How First-Time Drivers Can Avoid Fines and Penalty Points in the UK

Passing your driving test is a great feeling. You've spent enough time learning the rules, practising with an instructor and getting used to the car. Now you can finally drive on your own. But this is also when you need to start thinking about the mistakes that can get you into trouble on the road. If you have learned with an Automatic driving school southwest London, knowing the basic rules and getting into the right habits early on can make driving on your own much easier.

When you're a new driver, it's easy to make mistakes without meaning to. You might miss a road sign, go a little too fast on an unfamiliar road or park somewhere without noticing a restriction. Things like this happen, especially when you're still getting used to driving without an instructor beside you.

The good news is that you don't have to do anything complicated to avoid most of these problems. Pay attention, know the rules and don't rush.

Once you start driving on your own, a few things are worth keeping in mind.

1. Always Watch Your Speed

It's very easy to lose track of your speed when you're driving by yourself. Maybe the road is empty, or you're keeping up with the cars around you and don't realise how quickly you're going.

Don't assume you know the limit just because you've driven on a similar road before. Look for the signs and check your speedometer, especially when the speed limit changes.

Be extra careful around built-up areas, school areas and roadworks, where you may suddenly find yourself in a lower speed limit.

In Great Britain, the minimum penalty for speeding is normally £100 and 3 penalty points, although the exact penalty can depend on the situation.

A quick glance at your speedometer from time to time is much better than finding out you've been speeding after seeing a camera flash.

2. Keep Your Phone Away

If your phone rings while you're driving, leave it alone. Whatever it is can wait until you're safely parked.

It is illegal to hold and use a phone or similar device while driving. This includes being stopped at traffic lights or sitting in a queue of traffic. The current penalty can be 6 penalty points and a £200 fine.

For a new driver, six points can cause a serious problem. If you receive 6 or more penalty points during the first two years after passing your first driving test, your licence can be revoked.

The easiest way to avoid the temptation is to put your phone somewhere you can't reach it easily before you set off.

3. Don't Ignore Traffic Signs

When you're driving, there's already a lot going on. You're watching other cars, pedestrians, cyclists and the road ahead. Because of that, it's surprisingly easy to miss a sign.

Try to look further ahead instead of only focusing on the car directly in front of you. Keep an eye out for speed limits, traffic lights, warning signs and road markings.

Failing to obey traffic lights, stop signs and certain other traffic directions can result in penalty points.

If you come across a sign you're not familiar with, don't guess what it means. Learn it before you need to deal with it again.

4. Always Wear Your Seat Belt

Putting on your seat belt should be second nature by now.

Get into the habit of doing it as soon as you get into the car, before you start moving. If you have passengers, make sure they are properly restrained too.

Not wearing a seat belt can result in a fixed penalty, so there's really no reason to take the chance.

It's a small thing, but it's one of the easiest rules to follow.

5. Check Your Car Before Driving

You don't need to know how to repair a car to notice when something doesn't look right.

Before setting off, have a quick look at things such as:

• Tyres
• Lights
• Brakes
• Windscreen
• Mirrors
• Number plates

Make sure your windscreen and mirrors are clean enough for you to see properly as well.

Some vehicle defects can lead to penalties. Defective tyres and defective brakes, for example, can result in penalty points.

Taking a minute to check the car before a journey is a much better habit than ignoring a problem and hoping it will be fine.

6. Don't Drive Without the Right Insurance

Just because you have a driving licence doesn't mean you're automatically insured to drive any car.

If you're using your own car, make sure the insurance is valid. If you're borrowing somebody else's car, check that you're actually covered to drive it.

You might think that the insurance held by the owner will cover any damages you might cause while driving, but it is not always true.

If you’re not sure whether you’re covered, check your insurance before you drive. Checking first can save you from a lot of trouble later.

7. Give Yourself More Time

If you're already running late before you even start driving, you're probably going to feel more stressed behind the wheel.

When people are rushing, they tend to make poor decisions. You might drive faster than you should, change lanes without enough time to check properly or become impatient with other drivers.

Try leaving a little earlier. It sounds obvious, but having an extra ten or fifteen minutes can make the whole journey feel different.

There's no need to turn every journey into a race.

8. Don't Copy Bad Driving

You'll probably come across impatient drivers once you start driving regularly.

Someone might sit very close behind you, overtake aggressively or get annoyed because you're driving at the speed limit.

Don't let them get into your head.

You don't have to speed up just because another driver wants to go faster. You also don't need to copy somebody else's risky manoeuvre because they made it look easy.

The Highway Code's safety advice for new drivers recommends not showing off or competing with other drivers, particularly when another driver is behaving badly.

Let them get on with their driving. Concentrate on yours.

9. Take Care With Parking

Parking can get tricky when you have just learned to drive, especially in crowded places where plenty of signs and restrictions are in effect.

Before you get out of your vehicle, take a good look around you. Rather than just assuming you can park where you see another vehicle, always check the signage and markings in the road.

Take note of the restrictions that may apply to you including:

• Yellow lines
• Permit zones
• Loading zones
• Disability spaces
• Bus lanes
• Cleared areas

If you are uncertain about the parking around you, stop to investigate before you walk away from your vehicle.

10. Understand the Rules for New Drivers

There's one rule that every new driver really should know about: the New Drivers Act.

If you get 6 or more penalty points within two years of passing your first driving test, your driving licence will be revoked.

If that happens, you'll need to apply for a new provisional licence and pass both the theory and practical tests again before getting your full licence back.

So don't think that a few penalty points don't matter just because you've only recently passed. During your first two years, they can have a much bigger effect on you.

Final Thoughts

Nobody expects a new driver to know everything straight away. You're going to come across roads and situations that you didn't see during your lessons. That's part of becoming a more experienced driver.

What matters is not making avoidable mistakes. Keep an eye on your speed, put your phone away, follow the signs, wear your seat belt and make sure you're properly insured.

And if another driver is impatient behind you, don't let them pressure you into doing something you're not comfortable with.

Take your time, drive sensibly and stick to the rules. The more you drive, the more natural everything will start to feel.

For a new driver, good habits are one of the best ways to avoid fines, penalty points and unnecessary problems on the road.

Note: This article is general information for drivers in the UK. Road rules and penalties can differ between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, so drivers should check the relevant official guidance for their location.