IAM Skill For Life
Discussion
Evening all,
I've got my birthday coming up in a few weeks, and thought about asking the girlfriend for said course.
I've had a good nose around their site and seems that Robin Thomas in High Wycombe is my local contact.
Can anyone give me a rough outline of what areas will be covered in the course?
I know it is mainly for greater driver awareness and accident perception, but is there anything else covered?
When I have my observations/assessments with him, do I go to him or does he come to me?
I'm coming up to 23 and feel that I am an average driver with no accidents or convictions,
but would also like to learn more about driving at speed, is this where the HPC courses play their part?
Thanks
Matt
I've got my birthday coming up in a few weeks, and thought about asking the girlfriend for said course.
I've had a good nose around their site and seems that Robin Thomas in High Wycombe is my local contact.
Can anyone give me a rough outline of what areas will be covered in the course?
I know it is mainly for greater driver awareness and accident perception, but is there anything else covered?
When I have my observations/assessments with him, do I go to him or does he come to me?
I'm coming up to 23 and feel that I am an average driver with no accidents or convictions,
but would also like to learn more about driving at speed, is this where the HPC courses play their part?
Thanks
Matt
Matt, there's loads and loads of info relating to your questions on this forum so maybe try doing a search. However, I'll try and provide some answers.
The basis of IAM training is the police 'System of Car Control' which says that when dealing with a hazard (pretty much anything on the road from a bend to a crossing pedestrian to a pothole) you should look for and give out information, adjust your position, speed then gear, and then accelerate away from the hazard, all in that order. All of this is contained in the book Roadcraft: The Essential Police Driver's Handbook. Although most of the same information is contained in the IAM's manual that you will get if you join, it might be a good idea to buy Roadcraft before hand to give yourself a better idea of what to expect. Roadcraft is a better book anyway in my opinion.
Probably the part that is given the most attention in the IAM training (in my experience at least) is getting the information part right: observing what's going on around you, using that information to plan what you are going to do, and giving out information to other road users.
Regarding learning to drive at speed: you don't get taught much about controlling slides, understeer and oversteer, that sort of thing. However, a lot of what you do learn is useful for driving at any speed. Due to the nature of the organisation you'll be required to strictly adhere to speed limits, but you are expected to travel as fast as is safe and legal. From what I know about it, the HPC is more focused on driving quickly (it is, after all, a driving club, whereas the IAM is a road safety charity) but a lot of what they do on the road overlaps with the sort of stuff the IAM teaches.
Regarding whether you go to the observer or they come to you, in my group it is the former, but you'll have to contact your group and find out for sure. I think in some groups you'll meet somewhere in between.
The basis of IAM training is the police 'System of Car Control' which says that when dealing with a hazard (pretty much anything on the road from a bend to a crossing pedestrian to a pothole) you should look for and give out information, adjust your position, speed then gear, and then accelerate away from the hazard, all in that order. All of this is contained in the book Roadcraft: The Essential Police Driver's Handbook. Although most of the same information is contained in the IAM's manual that you will get if you join, it might be a good idea to buy Roadcraft before hand to give yourself a better idea of what to expect. Roadcraft is a better book anyway in my opinion.
Probably the part that is given the most attention in the IAM training (in my experience at least) is getting the information part right: observing what's going on around you, using that information to plan what you are going to do, and giving out information to other road users.
Regarding learning to drive at speed: you don't get taught much about controlling slides, understeer and oversteer, that sort of thing. However, a lot of what you do learn is useful for driving at any speed. Due to the nature of the organisation you'll be required to strictly adhere to speed limits, but you are expected to travel as fast as is safe and legal. From what I know about it, the HPC is more focused on driving quickly (it is, after all, a driving club, whereas the IAM is a road safety charity) but a lot of what they do on the road overlaps with the sort of stuff the IAM teaches.
Regarding whether you go to the observer or they come to you, in my group it is the former, but you'll have to contact your group and find out for sure. I think in some groups you'll meet somewhere in between.
Edited by SamHH on Wednesday 16th January 10:48
SamHH said:
Matt, there's loads and loads of info relating to your questions on this forum so maybe try doing a search. However, I'll try and provide some answers.
The basis of IAM training is the police 'System of Car Control' which says that when dealing with a hazard (pretty much anything on the road from a bend to a crossing pedestrian to a pothole) you should look for and give out information, adjust your position, speed then gear, and then accelerate away from the hazard, all in that order. All of this is contained in the book Roadcraft: The Essential Police Driver's Handbook. Although most of the same information is contained in the IAM's manual that you will get if you join, it might be a good idea to buy Roadcraft before hand to give yourself a better idea of what to expect. Roadcraft is a better book anyway in my opinion.
Probably the part that is given the most attention in the IAM training (in my experience at least) is getting the information part right: observing what's going on around you, using that information to plan what you are going to do, and giving out information to other road users.
Regarding learning to drive at speed: you don't get taught much about controlling slides, understeer and oversteer, that sort of thing. However, a lot of what you do learn is useful for driving at any speed. Due to the nature of the organisation you'll be required to strictly adhere to speed limits, but you are expected to travel as fast as is safe and legal. From what I know about it, the HPC is more focused on driving quickly (it is, after all, a driving club, whereas the IAM is a road safety charity) but a lot of what they do on the road overlaps with the sort of stuff the IAM teaches.
Regarding whether you go to the observer or they come to you, in my group it is the former, but you'll have to contact your group and find out for sure. I think in some groups you'll meet somewhere in between.
