What to do immediately after an accident

If you are injured in a road accident, your first priority must always be to get to safety if possible and then assess the need for medical attention. Check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If necessary, or if there is any doubt at all, call an ambulance.

If possible, you should then:

• Write down the number plate of the other vehicle
• Make a note of the vehicle make, model and colour
• Call the police and make a note of the police reference or CAD number for the incident
• Assuming that the other vehicle has stopped, take the other driver’s name, contact and insurance details
• Take as many photos of the accident scene as you can and draw a diagram of the scene.
• Notify your insurer

What if the driver does not stop or is uninsured?

If the other driver says they are not insured, or flees the scene of the accident, the police will investigate. If the police are unable to trace the driver or they confirm that the driver is uninsured, they will notify you.

If you were injured, or your car or other property has been damaged, you could make a claim through your own insurance – assuming you have fully comprehensive cover.

However, unless your policy includes a clause for accidents caused by uninsured drivers, claiming through your own insurance will likely affect your no-claims discount. It will also hike your premium, especially if you are a recently-qualified driver.

Thankfully, there is an alternative in the form of the MIB.

The Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB)

The MIB is a not for profit organisation that compensates victims of uninsured and untraceable drivers through a central fund.

Established in 1946, the MIB is funded directly by the car insurance industry through motor insurance premiums. In accordance with the Road Traffic Act 1988, all UK motor insurers must contribute. It is estimated that funding the MIB adds between £20 and £30 to the average motor premium.

When considering that the MIB handles around 26,000 injuries involving uninsured or hit and run drivers every year, few would question the value of the safety net provided by the MIB.

The MIB will pay compensation for injuries as well as vehicle and personal property damage.

Do I qualify?

If you have been involved in an accident with an uninsured or untraceable driver, the MIB will consider your claim if you meet the following criteria:

• The accident happened in the UK including the Isle of Man, Channel Islands and Gibraltar.
• Attempts to identify the driver and their insurer have been exhausted.
• You have notified your insurer and the police.
• If you sustained an injury, you should have informed the police as soon as possible and the subsequent claim must be started within 3 years of the accident.
• If your vehicle was damaged but you were not injured, you should start a claim as soon as possible after the accident.

The MIB processes claim applications from all road users including car drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians.

They will also consider claims from UK citizens involved in accidents with a foreign-registered vehicles – either in the UK or within the EU. However, claims against foreign drivers may no longer be possible once the Brexit transition period ends.

Can I claim as a passenger?

Yes, unless you were aware that the car you were travelling in was also not insured. To reject your claim, the MIB would need to prove that you knew the driver of the car you were travelling in was uninsured. As it is not considered reasonable to ask to see a driver’s insurance documents before accepting a lift, this is rarely an issue.

If you were aware that the driver was intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, you also cannot claim through the MIB.

Is there a downside to claiming through the MIB?

In the past, some claims have taken substantially longer to settle through the MIB than through an insurer. However, the MIB now state that they will endeavour to reach a decision within 3 months. For lower value claims this period can be less than six weeks.

You may need the money sooner for medical treatment or to get your car back on the road. If you need money to fund treatment or other costs immediately, the MIB may consider an interim payment.

How do I start a claim through the MIB?

All claims must be submitted online. The online forms are dynamic and they walk you through the process. You will need to grant access to your medical records and provide any evidence you have in support of your claim, such as photos of the accident scene.

Once an application form has been submitted, the MIB will start to investigate. They will contact all relevant parties including the DVLA, the police, your insurance company and any witnesses.

There is no need to appoint a solicitor and most people choose not to. If you are a minor or are unable to handle a claim due to injury, a solicitor can act on your behalf.

How do the MIB reach a decision?

If the MIB decides that the other road user was responsible for the accident, you will receive compensation.

It may be that both you and the other driver were each partly responsible. In these cases they may reach a finding of ‘contributory negligence’ and your compensation would be adjusted to the extent that you were to blame.

For example, if you weren’t wearing a seatbelt, you would likely receive reduced compensation. This is because your actions likely contributed to the seriousness of your injuries. Your compensation may instead be calculated on the basis of the less severe injuries you would have sustained if you had been wearing a seatbelt.

