What now?

[1]

I passed my IAM test nearly a year ago and am looking to learn more.

Having not had any "advanced" training before I have to say that I was a little disappointed with the IAM.

After my first outing with my observer I took their advice and applied for my test, which I passed with ease. I got very little feedback from the examiner and to be honest felt I had wasted my IAM fee as it hadnt really added much.

I learned a few useful things from the roadcraft book I read before I joined but don't agree with some of the methods. In my everyday driving chose not to practice some of the techniques, such as; Push pull steering, not utilising engine braking, only using one pedal at a time.

At some point I would like to look at HPC but don't really want to spend £1k at the moment. I enjoy driving and when I'm not in a built up area I tend to drive according to the conditions I see rather than the speed limit. I also take satisfaction from being smooth and precise as well as safe (which is something I found lacking in the IAM observers I met).

So my question is where I can learn more from people who enjoy their driving as much as I do and don't rigidly follow roadcraft?

[vonhosen]

Depends where you live, but a few days out are organised over here

http://www.advanced-driving.co.uk/forum/index.php?...

(Drivers from a variety of backgrounds - sign up & look in the members only mentoring threads)

Edited by vonhosen on Thursday 30th December 10:35

[SVS]

I can very highly recommend RideDrive - utterly brilliant and a million miles from the IAM!
www.advanced-driving-course.co.uk/driver-training-...

[1]

Thanks, I will take a look at both options.

[waremark]

It is unusual for an IAM Observer to recommend applying for a test after one session, and for an examiner to offer little feedback. Either you were unlucky in your IAM Observer and Examiner, or, much more likely, your standard of driving is rather high. Congratulations. The higher your standard, the more difficult it is to find others who can help you improve it.

Look at the stickied Advanced Driving Links thread.

Since you have mentioned HPC, can I suggest that if you decide to take high class professional training you do it with one of the HPC gatekeepers? All three are former police instructors and now excellent civilian coaches. What each of them offers is probably pretty similar to Ridedrive (of whom I have only ever heard good things), but if you do decide to go onto HPC you will already have started on the way.

You have been pointed at ADUK. As well as the ADUK drive days which were mentioned, ADUK is also setting up a process for putting mentors and mentees together. This might suit if you are looking for a non-commercial way to get tips from a mentor whose own level of and interest in driving will probably be rather higher than an average IAM Observer.

[1]

Thanks for your input Mark. I notice your name mentioned on the mentoring thread, if this is something you are thinking of participating in I would be very interested in speaking to you.

Edited by 1 on Thursday 30th December 17:10