Drive Time Kendal

11/10/2026

Pass Plus training - special offer....

Westmorland and Furness Council is promoting an enhanced Pass Plus scheme aimed at developing young drivers' skills and confidence, while helping to reduce casualties on our roads.
Pass Plus is a practical training course delivered by an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) after you have passed your driving test. The course includes at least six hours of additional training and covers a range of driving situations, including rural roads, night-time driving, poor weather and higher-speed routes.
It can help young drivers build confidence, gain experience in unfamiliar driving conditions, improve hazard awareness and decision-making and develop safer driving habits. There is no test at the end of the course.
To encourage more young drivers to take part, the council is now offering £150 towards the cost of the training. The scheme forms part of the Council's wider road safety work to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads.
Go to our website to find out more.

06/08/2026

Whilst carrying out proactive patrols in Kendal today, PC 2869 and PC 3463 spotted a white van where the passenger wasn't wearing a seatbelt.

Simple traffic stop... or so we thought. 👀

After stopping the vehicle, the driver quickly got out and appeared rather keen to keep officers away from the van. Unfortunately for him, that only made us more curious! 🤔

Checks revealed the passenger was the registered keeper of the van and currently disqualified from driving. A search under Section 23 Misuse of Drugs Act uncovered cannabis in the passenger's possession, which perhaps explained why the driver was so eager to distract us.

The driver was then subjected to a roadside drugs wipe, which he failed. He was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and has since been released under investigation pending the outcome of further enquiries. The passenger was dealt with for possession of cannabis.

📱 Seatbelt offence. 🌿 Cannabis possession. 🚗 Drug driving arrest.

All from what started as someone not wearing a seatbelt.

One less suspected drug driver on our roads today. 👍

Our officers will continue carrying out proactive patrols, targeting those who put themselves and others at risk.

💙 Thank you to everyone who drives safely and helps make our roads a safer place for everyone.

15/04/2026

Spring may mean warmer temperatures, but it can bring rainy spells too. ☔

When roads are wet, stopping distances will be at least double those required for stopping on dry roads, so it’s important you know how to drive in these conditions.

Next time you're driving in wet weather, remember to:

🚗 keep well back from the vehicle in front
⚠️ if the steering becomes unresponsive, ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually
🛢️ watch out for any spilt diesel as this will make surfaces very slippery
🚲 take extra care around pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders

For more information, read rule 227 of The Highway Code: https://ow.ly/zO7650YI7Bz

15/04/2026

95 years of The Highway Code.
When did you last read yours?

30/03/2026

📢 Remember that from tomorrow (31 March), you will only be able to make 2 changes to a car driving test booking.

A change counts as:
✅ changing the date or time
✅ changing the test centre
✅ swapping your appointment with another learner who has a test booked

If you need to make more changes after you have used your 2 changes, you will need to cancel your test and book a new one.

For more information, visit: https://ow.ly/5Fmg50YytXK

23/03/2026

Changes to the booking system are a coming!

Do you have these dates in your diary? 📅

The rules for booking and managing car driving tests are changing.

If you've got a test booked, or you're planning to book one soon, here are the key dates you need to know:

✅ 31 March 2026 – only 2 changes can be made to a booking
✅ 12 May 2026 – only learners are allowed to book a test and make changes
✅ 9 June 2026 – learners can move their booked test only to nearby centres

Find out more about these changes 👇
https://ow.ly/6uq950YvpjK

03/02/2026

The rules are a changing..........!

📢 The rules for booking a practical car driving test are changing.

From 31 March 2026, learner drivers and approved driving instructors (ADIs) will only be able to change a driving test booking up to 2 times.

A change includes:
- changing the date or time
- changing the test centre
- swapping an appointment with another learner

If you’re an ADI, please make sure your pupils only book their test when they’re ready as swapping between pupils will count towards this limit. You can set times when you're available to take your pupils to their driving tests. This stops your pupils from booking tests at times that do not work for you.

👉 When this comes into force, everyone with a driving test booked will have 2 changes available, regardless of how many changes they may have already made.

This change is part of the outcome of our consultation to improve the way driving tests are booked.

For more information, visit: https://ow.ly/oqOW50Y849H

02/02/2026

New contact centre opening hours at the DVSA.

28/01/2026

Driving in wet weather?

In wet weather, stopping distances will be at least double that required for stopping on dry roads. This is because your tyres have less grip on the road.

In wet weather:

- You should keep well back from the vehicle in front. This will increase your ability to see and plan ahead.

- If the steering becomes unresponsive, it could mean water is affecting your vehicle's grip on the road.

- Ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually.

- The rain and spray from vehicles may make it difficult to see and be seen.

- Be aware of the dangers of spilt diesel that will make the surface very slippery.

- Take extra care around pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders.

07/01/2026

⚠️ Remember to take more care when driving in snowy or icy weather, even if the roads have been treated.

🚗 As stopping distances can be 10 times greater in these conditions than when on dry roads, keep well back from the road user in front of you and be prepared for road conditions to change as you travel.

📅 If your driving test booking is affected by the weather, we will contact you directly. If you do not hear anything from us, you should turn up to your driving test as normal, providing it's safe for you to travel.

👉 If you can’t get to your driving test centre due to the conditions, please contact your test centre using the phone number provided on your booking confirmation email.