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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?

Male vs Female driving instructor – which will you choose?

You’ve decided to start learning to drive, so now it’s time to find your ideal instructor!

In our opinion, it doesn’t make much difference whether you choose to learn to drive with a male or female driving instructor. Here at Arrow Driving Academy, we only employ the most qualified and professional individuals who have the right people skills for the job. However, we do understand that it is important to some people to go with a female driving instructor. We are proud to say that our team is made up of both male and female instructors. This means if you choose to go with Arrow Driving Academy, you will also be able to state your preference in instructor.

Choosing a driving school is your first port of call. It is important that you take the time to choose who you believe will be best for you. Learning to drive is not cheap and it requires a lot of time and effort. Ultimately, you will want to give yourself your best chance at success by choosing a driving academy that suits your budget, requirements and has great recommendations. Here at Arrow Driving Academy, we are pleased to say that we have a highly successful first time pass rate and great prices available. This includes our first lesson for free and first five lessons for £55 offers. Moreover, if you would like to take a look at our testimonials page, please follow this link to our website; http://www.arrowdrivingacademy.co.uk/testimonials.

All of our instructors are DBS checked and undergo regular evaluations. This allows us to guarantee that our team are working to the best of their ability at all times. We pride ourselves on our capability to provide only the highest standards of tuition. Therefore, we would be delighted to answer any questions you have about the instructors available.

It is common sense that not everyone will want to learn to drive with a male instructor. Although learning to drive is an exciting experience, some people may be nervous during their first few times in the vehicle. However, it is our belief that we should provide a whole range of driving lessons, including both male and female instructors. This means that we are able to make sure that all of our students feel at ease when behind the wheel and have an overall positive experience.

There are fewer female driving instructors in the UK today, which means that finding a driving school that offers both male and female instructors can be difficult. If your preference if for a female instructor, then look no further! Our female instructors are highly skilled, friendly and enthusiastic individuals. We have the ability to teach you to drive well and at an efficient rate. Both our male and female instructors maintain an excellent first time pass rate and all of our instructors propose the same prices and offers.

If you are interested in learning to drive with us, please feel free to read more on our website at www.arrowdrivingacademy.co.uk. Alternatively, please feel free to contact us via Freephone 0800 0122 424 or mobile 07791863421. Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you soon!

Paul

Reduced Theory Test Costs; 1024 663 Paul Davies
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Reduced Theory Test Costs;

Reduced Theory Test Costs;

The Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) have announced that from October 2015, the cost of car and motorcycle theory tests will drop.

Theory test fees for a variety of other types of tests will also be reduced. The test costs will be officially reduced from 1st October 2015. You can now book tests from this date onwards to save money. However, if you decide to book a test that is before October 1st, the new fees will NOT apply.

In October 2014 the theory test fees were reduced from £31 to £25. With this new further reduced cost you are saving more money than ever when learning to drive.

What are the new costs?

Type of testCurrent costCost from 1 October 2015
Car theory test£25£23
Abridged car theory test£19£18
Motorcycle theory test£25£23
Driver CPC part 1:
multiple-choice		£28£26
Driver CPC part 1:
hazard perception		£12£11
Driver CPC part 2:
case studies		£24£23
Approved driving instructor (ADI) part 1 test£83£81

 

What is the easiest way to book my theory test?

By far the simplest way to book your theory test is directly through the DVSA website. This allows you to avoid any extra costs when booking your theory test as you only pay for the test fee and no extras. The link you need to follow is www.gov.uk/booktheorytest.

Bus lane cameras in Hull; 1024 598 Paul Davies
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Bus lane cameras in Hull;

Bus lane cameras in Hull;

From July 2015, Hull City Council will begin to control the use of bus lanes more effectively than ever before. On Tuesday 14th July, Hull’s automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras were officially turned on. This is said to be in an effort to help issue fines to car drivers using bus lanes during restricted times. Cameras will be fixed into specific positions at locations spread across the city. Any UK car driver that uses a bus lane incorrectly will be subject to a penalty fine.

Why are bus lane cameras installed?

