It is a sad fact that young males between the ages of 17 and 20 years of age are ten times more likely to be killed or injured than their older counterparts, so what can we do about it? In spite of the individual attention and training that they will have received from one the team qualified instructors at the Bill Plant School of Motoring, once they have successfully passed their two part driving test they are out of the Driving School’s hands.

Once a new driver is qualified they should seriously consider enrolling on a pass plus course which will not just make them better drivers, but will in most cases qualify them for lower insurance premiums, itself a tremendous bonus. Government is considering legislation to reform the driving test and safety organisations such as “Brake” advocate a provisional period after the test restricting the new driver to day time driving and not carrying passengers. Until reform is brought in the statistics will unfortunately continue.

Every day in the UK, 23 young people, under the age of 25, are killed or seriously injured in vehicles and it is a fact that most of these collisions are caused not by the vehicle, the road, or the conditions, but by bad driving, which is the biggest single killer of young people In the UK.

That there are some young tearaways on our roads is not in dispute and for them there is absolutely no excuse, fortunately most young drivers are not like that most want to be good safe drivers. The easiest way to achieve this is to enroll on a Bill Plant pass plus advanced driving course which covers all types of driving conditions and gives you the added confidence you will almost certainly need following on from your successful driving test. In addition to making the newly qualified driver safer, they will benefit from reduced insurance premiums which can only be a good thing. Join the thousands of successful Bill Plant driving school students and you can be a good and safe driver too.

Advanced driver training is the next step for some people after getting their driver’s license.  It is designed to help students become smoother, more conscientious drivers.  The idea to offer more advanced instruction was conceived at the National Road Safety Congress that was held back in November 1954, and the idea was so well received that the members of the many different road and traffic organizations began to offer classes. 

These classes have been shown to reduce accidents. The Pass Plus test can be booked through the Bill Plant School of Motoring and is open to anyone of legal age with the correct driver’s license.  The test is about ninety-minutes long and can cover thirty-five to forty minutes worth of driving on varied road surfaces, numerous road conditions, and possibly varied weather.

Most people are afraid to take the test because they don’t want the person grading them to see the bad habits that have developed over the years in their daily driving routines.  As long as a candidate remains relaxed and calm they will pass the test and become rated as an advanced driver.  They will come out of it all with better awareness and better preparation for any driving eventuality that may come their way.

New proposals to reform the way people learn to drive and how they are tested has recently been announced by Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly and the Bill Plant School of Motoring will be ready and ahead of the game. It is a sad fact that whilst road deaths have fallen by 33% since the mid 1990s, but the casualty rate for young drivers has not changed. One in five people have an accident within six months of passing their test, and another 70% report near misses in the same period. Alongside this newly-qualified drivers and their passengers account for one in five of all car deaths in Britain.

We always stress to the newly qualified driver that they have just reached one milestone following there successful driving test, and we emphasise the need to continue to learn roadcraft to ensure their own and other road users safety. An example would be to enroll for the pass plus course which will make them safer drivers and can reduce their insurance premiums.  

You will have worked hard when taking your driving lessons and the all important practical driving test awaits you. We strongly recommend that  when you pass the test a Pass Plus course be considered which will make you an even better driver as well as giving the benefit of lower insurance premiums, so don’t spoil it all by collecting penalty points by being caught exceeding the statutory speed limits.

Modern cars are so powerful and comfortable they give drivers little sensation of their speed, and many drivers find themselves exceeding the speed limit without realising it. None more so than when coming off a high speed road such as a motorway when dropping down to 40 or 30 mph can feel like going at snails pace. Remember to check your speedometer regularly and do not rely on a feeling of speed which can be very misleading. Speed limits are set as a maximum for safety reasons, they are not targets.

A new driver feels successful and confident upon getting their driver’s license.  They have passed many tests and have learned practical driving lessons.  This is just the first step.  Driving is a very large responsibility and one that must been taken seriously.  Taking unnecessary risks while behind the wheel of a motor vehicle could result in property damage, injury, and maybe even death.  By understanding what some of these mistakes can be, driving schools are able to offer many of their students advanced driving lessons once they have received their license.

Part of the advanced driving lessons these driving schools offer include learning to “read” drivers.  Young drivers who have just got their licenses need to understand that peer pressure will cause them to make costly mistakes.  Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, being distracted by those around them or by other things such as cell phones and the radio, and simply being a show-off are all things that will make a young driver less responsible.  Advanced driving lessons will help young drivers understand that these are situations they can avoid while driving and will teach them how to overcome these obstacles.

Professional driving school instructors have the patience and expertise to help out these new drivers.  Most of their programs are structured and in a relaxed atmosphere that helps the student feel comfortable.  Parents are welcome in these classes as well and their contributions to their child’s driving skills are invaluable. 

New proposals flagged by the Government recently, are suggesting that passing a Driving Test in the future is to become much more difficult. Basically the proposals include; that learner drivers will have to complete four separate stages, including two practical tests, to gain that all important licence. In the biggest shake up of the Driving Test, it is being proposed to split the on-road exam into two which will represent the biggest overhaul of the driving test in more than 50 years.

Candidates will be expected to present a “readiness certificate” before taking the test itself, making a total of four stages with a tougher theory test and two practical exams. According to road safety experts, around 300 drivers and passengers are killed annually by motorists who have passed their test within the previous two years. For this reason alone, we at Bill Plant always encourage newly qualified drivers to continue with their driving education, starting with our Pass Plus course which will make for a safer driver as well as reducing insurance premiums.

The danger at a roundabout is traffic coming from the right, or is it? Is there a car ahead of you that can see something that you can’t? When you were at the Bill Plant School of Driving you will have been told by your qualified instructor to collect as much information about the road conditions as you approach the roundabout. You will scan the road ahead, both to the right and the left, not forgetting your mirrors. Keep a good gap between you and the car ahead and keep your eye on him, he may not go when you think he should and this is the cause of more classic rear end shunts than anything else.

Many drivers approach roundabouts planning to stop if they have to, this is not a good idea as often they have to speed up if another vehicle turns on to the roundabout. A far better way to drive and mental outlook is approach the roundabout thinking “plan to stop but look to go”.

When we where learning to drive our driving instructor emphasised the need for 100% concentration on our driving and in those halcyon days we had few if any distractions. Since we left the driving school behind many things have happened to us, one of which is the possibility of children coming along.

Driving to a holiday destination with young children on board is possibly the number one distraction that drivers have to deal with, driving experts acknowledge that internal distractions can be every bit as dangerous as the external distractions. To prevent the driver going on to “auto pilot” how is the best way to deal with this? Plan your journey, take on plenty of food and drink, and if it is a long journey allow more stops than you would allow for adult passengers. Electronic games are ideal along with books to help keep the children amused.  “I spy” games with another adult also help to pass away the journey time and allow the driver to give the road the attention it deserves.

If you have ever misjudged a bend and found yourself braking in the corner, you would not be on your own. Getting this wrong can mean the consequences are potentially very serious, particularly on rural roads, which still dominate crash statistics. Statistics clearly show that it is not just the young or newly qualified driver that gets caught out, most single vehicle accidents occur in these situations.

Your Bill Plant Driving School instructor will have given you tips and advice how to spot a severe bend, road signs are the most obvious. There are other signs to look out for though and these include; line of trees, hedges, buildings, street lights or telegraph poles, but remember sometimes telegraph or electricity poles can cross fields, so don’t try to follow them! If you have been caught out why not consider a Pass Plus course featuring advanced driving lessons. Pass plus covers all types of driving conditions and gives you added confidence.