Discussion
ya55erm said:
Could some one shed some light on what it entails and what the hell IAM stands for,
IAM stands for Institute of Advanced Motorists. To become a full member you need to pass a driving test. The IAM has a national body based in London and many groups based all around the country. If you join the national body you automatically join your local group - who will help you to pass the test.
ya55erm said:
call me thick or dumb but i cant figure it out?
I am sure you are neither thick nor dumb. But perhaps you haven't found their web-site which will tell you all about it:
www.iam.org.uk
ya55erm said:
Also can you actually fail the exam?
Yes you can. There are some people, sadly, who will never pass it. At least their driving gets a bit better as they try...
ya55erm said:
And with me being 23yrs old will i be fround apon if i were to apply for it?
Certainly not. You will be welcomed with open arms. We need MORE YOUNG people joining, passing, spreading the word and becoming better drivers.
Join up. £85. As much training as you can shake a stick at.
I agree with everything Don has said above. In fact, at the age of 23 I did the IAM course and now, 2yrs later at the age of 25 I am a Group Observer and love all that it has taught me.
As a minor point, I believe that because you are <25yrs old you pay £75, not £85.
Join up, do the course, practice lots, and not only will you be proud of yourself but you will see a marked improvement in your driving and associated running costs.
As a minor point, I believe that because you are <25yrs old you pay £75, not £85.
Join up, do the course, practice lots, and not only will you be proud of yourself but you will see a marked improvement in your driving and associated running costs.
Following on from what Don said - you will have a group local to you.
You'll find your local group on this list: www.iam.org.uk/IAMGroups/region4.php
They will have their own website, where you can find out more about what they do locally.
In a nutshell - when you join (£75 if you're 25 or under as per Tonys post above) your details will be passed to your local group.
You will be given a book called RoadCraft which you learn, adn gives you all the tips and tricks you need to be an advanced driver.
You will then be assigned an Observer - where he/she will drive with you for an hour or 2 at regular days/times good for you. They will observe you (hence their name) and will comment and mark you on what you did good and bad. You work on the weak bits until such time they think you are ready to do the test.
The test itself comprises of basically a 90-min drive with an examiner (typically a trafpol, or someone of that ilk). Hopefully you pass.
If you fail, you will know why, and then try again, having practiced some more.
K
You'll find your local group on this list: www.iam.org.uk/IAMGroups/region4.php
They will have their own website, where you can find out more about what they do locally.
In a nutshell - when you join (£75 if you're 25 or under as per Tonys post above) your details will be passed to your local group.
You will be given a book called RoadCraft which you learn, adn gives you all the tips and tricks you need to be an advanced driver.
You will then be assigned an Observer - where he/she will drive with you for an hour or 2 at regular days/times good for you. They will observe you (hence their name) and will comment and mark you on what you did good and bad. You work on the weak bits until such time they think you are ready to do the test.
The test itself comprises of basically a 90-min drive with an examiner (typically a trafpol, or someone of that ilk). Hopefully you pass.
If you fail, you will know why, and then try again, having practiced some more.
K
Kinky said:
Following on from what Don said - you will have a group local to you.
You'll find your local group on this list: www.iam.org.uk/IAMGroups/region4.php
They will have their own website, where you can find out more about what they do locally.
In a nutshell - when you join (£75 if you're 25 or under as per Tonys post above) your details will be passed to your local group.
You will be given a book called RoadCraft which you learn, adn gives you all the tips and tricks you need to be an advanced driver.
You will then be assigned an Observer - where he/she will drive with you for an hour or 2 at regular days/times good for you. They will observe you (hence their name) and will comment and mark you on what you did good and bad. You work on the weak bits until such time they think you are ready to do the test.
The test itself comprises of basically a 90-min drive with an examiner (typically a trafpol, or someone of that ilk). Hopefully you pass.
If you fail, you will know why, and then try again, having practiced some more.
K
Er, beg pardon but is that what you meant to say Kinky? I recently received a copy of the IAM book called How to be an "Advanced Driver" but it was not the "Roadcraft" book.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
TripleS said:
Er, beg pardon but is that what you meant to say Kinky? I recently received a copy of the IAM book called How to be an "Advanced Driver" but it was not the "Roadcraft" book.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Dave,
Sorry - my sincere apologies - you don't get the RoadCraft book - you get the book as you mention above.
I wrote in haste as my dinner was ready earlier than expected.
K
xxplod said:
IAM stands for Institute of Average Motorists.
If only.
If the IAM standard was, indeed, "average" the number of accidents on our roads would tumble to nothing.
