XSeries-forum

Anyone done this?  I'm quite tempted.  I did the speed awareness course and found it pretty interesting in parts (not sure it needed to be 4 hours mind you) - at the end, I wished there had been a practical element to it. 

IAM course looks quite cheap at £150-£200.  Not too fussed about the cheaper insurance (although it would be nice), but I think some general refresher on driving would be a good thing and I'm sure I'd be a better driver for it - despite a pretty deep-held belief that I'm almost perfect behind the wheel  O:-)

[quote="Benstan"]
Anyone done this?  I'm quite tempted.  I did the speed awareness course and found it pretty interesting in parts (not sure it needed to be 4 hours mind you) - at the end, I wished there had been a practical element to it. 

IAM course looks quite cheap at £150-£200.  Not too fussed about the cheaper insurance (although it would be nice), but I think some general refresher on driving would be a good thing and I'm sure I'd be a better driver for it - despite a pretty deep-held belief that I'm almost perfect behind the wheel  O:-)
[/quote]

Good topic Ben. Also interested in one of these courses so will also be keen to see what others think. The other option I was thinking about was a skid pan/vehicle handling course at ProDrive or something similar. There's also a few adds in the back of Evo, think Don Palmer (name)? Does one.

Did my IAM Course in the 90's and I learned at lot from it.  I still use most of the techniques and it does teach some useful tricks.  I probably need to retake it as cars have changed a good deal since.  I joined the local group and did about 6 'check rides' before going out with a Police Examiner and then taking the test itself.

The down side is that the majority of insurers show not the slightest interest - which is a shame given what you get out of the training.

It's amazing how many bad habits we all pick up, and it certainly shows that we were pretty much all taught to pass the test, and this course teaches you to drive.

Richard

I'm more interested in the road craft element than insurance saving. I get buzzed at least twice a week by traffic cops/ARV drivers from the local traffic traning centre as they use part of the route I use for the school run. Would be a good revenue stream for the police if they carried out advanced driver training.

I've done slidpan sessions as part of the BRSCC test. Also did a wetter the better down at MIRAS a few years back which was fun doing doughnuts at 60mph

I failed the IoAM test for going to fast and too slow

Prodive one is ok but I believe there are better wet facility tracks

The one at Porsche Silverstone is brilliant

I passed my IAM car test in 1990- I was 23 years old.  Before undergoing IAM training I could drive progressively. I would often drive using experience, automated skills, (learned through repetition), a little intuition & a bit of luck for good measure..........I needed to slow down !

I like to think that passing my IAM helped me become a safer driver although I had a  motivation to demonstrate I was capable of being a safe driver, (without more speeding points). Soon after passing my IAM, a job change & my own young family also influenced my driving.

I fortunately had an IAM observer who was a competent & experienced Police Class 1 Traffic Officer, (possessing a passion for driving as well as a pulse).

I have undertaken the prodrive course, (complimentary with my RX-8). This consisted of track, pan, adverse handling (race instructor) & road training, (police trained instructor). I was there advised to take the ROSPA exam(s) but I never bothered. I have also had other driver training, (with varied quality of instruction).

IAM & ROSPA use the Roadcraft system of car control which involves planning & can be quite prescriptive.  Certain aspects of Roadcraft, (&/or interpretation of it), can be contraversial. The Roadcraft manual, (not the most exciting title on the shelves), has been modernised & revised in more recent years. Some practitioners have embraced this modernisation better than others.

IAM/ROSPA students have to drive to the Roadcraft system to pass associated tests &/exams,however, it is perhaps relevant to comment that other tried & tested techniques exist.................Roadcraft is arguably not the be all & end all of driving.

Group rules & speed limits can limit how far an IAM &/or ROSPA student can develop legally on UK roads.

I have sat next to & followed good & bad drivers....(some with paper qualifications & some without). 

Thanks for the feedback guys. I can see the cons but I think the pros outweigh them - just got to find time! Monday to Friday is so busy with work and weekends is kid catch- up time while Mrs Benstan chills a bit!  I like the idea of playing/learning on the skidpans but that can wait another yr
B

If you go down the IAM route then the 'observed drives' are at a time convenient to you and are in your car.  Mine used to last about 90 mins and some were evening and some weekend so I had daylight and night experiences gained.

You can always buy a copy of 'Roadcraft' and also a copy of the IAM student manual 'How to be a better driver' on their website and elsewhere.  Oh, and you'll need a current Highway Code as you're expected to know it!

Richard

Something I too always fancied doing, but time and money always seem to get in the way.

I attended several police run bike training courses including the two day Black Mountains one.  That was interesting and 'progressive' at times


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I undertook the IAM training three years ago. It consisted of eight 90 minute drives with a with eight different IAM qualified observers. The benefit of the different observers was that they all imparted different insights and skills.
The test itself conducted by a class 1 police traffic division driver covered motorway, A and B roads and town work.The premise was that the police officer was late for a dental appointment and I had to get him there as quickly and safely as possible driving progressively.

I certainly derived great benefit from the process, it sharpens you up and stretches your powers of observation and anticipation. I can now anticipate the actions of other drivers around me and often seem to be aware of what they are about to do before they know themselves.

The IAM Surety insurance program will beat any other quote you obtain and I have found them the most competive on on five cars with the exception of the X5 where they insisted on a tracker being fitted.

Yeah I've often thought about doing it , but they don't have anything like that in Lux .
Shame , coz the drivers here are bloody terrible  :'(

I remember reading an article about it a few years ago , and if I remember correctly there
is a further stage you can go down after IAM , but I forget what it's called , something like
'Laurels' . Was very interesting article .

If you go ahead , good luck .

Chris

[quote="Curious2"]
I undertook the IAM training three years ago. It consisted of eight 90 minute drives with a with eight different IAM qualified observers. The benefit of the different observers was that they all imparted different insights and skills.
The test itself conducted by a class 1 police traffic division driver covered motorway, A and B roads and town work.The premise was that the police officer was late for a dental appointment and I had to get him there as quickly and safely as possible driving progressively.

I certainly derived great benefit from the process, it sharpens you up and stretches your powers of observation and anticipation. I can now anticipate the actions of other drivers around me and often seem to be aware of what they are about to do before they know themselves.

The IAM Surety insurance program will beat any other quote you obtain and I have found them the most competive on on five cars with the exception of the X5 where they insisted on a tracker being fitted.
[/quote]

Informative feedback, thank you and the others above