The Inventor of the Traffic Lights.

The Inventor of the Traffic Lights.

Railway engineer John Peake Knight was the first to promote the use of traffic lights. Born in 1828 in Nottingham, he left school at 12 years of age and joined the Derby railway station. At the age of 20 he was promoted to traffic manager of the London to Brighton line. He improved the quality of rail travel introducing the pullman car and carriages with alarm pulls for ladies.

First Traffic Lights

In 1866 over 1000 people were killed and 1334 injured on the roads in London. John Peake Knight could see the benefits of signals on the railways and how it had improved safety. He decided to approach the borough of Westminster and proposed a signaling system to regulate horse drawn-carriages and reduce the number of fatalities.
The first traffic light system was installed outside the Palace of Westminster in London in 1868. The design combined three semaphore arms with red and green gas lamps for night-time use, on a pillar, operated by a police constable.
The project was greeted enthusiastically and in 1868 the first traffic lights were installed. After only one month the gas powered lights exploded and a policeman was injured. The project was canceled.

Electric Traffic Lights

It would be 40 years before traffic lights would appear again and this would be in America. The worlds first electric traffic lights were installed in Cleveland Ohio in 1924.  Traffic lights would only become a common sight in London in 1929 when electric signals were introduced.

Modern Traffic Lights

Today modern traffic lights systems are a common sight at many junctions and are there to improve road safety. But in the last 10 years their number has increased by 25%. Some studies suggest that traffic planners are using traffic lights to slow down traffic to prioritise buses and pedestrians. Depending when and where you are, traffic lights can ease your journey or be a source of frustration.

Mobile Phone Penalties

Mobile Phone Penalties

Endorsable Fixed Penalty Notices (issued by the police at the time of the offence. You will have to give up your licence at the scene (or within 7 days) for it to be endorsed, as well as pay the fine) have risen from £60 to £100.

Using a hand held phone when driving is illegal. If you are caught it is 3 penalty points and a £100 fine. This is an automatic fine. Using a hand held phone when supervising a learner driver is also illegal.

If the police or driver decide to bring the case to court instead of a fixed penalty notice, the maximum fine is £1000  (£2500 for van, lorry, buses or coach drivers.)
An employer can get prosecuted if they cause or permit an employee to drive while using a mobile phone or if the employee is not in control of the vehicle. If the employer requires the employee to make or receive calls whilst driving.

Hands-free equipment

Hands-free equipment is not prohibited by the new regulation. Pushing buttons when the phone is in the cradle or on the steering wheel is not covered by the new offence, provided you do not hold the phone. However hands-free equipment is distracting and you risk prosecution for failing to have proper control of the vehicle if you are using it or have an accident.

As a new driver you are only allowed 6 points on your driving licence in the first two years. If you get 6 points your licence is revoked by the DVLA. It means you have to re-apply for a provisional licence pass your theory test and pass your driving test. This is also called revocation.

Police

Greater Manchester Police deploys 3 Smartcars across the region to film motorists who are using a hand held mobile phone while driving. The camera technology is very effective, and the quality of evidence is excellent. Between 500-700 offences are recorded every day.

It is very difficult to defend a case when a police officer or PCSO are giving evidence that they saw you using a mobile phone.

Driving Lessons Cheadle Heath, Bramhall and Stockport

Driving Lessons Cheadle Heath, Bramhall and Stockport

Looking for driving lessons in Adswood, Bramhall, Bredbury, Cheadle Heath, Davenport, Heaton Chapel and Stockport areas? 

Nolan School of Motoring have an impressive first time pass rate and provide a wide range of tools to support you throughout the learning process, from revising for the Theory Test to offering a variety of tuition videos to watch on the website or on our YouTube channel.

Rip Up Your L Plates!

Stockport and all areas of Cheshire including Adswood, Bramhall, Bredbury, Cheadle, Cheadle Heath, Davenportand Heaton Chapel

Free Tips on Driving Lessons and Book Theory Course Online

Read our Free Driving lesson plans and study the Hardest Theory Test Questions. Nolan School of Motoring is an established business with a high pass rate, we provide you with the tuition and revision tools with the aim of building your confidence and skills to pass first time.

