My IAM experience
Discussion
I've recently joined the IAM and have started my observed drives. Maybe my experiences will be of some interest, particularly given the recent "IAM - how to attract younger drivers?" thread. I’m seventeen and passed my driving test in October. I read about the IAM and started reading Roadcraft before I started driving.
My first observed drive went quite well, although I made plenty of minor errors. My observer’s main criticism was for my steering. I was surprised by this because I thought my steering was the best part of my driving. I was expecting more criticism for things like my clutch control or observation but she seemed pretty satisfied with those. She also said that I won’t require many drives to get to the required standard which was nice to hear.
I was shown the ‘thumb-down, thumb-up’ way to operate the gear-stick. At first I really struggled to do the thumb-down part, and I selected the wrong gear quite a few times, but slowly I’m getting the hang of it. I can’t however, see why it is better at preventing mis-selected gears than my previous method of operating the gear-stick.
For our second meeting my observer drove her car on the same route that we took that last time. I was surprised to find that she isn’t super-smooth with her gear-changes or stops but this did at least allay my worries about my own ability in these areas. I was also pleased to see that she slipped over the speed limit in the same places that I sometimes do.
On my second observed drive my observer got me to do five minutes of commentary whilst we were on a dual-carriageway. The traffic was pretty quiet so there wasn’t an awful lot to say. Even so, I found it takes lot more effort to describe everything I see than it takes to simply ‘process’ it in my mind. I’m glad I don’t have to do it in the test. I asked how my gear-stick grip looked and apparently it’s fine, but it still doesn’t feel very good. Again, my observer said that my steering needs improvement.
Overall, I think the standard required of candidates isn’t as high as I had the impression it was, although I don’t doubt that some IAM members are of a very high standard. I was expecting more criticism for my driving and that I’d have to make more improvements than it seems I actually do. I’m slightly worried that my observer is missing some of my errors.
However, two things about the IAM way of driving seem nonsensical:
- Cancelling your indicator when you are in a stationary queue of traffic “because the sound is irritating”
- Keeping both hands on the wheel when stationary in neutral “because it looks good”
My first observed drive went quite well, although I made plenty of minor errors. My observer’s main criticism was for my steering. I was surprised by this because I thought my steering was the best part of my driving. I was expecting more criticism for things like my clutch control or observation but she seemed pretty satisfied with those. She also said that I won’t require many drives to get to the required standard which was nice to hear.
I was shown the ‘thumb-down, thumb-up’ way to operate the gear-stick. At first I really struggled to do the thumb-down part, and I selected the wrong gear quite a few times, but slowly I’m getting the hang of it. I can’t however, see why it is better at preventing mis-selected gears than my previous method of operating the gear-stick.
For our second meeting my observer drove her car on the same route that we took that last time. I was surprised to find that she isn’t super-smooth with her gear-changes or stops but this did at least allay my worries about my own ability in these areas. I was also pleased to see that she slipped over the speed limit in the same places that I sometimes do.
On my second observed drive my observer got me to do five minutes of commentary whilst we were on a dual-carriageway. The traffic was pretty quiet so there wasn’t an awful lot to say. Even so, I found it takes lot more effort to describe everything I see than it takes to simply ‘process’ it in my mind. I’m glad I don’t have to do it in the test. I asked how my gear-stick grip looked and apparently it’s fine, but it still doesn’t feel very good. Again, my observer said that my steering needs improvement.
Overall, I think the standard required of candidates isn’t as high as I had the impression it was, although I don’t doubt that some IAM members are of a very high standard. I was expecting more criticism for my driving and that I’d have to make more improvements than it seems I actually do. I’m slightly worried that my observer is missing some of my errors.
However, two things about the IAM way of driving seem nonsensical:
- Cancelling your indicator when you are in a stationary queue of traffic “because the sound is irritating”
- Keeping both hands on the wheel when stationary in neutral “because it looks good”
SamHH said:
However, two things about the IAM way of driving seem nonsensical:
- Cancelling your indicator when you are in a stationary queue of traffic “because the sound is irritating”
- Keeping both hands on the wheel when stationary in neutral “because it looks good”
The points are valid, but the reasons are crap.
