Why are we driving in a roundabout?

Before we go into our tips and tricks, which we hope will help you become a good driver even in traffic circles, we thought we'd quickly explain why. The first and foremost reason we drive in roundabouts is to avoid driving through a difficult junction.

Advantages of the circulation area 

It is precisely at these locations that a roundabout is often built instead. What makes it easier when you have a roundabout versus a regular intersection is that the rules for how to drive in a roundabout - not least who has the right to exit first - are always the same. 

In a roundabout, the person coming from the left always has the right to go first, while those coming from the right should wait for you to go through. If it's an intersection instead, the rules can be a bit different - the right of way, the right of way, the stop, and so on. Other benefits of roundabouts, and reasons why we have and drive through them, are reduced speed and smoother traffic flow.

Simple tips - fix the circulation plate drive

So what is the best way to enter, drive through and exit a roundabout? How do you become a good driver in the roundabout? Below we share our absolute top tips, as well as listing the most important things you should be thinking about!

How to drive inside the roundabout

As we mentioned earlier, it is always the person coming from the left in the roundabout who has the right to drive first. Keeping this in mind reduces the risk of causing annoyance, stress or even danger and injury due to wrong decisions. However, before you get that far, you should be aware of how you drive into as well as how you drive inside a traffic circle.

1. Always follow signs or road markings that show which lane or lane you should stay in to get where you're going (even though there's no law about it) - often the left-hand lane is best if you're turning left at a roundabout, and so on
2. Show well in advance where you are going to position yourself before entering that lane
3. Flash left to turn left and right to turn right
4. If you are changing lanes inside the roundabout, always flash your lights in the direction you are going, and then look in the rear-view mirror and kill the angle before changing lanes
5. To avoid risks, do an extra lap or wait for your turn if the lane is not clear

How to drive out of a traffic circle - rules

Once you're in the circulation area and getting out, it's important to get it right there too. It's important to always signal to the right before you turn out, so that both drivers behind and drivers about to enter the roundabout can clearly see where you're going. 

Remember to turn in good time, and to always check - both rear view mirror and blind spot - that the field is clear before you actually turn out. This is especially true if you have to change to the right-hand lane before exiting, for example in a two-lane roundabout or when you are about to enter a roundabout with an exit lane. 

Important: keep your distance!

Last but not least, we would like to advise you of a very important thing to make you a good and safe driver in the traffic circles. And that is to keep your distance. Always keep a good distance from the car in front of you, whatever the road conditions. This will reduce the risk of danger, accident and injury. 

At Jarla Trafikskola, we will train you with the important skills for your driving licence. Book your personalised driving lessons with us today! 

When is it time to change to winter tyres?

According to the Swedish Transport Agency, all vehicles must be equipped with winter tyres between 1 December and 31 March if there are winter road conditions. The Swedish Transport Agency The definition of winter road conditions is that the road is covered with snow, snowmud, frost or ice. It is up to the police to decide whether the road you are driving on is winterized or not.

1 October to 15 April

There are two other dates to watch out for when you have driving licence. You may be allowed to change to studded tyres as early as 1 October and wear them until 15 April. However, this is only if there are winter road conditions where you will be driving the vehicle. If winter conditions prevail on dates other than these, you should change your tyres to studded tyres even then. However, as mentioned above, winter tyres may only be used if winter conditions prevail between 1 December and 31 March.

Things to consider when changing to winter tyres

You can take your car to a garage to change to winter tyres. You can also choose to do it yourself. In this case, you should consider the following: 

• Clean the tyres and rims. 
• Make sure you have good and whole gloves, rims and jacks. 
• To change to winter tyres, loosen the bolts and then lift the car up. Once the car is lifted, remove the current tyres and fit the new ones. 
• Before you put on the new tyres - make sure you clean them to avoid dirt. 
• Once everything is clean, you can fit your winter tyres. Make sure you secure the bolts properly and correctly. 

Dual tyres or friction tyres - which should you choose?

