Tone of communications from IAM

[SVS]

My IAM experiences have been very positive, but I’m wondering if the tone used in IAM communications puts off many people from joining.

It seems to me that the tone of voice from the IAM can come across as parental or “telling”.

Also, the content of IAM advice can be ultra dumbed down. A recent example is the IAM app, much of whose content is at L-test level.

It would be far better if IAM press releases, the app, tweets, etc talked to potential members as adults.

Am I the only one who thinks this?

[Dr Jekyll]

SVS said:

My IAM experiences have been very positive, but I’m wondering if the tone used in IAM communications puts off many people from joining.

It seems to me that the tone of voice from the IAM can come across as parental or “telling”.

Also, the content of IAM advice can be ultra dumbed down. A recent example is the IAM app, much of whose content is at L-test level.

It would be far better if IAM press releases, the app, tweets, etc talked to potential members as adults.

Am I the only one who thinks this?

There's 2 of us at least.

[Mandat]

Can you post any examples?

[BertBert]

If you want to redefine 'condescending' try joining an IAM group as a teenage girl as my daughter did. We both tried it at the same time and it was a vile experience!

I'm sure many groups are better, but all I can recount is our experience!

Bert

[Wardy5]

All comes down to the local group, I agree.

I went through and joined my local group about 10 years ago, and it put me off the whole topic for a good while! Thankfully I decided to give RoSPA a try....

[Len Woodman]

BertBert said:

If you want to redefine 'condescending' try joining an IAM group as a teenage girl as my daughter did. We both tried it at the same time and it was a vile experience!

I'm sure many groups are better, but all I can recount is our experience!

Bert

Same in 1974 - joined the local group after passing the IAM test but 'they' obviously considered that I was too young, at 18, to be part of their clique. Attended three meetings!

[ian in lancs]

Dr Jekyll said:

SVS said:

My IAM experiences have been very positive, but I’m wondering if the tone used in IAM communications puts off many people from joining.

It seems to me that the tone of voice from the IAM can come across as parental or “telling”.

Also, the content of IAM advice can be ultra dumbed down. A recent example is the IAM app, much of whose content is at L-test level.

It would be far better if IAM press releases, the app, tweets, etc talked to potential members as adults.

Am I the only one who thinks this?

There's 2 of us at least.

three! The posts from Gladman et al are cringing! The magazine goes in the bin

[mph999]

Len Woodman said:

Same in 1974 - joined the local group after passing the IAM test but 'they' obviously considered that I was too young, at 18, to be part of their clique. Attended three meetings!

I had the same problem, passed my test outside a group (was actually taught by John Moore who I think at one time was the deputy chief examiner, lovely man, since sadly passed away).

I persisted, and was mostly accepted, though never felt I really fitted.

That said, it was a good group with a high pass rate.

I'd hesitate before advising someone to join a group, but then, what other choice do most people have.

[anonymous-user]

Went to a presentation by the Shropshire branch last week. Thought it was very interesting (but didn't learn anything as I already knew the system) until they started banging on about wearing proper bike boots and leathers/overtrousers at all times as I was sat there in jeans and trainers 😉

[Len Woodman]

Generally I think that there is too much bias towards motorbikes now with the IAM.

Just got the latest IAM magazine and now after 40 plus years I'm wondering if I should cancel my direct debit.

I was also unhappy about their 'lack of communication' last year. I visited the UK in October. I approached the IAM - phoned twice from Oz. I was interested in having a go at the Masters test but due to time constraints I suggested that I could do a half day and do the test if the instructor/examiner was okay with my driving.

The person I spoke with seemed to make the decision that I wouldn't be good enough and was going to contact a trainer near to where I was staying (Wokinghan) to contact me but I got no replies, either emails or phone calls. And I would have been happy to go to their HO in Stevenage.

It was very different when I visited in 1998 - Ted Clements invited me to the HO in Chiswick, we had lunch and then I retook the Advanced Test. A good day's visit.

