Advanced Driving

I passed my Institute of Advanced Motoring (IAM) test back in May 1999. This was after a 12 week course which, back then cost about £70. This was a one-off fee which included everything - the course, the test fee and course literature. I took my course with the East Lancashire Advanced Motorists. There are many local branches which are listed, along with other information at www.iam.org.uk.

The reason for me signing up for the course was really just wanting a check on my driving since it was about 10 years since I had passed my driving test. I guess I also realised that I had become a very confident and relaxed driver, perhaps at the expense of safety. I now realise that I, like most drivers, was relying on luck to prevent me getting a speeding ticket, having a bump, or worse still, killing either myself or someone else.

I was very sceptical of advanced drivers before I took the course and was by no means certain whether I would be able to drive in the manner they recommended. I had the impression of slow, over-cautious driving which might be fine on a quiet Sunday morning but absolutely no good for the daily commute to work in the rush-hour! However, I quickly learnt that advanced driving was not like that at all and I was impressed by the common-sense advice given. Adopting the advanced driving way of driving made me a much safer, courteous driver without compromising much in the way of speed. Indeed, I learnt that advanced driving actually puts a great deal of emphasis on 'making progress' when it is safe to do so. For example, by mastering proper observation on the approach to junctions, you often find that you can negotiate them quicker than before!

So anyway - I took the course, worked hard, enjoyed it and whilst the examination was a little nerve-racking, I passed. But I knew that my newly learnt techniques were not as good as they could be and I was also afraid of slipping back to my old driving ways. So I became an observer with the East Lancashire Advanced Motorists. This involved spending on average about an hour a week helping people drive more safely in their own cars and passing on the techniques and advice I had picked up during my training. I did this for nearly 3 years. I also created a web site for the group at www.eastlancashireiam.org.uk which I still manage to this day.

Principles of Advanced Driving

1. Observation
   The more you can observe, the more you will be aware of your surroundings, the hazards that are present and the options that are available to you to deal with these hazards. Do this and you will never be 'caught unaware'. When was the last time you had to brake heavily? Did the hazard really just appear out of no-where or were you just not paying enough attention?
2. Planning
   Assess risks well in advance so that you have time to decide how you are going to cope.
3. Positioning
   Use the whole of the road to put as much space as possible between your car and potential hazards. Move away from parked cars and position yourself, especially when driving around corners, to afford you the best possible view. (Watch how a police car or ambulance responding to an emergency position themselves to go around a sweeping bend in a road!)
4. The System of Car Control
   The System of Car Control provides a sequence of steps which the advanced driver always considers on the approach to a hazard. By doing this, the different aspects of driving (taking/using/giving Information, Steering, Braking, Changing Gear, Accelerating) are all sequenced so that nothing is forgotten, rushed or done at the same time as another.
5. Restraint
   Do not let other's bad driving affect yours.

I am a strong believer in the benefits of taking an advanced driving course. Not only do I believe it mades you a safer driver but I also believe it will make your driving much more enjoyable.

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