http://www.theinfofile.com/ Articles at The Info File.Com en-us http://www.theinfofile.com/automotive/cars/accelerate-to-cheaper-car-insurance.html http://www.theinfofile.com/automotive/cars/accelerate-to-cheaper-car-insurance.html Mon, 06 Sep 2010 02:17:32 +0100
This news will be especially upsetting for younger drivers, many of whom are already struggling to afford their premiums.

Motorists in the 18-25 age group generally face the highest insurance costs because statistics show they are more likely to be involved in accidents and to make claims.

So if you're in this age group, what can you do - aside from getting older - to bring the cost of the cover down?

Prove you're a good driver

To cut the cost of insurance, you need to understand what factors drive up premium prices. As we said above, age is a key determinant when insurers set policy rates, because new drivers - especially young men - are more prone to accidents.

So what you need to do is show you're not like these other risky drivers. Here's how:

Get experience

Insurers will cut the cost of cover to customers who have a record of not making claims, and who have built up a few years' no-claims bonus. This shows they are experienced, less risky drivers - exactly the kind of people insurers want to do business with.

One way for young or new drivers to build up this experience - and get their no-claims bonus more quickly - is by signing up to a policy with a bonus accelerator.

These policies typically run for slightly less than a year - usually 10 months - but give the policyholder a full year's no-claims bonus at the end.

So you would be able to build up three years' no-claim bonus in just two-and-a-half years.

This kind of policy is also suitable for anyone who has recently had to make a claim, and needs to start building up their no-claims bonus from scratch again.

What to watch for

Bonus accelerators are a good idea in principle but there are a few things to check before you sign up.

First of all, make sure that the price of 10 months' cover is good value compared with a year-long policy. There's no point paying the same total premium for a shorter period of cover, even if you are getting a bonus accelerator.

Secondly, bear in mind that some insurers may not recognise a 10-month no-claims bonus as a full year. So if you want to switch provider when your policy comes up for renewal, you may not be able to choose from all its rivals if you want to take your no-claims bonus with you.

Other tactics

* Take extra training. Passing an extra driving qualification shows insurers you are less of a risk, and many will cut your premiums accordingly.
Make sure you choose an accredited programme such as PassPlus: and weigh up the cost of taking such a course against the likely reduction in insurance prices it will result it. Bear in mind that some local authorities (including every council in Wales) may help you meet the cost of a Pass Plus course.
* Pick a lower-risk vehicle. Steering away from the stereotype of the boy racer is a good way of reducing car insurance costs. So opting for an older, more boring vehicle may not bring you extra street cred but it will save you money
]]> http://www.theinfofile.com/automotive/cars/the-pros-and-cons-of-isofix-car-seats.html http://www.theinfofile.com/automotive/cars/the-pros-and-cons-of-isofix-car-seats.html Sat, 07 Aug 2010 10:27:59 +0100 car seats on the market, making a decision on the right one for new parents' needs can be a daunting one at the best of times. There's a baffling amount of choice to suit most budgets so where to even start when choosing?

Well, first and foremost, buyers need to decide which securing system they want to use. There are two main choices: traditional seatbelt systems, which rely on the vehicle's three-point seatbelt to keep the seat in place in the event of a crash, or the newer ISOFIX system, which locks the seat into two anchor points connected to the car chassis, which protrude at the base of the vehicle's existing seat, and a top tether anchor point.

The main advantage to using ISOFIX seats is the ease of installation and removal of the car seat - research from the German Insurance Institute, only 30% of seatbelt-secured child seats are installed correctly, whereas the figure jumps up to 96% when using the ISOFIX system. It's not hard to see why when you try out both systems - seatbelt systems can be incredibly fiddly to secure properly, although with practice the process becomes second nature. ISOFIX seats, on the other hand, simply slot into place with a satisfying click - and most have an indicator letting the user know if they aren't installed correctly.

On the downside, ISOFIX seats are generally more expensive than the alternative. And when it comes to having a baby and stocking up all the associated essential paraphernalia, costs add up very quickly.

