New Drivers Urged To Take Advantage Of Training Course

Newly qualified drivers are being urged to take advantage of subsidised training courses in Swansea that will help polish their driving skills and potentially lead to cheaper car insurance. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Pass Plus Cymru is a practical driver training course for young people aged between 17 and 24 living in Wales. The course aims to build on new drivers’ existing skills and equip them with vital extra know-how to help reduce the risk of them being involved in a road traffic collision. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There is no test with Pass Plus Cymru, with the course costing £20. Training, all set by The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and delivered by a registered Approved Driving Instructor (ADI), is local and focusses on modules such as night-time and motorway driving. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

When the course is fully completed, drivers with a Pass Plus Cymru certificate may be able to use it to obtain discounts on car insurance policies. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr David Hopkins, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Transportation, said: “We know that a high number of road traffic accidents in the country involve young drivers, so it’s essential we do all we can to help young people who have just started driving, supporting them to become safe and responsible drivers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Last year there were 284 accidents involving young people which caused serious injuries or deaths on Welsh roads. This is 10% higher compared to the average for the previous three years, so we really need to do what we can to tackle the problem.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​