Laura Jackson- Passed ADI Test

Its with great delighted that we can announce that Laura Jackson passed her ADI Part 3 instructor test with flying colours and cements herself as a full time instructor with Compass ProDrive.

This is particularly exciting news as it really makes Compass a family business as Laura is the wife of our very own Steve Jackson. We are delighted to have Laura on board in this capacity and we can now offer more spaces for potential new pupils to learn with us.

Please join us in congratulating Laura on this brilliant achievement and it will now open the doors for new exciting opportunities that Compass can now start to explore to deliver even more to our pupils. 

Laura Jackson.  

Hannah Mconnachie- Stockbridge, Edinburgh

We are delighted to announce that Hannah Mconnachie from Stockbridge, Edinburgh, today passed her test in Currie with only 4 minors first time! It was a very accomplished drive from Hannah who can now enjoy the trappings of her companies car pool. Well done again Hannah thoroughly well deserved. Enjoy the new licence and all that it brings and above all remember to stay safe out there.  

Hannah Mconnachie- Stockbridge, Edinburgh.  

Preparing For Your First Driving Lesson

If you’re about to embark on driving lessons for the first time, then you’ve got a lot to look forward to. It’s going to be so much fun, and at the end of it you’ll have a driving license and be able to go out on your own driving with friends. Naturally, before that you’ll have a few lessons to prepare you for the test, and of course you’ll be nervous.

The best way of preparing yourself for your first driving lessons is to arrive feeling as calm and as relaxed as you can. Yes, that’s easy to say because, as we all know, driving lessons are stressful at the best of times, but it’s simply a case of perhaps spending the 24 hours beforehand getting yourself psyched ready for your first lesson.

Sleep Well

The first thing you should do is make sure you get a good night’s sleep, if you’re tired then your reactions are going to be slower and it could impact on your coordination skills. Don’t drink the night before, there’s nothing worse than having to try and concentrate when you have a hangover, and don’t forget, you’re going to be sitting in close proximity to your instructor, so it won’t be difficult for him or her to work out you’ve turned up with a hangover, not a great first impression!

Eat Well

Make sure you have a good breakfast and that you’re not hungry, it’ll help you to concentrate and focus on what you’re being told. It’s a lot to take in the first time, so you need to be feeling fresh and healthy for your start.

Comfortable Driving Shoes

Try wearing comfy shoes that don’t slip on and off, if you’re a girl, then heels might be difficult to operate the peddles and you want to wear something comfortable. If you do insist on wearing heels, take a comfy pair with you so you can change into them once you start the lesson.

Do You Need Glasses?

Then please remember to wear them, you need to be able to see clearly and driving without them may compromise your driving ability, leaving you at risk of having an accident.

The Cockpit Drill

Once you’ve been picked up by your driving instructor at a place of your choosing, you’ll be able to start, and that will probably be with what’s known as a cockpit drill. Here’s you’ll check that your seat and steering position is comfortable, the doors are closed secure, your seatbelt’s on and your mirrors are adjusted correctly.

The Controls

You will learn all about controls on your first time, this will include running through what the accelerator, brake and clutch are for. You will get an opportunity to go through them again before you set off, so don’t be afraid to ask.

And Then You Drive…

once you start driving you’ll learn the basics, these will naturally include moving off, clutch control, checking your mirrors, gears and when to change, stopping, and more about brake and clutch. You’ll also learn a little about parking, and don’t forget that you can ask your instructor any questions if you’re unsure about anything. Your instructor will have his own set of controls, so if you lose control or you make mistake, the instructor can easily take over, so you have nothing to worry about.

Premier Driving Instructors in Edinburgh

Are you thinking of having driving lessons? If you are, then give us a call here at Compass Pro Drive. We have an impressive team of driving instructors in Edinburgh and throughout east-central Scotland who’ve been doing this for a while, and each one is a qualified and experienced driving instructor. Learning to drive doesn’t have to be stressful and with Compass Pro Drive behind you it won’t be, we’ll put you at your ease and help to ease those nerves.

Tyre Tread Depth and Safety Checks

Checking your legal tyre tread depth is one of the most important checks you can make on your car.

Having worn tyres means the only contact patch between you and the road is past its best. You could almost call it an accident waiting to happen.

If the safety risks don’t hit home, maybe the risk of a £2,500 fine and three penalty points for a worn tyre will? That’s per tyre, too. If all four tyres are worn below the legal limit, you could potentially lose your licence and face a £10,000 fine.

