Which course?

[chris_w666]

Hello, im currently looking into doing either an IAM or ROSPA course as I would like some official recognition of my abiltity to drive properly. I have read roadcraft and from the day I passed my test (11 years ago) Ive always tried to drive in a smooth and tidy manner, most of what i use on a daily basis was passed on to me by my dad who is an ex police class 1 driver so knew more than a little bit.

I cover around 20,000 miles a year and have only ever been involved in 1 accident that was not my fault, so i consider myself to be a safe and capable driver. I seem to drive much slower on motorways and dual carriageways (within the speed limit) than a lot of drivers but when im on a twisting a or b road i constantly seem to catch others even those driving high performance cars.

I suppose what im asking is which of the main courses would be best suited to me and also which is easiest available in the North East.

[Vaux]

chris_w666 said:

I suppose what im asking is which of the main courses would be best suited to me and also which is easiest available in the North East.

http://www.roadar-northeast.co.uk/

http://www.iam.org.uk/iamgroups/groupdirectory/nor...

There's been a couple of threads on IAM or RoSPA. Choice may come down to location - not many RoADAR compared to IAM.

Training will depend a lot on your Observer/Tutor. Some are God's Gift to Advanced Driving. Other's are quite prescriptive.

Both organisations use Roadcraft as a basis, so you won't notice much of a difference there; IAM will approve of straightlining/offsiding, whereas RoADAR on paper won't - but this is a small point.

Either organisation is a good idea.

[ferrarimark]

I did a ROSPA course in 1990, and of course it was very informative. Ive done many courses over the years and found too many based around road safety and observation etc, which in fairness you probably already have good awareness of, given your driving record. The courses with Don Palmer in 1999 2000 2005 gained much more. My car control is far better of which 90% was Don and less than 10% the certificates I have received.

[waremark]

ferrarimark said:

Ive done many courses over the years and found too many based around road safety and observation etc, which in fairness you probably already have good awareness of, given your driving record. The courses with Don Palmer in 1999 2000 2005 gained much more. My car control is far better of which 90% was Don and less than 10% the certificates I have received.

I think most experienced safe drivers are amazed to discover how much further there is to go in terms of roadcraft based on excellent observation when they are exposed to a good advanced driving coach.

Interesting that you got so much more out of your sessions with the excellent Don - I am presuming you were doing vehicle dynamics and limit handling with him, rather than roadcraft. Do you find the sort of things you learned with him helpful to your normal road driving?

For somebody mainly interested in road driving, and willing to spend the sort of money which Don charges, I would tend to recommend the likes of Hugh Noblett of Cadence or Bernard Aubry, who major on roadcraft but also take you to a proving ground to understand and explore limit handling. For those who want value for money, nothing else can begin to compete with IAM and Rospa, and indeed I suggest that you would get more out of Don after reaching Advanced level with one of these.

[ferrarimark]

waremark said:

ferrarimark said:

Ive done many courses over the years and found too many based around road safety and observation etc, which in fairness you probably already have good awareness of, given your driving record. The courses with Don Palmer in 1999 2000 2005 gained much more. My car control is far better of which 90% was Don and less than 10% the certificates I have received.

I think most experienced safe drivers are amazed to discover how much further there is to go in terms of roadcraft based on excellent observation when they are exposed to a good advanced driving coach.

Interesting that you got so much more out of your sessions with the excellent Don - I am presuming you were doing vehicle dynamics and limit handling with him, rather than roadcraft. Do you find the sort of things you learned with him helpful to your normal road driving?

For somebody mainly interested in road driving, and willing to spend the sort of money which Don charges, I would tend to recommend the likes of Hugh Noblett of Cadence or Bernard Aubry, who major on roadcraft but also take you to a proving ground to understand and explore limit handling. For those who want value for money, nothing else can begin to compete with IAM and Rospa, and indeed I suggest that you would get more out of Don after reaching Advanced level with one of these.

Thanks for your suggestion but I was answering a topic, not asking a question. The bit about (I) would benefit more with Rospa, I thought was a bit rude as you don't know me or "MY LEVEL" I might even be as good as you..... of course not only joking, When good drivers first meet people like Don they are amazed at what a car can do and where its limits are, indeed many never reach their cars limit as their driver ability falls way short of the cars.Rospa is great as I said but not as exciting , sorry if ive missed the point. Go to Rospa,That's where you Dad would have trained, you won't be bored and you will learn an awful lot, anyway must go....Now where did I leave my micra keys.

Edited by ferrarimark on Thursday 14th February 16:16

[WilliBetz]

By my reading, ferrarimark, the offence that you've taken wasn't intended.

Rather, I think waremark was making the point that Don's coaching is expensive and quite subtle, and that somebody beginning to learn about advanced driving techniques (not your good self) will benefit from the grounding that RoSPA or the IAM can provide before calling him. I believe Don prefers it that way, too, as he doesn't enjoy coaching on the road.

Don remains, however, a master at coaching composure and state management - the skill of not getting all het up...

[waremark]

Thanks Willi. I certainly did not intend to offend my Ferrari driving namesake, and really my advice was not directed at him but at the OP, offered as a counterbalance to Ferrarimark's point of view.

What I did ask Ferrarimark was how much what he learned from Don has affected his normal road driving. In my case, Don has helped me understand how a car behaves at the edge, and time with Don was certainly enormous fun; but since I never go near the edge on the road I do not think he affected my road driving. But then I have never driven on the road with Don.

Ferrarimark, while you are off in the Micra please can I have a go in the 575?

[ferrarimark]

Willi and Waremark You are both right, don't know what came over me. My initial comments to direct chris-w666 towards Don were based on the fact that he must have picked up so much training over the years from his father (police class 1)that would be based on and around Rospa principles. I just thought he might find Don's style dare I say a little more interesting. All training is of value and I wouldn't knock any of it. Sorry if I came over as Mr Obnoxious...kindest regards fellows.