Author: ADMIN

Tips To Find Affordable Driving Lessons In Oxford

Driving Lessons in Abingdon with Oxford LDA – Automatic and Manual

Call now on 01865 722 148 or send a message via the Contact Form online and schedule in your driving lessons today!

On your very first driving lesson with Oxford Learning Driving Academy (LDA) your instructor is going to go through with you exactly what it takes to be a safe driver and how to pass your test at the first time of trying. Then on each and every lesson you will use our simple formula, then soon not only will you be a safe driver able of passing your test but you will be able to detect any faults you might find.

When a learner driver starts to think about passing their driving test, there is a massive element of enjoyment and adventure for you, but you will also have some serious questions to ask. You don’t want to be ripped off, you want a really nice driving instructor in Abingdon who you can get on with, and you want the best opportunity of passing your driving test first time.

The problem you have is that there are so many driving schools in Abingdon who are you going to choose from? They all look the same – right? And there is hardly any info out there to help you decipher who is going to give you the best driving lessons in Abingdon, but today we have you ll sorted.

In short, the way we are going to teach you will make you feel comfortable, relaxed, in control and with the knowledge you can really impress the driving examiner.

Automatic driving lessons in Abingdon – An Easier Way

Have you noticed just how super cool automatic cars have become, they are not just money savers because you pay zero road tax and very little fuel on the electric versions but just take a look at cars like the Tesla. Just totally amazing and totally automatic.

Taking automatic driving lessons in Abingdon is a wise thing to do, it’s less hassle, fewer lessons needed, and driving an auto is just so easy. Give us a call now on 01865 722 148 or send a message via the Contact Form online and schedule your driving lessons in under a minute.

Service Areas Oxfordshire:

Abingdon , Oxford, Banbury, Bicester, Didcot, Kidlington, Thame, Wallingford, Wantage , Watlington, Witney, Woodstock

Driving Lessons, Instructor Wantage – Automatic and Manual

You know, learning to drive is an amazing feeling and it’s not just the exhilaration of passing your driving test that totally blows you away, but right from your very first driving lessons in Wantage you are going to be feeling so good. Call now on 01865 722 148 or send a message via the Contact Form online and schedule in your driving lessons today!

Many learner drivers are would love to have the opportunity of being able to get their driving licence just by sitting on driving test, it’s not just about saving money but no one likes to go through the stressful situation of a driving test so we are going to give you the best guidelines.

Even before you pick up the phone and give us a call we are going to share with you some top tips right now on how to amaze (yes we did say amaze) the driving examiner.

What you need to do is to fully understand what the examiner is trying to observe, and that are:

1. To see you in total control of the car at all times.
2. To observe you are following the Highway Code.
3. That you have the ability to spot and avoid hazards.
4. And crucially you have the desire to want to be a safe driverSo wouldn’t it make perfect sense to use those 4 steps right from your very first driving lesson? And it is the real reason why we are great at making people very safe drivers who are more than capable of passing their test at the first attempt.

Automatic driving lessons in Wantage – A Short Cut To Your Driving Licence in Oxfordshire

A few years ago people didn’t like passing their driving test in an automatic car, it really had a bad stigma, as if you didn’t have the capability of driving. But in today’s world that has changed totally and taking automatic driving lessons in Wantage is very popular.

Automatic driving schools in Wantage are pretty hard to come by but more and more people want to learn in an auto because it’s so easy, no gears, no rolling back on hill starts and all the cool cars are becoming electric, just look at Tesla. Everyone would love a Tesla car, cheap to run, easy to drive as it’s an automatic and great to look at.

If you want to get on the road stress and hassle free, call us and ask about our availability of automatic driving instructors in Wantage.

Using mobile phones when driving

It’s illegal to use your phone while driving or riding a motorcycle unless you have hands-free access, such as:

• a bluetooth headset
• voice command
• a dashboard holder

The law still applies to you if you’re:

• stopped at traffic lights
• queuing in traffic
• supervising a learner driver

Hands-free

If you use your phone hands-free, you must stay in full control of your vehicle at all times.

The police can stop you if they think you’re not in control because you’re distracted and you can be prosecuted.

When you can use a hand-held phone

You can use a hand-held phone if either of these apply:

• you’re safely parked
• you need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency and it’s unsafe or impractical to stop

Penalties

You can get 6 penalty points and a £200 fine if you use a hand-held phone.