1) Cancel indicator in traffic when stationary as there's nobody to signal to (as a frequent pedestian i don't agree with this though).
2) Keep hands on the wheel so you have more chance of controlling the car if hit by another vehicle.
SamHH said:
I was shown the ‘thumb-down, thumb-up’ way to operate the gear-stick.
How many people are taught this? My instructor never taught me how to change gear properly, and I routinely see people holding the gear lever and positively putting it into gear - which imo is a very poor technique liable to lead to missed gear changes especally on typical boxes with more than four gears. I've never heard it referred to as the 'thumb up, thumb down' technique but that sounds like the sort of technique I would recommend.
agent006 said:
1) Cancel indicator in traffic when stationary as there's nobody to signal to (as a frequent pedestian i don't agree with this though).
Also signalling when stationary (especially at night) is distracting to driver behind.
And - if keeping the signal on would benefit somebody else (like a pedestrian) then you should leave it on. There should be no dogma about "always cancel signal in stationary traffic" - perhaps usually is more appropriate. When I used to teach observers I used to tell them that the only dogma should be "never be dogmatic about anything"
agent006 said:
The points are valid, but the reasons are crap.
1) Cancel indicator in traffic when stationary as there's nobody to signal to (as a frequent pedestian i don't agree with this though).
How about the people who you were signalling to before you became stationary? I think the fact that you are no longer moving doesn't mean they can't benefit from the signal.
agent006 said:
2) Keep hands on the wheel so you have more chance of controlling the car if hit by another vehicle.
Maybe, but I think there is only a minute likelihood that you will be crashed into and that you will benefit from having both hands on the wheel for that split second that you would otherwise have your left hand on the gear-stick or handbrake (the two places I usually rest my left hand). You might conversely argue that by having your hand on the gear-stick or handbrake you've got more chance of avoiding being hit in the first place. Also, you could say that you should have your foot hovering over the brake pedal when stationary so that you can apply the brakes fractionally earlier if your are hit.
Anyway, these points are fairly minor and happily they are the only things I've found myself disagreeing with, but they irritate me all the same.
EDIT: added a bit to clarify.
Edited by SamHH on Saturday 30th December 18:27
GreenV8S said:
SamHH said:
I was shown the ‘thumb-down, thumb-up’ way to operate the gear-stick.
How many people are taught this? .......I've never heard it referred to as the 'thumb up, thumb down' technique but that sounds like the sort of technique I would recommend.
It's shown on the Roadcraft video/DVD. It prevents incorrect gear selection caused by the gear lever spring bias causing the gear knob to slip out of a sweaty hand.
Sam - I'm an IAM Observer.
You've only had two drives so far. Very often on the early drives I don't point out to the Associate everything they're doing "wrong". Reason being - its disheartening! I concentrate on the foundations that need fixing. Later on I'll look at the "polish" and get very, very picky.
The IAM standard for a pass isn't that hard to pass. Yes - its much higher than the L test. But there is so, so much more to learn afterwards.
If keen on Advanced driving there is the "Special Assessment". Its not a pass/fail thing. You are given a percentage. No-one gets 100%. But high seventies is possible, apparently, with enough work. I'm looking into doing this at the moment.
If you want something easier that is graded you could do the Rospa test in due course. This will get you a Bronze, Silver or Gold. Getting a Gold is not an easy thing. An IAM member should get Silver, though...
Gearstick grip: Thumb-up, thumb-down. I have seen this demonstrated in the Roadcraft video and I do it myself - sort of. Its the kind of thing that won't pass or fail you by itself. If someone is having trouble always selecting the correct gear I would definitely show them the technique - its designed to ensure that you naturally push the gearstick in the correct direction (to the left or the right). It helps some drivers in some cars. If you have a extremely short gearshift (e.g. Honda S2000) it may not be so useful...
Good luck, Sam. Keep it up. Report back - and make sure you let us know when you pass - I'm sure you will!
You've only had two drives so far. Very often on the early drives I don't point out to the Associate everything they're doing "wrong". Reason being - its disheartening! I concentrate on the foundations that need fixing. Later on I'll look at the "polish" and get very, very picky.
