The syllabus

Although a lot of people don’t realise it, driving instructors and the tuition they give is heavily regulated by the government. Anyone charging money for giving lessons must be a recognised ADI and have passed tests and maintained their knowledge - which again, is periofically verified officially. The syllabus ensures the following areas are covered… • Understanding that driving lessons are just the start of the learning journey • Check you are fit & able to drive a vehicle, and legal • Check that the vehicle you will drive it up to scratch, and legal • Understanding the risks of loading & carrying passengers, including animals • Securing loads within and on the vehicle • Planning your journey & route planning • Understanding your vehicle & pre-start checks • Starting the car • Moving off • Completing the journey • Driving safely - including accelerating, braking, use of gears, use of signals, steering • Reversing & manoeuvring • Understanding towing • Understanding the highway code and how it affects your driving • Road safety • Road markings, signals and signs • Being aware of & driving alongside other road users • The use of signals & making good progress • Driving positively, yet defensively • Reading the road • Driving efficiently • Handling breakdowns & dealing with other incidents

Next steps

Its important to remember that your initial driving experience is just that, a starting point. You’ll continue to learn each time you drive a vehicle and there’s always something new to consider. “Pass-plus” is a scheme that gives you 6 extra modules of driving tuition to further enhance your skills, once you’ve passed the initial driving test. The aim is to improve your skills at an early stage, and potentially help keep your costs down - for example, with insurance premiums etc. These give you an insight into… • Town driving. Driving in built-up areas, with their associated traffic & one-way systems, more complex junctions etc. • Driving in different weather conditions, such as light & heavy raing, snow & ice, fog as well as bright sunshine etc. and how they will affect your progress, speed & the way you drive. • Country & out of town driving. Especially around the South West, many routes will mean using smaller or even single track rouads. This module focuses on driving on country lanes, managing & positioning in bends, steep gradients and different road surfaces. It also considers how to overtake safely etc. • Night driving. How to drive at night, the challenges you will face and how to handle them, headlight glare from others, making sure others can see you etc. • Using dual carriageways, chosing the right lane, joining & leaving etc. • Motorway driving. Matching youtr speed, observation & lane discipline, maintaining the appropriate speed for the conditions etc.