Sam,The basis of IAM training is the police 'System of Car Control' which says that when dealing with a hazard (pretty much anything on the road from a bend to a crossing pedestrian to a pothole) you should look for and give out information, adjust your position, speed then gear, and then accelerate away from the hazard, all in that order. All of this is contained in the book Roadcraft: The Essential Police Driver's Handbook. Although most of the same information is contained in the IAM's manual that you will get if you join, it might be a good idea to buy Roadcraft before hand to give yourself a better idea of what to expect. Roadcraft is a better book anyway in my opinion.
Probably the part that is given the most attention in the IAM training (in my experience at least) is getting the information part right: observing what's going on around you, using that information to plan what you are going to do, and giving out information to other road users.
Regarding learning to drive at speed: you don't get taught much about controlling slides, understeer and oversteer, that sort of thing. However, a lot of what you do learn is useful for driving at any speed. Due to the nature of the organisation you'll be required to strictly adhere to speed limits, but you are expected to travel as fast as is safe and legal. From what I know about it, the HPC is more focused on driving quickly (it is, after all, a driving club, whereas the IAM is a road safety charity) but a lot of what they do on the road overlaps with the sort of stuff the IAM teaches.
Regarding whether you go to the observer or they come to you, in my group it is the former, but you'll have to contact your group and find out for sure. I think in some groups you'll meet somewhere in between.
Edited by SamHH on Wednesday 16th January 10:48
I think you have given a pretty good reply to Matt...he will not be taught to do roundabouts on two wheels with the IAM.
What he will be taught, is the SYSTEM...IAM have produced PYADT - Pass Your Advanced Driving Test...which is based on Roadcraft...the Bible...my copy is falling apart as I lend it to every Associate I get...with my Roadcraft DVDs and Videoes.
IF he does the IAM course, he will have the basics of the only advanced National driving course on earth...tested by Class 1 Trafpols (who had to read Roadcraft to qualify) and who 'put something back in' by testing the punters I train....certainly not for the financial rewards.
If, after doing the IAM course, Matt wants to refine his driving further...I would suggest going for RoSPA...one level up...?...then go for individual training...it seems to me unfortunate that some of the HPC children are having a 'hissy fit'...but there are a lot of courses out there where you can learn to get the motor singing...safely!
BOF.
Edited by BOF on Saturday 19th January 18:20
BOF said:
What he will be taught, is the SYSTEM...IAM have produced PYADT - Pass Your Advanced Driving Test...which is based on Roadcraft...the Bible...my copy is falling apart as I lend it to every Associate I get...with my Roadcraft DVDs and Videoes.
IAM have produced a new book called "Advanced Driving - the essential guide" to replace PYADT.Vaux,
I had heard of the new book...on reading your post I asked our Chief if I needed a copy...his reply (as expected)...
""no it's just a re-write...........and still a dumbed-down version of Roadcraft. You are welcome to a copy but you wont like it. Most of the observers I have spoken to haven't read it....they lost the will to live half way through the first chapter.""
Now our Chief and I, and most of our team, are out every week Observing...so I am NOT having a go at the IAM, nor is he,...just commenting on using the best tools for the job....Roadcraft is still the Bible.
BOF.
I had heard of the new book...on reading your post I asked our Chief if I needed a copy...his reply (as expected)...
""no it's just a re-write...........and still a dumbed-down version of Roadcraft. You are welcome to a copy but you wont like it. Most of the observers I have spoken to haven't read it....they lost the will to live half way through the first chapter.""
Now our Chief and I, and most of our team, are out every week Observing...so I am NOT having a go at the IAM, nor is he,...just commenting on using the best tools for the job....Roadcraft is still the Bible.
BOF.
Edited by BOF on Sunday 20th January 18:22
BOF said:
Vaux,
I had heard of the new book...on reading your post I asked our Chief if I needed a copy...his reply (as expected)...
""no it's just a re-write...........and still a dumbed-down version of Roadcraft. You are welcome to a copy but you wont like it. Most of the observers I have spoken to haven't read it....they lost the will to live half way through the first chapter.""
Now our Chief and I, and most of our team, are out every week Observing...so I am NOT having a go at the IAM, nor is he,...just commenting on using the best tools for the job....Roadcraft is still the Bible.
BOF.
Interesting.I had heard of the new book...on reading your post I asked our Chief if I needed a copy...his reply (as expected)...
""no it's just a re-write...........and still a dumbed-down version of Roadcraft. You are welcome to a copy but you wont like it. Most of the observers I have spoken to haven't read it....they lost the will to live half way through the first chapter.""
Now our Chief and I, and most of our team, are out every week Observing...so I am NOT having a go at the IAM, nor is he,...just commenting on using the best tools for the job....Roadcraft is still the Bible.
BOF.
IAM will be giving this book to Associates?, so I'd have thought you and your other Observers would need to be able to talk about and explain what's in the new book. And it's not a re-write of PYADT (like when the yellow cover went to red!), there's a lot of stuff in there. Or do you make the Associate purchase Roadcraft?
BOF said:
"Most of the observers I have spoken to haven't read it....they lost the will to live half way through the first chapter."
Really? I found the new format and layout quite stimulating. (But I don't get out much.... 
)Our 'drive sheets' have a page reference on each section of the report...this shows the page number of the subject in both books.
At debrief, I personally tend to use the Roadcraft page if I need to emphasise or explain something...frequently lend my copy for the duration so my punters can refer to both books if they wish.
I will forthwith at least read the new book in view of your comments! :-)
BOF.
At debrief, I personally tend to use the Roadcraft page if I need to emphasise or explain something...frequently lend my copy for the duration so my punters can refer to both books if they wish.
I will forthwith at least read the new book in view of your comments! :-)
BOF.
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