Being dazzled by glare from headlights when driving can be disorientating, and according to a recent survey, drivers think the problem is getting worse. In this post, we will let you know how you can avoid the problem of glare from headlights.

Keep your windscreen clean

Make sure that your windscreen is clean, inside and out and also ensure that it is clear of any condensation and ice. When a glass surface is dirty or streaked, any light that hits it can scatter and create glare.

Reduce the brightness of the dashboard lights

If you reduce the brightness of your dashboard lights, this should limit reflections and prevent you from having to readjust your eyes from the dark road to the dashboard.

 

Keep your headlights clean

Over time, the outer casing of your headlights will become dirty. Ensuring that your headlights are clean will increase your visibility to other motorists and also better illuminates the road ahead.  If there is not a white line, look at where the edge of the highway meets the road.

Don’t look directly at the glare

Do not look directly at the glare from oncoming traffic. If the glare is too much, look down to the right at the white line. This will help to become a guide to the road shape. Once passed, focus back on the road ahead.

Keep headlights in good shape

It’s imperative to keep your headlights in good condition while driving.

When approaching someone on the highway, you should dip your lights as soon as you see their headlights. This also applies when you see the rear brake lights too, as headlights can dazzle drivers when they check their rear-view mirror.

Look after your eyes

It’s not always down the vehicle, sometimes your eyes can be the problem. Try to keep your eyes moving to different areas of the road ahead, rather than fixated in one spot – this will reduce the effects of eye fatigue.

If you wear glasses, also make sure your prescription is up to date and your glasses are clean and scratch-free. It is recommended to get an eye test every two years.

 

 

According to a new survey, more than half of drivers who suffer glare from headlights believe the problem is getting worse.

What is headlight glare?

Glare is a light source that interferes with your vision. Those who drive at night time are already at several visual disadvantages and one of them is glare from the headlights.  Glare from headlights can cause drivers to be dazzled and disorientated.

What the survey says

A survey by RAC indicated 54% of people who believe car headlights are too bright say they are dazzled more regularly now than a year ago.

Sports utility vehicles sit higher on the road and 1,215 respondents blamed the popularity of SUVs for the increase in glare. Survey respondents also noted the use of xenon and LED headlights and drivers not adjusting their lights when carrying different loads for the increase in glare.

What happens when drivers are dazzled by headlight glare?

The latest figures provided by Department for Transport show the number of people injured in crashes caused by a driver being dazzled by headlights on Britain’s roads increased by 9% year-on-year to 392 in 2017, with a further six people killed.

Rod Dennis, a spokesman for RAC said: “The dazzling effect of another driver’s headlights isn’t just uncomfortable – in some cases it can be nothing short of dangerous, making us lose sight of the road for a short time.

“So it’s concerning to see that a greater proportion of drivers have reported problems with glare this year than last year.

“The issue of glare is a complex one and it’s not as straightforward as saying one type of lightbulb causes more of a dazzling effect than another.

“There are a range of reasons why a driver might be dazzled, from a slight misalignment of a headlight, the difference in ride height of different vehicles and even individual people’s vision.”

 

 

Shahzad Ali: Our journey is to help people with theirs

When I founded Get Licensed in 2007 it was a long way from where we are today. From starting from a bedroom in North London over the last 11 years this company has grown and grown but our guiding mission has always remained the same.

Our motto: To simplify the process of getting licensed.

I believe in simplicity and transparency and I think that a marketplace can only function properly if these things exist.

The process of finding a driving instructor currently happens in an uneven market place. Driving Instructors struggle for visibility which means that they have a few options. Reduce their prices, spend their evenings on marketing or join a large school and surrender control of their business. When a driving instructor becomes a commodity this is no longer good for the market – the battle comes down to marketing over quality. For people wanting to learn to drive this isn’t an ideal situation either. They are faced with a barrage of information which makes the decision process even more complicated.

When a marketplace becomes opaque and only price orientated we start to move away from the true concept of value.
A simple approach is always the best approach. For me, simplicity means having the correct information to make the right decision, honest reviews and simple pricing.
Simplicity means empowerment

At Get Licensed I have always strived to empower – whether that is training providers or people looking for courses or lessons. I think that this is how a marketplace should work – to facilitate both sides of the transaction.

