Nicky Crebbin Driving Tuition

15/10/2026

Good advice...

Top tips to deter vehicle theft 🚨 🚔

Vehicle theft is a dreadful crime.

It causes untold misery, stress, and inconvenience to the victims who must then go through insurance companies to arrange replacement vehicles.

We do recover many vehicles that have been reported stolen to North Yorkshire Police or other police forces, and we do bring offenders to justice.

However, it must be recognised that the organised crime groups who are often behind such thefts, have become more sophisticated in breaching security systems on modern vehicles. This includes keyless entry.

Aside from reporting vehicle thefts and suspicious activity straight away on 101 or 999 for crimes in action, it is also of paramount importance for owners to remain vigilant and to take crime prevention measures to keep thieves at bay.

Follow these simple rules to protect your vehicle from thieves ⬇️

1. Lock your vehicle 🔵

Locking your vehicle, even when filling up or parked on your drive, greatly reduces the possibility of it being targeted by an opportunist thief. Even if you have locked your vehicle, check you haven’t left any windows or the sunroof open.

It is actually illegal to leave your vehicle running unattended while you de-ice it or warm it up in cold weather. If someone takes it while it’s left like this, your insurer won’t pay out because you won’t be covered.

If your vehicle has wing mirrors that fold in automatically when locked, make sure you lock it properly. Criminal gangs are looking for vehicles like these where the wing mirrors are still out because it is clear to them that the vehicle has been left unlocked.

2. Keep the keys safe 🔵

Vehicles today are by and large more difficult to steal than ever, unless the thief can access your key or fob to clone them. Keep your keys safe, out of view when at home, and away from your front door. It’s not uncommon for car keys to be stolen from inside your home by thieves fishing for them with a stick and hook through the letterbox.

If you're selling your car and you meet up with a potential buyer, do not allow the keys out of your sight. Your keys may be cloned by thieves and used later to steal your vehicle.

Keyless entry ⬇️

Cars with keyless entry unlock automatically when the key comes within a short distance of the car. This can be from inside a pocket or bag. If you have to push a button on your car key to open your car, you don't have keyless entry.

Keyless car theft or 'relay theft' is when a device is used to fool the car into thinking the key is close by. This unlocks the car and starts the ignition.

Thieves only need to be within a few metres of your car key to capture the signal, even if it’s inside your home. This means that even if your car and home are secure, thieves can still unlock, start and steal your car.

How to protect your keyless entry car...

• When at home keep your car key (and the spare) well away from the car.
• Put the keys in a screened or signal-blocking pouch, such as a Faraday Bag and check if the bag or pouch is still working every few months.
• Reprogramme your keys if you buy a second-hand car.
• Turn off wireless signals on your fob when it's not being used

Additional physical security such as locks and immobilisers are still highly recommended. Section six on this page has more information about this.

3. Be aware of carjackers 🔵

The fact that you’re in the car isn’t always a deterrent to someone trying to steal it.

In traffic, drive with the doors locked and when queuing leave enough space in front of your vehicle to enable you to get out of a tight spot. If your vehicle is bumped from behind, wait to pull over – somewhere safe and preferably where there are people. After all, you don’t know the person who has collided with you; they could well be hijackers. If you’re at all suspicious, consider calling the police.

If someone threatens you, it’s better to hand over the keys to the vehicle than become a victim of assault. Then call 999 as soon as possible, and ask for the police.

If your car is stolen, some modern vehicle alarm and tracker systems have the facility to isolate or shut down fuel systems, bringing the vehicle to a halt and leaving the thief high and dry.

4. Park responsibly 🔵

It’s always advisable to avoid parking in dark and secluded areas. It’s worth an extra five or ten-minute walk if it means your vehicle is left in a well-lit and busier street.

And if possible, always try to park in illuminated and staffed car parks or those with a Park Mark safer parking award. To find one, simply check out Park Mark www.parkmark.co.uk/car-park-finder

5. Watch for illegal tow trucks 🔵

Thieves often attempt to lift vehicles from the street, literally. So, if you see a towaway crew acting suspiciously – especially if their vehicle isn’t branded or if they’re not in uniform – then please report it immediately.