What is the legal tyre tread depth?

The law states the minimum legal tyre tread depth for cars in the UK and Europe is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre. The tread must meet this minimum requirement across its complete circumference.

What is the expert-recommended minimum tyre tread depth?

Tyre and safety experts believe the 1.6mm legal minimum is insufficient to guarantee safety – most recommend a minimum tread depth of 3mm for tyre replacement. Tests by UK technical organisation MIRA found that, once tyres are below 3mm, stopping distances increase dramatically.

The difference in wet braking distance between a tyre worn to 3mm and one worn to 1.6mm can be as much as 44%.

Worn tyres are particularly dangerous in the wet because a tyre’s tread helps disperse water away from the contact patch between tyre and road. If there’s less tread depth, less water can be shifted, increasing the risk of aquaplaning and losing grip.

In heavy rain, each tyre can shift one gallon of water every second, illustrating just how hard tyres work. Simply put, deeper tread means they can work better, improving grip  

How to check tyres are in a roadworthy condition 

Tyre tread depth has to be above 1.6mm to be legal. This must be the case for the middle three quarters of the tyre.

The 20p test is a simple, quick and easy way of checking the tyre tread of your car's wheels. Just take a 20p coin and insert it into the tread grooves on the tyre. If you can't see the outer band on the coin, your tyres are above the legal limit.

However, if you can see the band and that section of the coin is still visible, your tyres could be unsafe and require professional inspection by a mechanic. Drivers should conduct the 20p test every month to check tyre tread depth.

Checking tyre tread with tyre tread wear indicators

If the tyre is flush with these, it is below the legal limit and needs replacing.

Checking tyre tread with a tyre tread depth gauge

These are purpose made tools that quickly measure the depth of an individual tyre groove. 

What happens if you have an accident on illegal/bald tyres?

Driving with tyres that have a tread below the legal limit - or even worse, are bald - is dangerous. It can put you and other motorists at risk.

If you are involved in an accident and the car you are driving has illegal or bald tyres, you should be aware of the consequences.

Any insurance claim as a result of an accident could be invalidated, so potentially your insurer won't pay out any money any repairs needed to your vehicle.

However, driving with dangerous or defective tyres also puts drivers at risk of a fine of up to £2,500 and three points on their license. That is per tyre, so four illegal tyres could mean a fine of £10,000 and 12 penalty points.

You can buy tyre tread gauges that help you assess the tread depth of the tyre, plus you can also get more basic colour-coded tools that let you know if a tyre is legal or not at a glance.

Having worn tyres means the only contact patch between you and the road is past its best. You could almost call it an accident waiting to happen.

If the safety risks don’t hit home, maybe the risk of a £2,500 fine and three penalty points for a worn tyre will? That’s per tyre, too. If all four tyres are worn below the legal limit, you could potentially lose your licence and face a £10,000 fine.

 

Source and credit www.rac.co.uk

Charley Thornborrow- Edinburgh City Centre.

It's with great pleasure that we can announce that Charley Thornborrow from Edinburgh City centre has today passed her test in Currie first time with only 2 minors! Charley has spent most of her time in Malaysia and as such most of her experience has been in the huddle and bustle of there so to come here to learn our regimented way makes this an even better achievement. Congratulation again, enjoy the new licence and car but above all be safe out there. 

Charley Thornborrow- Edinburgh City Centre  

Michael Watney- Slateford, Edinburgh.

It's with great delight that we can announce that Michael Watney from Slateford, Edinburgh, today passed his test first time with only 2 minors in Currie. Michaels hard work and brilliant commitment paid off with a great result today. Congratulations again, enjoy the new opportunities the licence brings, especially now that you can drive around Iceland on your own but remember to above all be safe out there.  

Michael Watney- Slateford, Edinburgh.  

Max Langley- Barnton, Edinburgh

A huge congratulations to Max Langley (Simon from The Inbetweeners).  from Barnton, Edinburgh, who today passed his test in Currie (yellow car in the background) with only four minors and astonishingly 14 hours tuition! Max is already a motorcyclist and did brilliantly transitioning his skills from the bike to the car to great effect. Enjoy the new Scirrocco and above all be safe out there. 

Max Langley- Barnton, Edinburgh.  

