National Pothole Day -  is 15th January and the purpose of that is to raise their awareness.

Potholes are formed by a combination of weather and wear. Water gets into small cracks in the road, then freezes and expands in the cold. When the weather heats back up, the water evaporates, leaving gaps in the road surface, which can be worsened by vehicles driving over them. Some 2.4m potholes were reported across England and Wales between January 2020 and December 2022, according to Go Compare. 

 

Type of Damage  that can Occur

Colliding with a pothole could damage your car in a variety of ways, including:

·         damaged shock absorbers

·         broken suspension springs

·         distorted wheels.

·         Pothole impact could also affect catalytic converters, which are pricey to repair. 

 

Get a quote

Does car insurance cover pothole damage?

Yes, it does. You can claim back the cost of repairs from pothole damage on your insurance. 

But you should only claim once you've weighed up the pros and cons.

Rightly or wrongly, insurers regard pothole claims as 'at fault', which means you'll have to pay an excess. If the cost of your repairs is lower than your excess, there's no point in making a claim. 

Then there's the fact that you'll forfeit any 'no-claims' bonus you may have had on your policy, so it could be more expensive when you renew.

If you do claim, you'll need a record of repair costs: a receipt if you've already paid, or a quote if you're paying later. 

It can also help to note down the time and date you hit the pothole and to take a picture of it if it's safe to do so. 

Can you claim compensation from your council?

If you don't want to claim on your insurance, you may be able to recover repair costs from the local authority responsible for maintaining the road.

Again, you'll need a receipt or a quote, and details of where the pothole is, including that potential picture. 

If the council rejects your claim, you can appeal its decision. If it rejects your appeal, you can take it to the small claims court. 

How to help with getting rid of potholes

You don't have to hit a pothole yourself to help remove it from our roads. 

If you spot one while you're out and about, you can report it with the government's report a pothole   webpage. 

 

How to drive in snow and icy Roads

 

IMAGE SOURCE,PA MEDIA

 

Driving in severe winter weather conditions can pose many challenges, and where possible it may be best to avoid driving at all unless your journey is essential. 

But if you do need to use your car, prepare yourself with some things mentioned below.

Consider carrying in the car ....

·         Allow extra time before you set off to de-ice the car, and

·         expect journeys to take much longer.

·         Check traffic reports and plan your journey around major roads, which are more likely to be gritted or cleared.

·         Avoid shortcuts on minor roads.

·         Wear warm clothes and comfortable shoes.

·         Pack a coat, hat, gloves, sturdy boots and a blanket to keep you warm in case you do get stuck or have to leave your car.

 

·         Take some food such as chocolate and biscuits, as well as water and a hot drink if you can.

·         Make sure you have any medication you need.

·         Always carry a fully-charged mobile, a shovel to clear snow and some old bits of carpet, or cat litter, to put under the tyres if you get stuck.

Preparing car for Driving in Snow and ice?

·         Consider buying winter tyres, which offer extra grip, especially if you live in an area which regularly experiences snow. If you have standard tyres , make sure they're inflated at the right pressure, and that each has good tread.

·         Car batteries run down more quickly in winter. Take regular long journeys to keep yours running well or consider using a trickle-charger.

·         Keep screen wash topped up, and use a proper anti-freeze at the right concentration to prevent ice.

·         If there is a risk of windscreen wipers freezing overnight, place cardboard between the blades and the windscreen.

·         Keep your fuel tank topped up so if you are caught out, you have enough fuel to make it home, or run the engine to keep warm.

·         But if you do get stuck, make sure snow doesn't block the exhaust, because noxious fumes can leak into the vehicle.

How should you Drive in snow and ice?

IClear  all snow and ice from the windscreen, windows and roof of the car before setting off.

·         Don't use boiling water to de-ice windscreens - hot water can crack the glass, and the water will only freeze again on the screen, or on the ground where you are standing.

·         Check your lights are clear of snow and are working.

·         Maintain the right speed: too fast and you risk losing control, but driving too slowly means you might lose momentum when you need it.

·         Brake, steer and accelerate as smoothly as possible, and drive so that you do not rely on your brakes to be able to stop.

·         Remember stopping distances are up to 10 times greater in snow and ice.

Leave more space behind the car in front than you usually would.

On motorways, stay in the lane clearest of snow, ice and slush, and keep within existing tyre tracks if you can.

 

What should you do if your car gets stuck in snow or ice?

·         If you get stuck, don't try to keep moving if the wheels spin - it will only dig you in deeper.

·         Use a shovel to clear snow from under your tyres. Pour cat litter, sand or gravel in front of the wheels to help them get traction.

·         Shift from forward to reverse and back again. Give a light touch on the accelerator until the vehicle gets going.

