Saturday 26th February 2011

Young drivers in Chesterfield aged between 17-20 now have the chance to receive £60 off the cost of Pass Plus training in exchange for attending a two-hour road safety workshop offered by the Road Safety Partnership. The free evening workshops are held in Derby, Chesterfield and Buxton.



Partnership chairman Mike Ashworth said: "Life is tough for young drivers - on today's busy roads one in five drivers crash within 12 months of passing their test. Pass Plus training can help you stay safe and could drive down your insurance costs.

"The training helps new drivers to cope with the challenges they'll face on the road with greater confidence. Topics covered include motorway, town and country driving as well as night and all-weather driving."

Pass Plus was devised by the Driving Standards Agency. Driving instructors charge students between £120 and £180 for the training, which consists of six one-hour lessons.

To claim your Pass Plus discount, call 01332 641778 or email: trafficman&roadsafety@derby.gov.uk

Two young people who have already taken advantage of the scheme are Abi Minton and Nathan Cope and they say that Pass Plus helped them to become better drivers.

Student nurse Abi says she feels much more confident on the roads since completing Pass Plus - and she saved £100 on her insurance.

"The city centre driving lesson really helped me," said the 19-year-old from Ashbourne, "It's difficult when there are cars parked on both sides of the road and there's a car coming the other way. It was good to have my instructor helping me.

"I also found the motorway session useful. Getting close to 70 miles per hour for the first time was scary but I soon got used to it thanks to my instructor's advice."

Abi's Dad John Minton also backs the scheme and helped her to pay for Pass Plus training. "It's the best money I've ever spent," said the retired teacher who now works as a community liaison officer at Ecclesbourne School, "Abi's certainly more confident now and I'm more relaxed when she goes out in the car."

John added: "I'd definitely encourage other parents to help their children pay for Pass Plus. Driving is an important life skill and the training is an investment in your child's safety."

Fellow Pass Plus graduate Nathan Cope believes that practice makes perfect when it comes to driving. "Experience is the key to becoming a better driver," said the nineteen-year-old, who is training to become a computer games programmer, "I wanted to learn as much as I could from my instructor and Pass Plus allowed me to refine my skills following my test."

For Nathan, who lives in Barlborough, the most useful aspect of Pass Plus was the motorway driving lesson. He said: "Without that, I wouldn't have felt confident travelling on the motorway.

"My instructor guided me through the whole experience. He told me not to worry and helped me to stay focused."

Nathan believes the training helps new drivers to make safe decisions by guiding them through challenges such as driving at night, in bad weather and in a busy town centre.

He said: "A lot of people see the speed limit sign and think it's ok to drive at that speed regardless of conditions. Pass Plus teaches you to react safely to what's happening around you."

RECENT STORIES

NEWLY MERGED COUNCILS APPOINT CHIEF EXECUTIVE -
Wes Lumley has been appointed joint Chief Executive of Bolsover District Council and North East Derbyshire District Council. More...

LOCAL GOVERNMENT MINISTER'S PRAISE FOR CHESTERFIELD -
Chesterfield today welcomed the town's third Government Minister in two weeks, Andrew Stunell OBE MP. More...

LOCAL MP CALLS FOR FAIRER SHARE OF PORK CASH -
Rising costs of wheat, used as feed for pigs, has meant that local farmers are suffering huge losses as supermarkets refuse to pay more for pork More...

WANT YOUR SAY? REGISTER TO VOTE -
Residents across North East Derbyshire are being reminded that they have just over a month to register to vote in the upcoming local and parish elections. More...

COUNCIL TAX FROZEN FOR CHESTERFIELD RESIDENTS -
It's been announced by Chesterfield Borough Council tonight at its budget setting meeting, that there is to be no increase in its Council Tax for next year More...

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED -
It's now official. The historic partnership between two local councils was signed this morning at Bolsover District Council HQ. More...

SERVICES PROTECTED AS BUDGET IS SET -
Despite a tough financial year, NE Derbyshire District Council, is on track to achieve a balanced budget which protects frontline services. More...

TOBY PERKINS MP SPEAKS ABOUT AUTO WINDSCREENS -
As news of the huge local job losses caused by the collapse of Auto Windscreens continues to sink in, and Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins today issued a statement More...

Rt Hon CHRIS HUHNE MP VISITS CHESTERFIELD -
"We mustn't underestimate the importance of tackling climate change" - Secretary Of State For Energy and Climate Change, the Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP visiting Chesterfield yesterday. More...

LEADING LIB DEM SIMON HUGHES VISITS CHESTERFIELD -
"Every young person out of work is a wasted talent." That's Lib Dem Deputy Leader Simon Hughes in Chesterfield earlier today. More...

THOUSANDS SET TO BENEFIT FROM HISTORIC MERGER -
An innovative partnership between 2 Derbyshire councils is to be signed on the 1st March and is set to benefit thousands of families immediately. More...

PITCOM MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS -
MP Natascha Engel has written to all local primary schools urging them to enter the 'Make IT Happen' technology competition. More...

£52m CASH BOOST FOR NE DERBYSHIRE COUNCIL HOMES -
In the biggest allocation of cash in the East Midlands, council tenants in NE Derbys are set to benefit from a £52m spending programme to improve their homes. More...

MP FACES GRILLING FROM LOCAL YOUNGSTERS -
David Dimbleby may not have been present but that didn't stop local youngsters taking part in a Question Time style session with MP Natascha Engel. More...

