A major initiative aimed at tackling the high rates of young drivers and passengers killed and injured on Welsh roads is being launched in Pembrokeshire. Pass Plus Cymru is a driver training scheme aimed at providing young drivers with additional driving skills and experience to help reduce their chances of being involved in road traffic collisions. The first course will take place at Haverfordwest Fire Station, Merlins Hill, Haverfordwest, on Monday, July 17, and bookings are being taken now. A further course will take place on Wednesday, October 18, and another is planned for January 2007. Of 130 drivers and passengers killed on Welsh roads last year, 59 were between the ages of 16 and 25, representing 45 per cent of total deaths. Research shows that these fatalities were mainly caused by simple driving errors made as a result of a lack of skills and experience, and Pass Plus Cymru has been developed to combat this problem. Pass Plus Cymru, which has been developed by Road Safety Wales and managed by MAC Driver Training, builds on the Driving Standard Agency's Pass Plus programme and includes a group interactive three-hour theory session and a day of intensive practical in-car training. The courses are available to anybody between the ages of 17 and 25 in Pembrokeshire, preferably within the first year of passing their driving test. Nearly 50 young people in the county will have the opportunity to improve their driving skills during the first year of the scheme. The Pass Plus Cymru courses are being heavily subsidised by Pembrokeshire local authority's Road Safety Section thanks to dedicated funding from the Welsh Assembly Government. The scheme has also attracted sponsorship from Direct Line Insurance. Young people wishing to attend can book online at http://www.dragondriver.com">www.dragondriver.com for £40. Information is available by calling 0845 050 4255. On completion of the course, attendees may be eligible for a discount on their car insurance. John Gobbi, road safety officer at Pembrokeshire County Council, said: "Young drivers tend to drive at inappropriate speeds. Also, although their reactions are faster, they are often slower than other drivers to anticipate hazards, and they fail to plan when overtaking. "If we are to reduce the needless waste of young lives on our roads we have to educate young people about the potentially tragic consequences of unsafe driving and provide them with the tools to improve their skills and confidence. "The Pass Plus Cymru course has been carefully designed to achieve this. By learning how to deal with motoring conditions not included in the driving test - such as motorway driving - young people who take part can dramatically improve their car handling skills. "As well as reducing the risk of a young driver being involved in a crash, taking part in the Pass Plus Cymru scheme will also allow participants to save money on car insurance premiums." Deputy Minister with responsibility for transport, Tamsin Dunwoody, said: "The Pass Plus Cymru scheme shows just how effective partnership working can be. Its development means Wales is leading the way when it comes to tackling this important road safety issue. "Giving young people the opportunity to become better drivers is a key part of our efforts to make Welsh roads safer for everybody who uses them."