AD Courses - which to choose...
Discussion
Hi,
I'm a new driver, and looking to increase both skills on the road and under the bonnet (have posted in the local board about maintenance courses too).
I've looked back over the last 6mths or so on this board, and see that there are lots of different options for AD courses, so before I go ahead and pick one, I thought I'd just double check that my assumptions on this might be right:
Pass Plus - some have found it useful (others haven't), some have found it would reduce their insurance (not for me, I'm too old to get any real benefit financially). As my lessons were done mostly in winter, I'm used to driving at night and in rubbish weather. I've largely discounted this as an option really, as it looks like it may be of less benefit than the other options.
IAM & RoSPA - Hmm... I am having trouble actually picking out the differences between these. They both appear to be based on the same principles, and both seem to sing from the same hymn sheet so to speak, although one is Pass/Fail, one has a test rating. Both appear to be focussed on safe driving, rather than necessarily getting the best out of your car (but I could just be wrong here)
Ride Drive and others - Look mainly to be geared at driving high performance (or at least higher performance than my shed!) vehicle's safely.
My aims are really to increase my competency over and above that of the basic driving test. I feel like I know enough to get by, but quite frankly, that's not good enough and I want to be able to drive to the best of my ability, without damaging the car I'm driving with poor skills, nor endangering anyone!
Also, when I buy my next car I want to be confident enough that I'll be able to handle a higher powered, more expensive car without becoming a danger on the road! (I'm not talking Evo X here, but considering a 1.6l Civic!).
Lastly, unfortunately price does come into it, so whichever option I take up I will have to take cost into consideration.
Anyone got any thoughts?
I'm a new driver, and looking to increase both skills on the road and under the bonnet (have posted in the local board about maintenance courses too).
I've looked back over the last 6mths or so on this board, and see that there are lots of different options for AD courses, so before I go ahead and pick one, I thought I'd just double check that my assumptions on this might be right:
Pass Plus - some have found it useful (others haven't), some have found it would reduce their insurance (not for me, I'm too old to get any real benefit financially). As my lessons were done mostly in winter, I'm used to driving at night and in rubbish weather. I've largely discounted this as an option really, as it looks like it may be of less benefit than the other options.
IAM & RoSPA - Hmm... I am having trouble actually picking out the differences between these. They both appear to be based on the same principles, and both seem to sing from the same hymn sheet so to speak, although one is Pass/Fail, one has a test rating. Both appear to be focussed on safe driving, rather than necessarily getting the best out of your car (but I could just be wrong here)
Ride Drive and others - Look mainly to be geared at driving high performance (or at least higher performance than my shed!) vehicle's safely.
My aims are really to increase my competency over and above that of the basic driving test. I feel like I know enough to get by, but quite frankly, that's not good enough and I want to be able to drive to the best of my ability, without damaging the car I'm driving with poor skills, nor endangering anyone!
Also, when I buy my next car I want to be confident enough that I'll be able to handle a higher powered, more expensive car without becoming a danger on the road! (I'm not talking Evo X here, but considering a 1.6l Civic!).
Lastly, unfortunately price does come into it, so whichever option I take up I will have to take cost into consideration.
Anyone got any thoughts?
Hello 
To my mind, the term “advanced driving” is a bit of a misnomer. Think of it as further training for the mental application of driving, rather than specific techniques and the sooner you start, the better. The car you drive is immaterial. It’s how you think and process information to remain safe in an increasingly hostile environment. Performance is your performance – not the car’s. You find out how to plan the best way to create space around you; how to anticipate the possible actions of others who may have an adverse effect on your space; how to adjust your speed (up or down) appropriate to what’s going on around you.
Fangio said (words to the effect that) driving is 90% concentration and 10% ability
As a bonus, you’ll probably learn how to be smoother and more adaptable, recognising (and acknowledging) errors when they occur. When you feel you’re performing all your actions calmly and decisively, giving, receiving and processing information at a higher level, the whole aspect of driving becomes less stressful. Rather than being a chore of getting from one place to another, driving becomes a pleasure, or in my case – a passion. The perfect driver has never been created but we can strive for that goal by aiming to improve – it’s virtually impossible to achieve that without the help and guidance of an empathetic coach.
Good luck!
