Advanced driver courses

[Icycool]

I was wondering if anybody had gone through this training course. If so did they find it beneficial? I was looking at the course today on the net and thought it could be worthwhile.

[garcon]

Depends which course you were looking at - there are several available.

I did the Institute of Advanced Motorists course and test some time ago. Yes, it is extremely beneficial, and most definitely worthwhile. You will learn a consistent system of car control that gives you time to react, and you will learn more than you thought possible on observation and hazard perception. The IAM is run by volunteers, which means it's also decent value for money, but it does mean a certain commitment from you - regular meetings are often Sunday mornings or midweek evenings depending on the local group, and it'll take you around 10 meetings before you are ready for the test. The course is based around Roadcraft - The Police Driver's Handbook (available via registration for the course or most bookshops). You will typically do a series of half a dozen drives with observers who will take you through different elements of the course. Following that, you will do an assessment drive with a qualified senior instructor (many of them are retired police instructors). After that, two or three observed drives to brush up on any weak areas, and finally the test, taken with a senior examiner (who will almost certainly be ex-emergency services).

Total cost of the course and test is around £85. An absolute bargain compared with much less comprehensive commercially available courses.

www.iam.org.uk

RoSPA also do a similar course and test.

You can also do things like "Masterdrive" - which I think is run by BSM. These are often only an afternoon, and honestly serve little purpose other than getting a 10% insurance discount with certain insurers. There are some insurance companies that offer a discount to IAM and RoSPA members, but unfortunately these seem to be based on commercial relationships more than your actual chances of having a claim.

When you're ready to take it even further, something I'm looking at myself, there is an organisation called High Performance Club, founded by John Lyon, ex-Chief Instructor at Hendon Police Driver Training centre. The emphasis is to take driving enthusiasts - particularly of performance cars - to a standard of driving that provides an "excess of skill" to cope with just about any scenario on the public road. The High Performance Course involves one to one tutored drives on public roads, skid pan and private circuit (enabling you to practice skills at much higher speeds than you can on the road). The 'test' will take the form of an assessment drive, probably with John Lyon himself, in which the standard required to pass is extremely high - you will be required to produce a drive that is "beyond reproach". If you achieve a pass at 'Gold' level, you can be sure that your driving is as good as it realistically can get without access to highly specialist police response and pursuit training.

[Icycool]

Thanks Garcon,

I have looked at doing for a while now, I was surprised how cheap the course was and the amount it went into, I have often thought about the bad habits of myself and others and how I have plenty of room to improve! The Masterdrive you spoke about sounds well worth while it if you have a higher performance car (probably not applicable as I drive a Nissan Almera) or look to take you driving further. Thanks again for your help

[sjw75]

I haven't done any official advanced driver training, I have however been on a skid control course @ Thruxton, excellent experience, very usefull and worth the investment (xmas is on the way, stick it on your list)

Simon

[Sheila M]

I started my advanced driving course with the Institute of Advanced Motorists some time ago but never completed the test. It was useful in that you are accompanied by an "observer" who advises you in advanced driving techniques, in your own car. I did learn some new driving skills which I found extremely useful.

You only have to pay for the test and I seem to recall that if you pass you get some of the fee back.

[KPC]

I agree with Sheila. I have actually done a course, which was purely literature, not a How To book bought in Smiths though, I would add. While there was never actual driving or a test, it has influenced my driving immensely. This course was very good and, on a lighter side, it even went into in-car keep fit exercises and driving games: Do not let your wheels stop moving while in a traffic jam. I keep a win/lose tally. A game but still useful as I am continuously reading the road and staying alert in traffic, not falling asleep or getting impatient, which results in poor driving when you get to put your foot down.

[Sheila M]

My downfall was the commentary thing. On a dual carriageway approaching a roundabout, (two lanes in all directions) I was required to commentate on EVERYTHING that was happening around me. That included the cars behind me, the cars to my right who were entering the roundabout, the cars leaving the roundabout, the cars on the left who might be heading my way and those leaving at the exit I wanted!

Bearing in mind that you are supposed to start the commentary with the stuff furthest away from you, to say I got confused would be a minor understatement I gave up on the commentary and just drove!

My son, who is one of the best drivers I have ever been in a car with, was brilliant at the commentary thing. He could anticipate what a driver half a mile away was going to do. Mind, he once was a staff car driver in the army and had driven members of the Royal Family, so his driver training was probably just a little more than we other mere mortals get.

[G_Ilott]

Ride Drive

http://www.ridedrive.co.uk/

I think the instructors are serving police drivers.

Read some of the 'Tip Offs'

[oziengineer]

I did the Ian Luff Motivation driver training, in two stages. Stage One involved just car control stuff like keeping the car under control in the wet, and avoiding troublespots. Also taught us to look where you want to go, which is quite annoying to get used to.
Stage two was skid control, which was great fun, but was more difficult.

I thoroughly recommend it to anyone, it's made me apprechiate driving skills a bit more. Hopefully I will be able to do stage 3 which is performance driving.