Discussion
Quite a few posters have been revealing that they've taken the Pass Plus scheme, anyone here like to comment on what they thought:
Of the scheme,
The cost (any subsidy - and who payed, you or mum
),
and What effect you think it had on your overall driving skill?
Sorry for the questions but just trying to gauge some public reaction. Any other comments welcome.
To give you an idea of why i'm interested - a lot of kids in my city can't take it, as they can barely afford car/insurance/tax, especially in the less well off areas, so I was wondering if we could fully susidise it - but only if it really has an effect.
Of the scheme,
The cost (any subsidy - and who payed, you or mum
), and What effect you think it had on your overall driving skill?
Sorry for the questions but just trying to gauge some public reaction. Any other comments welcome.
To give you an idea of why i'm interested - a lot of kids in my city can't take it, as they can barely afford car/insurance/tax, especially in the less well off areas, so I was wondering if we could fully susidise it - but only if it really has an effect.
Why not contact your local ROSPA/IAM group. These courses cost peanuts are they are done by volunteers. Many insurers now take into account an IAM Pass as well as Pass Plus.
Perhaps if the kids were willing to do the course you could subsidise their fees by 50% say. It'd cost you £45 per kid.
How many you could do would depend on the number of volunteers available and how willing they were to take the youngsters on...
Just a suggestion.
Perhaps if the kids were willing to do the course you could subsidise their fees by 50% say. It'd cost you £45 per kid.
How many you could do would depend on the number of volunteers available and how willing they were to take the youngsters on...
Just a suggestion.
I've done it.
Passed my test at 17 in the summer and couldn't afford to get a car until the December when I turned 18 so I took Pass Plus in between.
6 1 hr lessons that taught me a lot. I benefitted from the night driving and country lanes. Also at the end of day its 6 hours additional driving with an instructor that takes you to that next stage.
**You also get taught to use the left hand lane on the motorway and use the other two lanes for overtaking**
I've also completed an 8hr advanced driving course with RideDrive - Which I don't think would have been any use to me straight after my test as I needed to get some experience under my belt.
Not sure exactly what you want to know about it but feel free to ask, on or off line and i'll try and answer any of your questions.
Passed my test at 17 in the summer and couldn't afford to get a car until the December when I turned 18 so I took Pass Plus in between.
6 1 hr lessons that taught me a lot. I benefitted from the night driving and country lanes. Also at the end of day its 6 hours additional driving with an instructor that takes you to that next stage.
**You also get taught to use the left hand lane on the motorway and use the other two lanes for overtaking**
I've also completed an 8hr advanced driving course with RideDrive - Which I don't think would have been any use to me straight after my test as I needed to get some experience under my belt.
Not sure exactly what you want to know about it but feel free to ask, on or off line and i'll try and answer any of your questions.
Icamm is right, it shaved enough off my insurance to be worth taking. Plus the effect on my driving was well worth the cost on its own.
I took 3 2 hour lessons rather than 6 1 hour sessions, covering (IIRC) night driving, motorways, country lanes and town/city driving.
I've been very lucky in that my father (ROSPA Gold certificate motorcyclist, IAM member) has lent me much of his experience. Taking me out on ice just after I passed taught me the skid control techniques that probably saved my life a few months later when I lost control going too quickly through a wet corner.
Pass Plus doesnt cover anything that extreme but it's an excellent place to start to learn about hazard perception, speed awareness and driving in varied conditions. The country lanes part I found particularly helpful, and the motorway lesson is pretty essential too!
I took 3 2 hour lessons rather than 6 1 hour sessions, covering (IIRC) night driving, motorways, country lanes and town/city driving.
I've been very lucky in that my father (ROSPA Gold certificate motorcyclist, IAM member) has lent me much of his experience. Taking me out on ice just after I passed taught me the skid control techniques that probably saved my life a few months later when I lost control going too quickly through a wet corner.
Pass Plus doesnt cover anything that extreme but it's an excellent place to start to learn about hazard perception, speed awareness and driving in varied conditions. The country lanes part I found particularly helpful, and the motorway lesson is pretty essential too!
Im sorry but if they can afford to run and insure a car they can afford £100 for some extra training.
I took it so I could learn more about driving, as it happens my insurers dont recognise it.
People should not do driver training to save them money, they should do it because they want to become a better driver.
I took it so I could learn more about driving, as it happens my insurers dont recognise it.
People should not do driver training to save them money, they should do it because they want to become a better driver.
pwig said:
Im sorry but if they can afford to run and insure a car they can afford £100 for some extra training.
I took it so I could learn more about driving, as it happens my insurers dont recognise it.
People should not do driver training to save them money, they should do it because they want to become a better driver.
I agree but if you can get them to think about it in the first place it's a start.
