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So, you have taken your Driving Theory Test and your
Practical Driving Test and you have passed both. Congratulations!
You are now a fully qualified driver - right?
No! Wrong!
True, you now hold a
full driving licence and you can drive on your own without
supervision but you still have a whole lot more to learn. The fact
is that new drivers are more likely to be involved in an accident
within the first 2 years of passing their tests than at any other time in
their driving careers.
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Why?
It's simply down to
a lack of driving experience - which is where the
"Pass Plus" scheme comes in.
"Pass Plus" is a
training scheme for newly qualified drivers, set up as a joint
initiative between the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), the motor
insurers and the driving instruction industry. The scheme comprises
a course of 6 practical modules (see below) and will take a minimum
of 6 hours to complete. The course can be taken at any time within
the first 12 months after passing your driving test.
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Key Factors
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ATTITUDE
- taking responsibility for your actions & displaying care &
consideration for others
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SKILLS
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Observing
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Assessing
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Making
decisions
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Taking
the right action
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Objectives
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The
Pass Plus scheme has been developed to:
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Improve
your skills in areas where you may have little experience
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Reduce
your risk of being in an accident
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Speed up
the process of gaining good driving experience
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Teach you
positive driving skills
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Added Bonus
Apart from the benefits outlined above, completing the Pass
Plus course successfully can save you money on your motor
insurance premiums! This is quite a consideration,
especially if you are a young driver. Insurance companies
which participate in the Pass Plus scheme offer discounts
and, depending on which company you choose, you may save all
the money you spent on the course, possibly more.
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With the
volume of traffic, driving in town can be a daunting
prospect, especially if you live in a rural area. Learn the
skills which will enable you to cope with rush-hour traffic,
complex road systems, etc.
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In the
Highlands more so than elsewhere in the UK you can expect to
encounter rain, snow, ice, bright sunshine - sometimes all
on the same day! It's important to learn how to drive safely
in all weather.
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Driving on
rural roads requires a completely different set of skills
from town driving. In many parts of the Highlands there are
still single track roads and wildlife such as deer present a
potential serious hazard.
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At night you
must still be able to judge distance and speed and cope with
the dazzle from oncoming vehicles, whilst at the same time
ensuring that the lights on your own vehicle are used
correctly.
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Driving on
dual carriageways
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If you live
in a quiet rural area, you probably won't have had the
opportunity of learning the skills of lane discipline,
observation and concentration necessary to drive safely on a
fast dual carriageway.
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There aren't
any motorways in the north and west Highlands at the moment
but sooner or later you will certainly encounter one in your
motoring career. Once again, an additional set of skills is
required.
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You can see a few simple examples of the types of scenario
with which the Pass Plus course might help you by viewing
the
"Potential Hazards" page.
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Summary
Pass Plus will help to make you a better driver by
building on and expanding the skills you learned during
your basic driver training. It will help to boost your
confidence if you feel nervous about driving
unaccompanied and, by increasing your
awareness of
potential hazards, will reduce the risk of your being
involved in an accident. Car insurance companies
recognise that this is the case and for that very reason
some are willing to offer discounts to those who
successfully complete the Pass Plus course.
The course is based on continuous assessment - there is
no test at the end of it. Upon successful completion you
will be awarded either an "achieved" or "exceeded"
standard.
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