Woohoo, we are back! Soto and I are looking forward to getting stuck into the podcast show and interviewing lots of people over the next few months.

We are back with more news, gossip, and just daftness! It has been a long hard year for all driving instructors and of course, not forgetting all learner drivers! 

Covid is starting to be a thing of the past... we hope! We are all back at work, consoling students who can't get a test date, and celebrating with the students who have been waiting months and months.

With the launch of the new podcast show - we thought we would follow suit and see if we can book a driving lesson within the next two months! As reported by the BBC - one student couldn't get a booking before November this year, and that was after trying to call 50 driving instructors with no luck! 

See how we get on during the show trying to book a lesson in 2 months! 

We do our first Tik Tok live - be patient with us, it was our first one. With the recent updates from the DVSA we address the impending actions of the DVSA and discuss their actions - are they doing enough? 

How can you get a test date? Check-in with us to see how you can get a test date? Do the apps really work? Let's find out. 

We hope you enjoy the show - until next time! 

Take care! 

Welcome to this week's podcast show! In this week's show, we discuss your learner driver questions and delve into driving without a licence, passing your test and failing within 5 minutes of each other. 

In this podcast show: Can I have a black box at the age of 26? Have a listen and see if we can help answer your questions, is the black box available for over 25's and should it be?

Should I use P Plates once I pass my driving test? Listen to our debate for the pros and cons of P Plates - get the lowdown and wait for our real-life experiment! Do new drivers really get bullied when using P plates? 

Can I take a pet with me on the test? We will let you listen to the show to make your own conclusions! 

Can I drive without passing my driving test? 

One pupil this week introduced Becky to the world of the Aixam car. Get the lowdown on how to drive without passing your driving test! 

We hope you enjoy the show - until next time! 

Welcome to another edition of the Swan & Soto Show - your favourite learner driver podcast show. Every week we discuss new and exciting topics to help you pass your driving test. 

In this episode, we answer your burning questions on whether you are allowed to cross your hands on your driving test if you are allowed to let people out of junctions and what happens if you get a flat tyre on your driving test. 

There are a lot of myths around crossing arms and we discuss the real truths behind these myths. Listen to our show to understand why crossing your arms isn't a fail on a driving test but why we still discourage it. 

We also discuss why being kind behind the wheel may help you fail your driving test! Why flashing others is frowned upon and what to do if someone else is being kind and lets you go! 

Do you fail your driving test if your tyre blows when out on a drive? Listen to this episode to discover what happens and why it may be important to have some taxi money with you - just in case...or at least your bus fare home!

W also delve into the 'school of mum and dad' and how to assess which parent would be best to teach you with lots of tips and tricks to make the most out of private practice. The DVSA state a learner should have approximately 20 hours of private practice and with the current pandemic, we give you our best tips to help you with your training. 

Enjoy our podcast show - coming up in future episodes we discuss how you can drive a car on your own without a driving licence and discuss everything about intensive driving courses. Be sure to tune into our future shows and remember you can find us on Tik Tok where you will find even more tips to help you pass your driving test.

In this episode, we answer some of your questions to help you pass your driving test on the first go. In this episode, you will have stories and answers to some of the most common questions asked by learner drivers. These are:

Will I be using the examiner's car fo my driving test?

Can I learn to drive in flip flops?

Can I fail my test for the show me tell me questions?

Listen to Swan and Soto discuss their experiences, share their stories and give answers to some of your questions. Learning to drive is a very hard thing to do. Getting ahead with your training is paramount for your success when it comes to being able to pass your driving test.

Our 'pass your driving test' podcast series will help you prepare for the big day and help answers some of your burning questions. 

Also in this episode. What to expect with the new coronavirus changes to the driving test, and why steamed glasses is NOT a reason not to wear a face mask. 

Why nailing the observations on your reverse park is a super important and how to know when not to be perfect on your exam. 

During this episode, we also give information on our new tik tok adventure so get ahead and online and follow us! We hope you enjoy this podcast show. 

Welcome to another edition of our learner driver podcast show. As promised we like to keep things topical and educate you on current trends and new advances in this sector. 

In this episode, we will be talking with Rob Cooling a driving instructor from Nottingham who is an avid electric vehicle owner and teaches his learner drivers in an electric vehicle. 

Rob gives us a really good insight into what it means to own a new electric vehicle and the savings that come with electric vehicles. 

Based in Nottingham - he delves into how the infrastructure of charging an electric vehicle can be overcome for people that aren't able to have home charging points. How to plan your trips and he discusses the advancement in technology. 10 years ago, a 100-mile trip would need an hour charging time and nowadays, this is now done in 10 minutes or less. 

