After a crash involving his vehicle, Jack found his dentures had been broken. The other driver promised to replace them if Jack followed him home. After a short search the benefactor appeared with a set which fitted exactly. "Thank goodness it was a dentist who crashed into me," he said. "Oh," said the other motorist, "I'm not a dentist, I'm a mortician!"

Do you have a better funny motoring storyNULL It could be an amazing insurance claim. "I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law and headed over the embankment" or "I knocked a man down. He admitted it was his fault as he had been knocked down before".

Yes, both are true stories and entries for a motoring competition worth £3,500, including £1,000 for the winner.

The competition is run by Pass Plus which is backed by the Government, Driving Standards Agency and insurers representing over 60% of the private car market. Pass Plus is designed to make newly-qualified drivers become better drivers and gives them a number of other benefits such as cheaper motor insurance.

The 15 motor insurers supporting the scheme give one-year's no claims bonus to Pass Plus drivers insuring their own car.

Why Pass Plus? There is a fun side to motoring which the Pass Plus Board emphasises, but also a serious side – accidents and injuries that can be avoided. The Pass Plus course consists of six training sessions following a successful practical driving test.

There is no further test to take. When the driving instructor is satisfied with the candidate's performance they receive a certificate.

The extra experience and driving skills from Pass Plus would otherwise take a long time to acquire. There is a real need as new drivers make up just ten per cent of licence holders, but are involved in 29% of accidents.

There is a real role for insurance intermediaries to play in encouraging road safety. Each year over 500,000 people pass the driving test and they are all potential clients. How many motor intermediaries publicise the Pass Plus schemeNULL How many organise teach-ins for learner driversNULL Why not an open evening once a month which could be combined with help to pass the written driving testNULL

Develop a good relationship with a newly-qualified driver and they could be a client for life. An investment now and a bit of imagination could reap substantial rewards. Initiatives could also help publicise intermediaries as well as being seen to be involved in something which is socially desirable.

Send entries for the motoring competition by November 1 to Ros Arkins, Pass Plus, 51 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7HQ.

- Tony Baker is a monthly columnist in Insurance Times.

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