Key Skills Instructor Training

What is Pass Plus?

Pass Plus is a training course specifically aimed at new drivers, designed by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) with the help of insurers and the driving instruction industry. Pass Plus will build upon your existing skills and knowledge, it will teach you how to anticipate, plan for and deal with all kinds of hazards, and can help you to become more confident on the roads.

Pass Plus is made up of six practical modules which include:

• Driving in town
• Driving in all weathers
• Driving on rural roads
• Driving at night
• Driving on dual carriageways
• Driving on motorways

Pass Plus course fee is £150

• If done in one day then lunch is included

You can claim £75 towards Pass Plus if you register with Hampshire County Council.

How it works?

Hampshire County Council will pay £75 towards the cost of your Pass Plus course directly to your instructor on completion of the 6 modules. You pay the remainder of the fee to the instructor at the beginning of the course. Once you are accepted onto the course you will be sent a list of participating approved Pass Plus instructors. You must use one of the instructors on our list.

How do I qualify for Hampshire's Pass Plus scheme?

• You must live within the Hampshire County Council local authority area (excludes the City of Southampton, the City of Portsmouth and IOW)
• You must be in the 17 - 24 age group
• You must have passed your driving test within the last 12 months
• You must use one of the instructors on our list.
• Key Skills Instructor Training is on the Hampshire list

When you successfully complete PASS PLUS you will usually qualify for a substantial discount on your motor insurance policy.

Hampshire County Council

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Pass Plus Modules

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, judgment and awareness
• eye contact
• consideration for vulnerable road users
• being cautious but not over cautious
• keeping space around your car

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
• bright sunshine

You will also look at skidding

• what causes them
• how to prevent them
• correcting slow-speed skids
• braking on poor surfaces
• aquaplaning

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
• 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.

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
• parking issues

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
• judgment and planning ahead
• the need for a safe separation distance
• joining and leaving a dual carriageway
• overtaking and lane discipline
• the correct use of speed

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