IAM Observer

[gdaybruce]

:confused: I passed my IAM test about three years ago and have since considered becoming an Observer. However, there are two reasons why I've held back.

Firstly, I believe that the push/pull technique on the steering wheel dates from the days when drivers sat close to large diameter wheels that generally only had a couple of turns from lock to lock. In my view it's bad practice in modern cars, especially with power steering. (Have you ever tried push/pulling on a skid pan? Slow, cumbersome and jerky.)

Second, insisting that you cannot brake and change down at the same time is denying all the advances made in gearbox and brake design. Again, I guess that this "rule" dates from the days when syncromesh was optional or at least unreliable and there was a real risk of being stuck in neutral whilst approaching a junction down a steep hill. To my mind, the "advanced" techniques is to heel and toe.

I tried once to raise these issues with people in my local group but those who turn up at meetings tend to be at the retired end of the scale and are, perhaps, a bit less open to alternative ideas!

I'm therefore reluctant to put myself into a position where I have to promulgate techniques I don't actually agree with. This is a shame when the important bits of the IAM test: observation, anticipation, smoothness, etc. are spot on.

Does anyone else have similar problems?

[gdaybruce]

Thanks for all your responses guys which, on the whole, seem quite encouraging. I guess the only thing to do is to go for it and see what happens. Cheers!