If the MIB decides that you were responsible for the accident, you would not be compensated. However, you would have the right of appeal.

General damages compensation is paid for any pain, suffering and loss of amenity you have suffered. Special damages will be paid for any costs and losses you have incurred. You can use an online calculator to estimate the amount of damages you would receive.

The number of people seriously injured or killed as a result of drink driving is continuously on the rise. In 2016 there were 9,050 casualties as a result of drink driving, a 7% increase on 2015. The most worrying statistic is the number of child casualties as a result of drink driving. In 2014 2,080 children were treated as a result of being involved in a drink drive accident, a 3% increase on the previous year.

It seems despite all of the education around people are still choosing to take the risk when it comes to the deadly combination of drinking and driving.

In the infographic below we have put together an informative guide revealing the risks you take when drink driving. With the relevant fact and figures you can ensure you are more educated when it comes to drink driving. We’ve also answered some of your burning questions around drink driving beneath the below graphic, such as the drink drive limits and what can effect that, and what happens when you’re caught drink driving. We encourage you to have a read and think carefully about your alcohol consumption throughout the year.

What is the drink drive limit in the UK?

It’s almost impossible to know how many units of alcohol is your limit because each driver is different. There are a number of other factors which can change the effect alcohol has on your body such as:

• Weight
• Age
• Gender
• Your own metabolism
• What alcohol you have been drinking
• Whether you’ve eaten and what you’ve eaten
• Stress levels

However the law states that the drink driving limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath, 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100ml of blood and 107 milligrams of alcohol in 100ml of urine.

How much is a unit of alcohol?

A unit of alcohol shouldn’t be used as a rule of thumb as to how much you can drink. Units are a way to tell how strong your drink is, for example in drink form a unit can look like half a pint or a 125ml glass of wine, but only 25ml of spirits.

What happens if I’m caught?

If you’re suspected of driving under the influence and are pulled over, or involved in a road traffic accident of any sort the police will carry out a breath test at the side of the road. This will be done using a tool called a breathalyser.

If you haven’t had a drink then you have nothing to worry about, however if you fail the breath test you will be taken to a police station where you will provide a final breath test. If you’re found to be over the limit you will be charged.

What will happen if I’m convicted of drink driving?

If you are charged for driving under the influence of alcohol you could face a years driving ban, a fine of up to £5,000, an endorsement on your driving licence for 11 years or three months’ imprisonment.

You will have to notify your employer of you conviction, which could lead to the loss of your job and, ultimately your career. It could also have a negative impact on your relationship.

Our advice? Don’t take the risk, there are plenty of ways to enjoy an alcohol free night, or stick to public transport – that’s what it’s there for.

The two part theory test assesses your knowledge of the highway code. Ensuring you understand the rules of the road, are able to spot hazards, and are fit to drive.

Credit: This Is Money

We’re going to take a look at how learner drivers in the West Midlands are performing as pass rates fall. We have taken data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to look at theory tests from the last year.

Theory Test Pass Rate in West Midlands

Theory test pass rates have dropped across the country, the UK national average is now under 50%. In 2016/17 the UK theory test pass rate was 48.7%, showing that fewer people still are able to pass the difficult test. The West Midlands pass rate was 46.8%, further proof that the theory test is becoming more difficult for those learning to drive.

Males vs Female Theory Test Pass Rate

Women across the country are a driving force to be reckoned with when it comes to passing the theory test. 50.7% of all females who took the test have passed it in the past year, well above the national average for the country. Meanwhile men are eating their dust as they lag behind. Only 46.8% of all men who took the theory test passed – significantly impacting the national average.

In the West Midlands male and female pass rates are closer than the national average suggests. Women are still leading the way in the West Midlands – 48.2% passed their theory test last year. Men are not too far behind with 45.4% passing their test. However females outperformed males taking their theory test at every test centre across the West Midlands.

The Best Place to Pass Your Theory Test is…

Whilst the pass rate across the West Midlands was only 46.8%, there were some areas across our region that outperformed others. Cheltenham found the most success when it came to theory tests over the last year. A staggering 53.4% pass rate, not only the highest in the West Midlands but far above the national average.