Sure - the IAM Test Pass standard, in the grand scheme of driving qualifications/capabilities/measures is, indeed, less than half way up IMO...and many IAM Members do not even stay that far up.
But they're still around 20% less likely to be involved in an accident. (IAM's own stats, I believe)
Some of us, however, are driving enthusiasts and go on to do as much training/practicing/driving as possible...and try to be better than "Average".
Given the IAM manages to make driver's "average" - we should remember just how shite everyone else must be!
Kinky said:
you don't get the RoadCraft book - you get the book as you mention above
Yup that's right. The IAM's methods are based on the Police Driver's Handbook called Roadcraft, and as such the IAM's "How to be an advanced motorist" is a derivative of that. I suggest to many of my associates to also get a copy of Roadcraft. It's a very dry read, and takes a bit more time to get through, but is a nice complimentary read. Also good to keep as a reference book too!!!
Regarding the 'average' comment. Ok yes, many people who turn up are of a horrid standard. BUT, I always say that the mere fact they've turned up is a good thing - wanting to better their driving. That, surely, is half the battle?
Kinky said:
Er, beg pardon but is that what you meant to say Kinky? I recently received a copy of the IAM book called How to be an "Advanced Driver" but it was not the "Roadcraft" book.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Dave,
Sorry - my sincere apologies - you don't get the RoadCraft book - you get the book as you mention above.
I wrote in haste as my dinner was ready earlier than expected.
K
OK Mark, thanks for that. At least they haven't sent me the wrong book. I already have the 2001 edition of 'Roadcraft' and I still have the 1960 edition with the Wolseley 6/90 on the front cover. That one cost all of 17.5 pence - three shillings and six pence in old money!
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Kinky said:
IAM stands for Institute of Average Motorists.
XXP - what makes you say that? Surely someone who has taken the time and effort to better their driving and awareness makes them in some way better than the 'average' motorist?
Yes Mark, I think anyone who can pass the IAM test and subsequently maintain that standard (within reason) will be a better than average driver. Maybe what xxplod means is that they are not advanced drivers, and to be honest I agree with that.
In the event that I pass the IAM test in due course, I shall not take that as sufficient justification for believing myself to be an advanced driver.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
I think it boils down to your definition of Advanced and what you are comparing to.
Dave - I do agree with what you say.
IAM folks are (generally) not up to the level of TrafPol, etc - so not advanced in that respect.
But compared to Mr. Average on the road - then they are. Our skills are more advanced than theirs (generally speaking).
Dave - I do agree with what you say.
IAM folks are (generally) not up to the level of TrafPol, etc - so not advanced in that respect.
But compared to Mr. Average on the road - then they are. Our skills are more advanced than theirs (generally speaking).
Sorry all - my previous post was very much tongue-in-cheek, with no offence intended. A rather unfair jibe at the small minority of IAM members who are a tad tedious and believe that having reached the IAM standard, there is little left to learn. The IAM do an excellent job and if 50% of drivers attained the necessary standard, accidents and serious injuries would plummet.
Hi there,
I'm new to the forum, just wanted to check on here if anyone has any knowledge on this but IAM is basically the same as being trained by the Police, am I right. We use roadcraft and also go through a 3 week course for a response course.
I just wanted to know as I fully recommend this course to my friends but didn't know if the content was more or less the same as my training, minus the blue lights, sirens and higher than national speed limits of course.
Anyway, this is my first post so hello to all.
I'm new to the forum, just wanted to check on here if anyone has any knowledge on this but IAM is basically the same as being trained by the Police, am I right. We use roadcraft and also go through a 3 week course for a response course.
I just wanted to know as I fully recommend this course to my friends but didn't know if the content was more or less the same as my training, minus the blue lights, sirens and higher than national speed limits of course.
Anyway, this is my first post so hello to all.
ArghJae said:
Hi there,
IAM is basically the same as being trained by the Police, am I right.
Your system should be a lot more polished after a 3 week response course than would be necessary to pass the IAM, plus your commentary should be to a higher standard. Where you are after week one of your response would probably get you an IAM pass.
I would equate your standard response more to a Rospa silver/gold.
mefoster said:
I would equate your standard response more to a Rospa silver/gold.
The (retired) police instructor/examiner that I occasionally have private lessons with equates a RoADA Gold to approx class3 divisional driver.
How interesting! I have always wondered where the "civilian" qualifications equate in Police Driving standards. They tell me that the highest standards in civilian driving in this country are in the HPC. I've been seriously thinking about doing that...
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