In addition to the seat cost, parents with vehicles which don't have the necessary anchors as standard will have to shell out further to have them retrofitted - this is easily done, however, and retrofitted anchors give the same performance as those installed at the outset. All new European car models introduced since 2006 have been required by law to come with ISOFIX anchorages as standard; all new cars produced from 2011 onwards will be subject to the same ruling.

Another factor to take into account is whether the seat is likely to spend the majority of the time in one specific vehicle or if it will move from one car to another - and potentially other cars that don't have ISOFIX anchors - on a regular basis. While ISOFIX seats can be secured via seatbelt in vehicles without the required anchors, it's obviously worth working out if paying extra for an ISOFIX seat makes sense if it's going to spend a lot of time in a vehicle without the necessary fixing points.

On the whole, ISOFIX is an ideal system for those with a high enough budget. For ease of use and overall safety, the system is second to none. That said, however, seatbelt system baby seats are still perfectly safe - provided they are installed with the necessary care every time they're used. The best course of action when unsure of which car seat system to plump for is to do your research. A great idea is to take a look at online shopping sites that carry user reviews - real opinions from real people are always invaluable. ]]> http://www.theinfofile.com/automotive/cars/are-women-only-insurers-a-good-idea.html http://www.theinfofile.com/automotive/cars/are-women-only-insurers-a-good-idea.html Fri, 16 Jul 2010 08:16:50 +0100
A host of specialist motor insurers have sprung up promising cheaper deals to women on the grounds that they are safer drivers.

The Australian-themed Sheilas' Wheels launched in 2005, claiming to be able to offer "bonzer" car insurance deals for female drivers, while Diamond, Ladybird, Diva and Women on Wheels have also all positioned themselves in this market as "female friendly" providers.

Careless versus cautious

These specialist insurers play on being able to offer lower premiums to women because, statistically, they are less likely to be involved in accidents and thus represent a lower insurance risk.

In fact, Home Office figures show that despite the current split in the driving population being 55 per cent men and 45 per cent women, over the last five years male drivers have accounted for 94 per cent of all accidents involving death or bodily harm, 97 per cent of all dangerous driving convictions, 89 per cent of all drink and drug driving convictions, 83 per cent of all speeding convictions, and 85 per cent of all careless driving convictions.

Value for money?

But while these female-focused providers promote themselves to women as a good-value alternative, catering specifically for their needs, just how well do they stack up in terms of price?

We compared car insurance to find out. Taking the example of a 30 year-old female single teacher in Kent driving a Ford Fiesta Zetec with full no-claims bonus, Sheilas' Wheels fares the best of the specialist female insurers with a quote for a year's cover of £483.76.

But while this is cheaper than the likes of Autodirect, Budget, Axa, Alliance & Leicester and Sainsbury's Bank, it is nearly £100 more expensive than the cheapest quote from Swiftcover at £393.98.

With the other female specialists, the price is even higher, at £566.03 with Women on Wheels, £618.64 with Diva, £625.80 with Ladybird, and a huge £698.45 with Diamond.

"Obviously no one insurer can claim to offer the cheapest quote for every driver," says Asia Yasir from Sheilas' Wheels. "However, by focusing on women, we reflect the relative safety of female drivers - when compared to their male counterparts - through attractive premiums."

Look beyond the hype

As a women motorist, the key is not to get lured in by catchy slogans or "female friendly" advertising hype. Do not assume a specialist will always offer the best deal, as while these insurers may sometimes come up trumps, they can often be beaten.

"A number of insurers which do not specifically target this group can also provide competitive premiums," says Michael Powell from financial analyst Defaqto. "They may be able to match - or be even better - in the cover that is given when compared to the 'female-focused' providers."

Added extras

Nonetheless, some of the specialists do offer extra benefits.

Sheilas' Wheels, for example, offers handbag cover of £300 for bags stolen from your car, as well as a network of "female-friendly" repair staff, and 24-hour confidential counselling for drivers suffering trauma on the road.

But while such features could be attractive to women drivers, you do need to weigh up the value of these extra perks before being swayed by such brands.

