The European Directive will be applied through out all EU members and will hold an administrative validity of 10 years, although a member of state can choose an administrative validity of 15 years.

The new driving licence format will be rolled out gradually allowing drivers with the old format continued use, until they need renewing or replacing.

The front of the new driving licence will confirm:

1. Surname of the holder;

2. Other name(s) of the holder;

3. Date and place of birth;

4. (a) date of issue of the licence;

(b) Date of expiry of the licence or a dash if the licence is valid indefinitely under the provision of Article 7(2)(c);

(c) The name of the issuing authority (may be printed on page 2);

(d) (a) different number from the one under heading 5, for administrative purposes (optional);

5. Number of the licence;

6. Photograph of the holder;

7. Signature of the holder;

8. Permanent place of residence, or postal address (optional);

9. Category of vehicle(s) the holder is entitled to drive (national categories shall be printed in a different type from harmonised categories);

 If you have a full licence your provisional entitlement will be shown on the counterpart. If you hold a provisional licence your provisional entitlement will be shown on the front of your card. The new driving licence has a black and white photograph. A colour photograph will still need to be provided with your application to be stored on your driver record.

The back of the card will have a noticeable change showing all the vehicle categories the holder can and cannot drive. All categories the holder can drive will display valid from and valid to dates. Categories the holder cannot drive will be crossed out.

 The letters in capitals and the pictures show all the categories of vehicles according to the European Third Directive.

As we all know ADIs mileage is far higher than the average driver, consequently making the savings even more rewarding if driving a car registered in 2011.

In 2011 emissions fell by 4.2 per cent year on year to 138.1g/km CO2 (equivalent to 52.5mpg), a reduction of more than 23 per cent since reporting began in 2000.

Paul Everitt, the SMMT’s chief executive, said: “Industry can be proud of the progress it has made in reducing CO2 emissions and improving fuel efficiency by 23 per cent since 2000. TheUKmotor industry recognises its responsibilities and the industrial opportunities from the transition to ultra-low carbon vehicles. Future environmental and economic success will be determined by sustained investment in new technology, R&D, infrastructure and consumer incentives.

“We are seeing steady improvement in conventional technologies and the emergence of a range of alternative technologies, creating one of the most innovative periods for the global automotive industry”

Hitachi Capital Driving Instructor Centre have 7, 12 and 18 month contracts giving ADIs/PDIs the chance to change or upgrade their car, making sure ADIs/PDIs have the most up to date and fuel efficient cars possible.

The DSA have been looking at a number of different venues to carry out practical driving tests, these will include, local authority buildings, hotels and leisure centres. Whilst keeping the more conventional driving test centres. 

The new service have received positive feedback from the eight locations currently trialing it, from examinees and also driving instructors themselves. The success of the service has given the DSA more confidence, who are now actively expanding the scheme to another 5 venues acrossBritain. 

Further development will see the scheme reach areas in and surrounding: Watford,Manchester,Kettering,GlasgowandWorcester. Several venues will be chosen from each individual area, making this scheme more cost effective, whilst reducing the demand for local test provision. 

Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said:

“We have to be more flexible and innovative in delivering driving tests to make sure that we are offering people the best service possible wherever they live and I am delighted that these first trials have proved successful.

“We are now extending the trial so that more candidates will be able to benefit from a service that is convenient as well as being cost effective.”

The DSA are looking to work in partnership with the private sector throughoutBritain, and have actively invited a number of businesses to provide premises as part of a long term plan. The driving tests themselves will not change and will still be conducted by DSA examiners. Information can be found on the Official Journal of the European Union and the agency hopes to catch the attention of a wide selection of businesses.

All of the clips include one developing hazard, and one includes two such hazards. The sooner an examinee reacts to a developing hazard, the more points are scored, from five down to one, with no score if the examinee reacts too late.

The current clips were created by filming developing hazards in a number of different scenarios, using a specially adapted car and camera. The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) are now looking at improving these by using new computer generated images, giving the DSA the ability to add in clips that would normally be too hard to film safely.

The DSA intend to introduce the new hazard perception test videos by the end of 2013, bringing the entire theory test up to date after also changing the theory test questions in January 2012.  

Low sun can be extremely dangerous whilst driving, especially with bright lights reflecting off, puddles, the car in front, or even parts of your own car e.g. the bonnet. Glare is a regular cause of road traffic accidents, although the correct pair of sunglasses could prevent them.

Sunglasses suitable for driving have two main requirements vision must be clear and light must not be too restricted; enough light must get to your eyes to see properly.

Tinted lenses are graded by the density of the tint, with 5 grades 0 to 4, 4 being the darkest and unsuitable for driving in the day or night, with only 3% to 8% of light being transmitted through the lens.

Grades 1 to 3 are suitable for day driving and depending on the brightness of the sun, grade 1 low sunlight, 2 medium sunlight, and 3 bright sunlight. Grade 0 is the only grade that is suitable for night driving because 80% to 100% of light is transmitted through to the eye, giving a clear or lightly tinted lens.

Due to the light levels within the car, grade 2 lenses which transmit between 18% and 43% of light are recommended for daytime driving.

If you are required by law to wear glasses for driving then the identical prescription applies to sunglasses. A prescription can be added to a fixed tinted lens, visiting an optician will ensure your vision is up to standard and the correct sunglasses are used. Opticians can also recommend anti-reflection coatings along with a hard coating to prevent scratching.

Remember, the responsibility is on you to have good vision, make sure sunglasses do not block your side or peripheral vision, deep side arms are the main culprits. Failing to have your vision corrected and protected from the sun could invalidate your insurance if you are involved in a road traffic accident.       