You can also be taken to court where you can:

• be banned from driving or riding
• get a maximum fine of £1,000 (£2,500 if you’re driving a lorry or bus)

If you passed your driving test in the last 2 years, you’ll lose your licence.

Read the full article on the Gov.Co.Uk website

Call now to book your driving lessons on 01865 722 148 or use the Contact Form to send a message or even book online.

Report certain types of medical conditions to DVLA if you’re a car driver or motorcyclist.

The DVLA must be notified for certain health conditions including:

• Ataxia
• essential tremor
• Friedrich’s ataxia
• Guillain Barré syndrome
• Huntington’s disease
• motor neurone disease
• multiple sclerosis
• myasthenia gravis

What happens after you tell DVLA

Other conditions that should be reported are listed below in alphabetical order:

A

Absence seizures
Acoustic neuroma
Addison’s disease
Agoraphobia
AIDS
Alcohol problems
Alzheimer’s disease
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Amputations
Angina
Angioma
Angioplasty
Ankylosing spondylitis
Anorexia nervosa
Anxiety
Aortic aneurysm
Arachnoid cyst
Arnold-Chiari malformation
Arrhythmia
Atrial defibrillator
Arteriovenous malformation
Arthritis
Asperger syndrome
Ataxia
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Autistic spectrum disorders (ASD)

B

Balloon angioplasty (leg)
Bipolar disorder
Blackouts
Blepharospasm
Blood clots
Blood pressure
Brachial plexus injury
Brain abscess, cyst or encephalitis
Brain aneurysm
Brain angioma
Brain haemorrhage
Brain injury (traumatic)
Brain tumours
Branch retinal vein occlusion
Broken limbs and driving
Burr hole surgery

C

Caesarean section
Cancer
Cataracts
Catheter ablation
Cardiac problems
Carotid artery stenosis
Cataplexy
Cerebral palsy
Chronic aortic dissection
Cognitive problems
Congenital heart disease
Convulsions
Coronary artery bypass or disease
Coronary angioplasty
Cystic fibrosis

D

Deafness
Defibrillator
Déjà vu
Dementia
Depression
Diabetes
Diabetic retinopathy
Dilated cardiomyopathy
Diplopia (double vision)
Dizziness
Drug misuse

E

Eating disorders
Empyema (brain)
Epilepsy
Essential tremor

F

Fainting
Fits
Fractured skull
Friedreich’s ataxia

G

Giddiness (recurring)
Glaucoma
Global amnesia
Grand mal seizures
Guillain-Barré syndrome

H

Head injury
Heart attack
Heart arrhythmia
Heart failure
Heart murmurs
Heart palpitations
Heart valve disease or replacement valve
Hemianopia
High blood pressure
HIV
Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Huntington’s disease
Hydrocephalus
Hypertension
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Hypoglycaemia
Hypoxic brain damage
Hysterectomy

I

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
Intracerebral haemorrhage
Ischaemic heart disease

K

Kidney dialysis
Kidney problems
Korsakoff’s syndrome

L

Labyrinthitis
Learning difficulties
Left bundle branch block
Leukaemia
Lewy body dementia
Limb disability
Low blood sugar
Lumboperitoneal shunt
Lung cancer
Lymphoma

M

Macular degeneration
Malignant brain tumours
Malignant melanoma
Manic depressive psychosis
Marfan syndrome
Medulloblastoma
Memory problems (severe)
Meningioma
Mini-stroke
Monocular vision
Motor neurone disease
Multiple sclerosis
Myasthenia gravis
Myocardial infarction
Myoclonus

N

Narcolepsy
Night blindness
Nystagmus

O

Obsessive compulsive disorder
Obstructive sleep apnoea
Optic atrophy
Optic neuritis

P

Pacemakers
Palpitations
Paranoia
Paranoid schizophrenia
Paraplegia
Parkinson’s disease
Peripheral arterial disease
Peripheral neuropathy
Personality disorder
Petit mal seizures
Pituitary tumour
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Psychosis
Psychotic depression

R

Renal dialysis
Retinal treatment
Retinopathy

S

Schizo-affective disorder
Schizophrenia
Scotoma
Seizures
Sight in one eye only
Sleep apnoea
Sleepiness (excessive daytime)
Spinal problems and injuries and driving
Stroke
Subarachnoid haemorrhage
Surgery
Syncope

T

Tachycardia
Temporal lobe epilepsy
Tonic clonic fits
Tourette’s syndrome
Transient global amnesia
Transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
Tunnel vision

U

Usher syndrome
V

Valve disease or replacement valve
Ventricular defibrillator
Vertigo
Vision in one eye only
Visual acuity (reduced)
Visual field defects
VP shunts

W

Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

New Driving Test December 2025

Driving tests… they’ve long been feared and left learners frustrated. Now, change is around the corner – as of December 2025 the age-old test will shake-up what is expected of learners. Here we take a look at what you need to know about the upcoming driving test changes – and if you want a visual run-through of what to expect, watch the DVLA YouTube video on the new driving test changes.

