Grantham Driving School

11/08/2026

🚗 DID YOU KNOW?

Sitting in your parked car with the engine running just to keep cool could cost you a fine...

Many drivers don't realise that leaving your engine running unnecessarily while stationary on a public road can result in a Fixed Penalty Notice if you refuse to switch the engine off when requested by an authorised officer.

❄️ Running the air conditioning while parked may feel comfortable...
💷 ...but it could prove expensive.

The good news?
✅ It doesn't normally carry penalty points on your driving licence.
Instead, you could receive a financial penalty, which varies depending on where you are and the enforcement powers of the local authority.

The best advice is simple:
✔ If you're parked and waiting for someone...
✔ If you're outside a school...
✔ If you're sitting in a car park...

Switch the engine off whenever it's safe and practical to do so.
It's better for your wallet...
It's better for your engine...
And it's better for the air we all breathe.

☎️ Grantham Driving School
07734 049978

10/08/2026

🚗 GDS WEEKLY DRIVING UPDATE

This week: New driving-test rules are now fully in force

There have been some important changes to the way car driving tests are booked and managed in Great Britain, and learners need to be aware of them.

📋 What you need to know

🔹 Learners now manage their own test booking
Since 12 May 2026, only the learner can book, change or cancel their practical car driving test. Driving instructors can still advise you and help you decide when you’re ready.

🔹 You can only make two changes
Since 31 March, learners have been limited to two changes to their car driving test appointment.

🔹 Changing test centres is more restricted
Since 9 June, you can only move your test to one of the three nearest test centres to your original booking.

🔹 Avoid unofficial test-booking services
DVSA has specifically warned about unofficial services that scan for appointments. Since May, it is against the law for third parties to book tests on behalf of learners.

📈 There’s also some encouraging news

DVSA says that 1,998,608 car driving tests were taken between April 2025 and March 2026 – an increase of 8.6%.

Even more encouraging, 1,000,043 candidates passed, an increase of 11.7% compared with the previous year.

And DVSA examiner numbers are at their highest level since 2018, with further efforts continuing to tackle waiting times.

👨‍🏫 Kevin’s GDS advice

Don’t book a test simply because you have found an appointment.

Book it because you’re ready.

A driving test is not the end of learning – it’s the point where you’ve demonstrated that you can drive safely without your instructor sitting beside you.

Take your time, build your skills properly and don’t let the pressure of getting a test date make the decision for you.

Learn today. Drive tomorrow. Drive safely for life.

📞 Grantham Driving School – 07734 049978

25+ years teaching local people. Experienced. Patient. Trusted.



Sources: DVSA – Changes to driving test booking rules in 2026⁠ · DVSA – New driving test booking rules⁠

05/08/2026

🚗 A Little Too Fast... Can Be Fatal

Many learner drivers (and experienced drivers) don't realise that country roads are among the most dangerous roads in the UK.
The national speed limit isn't a target – it's the maximum speed in ideal conditions.

Approaching a bend just 5–10 mph too fast can be enough to:
❌ Run wide into the opposite carriageway.
❌ Lose grip and leave the road.
❌ Hit a tree, hedge, wall or ditch.
❌ Cause a life-changing or fatal collision.

The latest UK road safety data continues to show that:

🚨 Around 60% of all road deaths occur on rural roads, despite these roads carrying much less traffic than urban roads.

🚨 A third of drivers admit they have taken a bend too fast, while many report being caught out by unexpected hazards such as animals, tractors, cyclists or mud on the road.

🚨 Provisional Department for Transport figures for 2025 estimate 1,556 road deaths and almost 30,000 people killed or seriously injured on Britain's roads, reminding us that every journey deserves respect.

Country roads demand a different mindset.
✔ Slow down before the bend.
✔ Look as far ahead as you can.
✔ Expect the unexpected.
✔ Drive at a speed that allows you to stop safely within the distance you can see to be clear.

After teaching local families for over 25 years, I've seen one lesson repeated time and again:

The safest drivers are rarely the fastest drivers.
📞 If you'd like driving lessons that build confidence and safe driving habits for life, contact Grantham Driving School today.

☎️ 07734 049978

03/08/2026

27/07/2026

There have been important changes to the way driving tests are booked in the UK.

The DVSA has introduced new rules so that learner drivers must now book, change and manage their own practical driving test appointments. The changes are designed to tackle bots, scams and unofficial booking services, helping make the system fairer for genuine learners.