·         If you can't move your car, you can stay warm by running the engine. However, it is vital to ensure exhaust pipe is not blocked by snow because highly toxic carbon monoxide gas could enter the car.

·         If there is any risk of fumes coming into the vehicle, do not run the engine. Even if it is safe, don't run it for more than 10 or 15 minutes in each hour.

·         Stay in or close to your car.

·         In heavy snow, it is easy to get disorientated and lost or separated from your vehicle. You can hang a piece of brightly coloured cloth on your car to let you or others find it.

 

Motorway 60mph Speed Limits Remain - despite No Evidence that they work

 

 National Highways has been told to come clean with air pollution data - or end the trials.

 

Air pollution speed limits that force motorists to drive at 60mph should end, campaigners have said, after it emerged they have lasted twice as long as originally proposed without producing evidence they work.

Driving on stretches of the M1, the M6, the M5 and the M602 has been limited to 60mph  in a bid to ascertain if driving more slowly helps reduce emissions.

But the restrictions, which were only supposed to last between 12 and 15 months, have now been running for more than two years, and still there is no evidence to show they are effective.

There are questions over this scheme that the increased congestion caused by the new speed limit may have actually increased pollution.

Motoring groups and a former roads minister are among those now calling on National Highways to come clean with the data or end the trials.

Braking not taken into account

The lowering of the speed limit was introduced based on modelling that claimed it would significantly reduce the annual mean nitrous dioxide concentrations in the affected zones.

It was suggested this would help the areas around the trials near Rotherham in South Yorkshire; Witton in Birmingham; Eccles in Greater Manchester and Oldbury in the West Midlands meet pollution limits one to two years earlier than expected.

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But the modelling did not take account of particle pollution produced by braking. The policy also penalises electric vehicles which produce no exhaust emissions and newer, less polluting cars.

More than two years since the trials started no data has been published to support claims it improves air quality. But the restrictions have caused huge frustration for  as part of the Smart Motorway upgrade.

On Saturday night Sir John Hayes,  said: “Air pollution is a real concern but the relationship between speed or traffic and pollution is complex. When you have congested traffic, emissions grow.

Scheme 'may have made pollution worse'

Iain Stewart, the Conservative chair of the Transport Select Committee, said “I’ve got a general concern about having things that evolve by a creeping change without it being evidence based,” he said.

“I would certainly want to know if the data that they’ve established thus far, has shown and whether that gives a justification for these speed restrictions to be made permanent.

“I wouldn’t be in favour of doing that without there being a strong evidence base.”

Claire Armstrong, from the campaign group Safe Speed, said the scheme may have even unwittingly made pollution worse.

She said: “If you slow the traffic you risk creating congestion and the more congestion the more pollution you are going to get so I would be highly suspicious of a 60mph zone on a motorway doing anything other than causing frustration and not reducing the pollution.”

Hugh Bladon, from the Alliance of British Drivers, also called for an end to the trials.

He said: "There is an obsession in this country with lowering the speed limit. They are trying to find any excuse they can to reduce the speed limit. Lowering the speed limit is seen as a panacea for everything but it is not.”

The AA has argued that the most polluting vehicles, such as large lorries, were already limited to 60mph anyway, while police forces often allowed 10 per cent plus 2mph leeway to the speed limit, meaning drivers could still be driving near 70mph during the trials.

AA spokesman Luke Bosdet, said: “Essentially, this issue boils down to environmental concerns versus the efficiency of the road network. Many drivers feel that it is slanted too much towards the former.

“The key question is whether the lower speed limit needs to be in operation all day, or whether they could be brought into force when environmental conditions require it.

“The AA would argue that, if variable speed limits can operate on the M25 depending on conditions, the same can happen on other motorways, where needed.

First results released in spring 

National Highways said that the policy was based on real-world driving data and vehicle emission testing. It originally promised to publish monitoring for the first 12 months of the restrictions on its website but has not done so.

A spokesman for National Highways: “As part of this process we are taking a series of actions such as lowering speed limits on some roads. Robust findings informed our decision and these 60mph limits will remain in place until the air quality has met legal limits and will continue to do so when the measure is removed.  

“Given the complexity and amount of data needed, this requires appropriate time to complete all the stages of the analysis process. 

“National Highways is looking to produce initial reports on the performance of the real world 60mph speed limits in spring 2023.”

DVSA is selectively inviting people to book their driving test.

after Driving Test photo

DVSA is selectively inviting people to book their driving test.

DVSA will send emails out:

·    on 15 July to critical workers in England, Scotland and Wales who had a test booked during lockdown 

·    from 16 July to candidates in England whose practical car test was put on hold due to lockdown

Both emails will include a link to book a new test date as the candidate booking system remains closed.

This link will only work for people who have been invited to rebook their test.

When DVSA emails candidates whose tests were put on hold due to lockdown, they will initially invite around 10,000 each day, split in batches to spread out demand on the service.

