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Oh, there is honestly nothing like that feeling, is there?
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You've passed your test, you've got that license,
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and suddenly, this whole new world of freedom just opens right up.
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The open road is yours.
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It's such an amazing achievement.
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But holding onto that freedom, well, that's the next big challenge.
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Okay, let's just get real for a second,
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because this is the reality check.
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As many as one in every five new drivers will be involved
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in some kind of collision in their very first year.
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That's a pretty shocking statistic, right?
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It really shows how much of a learning curve there still is,
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even after you've passed.
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So the big question is, how do you make sure
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you're not part of that statistic?
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What can you do to stay safe out there?
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And, you know, keep that license,
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you worked so incredibly hard to get.
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Well, that's exactly what we're gonna break down right now.
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It all starts with understanding this,
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this unique challenge that every single new driver faces.
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You see, for the first two years after you passed your test,
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you're kind of on probation.
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And no, that's not just a suggestion, it's the law.
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This whole thing is officially called the new drivers act.
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Just think of it like this.
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For two years, the rulebook is a little stricter for you
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than for everyone else.
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The whole idea is to help you build really safe driving habits
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right from the get-go,
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while you're still getting that crucial experience on your belt.
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Now, this is the number you really need to remember.
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Six.
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That's it.
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See, for most drivers with a few years experience,
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the limit is 12 penalty points.
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For you, in those first two years, it's half that.
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Just six.
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If you rack up six or more points,
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poof, your license is automatically revoked.
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It's that serious.
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And here's the bit that catches so many people out.
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Any points you might have picked up on your provisional license,
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they don't just magically disappear when you pass.
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Nope, they carry right on over
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and count towards that six-point limit.
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So, if you already have three points from your learner days,
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you are literally halfway to losing your new license
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before you've even properly started.
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Okay, so who exactly does this two-year probation period
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apply to?
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Let's get really clear on this
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because it actually affects more drivers than you might think.
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All right, so add its core
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if this is your very first driving test in the UK
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or a few other places like the Channel Islands
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or Gibraltar, then yep, this applies to you.
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It also applies if you're from another country
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and you have to pass a UK test
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to get your first British license.
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And, funnily enough, it even applies
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if you swap a foreign license
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and then pass a test for a new type of vehicle
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like a big truck or HGV.
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But there is one really important exception
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you need to know about.
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If you already have a full license for something else,
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let's say a motorbike,
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and then you go and pass your car test,
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the new driver's act does not apply to you.
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Basically, the law figures
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you're already an experienced road user.
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Okay, so what happens if the worst case scenario plays out?
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You make a couple of back calls, you hit that six point limit
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and your license gets revoked.
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Getting back behind the wheel from there?
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Well, it is a long, difficult
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and definitely expensive journey.
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And just look at this, it really shows you how serious it is.
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You are literally starting from scratch.
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You have to reapply for a provisional license,
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stick the L plates back on the car
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and go back to only driving with a supervisor.
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Then you have to pay for and retake
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both the theory test and the practical test all over again.
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Now, I know that all sounds pretty intense,
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but here's the good news, you're not powerless here.
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You can actually be proactive.
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You can take control and actively work on becoming
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a safer, more confident driver
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and seriously reduce your risks from day one.
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And honestly, one of the absolute best ways to do that
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is to take some further training.
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There's a government backed course called Pass Plus
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and it's designed specifically for new drivers,
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helping you build on all the skills
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you've just learned for your test.
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So, why would you do it?
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Well, there are two massive benefits.
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First, and this is the most important one.
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It helps you get better at things
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you might not have covered much before your test
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like driving on the motorway or at night.
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That directly makes you a safer driver.
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And second, and this is a great bonus,
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a lot of insurance companies will actually give you
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a discount for completing it.
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Safe of driving and cheaper insurance,
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that's what we call a win-win.
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Because really, here's the main takeaway.
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Passing your driving test isn't the finish line.
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It's the starting line.
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It's all about continuing to develop your skills,
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especially as the source material says,
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learning to anticipate what other drivers are going to do.
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That right there, that's the secret to staying safe.
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At the end of the day, that little card in your wallet
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is so much more than plastic.
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It's your freedom, your independence,
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and those first two years are absolutely critical.
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The choices you make right now
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will determine if you get to keep that freedom.
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So the only question left is,
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how are you going to protect yours?
