Pass Plus and Advanced Driving courses

CocoPopsLover

Has anyone found these courses useful?

I have my test on Thursday after changing it serveral times and on the condition i pass, i would like to do a pass plus course as soon as possibe. I am doing this to obviously get better handling of my car as well as the insurance discount.

I was also thinking of doing an advanced motoring course some time in the future but are the insurance benefits worth it?

Can anyone give me an insight into the advanced motoring course? I would like to know about the test and how long does it take to learn in order to be ready for the test, I could not find sufficient informaton online.

TIA:D

Crabman

I did Passplus a month after passing my test and then the IAM 'Skill for Life' a couple of years later.

Found the IAM more useful than Passplus but then it only cost £65 (discount for under 25). I believe it's something above £100 now. If you do this - be nice to the local IAM group secretary and ask if you could have an observer who was a traffic cop. If they give you that then I'd say go for it. It took me about 2-3 months to be ready for the test with usually one observed drive per week.

There's also RoSPA which I've heard good things about.

CocoPopsLover

Do you do the lessons in your own car?

1 observed drive a week? Is this a type of assessment to check your progress?

Eric_Pisch

I found the IAM to be pretty weak at best, gave up membership after a year.

Far better to do a young drivers course like this one that covers skid control and recovery (on a skid pan), and winter driving. Nothing beats actual experience of learning how to control a skidding car. Should be a mandatory part of the test IMO.

http://www.driverskills.com/driving-courses/youngdriver.html

I would also 100% recommend roadcraft, gives invaluable information on car positioning and reading the road ahead, and is only £9

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roadcraft-Essential-Police-Drivers-Handbook/dp/0117021687/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268136429&sr=1-1

Crabman

CocoPopsLover wrote: »

Do you do the lessons in your own car?

1 observed drive a week? Is this a type of assessment to check your progress?

The observed drive is where you're 'taught' although if you read the Roadcraft book properly you'll breeze through that. The observed drives are where you can actually apply the knowledge from the Roadcraft manual under someone's expert eye.

Btw, I've not subscribed to the IAM since the first year inclusive membership as not worth it. I know they offer 'discounts' but nothing that can't be beaten by simply shopping around.

DirectDebacle

Your motive for improving your driving skills is the key point. If you do find any insurance discount just regard that as a bonus.

I think you recognise that you are being trained to pass a test rather than to 'drive' and that there is much more to learn. Any good further training is better than none, so go for it.

IMO IAM/Rospa should be the minimum standard all drivers should achieve before being given a full licence.

CocoPopsLover

Thanks for your advice people!!! I want to be a good driver on the road, just not another person who has a pink card but drives like mad so i think i will definately do the pass plus and do some research into the extra advanced motoring courses mentioned!

DaveF327

DirectDebacle wrote: »

Your motive for improving your driving skills is the key point. If you do find any insurance discount just regard that as a bonus.

Indeed. Remember also that an insurance "benefit" is more that just a discount off a premium. If you improve your driving skills, you'll become a better risk on the roads. You are less likely to be involved in a crash which is wholly or partly your fault, so you will be more likely to earn (and keep) a no claims discount. This alone is an insurance benefit.

As for the advanced driving test, this usually lasts between 60 and 90 minutes depending on the organisation administering it, and takes in extremely varied road and traffic conditions, with a significant weighting towards higher speed limit rural roads and dual carriageway / motorway. While general assessment is made with regard to safety, smoothness and progress of the drive, there may be a reversing manoeuvre tested, as well as a requirement to give a driver commentary.

As for how long it would take you to hone your skills to test standard, that depends entirely on you, but I can quote from personal experience of a local IAM group. Weekly 90 minute drive sessions are held with a structured syllabus covering 4 weeks, followed by 3 consolidation sessions. On the eighth week, an assessment is made as to your readiness for test and further weekly sessions after that are reserved for further consolidation until test date (or further assessment date if previous assessment drive was unsuccessful).

Hope this helps

CocoPopsLover

Thanks Dave!

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

CocoPopsLover wrote: »

Thanks for your advice people!!! I want to be a good driver on the road, just not another person who has a pink card but drives like mad so i think i will definately do the pass plus and do some research into the extra advanced motoring courses mentioned!

My advice would be to not bother with the Passplus, certainly if you're driving regularly. Drive around for a couple of years, and then take the IoAM or ROSPA course. They'll correct all the bad habits you've formed, and teach you some new skills to improve your driving.

DaveF327

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

My advice would be to not bother with the Passplus, certainly if you're driving regularly.

Why not, exactly?