You’ve passed your driving test - now you can drive on your own at last. But it doesn’t stop there; this is just the end of the beginning.Getting your own car will give you the independence you need. For a new driver, the cost of insurance can be sky high.
Statistics show that new drivers are more likely to have an accident in the first two years of passing their test than at any other time in their driving career. Age doesn’t matter – it’s basically down to a lack of driving experience.
That’s where PASS PLUS comes in! Pass plus offers you the oppurtunity to gain more driving experience with the help of an instructor. An increasing number of insurance companies are prepared to offer discounts to new drivers who have completed the course. There is no test at the end of the course.
The six module syllabus involves:
1. 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
2.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
3.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.
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
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