The Rules of the Road in 2019
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If you retook your driving test tomorrow, would you pass?
Are you confident that you know the new rules of the road, and the recent changes to MOT’s and car insurance? Kwikfit recently created an ebook called Rules of the Road in 2019 which shares tips and advice on all the recent changes you need to know about driving in 2019. I have to admit, some of them I wasn’t aware of.
MOT Changes
MOTs are an important part of keeping your car safe and roadworthy, and is a legal requirement to have a valid MOT every 12 months once your car is over 3 years old. Did you know… the government recently changed the way in which MOT’s are classified, giving helpful guidance on elements of your vehicle which need to be looked at in the short to medium term as well as those that may be deemed dangerous or major. Rather than a straight pass or fail, you may now be given Minor or Advisory warnings, which whilst they wont cause you to fail your MOT, are recommendations for certain repairs or improvements you may want to make to your vehicle. For a minor category (e.g. defective windscreen wipers) this is recommended to be done as soon as possible, where as for advisory, it is recommended that you monitor and keep an eye on them e.g. tyres approaching the minimum tread level.
It is recommended that you carry out basic vehicle checks regularly, particularly during change of seasons.
Learning to Drive
Driving tests have changed SIGNIFICANTLY since I got mine, at which time the online theory test was a fairly recent addition. After gaining my license, I went on to complete a Pass Plus programme, which certified that I was also safe to drive on the motorway. Did you know… as of June 2018 learner drives are now permitted to drive on the motorway as part of their lessons, as long as they are with a certified instructor and in a car with dual controls. Whilst motorway driving is not currently part of the test, it is hoped that incorporating its use into the lessons will improve new drivers confidence on what has become a fairly standard part of driving in 2019.
During the independent driving part of the test, which is also now 20 minutes long, learners may also be asked to follow instructions from a sat nav which I have to say I think is a great addition.
Financial Cost of Driving
With a big focus on carbon emissions and environmentally sustainable travel, the financial costs associated with driving are getting more and more. Tax rates for diesel vehicles are set to be based on their Co2 emissions, and there are proposals of higher inner city parking costs for diesel cars. In the last year, it was also reported that over half of drivers who insured their vehicles between July an September 2018 saw their car insurance premiums increase by at least £50, whilst 60% of us auto renew with our current insurers. My personal advice would be to shop around. I had been auto renewing my policy out of laziness, and recently bought a new car. When i rang up to change the car my current provider stated the fee would be the same, yet after shopping around I managed to save myself a whopping £400!!!
You can read the full Kwikfit rules of the road ebook over on their blog here.