How many 17yo really think about anything other than the fact that they have now passed their test and are "driving gods"?
So the lure of saving money might be enough to start them on the road to better driving.
>> Edited by icamm on Thursday 19th February 17:34
I took pass plus almost as soon as I passed my test. My instructor was a family friend, so I got it cheap 
Taught me a lot about driving in the real world, as opposed to driving to pass your test. Motorway lesson was particularly useful.
Did nothing for my insurance. Very few insurers recognised it, and those that did were still way to expensive, even after the discount.
Taught me a lot about driving in the real world, as opposed to driving to pass your test. Motorway lesson was particularly useful.
Did nothing for my insurance. Very few insurers recognised it, and those that did were still way to expensive, even after the discount.
icamm said:
Im sorry but if they can afford to run and insure a car they can afford £100 for some extra training.
I took it so I could learn more about driving, as it happens my insurers dont recognise it.
People should not do driver training to save them money, they should do it because they want to become a better driver.
I agree but if you can get them to think about it in the first place it's a start.
How many 17yo really think about anything other than the fact that they have now passed their test and are "driving gods"?
So the lure of saving money might be enough to start them on the road to better driving.
>> Edited by icamm on Thursday 19th February 17:34
Agreed
Of course saving a few bob is a good incentive! You take other exams and further education to enhance prospects and earning potential!
As said - have German licence (not easy to get - and was darmed expensive even back then!) But family "hot" on driving standards, safety and saving dosh - so we were all encouraged to take further lessons and training!
Of the cousins' kids - the 20 year old has German licence, UK IAM and is training up for RoSPA test. The 19 year old did Pass Plus, and has just passed his IAM and the 17 year old is doing Pass Plus! This has all had very positive effect on insurance premiums, (though the gang had to shop around a bit, and the young 17 year old is still expensive - but hopefully will become less so - once he has the Pass Plus and then IAM!) and much more for general peace of mind amongst the parents!
Would encourage all new drivers to give this a very serious consideration! In fact would encourage all drivers to look at IAM training as well!
I don't profess to be a good driver, and as with everyone, I am constantly learning. I wanted to take passplus but when I passed my test, I couldn't afford a car or the pass plus so I didn't bother. It is almost two years since I passed my test, is it now too late for me to take it? I have already driven through everything I was told is covered in passplus, but it is always reassuring to know that you have the knowledge and ability to do things the right way.
Thanks for the replies. It does look like a worthwhile scheme - WD even though it might be a few years on maybe the RideDrive scheme might be useful? IAM is always useful.
[quote]Im sorry but if they can afford to run and insure a car they can afford £100 for some extra training.
I took it so I could learn more about driving, as it happens my insurers dont recognise it.
People should not do driver training to save them money, they should do it because they want to become a better driver.[/quote]
Well i've got to disagree with this. First a lot of people need a car to access a job, and so they will do the bare minimum to get that goal - and then think great! I'm mobile, but are they great drivers? Life can be damn tough on estates (not saying you aren't from one yourself), and some people for a vast array of reasons don't get the same chances as others - hence the question, would it be of benefit to people who might not even think about it/or afford it in the first place?
100 quid to some people is far better spent on mundane things like putting food on the table - rather than better driving schemes, but if it could be supplied (the course - not the grub!) to people who want to benefit from it - won't that help the situation on the roads? Rhetorical question I know - thanks for the replies, I think I know where i'll be pushing for on this scheme.
But keep em coming please.
(That means comments not insults because I work in that bastion of hate - Local Government/Road Safety!)
[quote]Im sorry but if they can afford to run and insure a car they can afford £100 for some extra training.
I took it so I could learn more about driving, as it happens my insurers dont recognise it.
People should not do driver training to save them money, they should do it because they want to become a better driver.[/quote]
Well i've got to disagree with this. First a lot of people need a car to access a job, and so they will do the bare minimum to get that goal - and then think great! I'm mobile, but are they great drivers? Life can be damn tough on estates (not saying you aren't from one yourself), and some people for a vast array of reasons don't get the same chances as others - hence the question, would it be of benefit to people who might not even think about it/or afford it in the first place?
100 quid to some people is far better spent on mundane things like putting food on the table - rather than better driving schemes, but if it could be supplied (the course - not the grub!) to people who want to benefit from it - won't that help the situation on the roads? Rhetorical question I know - thanks for the replies, I think I know where i'll be pushing for on this scheme.
But keep em coming please.
(That means comments not insults because I work in that bastion of hate - Local Government/Road Safety!)
Pass Plus is a joke IMHO.
At least 5 years ago when I did it.
As I done hour long lessons anyway, and had already driven in the dark and the other circumstances you need to cover, then all I had to do after passing my test was a motorway lesson and that was it.