As with every report of suspicious behaviour made in good faith, we’ll never blame anyone for calling us if it proves unfounded.

Car parks with height-restricted entrances help prevent illegal tow trucks and removal vehicles. And fitting a Thatcham rated www.thatchamfitters.co.uk/car/cars-with-factory-fitted-thatcham-security category 1 or 2 alarm system with tracking, immobilisation, anti-grab and movement sensors can help protect and trace your vehicle.

6. Fit good in-car security locks 🔵

Additional physical security can help to prevent your vehicle being driven away even if a thief gains entry. There are a range of security rated products tested by Sold Secure https://www.soldsecure.com/ that can help, such as steering wheel locks, pedal boxes and gear stick locks.

Some of these products, tested to Sold Secure Diamond, can even resist a small hand-held angle grinder.

It's also worth speaking to your vehicle dealership about installing an aftermarket immobiliser approved by the manufacturer.

Immobilisers prevent a vehicle from starting unless the correct fob, key or activation process is used. They can be personalised so that you're the only one who knows how to unset it via a number of dashboard controls.

7. Double-check electronic locking 🔵

Electronic devices can be used to jam the electronic signal from your key fob to lock your vehicle. Always manually check your vehicle has locked before walking away.

If unsure, lock it manually, then scan the immediate area for anyone hanging around. If a potential thief who’s watching feels they’ve been spotted, they’ll probably move off.

8. Before owning, check for cloning 🔵

Changing the identity of a vehicle, known as vehicle cloning, can be as simple as adding stolen number plates. When buying a vehicle, always check the DVLA V5 document and make sure the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the vehicle is the same as on the document.

Make sure you check more than one of the VINs as well as the engine numbers on the vehicle.

Check a used vehicle you’re buying https://www.gov.uk/checks-when-buying-a-used-car .

9. Secure your port 🔵

Many modern vehicles are fitted with engine management diagnostic ports, which can unlock and start your vehicle.

If your vehicle has this type of port, consider fitting a lockable cover.

Useful links ⬇️

For more information about police preferred specification products that help to reduce the chances of vehicle crime please visit:

Secured by Design (SBD) https://www.securedbydesign.com/ 🔵
Sold Secure https://www.soldsecure.com/ 🔵
Thatcham Research https://www.thatcham.org/ 🔵

🚔 Go to the North Yorkshire Police website for more crime prevention information: Preventing car and vehicle theft | Crime Prevention | North Yorkshire Police https://www.northyorkshire.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/keeping-vehicles-safe/preventing-car-vehicle-theft/

14/10/2026

“IT WAS MY RIGHT OF WAY!” 🚗💨🤬

How often have you heard someone say that? Perhaps you’ve even said it yourself.

It’s usually accompanied by a blast of the horn, some colourful language, a few hand gestures or a rather heated exchange through two open car windows.

But here’s something worth thinking about.

The Highway Code doesn’t actually give anyone the ‘right of way’.

Instead, it explains when road users should give way to others. There’s an important difference.

One of the principles I teach my learner drivers is:

Priority can only be GIVEN, not TAKEN.

You might be absolutely correct about who should go first. The road markings, signs and rules might all be on your side.

But that doesn’t mean the other driver has seen you, understood the situation or intends to give way.

And that’s where defensive driving comes in.

Rather than approaching a situation thinking, “It’s my priority, so I’m going”, approach it at a speed that gives you time to assess what’s happening.

Is the other driver slowing down? Have they seen you? Are they actually going to give way?

If the answer isn’t clear, give yourself time and space to deal with it.

We’ve all encountered drivers who fail to give priority when they should. Sometimes it’s impatience, sometimes poor judgement, sometimes a genuine mistake.

But two drivers insisting on going first doesn’t make either of them a better driver.

