Advanced driver qualifications

[Chris71]

I'm thinking road driving qualifications, largely for insurance purposes.

Are they worth doing? Think I'm a bit too old to get any real benefit from pass plus (24) but maybe IAM or something?

[cw42]

you might want to pop this question in here; http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&a...

I've done my IAM, and enjoyed it. It brought my insurance down a little, but the benifit to my everyday driving is where the biggest improvement has been felt.
I've had some fast road tuition from a class 1 trained police officer, and am going to invest in some more this year. Didn't fancy ROSPA, as I've been informed it was very similar to the IAM but a bit more anal

[Silverbullet767]

I done my IAM, i got ait for free because I worked with the (cant tell) but he's important in it anyway. If I were to pay for it its cheaper because i'm under 27, i think its 27 and under get a tenner off the asking, I'm glad I done it and it brought my insurance down a good bit too. You think you know how to drive, then these guys SHOW YOU how to drive.

[Chris71]

Might be wrong, but always had the impression IAM was a bit anal. Aren't they supposed to report people for breaking speed limits and stuff?

[superlightr]

Having been and done IAM and Rospa for many years and observed for Rospa for the last 4 - its not anal.
Its jolly good and would be more suited to keen drivers.

Rospa is geared up to keener drivers and you are encouraged to make progress. In fact if you dont use your full rev range with me then I would suggest you may wish to do so.....

Iam is more fuddy duddy. Get a good observer from Rospa and you will have fun and learn a lot.

[Aeroresh]

IAM is for the "girls", and ROSPA is the real deal!

I got a gold in the ROSPA course a few years back but you're supposed to retake your test every 3 years, and I couldnt be bothered at the time.

Might do a refresher soon as its surprising how quickly you get back into old bad habits when you havent got an observer with you!

[cw42]

Only one way to settle IAM v ROSPA.................................


FIGHT!





I had some very good instructors when doing my IAM, all urging me to make progress and not worried about transgressions over the limit in overtakes

[jj.]

Passed my IAM test 14 years ago (when I was 19). At the time had an AX GT (used to pay 1K for insurance – car cost me £4k). I did the test for insurance purposes. Since then had 944, 968, TVR, etc. Never once has my insurance been discounted due to the IAM pass. Which is a shame, as I’ve not had an accident, claim or points in all my driving career – must be doing something right?

IAM taught me a lot, which I still drive to all these years later. In my mind invulnerable experience, just don’t think you’ll pass and get an insurance discount. Even the IAM approved insurer where always miles more expensive than I could find elsewhere.
jj

[Don]

Aeroresh said:

IAM is for the "girls", and ROSPA is the real deal!

I did the IAM. After that getting a ROSPA Gold was waaay too easy. Must be a course for "girls" IAM sorts the Men out from the Boys...

Actually I've got my ROSPA re-test shortly. May have some crap about it as the North Wales Police currently have my driving licence. Yes you guessed it - caught speeding. 3 pts £60. Got me bang to rights, guvnor, its a fair cop. etc etc. Last time was five years ago though so no totting up - and come the insurance renewal I still only have to tell them about one set of points. I had been looking forward to a totally clean licence for the first time in a long old while...but there you go. Having three points is soo fashionable these days...

How "anal" is that!

[Skodaku]

IAM is, as others have said, the real deal. My company used to insist on a pass for all company car drivers, and they paid all fees every year. Since then had evaluations with RoSPA and Drive & Survive but neither seemed up to IAM standard. A lot may depend on local personnel.

[BOF]

With IAM and RoSPA, a lot depends on the Observer doing the course..we are volunteers and some have more experience than others...just like plumbers or dentists.

With regard to insurance savings, it is a skill for life as mentioned above and you savings might come from retaining your no claim bonus - or your life.

An advantage of RoSPA is that you are retested every three years and get a 3 page detailed report - I got Silver first time...worked on the criticisms and got and retained Gold...even as a Senior IAM Observer, I 'tighten up' my Roadcraft for the retest.