Birmingham recorded the lowest theory test pass rates. Only 44.1% of those taking their theory test at the Birmingham test centre passed it.

Check out the chart below to see how you test centre performed.

Failing your theory test means you can’t take your practical driving test. Sure you can retake the test, but that costs more money and time – can you afford to fail your first attempt? You could be spending that money on new clothes or time with your friends. Don’t chance being out of pocket, prepare for your theory test properly and you’ll be on the roads of the UK in no time.

Check out our theory test guide, so you know exactly what to expect. Download our theory test practice app and scrub up on your Highway Code knowledge.

Need some help from the professionals? Get in touch with our team today to book your driving lessons, where our theory pack is also available.

See the full infographic below:

Taking your driving test is a nerve wracking experience, no matter how much of a confident driver you are. But what if your postcode has an impact on your chances of passing your practical driving test? UK driving test pass rates are a hot topic of discussion, and there are plenty of stats out there telling different stories, for example you may be more likely to pass if you live in a rural area.

But what about how driving schools across the country are improving driving test pass rates? A lot can change in five years, so we have taken data from driving test centres across the UK and compared those figures to pass rates in 2011 – the results were quite revealing…

Map of UK Pass Rates: 2011 vs. 2016 Stats

Pass Rate Improvements

Out of all of the UK driving test centres we found 13 centres had the biggest pass rate improvements, ranging from 17% in Dundee to an impressive 45% pass rate increase in Stevenage – the highest in the country. In 2011 the pass rate in Stevenage was 36.8%, way below the national average of 46.9%. Whizz ahead five years and the pass rate is 53.4%, so if you’re in Stevenage we’d say now is the time to take your driving test. Meanwhile the Scottish village of Golspie experienced a 42.7% increase in pass rates – and they scored the highest pass rate in the UK with 83.9% in 2016.

Scotland and the East of the UK had the most impressive pass rate improvements, with a total of eight Scottish towns appearing on our map.

Pass Rate Decreases

But it isn’t all smooth sailing for Scotland, out of the five biggest decreases in driving test pass rates we found Scottish towns feature in three places. Although the biggest decrease goes to the Lincolnshire town of Grantham, which went from an impressive 63% pass rate in 2011 to 49.3% in 2016 – a decrease of 21.7% (however, this is still above the national pass rate of 47.4%)

Towns Above National Pass Rate

In 2011 the national pass rate was 46.9%, thanks to the towns across the UK which have increased their pass rates in 2016 this increased by 1.1% to 47.4%

Many of the towns on our map have exceeded the national pass rate, we’ve listed them below for you, how well is your town doing?

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Improve your chances of passing with an intensive driving course to get you started.

New opportunities

Passing your driving test opens up a world of new job opportunities for you. Today many jobs require you to hold a UK driving licence, and for some it is essential, find out more about our driving instructor training here.

Complete List of UK Driving Test Pass Rates For 2016 vs. 2011

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Training as a driving instructor is certainly a realistic option, with a low startup cost, flexible working hours and the chance of earning as much as £30,000 a year.

But is it the career choice for you?

We’ve compiled the questions we are regularly asked by people just like you to help you understand what becoming a driving instructor entails. Thought of a question we’ve not answered below? Send it over to us in the comment box below and we’ll answer you as quick as we can – if you have the question, someone else is bound to be wondering the same thing!

1. What is an ADI driving instructor?

ADI stands for Approved Driving Instructor. An ADI is somebody who has been tested and certified by the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to instruct learner drivers. It is against UK law to charge for driver training services before you are a fully qualified ADI.

2. How much do driving instructors earn?

As a guideline you can expect to earn £18,000 to £22,000 part time and £38,000 to £44,000 full time.

There are plenty of benefits to becoming a driving instructor other than your earnings, such as being your own boss and enjoying a better work-life balance. But when it comes to earnings, it’s the same as most things in life – the more you put into something the better the results you get. This is equally true of being a driving instructor, the better you are at your job and the more you care about your pupils, the higher referral rate you will have.

3. How much does it cost to become a driving instructor?

When it comes to training to become a driving instructor there are really two sets of costs involved, the cost of a driving instructor course and the costs of the ADI tests themselves.

