Joined IAM - Too slow?
Discussion
Recently joined IAM after an assessment drive.
Yesterday I had my first observed drive. My inital overall impression is how slow I was expected to drive. Gradual braking way back from corners and roundabouts followed by changing down. Was obviously holding up drivers behind me. Also told to take corners at very low speed in low gear - a NSL corner I normally take at 50/55 in 4/5 gear was suggested as a 35mph/3rd corner! Was tailgated more in 1½ hours than I usually experience in a week. I was also criticised for accelerating smartly away after being stopped at traffic lights and out of roundabouts. Was also expected to reduce speed very gradually when approaching a reduction in speed limit. My attitude as always been, previously, not to hold up drivers behind me.
Rather confused at present. Comments please. No doublt VH will say I am being 'tutored' correctly!
>> Edited by Philbes on Sunday 7th May 22:41
>> Edited by Philbes on Sunday 7th May 22:43
Yesterday I had my first observed drive. My inital overall impression is how slow I was expected to drive. Gradual braking way back from corners and roundabouts followed by changing down. Was obviously holding up drivers behind me. Also told to take corners at very low speed in low gear - a NSL corner I normally take at 50/55 in 4/5 gear was suggested as a 35mph/3rd corner! Was tailgated more in 1½ hours than I usually experience in a week. I was also criticised for accelerating smartly away after being stopped at traffic lights and out of roundabouts. Was also expected to reduce speed very gradually when approaching a reduction in speed limit. My attitude as always been, previously, not to hold up drivers behind me.
Rather confused at present. Comments please. No doublt VH will say I am being 'tutored' correctly!
>> Edited by Philbes on Sunday 7th May 22:41
>> Edited by Philbes on Sunday 7th May 22:43
Think I will carry on and take the test as only another 4/5 observed drives have been suggested as necessary. Not sure how much of the IAM method of driving I will incorporate into my usually driving though.
I should make it clear that a number of failings in my driving have been picked up and I will be correcting them - late indicating on roundabouts, allowing wheel to slip though my hands when exiting a sharp corner/roundabout, etc.
I should make it clear that a number of failings in my driving have been picked up and I will be correcting them - late indicating on roundabouts, allowing wheel to slip though my hands when exiting a sharp corner/roundabout, etc.
VH quote "he IAM will not be about teaching you to drive at high speed though (if that's what you were thinking)."
No that's not what I was thinking. It's just that the 'technique' and suggested speeds result in driving at speeds well below that I would usually employ (although I would be within the speed limits) and also below the speeds that following drivers seem to believe are reasonable.
However, I wish to raise the standard of my driving to the highest possible, so I will stick with it.
>> Edited by Philbes on Sunday 7th May 23:10
>> Edited by Philbes on Sunday 7th May 23:11
>> Edited by Philbes on Sunday 7th May 23:11
No that's not what I was thinking. It's just that the 'technique' and suggested speeds result in driving at speeds well below that I would usually employ (although I would be within the speed limits) and also below the speeds that following drivers seem to believe are reasonable.
However, I wish to raise the standard of my driving to the highest possible, so I will stick with it.
>> Edited by Philbes on Sunday 7th May 23:10
>> Edited by Philbes on Sunday 7th May 23:11
>> Edited by Philbes on Sunday 7th May 23:11
quote VH "Well if you are doing it right, you shouldn't be unnecessarily holding other people up."
That's what I thought before my first observed drive. I shall continue and hope that things improve. It's just that my observer seems to be suggesting much slower speeds and rates of acceleration than I think are reasonable.
I get the impression that I am perhaps being coached to pass the 'test' by meeting the requirments of the 'examiner'. There are frequent references to what 'he' (I won't quote his name) will expect.
That's what I thought before my first observed drive. I shall continue and hope that things improve. It's just that my observer seems to be suggesting much slower speeds and rates of acceleration than I think are reasonable.
I get the impression that I am perhaps being coached to pass the 'test' by meeting the requirments of the 'examiner'. There are frequent references to what 'he' (I won't quote his name) will expect.