A common misconception is that you cannot have it both ways but I have always believed that when the best training providers can focus on providing the best training and learners can make informed choices then you can have your cake and eat it – as the saying goes.
We have helped training providers grow as well as help over 300,000 people find their perfect training courses.

The Get Licensed way is:
o Simple, impartial information
o Trusted Training Partners
o Transparent and honest reviews

Shahzad Ali

The Hazard Perception test is the second part of the UK theory test. The Hazard Perception test assesses how well a learner driver is able to spot and react to a hazardous situation on the road. Being able to detect a potential hazard early enough is an important skill that all drivers should have. Good hazard perception helps to prevent road accidents and also saves lives.

What is a developing hazard?

A developing hazard is something that would cause a driver to take action, like changing speed or direction.

What to expect on your Hazard Perception Test

You are going to be shown fourteen hazard test video clips, each lasting a minute. Thirteen clips will contain one developing hazard but one clip will contain two developing hazards. You need to tap the touch screen or click the mouse (depending on the test centre) as soon as you see the developing hazard. A hazard could be poor road conditions or animals wandering onto the road. You will only get one chance with each question. In order to get full marks, you need to click the mouse as soon as the hazard emerges. You can score between 0 and 5 on each hazard. The maximum score you can get is 75 and you need a score of 44 to pass. Your score is determined by the speed of which you spot a hazard.

How the Hazard Perception Test will work

The test will start with a short video tutorial played on a computer screen. The tutorial will explain how the hazard perception test works and what you will need to do. You will have the option to watch the tutorial again or proceed to the test.

Every hazard clip will begin with a freeze frame at the start of the video sequence and a countdown from 10 will commence. At the end of the countdown, the clip will start to play and you will need to click each time you spot a developing hazard.

So you know that the program has registered your click, a red flag will appear on the bottom of the screen. There will be a red flag across a grey brand for each click you make in any particular clip. At the end of the clip, all the flags will be removed before you start onto the next clip.

How you will be scored

You can score up to 5 points for each developing hazard. In order to get a high score, you need to click the mouse as soon as you see the hazard starting to develop. You won’t lose points if you get any wrong but you won’t score anything if you click repeatedly or in a pattern.

Hints and tips

Be calm and remember that no points are lost for getting a question wrong.

Don’t wait too long to click as you’re being tested on speed.

Subscribe to our Get Licensed Driving School which will be full of hints and tips to help you pass your driving test. Also, visit the New Driver Programme website which has plenty of resources for learner drivers.

 

British motorists and passengers could be breaking a number of driving laws without realising.  As always Get Licensed has your back, and lets you know about some lesser known driving laws that can get you in trouble.

Being sick in a taxi

This might sound unfair, but if you know you are suffering from an illness it is up to you to tell your taxi driver so they can decide whether or not to take your fare. If a passenger knows they are ill and does not tell the taxi driver, they are breaking the law. As always, it’s better to be safe than sorry so next time you are unwell and getting into a taxi – make sure to tell the taxi driver.

Splashing pedestrians

This is something that you shouldn’t be doing anyway, but it’s not also a bad thing to purposefully do to someone – it is illegal.  Splashing pedestrians is deemed to be driving ‘without reasonable consideration for other persons’ under the Road Traffic Act 1998. Committing this offence means you can be hit with a £100 fixed penalty notice and three penalty points to your driving licence. So, be careful when driving near puddles or rainy and wet conditions.

Unsuitable footwear

When it comes to your footwear when driving, you need to shoes wisely. Wearing footwear that is deemed as unsuitable can be seen as a driver putting themselves, their passengers and other road users at risk. Drivers could face a fine or penalty points if they’re caught driving wearing the wrong type of footwear. So, what’s seen as unsuitable footwear? Ugg boots, wellies, and flip flops are seen as unsuitable for driving because they do not offer a suitable grip and can slip off the pedals.

Driving with pets

It’s understandable that drivers want to drive with their furry friends, but there are rules that need to be followed. Make sure your pets are properly restrained, so they are unable to distract the driver or injure passengers or themselves if the vehicle suddenly needs to stop. If a driver is pulled over with a rowdy pet, they could land themselves in the dog house – facing a fine for driving without due care and attention.