Phone 0161 429 0297 or Mobile 07828322973

With our knowledge and friendly one to one service you will be more than happy with our service. Check out our prices page for our highly competitive deals and take a look at what some of our past learner drivers have to say about us.

How to respond to emergency vehicles

 

Emergency Vehicles

Loud sirens and flashing blue lights can often send many motorists into a panic. This is usually because they have not been taught to deal with approaching emergency vehicles properly. Here we will explain how to respond to emergency vehicles when driving so you can help to facilitate a safe and quick route for them to take.

The key is to keep calm when you see or hear emergency vehicles approaching so you are in the right frame of mind to make a quick and safe decision.

Don’t panic

If you see or hear an emergency vehicle approaching, it is important to keep calm. If you have music on turn it off, as this will aid your concentration whilst you plan your next move. Working yourself up into a panic could lead you to making the wrong move and delaying the emergency vehicle further.

Look for somewhere you can pull over to safely and indicate that you are going to do so. This will tell the emergency vehicle driver that you are aware of their presence and intend on getting out of there way. Only pull over it is safe to do so. Avoid pulling onto kerbs, pavements and verges as you may put yourself or pedestrians at risk.

Even after the emergency vehicle has passed you, it is important to remain aware. There may be more emergency vehicles heading your way, so listen out for other sirens and keep in mind that you may need to pull over again.

Look for indicators

If you are approaching a junction or roundabout, check your mirrors to see if the emergency vehicle is indicating, so you know which direction they need to go in. This will help you plan your next move. Be aware that the driver behind you may not have the same view of the emergency vehicle as you, so do not brake suddenly.

If there is not a safe place to pull over, do not slow down as this will hinder the progress of the emergency vehicle. Instead keep driving and indicate that you intend to pull over when possible. You should never pull over on the brow of a hill or if you are approaching a bend. Simply keep driving at the speed limit (if it is safe to do so) and then indicate and pull over when you have a better view.

UK Government motorist advice specifically says “In slow-moving traffic motorists should leave enough space to be able to manoeuvre if an emergency vehicle needs to get past.”

Emergency vehicles on the motorway

Never overtake an emergency vehicle on a motorway or dual carriageway. This will prevent you from getting caught up in the accident it is attending. Make sure you give the blue light vehicle plenty of room and that you follow it at a safe distance.
Unless a uniformed police office directs you to do so, never go through a red light to facilitate an emergency vehicle.

Relevant laws

The laws still apply even when emergency vehicles are present. Unless you are directed to do so by a uniformed police offer, you will be breaking the law and could be fined if you move into a bus lane or go through a red light to make way for an emergency vehicle.

If you are travelling on a solid white line road, the emergency vehicle will only be permitted to pass you when you have completely stopped. Keep driving at the speed limit (if it is safe to do so) and only pull over when you are out of the solid white line area. It is likely the emergency vehicle driver will turn the sirens off whilst you are on the solid white line road and back on when you reach the point where they can safely overtake.

Conclusion

Responding to emergency vehicles on the road is not something that you should worry about. As long as you keep your cool and behave in a safe, legal and predictable manner, you will be able to facilitate emergency vehicles in their mission to get to the emergency quickly and safely.

Image credits: kenjonbro & mezzoblue

How many points am I allowed on my driving licence?

How many points am I allowed on my driving licence?

In the UK, the majority of driving offences result in punishments consisting of fines and penalty points. Most offences have a fixed number of penalty points, which you can find on the Gov.uk website, however points for some offences may be determined in court and will depend on the circumstances of both the driving offence and the defendant. Here we will provide a guide to penalty points and their implications on your future as a driver.

If you are caught speeding you will be issued a fine and penalty points.

How do penalty points work?

Each driving offence has a special code and is given penalty points on a scale from two to ten. The more serious the offence is, the more points you will receive. In some cases immediate disqualification is mandatory.
If you are caught committing a driving offence, you will need to hand over your licence to the police, a fixed penalty office or when you appear in court. The penalty points will be put on your driver record and written on the counterpart document of your driving licence. The points on your licence will be effective for three years from the date of conviction and remain there for a minimum of four years.

