passed my advanced motoring test today

Well done. It's not hard is it. I passed mine in 1998 and have been an observer with the Group since 2000. East Lancashire Advanced Motorists - Home Page.

well done mate, must admit its not hard, provding you do what you were trained to do and dont cross your arms, change gear and brake at the same time and dont plan ahead. but then as you dont do those sorts of things i would have expected you to pass well done!!

Congratulations and hopefully the examiner gave some useful feedback during the debrief as well

Chris

Congrats

Well done!

What's next?

insurance lol

Unfortunately the IAM don't really have a route of driver-improvement after passing the test but a few options available to continue building on the foundations you've developed:

- IAM observer - giving something back to the group and also cementing what you've learnt through coaching

- RoSPA/ROADAR - This organisation offers a graded test with IAM Pass (ie the minimum you need to get a pass) being roughly equivalent to a low Silver grade. Syllabus is the same and there are also tests every three years to ensure the standard is maintained. Depending on where your driving is, you may not gain a whole lot by doing this

- HPC Young Driver's Day - Young Drivers Day is a chance to meet up and drive with some driving enthusiasts who have been trained by Police Class 1 instructors and limit handling experts

- ADUK - A web forum full of driving enthusiasts who arrange regular driving day meets

Chris

- ADUK - A web forum full of driving enthusiasts who arrange regular driving day meets

... including one this Saturday ...

... including one this Saturday ...

And what a good day it was - I'm even getting to enjoy driving that Skoda of yours :rofl:

Chris

how much is it to do a IAM?

It was £99 but has recently undergone a price increase and is now £139.

http://www.iam.org.uk/eshop/membershipshop/Car+sfl.htm

Chris

but that also includes a years membership as well as test fee and someone coaching you. once a member its i beleive £39 a year.

once a member its i beleive £39 a year.

It's currently £28 which seems a bit steep for just a quarterly magazine, imho I believe you then also need to pay an additional annual sub if you're a member of a local group, which seems to be between £10 and £20. Tbh, I can't see myself renewing either in November.

The other major player would be RoSPA who are slightly less well organised at national level, imhe, and push a lot down to the local group level. This works well if you have a good local group, but can be a pita if you don't With them you pay for each bit individually so you join a local group (£15-£20) who will prepare you for the test, take the test (£48) and then once you're a full member, pay national RoSPA an annual sub (£20). This way you still maintain a national and local group sub (although there's no obligation to stay with a local group ), but for your national sub you get a quarterly (?) newspaper and the cost of your 3-year retest fully covered.

Chris

Edited 20 May, 200917 yr by ScoobyChris

Our local RoADAR (RoSPA Advanced Drivers And Riders) group sub is £25 for a new associate, £14 annually thereafter.

A RoADAR car test is £48, a motorcycle one £54.

IAM is £32 annually or £28 by direct debit. Bristol IAM (for example) charge £15 annually to belong to the local group.

Nick (Treasurer, North Wilts RoADAR)

ah chris thats where i came up with the £39 the bit for local group too. still £28 a year isnt bad, but not as good as the price was before the huge increase.

ah chris thats where i came up with the £39 the bit for local group too. still £28 a year isnt bad, but not as good as the price was before the huge increase.

I wonder what the £28 goes on and how the new price is being justified with no increase in benefits, from what I can see?

Chris

basically someone spent too much money and to cover the financial black hole they increased prices. According to many members they wont be renewing because of the steep increase. As i never attend my local group (30 miles away) because of my hours it doesnt seem to bad for me.

Well just bought a chepo roadcraft and highway code book from amazon. Going to study them a few times as well as attending an ADUK meeting this Saturday (thanks Chris ).

Just wanting to generally gain more awareness of what's going on around me and to learn a few new 'tricks'.

Will consider taking my IAM test at some point but not sure I would want to pay the anual subscription to maintain it!

Phil

Well just bought a chepo roadcraft and highway code book from amazon. Going to study them a few times as well as attending an ADUK meeting this Saturday (thanks Chris ).

Not a problem and I'm sure you'll have a great time .... oh and ignore anything Octy Ross says about my driving - he's just jealous

Just wanting to generally gain more awareness of what's going on around me and to learn a few new 'tricks'.

Will consider taking my IAM test at some point but not sure I would want to pay the anual subscription to maintain it!

IAM is a firm foundation, but by no means the only way of improving your driving. I'm a big fan of the ADUK days as they tend to be fun and relaxed and people are happy to offer advice based on your every-day style rather than a style that you may switch on to pass a test ... can you tell I'm not sold on everything the IAM teach/preach

TaviaRS (Jon) is also in Yorkshire and is a RoSPA tutor so he may well also be worth dropping a PM

Chris

Well done Scoobychris.

i dont agree with all that is in the iam. They claim that the police are trained to their standard and beyond, yet when you see the cops on pursuits they are crossing their arms driving with one hand and certainly not knuckle shuffling as they were trained to.

yet when you see the cops on pursuits they are crossing their arms driving with one hand and certainly not knuckle shuffling as they were trained to.

Do you think they would drive like that during their police (re-) assessments? FWIW, I know the Met and Thames Valley teach fixed input steering as well as pull/push, and also heel 'n' toe so it's refreshing to see some flexibility in the application of Roadcraft....

Chris

whats fixed input steering? probably know what it is but cant put a name to technique.

whats fixed input steering? probably know what it is but cant put a name to technique.

Fixed input steering is where you're hands remain fixed at, eg quarter to three before the turn, and the wheel is rotated, rather than moving your hands to around 12 o'clock for the pull. The advantage is that on faster corners you're hands are not leaving the wheel and you also know exactly how much you need to wind off so it's smoother, quicker and neater imho.

Chris