RideDrive / IAM Dorset?

[AudiSport]

Hi,

I have been driving for 17 years and have 10+ ncb. However I was recently caught speeding and to be honest with myself my driving is getting a little to relaxed. I'm not paying as much attention as I should, don't care much for lane disciplin and generally have lost respect for the road and accociated dangers. So, I think it's time I bucked my ideas up and got myself on a driving course. After doing some reading on here I see there is a good IAM Skill For Live course that gets some good feedback, however many reviews state it is only as good as your instructor. Can anyone advise me on my local IAM instructors and there ability - I live in Bournemouth?

Additionally to this I see RideDrive do some one-day courses that cove many of the same topics as the above, however I'm unsure which route to take? Any advice would be much appreciated.

[ScoobyChris]

RoSPA/RoADAR http://www.roadar.org/drivers/index.htm ) is also worth a look. Along the same lines as IAM, but cheaper and with a graded exam. Imho, RideDrive are excellent but to get better value for money out of a day/half day with one of their instructors it's well worth being familiar with the basics so they can spend their time teaching the interesting stuff...

Chris

[AudiSport]

Thanks for the link, looks good - and free too! Although there is no mention of any insurance deductions? I also see you have to pay to renew your membership every year. Do they all work like this?

Now I'm even more confused which one to go for of the three! Low insurance premiums are not my motive, however it is certainly a benefit!

[Vaux]

AudiSport said:

Thanks for the link, looks good - and free too! Although there is no mention of any insurance deductions? I also see you have to pay to renew your membership every year. Do they all work like this?

Now I'm even more confused which one to go for of the three! Low insurance premiums are not my motive, however it is certainly a benefit!

RoADAR - the training is "free". You'd need to join a local RoADAR group (about £10-15?) and then pay for the RoADAR test. If you stay a member of RoADAR (£20/year, separate from local Group fees which you don't have to keep up), that entitles you to a "free" retest every three years.

IAM - the training is "free". You pay £139 (or some Groups will discount) which includes the test fee. There is no retest, although you can pay to have another one if you like, or take the Special Assessment (more strictly marked version of the test), which some people aspire to. If you stay a member it's £28.50/year (by DD) and that entitles you to various "discounts" and an insurance scheme which has mixed reviews but has been good to me.

Some insurers will discount based on RoADAR membership and/or IAM membership.

Choice may come down to geographical availability.