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.

speak to scoobychris on here as he is an advanced driver and he and other members hold advance driving taster days and it is well worth it imo

i though i was a good driver until i went out with chris lol

he will put you onto the right people in your area to

I have done both the IAM and the RoSPA courses, and personally think that the RoSPA one is better. Found they aren't quite so anal about petty things and their volunteer instructors, at least locally, seemed more friendly.

Cheers I'll see if I can find scoobycris, so the rospa courses how long and what do they cost?

Visit www.iam.org.uk. Our courses are 12 week, non anal and our group at www.elancashireiam.freeserve.co.uk has an 80% pass rate. Once passed, insure your car with www.iamsurety.co.uk and it should reduce your premium. The course (should) improve your observation, forward planning and general awareness of your surroundings. You'll have to revisit that little book that nobody's seen for years too, called the Highway Code. Yes, it still exists....

If you're in our catchment area, we start on the 9 January 2011.

I have IAM and it is very good - it opens your eyes. Also I get insurance for £450 with IAM and i'm 28 with 6 years no claims in a high risk postcode. Next cheapest quote was £700!

Check out AD-UK. Its a very helpfull forum and you find a few Briskoda members on their also.

For what your looking at either IAM or Rospa will be ideal. Both are based around Roadcraft. I passed my IAM almost 2 years ago now. Never looked back since. But I will be joining Rospa at some point so I can compare the two.

Get on AD-Uk. Plenty of people on their will be willing to give you a few tasters before you decide to hand over any cash.

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

Paul007,

no disrespect to your Group, it's just how I found the local lot when I started to do the course.

I had one lesson a week for around 10 weeks with a normal driving instructor. That was his day job, he also did other driving jobs and was an ex police instructor. When he thought that I was ready he arranged for me to take the RoSPA test.

Find a driving instructor who offers a range of tuition services and enquire about advanced driving.

Hi Fordfan how did you find your instructor? Or was it through contacts?

I can't really remember, it was 13 years ago before the internet. I think that if you look for an independant driving school that advertises as offering other instruction such as automatics, towing etc., that has been in business for a while, I don't think that you can go too wrong. Try and get a copy of the police driving manual 'Roadcraft', as having an understanding of this will help you to get the most from any lessons, not to mention refreshing yourself by going through the Highway Code again.

I have joined my local RoSPA group (South Devon) and looking forward to learning. Not had my first lesson yet but sat at a couple of meetings and had a bit of a taster too.

A few years back my work paid for me and some colleagues to go up to Birmingham for a week to do 4 days of training with ROSPA and testing, it also included a skid pan session. It was well worth it although I wouldn't have done it this way if I were paying (think it cost around £1k with hotels etc) It certainly makes you far more observant and gives you better car craft. I managed to get a gold in the testing which I was pretty chuffed with.

I know another colleague who wasn't sent on the course did it in his own time locally, I don't think it cost him much. As for insurance I found it made no difference so never bothered renewing my ROSPA membership.

The bloke that taught me was really good but his name escapes me.