Tyre Tread Depth

The legal limit for minimum depth of the tread on your tyres is 1.6 millimetres, across the central ¾ of the tread around the complete circumference of the tyre.

For safety reasons it is recommended that you replace your tyres before the legal limit is reached. Many vehicle manufacturers recommend replacing at 3 millimetres. At 1.6 millimetres in wet weather it takes an extra car length (8 metres) to stop at 50 mph than if your tread was 3 millimetres.

A regular check of your tyres can help you to avoid 3 penalty points and £2,500 in fines (per tyre) for having tyres worn beyond the legal minimum limit on your vehicle.

Here at DSL Tuition Driving School we promote Safe Driving for Life skills.

Visit us today at: www.dsltuition.co.uk

If you must drive it is important you are suitably prepared:

Lady and child broken down in the snow

• Allow plenty of extra time for your journey.

• If necessary plan an alternative route.

• Remember – you will change what you wear and put on your feet – most of us do not have the luxury of doing this with our cars – Do not make unreasonable demands on your car – you cannot expect the car to drive the same in adverse weather.

• Ensure you clear all windows (inside and out), mirrors, headlights and taillights (it is no use using lights/indicators if they cannot be seen by others.

• Dress/carry warm clothing – gloves, hat, boots etc.

• Carry a blanket, hot flask and something to eat.

• Carry a shovel, grit/salt, an old piece of carpet to put under the tyres should you get stuck.

• Carry an ice scraper/de-icer.

• Carry a FULLY CHARGED mobile phone.

• If possible carry a first aid kit.

• Ensure your spare tyre is inflated to the max pressure for your car and you have the necessary tools to change a wheel should you need to.

• Ensure tyres are correctly inflated in accordance with those set out in the car handbook. Do NOT deflate tyres for better grip – this can have an adverse affect and could lead to loss of control.

• Ensure tyres have sufficient tread depth – 1.6mm is the legal minimum, however below 3mm you really start to lose grip in wet and adverse weather.

• If you are lucky enough – fit winter tyres – these are made of softer rubber and have a different tread/pattern. These perform better in all conditions below 7’C.

• Check you have enough fuel for the journey – allow more than you need for delays or getting stuck.

• Check all the levels under the bonnet – do not rely on electronic systems for this. Check Oil, Coolant, Brake Fluid and keep washer fluid topped up (carry extra in the boot just in case).

• Don’t operate wipers on a frozen windscreen – you can damage the motor and the rubber wiper blades.

• Use appropriate lighting – usually dipped headlights. If visibility is seriously reduced (below 100 metres) use front and rear fog lights – remember to switch these off when conditions improve.

• Increase your following distance – in good weather a minimum gap of 2 seconds is required. This is doubled to 4 seconds in wet weather and stopping distances can be up to ten times the normal in snow and ice. Extend your following distance further if the vehicle behind you is not leaving sufficient space.

• Virgin snow provides better grip but can mask hidden problems such as potholes or ice.

• The majority of skids occur as a result of driver error and are avoidable. REMEMBER: Skid avoidance is the best approach so that you do not have to try to recover from/control a skid.

• Avoid any sudden acceleration, harsh braking or steering as these can lead to a loss of control.

• Avoid steering and braking at the same time.

• Use engine braking (off gas) but remember this will take you longer to stop so allow more space.

• ABS (anti-lock brakes) can actually be counter productive in snow and ice.

• Do not spin your wheels – you are likely to dig yourself in deeper.

• Be careful if one wheel grips and the other does not as this can cause the car to move sideways.

• If you are struggling to move off in snow – try starting in 2nd gear – NO GAS – just very gentle and slowly with the clutch – add a little gas as the car starts to move and continue very slowly with the clutch to allow the wheels to slowly turn and reduce the risk of a stall.

• If you become stuck, you may need to dig yourself out and/or use grit to help. If you have an old piece of carpet this can be used to place under the tyres.

• If you do skid, steer into the skid – e.g. if the rear of the car skids to the right, steer right to help recover the skid.

• Remember, however safe you are, you are still at the mercy of other drivers. Anticipate and allow for other drivers’ mistakes.

Pre-driver checks:

Try to remember POWERS.

P – Petrol or diesel
O – Oil
W – Water. Screen wash & coolant
E – Electrics. All bulbs
R – Rubber. Tyres & wipers
S – Self tired ,drink ,drugs etc.

Here at DSL Tuition Driving School we promote Safe Driving for Life skills.

Visit us today at: www.dsltuition.co.uk

Driving Lessons with a Professional Driving Instructor

Once you have decided to learn how to drive, you must apply for your provisional driving licence. There will be questions that need to be answered truthfully in order for you to qualify and you will only be provided with your provisional once you are 17. However, should you be receiving disability allowance at the higher rate, you can apply at 16.

The issue as to whether to take some lessons from your Dad or a friend instead of a DSL Tuition qualified driving instructor is not really worth debating. Our instructors are trained to specifically avoid passing on any bad driving habits. Dad, in contrast, may be an excellent driver but will almost certainly have acquired some habits over the years that, if he were to take a mock driving test with an instructor, would almost certainly see him fail, even before moving away!

Our approved driving instructors must go through a rigorous course, similar to the course for learners only far more intensive and with a higher pass percentage required. There are three parts to this course, unlike that for learner drivers which has two. These are; theory including hazard perception, practical driving skills and most importantly the ability to teach which covers many aspects.

Our driving instructors job is to teach learners safe driving skills, helping you to both pass the test and to become competent drivers who hopefully will retain these skills, helping to make our roads safer for all. Yes it will cost more than free lessons with a friend or relative, but much will also depend on your own commitment and effort. Bear in mind that if you consistently fail your test because you`ve opted for the “cheap” route, not only will this actually be costly, but you will have to ultimately hire the services of an approved instructor who will probably be spending many additional hours with you just trying to eliminate all the bad habits you`ve learnt!

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has a syllabus for learning how to drive and this is used by all professional instructors. You can`t run before you can walk and applying this fundamental principle to learning how to drive is the basis for your progression from sitting behind the wheel for the first time, to driving down the dual carriageway with your full licence.

Learning with a professional DSL Tuition instructor will help you to become a safe and competent driver. Attitude comes into play as part of your learning; your attitude behind the wheel and towards other road users plays a vital role in your success. Pedestrians, in particular, have just as much of a right to use the road as you do and caution must be exercised, especially where the elderly and children are concerned. If you see a ball bouncing in the road it probably won`t be followed by a bat but it may be accompanied by a young child. Similarly, the painful progress of an elderly person crossing the road might be frustrating, but the competent driver will always slow down or stop to give them space.

Much as many of us feel that our parents are excellent drivers, the reality is that using the services of a trained DSL Tuition approved driving instructor should see you browsing Used cars for sale for your first car after a successful driving test far more rapidly than picking up the bad habits of older friends and relatives, however well meaning they may be.