IAM Driving Assessment

Arfa__

Did the IAM motorbike test about 1.5 years ago. Had been driving for over 15 years and riding for 3. Still, I found the course very useful, taught me a lot more above what the standard DLVA test and experience had gained me. General control of the bike has improved a lot, from low speed stuff to higher speed cornering and I've certainly fallen off, been taken out less since! (and I ride daily into central London). The key thing is, it's not just a case of improving your riding/driving to pass a test, rather teaching you how to continually evaluate yourself, consider further what you do and how you could do things differently to keep on improving yourself.

I don't know if it applies so much to the car groups, but there is also a good social side of my local East London Advanced Motorcycle group: social rides, trips out, evening meets, talks from various speakers, even helping out marshalling at local marathons etc.

But yeah, insurance discounts are naff all to speak of, but some bike shops do offer small discounts to members. For £150 (or less if you bag a discount) you get a lot of contact time with observers, definitely recommend it.

Strider590

dannyrst wrote: »

I hope they take into account pedestrians. I hate it when someone in a car thinks they don't need to indicate at a mini roundabout because there are no cars, but I'm about to cross and they take a turn. That's why I always indicate...at 4am in the morning or middle of the day, you can never be sure there isn't someone making a decision based on you not indicating.

You can and that's the point. If you miss something then your not paying enough attention.
"Autopilot" indicating can sometimes lead to misleading signals, that could easily be a contributing factor in an accident.

Arfa__ wrote: »

Did the IAM motorbike test about 1.5 years ago. Had been driving for over 15 years and riding for 3. Still, I found the course very useful, taught me a lot more above what the standard DLVA test and experience had gained me. General control of the bike has improved a lot, from low speed stuff to higher speed cornering and I've certainly fallen off, been taken out less since! (and I ride daily into central London). The key thing is, it's not just a case of improving your riding/driving to pass a test, rather teaching you how to continually evaluate yourself, consider further what you do and how you could do things differently to keep on improving yourself.

I don't know if it applies so much to the car groups, but there is also a good social side of my local East London Advanced Motorcycle group: social rides, trips out, evening meets, talks from various speakers, even helping out marshalling at local marathons etc.

But yeah, insurance discounts are naff all to speak of, but some bike shops do offer small discounts to members. For £150 (or less if you bag a discount) you get a lot of contact time with observers, definitely recommend it.

Car drivers don't generally share that thing that bikers have, the "brotherhood" thing. Classic and kit car owners do to a lesser extent, but by other drivers they get treated in a similar way to bikers, your seen as being non-conformist and therefore it's ok to bully and/or try to kill you.

dannyrst

Strider590 wrote: »

You can and that's the point. If you miss something then your not paying enough attention.
"Autopilot" indicating can sometimes lead to misleading signals, that could easily be a contributing factor in an accident.

But the truth of the matter is you can't be 100% certain that nobody is using your lack of indication as a sign that you aren't turning. It's impossible. You only have one pair of eyes and they can only look one way at a time.

Car_54

dannyrst wrote: »

But the truth of the matter is you can't be 100% certain that nobody is using your lack of indication as a sign that you aren't turning. It's impossible. You only have one pair of eyes and they can only look one way at a time.

You may only have one pair of eyes*, but you have mirrors and your head and eyes swivel

Learners are usually taught to signal at all junctions, as you've described, because they have had limited expeerience of observation.

An advanced driver is expected to have much more developed observational skills.

* Not necessarily. Thousands of drivers manage safely with one eye, so only having two is a poor excuse.;)

50Twuncle

dannyrst wrote: »

But the truth of the matter is you can't be 100% certain that nobody is using your lack of indication as a sign that you aren't turning. It's impossible. You only have one pair of eyes and they can only look one way at a time.

I went to school with a boy who could look in 2 totally different directions at the same time !
He had wandering eyes ..

mutley74

I have also joined the IAM course, about 1/2 way through the course. I thought I was "experienced" driver (20 years driving). So far I have learnt a few tips, corrected a few methods of my gear changing and positioning. Although I am pushed beyond my "comfort" limit at times. For instance going round corners, roundabouts at a higher speed than I would usually drive at.

missile

20 years driving does not make you a better driver. 20 minutes instruction will.

Gloomendoom

missile wrote: »

20 years driving does not make you a better driver. 20 minutes instruction will.

20 years driving does not necessarily make you a better driver. 20 minutes instruction may.

Fixed it for you.

---lee---

I did the advanced test about 10 years ago. In preparation for it, I had many hours of driving with local observers beforehand putting into practise roadcraft. I found the whole experience very enjoyable but I was not interested in the local group side of it, so I've never attended any meetings etc.

mutley74

Gloomendoom wrote: »

20 years driving does not necessarily make you a better driver. 20 minutes instruction may.

Fixed it for you.

certainly learning from it and building up my awareness. I have done defensive driving courses before, but this is a more thorough understanding and practice of driving skills.