Stefano Smith-Currie
A huge congratulations to Stefano Smith who today smashed his test first time with only 3 minors! A great drive saw Stefano walk away with his new licence with only 3 months hard work. Well done again and enjoy the new licence. Remember to stay safe out there.
Stefano Smith-Currie
Clanger of the Week- Broxburn
It's been a while since our last comedy moment so please enjoy our new one.
Clanger of the Week- Broxburn
Dermont O'Commer- South Queensferry
A massive congratulations to Dermont O'Commer from South Queensferry, who today passed his test in Currie with only 1 minor! A brilliant result and very well deserved. Enjoy the new licence and remember to stay safe out there.
Dermont O'Commer- South Queensferry
Summer Driving Tips
You been out with your driving instructors in Edinburgh and you’ve grown in confidence since you first started learning to drive. Your Edinburgh driving school will have done everything in its power to make sure you’re a competent driver, but there are always a few hints and tips that can help make any potential new driving experiences even better.
In today’s post we’re going to be talking about driving, specifically summer driving, and how you can make your journey’s safer, more enjoyable. Planning ahead is key to having a safe journey so read on and find out how to prepare for your driving trips this summer.
Car Fluids
It’s important to check your car’s fluids and make sure the car is well prepared, with water especially, so as to avoid your car breaking down while you’re out on the road. Also consider engine coolant, fuel and windscreen washer.
Tyre Pressure
This is important as it’s a hazard to drive without having tyres that aren’t of adequate pressure. Check them first before leaving the house to avoid a potential breakdown, or perhaps even worse, crashing. Do you have a spare wheel in the boot? You should have, so make sure you get one.
Emergency Kit
Always make sure you have an emergency kit containing a blanket, breakdown triangle, torch, map breakdown cover details, mobile phone, and a high visibility jacket if you have one. This should be enough for an emergency should you have one, before the emergency services or your breakdown service arrive.
Take the Scenic Route
A scenic route during the warm summer months is a must, and it’s always better than going along the motorway and potentially getting stuck in holiday traffic. If you take a scenic route where there’s room to stop along the way, you can get out and stretch your legs occasionally. That way, you can appreciate the scenery that bit more, perhaps stopping off at the occasional village. Always keep an eye out for cheaper fuel stops, this will save you money, especially as a scenic route may be a longer journey than the motorway.
Compass ProDrive – Quality Driving Lessons Edinburgh
Once you’ve been out with your driving instructor in Edinburgh you will have picked up a lot of tips and learnt to drive over a period of time that’s hopefully, turned you into a confident and competent driver. We hope you enjoy your summer driving and if you need any further advice or guidance, or you or someone you know is looking to take driving lessons, then do get in touch with us here at Compass ProDrive.
Charlotte Vo- Westerhailes
Second pass of the day and it's a huge congratulations to Charlotte Vo from Wester Hailes who today passed her test in Currie with only 2 minors! Charlotte has been with us for 3 years now due to the fact that she lives in Norway! Great result and remember to stay safe out there.
Charlotte Vo- Westerhailes
Charlotte Vo- Westerhailes
Second pass of the day and it's a huge congratulations to Charlotte Vo from Wester Hailes who today passed her test in Currie with only 2 minors! Charlotte has been with us for 3 years now due to the fact that she lives in Norway! Great result and remember to stay safe out there.
Charlotte Vo- Westerhailes
Jack Capener- Duddingston
Huge congratulations to Jack Capener of Duddingston who today has passed his driving test in Musselburgh. A very accomplished drive saw Jack walk away with his new licence. Well done again and good luck with the road trip in the USA.
Jack Capener- Duddingston
Ciara Vernon-Currie
Second day in a row we have had first time passes. Huge congratulations to Ciara Vernon from Currie who managed to pass with only 3 minors in Currie today. A brilliantly confident drive saw Ciara walk away with her new licence. Well done again and remember to stay safe out there.
Ciara Vernon-Currie
Scott Marshall-Livingston
He's done it! Congratulations to Scott Marshall from Lovingston who today brilliantly passed his test in Livingston. 2 years of commitment, perseverance and sheer tanacity sees Scott walk away with his new licence. Well done again and remember to stay safe out there.
Scott Marshall-Livingston
How to Fill Up Your Car at the Petrol Station
If you've just passed your test, then you're probably feeling nervous about going out for the first time by yourself. You've probably never had to worry about filling up the car with petrol during your time with your driving instructor in Edinburgh. You've seen relatives and friends fill up with their cars, and you've probably never really thought much about it. However, you're going to have to do it yourself now you've passed your test.
You Learn a Lot as a Student, But Not Filling the Car With Fuel
There are plenty of other things you'll need to learn along the way now you're a new driver, many of which you'll have gone over with your driving instructors in Edinburgh, such as car maintenance and what to do in the event of a breakdown. Filling your car with petrol however, isn't something you'll have had much time to go over, unless you've gone out with relatives or friends, and even then you won't have had to do it with just yourself in the car.
