Rachael Croll- Edinburgh
Great start to the day for Rachel Croll from Edinburgh, who today passed her test with only 2 minors today at Currie. Rachel produced a brilliant drive and the examiner commented on how good the whole test was. Well done again Rachel, enjoy the new licence and remember to stay safe out there.
Rachael Croll- Edinburgh
Vic Areglado- Slateford, Edinburgh
It is with great delight that we can announce that Vic Areglado from Slateford, Edinburgh, today passed his test in Currie with only 2 minors. Vic produced a brilliant drive and was highly praised by the examiner for such a good pass. Well done again and remember to stay safe out there when you buy your new family car.
Clanger of the Week
Welcome once more to Clanger of the Week. A little light hearted look at driving escapades caught on camera in Edinburgh, Fife and the Lothians. Today's offering demonstrates slight confusion on what a red light actually means...
Edinburgh, Fife and The Lothians
Lee Sives- Broxburn, West Lothian
It's with great delight that we can announce that Lee Sives from Broxburn, West Lothian, today passed his test in Livingston with with relative ease. Lee has worked exceptionally hard to get this and we are delighted to have been part of his success. A special mention to Laura Jackson who helped massively get Lee theough this when Steve was pre disposed. Enjoy your new licence and remember to stay safe out there
Lee Sives- Broxburn, West Lothian.
Clanger of the Week
Welcme to Clanger of the Week, a light hearted look at those that share our roads. This week spot the mistakes bearing in mind that the incident took place in a 30mph between Kirkliston in Edinburgh and South Queensferry also in the Edinburgh area.
Edinburgh, Kirkliston and South Queensferry
Tips for Driving in Heavy Rain
If you’ve just passed your test or you’re still learning then perhaps one of your worst nightmares is driving in heavy rain. It’s not surprising, it can be hazardous to drive in, that’s why we’ve come up with some tips on driving in heavy rain, we hope you find it helpful.
Your car is more likely to breakdown in extreme weather, especially in heavy rain but there are ways to avoid accidents. Driving through deep water could cause your engine to fail and that could cost quite a bit to repair.
What can you do to stay safe and avoid accidents?
Do you really need to go out? It may be safer if you can postpone your journey until the weather clears if it is really bad outside.
If you do have to go out, plan in advance, make sure you know the route and be aware of where’s flooded so you can avoid and factor in all this into your journey. Allow for traffic speed to be slower as well because of the weather and don't rush.
Make sure your family and friends know where you are and where you’re going. Travel with others rather than alone if possible, so if you do break down you’ve got someone to help
Check your car is in full working order before setting off. This should include windscreen wipers, engine, oil, water and lights, and make sure you fill up the car with fuel
Make sure you have a mobile phone to hand and that it’s fully charged so you can get in touch with someone should you get into difficulties or break down.
When you’re actually on the road, follow these essential tips:
Don’t use rear fog lights because they’ll only dazzle those behind you and mask your brake lights, so drivers won’t know when you’ve stopped suddenly
Use dipped headlights
Always leave more space between you and the other driver than you would in dry conditions.
Keep an eye out for fast moving and heavy vehicles because they’re more likely to create water spray and reduce your visibility
Keep an ear out for news bulletins on weather conditions in your area
If you break down make sure you keep your bonnet closed while you’re waiting for someone to assist because you could damage your electrical system if you don’t
Don’t drive too fast through water because tyres could lose their grip on the road. If your steering is light all of a sudden, this could be due to the fact you’re aquaplaning
To get a grip of the steering again, ease off accelerator and don’t brake, let your speed reduce slowly until you’ve got control again
Consider any cyclists or pedestrians on the road, they’re having a hard time too.
If you’re driving through flooded areas, keep the following in mind:
Don’t drive through it if you’re unsure of how deep it is, look at the edge of the kerb, this will give you an idea of how deep it is
Drive on the highest part of the road
Drive slowly, and check you have a clear way ahead of you
Keep your distance from the vehicle in front of you
Test your brakes after you’ve left the flooded area
If your engine cuts out after driving through a flooded area, then don’t repeatedly attempt to start the engine again, call for assistance because you could cause further damage.
Compass ProDrive – Premier Driving Instructors in Edinburgh
Looking for driving lessons in Edinburgh or West Lothian? Then look no further than Compass Prodrive. We’re a team of experienced professional drivers with many years of experience on the road. We’d love to help you pass your test so get in touch.
Countryside Driving Tips
We’re going to be talking about driving in the countryside. We realise you may still be having driving lessons, with us, or with another driving school. On the other hand, you may be a newly qualified driver, and you are a little anxious about driving in the countryside alone for the first time.
High Number of Accidents on Country Roads
There are different reasons for this, and these are mainly due to inappropriate speed, hazards such as ditches, slow moving vehicles, poor lighting and livestock. These aren’t problems that can’t be overcome, we just need to drive a little differently when we’re out on the road.
