I have been thinking of doing the course for years and now i have a pretty solid car (my Fab vRS) Id like to give it a shot.

I wont say I am a good driver, my ability to read different road situations, road signs and observations all need room for improvement as well as my confidence to deal with unforseen situations; bad weather driving, controlling skids etc Can someone tell me how I go about applying for the course?

Incidently, has anyone in the Shrewsbury area done it and if so what are the Observers like here?

I would really like to do this course, time and money are not a problem, as long as I come out a better an safer driver.

Alex

Hi there, thinking about it is a very good start, ok you will find people on here that laugh and call members knuckle shufflers, but it is a good course to pick up valuable tips and see where you going wrong on the road.

Ive found my concentration has improved and so has my hazzard perception (not that it was bad in the first place). Best place to start is go to Institute of Advanced Motorists | Welcome to the IAM also get yourself this book Roadcraft: The Essential Police Driver's Handbook: Amazon.co.uk: Police Foundation: Books and also have a look at this dvd which helps put the expanations into concept Roadcraft - The Police Driver's Course on Advanced Driving DVD: Amazon.co.uk: Police Federation: DVD

Obviously they dont want you driving down the road like a cop on call, but i found them useful to the IAM book, but with both and a good observer from a local group you should be up to standards in no time at all.

Im not sure if we have any IAM members from your area on here, but scoobychris might know and will no doubt post a message later.

Good luck with it

Also worth considering RoSPA / RoADA which is quite similar....

RoSPA Advanced Drivers

I'm sure there have been discussion threads on here in the past on the pros and cons of each - but it may also depend on which sevres your particular area best!

is good to do just done mine lower my insurance a bit

Ah, the common misconception of joining the IAM. I am a member myself but it has done me no good in terms of the annual premium. It'll also cost you £139 for the skill for life - the 12 week course - 6 with a regular observer and 6 with a n other Observer from the same group and then your test with the Examiner, who, in our case are two Class 1 serving police traffic officers. I would say, though, even though it's not reduced my insurance, my skills of observation and planning for what might happen are much improved. In relation to the posts above, I'd say that the Roadcraft book isn't really necessary but other groups may have a different view. We issue the Pass Your Advanced Driving Test book with our packs and that's all you really need. Also be aware that the price will soon be increasing to £199...

I phoned my Local IAM group today and they are sending me an application form tomorrow. The next meeting is in September so I will definatly be attending.

I know some people think its a bit anal, but I think it is more beneficial to me than most people. I am not a awfull driver but I do have issues with depth perception as I only have 6/60th eyesight in my left eye so you can probably understand I have a certain disadvantage of judging the road than most people with normal sight.

Thanks for everyone's constructive posts.

i disagree the police handbook is what the police use and explains things better there for some techniques to the IAM's book. Also the time to get an observer to time to pass test can vary mine was nearly a year due to the shortage of observers.

Progressive driving is the way forward!!! You may not be tought anything extraordinary but you will become a better driver by simply becoming more aware of yourself and other drivers actions. Ps dont be put off if your instructor is a 70 year old dear (as was mine!)

Ah, the common misconception of joining the IAM. I am a member myself but it has done me no good in terms of the annual premium.

buy your insurance through iam surety and they'll beat any quote you can get on the open market

buy your insurance through iam surety and they'll beat any quote you can get on the open market

not the case, they will try, when i used them they rushed through the questions and missed stuff off the insurance, when i corrected them after receiving the paperwork through to the mistakes they said they couldnt insure me for the amount and then doubled it. Instead i went to a price comparission site put my details in there including my IAM status and when they came up with the company im with now, i went to their site and saved even more

The AA's just quoted me £600 with £600 "voluntary" excess on a Octy vRS. Had heard things about IAM Surety but will give them the opportunity to quote. Think next year's insurance isn't going to be cheap !

I phoned my Local IAM group today and they are sending me an application form tomorrow. The next meeting is in September so I will definatly be attending.

That sounds quite a quick turnaround so looks like it might be a good pro-active group! Each group operates differently, but if you're keen to get on with it, they should be able to assign you an observer and start reasonably quickly. The group I'm currently a member of sets a target of 10 observed drives to get you to test standard, but is flexible enough that if you're picking things up more quickly you need fewer drives. Conversely, if you're struggling with some bits, they will give you more drives. As Andy mentioned above, RoADAR is also worth a look if it's represented in your area as it's quite a bit cheaper and you're graded rather than pass/fail. There are also 3 yearly retests which are free provided you keep up the £20 a year membership fee. Both are recognised qualifications and 25% discount is achievable from the likes of Adrian Flux.

I know some people think its a bit anal, but I think it is more beneficial to me than most people. I am not a awfull driver but I do have issues with depth perception as I only have 6/60th eyesight in my left eye so you can probably understand I have a certain disadvantage of judging the road than most people with normal sight.

I'm not sure what is taught on the course will necessarily help with depth perception although it will help you identify, prioritise and deal with hazards. I too am partially sighted in one eye (in my case the right) and the only person who has noticed was a well respected driving coach who commented that "I moved my head a lot to check my wing mirror". So, hopefully it's something that can be overcome

Enjoy!

