DRIVING MENTORS

[R0G]

Is there already a thread on here where those with more experience or expertise offer to give their time for FREE to those who wish to improve their driving?

I do not necessarily mean advanced driving but just improving general driving.

If this is the first thread like this then I'll throw my hat into the ring as a mentor

LEICESTER LE4 - near Walkers Crisps Factory
Senior observer Leicester IAM 1998 to present
EX LGV instructor 2005 - 2008

Edited by R0G on Friday 30th December 14:37

[SV8Predator]

I'm sure someone will be along soon to help you improve your standards. You should be applauded for asking for help!

[R0G]

SV8Predator said:

I'm sure someone will be along soon to help you improve your standards. You should be applauded for asking for help!

You got wrong end of stick - I am the one offering help

[vonhosen]

I'll get the parrot.

[MC Bodge]

R0G said:

You got wrong end of stick - I am the one offering help

To help someone who wants to improve their mentoring skills by coaching you?

[Dr Jekyll]

R0G said:

I do not necessarily mean advanced driving but just improving general driving.

What's the difference?

[0a]

What's going on?

[Glosphil]

I thought ROG's post was perfectly clear. He is offering his time free to anyone who wants ROG to help them improve their driving skills.

ROG has been Senior Observer with the Leicester IAM group since 1998. A generous offer.

[MC Bodge]

Indeed. Were I to live nearer to Leicester, I'd take you up on the kind offer. Unfortunately, I'm about 100 miles away.

[MC Bodge]

Dr Jekyll said:

R0G said:

I do not necessarily mean advanced driving but just improving general driving.

What's the difference?

'Advanced Driving' requires following a set of rules laid down in Roadcraft.

Good driving can be achieved without necessarily always following Roadcraft.

[7mike]

MC Bodge said:

'Advanced Driving' requires following a set of rules laid down in Roadcraft.

No it doesn't. This is the generally accepted definition as agreed by all interested parties; IAM RoSPA DSA DIA etc (no doubt after numerous punch-ups and the intervention of UN intermediaries )

"Advanced Driving is the ability to control the position and speed of the vehicle safely, systematically and smoothly, using road and traffic conditions to make reasonable progress unobtrusively, with skill and responsibility. This skill requires a positive but courteous attitude and a high standard of driving competence based on concentration, effective all round observation, anticipation and planning. This must be co-ordinated with good handling skills. The vehicle will always be in the right place on the road at the right time, travelling at the right speed with the correct gear engaged and can always be stopped safely in the distance that can be seen to be clear."

[MC Bodge]

That is approximately what I believe to be what all "driving" should be.

However, "Advanced Driving" has been highjacked by the roadcraft-based organisations you mentioned.

We know what ROG means.

[johnao]

MC Bodge said:

However, "Advanced Driving" has been highjacked by the roadcraft-based organisations you mentioned.

Would it not be more accurate to say that... the concept of advanced driving in the UK has been created by the Roadcraft-based organisations mentioned?

In order to highjack something it has to exist in the first instance. It seems to me that the IAM, League of Safe Drivers et al created the concept, in a civilian format, about 50 years ago. Admittedly, it had existed as a police driving school concept since the 1930s.

The outcome being that the IAM, RoSPA and similar Roadcraft-based organisations now monopolise the concept of "advanced driving" and it's therefore difficult for anyone who has an alternative approach, as opposed to Roadcraft, to make their voice heard.

But, if you have an alternative to the Roadcraft-based approach to advanced driving why not use this forum to explain and advocate your alternative?

[hasn't this been done before?-ed]
[not to my knowledge. sub-ed]

[vonhosen]

johnao said:

MC Bodge said:

However, "Advanced Driving" has been highjacked by the roadcraft-based organisations you mentioned.

Would it not be more accurate to say that... the concept of advanced driving in the UK has been created by the Roadcraft-based organisations mentioned?

In order to highjack something it has to exist in the first instance. It seems to me that the IAM, League of Safe Drivers et al created the concept, in a civilian format, about 50 years ago. Admittedly, it had existed as a police driving school concept since the 1930s.

'Good driving' would have been present before, it just wasn't formalised under an 'advanced driving' label.

johnao said:

But, if you have an alternative to the Roadcraft-based approach to advanced driving why not use this forum to explain and advocate your alternative?

[hasn't this been done before?-ed]
[not to my knowledge. sub-ed]

I think it has & regularly too.

[Although perhaps 'Advanced driving' isn't a label that many advocating alternatives would want to use.]

[R0G]

I know many drivers who are very good safe drivers but would not pass an AD test because their style of driving is not what AD requires

There are many styles of driving - choosing and being able to do the safest style possible for a driver should be the aim for anyone assisting those drivers wishing to improve

[Dr Jekyll]

R0G said:

I know many drivers who are very good safe drivers but would not pass an AD test because their style of driving is not what AD requires

There are many styles of driving - choosing and being able to do the safest style possible for a driver should be the aim for anyone assisting those drivers wishing to improve

Can you give examples of good and safe practice which would fail an IAM or ROSPA test?

[vonhosen]

Dr Jekyll said:

R0G said:

I know many drivers who are very good safe drivers but would not pass an AD test because their style of driving is not what AD requires

There are many styles of driving - choosing and being able to do the safest style possible for a driver should be the aim for anyone assisting those drivers wishing to improve

Can you give examples of good and safe practice which would fail an IAM or ROSPA test?

What would they say about driving your car at a constant safe 56mph in lane one of a NSL motorway ?
What would they say about overlapping brakes & gears everywhere ?
What would they say about choosing to indicate when turning with nobody else visible at the time you decided to ?

[R0G]

crossing hands on steering wheel when PP would be safer - but in both styles the vehicle was under control

Indicating all the time even when no-one in sight for half a mile

[MC Bodge]

Changing down through the gears sequentially.
Not push-pulling the wheel around a car park.

[R0G]

MC Bodge said:

Changing down through the gears sequentially.
Not push-pulling the wheel around a car park.

1st is not AD

2nd - I do not always PP when driving slowly around a car park unless the situation warrants it