Advanced Driving

[lborob17]

Hi everyone

Earlier in the year I undertook the advanced driving course run by the Institute of advanced motorists.

While attending the course I was amazed at the different levels of awareness people have of what's going on around them on the roads and how they react to different situations!!

I would recommend it to everyone and at around £85 for the course and test, it is well worth it!

Has anyone done it or considered doing it?

If anyone has any questions I would be more than happy to give some info

regards
Rich

[Jamie]

I have done the IAM course, but did not bother with the test or joining fee.... so I had all that extra training for free!!!!! I did have a mock test and was told I would pass the test with ease, then I lost interest!

[lborob17]

Ive just saved £50 on insurance because of my pass so Ive nearly got my money back!

[organist]

I passed my IAM Advanced Driving Test in 2002. So far it has saved me at least £300 in car insurance alone, not least an extra 5 mpg because I know how to actually drive a car!

[Ste]

I have considered doing it many times, and would still like to do it.
Only problem is time,

[MLC]

While attending the course I was amazed at the different levels of awareness people have of what's going on around them on the roads and how they react to different situations!!

I've been a grade 1 Police advanced driver for eight years. I've lost count of the number of times I've sat behind someone with full lights and sirens and they're totally oblivious to my presence. Even happens at night, despite strobes and flashing headlights.
It's about time the test was made much harder. Evidence...Maureen from 'Driving School' passed. A danger on wheels.

[Inspektor]

Hi lborob17, I have been interested in doing this for a long time but never got round to doing anything about it. I'm now clocking over 1000 miles a week so yes could you give me some more info please. I think I am a pretty good driver but everyone rates themselves as good and I am sure I could learn more and benefit from this.
Thanks for any info. :)

[bruceybonus]

i failed it the last time i took the test... though it was 13 yrs ago, and i had only been driving for 6 months!....apparently wasn't doubling the clutch quick enough! but the rest of it was fine :(

[Andy]

i was advised that the Rospa test (and gold if youcan get it!) is a little better than the IAM, the reason being that you take the IAM test and thats it, wheras the Rospa test requires you to be retested every 3 years so you are still up to standard. Most Rospa drivers have also done the IAM too though. Does anyone have any experince of the rospa ones?

[Tim2100]

I've been a grade 1 Police advanced driver for eight years. I've lost count of the number of times I've sat behind someone with full lights and sirens and they're totally oblivious to my presence. Even happens at night, despite strobes and flashing headlights.
It's about time the test was made much harder. Evidence...Maureen from 'Driving School' passed. A danger on wheels.

Should it not be that current drivers are retested rather than giving new drivers a tougher test????
The roads are dangerous places at the moment, the new drivers taking already tougher tests than most people here will not drive to the standard they passed their test at but the common standard on the roads. Surely the key lies in current driver training/retesting!!

Compulsary retests every 5 years i say!!!

[Ste]

If I re-sat a driving test today I would undoubtably fail. However, this does not make me an unsafe driver necessarily.

I agree with the old saying about learning to pass your test, and then learn to drive.

However, we all learn something every day. The minute we think we have nothing to learn is the minute we fail.


I am very interested in developing skills. Can you post info.

[C19_CJB]

I've always thought about doing it.... just never found the time to do it :rolleyes:

[lborob17]

I must admit I went along expecting to learn about skid control emergency manoeuvres etc etc. But it is all about:

Information, Position, Speed, Gear, Acceleration (hope I've got this right!!)

I attended a group course (rather than a one to one observer type) which was good because it was effectively 5 or 6 two hour sessions on a Saturday morning then the test. So not much time commitment. The sessions were run by volunteer AIM members who were observers. By doing the group course you got to go out with different observers which was good because you get different opinions all the time. Each week we had about an hour of theory about set topics - then we went for a drive and tested these theories out. Between the sessions we had time to practice that particular element (in was not run every weekend). Halfway through the course I was getting fed up because I felt as if I wasn't learning anything and the observers seemed to be real picky (found a lot of them to be very much 'in' to the observing and a little unrealistic sometimes) but towards the end I really began to look forward to the runs and the test. The test was conducted by a Police class 1 driver and it was really good - the guy was really helpful and realistic.

I nearly failed because I was 'going with the flow' towards the end of my test on a long wide road with a 30mph speed limit.