All available appointments will be shown on the online service. Do not contact DVSA customer service centre as they will not be able to book any alternative test slots.

Making sure your pupils are ready

Driving Instructors should speak to your pupils before they rebook their tests to make sure:

·    they are ready to take their test

·    you are available to take them

As examiners will only be at test centres when they have a test booked, dvsa have increased the minimum notice period for booking a test from 60 minutes to 10 hours.

Wearing a face covering

All candidates must wear a face covering when taking their driving test, unless they have a good reason not to. This includes if:

·    they have a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability that means they cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering

·    putting on, wearing or removing a face covering would cause them severe distress

When they arrange their test, they’ll need to say if there’s a good reason they cannot wear a face covering. The email will tell them how to do this.

Driving Lessons, Theory Test and Driving Test to restart in England

Driving lessons and theory tests will restart on Saturday 4 July 2020 in England, and car driving tests will restart from Wednesday 22 July 2020.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has announced that learners can resume driving lessons in England from Saturday 4 July 2020.

Theory tests will restart in England on Saturday 4 July. The tests will take place with social distancing measures in place to help stop the spread of Coronavirus.

Car driving tests will restart in England on Wednesday 22 July, which will give learner drivers time to have refresher lessons and practice before taking their test.

Driving lessons, theory tests and driving tests are still remain suspended in Scotland and Wales, in line with guidance from the devolved administrations. There are different dates for Northern Ireland.

DVSA will make further announcements on the resumption of testing, training and lessons, including publishing information on how services will be restarted safely, shortly.

When lessons and tests for car will restart

Service	Date
Driving lessons	Saturday 4 July 2020
Theory tests	Saturday 4 July 2020
Driving tests	Wednesday 22 July 2020

What should you gain from your driving lessons ?

Learning to drive and getting ready for full driving lessons,  is a big investment, both in time and in money over a number of months. So it is important to choose  right driving school and driving instructor  to make sure you’re getting :

·    Good value from your driving lessons and  

·    Making progress, towards driving safely and

·    Pass your driving test in the quickest time .

·    Learning to drive should also be enjoyable, so you should be looking forward to your lessons and not dreading it.

Listed below are 5 areas of driving that  you should be getting from your lessons, regardless of who you are learning with or where you are in the country.  

Driving Seat, and Paper Resources

Learning to drive is a practical skill, so you should be spending most of your lesson time driving.

There are of course times when you need to look at the theory side of driving – it can be easier to explain a manoeuvre or the correct route to take across the lanes of a roundabout when you can see it charted on paper, and you need to make sure you’re up to speed on things like the Highway Code – but learning to drive requires  hands on the steering wheel and gear stick, to gain experience

From your very first lesson, you should have the opportunity to learn and practice new skills from the driving seat.

Progress Reports

Learning to drive is a process – from the first time you get behind the wheel until you walk out of the test centre with a big grin on your face. There is of course a logical order to mastering the skills you need; you can not  be reverse parking before you’ve learned how to find reverse gear.

Your instructor should be keeping a record of your progress and giving you feedback at each stage. This not only shows how far you have come, and also gives you  record of where you are up to and what you need to focus on next.

You should also be able to have an input on the direction your lessons take – if your instructor thinks you’ve mastered a manoeuvre but it still just doesn’t feel 100% to you, you should be able to ask for more practice on it.

Remember the end goal is not just getting through your driving test, but to be a safe driver for life, and able to drive independently and safely. So it’s important that you finish your driving lessons feeling comfortable dealing with any scenarios that may come your way.

Feedback

Your instructor should always be willing to give you an honest assessment of how things are going – in a constructive and encouraging way!

Your instructor’s honesty should also extend to when you aren’t quite ready to sit your test – putting you forward to take it before you are likely to pass is a complete waste of your time and money.

Instructor with a positive attitude

Your driving instructor should  instill confidence in you and offer reassurance and encouragement, rather than a stressful learning environment.  Your instructor should be on your side and not looking for any opportunity to knock you down.

Your driving lessons should be enjoyable, yes sometimes hard work, but ultimately focused on you and your needs.

Value for your Money

Learning to drive is a big financial commitment, when you take into account the cost of learning plus getting a car and keeping it on the road. When you’re using your hard-earned money to finance the process, it’s important to know you are getting good value.

It’s not just about getting lessons cheaper, rather it’s about what you’re actually getting for your money and how you are treated.

Your lessons should not be finishing early, despite taking full payment, having set mileage limits to save fuel.

Some of the stories we have heard of other driving schools and instructors include not getting refunds on unused lessons when you’ve passed your driving test, the instructor turning up late or finishing lessons early, despite taking full payment.

Driving Lessons near your home and driving instructors near your home are preferable and you can find them by searching "driving lessons near me " in google.