Singing in the car

Unfortunately, real life isn’t an episode of ‘Carpool Karaoke’ so next time you want to belt out some tunes behind the wheel – think again. This is because distractions such as loud music can result in a fine or penalty points as it can be deemed as driving without due care and attention.

Feeding the meter

Sometimes when you don’t have enough money for the parking meter, it might seem harmless to ask a passer-by if they have spare change. This can be seen begging and is classed a crime under the Vagrancy Act.

Your theory test is like coming face to face with the final boss of a video game for the first time, all that hard work and crafting has come to this moment, and now do you go on to triumphant Victory, or will you be seeing that game over screen?

Well, according to Department of Transport (DfT) statistics, you may be seeing that game over screen more times than you may like, and that is because the number of learner drivers passing car theory test plummets to lowest level in more than a decade.

And, just like most final bosses in video games, it seems the reason for this mass failure is due to the fact that the difficulty level of the theory test has been cranked up to a strenuous magnitude.

Over the last decade, there have been a whole host of reforms in order to toughen up the theory test which was introduced as a separate part of the test in 1977. Some of these changes that have been implemented over the years have included multiple choice questions, including hazard perception questions.

The number of multiple-choice questions has also increased from 35 to 50.

Another stumbling block for learner drivers has been the stopping of the publication of theory test questions in advance online, to prevent test takers memorising the questions beforehand.

As it stands, learner drivers must answer 43 questions correctly out of the 50 questions available in order to pass.

For the hazard perception part, they need to get 44 out of 75.

Learners must pass the theory test before sitting the practical exam.

However, practice theory tests for learner drivers are available, and gives learners the opportunities to take a practice run before they sit down for the real exam at a theory test centre.

Stuck on the first hurdle? Go on a theory test practice run HERE.

Passing your driving test is seen as a crucial stage in adulthood, as being able to drive gives you independence. But, with a national average pass rate of under 50%, most people do not pass the test the first time round. So, are there any factors that affect the likelihood of you passing?

The test centre

Every three months, data is published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency about the pass rates for driving test centres. The data that was recently released in April 2019, shows an interesting trend of where people are passing and where they are failing.  Nine out of ten of the driving test centres with high pass rates were in Scotland, and those with lowest pass rates were in big cities. Judging from the data provided by the DVSA, if you take your driving test in a rural area you have higher chances of passing. In our latest Get Licensed Driving School video, Francis the Instructor does not believe it’s about where you take your driving test and thinks it’s about learners not being ready.

The time you take your test

The time of day that you take your test, can also be a factor in if you pass your driving test. Car insurer Dayinsure submitted freedom of information requests to get data on how pass rates vary during the day. Dayinsure’s findings revealed that between 11am and 1pm was the worst time to take your test, with a pass rate of just 48.8%. According to Dayinsure’s study, the best time to take your driving test is in the evening and between 7pm and 9pm which has a pass rate of 65.4%.

How old you are

It appears that the younger you are, the more likely you are to pass your driving test. According to data provided by New Driver Programme, 16 year olds have the highest pass rate of 61.33% and 17 year olds the second highest at 56.76%.  55 year olds have the lowest pass rate of 33.46%. The data suggests that the earlier on in life you take your driving test, the more likely you are to pass. High pass rates for younger people could be because those who seek to take their test as soon as possible, put the work in to pass their driving tests.

Taking a test beforehand

Motoring organisation RAC believes that taking a test beforehand can positively affect your chances.  The RAC says: “A lesson beforehand will help calm your nerves and put you in the right frame of mind for driving, especially if you have been receiving two-hour lessons in the weeks building up to your test, which we’d also recommend.”

Why do people fail their driving test?

Although it’s all well and good knowing which factors can improve your chances of passing your driving test, it’s also good to know why people fail their driving test.

According to recent data from the DVSA, these are the most common reasons for a failed test:

Observation of the situation at junctions

Checking mirrors when changing direction

Steering control

Turning right at junctions

Moving off safely

The positioning of the car during normal driving

Control of the car when moving off

Responding to traffic lights

Control of the car when reverse parking

Responding to traffic signs

 

Practice makes perfect

Also, make sure to practice as much as you can. Check out New Driver Programme who have plenty of resources for learner drivers to look at. Our Youtube channel also has driving lesson and driving tips video.

Ready to take your driving test?

If you’re ready to take your driving test, find a driving instructor who meets your requirements HERE.