He discusses advancement in technology with the installation of lampost charging for people without home charging capabilities. He also references the savings he makes on purchasing a new electric vehicle and how he off-sets this against the cost of the car. He explains his road map to ownership and his ability to own his car for a lot longer than he would normally do with a fossil fuel car. 

Rob continues to inform us of the depreciation value of an old electric vehicle - losing 50% of its value in the first year. When electric vehicles first come out fear-mongering lead to the depreciation value the second-hand car price. Over time this has balanced out and nowadays a second-hand EV car can actually sell for more than a brand new one. 

Rob continues to explain that the rise in sales of electric vehicles is at a whopping 300% and this is not slowing down anytime soon. Waiting lists for EV vehicles are really high - he is on an 8-month waiting list for his new electric vehicle purchase. However, if you wanted to pay more for a car than you do have the option of buying now. 

An app that can help where the charging network is and how you can plan where you are going to stop and have a back-up plan at service breaks, especially if you go on a long journey. 

Rob continues to explain the Government's investment into EV charging and with private companies and the fast expansion of EV charging points. 

All of the cars are automatic and the gearbox is redundant. All the new tech bypasses this problem so gears are no longer needed. All-electric vehicles do have a gear - but there is no clutch. The manual car will not survive the next decade and the manual car production will seize in the next 5 years. 

During this episode, we also discuss the changes to the driving test due to the current pandemic and what the learner driver can face as a consequence. These include: 

1. Not allowed in the test centres
2. No instructor allowed on a driving test 
3. The compulsory wearing of a face mask 
4. The test centre toilets are closed
5. No small talk on driving tests 
6. Track and trace compliance 
7. Windows during the test where possible 
8. The ending of the test once a serious fault has been committed. 

We hope you enjoy this episode and please leave a review to help us bring this content to you in the future. 

Swan and Soto x

Thank you for joining us for another episode of the learner driver podcast show - with Swan and Soto! In this episode we will be discussing the following: 

1. Regional lockdowns 
2. The closure of local test centres 
3. The sad news that a fellow ADI took their own life
4. Discussing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic
5. How we want to get back to work 
6. Different learning styles of learner drivers

We have a chat about life in lockdown and the mental and emotional impact it has on everyone, driving instructors and of course learner drivers. 

We discuss the impending release of our online course of 'pass your driving test' the first time! And we get to grips with the impending rush back to work! 

Please leave a review and watch out for our next episode with Swan & Soto! 

Thank you for joining us on our weekly podcast show. Today we are chatting about coronavirus, driving lessons and returning back to work! 

Socially distanced podcast recording - 60 miles apart, don't you just love technology! 

Listen to us whinging about the lockdown, teaching keyworkers and putting on lots of weight. 

We discuss what groups are keyworkers which are: 

1. Childcare workers 
2. NHS staff
3. The local and national government 
4. Utilities
5. Telecommunications 
6. Supermarkets - food and other necessary goods
7. Supply chains - food and technology 
8. Public safety and public security 
9. Banking and financial 

We discuss the cancellations of driving tests in June and try to fathom what the DVSA will do with regards to driving lessons prior to testing. 

We discuss the communications with the DVSA, cancellations of driving instructor's franchise and lease finances with car services and products. 

We discuss how the fuel is at its lowest and give you guidance on how to cancel your driving test. 

We discuss the impending test waiting times and try to predict how long the waiting times will be. Summer students will get priority if they have a current test appointment. 

We discuss how pupil's theory certificate expires and won't be able to get an extension on their driving licence. We debate how unfair it is, but the DVSA won't extend the theory test but will extend MOT's on cars. 

We chat about what we have done to keep ourselves busy during the lockdown - rivetting instructor stuff! 

We discuss private lessons with mum and dad and how to keep calm and to privately record the comments of mum and dad when out learning! We want their pearls of wisdom! 

We chat about how to apply for a keyworker test and whether you can have driving lessons prior to having a driving test booked. 

What kind of learner insurance can a learner get and what type of insurance is needed and what your options are! 

We discuss whether parents will allow their pupils to go to school - and what our thoughts are! 

We discuss the positives of the pandemic and what people will start being appreciative of! 

We are hopeful to be back at work in July - we will keep you posted. 

We hope you enjoy this show - please leave a like and a comment and look forward to our next show!

Hi and welcome to our learner driver podcast show - we thank you for listening and hope you enjoy the show. 

We discuss our website and how learner drivers can get hold of news, information, fun and lots of interviews from professionals and of course learner drivers. Please let us know what you would like us to chat about - give us an email at [email protected]. 

Also in this episode, we discuss the 39 million drivers in the UK and whether we have had our heyday! How many more learners can learn!

