Pass Plus
How the Pass Plus driving scheme could positively affect insurance quotes for new drivers.
It is a fact that after passing their driving test, 20% of motorists experience an accident in their first year on the road. In an attempt to better equip new drivers for a lifetime of safe and happy motoring, the Driving Standards Authority, together with representatives of the driving school industry and car insurance companies, have developed and introduced the Pass Plus training scheme.
It is recognised that by passing the standard driving test you are deemed capable of executing a car journey by means of a series of controlled manoeuvres in a safe and competent manner, and you can now legally drive a number of specified vehicles without supervision. But it doesn’t automatically mean that you have the experience to cope with all the potential risks and problems that driving on today's busy roads puts in your path. Pass Plus is designed to give you the confidence that increased understanding and awareness of all important driving issues will bring, inevitably making road travel safer and more enjoyable for yourself, your passengers and fellow road users.
On completing the Pass Plus course, you won’t be expected to pass a test, but you will be required to demonstrate an ‘achieved’ standard of competence in each of the six course modules in order to be awarded your Pass Plus certificate. A continuous assessment of your knowledge and ability to cope with a range of driving skills and conditions will be carried out to finally conclude an 'achieved' or 'exceeded' level of competence. This certificate will entitle you to a discount on car insurance premiums from a variety of leading and niche insurers and will prove to be a valuable asset in obtaining the best value-for-money deal when comparing quotes.
Pass Plus must be undertaken within the first year of passing the standard driving test and is therefore only available to new drivers, and even though a vast majority of those people will be classed as 'young', at least as far as car insurance companies are concerned, anyone of any age who is in possession of a Pass Plus certificate of competence will qualify for significant discounts when seeking any level of cover for their car. Quote comparisons could help reduce premiums even further, so there are now a number of ways that new drivers can give themselves the best chance of finding an insurance policy they can afford.
Designed to develop your understanding of specific driving skills and potentially hazardous situations, the Pass Plus course includes six different practical modules...
1 - Driving in Town. This introductory module concentrates on urban roads - observation skills, appreciation and awareness of the speed and closeness of other road users, how to approach and navigate more complex junctions, and showing consideration to all classes of vehicle and public transport.
2 - Driving in Different Weather Conditions. Special attention is paid to selecting the correct speed for any road and weather situation, awareness of changes in the safe stopping distance and ensuring that you are aware of the circumstances around you, and that other road users are aware of you. You will learn about the potential hazards of driving in a wide range of weather conditions - snow, ice, rain and bright, or low, sun.
3 - Rural Driving Skills. Many out-of-town hazards can be a surprise to the urban driver with sharp bends on major roads, slow farm vehicles, mud or animals on the road, and undulating surfaces that can conceal traffic coming in the opposite direction. The emphasis is on observations, awareness of the contours of the road, maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle in front, appropriate use of the horn and safe overtaking.
4 - Driving at Night. How to deal with the problems that may arise from driving in twilight conditions or after dark. Emphasis will be on the correct use of main and dipped headlights to address the dangers of dazzling headlights, parking, judging speed and distance in varying levels of light, and awareness of other road users that may be difficult to see in the dark, like cyclists.
5 - Dual Carriageway Driving. Dealing with the techniques applied to driving safely at speed on roads separated by a central reservation. You will concentrate on observation at speed, use of mirrors and blind-spot checking, anticipation of potential hazards and planning ahead, effective braking distance, lane discipline and safe overtaking.
6 - Driving on Motorways. As motorways are so different to all other roads this is an important module dealing with an aspect of driving that you can’t practice until after you have passed your test. Learn under expert practical tuition how to join and leave the motorway, select safe speeds for different traffic conditions, maintain observations and safe distance all round your vehicle, lane discipline and overtaking. You will also be coached on courtesy and etiquette, road signs and markings, how to recognise and deal with motorway fatigue, and what to do if you break down with the correct use of lights and hazard warning lights.
Many driving instructors have registered to provide the Pass Plus course and the fee will vary dependant on the location and the driving school selected, but the experience gained should help to ensure that your car won't be involved in one of the accidents that happen to 20% of new drivers in their first year of motoring, and give you the opportunity to compare car insurance quotes with the added advantage of a significant discount on successful completion of the course.
For more information visit the Pass Plus website.