Jordan Chatt- Edinburgh

It's with great pleasure that we can announce that Jordan Chatt from Edinburgh City Centre, has today passed his test with minimum minors in Currie AND achieved this with only 30 hours! A brilliant result following in the footsteps of his sister Kimberly Chatt who did the same a few years ago. Well done again Jordan, enjoy the new licence and remember to stay safe out there.  

Jordan Chatt- Edinburgh City Centre.  

How to prepare for your theory test

If you’ve decided to take driving lessons, you will be aware that you have to sit what’s known as a theory test. This theory test is a way of testing your knowledge of the Highway Code and there’ll also be a hazard perception test. The cost for sitting this test is around £34 which you can pay online.

Revision

It’s a good idea to do some revision beforehand and you can buy books and find articles online which will aid your study. You’ll be given 50 questions on multiple choice and you’ll need to answer at least 43 correctly to pass.

Around 20 to 25 hours should be adequate study and preparation time, and if you can, get someone you know to test you on it. It’s important to put the time in because if you don’t, you may fail the test and lose money. 

There’s a handbook you can buy from the Driving Standards Agency, DVSA, which is a theory test handbook, you should find this useful. You’ll find some sample questions and some great tips on what to look out for, and it will prepare the way for you before you sit the test.

As we mentioned earlier there will be a hazard perception test and it’s important therefore to prepare well for this. When you sit the test, you’ll be given some video clips where there are driving hazards for you to spot. You’ll find lots of information about this both online and in your theory test handbook.

Also, online you’ll find some hazard tests you can run through to help yourself which will help you to identify which distractions could lead to a potential hazard.

For the hazard perception test, you’ll need to get 44 out of 75 to pass, so that’s something else that’s worth spending time on.

We mentioned earlier about taking tests online, these are known as mock tests and they’ll give you a real feel for what you’re up against once you sit the test itself. It’ll give you time to practice what you know and to get a feel for what it’s like to sit the test. By testing yourself in this way, you’ll be helping yourself to feel better prepared and more confident about what you know.

On The Day

Always leave in plenty of time because you don’t want to arrive feeling hot and flustered, that’s not a great start. You’ll need proof of identity, and this can be in the form of a provisional license, or if you have the old-style driving license and you’re an older driver, then you’ll need a passport with a recent photo of yourself.

Before you start you’ll have around 15 minutes to get yourself ready, adjusting yourself to the layout and to play around the touch screen. You’ll have just under an hour to answer 50 questions, if you’re stuck on one then touch the flag button and it’ll mark it so you can go back to it later.

You’re allowed a 3-minute break during both tests. This should help you to take a few deep breaths and prepare yourself mentally for the rest. Take your time and don’t rush through the questions.

With the hazard perception test you’ll need to press the mouse button every time you see a potential hazard developing. The earlier you respond, the higher the score. If you click too many times you will get zero for that particular clip.

You’ll find out whether or not you’ve passed as soon as you leave the exam room. Someone in reception will let you know what your marks were and whether or not you’ve scored enough to pass. We wish you luck with your theory test and if you have any questions about what we’ve discussed today, please get in touch, one of our team will be able to help you. Here at Compass ProDrive, we have some of the most successful driving instructors in Edinburgh, we pride ourselves on our pass rate and the standard of our teaching. Give us a call today.

New Driving Test 2017

Barring potential lobbying with local MPs to review whether these are appropriate changes, this is how the new test will shape up as of 4th December 2017.

It is a very divisive set of changes that has split opinion within the instructor community both north and south of the border  

Compass ProDrive are at the cutting edge of the changes and are in a prime position to be able to help make sure you are ready for these new changes. Our instructors have attended national meetings, seminars and enrolled in future training programs through the DVSA to keep ahead of what is expected and how these changes will be taught both theoretically and technologically  

Now is the time to get in touch with Compass to ensure you are in pole position to secure your skill for life. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/driving-test-changes-4-december-2017

Stephanie Metcalfe- Sighthill, Edinburgh

A massive congratulations to Stephanie Metcalfe from Sighthill, Edinburgh, today brilliantly passed her test first time in Currie, Edinburgh. What makes Stephanie's achievement more pleasing is that she passed her test with NO MINORS and with only 30 hours tuition. Well done again Stephanie, brilliant dedication and commitment to your lessons and it's paid off. Enjoy the new licence and remember to stay safe out there.  

