Any IAM Drivers out there?

[elvismiggell]

As topic, what does the test involve? Did you find it useful?

Am conscious that I've been driving for around 5-6 years now and I'll have gotten into all sorts of bad habits I'm sure.

Just wondering about doing something to make me a better driver, and maybe help a little with the insurance too!

Thoughts?

[stuart]

Go for it! best thing i ever did in more ways than one :)

I have been driving for 25 years now, like you say, I had many bad habits, been a member since December 08... It does make you think more when driving, you think more ahead, and you seem to notice the "idiots" more :)

I did mine through the Skill for life program, which I think is £139.00 now, for all your tuition, and your test... the tuition is done through you local group, which I did on either Saturday or Sunday morning.. lasted upto a couple of hours with a trained "observer"... it was very interesting, you get good advice, and become a better safer driver... I say go for it! :)

In addition there insurance scheme is excellent once you are a FULL member, I saved approx £200.00 on my car insurance, PLUS around the same on my house insurance, so you do get benefits in addition to being a better driver. This more than paid for my initioal tuition, and a few years of membership renewals...

Stuart

Ps... click the banner in my signature to go to the IAM website ;)

[NickPicks]

I've been a member since I was 20, so that's coming up to 20 years now!

When I did mine, you joined the local group as an associate, then were allocated an observer who helped you prepare for the test. I think the Skill For Life package formalises that into an easy package you can buy in one go.

I found it made my driving smoother and safer. Above all, I felt it improved my observation and anticipation skills whilst driving, and taught me more about linking what you can (and can't) see to what might happen next, things like: seeing under the car in front as it goes over a hill, knowing that the car in the inside lane will pull out when it catches up with the lorry (often even before the driver of that car realises!) etc.

I'd recommend it to anyone.

I don't think it's saved me much on insurance, but I know it does for a lot of people.

[Crasher]

Passed mine when I was 18 which was 28 years ago. I never rejoined the IAM after the first years membership ran out, I just wanted to improve my driving so people would stop calling me Crasher!

[elvismiggell]

Cool.

Well I've signed up for their £25 Driver Assessment thing and will give that a whirl.

May do the Skills for Life thing as well. I spend 40 minutes driving to work and the same home again every day. Even though I don't cover that many miles each year, I figure it's something that's worth doing.

[stuart]

Well worth it ;) let us know how you get on.... If I remember correct the Driver assessment will give you a good idea how you drive, and what improvements you need (if any) without the commitment...

[elvismiggell]

Well I'm sure I don't pay enough attention to my mirrors.

I often put it in to neutral when I'm coasting to a stop which I'm sure is really bad too! Obviously less now that I've noticed I do it, but still too often I'm sure!

Problem is they're habits and they're hard to kick.

The other thing is I'm sure my anticipation isn't great. I think I often see something happening up ahead but fail to realise the implications for me, and often end up stopping less smothly than I might need to. Not full on emergency stops or anything, just not as well thought out as it could be.

If you're lucky they'll give me notes and I'll post them to the board so you can all see how bad I've gotten!!!

[kite]

I did mine quite a few years ago, when I was driving for a living.
The Co. sponsored all drivers at the depot I was working at.
We had an observed drive lasting around 1hr and after were given some points to inprove
our driving.
i worked on the pointers i was given for a few weeks then a test was arranged.
I got a gold pass, there was a lot of friendly banter among the drivers as to who got what pass, oh this was all in a HGV1.
I found it made no difference to my insurance, but made a big difference to the way i drove and my attitude on the road.
i think it allows you to make "progress" on the road safely...

[Rick 63]

Hi

Took my IAM test in 1998,like other people trained at a local group on a sunday morning.I think it was about 12-14 weeks training at about 1 hour at a time,not sure how much it was now.

The test takes about 2 hours I did mine with a police examiner,it involves all aspects of driving,and if you can they like a running commentry as you are driving for part of the test,but at the time it wasn't compulsory.

Have never saved on insurance with it though,but is very good to brush up and improve your driving skills,you may even be able to become a instructor yourself afterwards.

Rick

[turbine2]

I'm going to be a bit controversial here and say although I did the IAM course (motorbike rather than car) I really didn't get anything out of it.
There were a few things that were given to me as advice to pass the test but nothing that helped my skills or ability, the insurance discount really wasn't (in fact using their reccomended scheme was going to cost me more) and when I took my test I was convinced I'd failed as I'd made several mistakes along the way but in fact I'd passed.
Okay, I hold my driving to a high standard anyway and I've got the advantage of having seen really good professional drivers (care of being ex-police) and really bad ones (also, being ex-police). so the IAM wasn't going to be a big step up for me, but I was dsiappointed.

[Matt C]

I took the test 20 odd years ago after being taken out for a run (and then instruction) by a class 1 Police driver.

I am not the worlds best advert for it 9many bad habits have crept back in) but 10+ years no claims and a comprehensive insurance with protected no claims of £400 pa (the best quote I could get outside of the IAM was approx £550) goes a long way to show what it can do for you.

My experience during the instruction was being taught how to drive to the conditions (ambient, traffic, road type, time of day etc), actually resulting in my driving faster but much smoother. The old boot & anchor techniques went out and a much smoother flowing style came in.

Is it worth doing.......Yes
Will you enjoying driving more afterwards.............probably
Will it save your temper and brakes...............definitely.

[MalcQV]

Passed mine when I was 18 which was 28 years ago. I never rejoined the IAM after the first years membership ran out, I just wanted to improve my driving so people would stop calling me Crasher!

Doh it did not work then :D

I passed in 2000. I joined my local group and paid for the privilege. Soon realised I got nothing out of being part of the local group and stopped paying my £10. I am still a member of the IAM and they send me a lovely magazine four times a year.

I did learn an awful lot from it, though TBH still cannot get my head around pushing and pulling the steering. T'is OK when turning but bringing the wheel back is just pathetic :D.

I would recommend it though for one reason alone. It taught me to realise I was and will always be a **** driver :p Laughing aside we are always learning ;)

We easily criticise other drivers when our own can quite often be brought into question.

I still hate those f***ing middle laners though :p

[Crasher]

Doh it did not work then :D

:p