Advanced motoring

Grumpysally

I'm considering brushing up on my driving skills. I find as I'm getting older, my confidence is waning a little. I've also moved to an area where street parking is very tight and often requires reversing on steep hills.
What is people's experience and recommendations for companies?
Thanks  

Mildly_Miffed

IAM- or RoSPA-style "advanced motoring" isn't really about confidence and basic skills like parking and reversing. It's more to do with sightlines and planning and overtakes and making brisker progress.

In my area, the local Police and Crime Commissioner has announced cheap assessments and refreshers for older drivers. That might be one option, if you think it's age-related-confidence.

Otherwise, a well-recommended local driving instructor should help you brush up the sort of things you're referring to.

fatbelly

I think it's worth doing if you can afford it. A colleague took the course and I did feel safer being her passenger afterwards!

I see iAm charge £204, which seems good value to me.

MikeJXE

I agree with both the above as I went to IAM 5 years ago when I was 80. I wanted an opinion as to my safety on the road.

It wasn’t anything to do with confidence more to do with passing my test in 1960 and keeping up with current knowledge

Not once did I do any parking or reversing,  it’s more to do with awareness of things around you and making progress.

Having said that for £200 ish it is well worth the money to improve your skills and feel safer 

Goudy

I would suggest booking a few refresher lessons with a local driving instructor or something like a Pass Plus course with the AA (other companies offer the same sort of thing).

A professional should be able to steer you in the right direction after a couple of hours, so don't book up lots of hours in advance. Tell them exactly what you want and see what they say first.

ButterCheese

My ex had automatic cars for years and then got a manual.  She booked a lesson (or 2) with a driving instructor to get used to manual again.  Probably a better option, as the instructor will cover any areas you want whilst not having to stick to the course agenda.  There's also no pressure on them to get you test ready so they can skip all the parts you don't need and focus on hill starts/parking etc

molerat

Buy a car that parks itself    My car has got into a tight space that I didn't think It would.

elsien

Local police were offering a free assessment for older drivers. Anything like that round your way. 

Grumpysally

molerat said:

Buy a car that parks itself    My car has got into a tight space that I didn't think It would.

But will it reverse itself up a hill? 😄Extra driving lessons are a lot cheaper than a new car

metropolis090

I booked a couple of refresher lessons with a local AA instructor and it made a big difference. Parking on hills stopped feeling like a nightmare.