IAM

I have a question has anyone do the IAM course? If so what's involved? Is it worth doing?

I am an Iams cat is all I could think of?

Institute of Advanced Motorists?

I should have known that. My course was harder. The advance driving is not an exam, you automatically pass even if you drive like ****. Phone round first and see if insurance is reduced enough to cover the cost of the course. Driver training can be £40 per hour this area.

Hope you like shuffling wheels.

I'm going to ask about insurance etc. maybe I shouldn't use the mini to do it

Mum and I have both done it, and we both took our test in the mini. I've also done my bike test. In my experience bike insurance ask for and know about advanced qualifications. For the car, they haven't got a clue! I think it is worth doing, does bring your driving up. Actually attended a talk with Chris Gilbert the other week, (he of the roadcraft video) , he is phenomenal!  I love driving, so any excuse to go out for a drive!!!

Until I read this I'd have said:

"I've only met one IAM driver and he was totally anal about every aspect of driving. Forgive the pun, but he drove me mad."

Seemingly I know another two, but I've never been driven by them - however, they've been driven by me and didn't comment (like the other bloke did).

Guess it takes all sorts. It's not for me though - you have to abide by the rules!

If you do it Mark, "All the best."


R.

Thanks Richard the abiding by rules bit is the bit that worries me I'm a Mini driver after all lol.  Going to see what difference it could make to my insruance and take it form there

Quoted from Bumble

I should have known that. My course was harder. The advance driving is not an exam, you automatically pass even if you drive like ****. Phone round first and see if insurance is reduced enough to cover the cost of the course. Driver training can be £40 per hour this area.

I would like to point out that you do not automatically pass if you drive like c**p you will most certainly fail, in fact if you don't drive properly (there is a system of car control) the examiners are usually police class 1 drivers and don't stand for any  bad habits.  I found it very worthwhile, if you've been driving for any length of time you tend to get into bad habits (we all do) but don't like to admit it! It's worth doing Mark (and that's not cos I think you're a bad driver) good luck  

some people get funny when they know you are an advanced driver - and there are a lot who are as richard says quite anal.

However, we aren't - we just love driving - and took a lot away from doing the course that stands us in good stead to this day. With the IAM you don't have to retest to keep your qualification (unlike ROSPA) - so unless you keep applying the 'system' and make an active effort to keep your skills up - they do drop...

Between the car and bike groups - the bikers have more fun, and just do it because they love riding and any excuse for a blatt - the car groups are different -and tend to have an older age group - lots of people do it because they have to for work or for whatever reasons - but less than the bikers just because they enjoy it.

It's through our local group that we've had several spins (literally) on the skidpan at maidstone police headquarters.

If you enjoy driving why wouldn't you want to improve your skills? Do it!!!!!

Quoted from mini59

I have a question has anyone do the IAM course? If so what's involved? Is it worth doing?

A friend at work has taken the exam and passed after eight lessons, he doesn't always drive like miss Daisy but boasts that he is a better driver because he doesn't have as any bumps to his credit, but then he does cycle to work.

It did get him some extra discount on some insurers but they weren't the cheapest.

Until I read Michelle's post, I'd forgotten the lessons my employer gave us. In 2001, the insurer of all the company cars insisted that all company car drivers received training - some of my colleagues were costing them too much! (Can I add that I had one accident in the 20+ years I had a company car with that emploer, that was not fully recovered, when a deer leapt across the road oto my bonnet. Never seen or smelt so much sh*t!)
They sent us on a two full day course at the Transport & Road Research Laboratory, I remember one of which was "9/11." The skid pan was interesting, I didn't like the bit when I had to give commentary, but the half day I drove with the Hampshire Police examiner was excellent. He did ask me if I knew what speed limits were for - but he did complement me for keeping to the 30mph's. We drove part of my daily commute on country roads, and I thought I "pushed it." I did after watching him!! I thought "And you say I don't keep to the limits."

R.