After four years have passed since your Fixed Penalty Notice was served, you will be able to apply to the DVLA to have the points removed from your licence. If you commit a serious driving offence, the points can remain on your licence for up to eleven years.

Penalty points for new and experienced drivers

If you have held a full driving licence for more than two years, you can accumulate up to twelve penalty points in any three year period before being banned from driving. If however you have held a full driving licence for less than two years and accumulate six penalty points, your licence may be revoked under The New Drivers Act.

Disqualification

If you have accumulated the maximum number of points (outlined above) via several completely separate offences or you commit a serious offence that is deemed worth twelve points or more then you may be disqualified from driving. The time you are disqualified for will be dependent on the seriousness of your offences. If you are disqualified for less than fifty six days (for speeding or a similar offence) your licence will be returned to you at the end of the disqualification period and will be deemed valid, without any further testing.

If you have totted up twelve penalty points in any three year period, disqualification is mandatory. There are however some exemptions, which may lead to you retaining your driving licence. For this, you will require legal representation in court and must be able to justify a submission of exceptional hardship.

Exceptional hardship

Some individuals are able to retain their driving licences in the case of disqualification through proving exceptional hardship. There is no statutory definition of exceptional hardship, with conclusions being based on individual circumstances in court. In order to prove exceptional hardship, the consequences of you being banned from driving must be beyond what would be reasonable foreseeable. For example, whilst loss of job would not automatically be deemed as an exceptional hardship, the implications that arise from the loss of employment may amount to it.

Defendants are required to present their case in court and will require legal representation. See this article by Motor Lawyers for more information.

Impact on car insurance

If you have a motoring conviction, insurers will see you as being a higher risk driver. This will usually result in more expensive car insurance quotes. According to this article by Go Compare, how much your premium will increase by will depend on your insurance company’s conviction policy, the type of conviction, the type of vehicle and your age.

In some areas of the UK you may be able to take a driving awareness course for speeding and red light offences.

Alternatives to penalty points

In many areas of the UK, driving awareness courses can be taken in exchange for receiving penalty points for motoring offences. These courses are designed to educate drivers in hope that they will not make the same mistake again, rather than punishing them. If you are eligible to attend a speed awareness course or red light camera course you will be invited via a letter from the police.

Courses are usually expensive (in the region of £60.00 to £90.00) so either way, committing a driving offence is going to cost you money that you could avoid paying, by simply taking a little extra care on the roads.

How to get your driving license back after a ban

 

 

 

 

 

How to get your driving license back after a ban

If you’ve been disqualified from driving for any reason and are wondering how to get your driving license back at the end of the ban, this guide will help you find out what you need to do and how. Being excluded from driving a car is tough, but needs to be done if you broke the rules. By following the process accurately, you’ll be able to get back on the road once your disqualification is over.

Are you a high risk offender?

Disqualification from driving can occur for a number of reasons, including dangerous driving, accumulation of points and, most commonly, for drink driving. To work out how to get your driving license back, you’ll need to determine whether you fall into the group known as ‘high risk offenders’, or HRO. You will fall into the HRO category if any of the following apply:

•You were disqualified for drink driving with an alcohol level of more than 87.5mg per 100ml of breath, 200mg per 100ml of blood or 267.5mg per 100ml of urine.

•You have been disqualified twice within the last ten years due to an alcohol related offense.

•You were disqualified because you refused to give a breath, blood or urine sample for testing.

•You were disqualified because you refused to allow analysis of a blood sample to go ahead due to incapacity.

The courts may not have told you if you are a high risk offender, so it’s up to you to determine which category you fall into. This will affect how you get your license back.

Non high risk offenders

If you think you are not in the HRO category of offenders, you should receive notification from DVLA around 56 days before your ban is lifted. This will contain an application to renew your license with them, known as a form D27P. If you do not receive this from DVLA, you can apply through the post office using a form D1, or can request your D27P via theDVLA website.

If you are a photocard holder, you will need to send off your D27P along with the payment required to renew your license. The form should be sent to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AB. If you need to renew the photo on your license, there will be notification of this on the D27P form.

IF you are a paper license holder you will need to send in the D27P form as above, but will also need to enclose a passport type photo for your new photocard license. You can use the Post Office ‘Check and Send’ facility before you send it in to make sure everything is correct. Lorry, bus or minibus drivers will need to fill in a form D2 which is available from DVLA or from the Office of Traffic Commissioners.

