Advanced Driving (IAM) - My experience
Discussion
Having just signed up for IAM, everyone's comments do make interesting reading.
I'm 19, so hopefully haven't picked up too many bad habits; I just want to further my skill and make myself a better, safer driver.
Glad to hear that you had a good drive, and hopefully my experience will be just as good, and that I improve etc!
Does anyone have any experience with the Brighton & Hove group?
I'm 19, so hopefully haven't picked up too many bad habits; I just want to further my skill and make myself a better, safer driver.
Glad to hear that you had a good drive, and hopefully my experience will be just as good, and that I improve etc!
Does anyone have any experience with the Brighton & Hove group?
Poko said:
Having just signed up for IAM, everyone's comments do make interesting reading.
I'm 19, so hopefully haven't picked up too many bad habits; I just want to further my skill and make myself a better, safer driver.
Glad to hear that you had a good drive, and hopefully my experience will be just as good, and that I improve etc!
Does anyone have any experience with the Brighton & Hove group?
No but I have experience of the Weymouth and Dorchester branch from 30 years ago I'm 19, so hopefully haven't picked up too many bad habits; I just want to further my skill and make myself a better, safer driver.
Glad to hear that you had a good drive, and hopefully my experience will be just as good, and that I improve etc!
Does anyone have any experience with the Brighton & Hove group?
I passed the IAM advanced test when I was 20. I was a fully paid up member until a few years ago (disagreed with their spending decisions, poor financial management and hike in subscription to cover up the mess but I digress)and I know today that the lessons I learnt then have paid dividends throughout my driving career. The acid test, of course, would be to do a reassessment and maybe one day I'll do just that but I really can't recommend enough the value of doing these type of courses when you're young.
Good write up ,thanks!
I think that the primary effect of any good advanced driving course or tuition is to pull you back from being 'unconsciously competent' into being 'consciously competent' - that is being self aware of your driving, whaft you're doing and why, and the factors that influence your decision making.
Go in with a closed mind thinking you're the mutts nuts and you'll get very little out. Go in with a willingness to learn and improve and anyone should be able to take something away from it.
And go in fast, come out dead
I think that the primary effect of any good advanced driving course or tuition is to pull you back from being 'unconsciously competent' into being 'consciously competent' - that is being self aware of your driving, whaft you're doing and why, and the factors that influence your decision making.
Go in with a closed mind thinking you're the mutts nuts and you'll get very little out. Go in with a willingness to learn and improve and anyone should be able to take something away from it.
And go in fast, come out dead
Nice write up!
Been a member since doing the "test" aged 23 (I'm now 36) and do really see the benefits - not to try and knock money off insurance but to put more into your own driving and get more from it.
It also helps a key safety factor - realising your OWN mistakes, not just blaming everyone else.
A very good thing to do and the mag has even improved a lot recently!
Been a member since doing the "test" aged 23 (I'm now 36) and do really see the benefits - not to try and knock money off insurance but to put more into your own driving and get more from it.
It also helps a key safety factor - realising your OWN mistakes, not just blaming everyone else.
A very good thing to do and the mag has even improved a lot recently!
I've been a paid-up member since passing the IAM test in 1995.
The only thing I'm not at all comfortable with is the holier-than-thou attitude of the IAM and some members, particularly some of the ones who write to the magazine! When I reported that I had picked up a speeding ticket, I got a really snotty letter from them about letting my driving fall below their acceptable standard - that very nearly made me quit.
Instead of pontificating about obeying the law/speed limits, I wish they would highlight other ways to improve road safety - engineering and education rather than just enforcement of what are often bad/inappropriate laws/speed limits.
The only thing I'm not at all comfortable with is the holier-than-thou attitude of the IAM and some members, particularly some of the ones who write to the magazine! When I reported that I had picked up a speeding ticket, I got a really snotty letter from them about letting my driving fall below their acceptable standard - that very nearly made me quit.
Instead of pontificating about obeying the law/speed limits, I wish they would highlight other ways to improve road safety - engineering and education rather than just enforcement of what are often bad/inappropriate laws/speed limits.
Iain XR4i said:
I've been a paid-up member since passing the IAM test in 1995.
The only thing I'm not at all comfortable with is the holier-than-thou attitude of the IAM and some members, particularly some of the ones who write to the magazine! When I reported that I had picked up a speeding ticket, I got a really snotty letter from them about letting my driving fall below their acceptable standard - that very nearly made me quit.
Instead of pontificating about obeying the law/speed limits, I wish they would highlight other ways to improve road safety - engineering and education rather than just enforcement of what are often bad/inappropriate laws/speed limits.
Agreed - there do seem to be too many members, usually is a pristine Rover 75 and aged 75 with an IAM badge on the grille who like to roll there eyes knowingly at all over "inferior" drivers.The only thing I'm not at all comfortable with is the holier-than-thou attitude of the IAM and some members, particularly some of the ones who write to the magazine! When I reported that I had picked up a speeding ticket, I got a really snotty letter from them about letting my driving fall below their acceptable standard - that very nearly made me quit.
Instead of pontificating about obeying the law/speed limits, I wish they would highlight other ways to improve road safety - engineering and education rather than just enforcement of what are often bad/inappropriate laws/speed limits.
They are in the minority though.
Iain XR4i said:
I've been a paid-up member since passing the IAM test in 1995.
The only thing I'm not at all comfortable with is the holier-than-thou attitude of the IAM and some members, particularly some of the ones who write to the magazine! When I reported that I had picked up a speeding ticket, I got a really snotty letter from them about letting my driving fall below their acceptable standard - that very nearly made me quit.
Instead of pontificating about obeying the law/speed limits, I wish they would highlight other ways to improve road safety - engineering and education rather than just enforcement of what are often bad/inappropriate laws/speed limits.
given that most speed limits are now arbitrary and without justification, insofar as i drive through a small hamlet on my way to work that has a totally unecessary 30mph limit, i fail to see what keeping to speed limits has to do with being an 'advanced motorist'. guess it takes all sorts!The only thing I'm not at all comfortable with is the holier-than-thou attitude of the IAM and some members, particularly some of the ones who write to the magazine! When I reported that I had picked up a speeding ticket, I got a really snotty letter from them about letting my driving fall below their acceptable standard - that very nearly made me quit.
Instead of pontificating about obeying the law/speed limits, I wish they would highlight other ways to improve road safety - engineering and education rather than just enforcement of what are often bad/inappropriate laws/speed limits.
Glad you had a good experience with the IAM. They don't have the coolest image in the world and I don't agree with everything they preach, but I truly believe that anyone who hasn't done an advanced course would benefit from the IAM in some way. If you're thinking about joining, just do it. Doesn't cost much and, if you like driving, you'll have fun learning lots of new things.
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