Suggest advanced driving course for young driver
Discussion
As the title suggests I’ve got a sales person who works primarily in the office but she goes out to see customers occasionally which she enjoys. At the moment I’ve got no plans to ask any of my staff to come back to the office or go and visit customers face to face but this particular person had a bump when she was driving home one night and she has really felt the effects of it and has been quite nervous behind the wheel.
She recently was prescribed beta blockers as a side to help with some anxiety, I found that really strange and akin to pasting over a crack instead of trying to find out where the problem came from.
I’ve suggested that she gets a second opinion on the meds but primarily that she considers an advance driving course to help her feel more comfortable and confident behind the wheel. In my mind, more knowledge equals more control and safety.
Can anyone recommend any courses that might be suitable. Looks to be some good ones on i am road smart. To be honest I’ll probably pay for it too as it’s going to be a benefit to me in the long run.
She recently was prescribed beta blockers as a side to help with some anxiety, I found that really strange and akin to pasting over a crack instead of trying to find out where the problem came from.
I’ve suggested that she gets a second opinion on the meds but primarily that she considers an advance driving course to help her feel more comfortable and confident behind the wheel. In my mind, more knowledge equals more control and safety.
Can anyone recommend any courses that might be suitable. Looks to be some good ones on i am road smart. To be honest I’ll probably pay for it too as it’s going to be a benefit to me in the long run.
HPC do a young driver day, I never got my act together but it sounded fantastic.
Regarding the beta blockers, I had the same around this time last year and was surprised to just be given pills and sent on my way. Are you close enough to her to talk seriously about it? Here's some things that might be useful:
Improving access to phycological therapy (IAPT, I might have what the P stages for wrong) can help sort talking therapies like CBT. I think there's a version of that everywhere in the UK
Jog On by Bella Mackie is a fantastic book to help understand what someone with fairly strong anxiety might be feeling
Headspace app can be helpful, especially at the moment with all the days rolling into one
If she's really feeling anxious then avoid trying to 'fix' the symptoms, like suggesting an advanced driving course. She can drive already, that's not the problem, improving her driving ability won't fix it.
I hope that comes across right, good on you for getting her to speak to you about it, listening and following up. We could all do with managers like that.
Regarding the beta blockers, I had the same around this time last year and was surprised to just be given pills and sent on my way. Are you close enough to her to talk seriously about it? Here's some things that might be useful:
Improving access to phycological therapy (IAPT, I might have what the P stages for wrong) can help sort talking therapies like CBT. I think there's a version of that everywhere in the UK
Jog On by Bella Mackie is a fantastic book to help understand what someone with fairly strong anxiety might be feeling
Headspace app can be helpful, especially at the moment with all the days rolling into one
If she's really feeling anxious then avoid trying to 'fix' the symptoms, like suggesting an advanced driving course. She can drive already, that's not the problem, improving her driving ability won't fix it.
I hope that comes across right, good on you for getting her to speak to you about it, listening and following up. We could all do with managers like that.
Benrad said:
HPC do a young driver day, I never got my act together but it sounded fantastic.
Regarding the beta blockers, I had the same around this time last year and was surprised to just be given pills and sent on my way. Are you close enough to her to talk seriously about it? Here's some things that might be useful:
Improving access to phycological therapy (IAPT, I might have what the P stages for wrong) can help sort talking therapies like CBT. I think there's a version of that everywhere in the UK
Jog On by Bella Mackie is a fantastic book to help understand what someone with fairly strong anxiety might be feeling
Headspace app can be helpful, especially at the moment with all the days rolling into one
If she's really feeling anxious then avoid trying to 'fix' the symptoms, like suggesting an advanced driving course. She can drive already, that's not the problem, improving her driving ability won't fix it.
I hope that comes across right, good on you for getting her to speak to you about it, listening and following up. We could all do with managers like that.
Thanks for your reply and yes it has come across as right! Regarding the beta blockers, I had the same around this time last year and was surprised to just be given pills and sent on my way. Are you close enough to her to talk seriously about it? Here's some things that might be useful:
Improving access to phycological therapy (IAPT, I might have what the P stages for wrong) can help sort talking therapies like CBT. I think there's a version of that everywhere in the UK
Jog On by Bella Mackie is a fantastic book to help understand what someone with fairly strong anxiety might be feeling
Headspace app can be helpful, especially at the moment with all the days rolling into one
If she's really feeling anxious then avoid trying to 'fix' the symptoms, like suggesting an advanced driving course. She can drive already, that's not the problem, improving her driving ability won't fix it.
I hope that comes across right, good on you for getting her to speak to you about it, listening and following up. We could all do with managers like that.
