Advanced Driving

[Marco]

I am interested in doing some sort of advanced driving course and was wondering if anyone can recommend one or offer any advice? I've been looking at the one offered by the IAM which looks quite good, but it is always nice to hear from others who have actually done it. Thanks.....

 

[Si.]

I've done the Car Limits days ran by Andy Walsh, Andy is a top guy and a good instructor, highly recommended.

What sort of things are you looking for?

 

[JimmyPop]

I think PawnSacrifice has recommended the same course. Like Si says, it depends what you want to get out of it -have you thought about a skid pan training day?

 

[M@r]{]

I've done the Car Limits days ran by Andy Walsh, Andy is a top guy and a good instructor, highly recommended.

What sort of things are you looking for?

+1 on this! Fantastic day, you'll learn so much about car control and how to handle your car on and over the limit. IMO much more beneficial than the on the road advanced driving. You get a certificate too which can be used to get a discount with some insurers

 

[gannet]

Car Limits days are good, though doubt you'd use most of the techniques on the public road - disclaimer I've not done one...

I have however been a member of the IAM for 18 years having taken and passed their course when I was 19... I am currently an observer with the local group. Personally I think the amount of the Skill For Life package the IAM sells is rather alot (£139) but for that you do get all the training and the test fee included. ROSPA also do similar courses and they cover most of the same stuff the IAM does - though they require retests every 3 years whereas the IAM does not.

If you want to dip your toe in the water before committing such outlay come along to one of the AD-UK driving days organised by this forum: Advanced Driving Forum, note some of the discussion on there gets a little technical but on the ADUK driving days things are very friendly and huge FUN Here is the quote from a thread on there about the driving days:

Driving days are where a group of forum members and others meet up and spend the day together. The format is that each person drives their own car around one of the provided routes, with one or two others sitting in to navigate and discuss aspects of the drive as they come up. The hope is that this takes place in a friendly atmosphere so everyone has a good time and wants to do it again!

It is important to stress that it doesn't matter what car you drive or what driving qualifications you have achieved. This is a day where the formal observer-associate relationship of the IAM and RoADAR does not apply; everyone taking part should be wanting to improve their own driving and to share what they have learned with others. Similarly, everyone taking part will very much appreciate comments from others.

All ADUK members are welcome, whatever your experience. If you have a friend who is interested they can take part as well. If they are unsure about taking part they can come as a non-driving guest, sitting in while others drive. There is no charge for taking part; the only costs are your own fuel and refreshments. If you are interested either reply in the relevant thread or send a private message, (PM), to the organiser.

If you haven't been to one before you can reasonably expect to meet a bunch of people of varying experience who are enthusiastic about driving. There might be some who are unsure what advanced driving is about and want to find out more.

These days generally follow a standard pattern; the morning and afternoon sessions will each be a little over three hours allowing time for routes to be completed two or three times, depending on length. The organiser will arrange lunch at a pub or similar but it's not mandatory to eat with the group.

There will be a number of pre-set routes but they are only for guidance; there is no problem if you find other interesting roads, and given most people's navigation abilities, that's always a handy excuse

A few weeks before the event the organiser will ask for confirmation of your interest. Knowing numbers in advance helps when booking lunch but also makes it possible to draw up a driver matrix so that everyone knows who they will be driving with, (although not all organisers will do this). After a confirmation has been received the organiser will provide more details about the arrangements.

Hope that helps