Pass Plus Driving Lessons
Once you have passed your test you are safe to drive on the roads unaccompanied. But you must remember that you are an inexperienced driver. Statistics show that new drivers are around 10 times more likely to be involved in an accident1, and regrettably, two drivers under the age of 25 die every day in crashes in the UK. Roughly 20% of new drivers will be involved in an accident during their first year behind the wheel – that’s why insurance premiums are so high.
What is Pass Plus?
Pass Plus is a scheme designed by the Driving Standards Agency, with the help of the motor insurance and driving instruction industries. The scheme helps new drivers gain valuable experience to help develop existing skills, learn new skills and techniques, improve anticipation and awareness, learn how to reduce the risk of accidents and maintain a courteous and considerate attitude on the road.
Pass Plus course overview
Pass Plus pupils display green ‘P plates’ on their vehicle, and have a series of six modules of at least one hour each. These cover:
- introduction and town driving
- all-weather driving
- out of town driving and rural roads
- night driving
- dual carriageways
- motorway driving
Pass Plus cost 150.00
While you will have covered these topics during your driving lessons the Pass Plus course emphasises a positive approach to driving. The focus is on attitude and skills and gives a different perspective on these topics and will enhance your abilities.
Pass Plus results
As an indication of the effectiveness of the scheme, recent survey carried out for the Driving Standards Agency showed that 93% of people who had taken Pass Plus felt more confident on the road, and 80% considered that their driving skills had improved as a result of taking the course.
Why the course?
Drivers between 17 and 21 make up 10% of all licence holders but are involved in 20% of all injury and accidents. A young male driver is 7 times more likely to be involved in a fatal road accident than a middle aged man. Every year 1000 people die in road accidents involving a young driver. According to research by The Department of Transport the problem is not immaturity, but rather inexperience.
The Pass Plus course was designed to help counteract this problem and give the inexperienced newly qualified driver valuable professional tuition. The incentives are:
- Safer newly qualified drivers. (Older and Younger.)
- Fewer accidents.
- Safer roads.
- Generous insurance discounts, up to 30%.
- Fewer insurance claims.
- A certificate is given to the driver on passing the course which they produce to their insurers who participate in the scheme.
Pass Plus Modules
Town driving
The first module begins with an introduction to PASS PLUS, explaining the course aims and the skills and knowledge to be covered. The second part of the module is a practical session, covering the different features of driving in town, such as complex junctions and public transport. You’ll concentrate on
- Observation, judgement and awareness
- Eye contact
- Consideration for vulnerable road users
- Being cautious but not over cautious, and
- Keeping space around your car
All weather driving
As much of this module as possible should be covered in a practical session. You’ll focus on correct speed, safe stopping distances, plus seeing and being seen in:-
- Rain
- Sleet, snow and ice
- Mist and fog, and
- Bright sunshine
You will also look at skidding
- What causes them
- How to prevent them
- Correcting slow-speed skids
- Braking on poor surfaces, and
- Aquaplaning
Driving out of town
This module taken on country roads, will look at the main differences between town driving and country driving.
- Observing the road ahead
- Making progress safely
- Bends, hills, uneven roads and dead ground
- Keeping a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, and
- Safe overtaking
It focuses especially on being aware and showing consideration for
- Pedestrians, horse riders and animals in the road
- Farm entrances
- Slow moving vehicles
- Appropriate use of the horn, coping with mud and debris on the road and how to use passing places are also covered.
Night driving
This module covers the essential aspects of driving in the dark and also at dawn and dusk. You’ll learn about
- the importance of the correct use of headlights
- adjusting to the dark
judging speed and distance - the correct use of lights and keeping them clean
- dealing with dazzle
road users who can be hard to see, and - parking issues
Driving on dual carriageways
Dual carriageways are high speed, multi-lane roads where the two carriageways are separated by a central reservation. They demand particular skills, including
- Effective observation, using your mirrors and checking blind spots
- Judgement and planning ahead
- The need for a safe separation distance
- Joining and leaving a dual carriageway
- Overtaking and lane discipline, and
- The correct use of speed
Driving on Motorways
This module should be a practical session if at all possible. If there is no motorway nearby, it will have to be covered in theory: you should drive on a motorway as soon as you can afterwards so you can put the theory into practice. The topics covered include :
- Planning journeys in advance
- Joining and leaving a motorway, using slip roads
- Safe speeds in different circumstances
- Effective observation all around your vehicle
- Signs, signals and markings
- Overtaking and lane discipline
- Courtesy to other road users
- Motorway fatigue
- Breakdown procedures
- Use of lights, including hazard warning lights
- Debris on the carriageway
- Crosswinds.