Shop around

The key message to all drivers, whether male or female, is to shop around, taking the time to not only compare prices, but also to ensure the cover provided meets your needs.
]]> http://www.theinfofile.com/automotive/cars/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-driving-but-were-too-afraid-to-ask.html http://www.theinfofile.com/automotive/cars/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-driving-but-were-too-afraid-to-ask.html Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:58:46 +0100
Why do we drive on the left whilst most other countries drive on the right?

About two-thirds of the world's countries drive on the right. But it's generally accepted that road traffic began on the left, and there's evidence for this that dates back to Roman times that supports this. As more people than not are right-handed, it makes sense that someone on horseback would favour riding on the left, as that means they would be more likely to greet or attack on their good side.

But road users started tending to the right during the 1700s. A common myth is that countries that Napoleon conquered switched to the right, on account of his being left-handed. However, the more likely reason for the switch was to favour the postillion (or ‘post boy'), who was the driver of coaches drawn by several horses. The horses were set in pairs, and the postillion would ride the front horse on the left-hand side, as horses were trained to be mounted from the left. So, to avoid collision with other coaches, it was more manageable to ride on the right.

This switch began in countries such as France and the United States. The twentieth century saw a bit of a domino effect, as more and more countries swapped to the right - principally as the uniformity makes border crossings with neighbours easier and less dangerous.

How far does the average person drive in their lifetime?

Back in 2008, we did a bit of research and discovered that the average British driver clocks up around 507,000 miles in their lifetime. So quite a bit then. This would comfortably cover a trip to the moon and back, in fact. I say "in fact"... Not that you could actually do this.

What's the most popular colour of car?

Across the world, the most popular colour is silver. Which includes charcoal. Or any shade of grey, it appears. Black comes in second place - which suggests the roads aren't quite as colourful as they could be.

What's the fastest speed at which anybody's been caught driving in the UK?

In the United Kingdom, the fastest anyone's been caught driving is 197mph, Kazuhiko ‘Smokey' Nagata in 1999. He did this on the A1(M) in a Toyota Supra he brought over from Japan just for this purpose, and was subsequently arrested. Apparently, he was only fined £155 plus court costs, and banned from driving in the UK for a month. I wouldn't recommend trying it though - you won't be so lucky. You can watch this loon in action on YouTube, which is worth doing just for the unintentionally hilarious commentary.

Which car is most likely to fail an MOT?

It's only recently that the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) has made this information available, as a result of a Freedom of Information request made by the BBC. The raw data is 1,200 pages long, so good luck if you intend to read that. However, some readers have made efforts to present this information in an orderly fashion, including one spreadsheet which orders the most common cars and small vans in order of failure rate, with a breakdown including make, model and age. You can assess this for yourself on the BBC Open Secrets blog here, although it's important to bear in mind that other factors will affect the rate of failure, such as the car in question's mileage, and - of course - how much (or moreover little) care and maintenance the driver has afforded the vehicle.

How many people can you fit in a Mini?

It depends whether you mean a classic Mini or the new design. 21 Malaysian students squeezed themselves into the former in June 2006. The world record for the number of people you can squeeze into a new Mini is 24, and was set in Auckland in July 2009. If you're thinking of getting into the Book of World Records yourself, Guinness requires that participants are at least 18 years old and five feet tall. Plus, you can't take out the seats, and have to be able to close the doors and windows on completion.
]]> http://www.theinfofile.com/automotive/cars/saving-money-on-your-driving-lessons.html http://www.theinfofile.com/automotive/cars/saving-money-on-your-driving-lessons.html Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:38:37 +0100
Drive with a relative or friend

This is the obvious one. Although a qualified instructor is likely to be more helpful in terms of teaching theory and getting you test ready, you also really need to practice as much as possible. And if you're not shelling out twenty quid an hour to do so, all the better. So if you can supplement your paid lessons by going for a spin with an experienced relative or friend, then this is the best way to stem the flow of notes from your wallet.

It's important to choose the friend or relative wisely, however. If you do go down this route, make sure you choose someone very patient! Learning with an impatient, short-tempered or nervous person is likely to be counter-productive. Also, don't let these informal lessons entirely replace professional ones, as you won't pick up bad habits from a professional instructor, and they are better geared to teach you the specifics that an examiner is looking for.