We've got a company that handles all our HR and shes been given the details to a number she can call but again dont want to just palm her off on that so yes I can talk to her and I will without prying, I'll suggest a few things to her that you've mentioned above they all sound good in fact big +1 for Headspace, I use the sleep parts of the app to nod off at night absolutely excellent when you are struggling to switch off.
As a first go, I'd suggest local IAM or RoSPA, or dependent on location Reg Local (oop north), Clive Jones (Bridgend) or Andy Morrison (Banbury). I've no direct experience of Reg's tuition but I suspect he'll be of the same calibre of Clive and Andy.
A friend of mine went to see Andy after she'd had a bump - no fault of hers - and he talked her through that, went out of a drive with her, and replicated the situation to see how she dealt with it. The combination of that, plus an assessment of the complete drive, put her mind at ease.
A friend of mine went to see Andy after she'd had a bump - no fault of hers - and he talked her through that, went out of a drive with her, and replicated the situation to see how she dealt with it. The combination of that, plus an assessment of the complete drive, put her mind at ease.
dvenman said:
As a first go, I'd suggest local IAM or RoSPA, or dependent on location Reg Local (oop north), Clive Jones (Bridgend) or Andy Morrison (Banbury). I've no direct experience of Reg's tuition but I suspect he'll be of the same calibre of Clive and Andy.
A friend of mine went to see Andy after she'd had a bump - no fault of hers - and he talked her through that, went out of a drive with her, and replicated the situation to see how she dealt with it. The combination of that, plus an assessment of the complete drive, put her mind at ease.
Thanks for the info. A friend of mine went to see Andy after she'd had a bump - no fault of hers - and he talked her through that, went out of a drive with her, and replicated the situation to see how she dealt with it. The combination of that, plus an assessment of the complete drive, put her mind at ease.
WokkaWokka said:
As the title suggests I’ve got a sales person who works primarily in the office but she goes out to see customers occasionally which she enjoys. At the moment I’ve got no plans to ask any of my staff to come back to the office or go and visit customers face to face but this particular person had a bump when she was driving home one night and she has really felt the effects of it and has been quite nervous behind the wheel.
She recently was prescribed beta blockers as a side to help with some anxiety, I found that really strange and akin to pasting over a crack instead of trying to find out where the problem came from.
I’ve suggested that she gets a second opinion on the meds but primarily that she considers an advance driving course to help her feel more comfortable and confident behind the wheel. In my mind, more knowledge equals more control and safety.
Can anyone recommend any courses that might be suitable. Looks to be some good ones on i am road smart. To be honest I’ll probably pay for it too as it’s going to be a benefit to me in the long run.
Rally or a drift day. If she can learn what a car feels like beyond the limits and how to control it, it will do wonders everywhere (driving wise).She recently was prescribed beta blockers as a side to help with some anxiety, I found that really strange and akin to pasting over a crack instead of trying to find out where the problem came from.
I’ve suggested that she gets a second opinion on the meds but primarily that she considers an advance driving course to help her feel more comfortable and confident behind the wheel. In my mind, more knowledge equals more control and safety.
Can anyone recommend any courses that might be suitable. Looks to be some good ones on i am road smart. To be honest I’ll probably pay for it too as it’s going to be a benefit to me in the long run.
I will go slightly against the grain here...
if her issue is nervousness, then she probably does not want an advanced driving course, but someone who will re-build her nerves... going on the young driver's day with the High Performance Course could be totally the wrong solution - that is about lifting your driving to another level, whereas she needs encouragement and confidence...
the course managers for that young driver's day are Clive and Carole - http://www.high-performance-course.com/course-mana... both of whom are superb, she may find that Carole (being female) is an easier concept - but both are sensitive and compassionate and could help on an individual basis... I don't know Reg Local, but he has a good reputation, so may also be able to help - equally, a good ADI may be able to help as well... as it sounds as though it is as much a mental process as a driving skills process that is needed...
I would also recommend the IAM / RoSPA groups - though the key will be finding the 'right' person - giving her extra skills will help, but to do so out of the context of building her up might not...
if her issue is nervousness, then she probably does not want an advanced driving course, but someone who will re-build her nerves... going on the young driver's day with the High Performance Course could be totally the wrong solution - that is about lifting your driving to another level, whereas she needs encouragement and confidence...
the course managers for that young driver's day are Clive and Carole - http://www.high-performance-course.com/course-mana... both of whom are superb, she may find that Carole (being female) is an easier concept - but both are sensitive and compassionate and could help on an individual basis... I don't know Reg Local, but he has a good reputation, so may also be able to help - equally, a good ADI may be able to help as well... as it sounds as though it is as much a mental process as a driving skills process that is needed...