Keep Your Eyes Peeled
When you’re out driving in the countryside, stay alert, have you noticed a gate wide open and fresh mud in the road in front of you? This might be because there’s a tractor out and about, and you need to keep this in mind while you’re driving so you’re super-aware of any obstacles.
Clues
Look out for skid marks, hedges and broken fences, road-side debris and any other signs which may indicate that livestock are out and about, or that there may be slow moving vehicles ahead.
Slow Down
Don’t think it’s okay to pick up speed just because you’re on a deserted road and it seems there’s no one else around. Country roads can be cleverly deceptive, it may appear deserted, but other vehicles could pop up at any time, and if they do, there’s nowhere to pull into, and you could end up driving straight in to the oncoming vehicle.
Corners
Country lanes are most often quite narrow, so don’t try to cut corners, it’s a sure-fire way of driving directly into oncoming vehicles.
Overtaking
Be careful when you overtake on country lanes. You need to be sure that the vehicle ahead isn’t going to be turning into a gate directly in front of you, or that perhaps another car will join you from a side road. You need to be constantly vigilant, and by doing so, you’ll have a better chance of avoiding accidents.
Livestock and Wild Animals
You’ll come across this occasionally when you’re in the countryside, farm animals like cows and sheep or horses and wild animals are also a danger when you're driving. Depending on where you are, there may be deer, or other small animals such as rabbits, which if you shock them, could lead to an accident. It’s best just to come to a stop until they’ve gone on their way if you encounter them, use your hazard lights so traffic from behind you will know you’ve stopped in the road.
Compass ProDrive – Premier Driving Instructors Edinburgh
If you have any questions about countryside driving, then please get in touch with us here at Compass ProDrive, and we’ll be more than happy to talk to you about any concerns you have.
Clanger of the Week. Westerhailes
Following an incident 6 weeks ago on a roundabout on Calder Road Edinburgh, we finally got our car back repaired. The incident highlights how easy it is to have an accident on a roundabout. Moral of the story is stay in your lane and not to cross over the white lines. If you do have to then make sure you check your mirrors and blindspot to endure it's safe before attempting any such move.
James Boyle- Westerhailes Edinburgh.
Continuing with our fine pass rates from last week it's with great delight that we can announce that James Boyle from Westerhailes passed his test today in Currie with only 4 minors. To add the drama and excitement of the result Janes had only 3 weeks left on his theory! Well done again James and remember to start safe out there with your new licence
James Boyle- Westerhailes, Edinburgh.
Kieran Moncrieff- Livingston
Massive congratulations to Kieran Moncrieff from Libingston who today passed with only 3 minors and 30 hours behind the wheel at Livingston test centre. Fantastic effort and enjoy the new licence. Remember to stay safe out there.
Kieran Moncrieff- Livingston.
Sam Peploe- South Queensferry
Congratulations to Sam Peploe from South Queensferry who today, in this glorious weather, passed his test with a very good drive. Fantastic result today, well done again and remember to stay safe out there with your new licence.
Sam Peploe- South Queensferry
Motorway Driving Tips
How do you stay safe on a motorway? It may seem daunting if you’ve just passed your test, and you’re going to be driving on a motorway for the first time by yourself. However, motorways are very safe with only a small percentage of accidents and fatalities each year. Although naturally, because of the speeds people drive at on a motorway when an accident does occur, they are quite severe. Today, our guide on motorway driving tips should help you to drive safely whenever you find yourself on a motorway.
Regulations
It’s important to follow the rules because if we don’t then when we are at risk of becoming involved in an accident. Not everyone can use a motorway, and those that can’t include learner drivers, motorbikes under 50cc, pedal cycles and mopeds.
Once you find yourself on a motorway there’s no stopping unless it’s an emergency and that is on the hard shoulder or verge.
Distance and Speed
The speed limit for motorcycles and cars is 70mph, if you’re towing a caravan or a trailer, articulated goods vehicles, coaches, buses and HGVs the limit is less at 60mph and aren’t allowed to use lane 3. It’s crucial that a safe distance is kept between each vehicle using the 2 second rule, which is the minimum amount of distance between you and the vehicle in front of you, and on wet roads, 4 seconds. When you’re behind a lorry, think about changing lanes or dropping back so you can see further.
It’s important to move into the left hand lane asap, and never dart straight across as you could cause an accident. There are motorway exits with countdown markers if you’re leaving a motorway always make this clear by using your left indicator, make sure you do all your braking in the slip road rather than on the motorway, once you’ve left the motorway keep an eye on the speed, it may be higher than you realise because you’ve been on a motorway.
Lanes
When using motorway lanes please be aware that the left hand lane is where you drive and the lanes to the right and the middle are just for overtaking. Always move back into the left once you’ve finished overtaking. However, when there are some slow vehicles it is sometimes safer to remain in the middle and right lanes until the moves are complete rather than chop and change in-between the lanes.