With that in mind, if you've never driven, it's a not a bad idea to have your first lesson informally. Get a friend or relative to drive you to a big, quiet car park or similar area. When you're there, spend as long as it takes mastering clutch control (assuming you're learning in a manual car). You'll be in for a bumpy ride, as it's trickier than you might think. Don't attempt to drive on the road until you're setting off and changing gear smoothly. Taking these baby steps with an instructor will be costly, especially as it might take a while to get into the swing. Do bear in mind that the bite of the clutch will probably be in a slightly different place in your instructor's car, so be ready for that.

Anyone you learn to drive with must be at least 21, and must've held a full driving licence for three years or more.

Use a trainee instructor

If you're happy to use an instructor who's still training him/herself, then this should save you money. Not all driving schools offer this; but if they do, then you shouldn't expect to pay the same as you would for a fully-qualified instructor.

Want to know more? Then read our article on how to choose a driving instructor.

Barter for a free or reduced-price first lesson

It's fairly common practice for schools to offer reduced-price - or even gratis first lessons. Bear this in mind before diving in, because if you pay full whack for a first lesson, only to decide that you don't like the instructor and you're not going to continue, then you've basically wasted your money.

Go for an economical car

Don't choose an instructor with a flash car, as the running costs will impact on the price of lessons. Go for an instructor who has a modest hatchback. If it runs on diesel, even better - not only do these have a better fuel economy, but they're more difficult to stall.

Pay in advance

Paying in advance is likely to reduce the cost of your lessons, because a driving school or instructor is basically giving you a discount for reliability. After all, you're less likely to cancel a lesson in the last minute if you've already paid for it; so instructors will give a reduction as incentive to pay this way.

Book lessons in blocks

Paying for larger blocks of lessons should get you a further discount. Again, this will make an instructor's life easier, so they are keen to encourage it.

Don't take one-hour lessons

The time it takes for the instructor to get to you and back is factored into the lesson price, as is the cost of the petrol which is used to do it. For this reason, a one-hour lesson is less cost-effective than a longer one. So have lessons of at least 90 minutes, or two hours if you have the stamina for it.

Shop around for deals

As with all expenses, it's a good idea to look around for the best deals before committing to lessons. At the time of publication, the British School of Motoring (BSM) is offering up to 25 per cent off bookings of ten lessons. Plus the AA Driving School has an offer where lessons booked in a block are half price after the third lesson (valid until 31 July). And there may well be plenty of other bargains available in your area. Searching HotUKDeals.com to see if there are any offers currently posted there isn't a bad place to start.

Tap friends for items they're no longer using

If you know anyone who's passed their test recently, ask them nicely if you can inherit their L-plates, highway code manual, and any other learning-related stuff they may have. The cost of buying these things, plus any theory test or hazard perception DVDs, really does add up.

And, when you've passed your test, do the good thing and pass them on to someone else who needs them.
]]> http://www.theinfofile.com/automotive/cars/how-does-the-budget-affect-motorists.html http://www.theinfofile.com/automotive/cars/how-does-the-budget-affect-motorists.html Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:13:12 +0100
At present, households buying general insurance products pay a 5 per cent levy as part of the overall price for insurance premium tax (IPT); from January 4 2011, that figure is set to rise to 6 per cent.

Nonetheless, while this is a steep increase, it is not as severe as some were predicting.

Further, the Government is also increasing the higher rate of IPT which means that if you buy a policy sold as an add-on to other products, such warranties on used cars, this will now be taxed at 20 per cent. This higher rate of IPT increased from 17.5 per cent, in line with the rise in VAT.

This is an important earner for the Government, as, combined with the increase to the higher rate of IPT to 20 per cent, this will bring in £455 million per year by 2011-12*.

Impact on motorists

The average cost of a car insurance premium is currently £583 a year**.

With IPT charged at 5 per cent, this adds £29 on to the policy. At the new rate, it will add around an extra £6, bringing the increase to £35.

Uninsured drivers could go up

Motor insurance premiums are already high, having risen significantly above the rate of inflation, and there are worries that price hikes could mean a jump in the number of uninsured drivers.