First things first – why is the new test being introduced?

In short, the new test has been designed by the DVLA to make drivers safer on the roads and to ensure that the new test takes account of modern driving. Read more on DVSA website here.

Here’s the official word on the ‘why’ behind the change as outlined on their website:

“The changes are designed to make sure new drivers have the skills they’ll need to help them through a lifetime of safe driving”.

The 4 core changes… As explained by The Local Driving Academy, your local driving school in Oxford

1. You’ll need to drive independently for 20 minutes (up from the current time of 10 minutes)

The independent element of the exam currently lasts for around 10 minutes. From December this will be doubled to 20 minutes – accounting for around half of the test.

2. You’ll have to follow directions from a sat nav

During the independent driving element of your exam you’ll most likely be asked to follow the sat nav (which will be a TomTom Start 52). Your examiner will set the route, however you can ask them about the end destination if you’re unsure. You should note that it doesn’t matter if you go the wrong way unless you make a driving fault whilst doing so. One in 5 tests will involve the following of traffic signs, instead of a sat nav.

3. You’ll face new reversing manoeuvres

Previously learners needed to ‘reverse around a corner’ or ‘turn-in-the-road’ (also known as a 3 point turn). Instead you’ll be asked to complete one of the following three reversing manoeuvres…
• Parallel park on the side of the road
• Park in a bay – either driving forwards in and reversing backwards out, or reversing backwards in and driving forwards out (your examiner will instruct you as to which you should do)
• Pull up to the right-hand side of the road, reverse backwards 2 car lengths then re-join the traffic

4. You’ll need to answer 2 vehicle safety questions – one before the test and one while driving

You’re going to be asked both:
• A ‘Tell Me’ question – explaining how you’d carry out a specified safety task prior to setting off.
• A ‘Show Me’ question – explaining how you’d carry out a specified safety task whilst driving.

Book Driving lessons in Oxford

Get into gear… there are just 3 months until the test changes. Call now on 01865 722 148 or send a message via the Contact Form online and schedule in your driving lessons today!

The new test will come into play as of December 4th 2025.

We offer driving lessons in Didcot, Bicester, Abingdon, Wantage and all towns and villages in Oxfordshire

If you’re already taking driving lessons in Oxford and have booked your test before the changes, your driving instructor should have talked

6 New Driving Laws in 2018

Motoring law changes all the time, but in 2018 there are some pretty big changes afoot. Here are six new changes to the law that will affect each and every one of us, so read up to ensure you stay on the right side of the rules as published on the Car Keys website.

For free advice just ask on on 01865 722 148 or send a message via the Contact Form.

New MoT legislation

There are new MoT changes that come into force on May 20^th, which introduce new testable items.

From this date, any diesel car that has had its DPF removed or tampered with will instantly fail the test, while aftermarket high definition headlamp bulbs will also be outlawed.

Reversing lights will be tested for the first time, and your car will also fail if the brake fluid is visually deteriorated.

Classic cars over 40 years old will now be exempt from testing, too.

Finally, the current system of advisories will be replaced with minor, major and dangerous faults. Minor faults will work the same as the current advisory system and won’t constitute a fail. A car with dangerous faults cannot be driven away from the test until the repairs have been carried out.

Here’s all you need to know about MOT tests and pre checks

Learner drivers to be allowed on motorways

Starting this year, learners will be allowed on motorways for the first time, though motorway driving won’t form part of the test as there are some regions of the country where this will be impractical, such as Western Wales and the Scottish Highlands.

All instructors will be encouraged to give drivers some motorway training, you can read more on the Pass Plus page here.

Penalties for misusing motorways

New ANPR-based (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras will be introduced on major motorways to monitor misuse of the hard shoulder. If a driver uses the hard shoulder on a managed motorway when it isn’t open, or drives in a lane with a red ‘X’ above it, the cameras will automatically trigger a penalty, which includes a £100 fine and three points on your driving licence. Keep an eye on those gantry signs to avoid an unpleasant surprise…

Changes to the driving test

As well as the independent driving element of the current test, where the examiner gives no instructions for 10 minutes, the new test laws will include a section where delegates are expected to follow instructions from a sat nav unit to prove they can follow the directions safely.

