So, you’ve
passed your driving test, you’ve whipped off the L-plates and are now ready to
go it alone on the roads. It’s a wonderful feeling isn’t it! But as they say - now’s when you really learn to drive.
Here are few quick and simple tips from Discount Insurance to help young
drivers get started, and stay safe on Britain’s roads.
Apply for you full driving
licence
This might
seem obvious, but make sure you get your full driving licence in order as soon
as possible. You can do this by sending your pass certificate, along with your
provisional licence to the DVLA. Don’t
put it off, because if two years passes by in the blink of an eye, as tends to happen when you're young, then you’ll have to
take both parts of your test again!
Make sure you are insured
In the first
year of driving one in five is involved is some kind of scrape, so for both
parties’ sake, it is vital you have comprehensive cover. Unfortunately for you,
due to the above statistic, car insurance for young drivers is notoriously more
expensive than for seasoned pros.
However,
doing a Driving Standards Agency Pass Plus course within 12 months of passing can
reduce the cost of your premiums by up to 35%. Its modules such as motorway and night
driving, will also help give your more confidence in all aspects of driving.
Get Breakdown Cover
How would
you cope if you broke down on a motorway or country road late at night, with no
one around to help? Not too comfortably I suspect. That’s why it is important to
get full breakdown cover.
The comprehensive cover options available from Discount Insurance offer immediate roadside assistance, as well as substitute transport
and emergency overnight lodgings. Get a quick quote on your cover now.
Don’t Drink and Drive
Although the
level of drink driving in Britain has declined rapidly over the 30 years,
around 250 people are killed in drink-related accidents every year. By driving under the influence of alcohol (or other drugs) you are not
only putting your life at risk but those of your passengers, other motorists, pedestrians,
cyclists and the loved ones of everyone involved.
Despite the
increase in public education around drink driving, over 100,000 people are still
caught annually, and face a driving ban of at least 12 months, a large fine and
possible imprisonment. Quite simply, don’t take the risk. Plan in advance, take public transport and pre-book a taxi home, and if going out with friends nominate a ‘designated driver’.
Driving at night
Inexperienced
drivers have much higher proportion of crashes in the evening or early mornings.
Many of these are single vehicle, and can be attributed to drinking or
drugs, but many are also to do with reduced visibility and fatigue. Because the
roads are less busy at night, the temptation is to speed or to pay less
attention to the road, but don’t make this potentially life-threatening
mistake.
Driver fatigue
is a contributory factor is up to 20% of all accidents, and up to a quarter of
all fatal accidents. If you are feeling tired then you should pull over. Do not attempt to start a journey if you are
feeling tired. Avoid long journeys all together between midnight and 6am,
and have a recommended 15 minutes break for every 2 hours of driving.
Don’t be over confident and take unnecessary
risks
Young people
are best suited for quickly picking up the basic skills needed for driving, and
as a result of youthful exuberance often feel they have ‘mastered it', and that
crashes are ‘something that happen to other people’ but not to them.
Always stick
to the speed limit especially in built up areas, and don’t take unnecessary risks
with regards to overtaking. Also, do not be tempted to text or use a mobile phone
whilst driving.
For more
information on staying safe behind the wheel, whatever your age, visit http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/