You probably know that both studded and friction tyres can be used as an alternative to winter tyres. The question is which of these two options is best for you and your car. 

Double tyres for severe winter conditions

The advantage of studded tyres is their deep tread depth and studs. These are two features that greatly increase stability. Therefore studded tyres are suitable for extreme winter road conditions. However, studded tyres wear more on the roads and create more noise in traffic. But if you often drive on difficult roads, studded winter tyres are good. 

Friction tyres

The second type of winter tyre is the friction tyre, i.e. the unstudded winter tyre. The special rubber compound in friction tyres creates greater friction against the ground. Friction tyres are good for milder winter road conditions. So if you live in the central or southern part of Sweden, you may want to consider friction tyres.  

Can I drive with summer tyres in winter? 

Winter tyres must be used between 1 December and 31 March if winter road conditions prevail. This applies throughout Sweden. It is then illegal to use winter tyres or studded tyres between 16 April and 30 September if there is no winter road condition. This means that you can drive with summer tyres in winter if there are NO winter conditions. 

All-season tyres - what are they?

All-season tyres are tyres without studs but which can be used in winter. These tyres can be used all year round in addition to winter. However, depending on where in Sweden you live, all-season tyres may be more or less useful. 

Disadvantages

• Sweden does not approve all all-season tyres.
• On extreme winter roads, all-season tyres don't work optimally. 

Benefits

• All-terrain tyres grip well on both dry and wet surfaces. 
• They are uncushioned winter tyres that don't wear on the road. 
• You can wear the tyres all year round. 

How do I best care for my winter tyres?

To avoid having to buy new winter tyres every year, take care of them properly. This checklist makes it easy: 

• Keep your tyres clean and wash them when necessary.
• Check that the air pressure in the tyres is good.
• To avoid wear in one place, you can rotate the tyres.
• Change the wheel settings if necessary.

It's also important to store your tyres properly to make them last. Store winter tyres in a place where the temperature and humidity are good. Label your tyres so you can see which tyre goes where on your car. In addition, always check that the tread depth is good so that you are sure your tyres can cope with another winter season. If you don't have the space to store your tyres yourself, you can hand them in to a tyre storage company. 

At Jarla Trafikskola, we will train you with the important skills for your driving licence. Book your personalised driving lessons with us today!

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Driving in winter

1. Keeping up with your mobile

Previously, there was no law or traffic rule against using a mobile phone while driving, as long as it did not affect your driving. The 1 February 2018 However, a ban and traffic rule against drivers holding their phone in their hand while driving was introduced. Despite this, many people continue to hold the handset in traffic, risking a fine of SEK 1 500. For more information, see Swedish Transport Agency.

2. Too short a distance

Staying too close to the vehicle in front is a direct danger to yourself and other road users. Nevertheless, many drivers do not keep their distance and obey this traffic rule. The rule of thumb is to have at least three seconds between you and the next car from a traffic sign. Let's say you're driving at 110 kilometres an hour - that's nearly 30 metres before you've even got your foot on the brake pedal. On top of that, there's a braking distance of just over 50 metres, assuming the brakes, tyres and road surface are in good condition. Keeping too short a distance from the traffic in front can cost you 2,000 crowns, with the risk of having your driving licence withdrawn.

3. Driving in the middle lane

Vänstra- och mittfilen är till för omkörning, därefter ska du återgå till höger körfält. Det gäller i alla fall på vägar där hastighetsgränsen är över 70 kilometer i timmen. Ligger du och kör konstant i mittfilen riskerar du därför böter på 500 kronor. Undantag gäller vid köbildning eller där hastighetsbegränsningen är 70 kilometer i timmen eller lägre.

4. Unclear driving

As a driver, it is important that you show in good time how you intend to act. For example, it is not allowed to drive at full speed towards an intersection and brake late, or to skip the turn signals when driving on a roundabout. In such cases, you may be liable for "failure to signal" and be fined because you risk creating uncertainty among your fellow road users.