In this episode, we discuss road rage and how learners are affected during their driving lessons. We share our stories and discuss our insights into life on the road.

We discuss what not to block when driving and of course learning to drive. 

In today's podcast, we interview a lovely driving instructor called Rebecca Radbourne. She shares her stories and why she started an online campaign. 

Our interview: Rebecca (Norwich) on a driving lesson and was about to do his driving test and was going through some traffic lights when a car decided to drive straight through a red traffic light. The situation was scary and the driver of the car was prosecuted. 

The driver would have got a fixed penalty fine or an awareness course. Rebecca discusses how you should keep any footage for the police and wait to share on social media. 

Driving instructors are not covered under the zero-tolerance law and how other industries are covered. Rebecca wants to bring this into the eyes of the government and bring our industry into line with other sectors. 

The no abuse stickers for driving instructors can get stickers on the group please visit our website. 

We discuss how the volume of traffic has increased over the years and why this has increased and whether this is why there is an increase in road rage! 

We also discuss car parks where you are not allowed to practice the bay park and share our stories of what happens on the driving lessons. 

Share the stories of your road rage incidents on driving lessons. 

Stories of other driving instructors on driving lessons. 

Please like, and share this podcast and leave a review on our itunes podcast show! 

Until next week 

Swan & Soto! x

In this episode, we discuss car accidents before driving tests and cancelled tests due to fog! Winter barbecues and snow in the UK! And the big 'divorce' Brexit!

Introduction

We chat about our delayed Brexit special episode - due to the delayed Brexit - thanks, Boris! 

We discuss the changes to the driving licence in the UK and point you in the right direction! 

What type of licence you'll need when travelling abroad! Every country has their own legislations - so you'll need to check your licence when you drive abroad - now that the FREE movement is being banned. 

You'll need to check your driving insurance also! Make sure that you have the right IDP (international driver's permit) for that country. You'll also need to check that you have the correct duration for your trip as they vary in length. 

You may need 3 different permits if you are travelling to different countries! At the moment international drivers have 12 months to drive in the UK under the current laws. 

Visit our website: SWAN AND SOTO for articles and links to content! 

There will be changes in Ireland. IDP 1949 after 12 months of being in the country. 

Soto discusses his licence and asks whether I still have mine - no, Soto I do not! Introduction to our episode. 

Brexit Special 

If you currently have a UK licence but currently live in an EU country you can't expect to use an IDP for living in that country. You should aim to exchange your UK licence for a local one where this applies. 

One thing for sure - it is very confusing, so you'll need to make sure you have researched yet! We do NOT know yet what the deals are - so please keep checking the details of your local country. 

Learning to drive in Europe

Black market driving licences abroad - to be careful.

Who has the safest roads in the world?

Per billion miles driven - Sweden has the safest roads in the World - and the UK comes second to Sweden. 

Per million inhabitants in Europe - Norway has the safest roads. UK comes 4! 

Learning to drive in France 

The driving schools are controlled by the government! They can't control their own prices. The government sets the prices and conditions of the school. To learn to drive in France you need to apply to the school in question and become a member of the driving school. They have a compulsory 20 hours of training signed off - by the driving instructor. As it's not commercial (AKA like the UK) there are no bending the rules. Driving instructors tend to be more well-off in France. 

They also state 40 hours is needed to pass the driving test. But not everyone can afford 40 hours, or they live in a remote part of France and can't travel to their local driving school. To help the youngsters - the government introduced a lesson loan system. The pupil pays 1 euro a lesson to have a lesson which helps people in rural communities get licensed and therefore get on the road to find jobs and pay taxes. Another scheme they have to help is to allow the pupil to have private practice with mum and dad! Parent's have to have training with the driving instructor before being allowed out with learner drivers. 

Would this work in the UK?

Learning to Drive in Europe

There are lots of different rules across Europe. With some countries having a minimum hour of training in the classroom. 

In Germany you need to have 12 compulsory 'special lessons':

1. 3 hours of night driving
2. 5 hours of country lanes 
3. 4 hours on the autobahn

Private practice is banned in Germany. You need to have driving lessons with a driving instructor.

In Spain, the driving test is a 'group' driving test. The examiner will go out with 2-3 pupils and all take turns to drive for approx 20 mins each. 

In Sweden, you can ONLY do private practice with someone over the age of 24 who has 5 years of driving experience, unlike the UK which is 21 years old and 3 years minimum driving. 

In Norway, it recommends getting a UK licence as their licence is one of the hardest to get in the world! (blog) 

We also have one of our prank calls with the lovely Barbara! 

We hope you enjoy this prank call with Barbara! 

Until next time x