Skill for Life - move your on-road abilities up a gear

[campbell]

"Skill for Life" is the mainstay qualification offered by the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists), for both bikes and cars.

For £139, you get everything required to take and pass the advanced driving test and become a full member of the IAM. So this means:

- 12 months IAM membership (only £30 a year thereafter to maintain it)

- local group support to prepare for the test

- the advanced test fee

- the IAM's own "How to be a Better Driver" book (which complements the Police's own timeless Roadcraft manual).

Full details here.

I joined the Edinburgh group back in April, after sterling work by Ian "Parko" Parkinson to research the background and make contact with the IAM in Scotland on behalf of anyone in SE who was interested. And despite the intervention of summer holidays, I passed my Advanced Driving Test in September (on first attempt, I have to say ).

During the training, even before achieving the milestone, I felt a strong positive impact on my road driving. Now I hope to train as an Observer myself and continue to support the Edinburgh group.

Which is partly why I'm posting this, to raise the profile of the IAM and encourage those of you who are serious about enjoying your cars on the public road (I think that's all of you...), to look into the details of the course and set yourself the challenge. The Institute has also established various discount deals and offers, including some free RAC membership with any Skill for Life purchase, future RAC discounts of 35-40%, 10% off Halfords gift vouchers, 20% off Youngdriver.eu 11-17 year old lessons, etc etc.

One thing worth noting. It also looks like the IAM have a Christmas promo underway, with 10% off Skill for Life at the moment - now £125 in their Christmas e-shop.

Alternatively, just check out the IAM group directory for your area and get in gear. They are a friendly and supportive bunch of people, the classroom sessions create a real sense of community...and your Lotuses or other serious hardware may cause quite a positive stir to boot...

Advertising feature ends



NB - the IAM is a registered charity so strictly speaking this is not an advert or solicitation but merely a bit of social responsibility aimed at a community I value very highly

[Ferg]

Congratulations on passing your test Campbell!

So is the skills for life test the real name of what people call the 'Advanced Driving Test'?

Have you been able to test whether it makes any difference to insurance premiums yet?

[Dominic]

Congratulations Campbell!

I too did my stint as an observer after I passed. It will bring your own driving standards up even higher, and I found it quite rewarding too,... Although it can soak up quite a bit of your spare time.

I have found in the past 6 years or so that most insurers now recognize IAM membership, and offer a minor discount for having it.

[campbell]

Thanks both.

Yes Skill for life is the modern branding for the long-standing Advanced Driving Test.

Not tested insurance discounts as yet, really should ring Admiral to ask. I suppose! IAM offer their own cover, IAM Surety, but not with multi car options I think.

Something that has struck me more than anything else is my increased self-awareness of my mistakes - I don't pretend to be an expert now, but it means I'm still learning even after the observer has long since vacated my Elise's pax seat. The Advanced training also puts a lot of emphasis upon courtesy towards other road users...so you can be helpful even with other drivers' mistakes...or deliberate transgressions!...and everyone arrives at work in a better mood as a result.

[j2 lot]

I found passing the IAM test made a considerable difference to my insurance when I was younger but Surety hasn't really been cheaper for me in the past couple of years.
I would say though that the benefit of taking the test way outweighs any financial gains and anyone wondering if its worthwhile should just go for it.

[H8OAG]

I sat IAM /Defensive Driving/Police test many moons ago

There is nothing wrong with any driving training refresh as long as you.do not believe all the hype and adopt a challenger mentality to some of the teachings

No heel and toe
Steering by shuffling the wheel
No engine braking
Pedantic use of Handbrake

i can usually spot a IAM driver by his nervous tick that causes a shaking of head at every other road user

[Dicey]

I found that IAM Surety insurance was way cheaper than anywhere else when I renewed at the end of October; was with Admiral and Tesco in previous years. Tesco went up from £230 to £260 for my 09 Golf GTi, was quoted £270-£330 by most others, IAM Surety was £192. So, even with the £30 IAM membership I'm still quids in.

Mike

[campbell]

No heel and toe
Steering by shuffling the wheel
No engine braking
Pedantic use of Handbrake

Agreed. Like it or not, to get through the test, the above have to be adhered to. But examiners have discretion and mine in particular was prepared to accept that some track driving influences actually made a positive difference to the way I operated the Elise during the test. So a certain amount of engine braking, trailing throttle and Gear ahead of Speed was tolerated

Wheel shuffling is a tricky one. The Police manual covers Rotational too but that manual's not strictly in scope, of course. As it happens I have elected to continue Rotational when in the Elise (thanks McKean) but stick with The Teachings and shuffle in our "regular" cars.

Handbrake is an interesting one, Iain. They have relented on that, you will be glad to know.

i can usually spot a IAM driver by his nervous tick that causes a shaking of head at every other road user

I find it's the sticker that gives 'em away actually

But in any case, mechanical control of the car is something most SE members (especially regular track users) will be very proficient with. It's the observation principles, the anticipation, the courtesy, the planning, the overall mindset of being the network equivalent of a packet which is moments away from a collision, all the time, which made the IAM training click for me.