To my mind, the term “advanced driving” is a bit of a misnomer. Think of it as further training for the mental application of driving, rather than specific techniques and the sooner you start, the better. The car you drive is immaterial. It’s how you think and process information to remain safe in an increasingly hostile environment. Performance is your performance – not the car’s. You find out how to plan the best way to create space around you; how to anticipate the possible actions of others who may have an adverse effect on your space; how to adjust your speed (up or down) appropriate to what’s going on around you.
Fangio said (words to the effect that) driving is 90% concentration and 10% ability
As a bonus, you’ll probably learn how to be smoother and more adaptable, recognising (and acknowledging) errors when they occur. When you feel you’re performing all your actions calmly and decisively, giving, receiving and processing information at a higher level, the whole aspect of driving becomes less stressful. Rather than being a chore of getting from one place to another, driving becomes a pleasure, or in my case – a passion. The perfect driver has never been created but we can strive for that goal by aiming to improve – it’s virtually impossible to achieve that without the help and guidance of an empathetic coach.
Good luck!
I am in a similar situation too you- I completed my Pass Plus in March 2008 (driving test passed Nov. 07) and am now looking at advancing my driving skills further. My first choice from looking round is RoSPA, as I feel that IAM has disillusioned itself from what advanced driving is really about (mainly the speed limiter issue, as has been discussed greatly in this forum).
Another vote for either IAM or RoSPA.
One thing that is worth bearing in mind is that the local groups do vary in terms of their style and approach. So its a good idea to talk to the Chief Observer (or one of the senior group members), to discuss what you are looking to get out of the experience and make sure that you feel their style works for you.
And whilst I agree with the sentiments about the IAM losing the plot a bit on issues like the speed limiter, remember that the local groups are staffed by volunteers whose primary focus is helping to promote advanced driving, and they may well not share the view of IAM HQ.
Kind regards
Steve
One thing that is worth bearing in mind is that the local groups do vary in terms of their style and approach. So its a good idea to talk to the Chief Observer (or one of the senior group members), to discuss what you are looking to get out of the experience and make sure that you feel their style works for you.
And whilst I agree with the sentiments about the IAM losing the plot a bit on issues like the speed limiter, remember that the local groups are staffed by volunteers whose primary focus is helping to promote advanced driving, and they may well not share the view of IAM HQ.
Kind regards
Steve
That's great - thanks for all the replies!
I will definitely look at both IAM & ROSPA and choose one of those. I'm especially reassured that I can do one straight away to increase my own proficiency rather than having to wait (I thought I might come across as being a bit of a pillock, or at least a smidge conceited if I started doing it so soon after passing my test).
I can't wait now! (And I'll try not to be too ashamed of my very practical granny wagon
)
I will definitely look at both IAM & ROSPA and choose one of those. I'm especially reassured that I can do one straight away to increase my own proficiency rather than having to wait (I thought I might come across as being a bit of a pillock, or at least a smidge conceited if I started doing it so soon after passing my test).
I can't wait now! (And I'll try not to be too ashamed of my very practical granny wagon
)A vote for the IAM here. When I did it the costs were just for fuel for observed runs and the Skill For Life package in the first place.
Whilst it is never going to teach you to find the limits of your car, it will prepare you for the day that you do. The higher level of judgement and anticipation required by the IAM (and ROSPA) will stand you in good stead. It will even help you avoid having to test the limit of the car by better forward planning.
Whilst it is never going to teach you to find the limits of your car, it will prepare you for the day that you do. The higher level of judgement and anticipation required by the IAM (and ROSPA) will stand you in good stead. It will even help you avoid having to test the limit of the car by better forward planning.
I don't want to sound like a broken record, but would remind the OP that the IAM Skill for Life package goes up by £40 on April 1st, so now's the time to do it.
S. Gonzales Esq. said:
I don't want to sound like a broken record, but would remind the OP that the IAM Skill for Life package goes up by £40 on April 1st, so now's the time to do it.
If you order through the local group you have until the end of April.For what it’s worth, I did Pass Plus the week after my test and started on tuition for RoSPA about 4 months later. I had a break in the middle, but passed RoSPA shortly before my 18th and I still use lessons I’ve learned from those days now. IAM was the easier test, but I felt that I would’ve benefitted from a few more miles under my belt before I sat RoSPA. What I would add, however, is that IAM and RoSPA will have certain ideas about driving. For example, the braking/gear overlap which is endlessly discussed. The brain training is perhaps more important than the practical elements. That is to say that it will help you think about hazards in a new way and help you develop your own thoughts and methods of driving. Personally, I like to H & T, but IAM discourages this.
