Cola

Due to an overzealous insurance payout we're looking into these. Has anyone done one of these? How much were they, what did it entail, is there a test at the end, how long was it, did it make anyc hange to your insurance, that kinda thing?

Also does anyone know of anyone good in the Watford area?

Ta kids

Oranoco

They can get you a discount on insurance but from the chaps at work it's more about your awareness whilst driving. They tell you to drive in a mechanically sympathetic way of driving. e.g using your brakes not gears to slow you. You will not be shown an performance driving techniques. When I looked at doing it a while ago I decided it wasn't worth it at all. For the sort of driving I do I would gain far more from doing a days schooling at a race school. IAM are a fooking waste of time. They advertise as getting your driving up to Police standard. Living very near a Police HQ the amount of cars they smash to bits beggers belief

Clare

Cola, slight change of subject but spoke to Gary last night, Mark (the Company Owner) is now on the case and waiting for Graham to come back from his holiday to talk to him about it, which should be tmoz, so he hasn't forgotten about you

Daveyboy

I told you babe, just stick at the PS2, you'll get the hang of this driving lark soon enough






btw, im running as im typing lol

Cola

Cheers Ora See I always heard it was to teach advanced driving techniques like controlling skids etc. Have been told it can be taken for free so may well be worth it. Plus anything that will be sympathetic to my engine can't be bad lol.

Clare, TA LUV Lordy, Graham's gonna be PISHED lol. Ah weol, he should have told him about it in the first place.

BTT for any more info

Cola

PMSL @ DB. When I get my new glasses (and mem card) I will kick your arse!

Btw, birthday/housewarming party - when?! Cos gonna message a few peeps about it xxx

Daveyboy

eerrr, how about round my birthday time then lol? i'll mail you

Oranoco

This was what I heard and was why I wanted to look into it but it seems more concerned with making people drive like geriatric old farts.

Look here http://www.iam.org.uk

HTH

Cola

Found it! Ta Treacle

DB: June 4th?!

Daveyboy

what day is that?

Cola

lol @ lack of calendar on your phone/laptop - saturday babe

Anonymous

Cola, having seen your driving first hand....

Be cheaper paying the insurance

RichardPON

To be honest, you probably want to look at something run by an ex-racing driver, and not the IAM style stuff.

There are a few advertised in EVO at the back - I'll see if I can dig o[ut websites.

Cola

Dingle

Rich, that would be fabulous if you can Darlin. But they hey, I'm still waiting for 2k pics...

RichardPON

I can't find the 2k pic anywhere!

God knows where it's gone - this puter is like a maze!

Cola

*sobs* well let me know about courses anyway if you hear that is

frog

Cola, there's an outfit called drive and survive, they do the driving courses people have to take after they have been caught speeding, etc...

They run courses near me at the Transport Research Laboratory in wokingham, they may run the courses elsewhere too.

I am not aware of any advanced courses that actually reduce your insurance premiums though. The IAM used to, but that was with their own insurance policy iirc, and that won't cover hot cars.

Cola

Frog, ta. THat is most useful!

Iain Mac

Some say the ROSPA test is harder, and you get different grades of pass (Bronze, Silver and Gold) as well as having to retake their test every few years.

I have passed the IAM test and, as stated, there is no performace driving in it, but lots of the stuff they do teach, like observation, reading the road ahead etc. is useful if going a bit quickly.

I think they charge £75 for your tuition and test, and I reckon it is worth it, but don't expect to see an insurance discount.

Being a member also helps us get invites to the Police training college. Been three times now, and last time out I got a spin in a 5 series with one of the Police instructors. These guys are great drivers and could teach more than 99% of us (and I include myself in there) how to really drive.

Keith B

I also took and passed my IAM advanced license. Got a big reduction in my insurance through the IAM
True the Focus is on observation and reading the road and also true that most of the members are old guys...........However the test is carried out with a traffic cop. And I learnt some stuff from him in the 90min test (although almost nothing in the lessons that I didnt already know) He was a pretty god guy. Told me if I went 1mph over 30 in a 30 zone he'd fail me. However on a dual carriageway/motorway I could do 85. So there you have it. He was a top guy and I saved cash as well.