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Here we will share useful news and updates that will help keep you up to date with what's important when learning to drive.
What a great year! 150 150 Paul Davies
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What a great year!

What a great year!

 

Arrow Driving Academy Hull are proud to say that 2015 was a successful one and we will be welcoming in 2016 with a bang!

This year we have expanded our business significantly, growing to a fantastic 16 driving instructors. It really is hard to believe that just over two years ago we were a one man band, with Paul exercising the entire company himself. Due to our high standards of customer service and great deals, we are very pleased to have attracted a great deal of new customers and staff, and we are truly humbled to have had such a great year.

With 2016 on the horizon, we are hoping that Arrow Driving Academy will continue to thrive. It is our goal to welcome an increasing number of driving instructors alongside many more students. We would be absolutely delighted to welcome you on board and make your driving experience the best it can be, whether you are a learner or looking to teach, we have the time and dedication you need to succeed.

We sincerely hope that you have all had an as equally cracking year, and wish all of our team, friends and family a happy and healthy 2016.

Arrow Driving Academy

New Car Tax Bands; 681 1024 Paul Davies
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New Car Tax Bands;

New Car Tax Bands;

This year’s budget announced a lot of changes in the UK, however, one major change for drivers will be the introduction of new car tax bands.

The new scheme is to be implemented on the 1st April 2017, which may seem far away, but it is always best to be informed as soon as possible so that you can be prepared for the change.

This change will only affect new cars that are registered after the 1st April 2017. The reason that this change has been brought about is because figures highlight an issue with over three quarters of new cars are being exempt from the current car tax bands.

This new car tax bands system will mean that new cars will be paying based on new and updated emissions ratings that are able to also take modern low-emission technologies such as pure-electric cars into account. Following the first year of purchase, there will be three bands named zero emission, standard and premium.

How will this affect me and my car?

Only cars registered AFTER the 1st April 2017 will be affected. This means that cars bought or sold BEFORE April 1st 2017 will not be affected by this new tax band system. This means that they will continue to follow the current tax band scheme in place.

So what kind of changes should we expect?

Here’s a look at the band changes for 2017:

Car tax band changes

New tax bands: April 1st 2017 onwards                                      Current tax bands: registered since 2001

This new policy will affect almost everyone with a new car. This means that you should consider any possible repercussions of the car you choose and how you will be able to budget the appropriate spending for the upcoming year.

It is estimated that this change will bring about an increase in low-emission vehciles such as hybrid and pue-electric vehicles in the UK, as they will be placed in lower tax bands. Moreover, as zero-emission vehicles are exempt from the tax bands scheme altogether, it is likely that there will be a growth in the purchase of zero-emissions vehicles also.

How do I find out my cars’ emission levels?

For all of the information you may need on tax bands and your vehicles co2 emissions, please feel free to visit the GOV website at https://www.gov.uk/co2-and-vehicle-tax-tools.

Dawn-Arrow-Driving-Academy
New and improved driving test; 800 800 Paul Davies
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New and improved driving test;

New and improved driving test;

This year there have been a number of proposals to improve the UK driving test. The overall drive for these proposals has been the incentive to ensure that drivers are well-prepared and therefore more likely to pass their test first time. Major changes to the UK driving test are set for the near future and could be the biggest shake up of the test in many, many years.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has encouraged these proposals to improve the driving test following a wide review of motoring services in the UK. It was found that only 21% of drivers pass their test first time and that the majority of the annual 1.5 million tests are repeat examinations, which is why the DfT seek to improve the readiness of drivers before booking their test.

Reducing driving test fee for first time passes;

One of the new proposals would be that the driving test fee would be reduced. This would involve the learner driver paying a deposit when taking their test, which they would receive back if they pass first time.

This will ensure that learner drivers are more prepared for the test and independent driving thereafter, are less likely to have an accident in the recent months after passing and also encouraged individuals to only take their test when they are truly ready.

For more information on this proposal, please see one of our earlier blog posts directed at this subject in particular.

Why are these incentives important?

The incentive to be prepared is extremely important as it makes new drivers more confident and independently capable. The DfT have emphasised that this will benefit all drivers as the roads will be a safer place and also that individuals taking their test will be more likely to pass with flying colours rather than barely scrape through or failing altogether.

The incentive to increase road safety and driving efficiency is equally as important as once again the issue of safety is emphasised. Not only this, but increasing the efficiency of test centres will mean that new test appointment times will be introduced, such as weekends and evenings, a wider range of test venues will be introduced and also the combination of services at motoring agencies will be increased somewhat.

Want to have your say?

The DfT have made it very clear that they are aware that these changes are a bold move. However, they also value your opinion and wish to put the users at the core of the services by letting you have your say. The consultation for these proposals is set to close on the 8th January 2016 and the DfT are required to respond soon after.

To give your views on these proposals, please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/motoring-services-strategy-a-strategic-direction-2016-to-2020.

Stop drug-driving; 1024 632 Paul Davies
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Stop drug-driving;

Stop drug-driving;

New UK laws have revealed a significant number of drivers are currently drug driving on the roads, this is a dangerous problem that needs to be tackled. If you or anyone you know have drug driven in the past, we urge you to rethink your decisions and be a more responsible adult in the future. Not only are you putting yourself at risk, but you are also risking the lives of other members of the public. Please think and do NOT drink or drug and drive.

Stop and test;

A new drug-driving offence was introduced in March this year and as a result, the amount of random stop and tests on the road has increased. Unfortunately, this exercise has revealed that the amount of drug drivers in the UK is much too high.