5. Driving towards yellow

Every third driver drive towards yellow when they should have time to brake and only every second driver know when it is actually allowed to drive through a yellow light. By law, you really need to stop at a yellow light as long as there is no danger preventing you from doing so. If you are stopped by the police, this is considered running a red light and carries a fine of SEK 3 000.

6. Forgot to use turn signals

4 out of 10 drivers do not use turn signals, according to a survey by Motormen. Ignoring turn signals can cost you dearly - not only by making you a danger to your fellow road users, but also because it can result in a fine of SEK 500.

7. Too heavy a load

It's important not to load too heavily when you're out driving. Every car has a maximum load and if you exceed it, you could be fined up to SEK 4 000. Very expensive cargo, to say the least!

8. Revving the engine

Few things can be as delightful as hearing the rumbling sound of a nice car engine, but you have to be considerate. Not everyone may appreciate the way your car sounds as much as you do. Chances are you're going there to have "causing unnecessary noise with a motor vehicle" and owe a fine of 1 000 SEK.

9. Failure to let emergency vehicles through

According to Traffic Regulation all road users must leave a clear path for emergency vehicles. This means that you must move out of the way when a blue light comes on. However, remember that general traffic rules still apply!

10. Too low speed

Most people know about being caught speeding, but did you know that you can also be fined for driving too slowly? The law says that you must adjust your driving so that you don't unnecessarily obstruct or disturb other road users. So driving well below the speed limit is a traffic hazard and can cost you 1,000 crowns.

11. Forgot to honk

It may be tempting to toot your horn in certain situations, but tooting when you're not allowed can result in a hefty fine. The same applies even if you don't honk when you should. So not honking can be punishing, for example to avoid a danger or accident on the road, so make sure you know when to honk!

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Feeling like it's time to brush up on your traffic skills and rules? Book your driving lessons with us at Jarla Trafikskola, and we'll help you feel safe in traffic again! 

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What are winter road conditions?

It can be insidious to drive a car in winter when the roads are getting slippery. Slippery winter roads cause many car accidents, often because people find it difficult to cope with the surface in unforeseen circumstances. At the same time, many people take to the roads in the winter for Christmas and holidays to visit loved ones. When it snows, many people are more cautious in their driving because the danger is clear.

Most treacherous, however, is the black ice, also known as patchy ice. It strikes when roads freeze over and is not visible to the naked eye. Nevertheless, many people don't think twice when the first slip hits and carry on driving as normal. If you don't pay extra attention in your driving and keep the same speed through a curve with ice patches, you could end up very badly. A few tips to keep in mind when heading out on winter roads:

• Adapt your speed to the road conditions
• Be patient! Don't rush forward and be considerate of your fellow road users 
• Make sure to keep your distance 
• Avoid hard braking and use small steering wheel movements

Make sure you pay attention to your driving in winter - think of everyone's safety and slow down in traffic! 

How do you detect slipping?

The hail can strike when you least expect it, but there are factors to bear in mind to prepare for winter road conditions:

• The temperature is higher than +4°
• It won't splatter under your car when you drive, even if it looks wet or damp. This is a sign that the water on the road has frozen - so be on your guard!
• The risk of slipping is particularly high at intersections because the snow is often packed hard by skidding cars where the tyres "polish" the snow
• Be aware that shaded parts of the road surface can often be slippery, so-called patchy slipperiness
• There is a particularly high risk of slipping on bridges and viaducts because the cold air cools both from below and from above

The great dangers of winter

Undercooled rain

Is the temperature around 0°C? Then there is a high risk that the rain will freeze immediately when it hits the road, so-called supercooled rain. The road becomes glassy, but since it is not visible, it is a major hazard for road users. 

Snow strings

Tracks often form in the snow where many people ride in the lane. In the grooves, the grip is usually good, but if you go outside, it's easy to lose it. It is therefore best to avoid overtaking in such conditions.

