Cowley's School of Motoring - Regional Driving School Of The Year 25 & 26

Cowley's School of Motoring - Regional Driving School Of The Year 25 & 26 Book you driving lessons with Cowley's School of Motoring and you won't look back (except those mirrors)

🚗 Theory Thursday: You’re at a junction, but parked cars block your view. How do you decide it’s safe to go?For this wee...
24/09/2026

🚗 Theory Thursday: You’re at a junction, but parked cars block your view. How do you decide it’s safe to go?

For this week’s question, picture yourself at a give-way junction in Newton Abbot. You’ve looked both ways, but you still can’t see enough of the road.

Should you:

A) Pull out quickly.
B) Edge forward cautiously, keep checking and be ready to stop.
C) Rely on listening for traffic.

Looking again from exactly the same position might not give you any more information. In lessons, I’ll help you understand how to improve your view safely, without feeling you have to rush because someone’s waiting behind.

Answer and explanation in the comments.

🚗 Bends are better when you’re prepared!Ever wondered why your instructor encourages you to get your speed sorted before...
22/09/2026

🚗 Bends are better when you’re prepared!
Ever wondered why your instructor encourages you to get your speed sorted before you enter a bend?

It’s all about stability and grip.

When we brake, steer and accelerate, we’re asking the tyres to do different jobs. If we arrive at a bend too quickly and have to brake heavily while steering, we’re asking much more from the car at the point we need grip for changing direction.

Instead, think:

👀 LOOK – Look well ahead and assess the bend.
🦶 SLOW – Get most of your braking done while the car is relatively straight.
🛞 STEER – Turn smoothly at an appropriate speed.
➡️ GO – As your view opens and it’s safe, progressively accelerate away.

This isn't about a rule that says “never brake on a bend” — sometimes you absolutely need to. It’s about setting the car up before you ask it to change direction.

And when the car is settled, you have more capacity to look, plan, anticipate and make good decisions too.

Next time you're out on a lesson, ask your instructor

Knowing the road doesn’t mean you can see what’s ahead. Low sun can change your view in a moment. ☀️Whether you’re drivi...
22/09/2026

Knowing the road doesn’t mean you can see what’s ahead. Low sun can change your view in a moment. ☀️

Whether you’re driving through Newton Abbot or heading into the Teignbridge villages, give yourself more time when glare makes things difficult to see. Ease off your speed and increase the gap to the car ahead.

I’d always suggest cleaning your windscreen inside and out before setting off. Smears really show up in low sunlight. Keep sunglasses within reach and use your sun visor.

If you’re dazzled, slow down and stop somewhere safe if necessary until your view is clear again. I want you to feel comfortable making that decision, even when the driver behind seems impatient.

Theory Thursday: When should you use your fog lights?Fog can change a familiar drive around Newton Abbot very quickly. B...
17/09/2026

Theory Thursday: When should you use your fog lights?

Fog can change a familiar drive around Newton Abbot very quickly. Being able to see and be seen properly matters.

So, when should you switch your fog lights on?

A) As soon as it starts raining
B) When visibility is seriously reduced
C) Whenever you’re driving at night
D) Any time you’re on an unlit road

It’s not just about knowing which switch to press. You need to recognise when conditions have changed enough to need them — and remember to switch them off again when visibility improves, as they can dazzle other drivers.

I’ll put the answer in the comments.

Night-time driving is something I want learners to feel properly prepared for, not just something they experience after ...
14/09/2026

Night-time driving is something I want learners to feel properly prepared for, not just something they experience after passing.

I always think: if this was my child, what would I want them to know before I put them on the road?

At night, your view changes. Pedestrians, cyclists and animals can be much harder to see, and hazards can seem to appear from nowhere.

Your speed needs to match what you can actually see. Look well ahead and make sure you can stop safely within the distance you know is clear.

And if you see a sign with a yellow background, take notice. It marks a location where someone has been killed or seriously injured.

Slow down. Give yourself time. Get home safely.

12/09/2026

🚙🚙PASS PASS PASS 🚗🚗

Congratulations to Dylan and his instructor Natalia for passing his driving test with only a handful of driving faults. Dylan is looking forward to celebrating his achievement and not worrying about getting a licence as he's going back to Uni in a few weeks!

11/09/2026

🚙🚙PASS PASS PASS 🚗🚗
Congratulations to Sam and his instructor Shaun who passed his driving test this afternoon in Newton Abbot with only two driver faults. Sam is off to university on Monday as a full licence holder.

11/09/2026

🚙🚙FIRST TIME PASS🚗🚗

Congratulations to Oscar and his instructor Shaun who sailed through his driving test this morning in Newton Abbot on his first attempt with just a single driver fault. He’s now looking forward to insuring his car as a full licence holder and the independence this will give him.

🚨 THEORY THURSDAY 🚨Hazard lights have a specific job. They’re there to warn other road users that something unusual is h...
10/09/2026

🚨 THEORY THURSDAY 🚨

Hazard lights have a specific job. They’re there to warn other road users that something unusual is happening.

When should you use your hazard warning lights?

A) Whenever you’re driving slowly
B) When you’re temporarily obstructing traffic or need to warn others of a hazard
C) Whenever you stop on double yellow lines
D) Every time you pull over at the side of the road

When I’m teaching around Newton Abbot and Teignbridge, I want learners to understand why they’re using something, rather than simply remembering a rule for the theory test.

If this was my child heading out on the road, that’s exactly what I’d want them to know.

I’ll pop the answer and explanation in the comments. 👇

As a driver, you want to look at where you want to put the car. Not what you’re trying to avoid. 👀🚗It’s something I work...
08/09/2026

As a driver, you want to look at where you want to put the car. Not what you’re trying to avoid. 👀🚗

It’s something I work on a lot with learners around Newton Abbot.

If your eyes are fixed on the parked car, kerb or obstacle you’re worried about, your hands have a habit of steering you towards it.

Instead, lift your eyes and find the safe space you want the car to travel through. Pick your path and aim for that.

It’s especially useful when nerves kick in. The obstacle can suddenly feel much bigger and closer than it really is, and that’s when you can become tense and start overthinking.

Keep your eyes up, look ahead and focus on where you want the car to go.

Your hands will usually follow your eyes.

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6 Middle Budleigh Meadow
Newton Abbot
TQ121UH

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