Guest Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 been bought a course of training from this lot http://www.iam.org.uk/ anybody else been with them???
wrxmania Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 Yep - me - member number ......can't remember... Well worthwhile. Safer, more alert driving. Brian.
wrxmania Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 My old car with IAM badge: And current: I don't have an IAM badge on my STI as it won't fit the grille. Brian.
scouk Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 Yep Did the course with my local group (moray) in 2003 in my ol Volvo 440.. Promised myself I'd do the test before I ever bought a scooby! Well worth it! I'm saving about £100/year on insurance with elephant just because i am a member! Dont have a silly IAM badge on my car (no offence to other members) but I have got the local IAM group website address plastered across the rear window of my car in the hope that young boy racers read it as they try and drive into my bumper! [] I'm not an IAM observer at the moment but the IAM are trying to put together a Young Drivers network, basically a younger version of the IAM to attract young drivers and as a result I keep getting pestered to become an official observer. (I'll give in eventually) But I am pretty close to my local group. If you've got any questions about the IAM course/test or whatever feel free to ask! And yeah, it REALLY makes a difference to your driving, dont expect to drive faster but DO expect to drive much safer! and smoother! Speed will come naturally *coughs* No matter how good a driver you think you are the IAM just show your your not that good after all! Most common comments I get are "Wow you driving is very smooth" obviously passengers not expecting that from a Scooby but more importantly I get lots of comments about how I seem to react so much earlier and safer to what is on the road.. I've never had to do an emergency stop in the scooby and there's a damn good reason for that!! Well worth it! [Y]
cusco kid Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 yup i hold 2 police advanced certificates ,not iam type . i was fleet manager at scottish police college for 22 years and had to do advanced course same as police. it was hard going ,had to do commentry skid pan training the lot.also royal protection driving and anti terrorist techniques and j turns into h/brake turns in to j turns i had a dispensation from the sec/state for scotland which meant i had no speed limits upon me when testing police cars exept 30/40 limits 60/70 limits did not apply the advanced lessons will teach you to drive defencively and use cornering techniques and limit points , the best form of advanced driving is opt to use commentry this gets your brain in gear and speeds up your reactions if you need any tipsor info get in touch m8 if i were you i would try to find an old tulliallan advanced instructor and take lessons from him before going to iam geo
scouk Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 Woah! that's sounds neat Mr Kid! [] The IAM is a step below the full police training, I'd love to do the police training but it's not available to general public [:'(] The IAM doesn't do skid pan stuff or evasive manovers, your local group may present them to you but certainly nothing practical. We can get a discount on skid pan day's through the local IAM group though. Sadly the commentary is a strong part of the IAM test these days but it's really not that difficult when you get into it. You feel like a pratt to start off with. But again the commentary is no where near as detailed as what cusco kid had to so for the police training!. Interestingly the IAM test itself is done by a police driving examiner which is always good fun!! Good to get speaking with these guys/gals after the test! Been tempted to re-take the test now that 4 years have passed and I've got he scooby, fortunately because i'm already a member I cant loose my membership if I fail a voluntary re-test.. Well that's unless you crash the car or something silly! Remember you will have a police examiner in the passenger seat []
andy Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 When I first told my old man I was getting a Scoob he nagged me constantly about doing the IAM course. I looked into it and it seemed interesting. I probably would have done it if he'd kept on, but he had a stroke and lost his speech. The whole trauma of his stroke put it out of my mind and this is the first I've seen or thought about it again since. Might just do it as I know even though he can't tell me any more he'd still like me to do it, it would put his mind at rest if I did. I'm off Googling for my local group. Thanks for bringing this back into my mind []
cusco kid Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 Quote Woah! that's sounds neat Mr Kid! [] The IAM is a step below the full police training, I'd love to do the police training but it's not available to general public [:'(] The IAM doesn't do skid pan stuff or evasive manovers, your local group may present them to you but certainly nothing practical. We can get a discount on skid pan day's through the local IAM group though. Sadly the commentary is a strong part of the IAM test these days but it's really not that difficult when you get into it. You feel like a pratt to start off with. But again the commentary is no where near as detailed as what cusco kid had to so for the police training!. Interestingly the IAM test itself is done by a police driving examiner which is always good fun!! Good to get speaking with these guys/gals after the test! Been tempted to re-take the test now that 4 years have passed and I've got he scooby, fortunately because i'm already a member I cant loose my membership if I fail a voluntary re-test.. Well that's unless you crash the car or something silly! Remember you will have a police examiner in the passenger seat [] comm/ is easier at low speeds when speed increases it becomes difficult because you have to filter out the c r a p you dont need and only bring in the observations you req and at 140+ an A or B class road telling about limit points white line systems junctions danger zones following and oncomming traffic after 30 mins you are sweating buckets .the advanced ticket helped in my rallying career of 22 years but i became a better or more considate driver after my motorbike test and sterted to think about bikers geo
