Help,i need ideas.
Discussion
Greetings everybody.
I am a training to be an observer for a local IAM group,and we are looking for ideas on how to recruit the younger generation into advanced driving.It seems to be a nationwide problem trying to get the 17-25 group involved in any driver education.Has anybody got an ideas?
Im one of the youngest in our group and im 40'ish.So is it an image problem. Do the young lad/lasses think we all drive volvo's and wear cloth caps!!!
My apologies if i am slow at replying,as this is the first internet forum i have ever been on (plus i have a cup of tea in the other hand)
Regards
Dave
Are you sucking a Werther's Original too? 
You pose a difficult question - I tried to rustle up some of my local IAM observers to go along to a "Cruise" meet in a college car park in Boston (Lincs). Most of the people there were the Saxo/Corsa/Max Power brigade and Lincs police several Trafpol showing chavs around their unmarked Skodas and Imprezas, along with some pretty gory photos of fatal RTCs.
The consensus of opinion amongst the Boston IAM group was that although the meet participants would be those most likely to die on the roads they would also be the most likely to scoff at bearded/sandal wearing/Volvo driving/BMW bike riding/etc etc IAM types.
The only really motivating factor I can think of for an 18 - 26 year old with a modified hot hatch would be lower car insurance premia from passing advanced driving tests. I'm sure that a couple of hundred quid extra in their pockets each year would go some way towards the street credibility poofter-ish notion of "safe driving" training.
Innit
You pose a difficult question - I tried to rustle up some of my local IAM observers to go along to a "Cruise" meet in a college car park in Boston (Lincs). Most of the people there were the Saxo/Corsa/Max Power brigade and Lincs police several Trafpol showing chavs around their unmarked Skodas and Imprezas, along with some pretty gory photos of fatal RTCs.
The consensus of opinion amongst the Boston IAM group was that although the meet participants would be those most likely to die on the roads they would also be the most likely to scoff at bearded/sandal wearing/Volvo driving/BMW bike riding/etc etc IAM types.
The only really motivating factor I can think of for an 18 - 26 year old with a modified hot hatch would be lower car insurance premia from passing advanced driving tests. I'm sure that a couple of hundred quid extra in their pockets each year would go some way towards the street credibility poofter-ish notion of "safe driving" training.
Innit
Cheers Brisel for your thoughts.
Sorry it took so long to reply,i have just come back from a tour of the Nissan plant.(booked free through the IAM of course)Spotted a new GTR in red in the reception.Now if Nissan could lend me that, i could go along to a couple of local cruises and show them some advanced donughting,sorry i ment driving.
We tried students at enrolment week and even had a stand outside the local halfords at one point,but caught no joy.
I like your idea of getting traffic involved,however we only run BMW's and MERC,s up here.Pity we didnt have EVO's and SCOOBY's like some of the other force areas.
Regards
Dave
I've just joined my local group at age 20.
Predictably, the reasons were wanting to improve my driving and the chance of lower insurance premiums.
There are probably a load of reasons why young people don't want to do IAM: don't know about it, don't care about driving, over confidence, think they are already good, going for more training is an admission of not being good, not wanting to be told what to do, perception of slow driving and wheel shuffling etc., high achievement is not "cool", being non-conformist is "cool", ...
The main one for people that would want to do it is the image of wheel shuffling and slow driving IMO.
If we can get around that, and raise awareness of what it's all about, then maybe more will do it.
For the others, if they don't want to do it, they won't, just like with anything else.
Also how can we make AD and IAM more "cool" to these people? Personally I won't mention anything of the sort to most people - as a conversation killer it's on a par with admitting that you work in IT.
All IMO of course.
Predictably, the reasons were wanting to improve my driving and the chance of lower insurance premiums.
There are probably a load of reasons why young people don't want to do IAM: don't know about it, don't care about driving, over confidence, think they are already good, going for more training is an admission of not being good, not wanting to be told what to do, perception of slow driving and wheel shuffling etc., high achievement is not "cool", being non-conformist is "cool", ...
The main one for people that would want to do it is the image of wheel shuffling and slow driving IMO.
If we can get around that, and raise awareness of what it's all about, then maybe more will do it.
For the others, if they don't want to do it, they won't, just like with anything else.
Also how can we make AD and IAM more "cool" to these people? Personally I won't mention anything of the sort to most people - as a conversation killer it's on a par with admitting that you work in IT.
All IMO of course.
How much does it cost to get yourself through IAM? I'm betting most youngsters are put off because they just spent all of their money getting their compulsory license so dont want to spend MORE money on passing a test they dont 'have' to do.
Perhaps an afilliation (sp?) with a young person, modified car friendly insurance company might tempt people in.
Approach some of the lad mags and max power style car mags and offer to put one of their writers through an IAM experience for a magazine feature. The same feature could have a discount voucher for IAM?
All young 'uns like driving fast and doing skids so how about heavily discounted airfield trackday for passing IAM? Or a skid pan day? Or an autotest where they get to do as many handbrake turns as they like?
