Book recomendation for a newly qualified driver

[niva441]

A friends son is soon to take his driving test. I was thinking of how to guide him on the next stage of actually learning to drive, rather than learning to pass his test. Early on I was given Superdriver by Sir John Whitmore, which was good in that it considered mental attitude to the task and purpose of driving. However as well as being out of print I suspect it is less relevant to how much road conditions and possibly vehicles have changed since I started driving. Can anyone recommend a suitable equivalent, my next thought was Roadcraft, but much as he is intelligent and engaged, I suspect it may not be the appropriate level.

Having had a check on Amazon, I've found the following options, has anyone any experience of these?
Drive to Survive - Lorin Charles

The Lost Art of High-Performance Driving - Ross Bentley

How to Drive: Real World Instruction and Advice - Ben Collins

Advanced and Performance Driving - Reg Local

Is there much difference to his other book?
How Not to Crash - Reg Local

Thanks in advance

Todd

[HappyMidget]

The Reg Local Advanced and Performance Driving book is definitely worth a read. It is written by a fellow PHer. It was based off a load of threads he did on here with a few tweaks and additions. I had read all the threads and still bought the book on Kindle.

Edited by HappyMidget on Wednesday 31st August 16:10

[Haltamer]

Reg local book is fab; Plain old roadcraft too.

[niva441]

Thanks for the replys, especially HappyMidget for replying so quickly.

It must be almost a first to have complete agreement on Pistonheads.

[R0G]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mind-Driving-Skills-Stayi...

[niva441]

Thanks for the Mind Driving recommendation, I think that will fit well with some of his interests and also the aspects of SuperDriver that resonated with me.

I think I'll be getting him both, together they're less than the Ben Collins book. They are also more focussed and avoid the sidetrack into show-boating.

[LosingGrip]

Roadcraft would be my recommendation. However, if they aren't someone who reads and learns that way I'd suggest IAM or ROSPA. I had to read/learn Roadcraft before a couple of courses at work and it doesn't stay in for me. It wasn't until I did it in real life that I got it.

I realise that IAM is more expensive than a book however.

[tivver500]

Some IAM groups are offering reduced rate courses for young drivers, with the added incentive of a refund on passing the Advanced Driver test.
As a 'passholder' it will also give discount on insurance which could easily recoup any outlay.....

[niva441]

Thanks for that, I'll mention it to his parents. Hopefully it could cushion the shock of the insurance rise when he passes his test.

I wasn't considering Roadcraft as, although it has been updated since I read it, I'm not sure it is ideal for a newly qualified driver. Especially as they've probably had enough of digesting the Highway Code and would appreciate a change of style.

[niva441]

Thanks all for the suggestions, I've ordered Mind Driving and Reg's book. Hopefully it will inspire him, even more optimistically once read he will pass them on to his friends. So there will be a pocket of intelligent teenage drivers around Preston.

[trashbat]

I haven't read Reg's one but books like this are only useful as an accompaniment to training, IMO.

'Roadcraft' appears at face value to be simple common sense - and of course the reader does all that already. It's only under scrutiny that it becomes apparent to the driver that perhaps they don't do all of that in practice & it might have something to offer.

[Bweber]

This brought to mind the late, great PJ O’Rourke’s Driving like Crazy. This includes gems like “55mph is the speed at which the spirited person parallel parks not drives to Chicago”. And the fastest type of car? A rental. Maybe not for the new driver…

[niva441]

Yes that would be for the more advanced techniques

[R56Cooper]

This is a bit OT as you're asking about books but I've been watching Reg's youtube channel and it's excellent (you may already have seen it).

I'd also recommend a copy of roadcraft, read it when I was 19 as I was a special constable and we were asked to read it before doing our police driving course.

[Y Cymro]

It’s good that you’re offering your friend’s son driving advice. Assuming he has an interest in driving I’d recommend the following as a route without going OTT and blowing his mind:

1. Highway Code - understand and learn
2. Know Your Traffic Signs - as above
3. How not to Crash - Reg Local. A fantastic primer for new or inexperienced drivers. Read the first half, ignore the statistical second half or he’ll become bored
4. Join IAM and his local IAM group. I recommend this rather than RoSPA due to the excellent IAM coursebook which is a simplified, more easy to understand read than RC.
5. Watch Reg Local videos on YouTube,
6. Buy RC and work with his local IAM group to interpret, understand and apply the principals
7. Sign up for IAM Masters

If you’re living in the South Wales area drop me a DM.

[GSA_fattie]

Advanced Driving: How to further skill and enjoyment in motoring if it’s still in print

i bought it for my eldest when he past his test and then sent him on the HPC young drivers’ day twice (i think) in a Pug 106

he'll get more out it than other courses - it’s not all about off siding at twice the speed limit in a posh VW beetle - it’s a lot more subtle