There are a few things you need to keep in mind when you go to fill your car up and in this post, we're going to go through them, so you can fill up your car and make it the most stress free experience possible.
Type of Fuel?
Make sure you know what type of fuel your car uses. It's either petrol or diesel, and if you don't make sure you know this before you fill up, you could damage your car by running the wrong type of fuel. Consult the handbook that came with your car if you're unsure.
Which Side of Your Car is the Fuel Cap On?
When you're about to pull up to the pump make sure you know beforehand which side of the car your fuel cap is, because you could find yourself in the embarrassing position of having to either re-enter, or make several failed attempts at trying to stretch the pump round to your fuel cap.
How Do You Open The Fuel Cap?
If you're unsure as to how to open your fuel cap, then check first, e.g. handbook. It may be either a car key or a lever. If you find this out beforehand, you can avoid keeping drivers behind you waiting while you fumble around trying to find out how to open it.
Do You Know Where Your Nearest Petrol Station is?
Make sure you know where the nearest petrol station is and always keep an eye out for the amount of fuel you have left in your tank. Think about how long its going to be before you reach another one and that you always have enough fuel for journeys.
Filling the Tank
When you get to the petrol station, remember it's just like everybody else does it, pull up at the pump nearest your fuel cap, undo it, take the nozzle and insert it into the cap and pull the lever until you see that the fuel has started to flow. Make sure you keep an eye on the counter and check volume and price, you'll know how much you want to spend, so stop when you reach it. If you're filling the tank then carry on until it's full, whereby the pump will automatically stop.
Pay and Go
It's then simply a case of paying for what you've taken, locking your car and paying for it at the checkout. Sometimes you can pay at the pump with your car, or you may need to go to a checkout stand. All you'll need to do is let the checkout assistant know your pump number and then you can make you payment.
Compass Pro Drive – Edinburgh Driving School
If you're looking for driving lessons in Edinburgh, then choose Compass Pro Drive. It's an easy choice if your looking for driving instructors who will guide you every step of the way and allow you to track your progress.
Rachel Bowden-South Queensferry
Huge congratulations to Rachel Bowden from South Queensferry who today passed her test with flying colours at the first time of asking in Currie! A brilliant drive with absolute minimal minors saw Rachel get her licence well in time for summer. Enjoy the new licence and remember to stay safe out there.
Rachel Bowden- South Queensferry
Kenneth Drummond-Currie
On a beautiful day like today it seems fitting to get another pass in!! Huge congratulations to Kenny Drummond from Currie who today oddly enough passed his test in Currie with a brilliant drive. Only 3 minors saw Kenny walk away with his new licence just in time for the summer. Well done again and remember to stay safe out there
Kenneth Drummond, Currie, Edinburgh
James Heward-Linlithgow
It's a double for Compass ProDrive today! A huge congratulations to James Heward from Liithgow, who today passed his test in Livingston with minimum minors. This is especially good news as James is about to be a new dad this week and the hospital run has been practiced...many times! Fantastic effort and commitment shown to get this done on James's part and thoroughly well deserved. Enjoy the new licence and becoming a dad but above all stay safe out there.
James Heward, Linlithgow, passed in Livingston.
Cameron Watt-Currie
A huge congratulations to Cameron Watt from Currie, who today passed impressively at Currie. Great result for him and remember to stay safe out there. As another bonus this is yet another pass for Laura Jackson who thus far has hit a 100% pass rate since starting. Incredible result for both of you today.
Cameron Watt, Currie, Edinburgh
How to Prepare For Your First Driving Lesson
If you've decided to take up driving lessons with driving instructors in Edinburgh, then perhaps you're about to start your first lesson. Learning to drive for the first time can be daunting, but it needn't be. There's just a few things you can do to make you feel a little less like an alien and more like a calm and stress free candidate, ready to take your first lesson. Today, we're going to be talking about how to prepare yourself for that very first lesson on the road.
Last Minute Nerves - Talk it Through
Your first time can make you feel very nervous, but there are a few things you can do to help make yourself feel calm. Talk to your driving instructor at the driving school and they can help you to understand what to expect on your first time out. If you know what to expect on your first driving lesson, then that will go some way to helping you to feel a little calmer.
Stay Calm, Sleep Well, Eat a Good Breakfast
On the night before your first lesson, it's important to make sure you get enough sleep, so don't drink beforehand because this will disturb your sleep pattern and make you feel pretty rotten the following day. Make sure you have some breakfast, because you don't want to go out driving on an empty stomach.