The IAM standard for a pass isn't that hard to pass. Yes - its much higher than the L test. But there is so, so much more to learn afterwards.
If keen on Advanced driving there is the "Special Assessment". Its not a pass/fail thing. You are given a percentage. No-one gets 100%. But high seventies is possible, apparently, with enough work. I'm looking into doing this at the moment.
If you want something easier that is graded you could do the Rospa test in due course. This will get you a Bronze, Silver or Gold. Getting a Gold is not an easy thing. An IAM member should get Silver, though...
Gearstick grip: Thumb-up, thumb-down. I have seen this demonstrated in the Roadcraft video and I do it myself - sort of. Its the kind of thing that won't pass or fail you by itself. If someone is having trouble always selecting the correct gear I would definitely show them the technique - its designed to ensure that you naturally push the gearstick in the correct direction (to the left or the right). It helps some drivers in some cars. If you have a extremely short gearshift (e.g. Honda S2000) it may not be so useful...
Good luck, Sam. Keep it up. Report back - and make sure you let us know when you pass - I'm sure you will!
SamHH said:
How about the people who you were signalling to before you became stationary? I think the fact that you are no longer moving doesn't mean they can't benefit from the signal.
You're sitting in a left/right turn lane/queue? Isn't your road position enough information for following drivers? You can put the indicator on again when you move off for confirmation if you like. If I was sitting behind you I'd appreciate you turning it off. And using the handbrake rather than foot brake!
GreenV8S said:
I routinely see people holding the gear lever and positively putting it into gear - which imo is a very poor technique liable to lead to missed gear changes especally on typical boxes with more than four gears.
What do you mean by "positively putting it into gear"?
GreenV8S said:
I've never heard it referred to as the 'thumb up, thumb down' technique but that sounds like the sort of technique I would recommend.
The technique I've been taught is to wrap my fingers round the front of the gear-stick with my palm facing away from me and my thumb pointing down for gears that require you to push the stick to the left of its natural resting point (1st and 2nd in my car), or my palm facing towards me and my thumb pointing up for gears that require you to push the stick to the right (5th in my car) or for gears that don't require you to push the stick left or right (3rd and 4th in my car). That is all assuming the gear-stick is to the left of the driver. Is that what you're thinking about?
EDIT: There is a photo of the 'thumb-down' grip on the cover of my edition of Roadcraft.
Edited by SamHH on Saturday 30th December 18:43
Edited by SamHH on Saturday 30th December 18:50
Don said:
Gearstick grip: Thumb-up, thumb-down. I have seen this demonstrated in the Roadcraft video and I do it myself - sort of. Its the kind of thing that won't pass or fail you by itself.
Hmmm...it was presented to me as something I must do in the exam. I guessed it is routinely taught to all IAM candidates, but maybe it's just something that our examiner (there is only one in our area) requires.
Don said:
Good luck, Sam. Keep it up. Report back - and make sure you let us know when you pass - I'm sure you will!
Thanks.
SamHH said:
How about the people who you were signalling to before you became stationary? I think the fact that you are no longer moving doesn't mean they can't benefit from the signal.
But if you're in a queue of traffic, you're not going to be continuing your maneuvre for a period of time, hence the signal becomes unnecessary until you start moving again. For example if you're in heavy queuing traffic at a set of t'lights, it's not really necessary to indicate a right turn for the lights until you're within 5 or so cars of the front.
GreenV8S said:
SamHH said:
I was shown the ‘thumb-down, thumb-up’ way to operate the gear-stick.
How many people are taught this? My instructor never taught me how to change gear properly, and I routinely see people holding the gear lever and positively putting it into gear - which imo is a very poor technique liable to lead to missed gear changes especally on typical boxes with more than four gears. I've never heard it referred to as the 'thumb up, thumb down' technique but that sounds like the sort of technique I would recommend.
It's certainly what's taught to all Police officers & is one of the things that is often cited as anal by those criticising roadcraft's teachings.
I've seen it's worth on many occasions.
They are taught thumb down for 1st & 2nd, thumb up for other gears.
