Hi all I've been thinking about taking an advance driving course for a while. I've had a few searches but it brings up so many different courses and quite a few people want to go on the course so they can drive faster.

The reasons I'm thinking about taking the course are:

1. I have my first child on the way and want to be the best driver i can.

2. With winters getting colder I would like to be more confident in bad weather situations.

3. I enjoy driving and would like to learn new techniques.

Right with all that in mind could someone preferably someone who has perhaps done a course let me know what the course gave to them, would I benfit from the course and how? Also costs and how long the course is, also names of companies that do the courses, again prefer it if the companies listed have good reputations, many thanks for reading.

When I lived in Somerset, the Police ran a scheme whereby you were taught by volunteers. Good skills and a fraction of the cost of some institutions. Might be worth having a chat with your local Police station to see if they run any similar schemes.

Like you, I wanted to be a better driver and enjoyed driving so wanted to learn the techniques.

Edited 30 November, 201015 yr by McTaff

Yeah I'll see what they say, still interested if any one else has info.

My advice would be to look into joining an IAM driving group. IAM stands for Institute of Advanced Motorists and is based on police roadcraft, your taught car control, cornering and most importantly forward obervation. Not only will it make you a safer driver, you save money as your driving more fuel effeciently and you can save a fortune on insurance. On avergae it takes about 7 weeks and your assessed by a police examiner. Having seen the results and taken the course I can vouch 100% for it, so much so that i'm doing my Observer training. For more info visit www.iam.org.uk

Hope this helps :-)

If you fancy comming up to Cumbria for a day, i will do a course for you, taylor it to your needs ect. I am a DSA ADI, (which unlike the IAM and their ilk, I am allowed to charge for "teaching" they are just allowed to observe and "comment", and are not allowed to 'teach' by law, unless they hold an ADI badge (no disrespect intended, so please dont flame, just touting my qualifications) , I am also qualified to drive on blue lights,(which I do all the time) that was mostly the style of "roadcraft" the police drivers manual, so includes much more advance cornering techniques, vehical handling , overtaking ect. I have been doing quite a few bad weather lessons recently (obviously the weather dictates!) how not to use the brakes, how bad ABS is on packed snow ect ect....

PM me if you are interested, I have 2 cars fiat 500 (NO traction control NO ESP, low power) and a grande punto sporting (170bhp, Traction, ESP, 314lbs/ft) or if you wanted to use your car, I could negotioate a very competetive rate, as it would be your fuel

Edited 1 December, 201015 yr by sharkrider