Stephanie Metcalfe- Sighthill, Edinburgh.  

Zero minor test result.  

Simon Thomson- Sighthill, Edinburgh.

Delighted to announce that Simon Thomson from Sighthill, Edinburgh, has today passed his test with only 4 minors in Currie, Edinburgh. This is particularly impressive as Simon only took 3 months of hard work to pass his test with flying colours. Well done again Simon, great result, enjoy the new licence and above all stay safe out there. 

Simon Thomson- Sighthill, Edinburgh.  

Zoe Hogg- South Queensferry

It's with great delight that we can annnounce that Zoe Hogg from South Queensferry today brilliantly passed her test in Currie, Edinburgh, with minimal minors. Zoe has worked tirelessly to achieve this and it culminated with a very good solid drive that finally got her licence first time of asking. Well done again Zoe, well deserved, enjoy the new licence and above all stay safe out there.  

Zoe Hogg- South Queensferry 

Driving Instructor's Tips: Adjusting Mirrors

Adjusting your mirrors correctly is an important part of driving safety. You will learn more about this once you start driving lessons. Perhaps you haven’t quite got around to adjusting your mirrors before a driving test, but it’s something you need to master because inappropriately adjusted mirrors will have a serious impact on your driving test and on how you drive in general.

Not only is this an important step in passing your test, it’s critical in being able to observe and avoid accidents. We’re going to be going over some of the things you can avoid when adjusting your mirrors so you get it right on the day you sit your test, and every day after that.

Moving Off

It’s important to make sure your mirrors are clear before moving away, especially in bad weather. This could include de-icing or demisting the inside of your mirrors before taking off.

Make sure you check your wing and rear view mirrors so you can see whether the road behind you is clear. Always look over your shoulder, this is your blind spot, something you won’t see in your mirrors. If everything is clear from this point take off.

Once You’re On the Road

Once you take off, you should constantly be checking your wing and rear view mirrors. This way, you’ll know exactly what’s going on behind you. By adjusting your mirrors properly beforehand, you’re prepared for driving. You should keep looking behind you and always check mirrors before changing lanes.

Reversing

When you reverse again check your mirrors and your blind spot as you would when pulling off.

Now you will begin to see the importance of adjusting your mirrors so you can see behind you and to the side. Never take off unless your mirrors are adjusted to the correct position, and that position should be where you can see behind you. You need a wide view of the road and this way you can avoid an accident, when you can’t see clearly, then it’s easier to hit someone.

How can you make sure your mirrors are adjusted properly?

Your right-wing mirror should be adjusted while you’re sitting in the driving position as if you were about to take off. The horizon should be in the centre of the mirror. From your left door mirror, the same techniques should be applied. It might be a good idea to adjust your left mirror so it’s slightly lower than the right, but not by much. This allows you to have a better view of the pavement or curb, especially when you’re reversing round a corner. Don’t have your mirror too low because you won’t see as clearly.

For the best driving instructors in Edinburgh

If you’re looking to start learning to drive, or you’re looking for advice and guidance on anything we’ve discussed today, please get in touch with us here at Compass ProDrive. Anyone of our qualified Edinburgh driving instructors will be more than happy to help you, so get in touch today.

Daniel Kelly- Kirkliston

We are delighted to announce that Daniel Kelly from Kirkliston today passed his driving test in Currie, Edinburgh, with minimal minors. Daniel produced a brilliant drive albeit with some minor incidents that were not enough to deter the examiner on commenting how good a drive it was. Well done again, very well deserved after your hard work and commitment but remember above all to enjoy the new licence and be safe out there.  

Daniel Kelly- Kirkliston.  

How the New Driving Laws Could Affect You

New laws will be implemented shortly and this will impact quite heavily on drivers. If you’re having driving lessons with us or another firm, then it’ll be in your interests to know about them, so you can avoid breaking the law.

You will find that as of March this year, there are some important changes, due to accidents caused by mobile phone use on the road. Now, when drivers are caught using their mobile phones within two years of having passed their test, they will have their licence revoked. These rules apply throughout Scotland, England and Wales.

Penalties

You will also find that penalties for using your phone while at the driving wheel from the beginning of March last month, will now mean six points on your license and a fine of £200. If you’re a new driver, and you have six points or more, you will have to re-sit not just your practical but your theory test too. If you’re a more experienced driver then you can be banned altogether if you’ve received more than 12 points in the past 3 years.