The test will also include a section where the driver is asked to demonstrate a function of the car, such as how the windscreen wipers work, or how to demist the windscreen.

Reversing into a car park bay is now also part of the test.

Tax rises for diesel cars

First year car tax for all diesel cars that aren’t compliant with the Euro 6 emissions standard will rise by one tax bracket from April 1^st, with rates to increase by anything from £20 to £560 in the first year depending on the model and its current emissions.

Unsurprisingly, the government hasn’t publicised this one very much!

Children’s car seats

Rules around child car seat safety have changes significantly.

New models of backless booster seats will only be suitable for children taller than 125cm or weighing more than 22kg, with high back seats featuring guides to lower the level of the seatbelt in line with the passenger’s shoulders.

In addition, all children below 15 months old must now travel in a backwards-facing car seat.

All children must use a child car seat until they’re 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall, whichever comes first. Children over 12 or more than 135cm tall must wear a seatbelt. You can choose a child car seat based on your child’s height or weight.

Retro Car Trends That Used To Be Popular

Things that were once luxuries are now taken for granted. Power steering, electric windows, central locking – a few years back, it’d be a rare to find these on even the most opulent of cars. Of course, things are very different today – new superminis get more tech than the luxury saloons of the 90s.

To remind ourselves how far car design has moved on, we’ve taken a trip down memory lane and had a look at some must-have options and accessories of days gone by. We’re not sure any deserve a renaissance, but they are testament to how far design and technology (not to mention taste) has developed.

Pop-up headlights

Once upon a time, you can imagine some automotive designer demoing this to a room full of executive decision-makers and the chairman exalting “Oh my god, it’s the future!”

Sadly, despite adding an oddly human touch to cars thanks to the headlights opening and shutting like sleepy eye-lids, it wasn’t.

Designed to give cars a sleeker profile, hidden headlights allowed manufacturers to produce low-down sports cars while getting around headlight height requirements.

While designers may have got around safety requirements once, in the last decade new regulations have pushed it out of favour – European design laws now require the front-end of cars to be more readily deformable to protect pedestrians in an accident.

As it is difficult and costly to create hidden headlights that comply with these laws, we’ve had to say goodbye to winking sports cars.

Removable stereos

The infotainment systems in modern cars are, in effect, part of the car itself. Not too long ago however, things were different. All stereos came in one universal shape and, thanks to the questionable car security at the time, they became a top target for thieves.

The answer came in the form of a removable fascia. Designed to deter shady characters, anyone who managed to prise the radio out would find it useless without its front fascia.

A simple and effective feature it may have been, there’s no question that modern touchscreen tech, and car security for that matter, is infinitely superior.

Sun strips

This must-have accessory of the disco era graced the windscreen tops of many would-be rally drivers and, while sun visors probably weren’t what they are today, shading your eyes from the rays came at the expense of obscuring a good portion of your windscreen.

For those that really wanted to stand out, decking out your sun strip with slogans, or your loved one’s name, became the thing to do.

We can’t really understand the reason for this, but it’s probably good that this trend was consigned to the history books.

Beaded seat covers

beaded seat covers

Pensioners and minicab drivers – the only two demographics whose interiors are still likely donning beaded seat covers. But how did they ever catch on in the first place?

It was once reported that they relieved backache. That said, you don’t see any hanging up in the pharmacists, so we can only presume painkillers for back complaints have progressed substantially since the late ‘80s.

We’re not sure how hundreds of knobbly wooden balls pushing into your back can be comfortable, but one positive is that it did keep you cool on hot days, especially if your car was adorned with velour upholstery.

And finally vinyl roofs

Sticking with fabrics, it was more common to see vinyl on the outside of the car than on the inside in the 1970s. Available on only the plushest trim levels, if your car had a vinyl roof, people knew you were doing well for yourself.

The idea of a fabric-covered roof on a hardtop may seem ridiculous now but the idea stems from the early days of motoring.

When the automotive world was in its primitive stages, easing the transition from horse and carriage to motor vehicle was a key consideration and manufacturers actually tried to make their vehicles resemble a carriage.

So, if you ever see a 1973 Ford Cortina and are pondering the reason behind its squidgy brown roof, it’s all down to horses.