Advance driving course
- Thread starter jsmoke
- Start date
Caporegime
Did one - albeit in an HGV - through Scania a few years back, it was one of the most informative and beneficial things I’ve ever done behind a wheel, learned a few tips one of which came in very handy when having to do a full on emergency stop in the wet fully loaded one night.
Couldn’t recommend such a course highly enough especially if it has a skid pan as part of it.
Couldn’t recommend such a course highly enough especially if it has a skid pan as part of it.
Soldato
Definitely worth doing a skid pan experience of some sort. Great fun, and could save your life one day.
Caporegime
Didn’t make any difference on mine, actually, being a professional driver makes me a high risk!
Associate
- Joined
- 23 Oct 2013
- Posts
- 1,207
I did IAM years ago. 100% recommend. It's not simply improving the way you control the car, but more so an education about awareness of surroundings and adapting your driving to conditions/people/environment.
It apparently helps with some insurers, but as I've always told them about it before the quote I've never had a before/after price to compare the discount...
It apparently helps with some insurers, but as I've always told them about it before the quote I've never had a before/after price to compare the discount...
Didn’t make any difference on mine, actually, being a professional driver makes me a high risk!
I don't understand that logic though? Surely as you do so many miles in a company vehicle, the few miles you do in a personal vehicle would carry far less risk as you're more aware of idiots around you?
Caporegime
You see good reason and logic as to why I’m a low risk, as do I, unfortunately the insurance industry deem otherwise...
It’s absurd, how on earth having daily experience of driving articulated trucks all over the U.K. without incident - for years makes me a high risk I don’t know.
I’ve never had an accident in an HGV, the nearest was a car aqua planing into the front of me, the Police praised my actions in bringing the truck to a halt with said car jammed into my front bumper and sent me on my way with no action nor need to inform my insurance as the truck wasn’t damaged - they arrested the car driver for being drunk at the scene!
Maybe it’s other truck drivers who ruin the statistics? I do see some extremely poor truck drivers out and about,but, they are a tiny tiny minority of those I come across.....
Advanced course was a 10% drop in insurance through Admiral.
Is worth doing, definitely improved my driving and hazard awareness.
My insurance at the time was only around £200 so only a £20 saving.
If your insurance is something like a grand then 10% is a very good saving!
Admiral even accept driving courses through work such as an ambulance or police response driver etc. They are more advanced than IAM so makes sense really.
Is worth doing, definitely improved my driving and hazard awareness.
My insurance at the time was only around £200 so only a £20 saving.
If your insurance is something like a grand then 10% is a very good saving!
Admiral even accept driving courses through work such as an ambulance or police response driver etc. They are more advanced than IAM so makes sense really.
Soldato
Calling @Rainmaker
Thanks mate.
OP, I'm a RoSPA Gold who went on to become an advanced driving coach for RoSPA's RoADAR course. I've done a fair amount of coaching with PH's 'Reg Local' (retired police class I advanced course instructor) as well. As some others have said above, advanced driving tuition is the best thing you'll ever do for yourself. Whether you're just a 'normal driver', a professional driver, someone with an interest in tracking/racing etc, or other; there's always something to learn. All main organisations (RoSPA, IAM etc) use the police driving handbook 'Roadcraft'. You can grab a copy on Amazon or similar if you want to dip your toes in.
Essentially the 'system' retrains the way you handle hazards and approach a piece of road, so that you're always in the correct position, speed and gear at any given time. There's a bit of theory behind it, but it's mostly practical learning and practice. Once you get the hang of it you'll completely transform the way you drive. You'll get from A to B faster, smoother and with less fuss, be less prone to accidents, have a *significantly* higher ability to assess and process risks, and you'll draw less attention to yourself while doing it. One of the world's best 'wheel men', John Lyon, always said a good driver will be able to cross the country on the back roads, at an average of 50mph, seamlessly overtaking and blending in as needed, without any other driver having memory of them once they get home. It's about smoothness, subtlety and managing risk to be able to control the vehicle with absolute precision and smoothness to make the best progress possible.
Have a watch of 'Reg Local's' video series on YouTube. It's literally an online course in advanced driving, from introduction through gears, steering, brakes, overtaking, progress, smoothness, cornering lines, you name it.
Advanced driving has something of an old pipe and slippers image, for some. But the truth is it's the foundation of every police pursuit, every blood run, every ambulance recovery and most of the world's racing drivers' abilities. It's as fun as you make it, and it will really open your eyes. You never stop learning.
It depends how you are currently wired up to drive.
I know many good drivers who every few years do a group day on: https://catdrivertraining.co.uk/race/performance-driver-training/ for around 400 notes and they love that it re-focuses them out of the bad habits theyve picked up.
Personally while I enjoyed the day and what I learned about the car and its limits, I didnt learn much in terms of my awareness and how I handle the car, which was quite good to know ive been doing it right