I would recommend it to anyone to go though it because even if you think you are a 'good driver' there is always something to learn and use!

I do think that it would be a good idea to re-test say every 2-3 years because we all start to get bad habits!

lborob17

[lborob17]

some information about the test FYI - taken from the IAM website:

http://www.iam.org.uk/index.php


The Advanced Driving Test lasts for about 90 minutes and will usually cover between 30 and 40 miles along all types of road (town driving, motorways (if available) or dual carriageways, and even country lanes).

Your Examiner will hold a Police Advanced Driving certificate (either serving or ex Police Class 1) and will have extensive experience from working within the Traffic sections of the Police Force.

The Test gives a thorough workout of driving ability, allowing the candidate to alter their drive according to the conditions and environment of the road. The types of road vary from quiet country roads, motorways to busy town centres. In each case there are hazards and situations that need to be avoided and taken care of using the methods and techniques that advanced driving gives. There may be situations where the candidate can show flair and panache (or what we term as Sparkle) on an open country road where optimum progress can be gained at maximum safety, using optimum road positioning and excellent observation. All this combines to give a brisk smooth drive, at the legal limit on the open road. In other situations, the candidate will need to show restraint and composure to deal with tricky hazards that may become apparent throughout the drive. Such as in a town centre situation, where observation is used to pick out hazards in situations that are constantly changing. The main objective is that the candidate has to perform well in all situations rather than excel in one.

Many people often comment on the Test after taking it and more often than not, the comments revolve around how much they enjoyed the drive. On Test the candidate gets to "show off" the new skills that they have been tuning for the weeks during their course. The Advanced Driving Test IS NOT EASY but is within the reach of most motorists with the right guidance.

[lborob17]

MLC - Yes a few years back I was in the back of a police Galaxy 'on blues' (in the name of research I hasten to add!) going to a accident and It was quite remarkable that people didn't even look in their rear view mirror (or out of their windscreen for that matter!) SCARY

[Graeme]

I want to do it been looking to for years. silly question but my cars an auto so could i still do it as i've read police roadcraft book and it looks like its all about being in the correct gear etc.

[lborob17]

Graeme - no probs if its an auto - makes it easier!!!

I changed from a manual to an auto mid way through the course (not to make it easier!!). Some of the observers drove autos

[Graeme]

nice one cheers i'll look into that i think.

[david173]

How do you go about sitting the advanced test? I've been on the website a few times but there doesn't seem to be any sort of link or page about actually sitting it or where the local centre's are?

[spoons]

I've been an advanced driver for 15 years BUT what has always made me laugh is that if you pay £15 each year, your membership remains in tact.

However, if you dont pay your £15 each year your membership is lost, and you have to retake your test to become a member again.

SO, I pay my money and I'm considered to be a good driver. OK then, here's my cheque.

If I dont pay my money, my driving skills are not considered to be good enough to be a member.

WORK THAT ONE OUT FOR YOURSELF !!

[bobbyboy]

I did my advanced driving (police class 1 standard) with the service over 10 years ago..and its great doing it in a fast car..just wait until you get behind the wheel of a 4 ton ambulance..we did the course in fast cars and true to training logic we did the test in an ambulance...it changes things dramatically. the system is the same but try braking, cornering, overtaking, geting through narrow gaps, etc with a vehicle at least twice the size and weight.....And yes there are road users who are totally obliviuos to audible and visual warnings, these are the people that should be tested from time to time...if the dont see us then what else are they missing...?

[C19_CJB]

I am doing the IAM course at the minute.... my test is booked for the 17th. It has been a real eye opener as I thought I was a good/safe driver anyway - its amazing what bad or even dangerous habits you pick up!

Chris.

[JP7]

I joined the IAM at 19 and took my advanced driving test, passed first time thankfully!

It's done me no end of services - my insurance costs less because I get a discount for being an IAM member; I get better fuel economy; I got brownie points with my boss because he's a member; I now statistically have a 70-80% less chance of having an accident than an "average" driver...

Having had two accidents as an inexperienced driver, and getting a job where I regularly drive high-performance cars, I felt it was very important to get myself some driver training. It costs £85 for the course which includes books, the test fee and your first year's membership.