Quite the opposite.

By pushing ahead simply because you believe you’re entitled to, you can turn a minor inconvenience into a confrontation. You might end up blocking the road, preventing either vehicle from moving, increasing the risk of a collision and raising everyone’s blood pressure.

And frankly, you can end up looking every bit as foolish as the driver who should have given way in the first place.

So what’s the alternative?

Be the grown-up in the room.

Anticipate that other people will occasionally get things wrong. Leave yourself an escape route. Give yourself options. And when necessary, simply let them get on with it.

Being a good driver isn’t about proving you were right. It’s about recognising when someone else might be wrong and making sure it doesn’t become your problem.

That’s what I try to teach my learners. Not just how to follow the rules, but how to think ahead, manage risk and avoid unnecessary conflict.

And there’s a rather satisfying bonus.

You can drive away knowing that you spotted their poor judgement, anticipated what might happen and handled the situation safely.

You might even allow yourself a tiny, slightly smug smile. 😉

After all, you’ve just demonstrated that you were the better driver without needing to prove it to anyone.

So, next time someone fails to give you priority, ask yourself: would you rather be right, or would you rather be safe and the better driver?

And be honest, have you ever found yourself getting a little too protective of ‘your right of way’?

13/10/2026

🚗 Congratulations to Joe on his first time pass this morning in 🤩 Joe summed up the test and said it's just like a normal drive really. Absolutely Joe 👍. Enjoy picking up your new car. Stay safe!

13/10/2026

🚗 If you had to re-take your driving test today, would you pass?

It’s an interesting question, isn’t it?

Some of us have been driving for 10, 20, 30 or even 50 years. Surely all that experience would make passing a driving test a breeze?

Well, perhaps. But here’s something worth considering…

Does 30 years of driving experience mean we’ve spent 30 years improving, or could it mean we’ve spent 30 years repeating the same habits?

Most of us develop little shortcuts over time. Perhaps we don’t check our mirrors quite as thoroughly, follow a little too closely, approach familiar junctions on autopilot or become overconfident because we’ve driven the same roads thousands of times without incident.

And because nothing bad has happened, we assume what we’re doing must be safe.

But there’s a difference between being a driver who hasn’t had a collision and being a driver who actively works to prevent one.

Modern driver training goes well beyond steering, gears and knowing the Highway Code.

It’s about anticipating what others might do, recognising developing hazards, managing risk and leaving ourselves enough time and space when things don’t go to plan.

It’s also about recognising how our attitudes, emotions, distractions and even our confidence influence the decisions we make.

This is particularly relevant when parents help teach their children to drive.

Many parents are excellent drivers and provide invaluable private practice. But driving a car and teaching someone to drive safely are two different skills. We can unintentionally pass on habits we don’t even realise we’ve developed.

And this applies to driving instructors too!

Despite being a qualified instructor, I recently took my RoSPA advanced driving test, achieving Gold. Not because I thought I was a poor driver, but because I believe there’s always more to learn.

Having someone independently assess your driving can reveal things you might never notice yourself.

Good driving isn’t simply about how many years you’ve held a licence. It’s about how you use your experience, how willing you are to question your habits and whether you continue to learn.

So, here’s a question for all you experienced drivers…

🤔 When was the last time you really questioned your own driving habits?

If you want to put yourself to the test, or recheck your skills, give me a call 🚗 No judgement just a keen interest in road safety and helping others stay safe 🫶

07906 88 98 57
[email protected]
www.nickycrebbin.co.uk

11/10/2026

🚗 £45 an hour for driving lessons? Let’s put that into perspective…

When you compare driving lessons with other one-to-one professional services, the cost is actually very similar.

💇‍♀️ Haircut and blow-dry – £45–£60
🎹 Piano lesson – around £40
🏋️ Personal trainer – £45–£75
💆 Massage – £45–£75
🐕 Dog grooming – around £55
🚗 Driving lesson – £45

All these professions involve skill, training, experience and running costs, and deserve to be paid fairly.