More than 400 individuals are being arrested per month in the UK for drug driving, with over 50% of those stopped testing positive.

Police figures do report that the statistics vary enormously across the country, with some forces finding no positives when tested. However, when road side ‘drugalyser’ tests do come back positive, it is reported that 80% of the hits are cannabis related.

The Metropolitan police recorded the highest number of drug-driver arrests. Finding a staggering 214 positive tests in the months of March through to May 2015. Some other figures collected throughout the same time period by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) were as follows;

–          97 arrests by Northumbria police

–          70 arrests by Cheshire police

–          55 arrests by South Yorkshire police

The UK drug-drive law;

In March 2015, drug driving laws were reassessed by the UK government and as a result, the drug-drive law was intensified. This means that when stopped and tested for drugs, the set limits are extremely low, introducing a zero tolerance policy.

Not only are regular illegal drugs such as cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy encompassed in the new law, but also prescription drugs. Eight prescription drugs including those to treat anxiety and insomnia are included, meaning that the limits for driving with these drugs in your system only just exceeds the regular prescribed doses.

If you take prescribed medication such as this, always make sure that you are not exceeding your stated dose, especially when you are expecting to drive. Large doses of prescribed medications pose an equal threat to the public when driving under the influence.

What happens when you are caught over the drug driving limit?

Motorists convicted of drug-driving are dealt with severely thanks to the new UK drug-driving laws in place. This means that if you are caught drug driving, you can expect to be faced with not only a criminal record, but also one or multiple of the following;

–          Banned from driving for a minimum of one year

–          Fines of up to £5,000

–          Spend up to a year in prison

Moreover, the penalty for causing death by driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is up to 14 years in prison. It is safe to say that drug or drink driving is not worth the risk, not only for yourself but for others too. THINK and do not drink or drug and drive.

Important news update from the DVLA 938 1024 Paul Davies
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Important news update from the DVLA

Important news update from the DVLA

The Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency have recently sent out a warning to the public in accordance with a recent scam that has been floating around the UK. This scam involves false emails reaching random people and claiming to be the DVLA. The email asks you to provide your driving license and confirm credit card details.

Do not believe the scam;

The DVLA have recently become aware of mock emails and a website that is made to look like the DVLA online service. If you receive an email that threatens that you may lose your license and subsequently asks for your driving license and payment information, this is a SCAM and we recommend that any emails of this kind should be completely ignored.

The DVLA do NOT send any emails regarding the loss of licenses alongside links to websites or the requirement of payment information. Anyone who receives this email or anything similar please do not open the link to the mock website. We recommend that you simply delete the email and ignore it completely.

An investigation is being held;

The DVLA would like to give the public peace of mind knowing that the problem is being fully investigated by the authorities and will hopefully be resolved quickly. When dealing with driving license or vehicle tax issues, please ensure you are using the GOV.UK link so that you are sure you are dealing directly with the DVLA and not a false website.

Smoking in vehicles with someone under 18 is now illegal; 1024 678 Paul Davies
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Smoking in vehicles with someone under 18 is now illegal;

Smoking in vehicles with someone under 18 is now illegal;

 

From 1st October 2015, it will officially be illegal to smoke in a car (or any other vehicle) with anyone under the age of 18. This law has been enforced to prevent the dangers of secondhand smoke amongst young people.

 

If caught, both the smoker and the driver of the vehicle will be fined £50. This new law update applies to every driver in England and Wales, including 17 year olds with provisional licenses. However, the law does NOT apply if the 17 year old is smoking alone in their own car. The law applies to any vehicle that is enclosed wholly or partly by its roof. If you have your windows or sunroof open, your air conditioning on or you sit in the open doorway of the car, the law STILL APPLIES.

 

So, what exactly are the new changes?

 

From 1st October 2015, it will be illegal:

 

–          For retailers to sell e-cigarettes or e-liquids to anyone under the age of 18

–          For adults to buy, or attempt to buy, tobacco products or e-cigarettes and liquids for anyone under the age of 18

–          To smoke in any private vehicle with someone under the age of 18 present

 

The rules about smoking in vehicles;

 

All private vehicles that are enclosed must be SMOKEFREE if there is anyone under the age of 18 present. This means that from October 1st, 2015 it will be an official offence if this rule is broken.

 

As a driver, it is therefore your responsibility not to smoke and not to allow any passengers to smoke inside your vehicle when there are young people present. The rules do not apply to the smoking of e-cigarettes.

 

Penalties and fines;

 

A fixed penalty notice fine for both offences will be £50. If the person commits both offences they will receive 2 fines. Enforcement officers will decide whether or not a fixed penalty notice is issued, they can also decide to leave with a warning or refer an offence to court.

 

Why the law is changing;

 

The law is extremely popular amongst many as the problem of secondhand smoke is a large one. Every time a child breathes in smoke, they’re breathing in thousands of harmful chemicals. This means that the child is at greater risk of serious medical conditions, including asthma, meningitis, pneumonia, bronchitis and cancer.

 

Secondhand smoke is dangerous for people of any age. However, as children are particularly vulnerable, it is important that the government take action against the problem in order to decrease the risk involved when smoking around others.

 

Children are especially exposed to the issues surrounding secondhand smoke as they breathe more rapidly and have less developed organs and immune systems. Most of the smoke you breathe in is invisible, meaning that most of the time you do not even know that it is happening. Opening vehicle doors and windows does not remove the harmful chemicals from being inhaled by other passengers, which is why the law is changing to protect young people from the dangers of smoking.

Male vs Female driving instructor – which will you choose? 1024 683 Paul Davies
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Male vs Female driving instructor – which will you choose?