[waremark]

Len Woodman said:

Generally I think that there is too much bias towards motorbikes now with the IAM.

Just got the latest IAM magazine and now after 40 plus years I'm wondering if I should cancel my direct debit.

I was also unhappy about their 'lack of communication' last year. I visited the UK in October. I approached the IAM - phoned twice from Oz. I was interested in having a go at the Masters test but due to time constraints I suggested that I could do a half day and do the test if the instructor/examiner was okay with my driving.

The person I spoke with seemed to make the decision that I wouldn't be good enough and was going to contact a trainer near to where I was staying (Wokinghan) to contact me but I got no replies, either emails or phone calls. And I would have been happy to go to their HO in Stevenage.

It was very different when I visited in 1998 - Ted Clements invited me to the HO in Chiswick, we had lunch and then I retook the Advanced Test. A good day's visit.

Len, I have no doubt that if you had managed to make contact with Richard Gladman, head of driving standards (the nearest equivalent to the position Ted Clements had) he would have dealt with it similarly constructively. I am sorry that the person you spoke to let you down, but presumably this was a person in a call centre who knew nothing about you. Next time you come, we ought to be able to arrange an introduction to someone more suitable.

[johnao]

waremark said:

Len, I have no doubt that if you had managed to make contact with Richard Gladman, head of driving standards (the nearest equivalent to the position Ted Clements had) he would have dealt with it similarly constructively. I am sorry that the person you spoke to let you down, but presumably this was a person in a call centre who knew nothing about you. Next time you come, we ought to be able to arrange an introduction to someone more suitable.

As Mark says, next time contact Richard Gladman, and then when dates are certain, contact Mark and myself (we live near to each other) for a day of Master's mentoring. It'll obviate all the unecessary HQ bureaucracy and lack of understanding at the call-centre.

[Len Woodman]

That's great - thank you very much. I may come over later this year for another 'fix' of good driving environments.

I will therefore, keep my IAM membership up. There is nothing like the IAM or advanced driver training here so I it's good to have it as an 'overseas qualification'.

The advanced courses available in Australia are not advanced in UK terms - mainly one-day collision avoidance courses with 5+ 'students per instructor held off the public highway. Because of this papers have been written by academics and used by road safety ex-spurts to declare that post test driving programs are generally of no value.

Regards

Len

[Speary8]

BertBert said:

If you want to redefine 'condescending' try joining an IAM group as a teenage girl as my daughter did. We both tried it at the same time and it was a vile experience!

I'm sure many groups are better, but all I can recount is our experience!

Bert

If as you said the experience was vile. This should be reported to the group chair as a minimum and also to the IAM Roadsmart team. We can’t have one bad experience tarring all groups with the same brush. Let’s hope it wasn’t my group you came to ;-)

[Richie132]

waremark said:

Len, I have no doubt that if you had managed to make contact with Richard Gladman, head of driving standards (the nearest equivalent to the position Ted Clements had) he would have dealt with it similarly constructively. I am sorry that the person you spoke to let you down, but presumably this was a person in a call centre who knew nothing about you. Next time you come, we ought to be able to arrange an introduction to someone more suitable.

Len
Just been pointed at this by a good friend, if you are over again give me a shout - would love to catch up with a long serving member. I may be in Queensland next year - long shot but if you were close the IAM could come to you.
Richard

[EeeTea]

I was an IAM observer, and I was originally observed by an exPolice driving instructor (in fact he used to train the police driving instructors) I learnt a lot!

Then it all got dumbed down.

On the bike I went to RoSPA. The thing I like about that is the retest every three years... keeps you on your toes.

The RoSPA magazine though is pants. People write in and ask questions that a12 yo could answer.


Then there was a track day course I went on last year in Lincolnshire, and the instructors had this thing about not resting front brake fingers on the brake lever because it's like v the trigger of a gun and you wouldn't want to brake by mistake. WTF? I've only been riding since 1979. What would I know?