Westmorland and Furness Council is promoting an enhanced Pass Plus scheme aimed at developing young drivers' skills and confidence, while helping to reduce casualties on our roads.
Pass Plus is a practical training course delivered by an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) after you have passed your driving test. The course includes at least six hours of additional training and covers a range of driving situations, including rural roads, night-time driving, poor weather and higher-speed routes.
It can help young drivers build confidence, gain experience in unfamiliar driving conditions, improve hazard awareness and decision-making and develop safer driving habits. There is no test at the end of the course.
To encourage more young drivers to take part, the council is now offering £150 towards the cost of the training. The scheme forms part of the Council's wider road safety work to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads.
Councillor Peter Thornton, Cabinet Member for Highways and ICT, said: "Young drivers are disproportionately represented in road traffic collisions during their first years of driving as they build experience behind the wheel. Pass Plus helps newly-qualified drivers build confidence, develop their skills and gain experience in a wider range of driving conditions.
“We are delighted to be able to support eligible young drivers through this scheme and help make our roads safer for everyone.”
Young drivers who live in Westmorland and Furness may be eligible for the £150 subsidy if they are aged between 17 and 24 years old and passed their practical driving test within the last 12 months.