"I believe we will see premium increases of up to 20 per cent this year, for the second year running," says Simon Douglas from AA Insurance. "My greatest concern is that a large increase in IPT could lead to large numbers of people attempting to drive without insurance."

Eric Galbraith, from the British Insurance Brokers' Association dubs the move a "tax on protection".
"Consumers are already reducing cover as a result of the recession," he says. "We are concerned that increases to premiums could lead to even further under-insurance."

Shop around

While motor insurance is essential for financial security and peace of mind - and a legal requirement for car owners - you should ensure you choose the best value cover for your circumstances.
By taking the time to do a little research, you can find the right policy at the best possible price - and make significant savings.

Cut the cost of cover

As well as researching the market, you can knock pounds off your motor premium by opting for a higher voluntary excess - although you should only do this if you're happy this won't leave you out of pocket in the event of a claim.

Keeping your car in a garage or at least on a driveway, fitting an alarm or immobiliser, and reducing mileage will also cut your premium - but don't underestimate your mileage in the hope of tricking your insurer, as this could invalidate your claim.

You could also consider downsizing your model, as vehicles with larger engines and body modifications, such as alloy wheels, are more expensive to insure; savings can be made by choosing a car with a smaller engine and less racy image.

Adding a cohabiting partner can also cut costs, and the same applies to young drivers who add a responsible parent with a clean, safe record.

However, make sure the person named as the main policyholder is the principal driver, as you risk committing fraud known as "fronting" if you lie about this.

Further, you can benefit from online discounts by buying over the internet, and you should always opt to pay the whole year upfront, as many insurers charge for paying in monthly instalments.

Finally, look into taking the Pass Plus. Young drivers can get discounts on their cover by taking this qualification. Designed to make drivers more confident and responsible, this includes tuition in driving at night and on motorways.

* HM Treasury Budget June 2010
** AA British Insurance Premium Index
]]> http://www.theinfofile.com/automotive/cars/motor-tips-for-your-festival-trip.html http://www.theinfofile.com/automotive/cars/motor-tips-for-your-festival-trip.html Fri, 16 Jul 2010 06:34:48 +0100
A number of events, including the likes of Glastonbury in Somerset, the Green Man festival in the Brecon Beacons, or Wickerman in south-west Scotland, take place in fairly far-flung locations.

Many visitors may also be taking a large amount of camping equipment that would be hard to carry on a bus or train. So however much you might like to, using public transport may simply not be an option.

Prepare in advance

You won't be the only person who's decided to drive to your festival, so be prepared to spend a lot of time waiting in traffic as you near your destination. If you're going to be stuck in your car for a long time, make sure you have more than enough water to keep everyone hydrated, and take some food as well.

Before a trip such as this would be a good time to get your car serviced: the consequences of suffering a breakdown in the middle of a traffic jam - and on the way to a festival you'd been looking forward to for ages - could be pretty dire.

Consider also taking out breakdown insurance so your vehicle can be up and running again as quickly as possible after any problems.

The AA offers Glastonbury visitors a dedicated festival hotline (0800 072 3642) if you want to join and get immediate assistance. Check also what the parking situation is at your festival: you may need to buy a permit in advance. In some cases you may be able to park at a reasonable distance from the site and use a shuttle bus or local public transport to complete your journey. This might appeal if you have camping equipment you can carry - and it could also make your departure a bit easier.

Work out when to go

Your best chance of avoiding the worst of the festival traffic is by arriving at a different time to the majority of visitors. Many festival campsites open a day or two before the event officially begins - and by arriving at the earliest time possible, you'll be able to bag a prime camping spot too.

Organisers will be able to tell you when most people normally arrive: at Glastonbury, for example, the Wednesday and Thursday afternoons are the busiest periods. You might not fancy arriving late at night - especially with a tent to pitch - but consider making an extra-early start to beat the afternoon rush.

Just as important as working out when to arrive is deciding when to depart. If you try to leave at the same time as your fellow visitors, you could end up waiting for an age to exit the site.