It encourages you to push laterally against the spring loading before pushing forward or backwards into gear, providing greater consistency under pressure. Rather than trying to push laterally & up/down simultaneously (which holding the gear stick in the palm of the hand, like a claw, encourages).
What you are looking for is a method that aids consistency by getting the correct gear in all circumstances & conditions, not just most of the time.
I've seen people who roll their eyes, thinking you are being anal about it for concentrating on something which they regard as pretty insignificant (because they get the right gear using their method) & then on test they come to a "T" junction, the vehicle they are following is off & away, they check it's safe & judge they can get out safely infront of the approaching vehicle if they're quick. They were right if they got 1st not 3rd.
They then fail beause of a safety issue, but the underlying reason was because they didn't use an optimal way of holding the gear lever to aid consistency in that area of performance as they had been shown to.
The devil is in the detail.
Edited by vonhosen on Saturday 30th December 19:49
SamHH said:
GreenV8S said:
I routinely see people holding the gear lever and positively putting it into gear - which imo is a very poor technique liable to lead to missed gear changes especally on typical boxes with more than four gears.
What do you mean by "positively putting it into gear"?
My suggested technique, which I think is the same as the one that you described as 'thumb up/thumb down', is to push the lever steadily in the direction you want it to go with the palm of your hand i.e. press it lightly sideways and then push it forwards (or backwards as applicable). The hand is cupped over and round the gear knob but pressing against it rather than gripping it. Although the gear level follows a Z shaped path, your hand and arm move in more or less a straight diagonal line and you apply a constant force.
The technique that we see being shown repeatedly on motoring programs, and I see most people use on the road, is to take a firm grip of the gear knob, as if they were holding a beer glass, and then move their hand forwards, sideways and forwards again to place the gear lever into the new gear. It makes it much harder to engage gear quickly and accurately, and I've lost track of the number of people I've seen fluff a perfectly simple gear change in the heat of the moment because of imo poor technique. It's how my driving instructor taught me to do it, and I kept doing it until a much better driver caught me at it.
Edited by GreenV8S on Saturday 30th December 21:25
On this question of the best grip for the gearlever, I do agree that a firm grip in the manner described is best.
But, for me, there's an even more important guide - which is to make sure you take the grip in good time before making the gear change.
If you watch some of the best racing drivers (before the advent of paddle shifts!), they do just this. A great example is Andy Wallace in the McLaren F1 in practice for Le Mans - see the link below:
[url]http://video.google.com/videoplay?doc[/url]
(It's about 4 minutes, and has several good shots of his gearchanging, which is sublime.)
Since being taught to do so, I find this really helps make sure a) I have a firm grip and b) that I am clear about the shift movement I am about to make. I am not suggesting one's hand is on the gearshift for a long time before the change, but just that there is good time for shift to be well prepared for.
I have sat next to many drivers who grab at the gearshift a fraction too late, and as a result slightly mis-time their change. Or worse still, fluff the change. This is exacerbated if they also take a weak grip.
One very obvious point is that the "thumb up / down" rule reverses for LHD cars.
Kind regards
Steve
But, for me, there's an even more important guide - which is to make sure you take the grip in good time before making the gear change.
If you watch some of the best racing drivers (before the advent of paddle shifts!), they do just this. A great example is Andy Wallace in the McLaren F1 in practice for Le Mans - see the link below:
[url]http://video.google.com/videoplay?doc[/url]
(It's about 4 minutes, and has several good shots of his gearchanging, which is sublime.)
Since being taught to do so, I find this really helps make sure a) I have a firm grip and b) that I am clear about the shift movement I am about to make. I am not suggesting one's hand is on the gearshift for a long time before the change, but just that there is good time for shift to be well prepared for.
I have sat next to many drivers who grab at the gearshift a fraction too late, and as a result slightly mis-time their change. Or worse still, fluff the change. This is exacerbated if they also take a weak grip.
One very obvious point is that the "thumb up / down" rule reverses for LHD cars.