Additional restrictions on changing test centres have also been introduced to reduce speculative bookings. GOV.UK

At Grantham Driving School, I believe learning to drive is about much more than simply passing a test. My aim is to help every learner become a safe, confident and considerate driver for life.

If you're thinking about learning to drive—or you're ready to take the next step towards your practical test—I'd be delighted to help.

✅ Patient, experienced tuition
✅ Automatic lessons in your own vehicle
✅ Confidence-building approach
✅ Teaching local families for 25 years
📞 Book your lessons today: 07734 049978

Safe driving starts with the right training.



Sources

25/07/2026

🚗 New Driving Test Rules Every Learner Needs To Know

If you're learning to drive in 2026, there have been some important changes to how practical driving tests are booked.

The DVSA has introduced new booking rules to help tackle long waiting times and reduce the misuse of test appointments.

✔️ Learners now manage their own practical test booking.
✔️ Test changes are more restricted than before.
✔️ Planning ahead has never been more important.

At Grantham Driving School, I help my pupils prepare properly so that when their test day arrives, they're ready to pass with confidence—not just hoping for good luck.

The current waiting times mean every lesson counts, so we'll work together to make the very best use of your time behind the wheel.

If you're looking for patient, professional tuition with over 25 years of experience, I'd be delighted to help.

📞 07734 049978
🚗 Grantham Driving School
Teaching your family for 25 years.

13/07/2026

🚗 Every Driver Has a First Lesson

There comes a time in most people's lives when they think...

"Maybe it's time I learned to drive."

For some, that's at 17.

For others it might be after finishing college, starting a new job, becoming a parent, or simply deciding they want the freedom that comes with holding a full driving licence.

One thing I've learned after more than 25 years of teaching local people to drive is this...

Nobody starts as an experienced driver.

Every confident driver you see on the road today once sat behind the wheel for the very first time, wondering if they'd ever get the hang of it.

If you're feeling nervous, that's perfectly normal.

If you're worried about making mistakes, that's perfectly normal too.

Learning to drive isn't about being perfect on day one.

It's about building confidence, understanding and safe driving habits one lesson at a time.

My approach has always been simple.

I won't ask you to do anything before you're ready.

We'll work at a pace that suits you.

Every lesson builds on the last until one day you'll realise something incredible...

You're driving.

Not just passing a test...

But becoming a safe, confident and independent driver for life.

If you've been thinking about learning but haven't quite found the confidence to begin, perhaps today is the day to take that first step.

I'd be delighted to help you start your driving journey.

🚗 Every driver has a first lesson... and yours could be the start of something that changes your life.

📩 Feel free to contact me through Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram or email if you'd like to ask a question. There's absolutely no pressure—I'm always happy to offer advice.

09/07/2026

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKDVSA/bulletins/41f2f1d

Driver Services Outage: Thursday 9 July 2026 Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency sent this bulletin at 09-07-2026 04:15 PM BST Services unavailable due to maintenance Our online booking services will not be available tonight (Thursday 9 July) from 6pm to midnight. During this time, it means that: fo...

29/06/2026

🚗 **One of the best pieces of advice I can give to anyone learning to drive...**

After more than 25 years of teaching local people to drive, one pattern has become very clear.

If you have access to a suitable family car and someone who is willing to help you practise safely between lessons, I genuinely believe it gives you one of the best opportunities to become a confident driver and achieve driving test standard more quickly.

Around half of my learners now choose to learn in their own family car, and I've seen some excellent results.

Why?

Because you're learning in the very same vehicle you'll be driving after you pass your test.

There's no need to keep swapping between different cars with different clutch bites, gear changes, steering feel, pedals and driving positions. Every hour you spend behind the wheel is building confidence in the same car.

It also means that, with the right supervision, you can reinforce what we've covered during lessons instead of waiting another week before driving again.

That regular practice makes a huge difference.

I've found that learners who combine professional tuition with sensible private practice often:
✅ Build confidence more quickly.
✅ Reach test standard sooner.
✅ Feel more relaxed on test day.
✅ Frequently achieve excellent driving test results with very few driving faults.

Of course, this approach isn't possible for everyone, and my driving school car is always available for learners who need it.

But if you have the opportunity to learn in your own family car, it's certainly worth considering.

After all, the aim isn't simply to pass a driving test...

It's to become a safe, confident and independent driver for life.

🚗 Have you considered learning in your own family car? I'd be interested to hear your thoughts or answer any questions in the comments.