Road driving coach in Surrey?

[BertBert]

Without wanting to spark debates, I have concluded I need to find help for Mrs Bert's driving. It seems to me that her thought processes are completely unsynchronised with her driving.

What I am looking for is a good road driving coach who is nice, friendly and non-threatening who can spend time helping her on a regular basis. I am sure she would go for it as she is very uncomfortable about her driving and would like to be more confident and comfortable.

I have ruled out our local IAM group as knowing their approach, my guess is that it wouldn't work. However it's got to be easily accessible from the epsom area.

Thanks
Bert

[BOF]

Bert,

RoSPA might be a possibility if you have a local Observer?

Maybe think again about your IAM Group or have a closer look or a chat with the Chief Observer?

In our mob there are some Observers more suitable than others for certain 'types' or 'ages' of Associates...the Scooby drivers tend to get certain Observers, for example.

I don't know your local people of course, but their is a big variety of 'personalities' in my Group...we all sing to the same Roadcraft hymnsheet, but with different voices or styles.

Another thought - do Club Driving have a Mentor in your area? I don't know about the scheme but might be worth checking?

BOF.
http://www.clubdriving.co.uk/mentoring.htm
Just looked - might be too 'enthusiatic'...

Edited by BOF on Sunday 29th June 16:22

[BertBert]

Thanks BOF, one of the problems with the IAM group is that the observed runs are on sunday mornings with different obervers. Also Mrs R knows of my experience/bigotted views!

Ideally I am looking for someone who can be recommended and that we can actually book (as it were) during the day.

My son's driving instructor was good, maybe I should broach that as an idea.

Bert

[ph123]

There's only one -
Bernard Aubrey.

[Distant]

I'd agree, a driving instructor sounds ideal as your first port of call. It sounds like the IAM might be running before walking..

[BOF]

BertBert said:

Thanks BOF, one of the problems with the IAM group is that the observed runs are on sunday mornings with different obervers. Also Mrs R knows of my experience/bigotted views!

Ideally I am looking for someone who can be recommended and that we can actually book (as it were) during the day.

My son's driving instructor was good, maybe I should broach that as an idea.

Bert

Bert,

I have a few DVDs and books that I lend to my punters...if you think your wife might be helped by them, e mail me through the Forum.

BOF.

[mph999]

One of the best ADIs in Guildford is Shepperd School of Motoring.

Chap is Tig, hishest grade of ADI (6 I believe) and RoSPA Gold. Really nice guy and drives like a proper driver (if you know what I mean).

Not spolen to him for a while, but I think he's still going.

Martin

[waremark]

I was also going to recommend Bernard Aubrey, with whom I once had a session, and whom I have often heard recommended by others. I confident he is ideal if you can afford his prices (£500 for a days session including use of a proving ground at Chobham).

The quality of tuition you get from someone like Bernard is in a completely different league either from we amateurs of IAM/Rospa, or from an ADI whose main job is teaching beginners to pass the driving test (a completely different task from teaching people to drive well).

Known as the Gentleman, Bernard is at the top level of high performance road driver coaching, with a CV including (I think) the Met driving school at Hendon, then the High Performance Course, then a long time as official Porsche Driving Consultant. But in spite of this apparent focus on high performance, he is a lovely chap with a gentle and undogmatic coaching style. Completely ideal for wives and girlfriends of enthusiasts, as well as for the enthusiasts themselves.

His website:

http://www.bernardaubry.com/

If money is a significant factor, then looking for a suitable daytime available IAM or Rospa observer seems like a good route.

[WhoseGeneration]

BertBert said:

Without wanting to spark debates, I have concluded I need to find help for Mrs Bert's driving. It seems to me that her thought processes are completely unsynchronised with her driving.

What I am looking for is a good road driving coach who is nice, friendly and non-threatening who can spend time helping her on a regular basis. I am sure she would go for it as she is very uncomfortable about her driving and would like to be more confident and comfortable.

I have ruled out our local IAM group as knowing their approach, my guess is that it wouldn't work. However it's got to be easily accessible from the epsom area.

Thanks
Bert

If I understand this correctly, I think you, or rather Mrs. BB, would like the help of a form of tutor not yet available.
She not wanting to, perhaps yet, scale the heights of AD but wanting confidence in those daily situations.
So, a tutor not wedded to technique or system but one who can help her understand how to "arrive alive".
Hard, I wonder if one of the Fleet training organisations would do a "one off".
If I was local I'd volunteer, when an IAM Observer, time never bothered me, one Associate took a year.

[BertBert]

I have talked to Mrs BB this evening and she is indeed interested in doing something to take the fear and pain out of everyday driving. This is not in the normal course of advanced driving except that of course all the core AD concepts of (systematic) awareness, planning, hazard approach and car control are all needed.

I just need to find a regular, good, sympathetic coach who can work with a shy very nervous driver (female, of middle years).

Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

Bert

[WhoseGeneration]

BertBert said:

I have talked to Mrs BB this evening and she is indeed interested in doing something to take the fear and pain out of everyday driving. This is not in the normal course of advanced driving except that of course all the core AD concepts of (systematic) awareness, planning, hazard approach and car control are all needed.

I just need to find a regular, good, sympathetic coach who can work with a shy very nervous driver (female, of middle years).

Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

Bert

A thought, try the Road Safety Officer at your local Council.
Sometimes Councils run "Be a better driver" courses or the RSO may know of any local ADIs providing help in this area.

[saxmund]

Would RideDrive be able to help? I know they're more often thought of as helping performance car drivers to make progress safely - but they do advertise for drivers of "standard type cars" and say theat they aim to customise the day to suit the customer. And a day would be about half of what Bernard Aubry charges.

[Nikkie]

I had been doing my head in trying to find a way to get the most out of the car, made even more problematic by my working abroad, the Ride Drive option looks like it could suit me down to the ground, I had paid for lessons with a normal ADI for MrN before I would let him near the Box, now I think that Chrismas present could be under control with a half day gift voucher for him and the two day advanced for me