My IAM Experience
Discussion
LordGrover said:
S. Gonzales Esq. said:
LordGrover said:
I really ought to make more time to get assessed - it's been a while. 
Bristol IAM will do you a 60-minute assessment for a small fee. Alternatively, it's possible that one of the people that does the assessments might be a contributor here, and might do it gratis if you ask 
Hopefully see you at Shaftsbury in a couple of weeks.
Interesting thread, (my first post on this site)
Glad to see you are taking this seriously, and the conflicting views of some. We all learn all the time, Driving has no "Black and white" but a thousnad shades of grey between
I think your "braking" issue should be looked at from another perspective, you slowing should come from your observations, ie "What is behind you?" and "What is along side you?"......if there is nothing behind you to benefit from using your brake lights, then i see no problem with easing off the gas and engine braking as you currently do, then bringing the car down to the desired "speed for the gear" that you want using your brakes ( I feel it is ideal to get the speed off with brakes first then change gear, then if more speed loss is desired then use brakes again...idealy in a straight line)
If someone is behind you that would benefit from knowing you are slowing, early and gentle use of the brakes warns them you are slowing. If they are far back enough from you (and not on the phone) then they should be able to see why you are slowing in conjunction with your indication and road positioning!)
Sometimes I think this is over complicated by "rushing upto a hazzard" where the "mirrors, signal, manouvre, position, speed gears, look, asses, decide, act part of completing something is not being given enough ime to be carried out.
As regards to your left reverse, just using you nearside mirror only to do the turn would fail you a driving test, you are doing the right thing looking out of your rear window. I teach driving, and suggest that a good look 360 deg around your car first, then looking out of the back window/rear near side window as you move off, say to yourself "back window/mirror" "back window/mirror" "accuracy/safety", "accuracy/safety" then you will be looking where you are going (safety), and using the mirror for accuracy. Stop at your point of turn, do a 360 check, Stop at half way round, do a 360 check, stop at straight, 360 check, stop every car length 360 check until back to reasonable distance. Window down so you can "hear" if anything appraoching, listening and looking for pedestrians as well as vehicles, you are the car manouvering, so you should stop and give way if needs be to other road users, including pedestrians.Ihave never had anyone fail a test on a left reverse, it is a good skill to have, as you may wish to reverse onto your drive, and doing this means you do not knock down your wall, or the postie, or over the bike the kids left out!
Good luck i look forward to reading the rest of your post/thread
Glad to see you are taking this seriously, and the conflicting views of some. We all learn all the time, Driving has no "Black and white" but a thousnad shades of grey between
I think your "braking" issue should be looked at from another perspective, you slowing should come from your observations, ie "What is behind you?" and "What is along side you?"......if there is nothing behind you to benefit from using your brake lights, then i see no problem with easing off the gas and engine braking as you currently do, then bringing the car down to the desired "speed for the gear" that you want using your brakes ( I feel it is ideal to get the speed off with brakes first then change gear, then if more speed loss is desired then use brakes again...idealy in a straight line)
If someone is behind you that would benefit from knowing you are slowing, early and gentle use of the brakes warns them you are slowing. If they are far back enough from you (and not on the phone) then they should be able to see why you are slowing in conjunction with your indication and road positioning!)
Sometimes I think this is over complicated by "rushing upto a hazzard" where the "mirrors, signal, manouvre, position, speed gears, look, asses, decide, act part of completing something is not being given enough ime to be carried out.
As regards to your left reverse, just using you nearside mirror only to do the turn would fail you a driving test, you are doing the right thing looking out of your rear window. I teach driving, and suggest that a good look 360 deg around your car first, then looking out of the back window/rear near side window as you move off, say to yourself "back window/mirror" "back window/mirror" "accuracy/safety", "accuracy/safety" then you will be looking where you are going (safety), and using the mirror for accuracy. Stop at your point of turn, do a 360 check, Stop at half way round, do a 360 check, stop at straight, 360 check, stop every car length 360 check until back to reasonable distance. Window down so you can "hear" if anything appraoching, listening and looking for pedestrians as well as vehicles, you are the car manouvering, so you should stop and give way if needs be to other road users, including pedestrians.Ihave never had anyone fail a test on a left reverse, it is a good skill to have, as you may wish to reverse onto your drive, and doing this means you do not knock down your wall, or the postie, or over the bike the kids left out!
Good luck i look forward to reading the rest of your post/thread
LordGrover said:
I've just clicked the link. Good lord! Watch fetishists on Pistonheads? I never realised.Real men wear these, don't they?
I know the same could be said about cars and the like, but if I'm sat in a meeting I've no idea whether the various stainless steel 'chronographs' on wrists are expensive or cheap. At least people will know the approximate value of my very reliable, accurate time-piece.
ps. You can't drive or ride the wheels off a watch.
7mike said:
Personally, as an instructor I get more satisfaction when I know they've improved themselves.
Fair enough, but this course was very short and he sounds to have been a reasonable driver to begin with. I'm just speaking from experience of various short (driving and otherwise) courses I've been on.
Gassing Station | Advanced Driving | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff