Welcome to day one of the A-Z Blogging Challenge! In case you did not stop by for the Theme Reveal, I’ll summarize here that my husband and I are living in England for two years as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We can drive on our USA license for up to one year, then need to take the British Driving Test to obtain a license here for the second year. We’ve heard the tests (three parts: theory, perception, and road test) are all pretty rigorous, so have been diligently studying any and all materials and mock tests we can get our hands on. Most of my info is taken from the Official DVSA Guide to Driving: the essential skills by the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency.
Today my A word is an overview of all the miscellaneous advice I’ve come across as I’ve studied. Are you ready? Set? Go!
- At night, give your eyes time to adjust after leaving a well-lit service area.
- When in a TUNNEL, don’t use sunglasses.
- Don’t wear tinted glasses or sunglasses at night [despite what the Corey Hart song advises…]
- Take your foot off the accelerator when going downhill.
- If your car stalls on a level crossing (ie., railroad tracks) and you hear bells and see lights flashing, don’t try to push the car off the tracks. Get yourself and passengers out of the vehicle as quickly as possible.
- At night, the safest place to park your vehicle is in your garage, if you have one.
- On motorways, get into the left-hand lane early, unless you are already in it.
- When there are more than three lanes at the entrance to a roundabout, use the most appropriate lane on approach and through it.
- The next move you make always has to be the right one.
- Never use boiling water to clear ice from your windscreen.
- You should run in new tyres at reasonable speeds for the first 100 miles because they don’t grip the road surface quite so well when they’re new and shiny.
- When driving off-road, avoid damaging wall, fences, paths, grassland, etc. Take care not to harm livestock or wildlife; respect the countryside in general. Drive responsibly.
Anything YOU would like to add to this list?
Boiling water is for your tea , and NOT to clear ice from the windscreen!
Making Life an Art 
Hahah – now I’ll never forget what boiling water is for – even though getting ice on my windscreen is a very very remote possibility here in Delhi – but then one never knows! All good advice – will be B for Back tomorrow for more 🙂
Thanks Dahlia; this is all such good advice I don’t know why I think it’s also amusing…
Yes, I just loved the picture at the end – nice sense of humor 🙂
I wonder if the left lane has the same purpose as in US – left here should be a passing lane, not a lane where you get to as soon as you can and cruise… Just curious
Renée] from SpokenFingers
Spoken Fingers ~ Life, Understood
Quotes and Thought Provoking Words
Good question and the answer is the exact opposite of US. The left lane is for all vehicles most of the time. The right lane is strictly for passing or exiting to the right
“Boiling water on a cold windshield screen?” 😱
I hope it wasn’t a rental!
Am taking notes; will be back tomorrow! 🍀🐰
Sir Leprechaunrabbit
@leprchaunrabbit
yourrootsareshowingdearie.wordpress.com
I know. I think that’s why I thought it was funny–should be a no-brainer but someone must have done it to warrant a mention in the code book
Generally good advice about not bothering the livestock. unless, of course, they give good directions.
Just as effective as some of the local signage!
ha ha ha … That list had me in splits Gail. Especially the one about the level crossing and the boiling water. Looking forward to more from you. 🙂
@freya3377 from Life as Freya
Love the photo attached.
Great advice all around.
Some of the advice I remember hearing a lot when I was younger was advice that sounded more like superstitions…like don’t spill salt….don’t break that mirror…don’t walk under that ladder…
Oh my… I give you ALL kinds of credit for even attempting to drive on the “wrong” side of the road. I would be a nervous wreck! Best of luck on the test 🙂
Molly @MyCozyBookNook
My Cozy Book Nook
Revising Life after 50
Thanks. I’m sure to need all the luck I can get
Thank for view, The STORY REALM, just learning about blogging, another world. My advise, “when you fall down and bump your knees, get and continue your walk, or run.’
Great advice. I like to add you can’t help a fool. Only God can change a heart. (smile) Blessings!!
Seems like sound advice to me, especially the bit about boiling water and tea (not windscreens).
The Immarcescible Word
Frox’n’Fox
I’ll second the “You are brave to drive on the ‘wrong’ side of the street!” comment 🙂
No advice, other than to make sure that you are comfortable driving. Here in Canada, they recommend taking off your winter jacket before you start driving so that you are comfortable and you don’t overheat halfway through your drive.Also, similar to the comment about not using boiling water to clear ice, you shouldn’t put your heat on high to clear frost from your windshield. You can crack the windshield (I have seen that firsthand!)
Wow. Did not know that one. Do it all the time!
Great advice indeed!
Brake in, Gas out.
You got me at the boiling water! Now I want to try it to see why it’s not recommended!
Kidding.
Anne M Bray, Tartans A-Z from
Pattern Recognition
Good, because I wouldn’t want to be responsible for the results!!
Fortunately, I live in Southern California and I never get ice. Frost a few days in the winter, never ice. Heehee.
Wow… Its an awesome advice…
Will be coming back every day to follow u on ur challenge journey.. Connected once, connected forever…
Sweet! Thanks
Likewise. Congrats on a breathtaking B post today!
Gosh, I hope they give more info about roundabouts. I hear they can be notoriously challenging in London! What a fun post – thanks for the grins!
Getting in the right lane is tricky with roundabouts. And when or if to signal
I think my favorite is “The next move you make always has to be the right one.” So deep and yet so unhelpful!
It makes me curious about the left lane — why the rush to get in that lane? Perhaps they all know something we don’t.
Great list and fun to read too!
Exactly! Like, “duh” but “wait, what?”
I am not a driver but some of these tips are noteworthy! 😀
Great topic and I’m excited to see how you do!
Thanks, Kelley! Are you doing the A-Z? I’m heading over to Kebblesworld now!
What an interesting topic for this month! I’ll look forward to learning more.
Thanks for stopping by!