LOCAL COUNCIL FREEZES COUNCIL TAX -
Good news for some residents in Chesterfield after NE Derbyshire District Council announced it's looking to freeze this year’s Council Tax bill. More...

CHESTERFIELD MP CALLS ON GOVT TO HELP SAVE AUTO WINDSCREENS JOBS -
Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins today issued a statement regarding the potential loss of 400 local jobs at Hasland based Auto Windscreens More...

'VISIONARY' COUNCILLOR WINS TOP AWARD -
He oversaw the transformation of a local Council in the fastest time in Local Government history and now receives the country's top councilor honour. More...

CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE? -
If you've ever listened to a Councillor and thought you'd do better, or you care about your community and think you could help to improve services in the area, then read on... More...

LOCAL MP SPEAKS OUT FOR SPORT -
MP For NE Derbys, Natascha Engel, yesterday challenged Education Secretary Michael Gove in Parliament over the money owed to School Sport Partnerships More...

COUNCILS MOOT PLANS FOR A MERGER TO SAVE £1.5M -
2 local Councils confirm that they're looking at combining some resources to provide a cost cutting service for residents. More...

A BUSY START TO THE YEAR FOR MP NATASCHA -
With the cuts in budgets and services really starting to bite, we are seeing a far greater number of people coming to surgery as well as dropping in. More...

COUNCIL APOLOGISES TO TENANTS OVER RENT ERROR -
Chesterfield Borough Council has today apologised after an administrative error was discovered in around 4% of it's rent payments. More...

COUNCIL LEADER IN LINE FOR AWARD -
NEDDC Leader, Cllr Graham Baxter MBE will soon tread the red carpet after being short-listed for a prestigious national accolade for his work in leading the authority. More...

YOUR CHANCE TO BECOME A LOCAL COUNCILLOR -
Ahead of the local Elections in May, North East Derbyshire District Council is encouraging locals with an interest in becoming a Councillor to find out more. More...

LOCAL PHARMACIST WINS AWARD -
Toby Perkins MP presented an Award to a Chesterfield Pharmacist in recognition of her work in helping to combat blood clots. More...

COUNCIL TESTS LOCAL TAXI FIRMS -
Chesterfield Borough Council has conducted an undercover operation to try and catch private taxi firms plying for trade. More...

KIDS 1, GOVE 0 -
Local Schools benefit after Government U-turn on School Sport Partnership funding. More...

NATASCHA ENGELS YEAR IN PARLIAMENT REVIEW -
NOT WHAT WE VOTED FOR! Last year was dominated by one of the fiercest General Election battles this country has known. More...

VOLUNTEER SHINES AT AWARDS -
A Chesterfield Law Centre worker is celebrating after winning a prestigious award at a ceremony aimed at celebrating the work of volunteers at organisations in the town. More...

MP TAKES TO THE SHOP FLOOR... -
Visitors to Barnardo's charity shop in Chesterfield were served by a very familiar face last Saturday.Toby Perkins MP for Chesterfield, joined the shop's workforce for the day. More...

VICTORY FOR CHESTERFIELD! -
Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins celebrated with delighted residents, businesses and campaigners as DCC rejected plans for a waste incinerator plant on Dunston Road. More...

CHESTERFIELD MP SPEAKS OUT AGAINST SPENDING REVIEW -
Toby Perkins MP told the Chesterfield Post: "Chesterfield is going to be badly affected b the cuts, probably more so than anywhere else in Derbyshire" More...

NATASCHA ENGEL MP CHECKS ON NEW SERVICES AT LOCAL SURGERY -
North East Derbyshire MP, Natascha Engel, has seen first hand how the introduction of new initiatives has benefitted patients in Clay Cross. More...

CHESTERFIELD MP AWARDED A FRONT BENCH ROLE -
A few days after the Shadow Cabinet was announced by new Labour leader Ed Miliband, news comes that Chesterfield MP, Toby Perkins, has been awarded a post on the frontbench team.More...

TOBY PERKINS MP SPEAKS ABOUT NEW SHADOW CABINET -
Chesterfield Post Editor Karen Johnson spoke with Toby about his thoughts on the new Shadow Cabinet announced by Ed Miliband on friday. More...

CHESTERFIELD LABOUR PARTY NUMBERS RISE -
After Ed Miliband was elected Leader of the Labour Party at the party Conference last week, Chesterfield Labour Party is reporting a rise in it's membership, More...

LOCAL MP "DELIGHTED" BY ED MILIBAND WIN -
Natascha Engel, Labour MP for NE Derbyshire has declared she is "delighted" after Ed Miliband was elected Leader of the Labour Party. More...

SUPPORT FOR EDUCATION FOR
ALL CHILDREN WORLDWIDE -
Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins joined TV presenter Gary Lineker and his wife Danielle to support for the 1 GOAL campaign at the Houses of Parliament. More...

VANDALS 'HAVEN' IS UNSAFE SAYS MP -
Residents and businesses near to a Chesterfield skate park are claiming they're under siege from youths who congregate there. More...

WORLD'S BIGGEST COFFE MORNING HITS THE SPOT IN BRIMINGTON -
On Friday September 24th, Brimington Bowls Club was the venue for an World's Biggest Coffee Morning event ,raising money for Macmillan Support. More...