Snörök

Vehicles in front of you can create snow smoke when it's cold and snowing, caused by the tyres tearing up the freshly fallen snow. Make sure you keep an extra distance from the vehicle in front in such situations.

For wide ploughing

If it has snowed a lot, the road markings are hidden under the snow. Instead, you start to rely on ploughing, but this can be insidious. For example, the plough truck may have ploughed some distance off the road and if you drive too far out there is a risk that you will sink into the snow and drive into a ditch. To keep track of the actual width of the road, plough sticks are a good guide!

Equipped for winter driving

It often comes as a surprise when the first slippery patch hits when driving in winter and many people get behind the wheel without thinking that it can be several degrees below zero outside. It's only when an accident occurs and the car no longer starts that you realise how ill-equipped you are to drive in winter. The warmth fades quickly and it may be a while before a tow truck shows up. Remember to always carry:

• Warm clothes & shoes
• Mobile phone (and maybe a powerbank to charge the batteries?)
• Snow shovel
• Bogserlina
• Reflective vest
• Jumper cables
• Ice scraper

Also remember to keep an eye on the weather forecast. Trafikverket often updates with local information to help you plan your route. Always wear a seatbelt and leave your phone untouched if you're at the wheel. Should you feel the slightest bit unsure, consider what other options there are to get to your destination.

Between 1 December and 31 March, the use of winter tyres on winter roads is compulsory. Between 1 October and 15 April you can also use studded tyres. For passenger cars, tyres must have a tread depth of at least 3 mm. 

If the accident occurs

If you witness an accident or are injured yourself, the first thing you should do is warn your fellow road users. Turn on your hazard lights and place a warning triangle about 50-100 metres from where the accident occurred. Make sure you leave the scene - it is not safe to stay by the car or the road. When you are a safe distance from the scene of the accident, you can alert the emergency services and contact a car rescue service. 

At Jarla Trafikskola, we will train you with the important skills for your driving licence. Book your personalised driving lessons with us today!

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Due to current circumstances, there are limited places available for both the driving test and the theory test for those of you planning to take your driving licence. Therefore, it is important that you plan your driving lessons well in advance so that you can take your driving test as efficiently as possible. With months of waiting time, it can

Booking a theory test

For those who wish to take your theory test for your driving licence, the Swedish Transport Administration currently have a waiting period of x months. So make sure you book your theory test well before you feel ready. 

Booking of pick-up

As with the theory test, the Trafikverket has long waiting times for the run-up. Even though you may feel uncertain about taking a test today, it may be wise to be prepared. At the moment, Trafikverket has a waiting period of x months for the driving test. In the meantime, you can take the opportunity to practice driving at home or take more driving lessons of Stockholm's largest traffic school!

To take driving licence is just one of those things we all have to do at some point in our lives. Some
aim to take them as soon as they turn 18, while others wait several years before tackling
the task. Regardless of how you feel about the driving test, it may be a good idea to
try to take it as soon as possible.
However, it's not surprising that quite a few people choose to put off getting their licence for a few years -
because it's a process that requires time, energy and a lot of effort. To
make it easier for you and increase your chances of succeeding with your driving licence, we have put together our
5 best tips for driving!

Our best driving licence tips

So how do you go about getting your driving licence in the best possible way? To increase your chances
of your driving licence dream coming true, there are a lot of things you can do.
Take a look at our top 5 driving licence tips and you'll see that you can pass with flying colours!

Plan ahead

Driving is not something you do in a day or two, it is a process that is both
time-consuming and requires a lot of effort on your part. In other words
that you plan to take the driving test in good time. That is, it may be wise to both book
risk education and risk level, and a couple of driving lessons at a driving school.
The risk test and the risk test are two compulsory tests that you have to pass in order to
your driving licence. If you want to get into driving and get really good guidance based on your knowledge
we recommend that you take driving lessons at a driving school. You can of course practice driving
at home too, but they can really help you. Please book several driving lessons in advance.