Although the primary goal of bus lane cameras is to reduce the use of the bus lanes during restricted times, the council have also firmly stated that there is more to it than that. Many have claimed that the council are attempting to reduce the city’s carbon footprint, making Hull a sustainable city and improving overall air quality. This encourages Hull to be a greener and more eco-friendly city.

In another statement, the benefits of controlling bus lanes in Hull placed emphasis on the ability to reduce bus journey times along main routes. This is particularly important during peak times. It was claimed that buses can replace up to 70 cars on the road, meaning that bus lanes should be a priority when it comes to controlling traffic.

What does this mean for UK drivers?

First of all, emergency vehicles, motorcycles, cycles and taxis are still able to use bus lanes at all times. However, the rules have certainly been enforced for general car drivers in Hull. For the first two weeks of the scheme, drivers who enter an operational bus lane are to be given a warning.

However, from August, this will evolve into a £60 fine. Moreover, if this is not paid within 28 days, the council have clearly stated that this will rise to £90.

How NOT to be issued with a penalty notice;

At the moment, the council will only be carrying out enforcement’s on the main roads to and from the city centre. However, this is subject to change. Bus lanes in Hull are active from Monday through til Saturday, meaning that they can only be used on Sunday.

For traffic heading into the city centre, bus lanes are active from 7:00am – 9:30am. For traffic heading away from the city centre, bus lanes are active from 4:00pm – 6:30pm. This means that regular UK car drivers CANNOT use the lanes during these times. Remember, emergency vehicles, taxi drivers, motorcycles and cyclists are still permitted to use the bus lanes, even during the active periods. All unauthorized vehicles, however, should NOT use the bus lanes within these times to avoid receiving a penalty notice.

 

Changes to Driving Test Manoeuvres 150 150 Paul Davies
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Changes to Driving Test Manoeuvres

Changes to Driving Test Manoeuvres

New UK driving test;

This year the DVSA have announced that they are beginning tests for a whole new driving test routine. According to news headlines across the UK, this is the biggest driving test shakeup in 20 years.

From April 2015 the DVSA will be trialling their new proposed UK driving test and the tests are expected to last until the end of 2015. If this goes well and the new test is approved, we expect that the new UK driving test will be implemented mid-2016. If you are currently taking driving lessons, the chances of you having to sit the new test are very slim. However, if the new test is implemented before you take the test, your instructor will have you ready in time. There is no need to panic!

Reasons for the new UK driving test;

It has been mentioned by the DVSA that the reasons for the new test were primarily to promote a more independent approach to driving. This includes bringing a more true to life element to the test, in preparation for those who pass. Bringing real life situations into the test is said to be more helpful for new drivers in terms of preparing them for driving independently in the ‘real world’.

Elimination of the three-point turn;

A number of changes will be made if the new driving test is permitted. This includes the disappearance of the three-point turn. Also known as the ‘turn in the road’ manoeuvre.

Two new manoeuvres;

However, with the loss of the three-point turn comes two new manoeuvres, it has been said. This is probably the biggest change to the test. It introduces driving forwards into a car parking space and stopping, then reversing out to the left or right before exiting the car park. It also introduces pulling up on the right side of the road, reversing back two car lengths, followed by driving on when you are ready.

These manoeuvres have been introduced, once again, to reflect a more realistic element to the test. It has been argued that these manoeuvres are much more likely to be used by people not long after passing their test. Bay parking and parallel parking manoeuvres are still to remain as part of the test. Moreover, it is believed that candidates will only have to complete one of these manoeuvres within the duration of their driving test.

Sat-Nav independent driving;

The most innovative change to the UK driving test, however, is the introduction of Sat-Nav independent driving. A Sat-Nav will be supplied and fit by the test instructor at the beginning of your test. Following this, at some point during your test you will be asked to utilise the Sat-Nav in order to follow directions to a specific location. This is expected to last around 20 minutes. Also, this will be replacing the existing element of the test that involves 10 minutes following road signs and diagrams to a given location.

‘Show me, tell me’ questions;

The final major change to the UK driving test is that one of the safety questions, that is usually asked before any driving begins, will now be asked during the test. This means that one question will be asked at random whilst you are driving the test vehicle.

 

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