EmmaP said:
I'd be interested to know if you were on week three. I had a real dip and felt like I was learning to drive again as I found implementing the system and positioning, along with everything else, all too much for my brain to cope with. I really was "like a granny in a Fiesta", to quote Nick Chim. Now that I am familiar with the system and correct road positioning for cornering and other manoeuvres, I find that my driving is far better, much smoother and I do make good progress. You may be pleasantly suprised at how well your driving improves as it all slots into place. The hardest thing for me to master though was sticking to the speed limit. I found that 3rd for 30mph, 4th for 40mph and so on helped a great deal. I would have thought that 5th gear going into a corner would impede progress as you cannot accelerate as keenly out of the corner.
Sorry, I thought I make it clear that I have only had one observed drive.
Yes, I also use 3rd in 30 limits and 4th in 40 limits (even before becoming involved with the IAM). My car is fairly low-geared so 55mph is 2600rpm and in a NSL (60mph) brisk acceleraltion out of the gentle bend is not required.
TripleS said:
Thanks for the comments so far.
I will end this post here and post again after more observed drives. Will probably take me three weeks or so before I have two more observed drives due to other commitments of myself and observer. At least I am getting on fine with my observer.
May I offer you my best wishes for the rest of the course Phil, and hope everything clicks into place for you.
Dave.
Thanks for the best wishes. I am reading all the posts in this thread with a keen interest. As I said in an earlier post I will post again after I have completed another two observed drives. My observer only wants to do weekends so it will be two weeks between drives as I am away, on average, every other weekend.
I have thought of asking for a diffrent observer for the fourth drive to gain a different perspective on my driving. What do you all think? A good idea or should I stick with one observer? Changing observers seems to be the norm with some groups, but not mine.
TripleS said:
I'm a little surprised that you're talking in terms of understeer on public roads, you'd have to be using far more grip than I would consider prudent before things like understeer and steering on the throttle become an issue.
My feelings exactly Peter. I keep getting surprised by these references to instability, anxiety about weight transfer, understeer, oversteer, steering with the throttle etc. in a road driving environment.
I must be too restrained with the whole process, as I never feel conscious of understeer/oversteer or any kind of instability. Generally speaking I find the car (not just my own but any car I've yet driven) does what I ask of it without any apparent threat of non-cooperation. Sorry, but that's me mystified again.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Now that sums up what I thought (as a beginner to advanced driving). In a modern car, at normal road speeds, understeer and oversteer just don't appear - even in my 'grandad's 147bhp Honda Accord'! I can lift completely off the throttle in the middle of a corner taken at 50mph and the car just continues round on the same course with no steering correction needed (I've just been out and tried it). Mind you this is in a FWD car not an enthusiast's high-powered RWD.
Understeer/oversteer will definitely by absent at the low speeds that my observer is currently suggesting are correct for corners.
As I started this thread I don't mind jumping back in.
Having read the whole thread it appears that other IAM groups have a much more structured method of 'tutoring' than does mine.
Theory lesson before first drive, rotation of observers, meeting up for a general driving session with different observers, a laid down 'teaching' plan have all been mentioned. My group seems to do none of these. I'm surprised that there is not some standard laid down by the IAM.
I'm not critising my group as I have only just started and if I pass and generally improve my driving skills than I guess 'the job's a good 'un'. It's just that the groups seem to go their own way and not learn from each other to formulate a teaching plan that draws on the experience of many.
Having read the whole thread it appears that other IAM groups have a much more structured method of 'tutoring' than does mine.
Theory lesson before first drive, rotation of observers, meeting up for a general driving session with different observers, a laid down 'teaching' plan have all been mentioned. My group seems to do none of these. I'm surprised that there is not some standard laid down by the IAM.
I'm not critising my group as I have only just started and if I pass and generally improve my driving skills than I guess 'the job's a good 'un'. It's just that the groups seem to go their own way and not learn from each other to formulate a teaching plan that draws on the experience of many.
Philbes said:
As I started this thread I don't mind jumping back in.
Having read the whole thread it appears that other IAM groups have a much more structured method of 'tutoring' than does mine.
Theory lesson before first drive, rotation of observers, meeting up for a general driving session with different observers, a laid down 'teaching' plan have all been mentioned. My group seems to do none of these. I'm surprised that there is not some standard laid down by the IAM.
I'm not criticising my group as I have only just started and if I pass and generally improve my driving skills than I guess 'the job's a good 'un'. It's just that the groups seem to go their own way and not learn from each other to formulate a teaching plan that draws on the experience of many.
Over a day since posting and no answer? I thought that there would be some views on such a fundamental issue.
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