Is the IAM now more concerned with money than safety?
Discussion
£85 for SFL is excellent value. Can't remember the exact breakdown but it's something like £45 for the test itself (in line with L-test), £7 for PYADT, and the remaining £33 to the group. Given that groups also lay on Theory classes which may incur room hire costs, £33 is not a lot cpmpared to the return the student gets. Just ask any recent new driver how much they paid to get throughthe L-test with test fees and tuition.
If we are honest, regardless of where you live, if you can't afford £85 you shouldn't be running a car. What will these people do when they get
a nail trough a tyre or the exhaust falls off !!. It also ensures some committment.
I would agree that IAM select are rubbish.
The problem, if that is the right word, with other insurers is that they know what pass plus is and will give a discount based on this. In the main they
do not know what the IAM test is and can't be bothered to find out.
However, if the IAM test saves a young or not so young driver from even a minor bump, how much wil that save them on their insurance excess (£100, £200, more ?) not to mention the lost no claims which they will pay for over the next five years.
If we are honest, regardless of where you live, if you can't afford £85 you shouldn't be running a car. What will these people do when they get
a nail trough a tyre or the exhaust falls off !!. It also ensures some committment.
I would agree that IAM select are rubbish.
The problem, if that is the right word, with other insurers is that they know what pass plus is and will give a discount based on this. In the main they
do not know what the IAM test is and can't be bothered to find out.
However, if the IAM test saves a young or not so young driver from even a minor bump, how much wil that save them on their insurance excess (£100, £200, more ?) not to mention the lost no claims which they will pay for over the next five years.
Don said:
They can't compete for two reasons I can see:
1) The demographic of who joins up is totally different. They're not all motoring enthusiasts by any means.
2) Convoy runs are far harder to manage with cars.
Hi Don,
I agree with your points. However, I believe there is more to why IAM bike groups attract new riders more than new drivers. When you start riding, it's often painfully obvious how much you have to learn. Near-misses can be considerably more frightening to a biker than to a driver. Equally, more experienced riders corner magically quicker than new riders. So most new riders have a deep interest in improving their skills to be safer, swifter or both.
The same does hold true for many new drivers, merely to a lesser extent. However, the IAM doesn't capitalise on the needs of new drivers very well. Nor does it market itself to new drivers.
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