It is believed 300 army tanker driver are on stand by, ready to distribute fuel to the UK forecourts. Ed Davey, Energy Secretary has already taken action making sure there isn’t a rush to the forecourts by stating he would take “whatever action” necessary to minimise the impact of any strike. 

Ed Davey also made it clear people who wanted to work will not be intimidated to change their mind:  

 “The Unite ballot result is disappointing. The Government is strongly of the view that strike action is wrong and unnecessary.

 “The union should be getting round the negotiating table, not planning to disrupt the lives of millions of people acrossBritain. The police will be on hand to ensure that strike action does not intimidate or prevent drivers that wish to work from doing so.”

Unite Union supplies 90% of the UK forecourts and predicts a strike could close 7,900 petrol stations across the UK. Diana Holland, Unite’s assistant general secretary, said:

 “These votes send a clear message throughout the industry and should prompt all the major companies to get around the table to establish minimum standards. This is not about pay – this is about ensuring that high safety and training standards are maintained, so that our communities are safe.”

Working within the driving industry, we do not believe that a mandatory retest when you reach a certain age is necessarily the answer. There are obviously certain elements to assess when it comes to the elderly driving on the UK’s roads; such as eye sight, decision making process and whether they are mentally and physically aware of your surroundings. We believe a tailored assessment by a driving instructor is the answer, rather than taking the driving test again.

This would involve reassessing their understanding of the theory of driving including understanding road signs and right of way. If a candidate demonstrates a slight lack of understanding, we believe re-education is required rather than a heavy handed approach of taking their licence away. A practical assessment by a driving instructor should also be initiated to assess confidence in their own driving abilities, agility and ability to judge the decisions of other road users.

Figures actually show that the elderly are safer than young drivers, which is why we approve of a less heavy handed approach by the Government. We believe that our recommendation would ensure the safety of the elderly driving population and other road users, but also ensure that the elderly are not discriminated against by age.

Figures released by the AA show that over the past five years the cost of car insurance has more than doubled. In 2008 the average comprehensive policy cost £481, and by January this year the same policy cost £971.The AA and other leading insurers blame the compensation culture as the biggest factor in causing this escalation in premiums.

According to research by Moneysupermarket.Com the number uninsured drivers is also   driving up the cost of car insurance by a staggering £500 million a year, which adds an average £30 per year to policies. The research found that 16% of drivers have been getting behind the wheel of a car they aren’t insured to drive. Breaking this down further, 8% say they have driven their own vehicle without cover and 6% say they have driven someone else’s vehicle without cover. The remaining 2% say they have driven their own vehicle without cover in between insurance policy renewals.

The rise in car insurance premiums is having a particular influence on young drivers, many of whom rather skip cover and run the risk of being penalised. Female drivers may be particularly hard hit by the end of this year, when a gender directive from the EU bans insurance companies from setting lower motor insurance premiums for women. This directive stipulates that insurers cannot discriminate on the basis of gender when setting insurance premiums, despite the fact that women drivers are less likely to have a crash and are involved in far less serious road accidents. The Labour transport spokesman, John Woodcock, has called on the Government to take action to mitigate the worst effects of the new ruling. He said that on average women would end up paying an additional £362 a year for their insurance.

One means of reducing your premiums as a young driver is to take your “Pass Plus” Certificate,  which can be obtained within the first year of passing your practical driving test. The majority ofHitachi’s approved driving instructors are able to offer this service to their students.

The AA has supported the change saying mpg is old fashioned, confusing and irrelevant, especially to young drivers. Fuel in the UK is sold in litres and has been for over two decades, although economy figures are still stuck in the past and being displayed in mpg.

AA president Edmund King said: “We buy fuel in litres, yet the majority of us still think about economy in miles per gallon. These two different measures don’t add up. As fuel economy is vital to motoring today, I think it is time to break with the nostalgia of the past and begin using fuel economy figures which relate to what we buy at the pumps.”

When converting gallons in to litres it was not only the young drivers who were confused, all ages had difficulties and with fuel prices hitting record levels, now is the time to save as much fuel as possible.

The AA in conjunction with Auto Express asked 10 drivers to calculate the cost of a 20-mile round trip behind the wheel of a car achieving 45mpg – with a fuel price of 140ppl – only one motorist was able to do the sums in their head.

When the same maths problem was posed, swapping the 45mpg for its equivalent 10 miles-per-litre, 60 per cent of the drivers quizzed at the Tesco Extra fuel forecourt in Watford, Herts, were able to quickly come up with the correct answer: £2.80.

With many driving instructors finding great leasing options, which gives them the benefit of being able to budget accurately. Petrol is normally the only variable out going cost each month and keeping costs down is always an issue. Changing to miles per litre might just help save that little extra.

Recent increases have seen unleaded petrol reach an average of 137.44p per litre and diesel at a record high of 144.67p. The forecourt price increase is a result of many factors from rising tension in the Middle East to the pound weakness against the American dollar, making oil more expensive. As most things we buy in the UK are transported by road any increase in cost will be passed onto the consumer.

Driving Instructors have seen the benefits of leasing their vehicles, which gives them the benefit of being able to budget accurately. The price of routine maintenance is included in the leasing cost, keeping maintenance, servicing and the price of the car in one set payment each month. Thus making petrol their only variable cost each month and with motorists in the UK paying more in petrol tax than any other in the EU nation with 60% of the total price going to the government compared with 48% in Spain 43% in Cyprus driving instructors want to see a cut.

AA President Edmund King added: “We have asked the Chancellor to do what he can to protect the UK economy from fuel market volatility and record high prices which are stemming growth.”

“There is no more give in family and business budgets despite them cutting back on fuel purchase and other spending so they can get to work and go about their business.

“Britain cannot get back on its feet if fuel prices hold drivers and business to ransom every time market sentiment takes hold.”