Over
7 years ago I took the IAM cap course whilst living in Bristol
- and passed: Certificate dated 04 Sept
2004, member no. ------. I had an excellent Observer who taught me
to drive to the system of car control - and
I've never been involved in a collision as a result!
In 2005, I moved up to London and have spent the last 6 years
supporting the Met Police
in a voluntary capacity as a Special Constable - now Special Sergeant. In Nov/Dec last year I got the opportunity
to do a 2 week Police response
driving course and passed! It was very hard work but helped to further develop my skills and to use
Police exemptions safety and appropriately. I'm now regularly driving police
vehicles in blues and twos mode
- although still as a volunteer. The IAM training certainly helped and I wanted to pass on my thanks to my
Observer from all that time ago
and let him know the good news.
Needless to say, I'm still a member of IAM!
RICHARD T
Skill for Life
Course
A very belated and long-overdue
thank-you for your organisation and support in preparing me for my IAM Test
last August.
I wish not
only to thank Bristol Advanced Motorists and my Observer Jerry, but also Tony
and David for the Demonstration Drive and Pre-Test Assessment. In
addition, I also found the Chris Gilbert and Roadcraft DVDs very useful
learning tools.
With
thanks and kind regards,
Liz M
Skill for Life Course -
not just for the young!
As a 61 year
old, and having driven for over 40 years, I felt that I may have developed a
few bad habits!· As I average 10,000 miles a year, with an increasing amount of
traffic on the road and some road markings which were a mystery, I decided to
enrol with IAM to brush up on my skills.· What a journey it's been.
By this time
I'd had my first observed drive with my ‘instructor’.· This consisted of
meeting him at his home and then going out for a drive for a duration of 1½ - 2
hours.· What an eye opener!· It was apparent that the IAM method of driving was
different from the one I remembered !· Having to unlearn some bad habits proved
to be testing, but Alan was extremely patient and encouraging.· After my 7th
observed drive he took me out in his car to show by example.· This was
extremely useful and really showed me what standard of driving was required and
how extra observation really helped making better driving decisions.
Su W
Skill for
Life Course
Thank-you so much for all your
patience, encouragement and perseverance over the last nine months! I am
exceedingly grateful to you, and will endeavour to drive well in the future and
maintain the high standards you have instilled in me.
Mary
Skill for
Life Course
Arriving at my first classroom
session I was pleased to find that there was a real mix of people with
different backgrounds, different reasons for taking the IAM course and varying
amounts of experience on the roads, but one thing in common – everyone wanted
to benefit from becoming an ‘Advanced Driver’. On that first night I met
my Observer and I could tell straight away that we were going to have some fun!
Since the test I’ve taken on
board all of what I learnt and have used it to adapt my driving style.
Most of it I use (and truly value), especially the observation skills.
However, one thing is for sure, my driving standard has improved as a
result of taking the course. I continue to increase both my driving
enjoyment and safety.
Craig R
Advanced
Driving Refresher Course
How often do we hear road
safety pundits advocating the re-testing of 60 or 70 year old drivers - and as
for 80 year olds, well, they shouldn’t be on the roads at all. We in the
IAM are fortunate in that as we mature, and I belong to the latter category, we
are still able to brush-up and maintain our standards.
The Advanced Refresher
Course organised by the Bristol Group is such an example. For a
nominal fee, I elected to have a go. My supervisor would be B H,
an Observer of long standing with an outlook and style of criticism that almost
elevates driving to an art form. After six sessions extending over about
ten hours, I can report that the whole experience was well worthwhile.
John T
Advanced
Driving Refresher Course
Fifteen years after taking the
IAM Advanced Driving Test I was aware that my driving standard was no longer up
to scratch so I was delighted to book onto the Bristol Group’s Advanced
Driving Refresher course. My main aim was to become a safer
driver.
The course sessions were
excellent – interesting, useful, and professionally presented. But,
horrors, after the initial sessions I felt ashamed that my driving fell far
short of what it should be. I even considered dropping out, but
persevered thanks to my Observer’s patience and encouragement. I am so
pleased that I carried on. I felt a sense of achievement after each
drive, and, for example, loved travelling on the open road taking bends without
braking.
For any Member who wonders if
his driving standard may have slipped, I highly recommend a Refresher Course.
Thank you Bristol IAM for organising the course and thanks to
Observer John L for his expert guidance.
Angela E
Advanced
Driving Refresher Course
I passed my IAM Advanced
Driving Test 10 years ago and became a Bristol Group Member. For several
years now I've been thinking that it would be helpful to go on a refresher
course to sharpen-up my driving skills. I know for a fact that they were
sadly lacking in certain areas, and thought that, with a bit of luck, an
Observer could iron-out the worst of my faults. Maybe I wasn't worthy any
more of calling myself an Advanced Driver even !
So I was very pleased indeed
when the Advanced Driver Refresher Course was set-up, and was
lucky enough to be on the first course with just two other Group Members - both
men. We joined-in with the Associates for three evening meetings, the
third (Meet an Examiner) being optional, which were very well-presented and informative
with excellent up-to-date videos. Somehow it all seemed more modern and
slick than 10 years ago. We also had the chance to go out with an
Observer for a demonstration ‘Experience’ drive.
I really enjoyed the six
driving sessions with Geoff - they were constructive, relaxed, and informative,
but above all fun - and of course no exam at the end - a big bonus !
I did wonder what he would have
to say at the end of the first drive and was pleasantly surprised when he said
that I have remembered quite a lot. The trouble is, does that also
mean that I've forgotten quite a lot? - I wonder ! !
I feel that I have benefited a
great deal from doing this course, and I will certainly do it again in a year
or two. I would like to encourage all you Group Members out there to give
it a go. I think you'd enjoy it too.
Anne E
Advanced Driving
Refresher Course
I recently took two ADR
courses, the first with Geoff B who took my driving
apart. But it was very enjoyable and instructive. My second
course was with Rosemary J who still pulled me up on the
things I was doing wrong.
Two very helpful courses which
I can thoroughly recommend. I see we now have the IAM F1RST Register.
So I intend to take further courses to improve my driving and maybe get onto
the Register.
Keith T
Advanced Driving Refresher Course
I would recommend the Refresher, particularly to longer-term Memberswho took the IAM test some years ago. It has boosted my confidence and, I believe, has made me a better driver.
Pauline
Skill for Life 
