disappointing first session of IAM training

[deadtom]

What I was hoping for:

- how to safely make progress (using the full width of the road when safe, safe overtaking etc)
- how to improve observation skills and assess the situation
- defensive driving techniques

What I got:

- that infuriatingly retarded 'push pull' steering method, even while maneuvering in a car park.
- a long talk on the 2 second rule
- NEVER exceed the posted speed limit, under any circumstances
- check your mirrors at least 3 times before you do anything. ANYTHING.

Before today I was under the impression that the above mentioned 'correct' and inflexible way of driving is necessary while learning, but that once a certain level of competency and experience is achieved that rigidity can be relaxed somewhat and further training can then focus on situational awareness.

I am absolutely convinced that trying to remember to steer hand to hand and do the correct number of mirror checks in the correct sequence before making a simple left turn on a quiet road made me a worse driver today; making the exaggerated head tilt so that the instructor could register my mirror check made me less aware of what was going on ahead of me; my steering inputs were jerky and inaccurate because I was forcing myself to operate the vehicle in an counter intuitive way; approaching junctions I was caught up in thinking what my next prescribed action has to be to properly asses the situation I was approaching.

I am not a perfect driver but I really do strive to be alert, aware and attentive, I actually do drive with two hands on the wheel 99% of the time, and I'm forever checking my mirrors and blind spot. I've been driving 14 years and never been involved in an accident. I spend most of my life driving tiny <1000 kg hatchbacks but have also spent a lot of time driving large and heavily laden 4x4 and trailer combinations in ice, snow and foul weather. I've also done a bit of advanced driver training at Millbrook for stuff like threshold breaking, brake and steer, handling at the limit of grip etc.

I was hoping IAM would develop my skills from there, not to go back to feeling like I was on my first driving lesson.

I have one more session then the test. The instructor reckons I'll pass the test without much difficulty, but at this point I remain entirely unconvinced of the value of it.

Was I expecting too much?

[deadtom]

kiethton said:

From what I've heard the IAM can vary hugely depending on what assessor you get and what group you join.

There are other advanced driving organisations that are materially more progressive and seem far better aligned to your aims, one of which I am a member of and which has a number of current and former IAM members also so it may not be fault of the organisation persay.

How old are you? - if <30ish there is an even on this weekend which may give a good introduction....

I'm 31, is this a club 18 - 30 type organisation?

[deadtom]

Chris32345 said:

Why would you think they would allow you to exceed to speed limit on the road?
They would leave there self's open to claims if the had you speeding on the course

I see where they are coming from, but during my driving lessons I was taught that it is acceptable to slightly exceed the speed limit if necessary to safely complete an overtake, say 75 mph while overtaking on a DC or motorway.

Has the attitude changed that much since 2005?

[deadtom]

angoooose said:

Do I understand correctly? You've had one session, then you have one more then your test?

When I observed, I always warned new associates that their driving would often get worse before it got better.

31's a little old - see the HPC young driver's day post - you can but ask

correct, 2 sessions (half day each) then the test.

thanks, I'll go have a look at the HPC thread.

edit: just popped my head 'round the door in the HPC thread, looks like I'm 5 years too late for that course

also busy this weekend, so a no-go sadly

Edited by deadtom on Tuesday 23 July 14:59

[deadtom]

_Hoppers said:

Yep, each person has their own interpretation of Roadcraft etc, in my experience the same goes for RoSPA too. Breaking the speed limit is an absolute offence and as civilians we cannot exceed it. However, and from my experience with the IAM and RoSPA, it was generally accepted by the examiners if you briefly exceeded the limit (within reason) to make a swift overtake, that was OK. The examiner preferred you to do that rather than drive/ride behind someone at 50mph for 45mins! You'd never get them to put that in writing though!

With regard 'push/pull', I used that technique when I did my RoSPA test and I carry on doing it to this day. I dont see a problem with it and with a little practice it can be done as smoothly and quickly as hand over hand.

Both RoSPA and the IAM didn't allow crossing the centre line and for good reason, they are both road safety organisations and this is a potentially dangerous technique to allow people to practice.

I'd stick with it, maybe see if you can go out with different tutors, listen to what they have to say and form you own understanding of the system. I learnt a great deal with my time with IAM/RoSPA, remember, what they teach is the system the police use. Some of what they teach may seem anal but once you have mastered all the techniques they will help when you want to 'push on a bit' in your own time.

Edited by _Hoppers on Tuesday 23 July 15:18

Yes I suppose in this increasingly litigious age any organisation would be loath to be seen to allow any deviation from the rules, even if that does run counter to the aims they are trying to achieve in the first place. Your 50 mph example is fairly apt; the instructor suggested I pass an HGV doing ~45 in lane one, however by the time we were half way along the length of the HGV, it was now also doing 50 so I had to drop back in behind rather than press on a little more to get past and complete the maneuver.

I concur that hand to hand is the right way to drive for low magnitude but safety critical driving, i.e. on a motorway its imperative to be in full control, but unless it's gone very wrong you will not need more than around a quarter turn of handwheel input. The thing that grates me is the insistence that during low speed maneuvers that require full lock, reverse bay park for example, you must also pass the wheel hand to hand, because it's the rules.

I will stick with it because the company is paying for it, and I am hoping it will get better with the next session, but I'd be extremely miffed if it were my money as I don't suppose the training is particularly cheap.

[deadtom]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I'm glad I am not the only one who is a little bit disillusioned with IAM, but also it does sound like I came into it with slightly the wrong idea of what it would be about.

I am being put through the course for work, so I have done very little reading about what the course is as I would have done were it my money being invested.

The instructor is very good, and is very up front about some of the more archaic aspects being just that, and I just need to suck it up for the test and, like others have said, I can take what works for me and discard what doesn't.

I am wary of coming across as holding the opinion that I am already a great driver and IAM can't teach me anything new, as this is absolutely not my feelings on the matter. I wan't to learn and become a better driver, but hopefully these things will come in time and the next session will be better.

[deadtom]

Vaux said:

It sounds like you are taking the fast track membership option, which is two sessions with an ADI delivering the syllabus?
Did you get a handbook explaining the syllabus? There's a section on positioning which describes steering methods (page 23?). The days of "pull push everywhere" are supposed to be long gone. Maybe you could discuss this with your observer/instructor.

aye, that sounds like the program I'm on. I haven't got the booklet yet but I have been told that one is on its way to me.

[deadtom]

Sorry for my disappearance, work packed me off to Korea (now there is a country in dire need of advanced driver training...) for 3 weeks, and I subsequently forgot to update this thread.

I passed my advanced test, getting mediocre but satisfactory scores (mostly 2s with a few 1s).

I don't think I learned anything that I wasn't doing already, however it did act as a reminder of some of the things that I admit I had started to neglect, such as the importance of looking as far ahead as possible rather than just a few cars in front, and that the signage and road marking system in the UK is, on the whole, brilliant (though this is as much from driving in Korea as it is from doing the IAM course).

I do think, however, that the short course cheapens the advanced qualification. I'd have a much more positive view of the IAM system if I had spent more time within it, actually learning and absorbing the value of what I was being taught, so that it becomes a natural part of the way I drive rather than a conscious effort to do so (and therefore taking my concentration off what I am doing and making me a worse driver in the short term).

From my very brief experience, I would have preferred what I did to be considered a safe/competent/good driver qualification rather than 'advanced'.