Facing real life driving situations without an instructor can be daunting for new drivers. Having spent so much time practicing safe driving on familiar routes as part of your driving lessons, new conditions such as motorway driving can be an unnerving prospect. It's likely that you learnt to drive within one season. If you were learning over spring and summer, adverse weather conditions such as snow and ice may be unfamiliar driving circumstances, you also might not have practiced driving in the dark. As a newly qualified driver, taking Pass Plus lessons will provide in depth theory and practice of challenging driving experiences which you may not have encountered within your driving lessons.

You'll become a safer driver
Statistically, you're most likely to have an accident within two years of passing your driving test. A lack of independent driving experience means that within your first couple of years of motoring you are likely to encounter challenging new driving experiences. Taking extra tuition will enable you to undertake more hazardous driving experiences for the first time with the guidance of an instructor, enabling you to become a confident driver.

You'll be confident driving at higher speeds
Your instructor will have tried to expose you to a diverse spectrum of motoring situations throughout your driving lessons, however depending on your location you may not have driven on a dual carriageway. Dual carriageways and motorways involve driving at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour, merging with high speed traffic from slip roads and overtaking at high speeds. The observation, signalling, judgement and safe motoring practice covered in your driving lessons are the foundations of motorway driving, however you will need to adjust to being able to observe and react at high speeds. This can require more concentration and the ability to make decisions quickly.

It's fair to say that motorway driving is probably a daunting prospect for all new drivers, Pass Plus tuition will help you to feel comfortable with this. If there are no motorways nearby, your instructor may choose to cover this in a theory lesson. It's important to drive on a motorway soon after this so that you can put this theory into practice. Your motorway tuition will include journey planning, using slip roads to leave and join a motorway, separation distances, observation and gauging speed safety in relation to circumstance. Your lesson will also cover lane discipline and overtaking, motorway fatigue, breakdown procedures, use of lights, debris on the carriageway and crosswinds. If you are only able to cover motorway driving in a theory lesson, it's worth taking an experienced driver with you as a passenger for your first motorway drive.

You'll be confident with all-weather driving
In your driving lessons you may not have experienced driving in heavy rain, sleet, snow, ice or fog. Additional tuition can teach you how to cope with all-weather driving, with a focus on correct speed, stopping distances, visibility and being visible in different weather conditions. When possible this should be covered in a practical lesson, if not, you will learn the theory around driving in different weather conditions.

Rain, snow, ice, poor road surfaces and incorrect breaking, accelerating or steering can cause a vehicle to skid. Without tuition or an understanding of how to correct a skid this can be a nerve wracking and dangerous situation, even for experienced drivers. You will have learnt about skidding while revising for your theory test, but extra learning as a qualified driver will equip you with a detailed understanding of breaking on poor road surfaces, aquaplaning and how to prevent and correct skids.

You'll be confident with town and country driving
It's easy to underestimate the challenges of inner-city driving. Many British towns have complex road systems and these can be particularly difficult to navigate for the first time. Towns can be busy places with variable speeds and areas of congestion, you are also likely to encounter vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians. Topping up your driving practice once you've passed your test will help you to become confident driving in towns, with an emphasis on observation, awareness and judgement while driving.

Countryside driving can involve uneven road surfaces, changing road width and unpredictable wildlife. Depending on your location, you may not have had much practice driving in rural areas while learning to drive. Further tutored experience will help you to develop your observation and safe driving skills, including how to safely overtake vehicles on country roads, show consideration for slow moving vehicles and animals. It will also cover the correct use of the horn, coping with muddy road surfaces and the use of passing places.

You'll be confident driving at night
Driving at night is a completely different experience to daytime driving, even with good street lighting and your headlights on, visibility is diminished. Judging speed and distance can be particularly difficult at night and the observation of difficult-to-see road users is paramount for safe driving, as is the consideration of your own visibility to other road users. Extra driving tuition will enable you to become confident driving at night, dusk and dawn, including correct use of headlights and dealing with dazzle.

You can save money
Some local councils are able to offer financial help towards the cost of Pass Plus lessons, this can cover up to 50% of the full training cost. When you complete the course you'll be sent a certificate which you can use to claim a discount on your insurance policy. Many insurers offer a generous discount to applicants with a Pass Plus qualification. It's worth researching thoroughly for the best deal as you may be able to save more than the cost of your additional lessons.