Young driver - additional training?

[The Gauge]

Any suggestions for additional driving training for my 18yr old son who passed his driving test earlier this year?

He currently drives his grandmas hand-me-down Ford Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost. He s really into cars and driving, and as he s now working and earning a wage he s eying up more desirable cars.

I ve suggested he keeps his Fiesta for a couple of years to get some driving experience under his belt and he s happy to start doing his advanced driving lessons in a few months time. I d also like him to get some experience of handling in the wet/ice to learn a cars limit points etc, which he’s keen to do. What are his best options?

[RizzoTheRat]

My parents bought me a skid pan day at Thruxton for my 18th. Great fun and I learned a few things about car control. 80psi bald tyres on Cortinas it was a few years ago) on an oil and water mix surface. At the end of the day they let us have a go with our own cars so got to slide my Mk2 Fiesta around as well.

[EdMX5]

I would suggest starting him on Pass Plus.

[Countdown]

EdMX5 said:

I would suggest starting him on Pass Plus.

IMO pass plus should be the minimum.

After that I’d encourage him to sign up to IAM or ROSPA. For me personally IAM made my driving much more enjoyable.

[M4cruiser]

As above, there are the set courses like IAM and/or Pass-Plus, but also don't forget the bespoke method, just contact an instructor and ask for advanced training. They don't just do Learners.

[The Gauge]

Pass Plus sounds interesting, wasn't aware of that, is there a way of finding a Pass Plus qualified instructor near where you live?

[RSTurboPaul]

HPC Young Driver day is very good.

[RazerSauber]

You'll have to check with any given instructor whether they're pass plus certified. Chere [url=https://www.gov.uk/pass-plus/local-councils-offering-discountshere[/URL] to see if you can get some sort of discount if you're in one of the named council areas.

I did pass plus. The joining of a motorway was quite helpful, as was some tips for country road driving.

[gareth h]

I used Rapid training for advanced trading on the bike, their trainer was ex plod instructor and was brilliant, particularly with hazard observation, I was going to get the kids a session with him, but we moved (he was in Dorset, but Rapid are national, might be worth a call to them

[brisel]

RSTurboPaul said:

HPC Young Driver day is very good.

Bookings have closed for this year (this weekend, in fact)

Good recommendation though.

[Starfighter]

Get a skid pad session booked up.

[DS129]

I suggest he does the IAM training, he will learn a lot about observation and hazard awareness.

[R0G]

pass plus is useless according to the two newly passed male drivers I had on the IAM course many years ago

The advanced training however was brilliant according to them
Both passed the test first time

OP - I am now retired but if living in Leicester I can help for FREE

Ex IAM senior observer
Ex LGV instructor

[7mike]

R0G said:

pass plus is useless according to the two newly passed male drivers I had on the IAM course many years ago

The advanced training however was brilliant according to them
Both passed the test first time

OP - I am now retired but if living in Leicester I can help for FREE

Ex IAM senior observer
Ex LGV instructor

That's a very kind offer Rog. As a fleet trainer/ADI I'd sort of agree regarding Pass Plus, however totally depends on who is delivering it. I've not been involved in the scheme for nearly 20 years and heard some horror stories of ADI's taking a fee to sign off each module so the pupil could get insurance discounts. Now if a particular ADI is used to instructing to higher levels and approaches the training for Pass Plus the same way they approach any other form of post-test training they deliver then I imagine it could be very worthwhile. The problem with taking any form of advanced training is probably less about the organisation and more about the individual delivering it.

[The Gauge]

R0G said:

pass plus is useless according to the two newly passed male drivers I had on the IAM course many years ago

The advanced training however was brilliant according to them
Both passed the test first time

OP - I am now retired but if living in Leicester I can help for FREE

Ex IAM senior observer
Ex LGV instructor

Thank you for the offer, much appreciated, sadly I am up in Sheffield, however I have emailed Sheffield IAM and am awaiting a reply, however their Facebook and webpage haven't been updated for some time.

[jaf65]

Have look on youtube for Reg Local, he is also on here. I spent a great day with him a couple of years back. I have been driving around 30 years and he taught me a lot and change how I drive.

[R0G]

The Gauge said:

Thank you for the offer, much appreciated, sadly I am up in Sheffield, however I have emailed Sheffield IAM and am awaiting a reply, however their Facebook and webpage haven't been updated for some time.

Sheffield Advanced 07938 725433

[RSTurboPaul]

brisel said:

RSTurboPaul said:

HPC Young Driver day is very good.

Bookings have closed for this year (this weekend, in fact)

Good recommendation though.

I have been meaning to find the £1k+ it will take to do HPC properly, but there is always something else more pressing to spend out on!

[The Gauge]

Had an email reply back from the local IAM group, they have a taster day tomorrow meeting at a local supermarket. Sadly my son wont be able to attend, but once we've paid the membership fee they will put him in touch with an observer.

[philrs03]

I think it’s two fold:

1. Confidence in the car/understating of driving dynamics
- Caterham have just started doing their Drift days again. A full day of car control in its rawest form really.

2. How to make progress and perceive hazards/enhanced situational awareness. You could do a lot worse than finding an Ex police driving instructor that’s local. A couple of days being taught from the Roadcraft manual will forever change the way you drive (for the better). Note, you can buy the Roadcraft book online, well worth a read.