High risk offenders

If you think you are in the HRO category, there is a bit more work to do in order to get your license back. DVLA require confirmation from a doctor that you are medically fit to drive again. This means you will need to undergo a medical assessment including blood tests before your license will be reissued.

DVLA will send you the application form for reinstating your license around 90 days before your disqualification ends. If you do not receive the form, you can ask at the Post Office for a form D1, or can request your D27P is resent from DVLA directly. Bus, minibus and lorry drivers will need to fill in the form D2 also.

The medical examination for HRO’s

Before DVLA will reissue your license, they need to be sure you are fit and well enough to drive. This means you will have to attend a medical assessment with one of DVLA’s own appointed doctors before you can send in your application. The assessment will usually include:

•Blood tests

•Urine tests

•A physical examination of your health

•A questionnaire about your health, any medical problems you may have had and your use of alcohol in general

There is a fee to pay for this process which needs to be covered by you. If the medical shows dependence or misuse of alcohol to be an ongoing problem, you may not get your license back. If you know you have a problem with alcohol, a medical condition or a mental health issue, you should wait to resolve this before figuring out how to get your license back.

Driving Theory Test

 

 

 

 

 

 

How hard can it be!

The driving theory test is testing your knowledge of the highway-code. It is essential to have a thorough knowledge of all the questions and answers. Lots of candidates make the mistake of entering the exam centre poorly prepared. Below is a list of questions with the correct answers. After having an attempt, if having answered them correctly probably you are ready for your driving theory test. If the answer is no, then you need to keep reading this article.

Driving Theory Test – Hardest Questions

You are in a collision with another moving vehicle. Someone is injured and your vehicle is damaged. Which FOUR of the following should you find out? Answers (A/B/C/E)
Mark four answers

A. Whether the driver owns the other vehicle involved
B. The other driver’s name, address and telephone number
C. The make and registration number of the other vehicle
D. The occupation of the other driver
E. The details of the other driver’s vehicle insurance
F. Whether the other driver is licensed to Drive

In which THREE of these situations may you overtake another vehicle on the left? Answers (A/C/E)

A. When you are in a one-way street
B. When approaching a motorway slip road where you will be turning off
C. When the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right
D. When a slower vehicle is travelling in the right-hand lane of a dual carriageway
E. In slow-moving traffic queues when traffic in the right-hand lane is moving more slowly

Where can you find reflective amber studs on a motorway? Answer (C)

A. Separating the slip road from the motorway
B. On the left-hand edge of the road
C. On the right-hand edge of the road
D. Separating the lanes

Areas reserved for trams may have: Answers (B/D/F)
Mark three answers

A. metal studs around them
B. white line markings
C. zigzag markings
D. a different coloured surface
E. yellow hatch markings
F. a different surface texture

What does this sign mean? Answer (B)

A. Two-way traffic straight ahead
B. Two-way traffic crosses a one-way road
C. Two-way traffic over a bridge
D. Two-way traffic crosses a two-way road

What does this sign mean? Answer (B)

A. End of restricted speed area
B. End of restricted parking area
C. End of clearway
D. End of cycle route

A cycle lane is marked by a solid white line. You must not drive or park in it: Answer (D)

A. at any time
B. during the rush hour
C. if a cyclist is using it
D. during its period of operation

In which THREE of these situations may you overtake another vehicle on the left? Answers (A/C/E)
A. When you are in a one-way street
B. When approaching a motorway slip road where you will be turning off
C. When the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right
D. When a slower vehicle is travelling in the right-hand lane of a dual carriageway
E. In slow-moving traffic queues when traffic in the right-hand lane is moving more slowly

You are involved in a collision. Because of this which THREE of these documents may the police ask you to produce? Answers (B/D/E)
Mark three answers

A. Vehicle registration document
B. Driving licence
C. Theory test certificate
D. Insurance certificate
E. MOT test certificate
F. Vehicle service record

You can drive on the hard shoulder when: Answer (B)

A. Braking
B. Directed by police officers or Highways Agency Traffic Officers in uniform
C. In gridlock traffic
D. Overtaking