Glastonbury organisers say that in previous years, motorists have queued for up to nine hours just to leave the car park when they've tried to get away at the peak time of Monday morning.

Share travel costs

The car-sharing website Liftshare has a dedicated page set up to help festival-goers get to Glastonbury this year. All you have to do is sign up on the site and you can search for people who are planning to drive to the festival, or who need a lift.

The aim is to help save money by pooling fuel costs: for drivers, this means a lower petrol bill (and some extra company), while for other travellers it is a cheaper option than using public transport.

Another site offering the same service is Freewheelers. Most of the major festivals have similar arrangements with car-sharing sites this summer: check your festival's website for more details.

Car insurance

If you're planning hitting the booze at your festival, then it may be worth considering insuring a friend on your car as well. This can usually be done for a really small price and gives you the peace of mind that if you are tired after your festival shenanigans, then you have a driver in reserve. Check with your car insurance provider for more details on adding another driver to the policy.
]]> http://www.theinfofile.com/automotive/cars/hassle-free-motoring-in-europe.html http://www.theinfofile.com/automotive/cars/hassle-free-motoring-in-europe.html Fri, 16 Jul 2010 06:32:10 +0100
Car ferries and the Channel Tunnel normally charge by the vehicle rather than the number of passengers, so your travel costs could work out cheaper than flying, especially if you're taking a whole family.

When you reach your destination, you won't have to spend a few hundred pounds hiring a car. You'll also face much less strict limits on the amount of luggage you can take with you - or duty-free you bring back.

But if you are taking your own vehicle to Europe this summer, preparing properly can save you hours of hassle, not to mention a few pennies too. This means making sure you've got the right level of car insurance, as well as finding out about traffic laws in the countries you'll be driving in.

What cover do you need?

Many motorists mistakenly believe their UK insurance policy automatically extends to the continent: but this is not necessarily the case.

European laws mean that UK insurers must provide third-party cover to customers who drive abroad. But this is the bare minimum, and it means you could end up seriously out of pocket if you have an accident during your trip.

Third-party cover will pay out for any claims from other drivers for damage you are responsible for. But if your own vehicle needs repairs as a result of an accident that was your fault, you'll have to foot the bill.

Some insurers do extend their comprehensive cover to customers while they are on overseas trips, but this varies from company to company so check your policy documents or give your provider a call.

Even if your insurer does offer European cover at no extra cost, it may be limited to just a few weeks every year, so make sure you know what level of cover you have and top-up if necessary.

Get in touch before you go

In any case, you should contact your insurance provider before you travel: they will issue you with a green card, which is a motor insurance certificate widely recognised in Europe (although this is no longer a legal requirement as it has been in the past).

Your insurer will also be able to tell you what you need to do in the event of an accident, depending on the country you are in.

If your provider does not extend your UK cover as standard, you'll be able to buy an add-on European policy to cover you for the length of your stay: this will typically cost around £15-£20 a week.

It's always worth paying for your cover to end a day or two after your trip is scheduled to end, just in case you are delayed for any reason.

How else should you prepare?

Breakdown cover is even more important while you're abroad, because of the potential cost of getting a broken-down vehicle back to the UK.

Again, you will be able to buy a European breakdown policy that covers you solely for the duration of your trip. But also look at the cost of buying a year-long policy that includes a certain amount of European cover - it may not be much more expensive, and could work out better value.

Insurance aside, there are a few other things to bear in mind before you go.

It's a good idea to check up on traffic laws in the countries you'll be driving in: things like speed limits and drink-driving laws may be very different to the UK.

The AA has a lot of information on rules of the road, fuel prices across Europe, plus the items - such as warning triangles and reflective jackets - that you may be required to have in your car in case you break down.
]]> http://www.theinfofile.com/automotive/cars/choosing-a-driving-instructor.html http://www.theinfofile.com/automotive/cars/choosing-a-driving-instructor.html Fri, 16 Jul 2010 06:04:55 +0100
Where to start

Well, you're on the internet now, so why not start here? You should be able to find a decent instructor online. The British School of Motoring (BSM) has been going for a century now, and is offering up to 25 per cent off bookings of ten lessons at the time of writing. The AA Driving School also has an offer until 31 July 31 where lessons booked in a block are half price after the third lesson.

