Im starting to become rather put off with IAM training after todays drive out. Anyone else here done IAM? i was moaned at for braking at the top of a slip road after the vehicle i was following was in lane 2 (me lane 1) left space between me and him then a vehicle came up the slip road in lane two alongside me causing me to brake to make space as he wasnt going to go over to lane two of the dual carraigeway. All IAM could say was i needed to drop back more. I explained by keepo droipping back all im doing is creating more space for the next idiot to squeeze into on the slip road leaving me eventually at a full stop.

However I ended up driving back my way (above the speed limit) and nothing was said.

Same thing happend to me when I did IAM, and didnt want to continue because the IAM observers were continually contradicting themselves in their advice, and looking to nit pick all the time. However I had runs with a couple of guys and a lady and they were brillant. But most of the runs I ended up with some twerp who was always boasting how fast he could drive and that he scared his passenger. Also heard of one IAM observer who use to hit the driver with a ruler if they did anything he thought wrong!

If you're not happy with the person I think you can refuse to have them on the next run, and have someone else.

If I was to take up IAM again I would look to another local group.

The problem with the IAM/RoSPA is there's a lot of "rules and regulations" that observers like to quote at you. The better observers/coaches encourage you to reach your own conclusions, after all driving is not black and white! If you're unhappy with your observer, ask for another to be assigned to you or we'll meet up again and I'll promise not to boast about how fast I can go and how to scare passengers :P

As a more general point, you have to think of the bigger picture in any situation and also manage the risks. Is creating a big gap a good idea? If I'm leaving a big gap which is encouraging other drivers to cut in front of me, is that a good thing? If I close the gap up to discourage them, have I left myself enough space to stop if they go ahead anyway? Is there a chap right on my bumper who will compromise my stopping distances? Etc, etc.

Stick with it

Chris

"I can scare my passengers" - yeah, so you're completely incompetent as a driver!

The best compliment I ever had was "you woke me up" after blowing the horn at someone who'd cut me up dangerously.

cheers all, i know what you are saying chris, i tried to explain it to the guy but he wasnt having any. on the way back apart from cruising at 80 till i found a nice space on the a34 i had to squeeze out into the outside line, so no big gap there, yet he didnt have a problem with that. so im gonna question him when we go for a drive out in his car

Yeah I think having him demo what he means will help him to clarify what he means and possibly open it up to some discussion if you try and look at the bigger picture.

Mark Kendrick's Advanced Roadcraft DVD is interesting and talks about dissuading drivers from moving into your path by closing gaps or in town making your car appear bigger. Well worth a view

Chris

I must admit the defensive driving closing a gap that would be pulled into otherwise sometimes is worth doing

thats what i tried to explain, but it according to him was a no no.

I must admit the defensive driving closing a gap that would be pulled into otherwise sometimes is worth doing

Although if you're compromising safety in front of you, you have to make sure there are other escape routes available to you. Safety is paramount, progress is secondary

Chris