The local college will have a motor mechanics course and if its anything like my course was most of them will be of the max power brigade. Approach the college and see if it can be aranged to have a presentation followed by a trip to the local airfield where the local police are waiting with their fast pursuit cars to give them all a fast pax lap with commentary?
Perhaps an afilliation (sp?) with a young person, modified car friendly insurance company might tempt people in.
Approach some of the lad mags and max power style car mags and offer to put one of their writers through an IAM experience for a magazine feature. The same feature could have a discount voucher for IAM?
All young 'uns like driving fast and doing skids so how about heavily discounted airfield trackday for passing IAM? Or a skid pan day? Or an autotest where they get to do as many handbrake turns as they like?
The local college will have a motor mechanics course and if its anything like my course was most of them will be of the max power brigade. Approach the college and see if it can be aranged to have a presentation followed by a trip to the local airfield where the local police are waiting with their fast pursuit cars to give them all a fast pax lap with commentary?
IAM did a major joint promo with Max Power called 'Max Driver'. Take up was very low.
I am surprised you think youngsters are being put off by an image of wheel shuffling and slow driving. I don't think youngsters have enough interest in advanced driving to be aware of any such image. If that was the only problem, surely the HPC young drivers day would be oversubscribed. It isn't and never has been.
I don't think money is the major issue either - look at what the max power brigade spend on their cars.
The bottom line is that only a very small minority have any interest in improving their road driving skills. I agree that many more could be bribed to take an interest, by lower insurance premiums if possible, or by 'more exciting' driving activities offered as a reward. But no organisation is willing or able to offer these benefits on a wide scale. So far as insurance is concerned, the new IAM insurance scheme which is said to offer a good deal for most members is apparently not helpful to youngsters. I guess that no insurance company is prepared to believe (or has data to show) that young drivers are a much lower risk if they take advanced training. I wonder whether this is due to lack of research, or whether it is not the case that youngsters who take advanced training are significantly safer. I suspect that overall it has been impossible to demonstrate that advanced training makes drivers much safer - because the IAM were very keen to demonstrate this, but ultimately published some research carried out by Brunel University which was very wishy washy and certainly did not put any numbers on accident reduction from taking advanced training.
OP, it is great that you are keen to try. Best of luck.
I am surprised you think youngsters are being put off by an image of wheel shuffling and slow driving. I don't think youngsters have enough interest in advanced driving to be aware of any such image. If that was the only problem, surely the HPC young drivers day would be oversubscribed. It isn't and never has been.
I don't think money is the major issue either - look at what the max power brigade spend on their cars.
The bottom line is that only a very small minority have any interest in improving their road driving skills. I agree that many more could be bribed to take an interest, by lower insurance premiums if possible, or by 'more exciting' driving activities offered as a reward. But no organisation is willing or able to offer these benefits on a wide scale. So far as insurance is concerned, the new IAM insurance scheme which is said to offer a good deal for most members is apparently not helpful to youngsters. I guess that no insurance company is prepared to believe (or has data to show) that young drivers are a much lower risk if they take advanced training. I wonder whether this is due to lack of research, or whether it is not the case that youngsters who take advanced training are significantly safer. I suspect that overall it has been impossible to demonstrate that advanced training makes drivers much safer - because the IAM were very keen to demonstrate this, but ultimately published some research carried out by Brunel University which was very wishy washy and certainly did not put any numbers on accident reduction from taking advanced training.
OP, it is great that you are keen to try. Best of luck.
Have a look at some of the things we have tried to get the youngsters in...
http://www.iamchelmsford.org.uk/
The Young Drivers course is oversubscribed...the ADIs get prospective customers when they come of age, and we pick up some of the parents who drive them to the course.
For some years we refunded 100% to 21 and under and 50% to 25 and under...now 50% to all under 26.
We have a very supportive Traffic Boss - Essex Traffic did a campaign where every youngster who got 'talked to' got a polite letter stating that no record was being kept of the Stop but recommending contact with our Group and details of the discounts.
He also got us space at a few open days at Fire Stations...couple of Bikesafe Trafpols pulled the youngsters in and a Battenberg Volvo.
We still don't get enough youngsters...just some ideas of things we try...I carry a stack of small Group cards and hand them to the Saxo lads in Tesco car parks - never had a bad reaction, but first question is "Will it reduce my insurance?" Telling them it will preserve their NCB doesn't quite do it!
BOF
PS - We also have a 'retired' Observer who goes around schools, Hospitals and libraries, surgeries etc sticking IAM things to peoples walls and notice boards...
http://www.iamchelmsford.org.uk/
The Young Drivers course is oversubscribed...the ADIs get prospective customers when they come of age, and we pick up some of the parents who drive them to the course.
For some years we refunded 100% to 21 and under and 50% to 25 and under...now 50% to all under 26.