Signs
You’ll come across a lot of different signs on the motorway The motorway variable signs and signals are the most important, and will let you know about traffic conditions and suitable speed limits because of poor weather. They can apply to individual lanes, or to the whole carriageway. Red lamps indicate that you must not go into that lane.
Weather Conditions
Slow down in extreme weather such as heavy snow, rain or hail can make visibility difficult and if you’re going too fast stopping distances are harder when roads are slippy. Fog is a worry so always make sure you reduce your speed. When driving use dipped headlights and all your fog lights. Try not to speed up too fast even if it seems the fog is clearing up as it may be thicker up ahead.
Safe Driving
It’s important to drive safely and obey the rules when you’re on a motorway so you don’t cause an accident. Never drink or eat whilst driving or use a mobile phone. Always take a break when on a long journey, around 15 minutes every 2 hours.
Driving Instructors Edinburgh – For Quality Driving Lessons
We hope you found our blog on motorway driving tips of interest and that they gave you something to think about the next time you’re on a motorway alone. If you’ve just passed your test it can be a scary experience first time round. If you’re in need of Edinburgh driving lessons, then get in touch with us here at Compass Pro Drive Edinburgh and let’s make you motorway confident.
Clanger of the Week-Longstone
At Compass Prodrive we make sure you are fully prepared for life on the road. This includes road markings and clear signs at Supermarkets...
Clanger-Longstone
Clanger of The Week: Edinburgh
Welcome to Clanger of the Week. It's an unfortunate one this week as its a demonstration of complete intolerance of learners. It's so easy to forget that at one stage we were all learning. Please remember that it's a daunting task in some cases to learn to drive and is not made easy by this....
Clanger of The Week: Edinburgh
Stefano Smith-Currie
A huge congratulations to Stefano Smith who today smashed his test first time with only 3 minors! A great drive saw Stefano walk away with his new licence with only 3 months hard work. Well done again and enjoy the new licence. Remember to stay safe out there.
Stefano Smith-Currie
Clanger of the Week- Broxburn
It's been a while since our last comedy moment so please enjoy our new one.
Clanger of the Week- Broxburn
Dermont O'Commer- South Queensferry
A massive congratulations to Dermont O'Commer from South Queensferry, who today passed his test in Currie with only 1 minor! A brilliant result and very well deserved. Enjoy the new licence and remember to stay safe out there.
Dermont O'Commer- South Queensferry
Summer Driving Tips
You been out with your driving instructors in Edinburgh and you’ve grown in confidence since you first started learning to drive. Your Edinburgh driving school will have done everything in its power to make sure you’re a competent driver, but there are always a few hints and tips that can help make any potential new driving experiences even better.
In today’s post we’re going to be talking about driving, specifically summer driving, and how you can make your journey’s safer, more enjoyable. Planning ahead is key to having a safe journey so read on and find out how to prepare for your driving trips this summer.
Car Fluids
It’s important to check your car’s fluids and make sure the car is well prepared, with water especially, so as to avoid your car breaking down while you’re out on the road. Also consider engine coolant, fuel and windscreen washer.
Tyre Pressure
This is important as it’s a hazard to drive without having tyres that aren’t of adequate pressure. Check them first before leaving the house to avoid a potential breakdown, or perhaps even worse, crashing. Do you have a spare wheel in the boot? You should have, so make sure you get one.
Emergency Kit
Always make sure you have an emergency kit containing a blanket, breakdown triangle, torch, map breakdown cover details, mobile phone, and a high visibility jacket if you have one. This should be enough for an emergency should you have one, before the emergency services or your breakdown service arrive.
Take the Scenic Route
A scenic route during the warm summer months is a must, and it’s always better than going along the motorway and potentially getting stuck in holiday traffic. If you take a scenic route where there’s room to stop along the way, you can get out and stretch your legs occasionally. That way, you can appreciate the scenery that bit more, perhaps stopping off at the occasional village. Always keep an eye out for cheaper fuel stops, this will save you money, especially as a scenic route may be a longer journey than the motorway.
Compass ProDrive – Quality Driving Lessons Edinburgh
Once you’ve been out with your driving instructor in Edinburgh you will have picked up a lot of tips and learnt to drive over a period of time that’s hopefully, turned you into a confident and competent driver. We hope you enjoy your summer driving and if you need any further advice or guidance, or you or someone you know is looking to take driving lessons, then do get in touch with us here at Compass ProDrive.
Charlotte Vo- Westerhailes
Second pass of the day and it's a huge congratulations to Charlotte Vo from Wester Hailes who today passed her test in Currie with only 2 minors! Charlotte has been with us for 3 years now due to the fact that she lives in Norway! Great result and remember to stay safe out there.
Charlotte Vo- Westerhailes
Charlotte Vo- Westerhailes
Second pass of the day and it's a huge congratulations to Charlotte Vo from Wester Hailes who today passed her test in Currie with only 2 minors! Charlotte has been with us for 3 years now due to the fact that she lives in Norway! Great result and remember to stay safe out there.
Charlotte Vo- Westerhailes