ADI test costs
In a similar way to your driving test when you first learn to drive, the Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) tests are broken into three parts. There’s a hazard perception and theory test, practical driving test and a test of your instructional ability. Each of these three parts carry their own costs:
? ADI part 1 test = £81
? ADI part 2 test = £111
? ADI part 3 test = £111

Which makes the total cost for your ADI tests £303. As well as these test costs you will also need to pay for an ADI certificate, which is £300 once you qualify, and a trainee licence, which is £140.

Training costs
It is recommended that you seek training for the ADI tests with an ORDIT (Official Register of Driving Instructor Trainers) registered company to provide the support and guidance needed to qualify as a driving instructor.

Training courses can range from £1000 up to as high as £4000 with some of the larger, national driving schools – it all depends on who you train with and where you train. Some schools will provide you with all the materials you need to pass, like we do at 4 Wheelz, whereas other schools will expect you to fork out the extra money to buy these items yourself. So whilst that cheap course may seem more appealing to begin with, what extra items are you expected to buy once you’ve signed up? So don’t jump into a quick decision, make sure you do your research, and read reviews and feedback.

You can find a detailed breakdown of our course pricing options over on our driving instructor training page.

4. How long does it take to become a driving instructor?

For most people to complete their ADI qualification it will take at least six months. However before you can take the ADI exams you do need to have held a full, clean driving licence for three or more years.

How long it takes to qualify as a driving instructor all depends on two factors. Firstly the size of the waiting list for the ADI exams, some areas have very long waiting lists whilst others do not. The amount of time you are realistically able to dedicate to studying and preparing for each exam is another factor.

We have seen trainees complete their ADI qualification within four months. However they dedicated a lot of their time to study and prepare for their test and were extremely flexible with their time and the location of their exam when it came to that stage. This type of dedication and flexibility isn’t realistic if you are continuing to work a full, or even a part-time job whilst you’re training.

5. How old do you have to be to be a driving instructor?

In order to register for driving instructor training, you must be aged 21 or over. You must also have held a full UK driving licence for at least three years, you can find out if you’re eligible to train to become an ADI here.

Still unsure whether becoming a driving instructor is for you? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team on 01902 881 444, who are on-hand to answer any questions you may have. Alternatively you can check whether you are eligible to begin training as a driving instructor here.

We hope you found this information useful, however if you have a question which isn’t answered above pop it in the comments box below and we’ll get back to you!

Investing in driving instructor training has changed a lot of people’s lives. We encourage you to take the big step and get started!

It was close, with both men and women outperforming each other in certain areas of the survey. So where were the strengths and weaknesses?

Drinking and driving

Men were more clued up about drinking and driving – it’s legal to do so and 19% of men got this right, whereas only 4% of women knew that you could do this. More men also knew that it wasn’t illegal for passengers to drink, with 75% getting it right, as apposed to only 67% of women.

It’s an area that tripped everyone up: unlike the USA, which has a zero-tolerance rule against alcohol, the UK allows drivers to have 35mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath – in fact, you can actually drink while driving!

How much 35mg equates to in terms of pints or glasses depends on a number of factors including the type of drink, your age, weight and even gender. However, it’s advised that you avoid drinking at all as a precautionary measure. If you are caught in the act of drinking behind the wheel, the police will most likely pull you over regardless of whether you’re intoxicated – something that you would most likely want to avoid.

Animals on the road

Elsewhere in the survey, women fared better on animal-related questions, with 75% saying that if a rabbit ran out in front of their car they would slow down, if safe to do so, to avoid it. Only 67% of men chose this option.

In addition to this, overall more women would get in contact with the police if they had injured an animal. Four percent said they would phone the police about the rabbit if they hadn’t managed to avoid it, while one fifth would get in contact with the authorities if they had injured a cat. It should be noted that you don’t need to contact the police about harming either of these animals, but you should call them if you injure any of the following: dog, goat, horse, cattle, ass, mule, sheep or pig.

Health and stopping

In the survey results, women were more clued up about health than men, and when asked, “Can a driver be prosecuted if they cause an accident as a result of sudden illness like a stroke or heart attack?” 81% answered “no” correctly, as opposed to 68% of men. Even though a driver cannot be prosecuted as a result of their driving while ill, they may be required to pay compensation.

