflect the everyday consequences of being caught drink driving which can include:

• Increase in car insurance costs
• Job loss
• Trouble getting in to countries like the USA
• The shame of having a criminal record
• Loss of independence

The Institute of Advanced Motorists calculate that a drink drive conviction could cost between £20,000 - £50,000 as a result of fines, solicitors fees, increase in car insurance and loss of job.

Driving Lessons Gloucester- Customer Review.

Customer Review from Brian Elder of Gloucester.


"I had driving lessons with another large company before and the instructor seemed to make it so complicated. He would try to make me do too much each lesson and I got fed up with it.

 I wanted to carry on and called John, who had a good reputation and an automatic car, which is what I needed. It's so much better, John takes me through each subject with no rush and when I can do it, we move on to something new. I can do all of the manouevres now and my fear of roundabouts has gone. My driving has really improved, and I'm glad I phoned John Lowe Driving School."

Brian Elder, Gloucester.

http://drivinglessonsgloucester.org/view/18

New Pages.

New Pages.

We are in the process of adding new pages to our blog. We hope you find them interesting.

To start with there will be the following new pages:

• Driving Lessons Gloucester
• Driving Test Passes
• Customer Reviews
• Driving Lessons Cheltenham
• Automatic Driving Lessons
• Contact Us

You can find the page links on the Home Page.

Car Insurance- Fronting, Beware!

The fast rising costs of car insurance is resulting in a growing number of parents breaking the law by falsely telling insurance companies that they are the main driver of the car, and their child is only a named driver.
This practice is known as" fronting" and happens when a lower risk , usually older driver, insures a vehicle in their name, although the main driver is higher risk. It is often used by well meaning parents, trying , understandably, to save money. Many of these parents do not realise it is an offence.
In the younger driver age group, more licences are lost through fronting than any other reason. Fronting will bring a heavy fine and 6 penalty points, which is an automatic ban for a new driver. Future insurance costs will also be higher if you are caught.
Insurers can refuse to pay out claims and try to recover a third party claim from the parents, so the financial implications can be severe.
I can't help thinking that it cannot be beyond the wit of the insurers to flag up a warning to protect the large number of parents, who do not realise this behaviour is illegal, and advise them of other ways to reduce insurance costs(black boxes, etc.)
To make it clear, who is regarded as the main driver, the following should help:

• If a young driver regularly uses a car to drive to or from work/ college then they should be the registered main driver.
• If a young driver uses the car on a daily basis , then they should be the registered main driver.
• If the car is maintained by the young driver, then they should be the main driver.

We hope this can help, and as always, be careful out there!
Thanks, John.

Driving Lessons Gloucester- Driving Test Pass.

First Time Pass- Louise Hinchcliffe of Gloucester.


Congratulations, Louise on your first time pass at Gloucester test centre. You certainly need that driving licence with such a full and busy life. All of us at John Lowe Driving School wish you all the best for the future. Well Done!

Louise's instructor was John Lowe.

http://drivinglessonsgloucester.org/view/18

Driving Lessons Gloucester- Customer Review.

Customer Review from Louise Hinchcliffe of Gloucester.

" I had held a U.S. licence for 30 years, when we moved back to England, and knew that I would have to pass a U.K. driving test. Where to start? We phoned a few of the national driving schools, who seemed pretty unhelpful. We then tried John Lowe Driving School, who had the automatic I was looking for and Lis in the office was so helpful and friendly, that I booked up. John Lowe was my automatic instructor, and he took me through each stage and I was ready for my test pretty quickly. 

He had some great systems for the reverse manouevres, keeping it simple but effective. The U.K. test is a lot more involved than the U.S. test and a lot more probing. I was very pleased to pass first time. I recommend John Lowe Driving School."

Louise Hinchcliffe, Gloucester.

http://drivinglessonsgloucester.org/view/18

Driving Lessons Gloucester- Customer Review.

Customer Review from Adam Lloyd of Gloucester.

"My instructor, Tom Lowe, prepared all my lessons really well. He was always on time and between us we sorted out a lesson plan at the start of the session, so I always knew what I was doing. This always helped me a lot once I got used to it. Tom was always good company as well and I looked forward to each lesson. I passed first time and it didn't seem to take very long. I really recommend John Lowe Driving School, and ask for Tom." Adam Lloyd. http://drivinglessonsgloucester.org/view/1

Driving Lessons Gloucester. Driving Test Pass.

  

First Time Pass- Adam Lloyd of Gloucester.

Well done Adam on your first time pass at Gloucester test centre. Your instructor, Tom Lowe, said you fully deserved it as you were cool and had prepared really well. Congrats from us all at John Lowe Driving. http://drivinglessonsgloucester.org/view/1

Driving Test Manouevres(continued.)

Reverse Parking On The Road

This manouevre is often called "parallel parking" and makes use of the vehicle's manouevrability in reverse gear to park in a restricted space.

Remember that you may be a hazard to other road users as you carry out this set piece.

Position and Observation.
Good all round observation is essential throughout this manouevre.
Position your car reasonably close to and parallel to the parked vehicle ahead of the gap, just slightly ahead of it.
Use the POM routine, as discussed in previous postings.
Using clutch control, reverse slowly, with some left steering. Look around, especially your right hand blind spot.
Try lining up the rear offside (right hand side) of your car with the nearside headlamp of the vehicle behind the space you are entering.

Straightening Up In The Gap.
Straighten up by steering to the right. Make sure you avoid clipping the car in front.
When you are sure the front of your vehicle is clear of the car in front use enough right steering to gently bring your car reasonably close to the kerb. Straighten your wheels by steering left, and adjust as necessary.

The gap you use should be at least one and a half times the length of your own vehicle.

The professional driving instructors at John Lowe Driving School, will have a lot of tips to bring this manouevre down to size, and with some practise you will not have any problems with it.