Highways Agency Traffic Officers Answer (C)

A. Can stop you for speeding
B. Can give you a fine for illegal parking
C. Have no enforcement powers
D. Can do MOT checks

A vehicle travelling at 70mph covers about: Answer (A)

A. 30m per sec (100 ft)
B. 50m per sec (about 165 ft)
C. 70m per sec (about 230 ft)
D. 80m per sec (about 263 ft)

A driver behind you on a motorway flashes their headlights you should: Answer (A)
A. Stay calm
B. Move out of their way
C. Speed up a little
D. Slow down

Cyclists travelling at slow speeds are likely to: Answer (C)
A. Speed up
B. Give you an arm sign
C. Be unstable
D. Cycle up on the pavement

Powered vehicles used by disabled people have a maximum speed of:  Answer (D)
A. 30mph
B. 20mph
C. 12mph
D. 8mph

Powered vehicles used by disabled people on a dual carriageway should be: Answer (A)
A. Displaying an amber flashing light
B. Displaying a red flashing light
C. Displaying a green flashing light
D. Displaying a disabled badge

The survival rate of a pedestrian involved in a collision at 20mph is: Answer (D)
A. 50%
B. 65%
C. 85%
D. 95%

The survival rate of a pedestrian involved in a collision at 30mph is: Answer (D)
A. 5%
B. 15%
C. 25%
D. 50%

If someone in charge of animals signals you to stop. You should: Answer (C)
A. Flash your lights as a warning
B. Stop and turn on your hazard lights
C. Stop and turn off your engine
D. Stop

Horse-drawn vehicles should be treated in a similar way to: Answer (B)
A. Cyclists
B. Horses being ridden
C. Cars
D. Motor cycles

Pedestrians who are blind and deaf may carry a white cane with: Answer (A)
A. A red band
B. A blue band
C. A yellow band
D. No band

If a vehicle is approaching near a guide dog, the dog is trained to: Answer (D)
A. Bark
B. Turn around
C. Turn left
D. Wait

Accidents on monotonous roads (for example motorways) caused by fatigue accounts for: Answer (A)
A. 15-20% of accidents
B. 30-35% of accidents
C. 40-45% of accidents
D. 50% of accidents

On motorways you should leave a gap between you and the car in front at least: Answer (D)
A. 10m for each mph of your speed
B. 8m for each mph of your speed
C. 4m for each mph of your speed
D. 1m for each mph of your speed

The survival rate of a pedestrian involved in a collision at 40mph is: (A)
A. 5%
B. 15%
C. 25%
D. 35%

Drivers of large goods vehicles, buses, coaches or vehicles towing a trailer on a motorway are not allowed to: Answer (A)
A. Use the extreme right hand lane
B. Use the hard shoulder
C. Overtake
D. Drive faster than 40mph

Controlled motorways generally: Answer (B)
A. Have slower speed limits
B. Have signs advising drivers not to change lanes
C. Have no hard shoulder
D. Have no service stations

Crawler lanes help: Answer (D)
A. Motor cyclists
B. Learner drivers
C. Vehicles towing trailers
D. Heavy vehicles

If you miss your exit on a motorway you should: Answer (A)
A. Carry on to the next one
B. Stop on the hard shoulder
C. Slow down
D. Try to turn round

Contraflows are: Answer (B)
A. The opposite to a one way system
B. Temporary systems where traffic travelling in the opposite direction shares the same carriageway
C. Ring roads around a large town or city to ease congestion#
D. One way systems

When you are about to cross a ford, there may be: Answer (D)
A. Ducks
B. Fish
C. Cyclists
D. A depth gauge

When driving through flood water, you should: Answer (A)
A. Drive in 1st gear
B. Drive in 2nd gear
C. Drive in 3rd gear
D. Drive in 4th gear

M&S tyres are: Answer (D)
A. Manual and standard tyres
B. Mobile and Starting tyres
C. Marks and Spencer tyres
D. Mud and Snow tyres

A car at the side of the road is displaying a ‘Help’ pennant. They are a: Answer A)
A. Drive with a disability
B. Doctor
C. Learner Driver
D. Female driver

