Improve my driving

[Z4 Coupe]

I’m looking to improve my fast road and general driving but mainly I want to be able to drive faster and safer.

What would people recommend? I’ve found this website for driver training http://www.ridedrive.co.uk/performance-driving-menu.htm and I’m thinking of trying out the half day session.

Has anyone got any suggestions or can you recommend anything to improve my driving?

 

[Stuart Truman]

I can't get the link to open on he iPad where I am.

The police sometimes run safer driver/rider courses and will cover speed (without being all granny about it)

Their style of driving, being road aware and smooth is remarkably effective at getting you there quickly and more relaxed. I had a friend who's father was a class 1 instructor and when I passed my test he took me out for some proper lessons to make me safe. Brilliant stuff and I still use the tips and tricks today. Knowing how to read an approaching bend has saved my bacon a few times

Have a read of roadcraft, it's their manual and it's available to buy

Edit - skid pan courses can be fun too and a potential life saver

 

[Z4 Coupe]

Roadcraft is on the way from Amazon.

I'll look out for any Police driver training but the link I posted sounds similar?

 

[Stuart Truman]

Looks similar, but the courses I mentioned were run by the police. Knowing the cost cutting measures flying around, they've been cancelled.

Edit - bikesafe was the motorcycle version, can't find the car one.

 

[theblues]

The Institute of Advanced Motorists do courses plus you used to get some discount on insurance as well.

 

[Z4 Coupe]

I always thought IAM was all about safety and not speed?

It would be nice to have lower insurance!

 

[theblues]

Z4 Coupe I think IAM do skills day's

 

[cj_eds]

I always thought IAM was all about safety and not speed?

It would be nice to have lower insurance!

It's about making faster 'progress'. As opposed to outright going fast. The whole IAM system is basically as you'd be taught by Roadcraft.

 

[Z4 Coupe]

Thanks for the replies.

I've got the Roadcraft book on order, I'm going to book myself on the next IAM skills day at Stowe on the 27th March and book the half day performance car driver training.

 

[gannet]

I've been a member of the IAM since I was 19 - well worth doing (bit more expensive now though)...

Check out this forum: AD-UK the members run driving days (for free - well cost of fuel and eats...) periodically where we all get together and compare... several member are members of the High Performance Club which is quite hard to get into - you have to have a 2.5 day course with one of 3 'gatekeepers' - some of which are ex police instructors, who are excellent (I've just had my half day...)

roadcraft as has already been mentioned is an excellent place to start

 

[Z4 Coupe]

I booked in on the IAM skills day at Stowe but because of the snow it was postponed. I've been patiently waiting for them to re-arrange but they have now cancelled Stowe and offered me Croft which is just too far for me and the 27th Sept.

So what next?

I don't really want to wait till next year so can anyone recommend another driver training course?

 

[Marius]

Just go on the track.

Sent from my LT18i using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[Mowflow]

http://www.carlimits.com/

Did a day with them a few years ago with one of my friends when he was learning for his racing license. Walshy is a driving god. Check the videos on youtube.

Ps. Use their car or it will be an expensive day when you destroy you tyres on that air field surface.

 

[AndyBeech]

If you want to improve your road driving skills a track day won't help you very much. Being able to drive fast on roads is more about observations and reading the road ahead correctly rather than being able to handle your car on the limit.

IAM courses or even just reading through Roadcraft and putting those skills into practice will help you. Or if you know any police response/advanced drivers get them to give you a lesson for a few beers

 

[Simon_P]

booked in on the IAM skills day - it was postponed

So what next?

Best possibly outcome! Push pull steering :roll: Don't waste your time with anything else and as mentioned above book on a four person day with http://www.carlimits.com Not only will you have one of the best days out in your car you will learn such a lot and get to meet the Welsh wizard that is Walshy I really can not recommend him and his days enough. Everyone should do one so they can see how they and their car reacts to different inputs.

 

[AndyBeech]

How is being able to drive safely (but still quickly) and reducing the chances of wrecking your pride and joy a waste of time?

If you want to drive you car fast on a track, do a track day with instruction.
If you want to drive 'quicker' on the roads and be a better road driver, do an advanced drivers course.

Or even better, do both

 

[Simon_P]

How is being able to drive safely (but still quickly) and reducing the chances of wrecking your pride and joy a waste of time?

Its not, that’s why you go to carlimits and learn how to drive all over again or you do an IAM course - advanced motorists :lol:

 

[AndyBeech]

So carlimits takes you out on the road or is it based around track/airfield driving?

 

[Simon_P]

I am not sure whether they do on the road driving anymore (they used to) The driving techs on a four day person day will cover basics of - steering/braking/power on & off and then what happens at speed when steering and braking with a simulated wall all done on an airfield but marked out. It is nothing like driving on a track day or airfield day or fast push pull steering.

 

[StevenH72]

I agree with Simon_P here.

I want to do a car limits day over any other type of training.

Yes road driving is about observing and reading road conditions correctly, but there are numerous posts on the forum about issues faced on the road, such as the back end sliding out unintentionally.

It's all well and good reading road conditions and being observant but if you can't control your car when you need to (oversteer/ understeer for example) then you're still up the proverbial creek. As I understand Car Limits exposes you to these types of situations and helps you learn how to correct it. As well as other techniques such as heel/toe etc.

If you were on a track day and there is somebody trying to induce and correct oversteer in front of you at relatively low speeds I'd imagine you'd be pretty pissed.

The road isn't the right place to learn how to avert disasters by learning correction techniques or other driving techniques. I know "prevention is better than cure", but it never hurts to have the anti-venom, just in case.