The 90 minute test was the most gruelling experience of my life. It's done with a police Class 1 examiner who's top of the driving tree. After the drive he lets you know whether you've met the standard or not, and picks apart 90 minutes of driving with compliments and areas for improvement.

Nothing beats the feel-good feeling of having a police driver tell you you're an excellent driver, especially for someone like me who was 19 at the time and in the age group of the notorious "boy racers"!

[jonnye]

I did the IAM Fleet course last year, our company insisted any one who drives a company vehicle has to take it. Somehow I got forced into it even though I chucked my company car back and took the cash option years ago.

Interesting day, spent most of the day winding the instructor up, well fancy putting me on a IAM the day after a Mitsubishi track day at Bruntingthorpe

Spent one day learning how to get an FQ 340 round the track at silly speeds :rockon: , playing football with Colt turbo’s :fear: ., and chucking Shoguns in 3 foot of mud and water :snow: . and then the next day driving miss daisy. :rolleyes:

The day went very well but here are a couple of comments from the report.

Approach to junctions – Too fast, applying brakes far too late. :eek:

Road positioning - Too far over on right hand bends :eek:
Too close to the side of the road on left hand bends :eek:

Traffic Islands – Again approach too fast, lane discipline need work

Traffic lights- Vehicle left in gear, hand brake not used


And it goes on and on and on

Final summery reads along the lines of:-

Jon is a very capable and observant driver, needs to keep an eye on the speed limits and read the road ahead better.

Even after consultation Jon was still approaching junctions far too fast

Car sympathy – Poor, excessive revs through out the gear range, using gears to slow car down without applying brakes, leaves braking very late which results in heavy application of the brakes to stop the car. Handbrake was not applied once during test, holding vehicle on clutch at traffic lights.


And it went on even more

My summery drove to fast and too hard for the guy, he did say he felt safe with my driving but it was not the style of driving endorsed by the IAM.

Only thing is my boss got a copy of the report :flail:

[big phil]

would love to do it ... ive always wanted to do it !!!! just wind me up and point me in the right direction !!! ;)

[Caterman]

My summery drove to fast and too hard for the guy, he did say he felt safe with my driving but it was not the style of driving endorsed by the IAM.


I take it you did'nt pass then m8 :flail:

[MLC]

When I took my Police advanced test, I was told that if the instructor took hold of the grab handle, he didn't feel safe.

He got in the car.......and immediately got hold of it. I didn't know whether to laugth or cry.

Passed though. That was nearly nine years ago. Had refreshers since then. Doesn't time fly when you're having fun!

[jonnye]

Being the IAM Fleet it was more of a report on your driving and if they felt you were a dangerous driver or a high risk to the company. The idea being further training could be offered to anyone who came out with a poor score on the day.

Although he pulled me up on a few bits, I never took any risks, my driving was safe and under control at all times, my main problem was sympathy to the car, at the end of the day its my car, my fuel bill, my tyres and brakes and if it makes me smile then what the hell.

[C19_CJB]

Just to let anyone know that is interested..... I passed my advanced test yesterday!!!! WOOOOHOOO!!!! :rockon: :cool:

Slight hiccup with a JCB taking up all the road but apart from that was an 'excellent' run according to the examiner.... not to mention we were back in the carpark within an hour instead of the usual 1.5 hrs

:D :D :D

Chris.

[Duncan]

:clap: :thumb: - well done Chris
Slight hiccup with a JCB taking up all the road.....I don't know, you'd think other members on here would have been helping you, not hindering you. I'd have a word with him when he's next online!! :lol: :D

[spoons]

Well done Chris... Welcome to the club ;)

[Spikey©]

well done Chris, good work!

[JP7]

Just to let anyone know that is interested..... I passed my advanced test yesterday!!!! WOOOOHOOO!!!! :rockon: :cool:

Slight hiccup with a JCB taking up all the road but apart from that was an 'excellent' run according to the examiner.... not to mention we were back in the carpark within an hour instead of the usual 1.5 hrs

:D :D :D

Chris.

Congratulations, well done you! You're a jammy whatnot only having an hour's test though, I had the full hour and a half and it's seriously gruelling!

[Steven]

well done mate :clap: :whoo:

[bobbyboy]

congrats mate...well done:D :D :D

[C19_CJB]

Thanks for the replies guys!! :D