Pass Plus
‘Pass Plus’ is a driving course supported by the Driving Standards Agency (the people who set the standard driving test) which is aimed at new drivers. Statistically, drivers are more likely to have an accident in the first two years after passing the test than at any other time in their driving career.
Pass Plus is taught by regular driving instructors with a view to giving the newly qualified driver insight into safe driving methods which help to make up for their lack of experience.
Pass plus is a six hour course consisting of six 1 hour modules - town driving, all-weather driving, out of town driving and rural roads, night driving, dual carriageways, motorways. You can take the course after you have passed the standard driving test.
The cost depends on your instructor (who must be Pass Plus registered), but they generally charge their normal hourly rate. So, if they charge £25 per hour, the course will be £150. The instructor fills out a chart which you both sign when you have reached the required standard for each module. At the end of the course the instructor sends it off to the DSA and they send you a certificate which you can then use to help get a reduction on your insurance premium. How much that reduction is will vary from company to company - so it's a good idea to check before taking the course so you can balance the cost of the course against your saving on the insurance. Click ‘here’ for a list of participating insurers.
Pass Plus is a good idea, but it has flaws. One is that the six hours assumes everyone learns at the same pace - which is evidently not the case! Instructors are reluctant to tell pupils they haven't made the grade and need more lessons - pupils would get upset at this, believing they are being ripped off.
Also, it's difficult to teach night driving in the summer because lessons would have to be very late, and difficult to teach bad weather driving on a bright sunny day! So some modules are just discussed - again, not satisfactory.
There are some things that are important to learn, though, such as motorway driving which you can't learn with a provisional licence. So it's handy for that - although there's nothing to stop you taking a motorway lesson after you've passed your test, regardless of whether you take Pass Plus or not.
Click ‘here’ to visit the Pass Plus web site.