Kind regards
Steve
Edited by stefan1 on Saturday 30th December 23:08
SamHH said:
- Cancelling your indicator when you are in a stationary queue of traffic
This to me is where you get to IAM twaddle. The more nuances you put in, in the name of advanced driving, the more absurd it gets. The simple Roadcraft technique of deciding who you are signalling to, does it all. If there's people to signal to, then do it. Simple, no frills, perfect.
A modification based on how long the indicator has been on, or whether you are in stationary traffic is a nonsense. You cannot work out whether the people you are signalling to have seen it or not, so the only failsafe approach is to signal to them.
Graham
gridgway said:
SamHH said:
- Cancelling your indicator when you are in a stationary queue of traffic
This to me is where you get to IAM twaddle. The more nuances you put in, in the name of advanced driving, the more absurd it gets. The simple Roadcraft technique of deciding who you are signalling to, does it all. If there's people to signal to, then do it. Simple, no frills, perfect.
A modification based on how long the indicator has been on, or whether you are in stationary traffic is a nonsense. You cannot work out whether the people you are signalling to have seen it or not, so the only failsafe approach is to signal to them.
Graham
Fair point ...
Have to say, esp. at night waiting at lights I may cancel an indicator to avoid blinding those behind, but ...
1. It stays on until people have stopped behind me
2. I put it back on well before I pull away.
Usually only do this at lights "I know" stay red for a while.
M
stefan1 said:
Since being taught to do so, I find this really helps make sure a) I have a firm grip and b) that I am clear about the shift movement I am about to make. I am not suggesting one's hand is on the gearshift for a long time before the change, but just that there is good time for shift to be well prepared for.
I am thinking back to some of the passenger laps (non recently) that I have had on track with yourself, Joe911 and our very own "DC" and one that sticks out is that the gear change always looked like it took a long time but never once halted the progress on track. The gearchanges in the video appear to be more "rifle bolt" in action. So would/do you apply the same method when on the road as you do when on the track?
The things to remember about roadcraft are that
a)it's guidance, not law.
b)it was developed primarily for police response/advanced driving.
The whole gearshift grip thing doesn't make a lot of sense in normal driving. I got by just fine for 8 years without doing it. However as soon as you begin to drive at speed it becomes essential. It significantly reduced the chance of a missed gear shift by using biomechanics (the position and strength of your arm) to overcome the sprung tension of the gearbox. When you're downshifting when approaching a junction it's essential to get the correct gear every time.
The more profound effect it has though is that it forces you to know what gear you're shifting to before you even grip the gearstick. On approach to a roundabout for example you may have a choice between 3rd and second. By the time a gear change is necessary you should have made enough observations to know which gear you need. Sloppy gear change technique allows you to grab the stick, change into 3rd, change your mind and change into 2nd probably without ever letting the clutch back up. All that time you should have had both hands on the wheel, as the car is under braking.
Well done for taking the AIM test so soon after passing your initial test, it will no doubt help you be far more observant and safer. The primary benefits should be increased observation and planning and the 'techniques' or car control are secondary IMO. When you've got the certificate you can keep the aspects of AIM that you like and chose to ignor those aspects that seem superfluous.
a)it's guidance, not law.
b)it was developed primarily for police response/advanced driving.
The whole gearshift grip thing doesn't make a lot of sense in normal driving. I got by just fine for 8 years without doing it. However as soon as you begin to drive at speed it becomes essential. It significantly reduced the chance of a missed gear shift by using biomechanics (the position and strength of your arm) to overcome the sprung tension of the gearbox. When you're downshifting when approaching a junction it's essential to get the correct gear every time.
The more profound effect it has though is that it forces you to know what gear you're shifting to before you even grip the gearstick. On approach to a roundabout for example you may have a choice between 3rd and second. By the time a gear change is necessary you should have made enough observations to know which gear you need. Sloppy gear change technique allows you to grab the stick, change into 3rd, change your mind and change into 2nd probably without ever letting the clutch back up. All that time you should have had both hands on the wheel, as the car is under braking.
Well done for taking the AIM test so soon after passing your initial test, it will no doubt help you be far more observant and safer. The primary benefits should be increased observation and planning and the 'techniques' or car control are secondary IMO. When you've got the certificate you can keep the aspects of AIM that you like and chose to ignor those aspects that seem superfluous.
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