Lessons Pass Plus Refresher & Intensive Courses
We can give you masses of help with theory training so that once you have passed the Theory Test, if you wish to go onto an Intensive Courses that can be arranged, with your test booked for the end of the course. On the other hand, if you prefer to take it slowly and have one or two Lessons a week, we can do that too.
Getting Started
Beginner
- Basic understanding of how the controls of a vehicle work and cockpit drill.
- Move away and stop safely, increase speed and apply higher gears.
- Junctions turning left and right, giving priority and priority to proceed.
- Importance of clutch control, 'the biting point' and hill starts.
- Meeting other traffic and anticipation when taking or giving priority.
- Use of mirrors and emergency stop.
- Manoeuvres: Turn in the road, reverse into a junction to the left or to the right, parallel park (reverse), bay park (reverse).
Intermediate
- Pedestrian crossings, practise with clutch control in busier traffic and introduction to hazard perception.
- Crossroads, controlled and uncontrolled.
- Roundabouts including lane discipline.
- Observation, awareness, anticipation and planning.
Experienced
- Lane changing.
- Multi-junction roundabouts.
- Dual carriageway training at higher speeds and application of 5th gear.
- Overtaking safely on dual carriageway and single carriageway roads.
Finally throughout your course of driver education and training you will learn the importance of a good driving attitude and how, by anticipating other road users' actions you can avoid stress and maintain a high tolerance of others' poor behaviour or errors. This is known as defensive Driving and forms the basis of all of the DSA approved procedures.
Instructors will teach you to drive in a structured manner according to the DSA approved syllabus. This means that control and safe procedures are studied first followed by more complex tasks as you gain experience and confidence.
Your First Lesson
On your first lesson your instructor will provide you with a Robert Barlow School of Motoring Appointment Card.
Your instructor will also keep his / her own records of your achievements and progress and this will be discussed with you at the end of every lesson. Your lessons will be structured to complete the whole test syllabus in a logical, controlled manner.
Your Instructor will establish with you the level of Driving experience that you have and will begin your tuition in an appropriate area.
Beginners
You will not be put into a traffic situation that you cannot cope with. If you have never driven before, your instructor will drive you to a 'nursery area' which could be a quiet residential area of virtually no traffic to enable you to get to grips with the controls of the car before having to deal with the other traffic.
Some experience
Your instructor will establish the level of tuition you need by spending a few minutes assessing your driving, again this will be in light traffic areas.
Test Failure
I f you have recently failed a test and just need some Refresher Lessons, your instructor will again assess your driving and continue with fault correction to ensure success next time.
Be assured, your training will be tailored to suit your requirements, everyone is different and learns at a different pace. If you are progressing well the instructor will continually move you on to new subjects; however, you are having difficulty with a particular movement then more time will be dedicated to that area until you have mastered it.
Intensive Courses
Some people cannot wait to pass their Driving test and believe that learning to drive in a week is a good idea as it gets it all over with very quickly. It is far better and more economical to spread your lessons over a few weeks rather than one. We do not recommend that you have more than 4 hours driving tuition a day (2 hours morning + 2 hours afternoon) as you will be paying for Lessons that are not doing you any good. Ask any experienced driver how they feel after driving solidly for 4 hours, and bear in mind you are trying to learn a new skill as well.
Newly qualified drivers are much more vulnerable than they realise. Statistics show that new drivers are more likely to have an accident within their first two years of driving than at any other time in their driving career.
For example:
- Two young people under 25 die every day in crashes in Great Britain.
- In their first year of driving, one driver in five is involved in a crash.
It is also not possible to book a Practical Driving Test until you have passed the Theory Test therefore it makes sense to have some Lessons while preparing for your Theory Test as this will also help with the Hazard Perception Test.
Intensive courses can take many forms, depending on your driving experience and whether you have already passed the Theory test.
Not yet passed the Theory Test?
If you have not passed your Theory test and want to get both tests done as quickly as possible then you would need approx. 6 - 8 weeks, depending on test availability at the time.
Already passed the Theory Test
If you have passed your Theory test then we would book your Driving Test straight away and your instructor would advise you on the right course of lessons to buy. The most important issue is not to feel under pressure.
If you / we feel that you haven't progressed sufficiently to pass your practical test, then with your agreement the test can be cancelled and re-arranged for a time when you / we feel that you are ready. (3 clear working days notice required for cancellation).
Failed the Driving Test
If you have just failed a test or have a lot of driving experience (and have passed your Theory Test) then again your instructor would assess your driving and we would book your driving test straight away as it is unlikely the you will need many lessons to bring you up to test standard.
The most efficient way to drive is two 2 hour lesson per week, this gives you the time to take in what has been taught in each lesson, but does not drag things out too much.
If your work or educational commitments make if difficult for you to learn in the conventional way, please call us and we will try and find a training programme that suits you as an individual.
Pass Plus
Insurance can be expensive, but there is a way to make it cheaper. Once you have passed your Practical Driving Test (car) you should consider taking a PASS PLUS course. Pass Plus was introduced by the Driving Standards Agency as a way to try to make newly qualified drivers safer. The course builds upon the driving experience you have already gained.
Newly qualified drivers are much more vulnerable than they realise. Statistics show that new drivers are more likely to have an accident within their first two years of driving than at any other time in their driving career.
For example:
- Two young people under 25 die every day in crashes in Great Britain.
- In their first year of driving, one driver in five is involved in a crash.
It's not just about age - newly qualified drivers are a higher than average risk whatever their age. Most drivers become safer by driving more miles and by experiencing a wider variety of driving situation. However, it is not enough just to let new drivers lean by experience. Too often they learn the hard way.
What is Pass Plus
Pass Plus is a six - module training syllabus designed by the DSA to develop the skills and knowledge of newly qualified drivers and broaden their driving experience.
"While many life skills are learned by trial and error, the consequences of error on the road may be catastrophic."
Modules will not all take the same amount of time to cover, but each course must consist of a minimum of six hours training, five and a half of which must be practical in-car driving sessions.
This does not necessarily mean six sessions - the number of sessions required will depend on the ability and progress of the individual pupil.
The six modules will cover:
1. Town Driving
a) Observations, Judgement & Awareness
b) Consideration for vulnerable road users
c) Spatial Awareness & Clearance to Others
d) Typical features of Urban roads
2. All-Weather Driving
a) Vision - See & be Seen
b) Skidding & Avoidance
c) Speed & stopping distances
3. Out of Town Driving & Rural Roads
a) Rural Hazards (Bends / Lanes)
b) Overtaking & Progress
c) Observations Skill (middle & Far Distance)
4. Night Driving
a) Vehicle lighting & use
b) Speed & Stopping distances
c) Visibility - Seeing and Reacting Safely
d) Parking
5. Dual Carriageways
a) Joining / Turning / Leaving
b) Forward Planning & Observations
c) Overtaking
6. Motorways
a) Joining / Leaving
b) Forward Planning & Observations
c) Overtaking
d) Breakdowns & Safety Procedure
Refresher Lessons
Have you passed your test already but still nervous about taking to the road? Let one of our wonderful instructors take you out in your car or ours for refresher lessons. You may find that after just one lesson you feel ready to travel the world.