Women were perhaps a little more sympathetic, with 67% believing that you must stop at the site of a road accident if you are the first person to witness it.

Only 52% of men thought this were the case. It’s not required by law to stop if you witness an accident, however you have a moral obligation to at least call the emergency services.

Overall, the battle of the sexes was a close one, and it doesn’t look like it will be fully resolved this time around, with both men and women keeping each other on their toes.

Participants were first asked which light was the oil light which looks as follows:

85% of males correctly identified the oil light, followed by 79% of females. Women’s next most popular answer was the ‘engine warning’ light, while 1% of women thought that the ‘boot door open’ light was the oil light. 10% of men also confused the ‘engine warning’ light for the oil light and 5% even thought that the handbrake light signified low oil.

In terms of age groups, the most clued-up group were 46+, with 86% of this age bracket correctly answering the question. The worst performing age group was 26-35, beaten by new drivers in the 17-25 age group, 71% and 74% being the respective percentages of correct answers in each age group.

Participants next question asked them to name the fog light warning:

97% of both females and males  answered correctly here. Worryingly however, 2% of males thought that the oil light represented your fog lights being on and some also confused the ‘boot door open’ light for the fog lights also. The only wrong answer among females was the handbrake light which, considering it is a exclamation mark warning light, is slightly more logical than what the incorrect men believed.

Question 3 asked people to identify the handbrake light which, as just mentioned, looks like this:

91% of women got this one right while only 86% of men did likewise. 7% of men thought the ABS light signified the handbrake warning – ABS at least having something to do with the braking system. 4% of females also made the same mistake while another 4% confused the ‘boot open’ light for the handbrake.

In terms of age breakdown, each age group was fairly evenly matched. 36-45 year olds were the best performing with 88% of them being correct. 17-25s came a respectable second place with 85% getting the right answer.

The final question was perhaps the most difficult. Those surveyed were asked to name this light – the ‘engine warning’ light:

65% of males got this one right while only 47% of females did likewise. The second most popular answers among both sexes was the catalytic converter warning light; 23% of men and 36% of women answered with that.

The least knowledgeable age group on this question were the 26-35s with only 43% of them getting this one right. 63% of people aged 36-45 were correct and they were the best performing age group. This question clearly proved too tricky for many of the survey participants which is why we feel many would benefit from a quick guide to the most important dashboard warning lights.

Oil – This light illuminates when the ignition is switched on but should almost instantly switch off the engine has started. If the light stays on or turns on mid-journey, stop as soon as is safe to do so and check your oil level. Top up if the level is low.

Handbrake (Braking system warning light) – While the handbrake is engaged, this light will be illuminated. If the light is still illuminated once the handbrake has been taken off, this might suggest that the level of brake fluid is low. You should regularly check your brake fluid because, as your brakes start to wear, the fluid level will slowly drop. Check your manual for the correct fluid type.

Engine warning– As with the oil light, this light will illuminate when the ignition is switched on but should turn off when the engine starts. If this light is illuminated when the engine is running, it means there is a malfunction with the engine management system. Get this checked as soon as possible.

If it flashes when driving, reduce your speed until it illuminates constantly. If it continues to flash, try not to accelerate heavily and seek assistance as soon as possible. The vehicle is still safe to drive when this light is illuminated as long as there are no other clear faults with the engine.

ABS- This light illuminates when the ignition is switched on to show that the system is operational but, if showing when the engine has started, this indicates a malfunction. Have this checked as soon as possible as while some cars will are safe to drive without ABS, others are not so, at the very least, check the handbook for advice.

Battery – This, like most lights already mentioned, should illuminate when the ignition is switched on but not once the engine has started running. If it does not illuminate when the ignition is switched on or, if it does illuminate whilst driving, you may have an issue with your charging system. This could be due to any of the following:

–          A slack starter terminal

–          A broken or loose alternator drive belt

–          An alternator failure

Immediately move your vehicle to a safe spot and seek assistance as there is potential to cause serious engine damage, especially if the drive belt is broken.