So apart from the motorway lesson (which was useful, and should really be mandatory) I didnt gain anything extra from it.
Of course, having already had a car waiting the day I passed my test, I had driven on a motorway before the lesson anyway...
Cheers
Lee
At least 5 years ago when I did it.
As I done hour long lessons anyway, and had already driven in the dark and the other circumstances you need to cover, then all I had to do after passing my test was a motorway lesson and that was it.
So apart from the motorway lesson (which was useful, and should really be mandatory) I didnt gain anything extra from it.
Of course, having already had a car waiting the day I passed my test, I had driven on a motorway before the lesson anyway...
Cheers
Lee
What do they teach you in the motorwaya driving lesson? I have done motorway driving, but wasa never taught to, had to throw myself in at the deep end out of necessity, and treat it as a dual carriageway with an extra lane, lol, i.e. slowest traffic in the inside, faster in the middle, fastest in the outside, return to left lane when not overtaking, MSM, etc...
Yeah thats pretty much all you get taught.
What lane to be in, how to overtake someone properly signalling with mirrors. Also doing it at a fair rate, so you dont end up trying to pass with a 1mph speed difference.
Slip road usage - dont really have any here unless you go to a motorway so some people have never seen one.
I picked up a lot of general awareness from from the motorway lesson (2 hours, you dont get too far in just an hour). Also made me realise the importance of looking and not just checking mirrors before pulling out as once someone was right in the blind spot and not in the mirror at all.
Only trouble is, I now find motorway driving really annoying as no-one drives properly. Of course, Id probably think this regardless of if I had the lesson or not because Im a driving enthusiast - not someone who just thinks of going from A to B like the majority.
Cheers
Lee
What lane to be in, how to overtake someone properly signalling with mirrors. Also doing it at a fair rate, so you dont end up trying to pass with a 1mph speed difference.
Slip road usage - dont really have any here unless you go to a motorway so some people have never seen one.
I picked up a lot of general awareness from from the motorway lesson (2 hours, you dont get too far in just an hour). Also made me realise the importance of looking and not just checking mirrors before pulling out as once someone was right in the blind spot and not in the mirror at all.
Only trouble is, I now find motorway driving really annoying as no-one drives properly. Of course, Id probably think this regardless of if I had the lesson or not because Im a driving enthusiast - not someone who just thinks of going from A to B like the majority.
Cheers
Lee
WD* said:
I don't profess to be a good driver, and as with everyone, I am constantly learning. I wanted to take passplus but when I passed my test, I couldn't afford a car or the pass plus so I didn't bother. It is almost two years since I passed my test, is it now too late for me to take it? I have already driven through everything I was told is covered in passplus, but it is always reassuring to know that you have the knowledge and ability to do things the right way.
I always suggest this so it must be becoming boring but really:
Do the IAM/ROSPA Course and pass the Advanced Test. You will learn a lot. It will cost just £85 - an absolute BARGAIN for the hours of instruction involved...and you will save the money back in one year on your insurance...(although this depends on personal circumstances and your vehicle - my Porsche is no cheaper) If you love driving you will really enjoy it.
Practically *all* on-line guys now ask what additional driving qualifications you have...
Kurgis, Prices are not correct IAM offer a £10 reduction for under 26 year olds.Your idea is excellent and stands the best chance of success,while they are still young and impressionable.What you learn when you are young, you remember all your life, and they will tell other young people about it.Sad that within a year or so of most drivers passing the normal test,they think they are perfect.Income from REAL danger location Scamers, spent on young driver schemes would be acceptable by the Majority.
I agree,
I didn't bother doing Pass Plus as it didn't seem to offer much further than the standard test. I did the IAM and passed the test within 6 months of getting my regular test at 17.
I am now 24 and I still use a lot of what I was taught. The main key they teach you is observation, and this really is the most important thing. Once you observe more and begin to anticipate more, you will be able to make safer progress.
They encourage you to make use of your vehicles performance where and when it is safe to do so.
It was good fun learning to use all of the road when safe to take corners straighter and many other things.
I thoroughly recommend it. I never recieved any insurance discount, but that wasn't why I took it.
Paul.
I didn't bother doing Pass Plus as it didn't seem to offer much further than the standard test. I did the IAM and passed the test within 6 months of getting my regular test at 17.
I am now 24 and I still use a lot of what I was taught. The main key they teach you is observation, and this really is the most important thing. Once you observe more and begin to anticipate more, you will be able to make safer progress.
They encourage you to make use of your vehicles performance where and when it is safe to do so.
It was good fun learning to use all of the road when safe to take corners straighter and many other things.
I thoroughly recommend it. I never recieved any insurance discount, but that wasn't why I took it.
Paul.
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