Marker posts with a telephone symbol on a motorway are: Answer (B)
A. 50m apart
B. 100m apart
C. 150m apart
D. 1 mile apart

If you hit a domestic or farm animal, you should: Answer (D)
A. Drive on
B. Phone the police
C. Phone the RSPCA
D. Try and find the owner

Cruise control: Answer (A)
A. Is good eco driving
B. Uses more fuel
C. Is bad for the environment
D. Is good for your tyres

Vehicles travelling at 70 mph use up to: Answer (D)
A. 60% more fuel than vehicles travelling at 50mph
B. 50% more fuel than vehicles travelling at 50mph
C. 40% more fuel than vehicles travelling at 50mph
D. 30% more fuel than vehicles travelling at 50mph

Using a higher gear can help: Answer (B)
A. Use more fuel
B. Use less fuel
C. Acceleration
D. Brake

LPG is an abbreviation of: Answer (C)
A. Leaded Petrol Gas
B. Liquid Potassium Gas
C. Liquid Petroleum Gas
D. Loaded Protocol Gas

Automatic cars use about: Answer (A)
A. 5% more fuel than a manual car
B. 10% more fuel than a manual car
C. 20% more fuel than a manual car
D. 30% more fuel than a manual car

The speed limit on a motorway if you are towing is: Answer (B)
A. 50mph
B. 60mph
C. 65mph
D. 70mph

Wiping away any marks on your windscreen left by your Satnav can help: Answer (A)
A. The security of your car
B. Visibility
C. Driving at night
D. Remind you where you last put the satnav

In an automatic, kick-down is a device for: Answer (D)
A. Slowing down
B. Parking
C. Cruising
D. Acceleration

4×4 have very large: Answer (C)
A. Steering wheels
B. Rear windows
C. Blind spots
D. Gears

You have a problem with your vehicle if it pulls to one side when you press:  Answer (A)
A. Your brake
B. Your clutch
C. Your accelerator
D. Your handbrake

When accompanying a learner driver, you must be: Answer (C)
A. Over 17 years old
B. Over 18 years old
C. Over 21 years old
D. Over 22 years old

SORN stands for: Answer (A)
A. Statutory Off Road Notification
B. Stationary Off Road Notice
C. Statutory On Road Number
D. Stationary Only Road Notification

Vehicle Excise Duty is often called: Answer (D)
A. VAT
B. Car insurance
C. MOT
D. Road Tax

A child in the front seat under 3 years old: Answer (B)
A. Should not be
B. Should use the correct child restraint
C. Should sit in the lap of an adult
D. Should use a seat belt

PAS is an abbreviation of: Answer (A)
A. Power assisted steering
B. Passenger air safety
C. Power assisted seat
D. Positional added safety

Avoid braking: Answer (D)
A. Up hills
B. Down hills
C. In the wet
D. On bends

Pull push technique is associated with: Answer (C)
A. Learning to drive
B. Progressive braking
C. Steering
D. Defensive driving

Vehicles with bomb disposal experts may use: Answer (D)
A. Flashing red light
B. Flashing green light
C. Flashing yellow light
D. Flashing blue light

If a vehicle is driving too close behind you should: Answer (B)
A. Speed up very gradually
B. Slow down very gradually
C. Brake twice
D. Use arm signals

Vehicles can overtake on the left: Answer (A)
A. In a one way street
B. On a dual carriageway
C. On a motorway
D. On a ring road

You need a structure to your study.

Google the best apps and software for studying the driving theory test. The apps and software with the highest rankings make the best material. Try not to use free software as it does not cover all the study material.
When you have chosen the material that suits your needs best, set out a realistic study period. They are 950 questions in the bank of questions and a large number of  hazard clips to study. If you cover 50 questions and 5 hazard clips each day, in 1 week you have covered 350 questions and 35 hazard clips.
Make sure you go through all the questions first before starting the mock tests. The software will only ask questions on what you have gone through. Example; you have studied 300 questions and start the mock test. The questions asked will only cover the 300 you have studied.
Do at least 10 hours of driving lessons before booking your test as this gives a better understanding of the highway code.
If you struggle with studying and feel you are not making progress, book your driving theory test. This will give a deadline and motivation. The waiting period for the driving theory test is about 3 weeks.