When I was a young teenager, Paul Ripley used to have a column in the Telegraph’s Motoring supplement about hazard awareness; it’s a shame young (and older for that matter) drivers don’t have the chance to enjoy it any longer. Good luck with any training you decide to get, you never know; it might save your life one day.
When I was a young teenager, Paul Ripley used to have a column in the Telegraph’s Motoring supplement about hazard awareness; it’s a shame young (and older for that matter) drivers don’t have the chance to enjoy it any longer. Good luck with any training you decide to get, you never know; it might save your life one day.
Thanks - I've bought the IAM Skill for Life package and will probably start working towards it in soonish (got to have licence three months before you can start).
I don't think I need to worry about any H&T just yet - at least not in my 1.0l Agila! haha, but what I was looking for really is to become a better and more aware driver earlier.
I've worked in motor personal injury claims for the last ten years (valuing, negotiating & paying them, not making them!) and unfortunately have to see every day what poor attention can lead to. TBH, probably because of my job it's perhaps made me on the one hand more aware about the consequences of motoring, and helped me focus, but on the other hand because it's such an unrepresentative view of life on the roads, it's probably holding me back a little and I hope that any additional training may increase my knowledge and confidence.
Can't wait to start now!
I don't think I need to worry about any H&T just yet - at least not in my 1.0l Agila! haha, but what I was looking for really is to become a better and more aware driver earlier.
I've worked in motor personal injury claims for the last ten years (valuing, negotiating & paying them, not making them!) and unfortunately have to see every day what poor attention can lead to. TBH, probably because of my job it's perhaps made me on the one hand more aware about the consequences of motoring, and helped me focus, but on the other hand because it's such an unrepresentative view of life on the roads, it's probably holding me back a little and I hope that any additional training may increase my knowledge and confidence.
Can't wait to start now!
Well done for taking the plunge. Have you seen this thread with information about what happens next?
the mini mole said:
I am in a similar situation too you- I completed my Pass Plus in March 2008 (driving test passed Nov. 07) and am now looking at advancing my driving skills further. My first choice from looking round is RoSPA, as I feel that IAM has disillusioned itself from what advanced driving is really about (mainly the speed limiter issue, as has been discussed greatly in this forum).
I did pass plus too, and then passed with a ROSPA Gold last year at age 18. I would definitely recommend ROSPA, especially as it is free bar the test, and people generally rate it higher than IAM (a ROSPA bronze is the equivalent of an IAM Pass).Only advantage of the IAM is that it is recognised by more insurers, but you pay for that.
I am going on a half-day Ride Drive course tomorrow, so I can tell you what it's like, but I'm doing this as I've got a new car which is far faster than my old one, and I think I need more than what ROSPA taught me to drive it fast safely.
I did the IAM test about 18 months ago and have now decided to take the RoSPA course. I went "undercover" (not telling the RoSPA guy I had done the IAM) only that I had read a copy of Roadcraft and had been on a Police better driving course a few years back (both true). On my first observed drive with them I got a string of fives (5 being the highest) plus a 4 (I didn't overlap the braking/gearchange in one corner) and a N/A (reversing/turn around in the road - we didn't do any). When we got back we were chatting and another car, with an IAM badge on the front, came into the car park. It was pointed out to me that "IAM drivers often come to RoSPA - but never the other way around!" - Lucky I kept my mouth shut!
Do the IAM first. Followed by RoSPA to Gold level.
Then onto things that will really open your mind and skills whilst maintaining a healthy learning curve about driving.
Skid prevention and control (several times)
Racing School - circuit
Rally driving course/s (loose surface)
Don Palmer/Mark Hales course/s
Proving ground events (MIRA, Millbrook, Bruntingthorpe etc)
Then you'll have the box of tricks (except the mental side of driving - attitude) which is the most difficult thing to master.
Then onto things that will really open your mind and skills whilst maintaining a healthy learning curve about driving.
Skid prevention and control (several times)
Racing School - circuit
Rally driving course/s (loose surface)
Don Palmer/Mark Hales course/s
Proving ground events (MIRA, Millbrook, Bruntingthorpe etc)
Then you'll have the box of tricks (except the mental side of driving - attitude) which is the most difficult thing to master.
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