When drivers leave the engine of their vehicle running whilst they have stopped their car, this is called “idling.” Now, in a bid to deal with rising air pollution, drivers who are repeatedly caught idling could be fined under plans that the government is considering.

Who wants the idling fine introduced

Local councils have been calling for tougher laws to tackle idling.  Under the current regulations,  fines can range from £20 to £80. Westminster city council has issued 39 penalty charge notices for idling since 2017. Westminster city has urged the government to allow the punishment of companies whose drivers are repeat offenders when it comes to idling, and suggested fines of more than £1,000 and have said that delivery drivers and commercial vehicles were the worst offenders.

Camden council would also like to be able to issue out instant fines to motorists. Adam Harris who is Camden’s cabinet member for environment told the Times: “While engagement [with the driver] is useful it is not going to cause everybody to change their behaviour in the way that getting a fine might.”

The environment secretary, Michael Gove also believes action should be taken. Gove told the Times that instant fines for repeat offenders should be considered but stressed that any new powers should be “used proportionately” by councils.

Why is the idling fine being introduced?

Idling is a significant contributor to air pollution.  Westminster council have said that an “idling car produces enough exhaust emissions to fill 150 balloons a minute.” The council has also called on the public to report unnecessary engine idling through its website, mention that the borough suffers from the worst air pollution in the country. There has also been a debate if cars should be banned from school roads due to the effect on air quality.

Vehicle Idling Action is a London-wide project that runs regular idling action events. On Vehicle Idling Action’s website they say there appears to be link between idling and air pollution.

On Vehicle Idling Action’s website, it says: “It would appear so. Air pollution levels were monitored during action days and were compared to days without idling action events. It showed that pollution peaks on idling action event days were lower overall than on days where there were no events.

We have also conducted air quality monitoring at some of our events. When stood next to an idling vehicle, pollution levels were about 10 times higher than the average air pollution levels during that event.”

You may not be aware, but if you suffer from certain medical conditions you must inform the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency). Failure to do so can result in a hefty fine or prosecution.

The rules

As the law stands, you must give up your licence if either your doctor tells you to stop driving for three months or more or you do not meet the required standards for driving because of your medical condition.

Under the rules, you must let the DVLA know if you develop a ‘notifiable’ medical condition. There are seven of these conditions and they can affect your driving ability. You can also be prosecuted if you’re involved in an accident as a result of a condition that you haven’t informed the DVLA of.

The seven ‘notifiable’ medical conditions

Diabetes: You need to inform the DVLA if your insulin treatment lasts for over three months, you have gestational diabetes and you needed treatment three months after birth or you get disabling hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar). You also need to notify the DVLA if a medical professional has told you are at risk of developing hypoglycaemia.

Blackouts, fainting (syncope), loss of consciousness: You need to ask your doctor if your blackouts, fainting or loss of consciousness will affect your driving ability. If they do, then you must tell the DVLA.

Heart conditions (including atrial fibrillation and pacemakers):  You must tell DVLA if you have an implanted defibrillator, also known as an ‘ICD’ (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator). You must tell DVLA if you have been fitted with a pacemaker.

Sleep apnoea: You must tell the DVLA, if you suffer from objective sleep apnoea. You can also discuss with your doctor if your objective sleep apnoea will affect your driving.

Epilepsy: You must tell the DVLA if you have had any epileptic attacks, seizures, fits or blackouts. You must stop driving straight away. Your licence may be taken away and when you can reapply for it depends on the type of attack you had. If it is a one-off incident you can then reapply after six months if you haven’t had another epileptic attack.

Stroke (cerebrovascular accident) and driving: You only need to tell the DVLA if you’re having problems a month after you’ve had a stroke. You must tell the DVLA if you’ve had more than one stroke, if you need brain surgery or if your doctor is concerned about your capability to drive.

Glaucoma: You don’t need to tell DVLA if you’re diagnosed with glaucoma in one eye and your other eye is unaffected. But you must tell DVLA if your glaucoma affects one eye and either of the following also apply: you have a medical condition in your other eye or you can’t meet the visual standards for driving. You must tell DVLA if your glaucoma affects both eyes.

How do you notify the DVLA of your medical condition?

If you have one of these medical conditions and need to inform the DVLA then click HERE to do so.