Otherwise, personal recommendations are good. If someone you like and trust has good things to say about an instructor, the chances are that you'll get on as well.

Also, with all instructors, have a good old natter before you commit to any payment. Instructors who have enrolled with the bigger schools will expect this too, so don't be shy about asking. If you're offered a free or reduced-price trial lesson, take it, as this will be a good test of whether you feel comfortable with them before having to shell out any money.

Instructor's ability and qualifications

If you're going to pay your instructor, then they have to be Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs). Vehicles used for tuition will display one of two types of badge issued by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA). If the instructor is fully qualified, then they'll have a green octagon. A licensed trainee who has yet to fully qualify will have a pink triangle.

In addition to this, the instructor should have a grading issued by the DSA. The highest standard is a grade 6, which approximately 6 per cent of ADIs will have attained. About 20 per cent of ADIs have a grade 5, which is also a very good standard, and grade 4 means that they're competent. It's worth bearing in mind that a grade 4 instructor may still be very good - but has simply chosen not to sit tests to progress up the grading. An instructor may be ungraded, which also doesn't necessarily mean they're bad - but it might be worth finding out why.

Price

Price is obviously a pretty important factor, as few of us are lucky enough to have a bottomless budget. A one-hour lesson tends to cost between £20 and £25. You may find a one-hour lesson insufficient though, so consider doing lessons of 90 minutes or two hours. You're likely to get more into the swing this way. Don't pay twice the hourly rate for a two-hour lesson though, as the one-hour price should have the instructor travelling to you and back factored in - and they won't have to do this twice!

Trainee instructors

If you want to pay less, it's possible to get trainee driving instructors through driving schools. Obviously cutting the cost sacrifices the instructor's experience accordingly, so it's up to you to strike the right balance. If you are fairly confident, then the trainee route may well suit you. If you're a nervous driver, then a more seasoned instructor might be for the best, as they will have had more practice at dealing with jittery students.

Pass rate

An instructor's pass rate isn't necessarily as helpful as you might think, because in isolation the term is practically meaningless. If you want to know about pass rates, be clear on how they're calculated - so, for example, see if the percentage given is for those who pass first time. Knowing the average amount of lessons might help too.

The vehicle

Obviously the more similar the car is to the first car you'll be driving, the better. It's a good idea to take lessons in a car with dual controls, so if something bad happens, the instructor will be able to intervene. Also, if you're particularly tall or short, be sure that the seat can be adjusted to the level which makes you comfortable.

In conclusion

How you choose your instructor is ultimately up to you. What we will say though is go with someone who communicates clearly, and makes you feel comfortable. You're going to be spending a lot of hours sitting next to them, and plus your safety will be jointly in their hands. If you don't feel comfortable, switch instructors sooner rather than later.

If you can supplement your tuition with lessons from a relative or friend, all the better. We'll go into this in more detail in our impending article on how to reduce the cost of your lessons, so keep your eyes peeled for that. ]]> http://www.theinfofile.com/automotive/cars/drink-drive-limit-to-drop.html http://www.theinfofile.com/automotive/cars/drink-drive-limit-to-drop.html Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:51:25 +0100
This could mean that a single glass of wine or a pint of strong beer or cider could push many people over the limit, particularly women.

The limit could be even lower for new drivers with less than five years of experience behind the wheel. The proposals are for that to be 20mg per 100ml of blood.

The limit has been at 80mg for the last 40 years, since the introduction of the breathalyser.
The plans were drawn up by Sir Peter North for the Department for Transport. They've been met with support by the British Medical Association and The AA.

The Department for Transport estimated that, in 2008, 13,020 reported casualties happened when one of the drivers involved was over the limit. This number accounted for 6 per cent of road casualties that year.

An argument against lowering the limit, proposed by the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations (FLVA), contends that drivers who fall foul of drink driving laws under the new proposals may not be stigmatised in the same way that they are now. They argue that public perception may well soften with a lower limit in place.

What do you think of the plans?
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