But there’s something particularly valuable about learning to drive.

You’re not just paying for an hour of someone’s time. You’re investing in your future.

Driving brings independence, freedom, greater employment opportunities and everyday flexibility. And the skills you learn can benefit you for the rest of your life.

Your lesson fee also covers a fully insured, dual-controlled car, fuel, maintenance and dedicated tuition from a qualified professional.

And unlike most classrooms, ours is a moving classroom, surrounded by traffic, unpredictable hazards and other road users.

Instructors aren’t simply teaching. We’re constantly assessing risks, anticipating danger and making safety-critical decisions while helping inexperienced drivers develop those same skills.

Keeping everyone safe is a responsibility we carry on every lesson.

🚘 And what about the cost of owning a car?

Factor in buying or financing a vehicle, insurance, tax, MOT, servicing, repairs and fuel, and even a modest car can cost several hundred pounds a month.

That’s often comparable to the cost of regular driving lessons.

We accept these ongoing motoring costs, yet sometimes overlook the value of the professional training that prepares us to drive safely.

I fully appreciate that learning to drive is a significant financial commitment, especially for young people and families.

But rather than seeing lessons simply as an expense, perhaps we should recognise them as an investment in independence, opportunity and lifelong road safety.

Because passing your driving test isn’t the end of what you’re paying for. It’s just the beginning of what you get back. 🚗

26/09/2026

🥇 RoSPA Advanced Driving – Gold

Today I passed my RoSPA Advanced Driving Test with a Gold.

You might wonder why, as a driving instructor, I’d take another advanced driving test when I’ve already passed the DVSA advanced driving test required to become an instructor.

For me, it comes down to one thing: I want to be the very best instructor I can be.

RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders training is based on advanced driving principles also used in the training of emergency response drivers 👍 — obviously without the blue lights and sirens 🚨boohoo👎🤣

The course has challenged me to develop my observation, anticipation, planning, positioning and decision-making even further, and to look at everyday driving from a different perspective.

But this isn’t just about another certificate on the wall. It gives me more knowledge, more experience and more tools to bring into my lessons, helping me give my pupils the best possible instruction.

I genuinely believe that, as an instructor, you should never stop learning yourself.

So, yes… I’m absolutely delighted with the Gold. 🥇
But I’m even more excited about putting what I’ve learned into practice. 🚗

25/09/2026

🚗 Car insurance companies — can someone explain this one to me?

I’ve been contacted by an American lady visiting the UK who wants a familiarisation lesson before hiring a car and driving independently around the country.

She’s never driven a right-hand-drive car on the left-hand side of the road before, so she quite reasonably wants to get some experience first.

Sounds like the safest possible approach, right?

Apparently not. 🤷‍♀️

My driving school tuition insurance, won’t cover me to give her this lesson (I just called to check).

Why?

Because she doesn’t hold a UK provisional or full UK driving licence.

That means I can’t provide professional tuition to help her become familiar with UK driving conditions before she gets behind the wheel of a hire car and drives independently. 🤯

Even my insurance broker was surprised by the situation.

I completely understand that insurance needs rules and conditions. But this feels like a strange unintended consequence:

Someone is actively trying to make their driving safer — yet the insurance requirements prevent them from getting professional guidance.

So, I’m calling all insurance experts… and anyone with influence in the industry 👀

Is there a legitimate insurance reason why this type of familiarisation lesson can’t be covered, where is the risk here, or is there another type of policy that would allow it?

I’d genuinely love to understand how this works — particularly from anyone who works in motor insurance or driving instructor insurance.

And if there’s a solution I’ve simply not come across yet, I’m all ears. 👂

Thank you

The Approved Driving Instructors National Joint Council - ADINJC
Driving Instructors Association
Association of British Insurers
Rac Foundation
MSA GB
Tom Gordon MP

24/09/2026

Can you spot what's wrong?

24/09/2026

If you have purchased one of these for your children you could end up with a fine and 6 points on your licence!