A very rough chart of the levels of further education is...



Whether you go for IAM or RoSPA or HPC, ANY interest in improving your safety and enjoyment is worth the effort.

BOF.

PS - Anyone wishing to have a copy of the/my RoSPA test report - feel free to e mail me.

Edited by BOF on Saturday 26th May 18:01

Edited by BOF on Saturday 26th May 18:05

[Dr Jekyll]

BOF said:

That's roughly what I thought, except for two things.

Most IAM groups would say the test standard is between bronze and silver, their observers look for a silver standard before putting someone in for the test. Also, I thought the ROADA diploma was purely an instructional qualification, although you need a gold to go on the course.

Where does the driving instructors test go on the chart? I'm told is basically IAM standard but with less tolerance for minor faults.

[Don]

Dr Jekyll said:

BOF said:

That's roughly what I thought, except for two things.

Most IAM groups would say the test standard is between bronze and silver, their observers look for a silver standard before putting someone in for the test. Also, I thought the ROADA diploma was purely an instructional qualification, although you need a gold to go on the course.

Where does the driving instructors test go on the chart? I'm told is basically IAM standard but with less tolerance for minor faults.

I think the comparison of a RoADA Bronze and an IAM test is wrong. I think they were supposed to be about the same level but in practice they are not. A Bronze RoADA grade really means you should take the test again - a "fail" (sort of). A Silver is really what's considered the "pass" grade. Again - in practice - many of my group's IAM test candidates would get a Silver at RoADA and I got a Gold with little, if any, additional practice over my IAM duties. (OK - I am an Observer).

Since I am shortly to have a RoADA re-test I'll report back on how I do.

In any case I would agree that there is much to learn over and above either test. And then, of course, there are all the specialisations too that one can have a go at.

Driving: loads of fun!

[SVS]

Skodaku said:

A lot may depend on local personnel.

In my experience, this is the true answer.

How much do you learn from a test? A little, although the experience can be worthwhile. How much do you learn from the training beforehand? Lots. It's the training that counts.

Like everything, the quality of your individual instructor/observer is what counts. This can vary enormously within one advanced group.

For example, I was so uninspired with my original IAM bike observer that I temporarily gave up. Then I asked to switch to another observer and got a gifted teacher. Observers vary. It's more important to find the right one for you, rather than worrying whether it's an IAM or RoSPA group.

As for exams ... PAH! I've done most of the civilian tests, but it's the learning that matters more than a poncy certificate, IMO. Lets not get too anal about badge snobbery .

My driving can vary day by day. On a good day, I might muster an HPC standard drive. Tired and stressed after a punishing day at work, I might be working hard to maintain an IAM drive.

Please lets focus more on learning than standards.

[Kinky]

SVS said:

Please lets focus more on learning than standards.

Hear hear.

We should applaud people to do something, irrespective of whether it's IAM or ROSPA, etc.

K

[vonhosen]

BOF said:

A very rough chart of the levels of further education is...

Can you really tell where you fall on such charts though ?

Any test just shows you passed the minimum competency in relation to the test criteria, not by how far you exceeded them.

Each organistaion generally won't have exactly the same competencies tested either.

[BOF]

Correct,

But a further advantage of RoSPA, if you keep it up, is the ability to try to improve any critical comments next time..or to improve on the less than favourable comments.

Maybe I am lucky in having the same Class 1 for 7 years doing my RoSPA Test, but I can see progress in his reports...gives me something to aim for.

BOF.

[Chris71]

At his point I should probably ask what exactly ROSPA stands for?

I've done Drive & Survive for work, but never got any insurance discount for that. Don't get me wrong, I want to improve my driving too, it's just that as a young male driver with a thing for quick cars I need all the help I can get premium-wise.

[BOF]

Look here...

http://www.roada.org.uk/

BOF

[hardboiledPhil]

Given I was never really checked before becoming an IAM observer I doubt in general that they are all better than RoSPA Gold. There are more levels in HPC as well.