It may not seem like it, but driving a car is one of the most difficult things we humans have to do. It involves processing a vast amount of information and operating machinery while travelling at speeds we haven’t really evolved to cope with. Learning how to drive is a truly remarkable example of what we can train ourselves to do.
But there’s always more to learn, whether you’re taking your first tentative steps behind the wheel, or you’ve been driving for several decades. You’ll rarely go more than a few hundred miles without encountering a situation you’ve never confronted before, and you may find yourself driving a car with tech that’s new to you.
Whatever the situation, you’re in the right place to find out about it. Here, you’ll find links to every article Parkers has on various aspects of driving. We cover everything from how to pass the UK driving test to advanced driving skills, how to get the best out of your car and how to stay on the right side of the law. If you can’t find what you’re looking for now, check back in soon as we’ll add to this catalogue.
Driving skills
How to pass the UK driving test
Back in 2018, we sent Keith Adams to retake his driving test – several decades after he got his license – to find out if the then-latest changes had made it easier or harder to pass.
Beat the cold: top winter driving advice you need to know
Winter throws up all sorts of driving hazards and challenging situations that you may have never faced before. Our article gives all the advice you need to deal with winter driving situations, starting with how to prepare your car.
What to do – and not do – around emergency vehicles
The sight of flashing blue lights and the sound of sirens can send some drivers into a panic. After all, it’s often not at all clear what to do to get out of an emergency vehicle’s way. Fortunately, there’s very clear official advice which you’ll find in this article along with a few scenarios to illustrate the point.
What is a slip road and how do you use it?
Joining a motorway or dual carriageway can be incredibly nerve-wracking. The slip road is there to help you get up to speed and find a gap in the traffic, but a lot of drivers seem to lack confidence in using them. Our guide explains how you should approach them.
How to drive through flood water: what you need to know
Extremely heavy rainstorms are becoming increasingly common, making it more likely that you’ll come across a flooded road. While it’s never advisable to drive through a flood, sometimes it just can’t be avoided. Our article explains how to do it – and when you really shouldn’t.
Tackling the rough stuff: how to drive off-road
If you have or are thinking about getting an SUV, you may well contemplate the possibility of taking it off-road. Maybe not rough, muddy, rocky green lanes but even a wet grass car park can present significant challenges that necessitate a particular driving technique to overcome. In this article, you’ll find all Parkers advice on how to how avoid getting stuck.
How to test drive your next car
We always recommend test driving any car you’re thinking about buying to find out if you can get comfortable behind the wheel, and if you like how it feels to drive. But a test drive can also tell you a lot about how healthy a used car is. Our guide goes through the procedures for establishing if you like a car and if it’s actually worth buying.
Staying on the right side of the law
A comprehensive guide to mobile phones and driving
The UK has very clear laws about using a mobile phone while driving that boil down to ‘don’t’. But there’s still quite a lot of nuance to the rules and our guide explains them all in detail.
UK speed limits: everything you need to know
It may seem like the UK’s speed limits aren’t particularly rigorously enforced these days, but you do still need to adhere to them and the penalties for exceeding them can be pretty harsh. Our guide explains why we have speed limits and what the legal consequences for breaking them are.
When can I drive after drinking?
It’s surprising how long alcohol take stay in your system, to the extent that you could fail a breathalyser test the best part of a day after you stopped drinking. One of our writers put theory to the test to find exactly how long it took him to sober up after a session in the pub.
Smart motorways: what they are and how to use them
The smart motorway building program may have ended but there are still hundreds of miles of them throughout the UK. And, given the lack of public education there’s been on the subject, you may not be too sure about how to use them. Our guide explains everything you need to know.
We’ve all been in a motorway traffic jam where the different lanes are travelling at different speeds, and the situation may leave you wondering about the legality of undertaking. While, strictly speaking, it is against the UK law in the UK, surely there must be circumstances in which it’s a legitimate move? Our guide explains when you can and can’t undertake.
Driving in Europe – everything you need to know
Tens of thousands of Brits drive in mainland Europe every year, whether in a hire car or their own vehicle. Every European country has its own driving laws, but there are many commonalities across the Continent. Our guide goes through the key points that apply to every country, and some of the specific requirements of the more popular destinations.
UK towing laws: everything you need to know to stay legal
An increasing number of UK motorists are towing with their car, particularly since the government ended the need for many drivers to upgrade their license to do so. But it’s not as simple as hooking up a trailer and getting on with it. There are all sorts of rules and regulations to follow that our guide goes through in detail.
Getting the best out of your car
How to drive for fuel economy and save money on fuel
If you want to cut your fuel bills, you don’t have to get a different, more efficient car. There are all sorts of things you can do with your existing car such as adapting your driving style and optimising the vehicle for economy. Our guide explains all.
The latest cars come with an awful lot of technology that’s intended to make driving safer – much of it is legally required. Our guide explains what all of that tech is, how it’s supposed to help and how effective it might be in practice.
What are your car’s drive modes and how to use them
Pretty much every car available brand new in the UK – and many older ones – have a selection of drive modes to choose from. They change various characteristics of the car to, for instance, improve fuel economy or make it more fun to drive. Our guide explains how they work and when you might use them.
How the headlights on a car can keep you safe in winter
It’s often not clear exactly when you should turn your car’s headlights on, and it’s becoming alarmingly easy to miss that they’re not on when they should be. Our guide explains what conditions should prompt you turn them on, and the easy mistakes that might cause you to not do so.
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