Chris

buy your insurance through iam surety and they'll beat any quote you can get on the open market

My experience was that they could match the price, but couldn't match the level of cover for my needs. Definitely worth a try though

Chris

I would honestly say the IAM stuff is worth the money, as even 10 years after i did my IAM training, i still use techniques i learnt there. That said, i never saved a penny on insurance.

There are some very good people on the IAM, there are also some pompus idiots (the idiots are easy to spot, as they usually cant do the speed limit anywhere, and have IAM badges on the front of their car).

I would really like to do this course, time and money are not a problem, as long as I come out a better an safer driver.

Alex, if you still haven't had a drive some someone in the IAM, you're more than welcome to come along to the taster day I'm organising if you want to see the stuff that's taught in action...

http://briskoda.net/racing-advanced-driving-techniques/taster-day/149188/

The start will be at a Travel Inn so there's accommodation available if you need to break the journey down and the driving day itself up

Chris

I would honestly say the IAM stuff is worth the money, as even 10 years after i did my IAM training, i still use techniques i learnt there. That said, i never saved a penny on insurance.

There are some very good people on the IAM, there are also some pompus idiots (the idiots are easy to spot, as they usually cant do the speed limit anywhere, and have IAM badges on the front of their car).

It was the pompus ones that nearly put me off of joining driving a pug 106 1.2 screaming the nuts off the poor car from where he was trying to get the performance of a 2.0 from the 1.2

But then i met a young driver there who gave me a bit more confidence in them, then scoobychris then took me out and showed me how to drive it:eek: seriously i reckon anyone on here with IAM or ROSPA status or even police class 1 will show you how to drive properly for the test and beyond.

seriously i reckon anyone on here with IAM or ROSPA status or even police class 1 will show you how to drive properly for the test and beyond.

I think that points needs some clarification.

I don't know about IAM, but certainly with RoSPA just passing the test doesn't qualify you as an instructor. Additional training is required for that.

Whilst someone who has passed a test (IAM or RoSPA) maybe able to pass on a few pointers, I don't think they should consider themselves capable of instructing up to test standard.

It was the pompus ones that nearly put me off of joining driving a pug 106 1.2 screaming the nuts off the poor car from where he was trying to get the performance of a 2.0 from the 1.2

You'd love me to drive you in the Panda then

Chris

Whilst someone who has passed a test (IAM or RoSPA) maybe able to pass on a few pointers, I don't think they should consider themselves capable of instructing up to test standard.

I think to a degree how easy it is to become an observer/tutor can be influenced by how desperate the group are to process their backlog of associates! I've certainly had mixed experiences of observers and tutors which is a shame, but I guess it goes with the territory of being volunteers and fair play to them for standing up and trying to make a difference.

The ability to be a good coach and get the best out of people is an art form in itself and it's a skill which is only now being recognised and starting to break into observer circles, thanks in part to guest speakers who were involved in police driving schools publicising it. I've been lucky enough to spend some time with police instructors and the key for them is to motivate their students to believe in the material that's taught. Once they believe in it, they're much more receptive to new ideas and incorporating them into their driving and it's a very effective way of churning out world class drivers after only a few weeks of training.

Anyway I'm rambling again but in essence I'm agreeing with you

Chris

We are required to pass a short test, for group insurance purposes and then having had a few drives in the passenger seat observed by the Senior Observer, we can then give guidance to new associates. We don't instruct as we're not trained DSA's, we're volunteers that offer to get up on a cold, wet, usually p-ing down Sunday morning to take out individuals who also turn up out of their generosity to improve their driving.

like paul has said you do need to sit a short test etc with a senior instructor. i was offtered this after i passed my test but due to my shift patterns im not working when most people are at work and im at work when most finish work so it would have been pointless for me.

Myself and SWMBO have thought about this before in the past, I've been driving 8 years now and yeah I'm not the perfect driver and even driving down south I find it much more difficult to concentrate with the increased traffic compared to up here in edinburgh. But I also feel since I joined this club and going on the drives with a few of the guys on here my driving has improved in other ways. I could have signed up to this years ago when I attended a police open night with the cruise club I was involved in but decided againest it. Now that I'm older I think I might actually think about this now.

like paul has said you do need to sit a short test etc with a senior instructor. i was offtered this after i passed my test but due to my shift patterns im not working when most people are at work and im at work when most finish work so it would have been pointless for me.

Seems a shame not to do the course and be available if needed, ie someone else who works the same shift patterns. After all, if they can't be found an observer it might put them off trying to improve their driving........

Chris

Now that I'm older I think I might actually think about this now.

I was a similar position when I left Uni and decided that I should do the IAM course. Trouble was it was £75 and I couldn't justify that cost at the time. Drove for another 6 years and then decided that money wasn't an excuse anymore and I'd go for it ... what's the worst that could happen? ... and so I did RoSPA. That was a little over 3 years ago and I've never looked back and hopefully have spread some of the enthusiasm about it to all those I've driven with and spoken to.

I'm not sure which organisation best represents your area, but having done both IAM and RoSPA, I'd be leaning towards RoSPA as better value for money - both teach essentially the same course

If you fancy a trip to the opposite end of the Isles in October, you're more than welcome to come to the taster day I'm organising to find out what advanced driving is all about....

http://briskoda.net/racing-advanced-driving-techniques/taster-day/149188/

Chris