I would also recommend the IAM / RoSPA groups - though the key will be finding the 'right' person - giving her extra skills will help, but to do so out of the context of building her up might not...
akirk said:
the course managers for that young driver's day are Clive and Carole - http://www.high-performance-course.com/course-mana... both of whom are superb, she may find that Carole (being female) is an easier concept - but both are sensitive and compassionate and could help on an individual basis... I don't know Reg Local, but he has a good reputation, so may also be able to help
+1. I think this advice is excellent.Incidentally, whatever happened to Andy Morrison? Has he retired from instructing? I noticed he's neither doing bike stuff for Rapid nor – in the car – an HPC course manager anymore.
In a similar vein, whatever happened to John Lyon? I always imagined JL would be instructing until his hundredth birthday!
Salted_Peanut said:
akirk said:
the course managers for that young driver's day are Clive and Carole - http://www.high-performance-course.com/course-mana... both of whom are superb, she may find that Carole (being female) is an easier concept - but both are sensitive and compassionate and could help on an individual basis... I don't know Reg Local, but he has a good reputation, so may also be able to help
+1. I think this advice is excellent.Incidentally, whatever happened to Andy Morrison? Has he retired from instructing? I noticed he's neither doing bike stuff for Rapid nor – in the car – an HPC course manager anymore.
In a similar vein, whatever happened to John Lyon? I always imagined JL would be instructing until his hundredth birthday!
John Lyon was doing his own thing until some years ago - not sure he is any more... his facebook page is c. 8 years out of date and the website it references is now run by a musician!
akirk said:
Salted_Peanut said:
akirk said:
the course managers for that young driver's day are Clive and Carole - http://www.high-performance-course.com/course-mana... both of whom are superb, she may find that Carole (being female) is an easier concept - but both are sensitive and compassionate and could help on an individual basis... I don't know Reg Local, but he has a good reputation, so may also be able to help
+1. I think this advice is excellent.Incidentally, whatever happened to Andy Morrison? Has he retired from instructing? I noticed he's neither doing bike stuff for Rapid nor – in the car – an HPC course manager anymore.
In a similar vein, whatever happened to John Lyon? I always imagined JL would be instructing until his hundredth birthday!
John Lyon was doing his own thing until some years ago - not sure he is any more... his facebook page is c. 8 years out of date and the website it references is now run by a musician!
Don't know where you are, but 'Reg Local' seems to get good reviews.
eg
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
eg
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
akirk said:
Andy Morrison is still around, but doing reduced coaching - so more semi-retired now...
John Lyon was doing his own thing until some years ago - not sure he is any more... his facebook page is c. 8 years out of date and the website it references is now run by a musician!
I heard that John gave up his ADI about a year ago at 80.John Lyon was doing his own thing until some years ago - not sure he is any more... his facebook page is c. 8 years out of date and the website it references is now run by a musician!
I'm unconvinced that an (amateur) observer from either the IAM or RoSPA would be ideal for someone quite nervous behind the wheel.
In this case, I reckon a professional instructor - as akirk suggested - would be better.
In this case, I reckon a professional instructor - as akirk suggested - would be better.
akirk said:
the course managers for that young driver's day are Clive and Carole - http://www.high-performance-course.com/course-mana... both of whom are superb, she may find that Carole (being female) is an easier concept - but both are sensitive and compassionate and could help on an individual basis... I don't know Reg Local, but he has a good reputation, so may also be able to help
Salted_Peanut said:
I'm unconvinced that an (amateur) observer from either the IAM or RoSPA would be ideal for someone quite nervous behind the wheel.
In this case, I reckon a professional instructor - as akirk suggested - would be better.
I think it depends - there are some fantastic observers in both organisations, I know quite a few of them - some of whom are ADIs, many of whom would be perfect - but you would have to do some reference checking to find the right person...In this case, I reckon a professional instructor - as akirk suggested - would be better.
akirk said:
the course managers for that young driver's day are Clive and Carole - http://www.high-performance-course.com/course-mana... both of whom are superb, she may find that Carole (being female) is an easier concept - but both are sensitive and compassionate and could help on an individual basis... I don't know Reg Local, but he has a good reputation, so may also be able to help
Salted_Peanut said:
I agree but it's impossible - in practice - for someone outside the IAM/RoSPA group to get the lowdown on individual Observers. In contrast, you know that a professional like Carole, Clive or Reg Local will be top notch.
True...if that line is of interest, may be worth asking the question on ADHub (advanceddrivinghub.com) as there are a number of the decent IAM / RoSPA observers on there and generally members on there will know exactly who within a group would be ideal...
caveat - I own / run ADHub
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