Make sure you know when you're being picked up by your instructor, don't turn up late because that won't give you a great start to the day. Comfy shoes are best for when you're driving, painfully high heels and you may find that driving is difficult. If you need glasses then wear them, it's not good to start off squinting through the windscreen because you can't see, and of course do remember your provisional license because your instructor will want to see it on your first lesson.
Discuss Your Lesson and Plan Ahead to Future Lessons
After your driving lesson you'll have an opportunity to discuss with your instructor any important points and to go over what you need to work on, and what you'll be doing in your next lesson. You may have already booked some block lessons and they do offer advantages in terms of discount. It's important to make sure you have lessons on a regular basis so you don't forget what you've learnt. You'll need to learn at your own pace and ask relevant questions as and when needed.
You Know You Can Do It
Once your first lesson is over you'll be wondering what it is you were worrying about. Half the battle is getting through the first one, and the rest of your lessons are going to be a doddle in comparison.
Compass Pro Drive – The Home of Great Driving
If you're looking for a good driving instructor in Edinburgh then look no further than Compass Pro Drive because we have experienced and knowledgeable driving instructors here to help you through the hurdle of learning to drive a car. We'll do all we can to make you feel comfortable and help you all the way through to your driving test. We are one of the best Edinburgh driving schools out there, so contact us and let's calm those nerves.
Taylor Coyne - Livingston
A massive congratulations to Taylor Coyne from Livingston who has today passed his test in Livingston with minimal minors. Another great first time pass with Compass saw Taylor produce a very confident drive which the examiner commented on. enjoy the new licence and remember to stay safe out there
Taylor Coyne - Livingston
June Tattersall- Westerhailes, Edinburgh
A massive congratulations to June Tattersall from Westerhailes, Edinburgh, who today passed her test at Currie with minimal minors. An excellent drive sees June walk away with her new licence and finally get to drive her shiny new car. Well done again June and remember to stay safe out there.
June Tattersall- Westerhailes, Edinburgh
Mike Sammels- Craiglockhart, Edinburgh
A massive congratulations to Mike Sammels from Craiglockhart, Edinburgh, who today has passed his driving test in Currie with only 2 minors! A fantastic result especially as he flies to Australia tomorrow to start his new life with Helen Mendel Brilliant drive and thoroughly well deserved after the hard work you put in. All the very best and remember to stay safe out there.
Mike Sammels- Craiglockhart, Edinburgh
Tips For Driving Long Distances
You may have passed your test comfortably and you're now planning a long journey in your car that you've been looking forward to. If it's your first time driving long distance since you've passed your test then you may be a little nervous. Perhaps you're still taking lessons but you've planned a long journey following a successful pass of your driving test.
You will have received lots of great advice from your driving instructors in Edinburgh - Compass ProDrive, but we've put this post together with all the advice we think you'll need to make a long journey with confidence.
Know the Route You're Taking
There are route planners offered by AA and RAC on their own respective websites and from here you can checkout the various routes and check for any traffic works or potential hotspots. If you know you need to be somewhere at a certain time, then make sure you start out early enough so you get there in time. When driving on a long journey, it's important to make sure you take regular breaks. This is especially important if your journey is going to be around 2 hours long or more, so you need to figure this in to your plans.
Preparations
Make sure you check your car is ready. When you were learning to drive with your instructor you would have learnt all about your car during the “Show and Tell” part of your test. Now that you can identify each important part of your car, you'll be able to check that each part is in working order before you travel.
Tyres, Engine, Water and Oil Levels
Check the tyre tread, make sure you know the legal tread depth, if your tyres are worn then they have more chance of aquaplaning in wet weather. Tyre pressure can impact both braking and steering. Check that they are not under-inflated because they'll wear away in the wrong places and cause an accident. Make sure you have a spare tyre and a jack in your boot before starting out. Check your engine for water and oil levels so your engine won't over-heat and cause it fail.
Check windscreen and lights and that they are in full working order before starting out. Your lights must be in full working order to meet the legal requirements.
Avoid Fatigue on Your Journey
Remember that it's important to take regular breaks so as to avoid fatigue whilst driving. Why not try sharing the drive with a friend and that way, by sharing the journey you'll make it a safer one. If possible avoid heavy meals and alcohol the night before.
Compass ProDrive – Edinburgh Driving School
We hope this gave you a real thirst for driving. If you still have further questions regarding driving on long journeys, then you know you can always contact us here and we'll be happy to answer them.
Colin McDougall- Gorgie, Edinburgh
It's with great personal pleasure that I can tell you that Colin McDougall of Gorgie, Edinburgh, today passed his test fitst time of asking with only 1 minor! A brilliant test saw Colin wall away with his new licence that he should have decided to get 15 years ago 😉. Well done again mate, well deserved and remember to stay safe out there. Also a mention to Laura Jackson who contributed to this journey and helped get this brilliant pass today ✋