Practice driving with someone you trust

That said, it is good to practice driving a lot - the more you practice, the more you learn
and the more confident you become as a driver in traffic. This in turn will increase your chances of
of getting your driving licence. If you don't feel like enrolling in a driving school, it's a good idea to practice driving
at home. Just make sure you practice driving with someone you trust!

Book an intensive course

Another driving licence tip is to book an intensive course. This is especially important if you want to succeed in
your driving licence as soon as possible. If you book an intensive course you get everything you need
to complete all the stages of the process in just 2 or 3 weeks.
You do it all in one, which means it's both quick and smooth. At the same time, it requires extra
a lot of effort and concentration on your part, and you spend a lot of time
it. Taking an intensive course to succeed in getting your driving licence before the end of the summer holidays is a real
good driving licence tip from us!

Study the theory

In order to pass your driving test, you need to have a good theoretical knowledge of
both the vehicle and how to drive it and you as a driver and how to behave in traffic.
You will learn this theory if you choose to take your driving test at a driving school, but you can also
read up on the information at home.
Make sure you study properly at theory and book theory package if you want to increase your chances of success with your
driving licence on your first attempt. We also offer theory support. It is very smart to study the theory at the same time as
practice driving, so you can practice what you learn in the books or online. This way
you can absorb the knowledge in a better way, making you a better driver.

Find out what is required for your driving licence

As we mentioned earlier, there are a lot of different steps and stages to go through
and passed in order to get your driving licence in your hand. In addition to a lot of theory and practical
knowledge, you are also required to do Risk education and risk 2, that you take an eye test, that you
submit a health declaration, and apply for a driving licence.

At Jarla Trafikskola, we will train you with the important skills for your driving licence. Book your personalised driving lessons with us today!

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Gliding along on a motorcycle is a freedom that many people dream of. But how do you go about making the most of your Motorcycle driving licence? If you follow these five step tips to MC driving licence, it will soon not have to be just a dream - but a reality! We'll help you succeed.

1. Take an intensive course

If you have time, it is often most convenient to take a intensive course for MC driving licence. It is the method that gives you the licence by far the fastest - but it requires a lot of time. A MC driving lesson during an intensive course is usually three hours, so it may be a good idea to take the intensive course during your holidays to be able to focus fully and not have to combine it with work. However, this is not a must as the driving times are in the morning or afternoon but it is still a tip for those who want to be able to stay fully focused.

2. Plan and book many lessons in advance

If you don't want to or can't take an intensive course, there are of course other options and tips for a motorcycle driving licence. Common driving lessons are recommended and our tip is to book several of these in advance. Otherwise, it can be easy to forget to book the next lesson and a long time passes between the occasions, which can cause you to lose your knowledge. Planning, planning, planning - this is really important so that things don't get out of hand.

3. Drive privately

Do you have the opportunity to practice driving MC privately? Then do it! The best thing is quantity training and you can get that if you ride privately, as it doesn't cost money and you can ride as much as you want. But keep one thing in mind - always combine it with practice driving at a driving school that can give you professional feedback and strategic exercises. For example, if you do city driving in a lesson at driving school, it's perfect to then practice this privately until your next driving session.

4. Study theory in combination with driving

Many people choose to study for the theory test and then start driving. But it's been shown that those who combine driving with theory learn faster, plus the knowledge sticks better. A tip for the MC driving licence is to study up on some signs and rules and then go out and think about how this works in practice. You will immediately recognise signs and scenarios that you have read about and when you experience this for yourself it will stick more deeply in your memory. This will hopefully help you to pass the theory test more easily - but more importantly to keep you safe on the road when riding your motorcycle.

5. Keep track of the practicalities

There are a number of practical things to think about when you're getting your motorcycle licence. For example, you'll need to take an eye test and fill in and submit a health declaration, apply for a driving licence and more. You must also Risk 1 for MC and Risk 2 for MC in addition to the driving test and theory. Make sure you keep track of all this so you don't miss anything important that delays your plans to get a motorcycle licence.