Awareness Campaign

There’ll be some pretty strong advertisements to ram the point home as well, so everyone is made aware of the more stringent rules and stronger punishments. There won’t be any excuses left for drivers who still try to use their mobile phones while driving, as the whole point of the exercise is to make sure everyone is made aware of them, so saying you didn’t know won’t be a good enough excuse.

The new changes to the law are because of the serious accidents that have been caused by mobile phone use while driving

These tougher punishments come close on the heels of some horrific accidents over the past couple of years. Over 20 people alone have died in car accidents, with nearly 100 seriously injured just in 2015 alone. Police are now extra vigilant and are planning to put out extra patrols on the road to catch people out.

Thing is what can you do, if say, for arguments sake, you get texts or social media messages whole you’re at a set of lights? Surely if you’re stationary you should be able to answer the phone. No, this is no longer allowed, even if your car is stopped at a set of traffic lights, you cannot use your phone. It doesn’t matter even if your phone is on a hands-free holder it can be distracting and dangerous.

No videos, but you can listen to music and podcasts

You won’t be able to watch videos because your eyes are not on the road, but you will be able to play podcasts and listen to music. Keep in mind though that even if you are just listening to music, if it’s providing enough of a distraction to make you drive dangerously – you can still be prosecuted.

If you need to look at a sat nav, and it’s on your phone, then it’ll need to be on a hands-free mounted holder. Remember that if it’s in your hands then you can be prosecuted.

You can always pull over to check your phone if it’s urgent, as long as you’ve chosen somewhere safe to park and your engine has been switched off.

What is considered a hands-free holder?

Hands free items are cradles, dashboard holders, earphones or Bluetooth connections. You must never hold a microphone in your hands or to hold your phone out in your hand to use a loudspeaker. If you have a smartwatch and/or any voice activated software, you’ll find that these are legal, but like listening to music on a radio or phone, they can be distracting, and again you can be prosecuted if you’re seen to be driving erratically as a result.

So, remember that the only time you can use your phone with your hands from now on is if you are safely parked. There is only ONE exception and that is if there’s an emergency and you need to call the police or an ambulance/fire brigade. That would be 999 or 112, and it’s simply impractical to stop or it’s unsafe to do so.

If you have any questions about what we’ve discussed today, please get in touch with us here at Compass Prodrive, where one of our trained and experienced driver instructors can advise and guide you on the correct procedure when driving. We are the premier driving instructors in Edinburgh, and your safety as a fully qualified driver is always our highest priority.

Jack Robinson- Kirkliston

A huge congratulations to Jack Robinson from Kirkliston who today passed his test in Currie with only 3 minors. Jack has been up here in Edinburgh for university from Liverpool and recently landed himself a new job following graduating from Heriot Watt. The licence will no doubt help in many news ways. Well done again Jack, enjoy the new licence and remember above all to stay safe out there.  

Jack Robinson- Kirkliston.  

Lesson Availability

 Due to some unforeseen circumstances we now have some availability coming up for any new pupils in the following/surrounding areas:

Kirkliston, South Queensferry, Broomhouse, Sighthill, Westerhailes, Currie and Balerno.

The dates and times available are same times weekly:

From Wednesday May 31st 0930-1130

From Friday 2nd June 0700-0900

From Monday 5th June 0930-1130

From Tuesday 13th June 1430-1630

From Wednesday 14th June 1430-1630

If you are interested or know of anyone looking to start with those dates and those areas then give Steve a text on 07736659265 or email compassprodrive1@gmail.com

Luke Gibson- Kirkliston

A huge congratulations to Luke Gibson from Kirkliston who today passed his test first time in Currie with only 2 minors. A brilliant confident drive from Luke who worked incredibly hard even getting up for lessons at 0700 on a Saturday morning! Tremendous dedication to getting his licence and the result reflected that. Well done, very well deserved and enjoy the new licence. Above all though stay safe out there.  

Luke Gibson- Kirkliston  

Brandon Christman- Marchmont

A huge congratulations to Brandon Christman who today passed his test in Musselburgh with only 2 minors. This is a brilliant achievement on its own but what makes it even better is that Brandon is from the USA and here studying and as such decided to take his test here. Delighted to have been the school that for your through your test, enjoy the licence and your adventure to Europe but above all be safe out there.  

Brandon Christman- Marchmont.