We have a very supportive Traffic Boss - Essex Traffic did a campaign where every youngster who got 'talked to' got a polite letter stating that no record was being kept of the Stop but recommending contact with our Group and details of the discounts.
He also got us space at a few open days at Fire Stations...couple of Bikesafe Trafpols pulled the youngsters in and a Battenberg Volvo.
We still don't get enough youngsters...just some ideas of things we try...I carry a stack of small Group cards and hand them to the Saxo lads in Tesco car parks - never had a bad reaction, but first question is "Will it reduce my insurance?" Telling them it will preserve their NCB doesn't quite do it!
BOF
PS - We also have a 'retired' Observer who goes around schools, Hospitals and libraries, surgeries etc sticking IAM things to peoples walls and notice boards...
Edited by BOF on Friday 18th July 10:49
Hey, Im a 17 year old and have passed the L test recently. I think that although this post is true, it doesn't just apply to young people. I think that if you asked people of every age, then the results would be just the same, people just aren't enthusiasts and don't want to improve their driving.
The main problem for me is money. I would like to do a RideDrive course, but it's nearly £300 for a day! Anyone want to sponsor me?!
Also, the majority of my friends that drive are super confident, cocky, drive like idiots and think they have skill and own the road (despite only driving through towns and around roundabouts!). I think the way to persuade young people is to take them to a track with a faster car than they have ever driven, and then have an on road session, and less expensive fees.
The main problem for me is money. I would like to do a RideDrive course, but it's nearly £300 for a day! Anyone want to sponsor me?!
Also, the majority of my friends that drive are super confident, cocky, drive like idiots and think they have skill and own the road (despite only driving through towns and around roundabouts!). I think the way to persuade young people is to take them to a track with a faster car than they have ever driven, and then have an on road session, and less expensive fees.
Mate of mine runs a driving school and he has got a regular slot in 2 local 6th forms doing pre-lessons road safety stuff with 16-17 year olds. Boosts take up on lessons, maybe doing this kind of scheme would be a good idea.
Also of interest to you may be a link up with this, not sure how good it is but may offer a way of making advanced driving more attractive to the young.
Just realised that you're not a million miles away from me. I would like to do an IAM test at some point in the near future when time allows and could possibly offer a few more ideas on engaging the young in driver training (some of my staff too
) so if you want to drop me an email feel free.
Also of interest to you may be a link up with this, not sure how good it is but may offer a way of making advanced driving more attractive to the young.
Just realised that you're not a million miles away from me. I would like to do an IAM test at some point in the near future when time allows and could possibly offer a few more ideas on engaging the young in driver training (some of my staff too
) so if you want to drop me an email feel free.Edited by chris_w666 on Monday 21st July 11:38
i can honestly say that now, at 20 years old, this thread is the first time i have been made aware of such courses. And in my opinion this is definately a problem for you. more exposure isnt going to guarantee you increased uptake however if people aren't aware of what is on offer then numbers are definatley going to be low
a. I would never, ever have heard of IAM unless I came into the AD section of PH
b. It's expensive
c. Most people my age (17) think "I can drive, I don't want to be a racing driver - I just want to be able to get about" so they'll view it as a waste of money
d. Advantages to a young driver - it means you can drive better, more progressively, more safely... "Erm, so?" will be the reply you'll get from most teenagers. To them, safe = slow. And they want to drive fast.
And I can't think of anything else atm.
b. It's expensive
c. Most people my age (17) think "I can drive, I don't want to be a racing driver - I just want to be able to get about" so they'll view it as a waste of money
d. Advantages to a young driver - it means you can drive better, more progressively, more safely... "Erm, so?" will be the reply you'll get from most teenagers. To them, safe = slow. And they want to drive fast.
And I can't think of anything else atm.
I've often toyed with the idea of doing something with the IAM but never really looked into it. Just discovered there is a group in my area so I may have to look into it a bit further and get on with it before I get my RWD motor on the road.
I've never heard of the IAM before coming on PH so one of the problems is lack of publicity, if people don't know you exist how will they join?
Have you thought about doing some kind of presentation at a college or something similar? The people I knew at college were absolutely terrible drivers and I think I'm the only one out of all the drivers I knew back then that haven't crashed a car through stupid driving or otherwise, you might be surprised by how many of them are willing to learn more about driving at that stage.
I've never heard of the IAM before coming on PH so one of the problems is lack of publicity, if people don't know you exist how will they join?
Have you thought about doing some kind of presentation at a college or something similar? The people I knew at college were absolutely terrible drivers and I think I'm the only one out of all the drivers I knew back then that haven't crashed a car through stupid driving or otherwise, you might be surprised by how many of them are willing to learn more about driving at that stage.
Vaux said:
Sharief said:
b. It's expensive
Is price really an issue? You can get Skill for Life (at the moment) for £79-89 (under 26) and some groups will reimburse the full fee through donations.A tank and a half of fuel? You'll recoup that in a couple of months.
It's not about money IMO.
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