IAM F1RST

[Tuscan Rat]

As a Police Advanced driver class one and a Police Motorcyclist for the past ten years I have finally decided after many invites by friends to join an IAM group. Also now having the spare time helps.

Anyway not sure what my qualifications would allow me to do, I went along for a suck and see session and having enjoyed my day decided to join.

I have just had an E-mail back from the group and seeing my certificates confirming I could join as a F1RST member. Having a quick look on the IAM site does not make it fully clear what this means.

My question then is, any IAM member have any insight as to what this means ?

[7db]

Awww. Could you have gone in in stealth mode? Do a couple of Observed runs and judge the usual route in from the eyes of the rest of the world. Observer comments would have been interesting. :-)

[Tuscan Rat]

db, I did !! You know it's fate when your observed ride is done by a Magistrate !!

I admitted to him my qualifications before we went out. When we did feedback he said I was hyper critical of myself, I'll post the feedback sheet later. I did surprise him though when I mentioned stuff about his ride when he was behind me !!

[Tuscan Rat]

[Stedman]

Show off.

[BOF]

Well done TR.

I am car not bike, but we have a couple of Class 1s in cars and at least one Class 1 biker in my Group.

You have a great advantage in that Trafpols rightly command respect in IAM groups...you can make a significant contribution to the cause...both of ours have helped me in preparation for RoSPA and the Special Assessment.

Be thoughtful about your comments and advice...they will be written on stone in the minds of Associates!

BOF

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

The F1RST register is a list of people who've taken the IAM test and gained the highest mark in (almost) all the marked categories. Historically it's been the case that you either passed or failed (sorry - were recommended for membership or not recommended) with no grading of how well you did.

Some people have described its introduction as elitist, but I'm of the opinion that it's good to have a high standard to aim for. In addition, it's now easier to compare IAM results with RoSPA test gradings, which some people seem to like to do. The practical benefits of getting a F1RST pass boil down to bragging rights and a logo on your membership card.

I agree that it would have been interesting to get as far as you could without revealing anything of your experience - there's potential for lots of fun there.

[RenesisEvo]

Tuscan Rat said:

My question then is, any IAM member have any insight as to what this means ?

When I did my test in August, for each area/category, you are marked 1 to 5, 1 being 'excellent', 2 good, 3 satisfactory, and so on. If you score all 1's, or near enough all 1s, you can be put forward for inclusion on the F1RST register - it falls to the examiner to make the recommendation (mine scrawled 'First Club' on the bottom of the marking sheet). How it works when you have equivalent qualifications I'm not sure.

EDIT: beaten to it by a whisker...

Edited by RenesisEvo on Monday 29th October 18:09

[R0G]

Although some can be 2s any requiring 1s must be without comment

A 1 with a comment is not a F1RST but not bad enough for a 2

Police traffic are all deemed to be F1RST

As Trafpol you can be an examiner

Trafpol do not need to pass the IAM test to be a full IAM member

If you do not fancy being an examiner then how about being a senior observer

You may be needed to train others for the new Masters which is the new SA (Special Assessment)

[vonhosen]

R0G said:

Although some can be 2s any requiring 1s must be without comment

A 1 with a comment is not a F1RST but not bad enough for a 2

Police traffic are all deemed to be F1RST

As Trafpol you can be an examiner

Trafpol do not need to pass the IAM test to be a full IAM member

If you do not fancy being an examiner then how about being a senior observer

You may be needed to train others for the new Masters which is the new SA (Special Assessment)

Is that right, being a Trafpol qualifies you to be an examiner ?

[7db]

Nice one TR. Good to see they let you write your own reports!

[Red 4]

R0G said:

Police traffic are all deemed to be F1RST

As Trafpol you can be an examiner

Trafpol do not need to pass the IAM test to be a full IAM member

What does being a Traffic Officer have to do with it ?

Not all Advanced Police drivers are traffic !

[vonhosen]

Red 4 said:

R0G said:

Police traffic are all deemed to be F1RST

As Trafpol you can be an examiner

Trafpol do not need to pass the IAM test to be a full IAM member

What does being a Traffic Officer have to do with it ?

Not all Advanced Police drivers are traffic !

And not all traffic are advanced Police drivers.

[R0G]

I was assuming that the OP was a class 1 or 2 advanced

That is the general qualification needed to be an IAM examiner but there is of course guidance required from a staff examiner before being allowed to examine

[Tuscan Rat]

I am class one advanced car (it is one or fail is it not ?), however advanced bike courses are like hens teeth !! Hence only a standard bike rider. Unless you have any contacts Von ?? Hint hint !!
That's why I went along to a bike IAM not knowing what I could do.

[MC Bodge]

7db said:

Awww. Could you have gone in in stealth mode? Do a couple of Observed runs and judge the usual route in from the eyes of the rest of the world. Observer comments would have been interesting. :-)

That's what I was thinking.

I bet he'd have picked more "faults"... even if it was just as a result of observer preferences.

Edited by MC Bodge on Tuesday 30th October 16:51

[vonhosen]

R0G said:

I was assuming that the OP was a class 1 or 2 advanced

That is the general qualification needed to be an IAM examiner but there is of course guidance required from a staff examiner before being allowed to examine

But your post didn't appear to be talking about just the OP & it appeared to be focusing on the trafpol element (which doesn't in itself reveal what grade a Police driver/rider is)

ie

ROG said:

Police traffic are all deemed to be F1RST

As Trafpol you can be an examiner

Trafpol do not need to pass the IAM test to be a full IAM member

Whilst it may be true to say (& being a trafpol is nothing to do with it)

Class 1 holders are all deemed to be F1RST

As a Class 1 you can be an examiner

As a Class 1 you do not need to pass the IAM test to be a full member.

Edited by vonhosen on Tuesday 30th October 16:52

[Vaux]

IAM said:

Police officers

As a serving or retired police officer you are uniquely placed to make a valuable contribution to road safety, not only in your official capacity, but by supporting the IAM's work through membership. Police officers holding one or more of the qualifications listed below are eligible for full membership of the IAM without further testing:

Police Advanced Driving Certificate ..............(qualifies for IAM F1RST membership)
Police Advanced Motorcycle Certificate.........(qualifies for IAM F1RST membership)
Police Standard Response Driving Certificate
Police Standard Response Motorcycle Certificate

http://www.iam.org.uk/membership-options/membershi...

(Yes, it doesn't mention how to be an Examiner.)

[johnao]

vonhosen said:

And not all traffic are advanced Police drivers.

That's interesting.

What qualifications do those who are not advanced police drivers have, and what traffic duties are they likely to undertake, please?

Do their duties differ from those who are fully qualified advanced police drivers?

[vonhosen]

johnao said:

vonhosen said:

And not all traffic are advanced Police drivers.

That's interesting.

What qualifications do those who are not advanced police drivers have,

Varies.
Response driver & non motorcyclist, basic driver & response motorcyclist, response driver & response motorcyclist etc.

johnao said:

and what traffic duties are they likely to undertake, please?

Do their duties differ from those who are fully qualified advanced police drivers?

Much the same as any other traffic officer, just not driving advanced classification vehicles. It doesn't stop them being passenger in advanced cars & dealing with all the things that traffic officers deal with.