blueboy88 Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 ok guys dont know much about the iams stuff but[H] as we learned up through the ranks of karts ect we were trained better that the cops (me thinks) [au]as we were lerned to do the dodges it is strange to hear of this to me but i would be more than intrested than to partisapate in this as more training you get at driving at pace the better you get and it would be good to learn our local boys to ??d????r???i???????f???????????t??? wife said it's bed time now so adiose [:^)] joe
scouk Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 Quote comm/ is easier at low speeds when speed increases it becomes difficult because you have to filter out the c r a p you dont need and only bring in the observations you req and at 140+ Fortunately the IAM only takes you up to the national speed limit! 1mph over and it's a fail! 4-5mph under when it's safe to go faster is a fail! Total respect to you mate! Quote but i became a better or more considate driver after my motorbike test and sterted to think about bikers geo Aye, I've got a cousin who's into his bikes and speakin to him has made me more aware. If you look out for bikes and the riders see that you have seen them early you can tell they really appreciate it! I get plenty nice friendly waves from bikers in acknowledgement that I've spotted them approaching. Really makes my day to see driver/rider appreciation like that. Beat's having the young chavs in yer boot shakin their fist as your holding them up at 60mph in a scooby...[] . o O (Or even 30 and in a 30 zone which seems to happen daily with me)
ed-209 Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 I have to agree with everyone, it's a good thing to do, I sat my IAM test in January this year, the 90min test ended up taking 2 1/2 hrs we were enjoying the drive that much, I took the test in the scooby with full decals, My examiner was a police instructor from kilmarnock. very fair guy who still gave me loads of pointers during the test and after. well worth the money. The new IAM rules mean you don't have to do the commentary but it is recommended as it's a way of letting the examiner know what your seeing and at what distances. All the observers will do their best in getting you ready for the test and will not put you forward until you are ready. Good luck and enjoy
WUZ Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 Yes, I've got done the IAM course as well. Did it about 8 years ago and still find the info gathered from ti VERY useful! Russell
AlanG Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 Yet another IAM member here too for the past 7 years. It's funny. Even though the exam lasted a couple of hours, i enjoyed every single bit of it. It helped that i met the examiner about a half hour before the test to get acquainted and put a nervous mind at total ease. I could have driven for the rest of the day, but 2 hours non stop talking about your observations whilst driving started to take it's toll! Your mouth goes dry! Good fun. Would have no qualms about doing it again.
boris b Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 Done the same as you Geo , except the royal protection bit . Commentating certainly makes you filter out the crap as you say , and the faster you go.....the harder it gets to say what you see. Everyone should at least give the IAM thing a go. Def makes you more aware of what is round about you.
Guest Posted July 21, 2007 Posted July 21, 2007 well i am going for the training part some time soon hopefully. just sent away my details hopefully have something back by the time im back from offshore. the commentry thing sounds like a baw ache but if it makes me safer it's well worth it. i take it i drive my own car for observation as people call it??
thefastone Posted July 21, 2007 Posted July 21, 2007 Yeah, I'm kinda Curious about this myself I have to say... Just looked online at my local group, and Might think about getting hooked up like...
oletam Posted July 21, 2007 Posted July 21, 2007 Like George I got a class 1 Police certificate. It's miles in advance of IAM but nobody will give you an insurance discount on the strangth of it.
AlanG Posted July 21, 2007 Posted July 21, 2007 Quote the commentry thing sounds like a baw ache but if it makes me safer it's well worth it. i take it i drive my own car for observation as people call it?? Yes, use your own car and no, it's easy to commentate once you get over the initial embarrassment.
Guest Posted July 22, 2007 Posted July 22, 2007 well the embarrassment is the main thing i was worried about. doubt they will appreciate the suspension in my VR6 but tough luck. is it usally car enthusiast that do the commentry or is it just anybody?
wrxmania Posted July 22, 2007 Posted July 22, 2007 I used my Impreza for most of my observations - and it was LOUD!
thewelsho Posted July 22, 2007 Posted July 22, 2007 And much does all this cost? Test and course? About a million bucks?
wrxmania Posted July 22, 2007 Posted July 22, 2007 Set price - government supported agency and a charity who are not out to make a profit but improve the standard of driving on U.K. roads - they run courses for fleets, bikers, lorry drivers etc and packages have been given away free by manufacturers as diverse as Daewoo and Honda. The "Skill for Life" package is £85, includes you first years membership when you pass, local organisation membership, free observed lessons from your local organisation, a "How to pass your Advanced Driving Test" book (usually about £15) - it really is priced at £zero in terms of what you get. You basically pay for your membership, test fee, the book, and some admin costs. SO worth it. Brian.
AlanG Posted July 22, 2007 Posted July 22, 2007 Giving a running commentary provides the examiner with a better insight into your driving observations and hence be in a better position to judge your ability. The reason it's not compulsory is that a running commentary could disadvantage a person with a stutter and so those with that disability may be too late informing the examiner of a potential hazard they may have spotted.
Guest Posted July 22, 2007 Posted July 22, 2007 may give the commentry thing a go on my own in the car before i go for my first lesson. p.s my fee was only £65 because im under 25 yipee!!!!
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