[graeme]

No heel and toe
Steering by shuffling the wheel
No engine braking
Pedantic use of Handbrake

There's a good reason for each of those.

Heel and Toe: If you're overlapping the braking and gear-change then you're rushing. The system is about removing the rushing so you've got more time to think. Time is the currency of safety. You make it sound like H&T is banned, which isn't true, it's just not necessary if you're driving to the system. Blipping is encouraged to smooth your downshifts, but all your braking should be done by then.

The Hendon Shuffle: Is still the most approriate steering technique for most situations in normal road driving, and can be used in all situations (even track driving). So it's the best one to teach. But it isn't compulsory. As Campbell says, demonstrate you're in control and can choose the correct technique for the correct situation and you'll be fine.

No engine braking: Again, it's not "banned", it's just if you're doing it you're probably not driving to the system. You're overlapping your braking and gear change again. Going 5-4-3-2 is just not necessary any more. Brakes actually work on modern cars. All you gain is more mechanical wear, more distration and time with your hands off the wheel, and it does nothing at all for your stopping distance. Go 5-2 makes more sense in every way except fun. To be fair to those who like going down the box sequentially, this is probably the most argued subject on IAM forums. My take is don't do it for the test, then go do what you like if it adds to your driving pleasure, but don't kid yourself that engine braking has any value in a modern car. For fun only.

Pedantic use of the handbrake: Not sure what you mean by this... you're encouraged to use the handbrake when stationary for more than a few seconds in situations such as junctions, roundabouts and crossings where a shunt from behind could push you into moving traffic or human-shaped fleshy things. Pedantic? Not sure. It's a tool to be used when it makes sense to.

It's a shame some people take this sort of stuff as the real message of the course... this stuff is the tools you learn to free up your brain time for doing the really good stuff... observation and planning. That's where the real value is. Completing the course and then complaining about not being allowed to do rotational steering is completely missing the point IMO. I don't mean Mr Boag in particular here, the advanced driving forums are full of people arguing over one tool vs another, and creating more and more contrived situations to justify their own preferences. It's nonsense. Learn all the tools you can, pick the right one for the job. The IAM course simply sticks to the basic set (because it is a basic, entry level Advanced Driving course that anyone can do). If you can't do the basic set, you rightly fail. If you use something else correctly you probably won't fail. Use something else incorrectly and you probably will, hence the well-published idea that you should stick to the basic tools for the test. It's no different to the L-plate test, or any test, in that regard.

In other news, IAM insurance has never been cheaper than a comparison site for me.

[H8OAG]

No heel and toe
Steering by shuffling the wheel
No engine braking
Pedantic use of Handbrake

There's a good reason for each of those.

Heel and Toe: If you're overlapping the braking and gear-change then you're rushing. The system is about removing the rushing so you've got more time to think. Time is the currency of safety. You make it sound like H&T is banned, which isn't true, it's just not necessary if you're driving to the system. Blipping is encouraged to smooth your downshifts, but all your braking should be done by then.

The Hendon Shuffle: Is still the most approriate steering technique for most situations in normal road driving, and can be used in all situations (even track driving). So it's the best one to teach. But it isn't compulsory. As Campbell says, demonstrate you're in control and can choose the correct technique for the correct situation and you'll be fine.

No engine braking: Again, it's not "banned", it's just if you're doing it you're probably not driving to the system. You're overlapping your braking and gear change again. Going 5-4-3-2 is just not necessary any more. Brakes actually work on modern cars. All you gain is more mechanical wear, more distration and time with your hands off the wheel, and it does nothing at all for your stopping distance. Go 5-2 makes more sense in every way except fun. To be fair to those who like going down the box sequentially, this is probably the most argued subject on IAM forums. My take is don't do it for the test, then go do what you like if it adds to your driving pleasure, but don't kid yourself that engine braking has any value in a modern car. For fun only.

Pedantic use of the handbrake: Not sure what you mean by this... you're encouraged to use the handbrake when stationary for more than a few seconds in situations such as junctions, roundabouts and crossings where a shunt from behind could push you into moving traffic or human-shaped fleshy things. Pedantic? Not sure. It's a tool to be used when it makes sense to.

It's a shame some people take this sort of stuff as the real message of the course... this stuff is the tools you learn to free up your brain time for doing the really good stuff... observation and planning. That's where the real value is. Completing the course and then complaining about not being allowed to do rotational steering is completely missing the point IMO. I don't mean Mr Boag in particular here, the advanced driving forums are full of people arguing over one tool vs another, and creating more and more contrived situations to justify their own preferences. It's nonsense. Learn all the tools you can, pick the right one for the job. The IAM course simply sticks to the basic set (because it is a basic, entry level Advanced Driving course that anyone can do). If you can't do the basic set, you rightly fail. If you use something else correctly you probably won't fail. Use something else incorrectly and you probably will, hence the well-published idea that you should stick to the basic tools for the test. It's no different to the L-plate test, or any test, in that regard.

In other news, IAM insurance has never been cheaper than a comparison site for me.

I hasten to add...............I passed in 1986 where some if not all of the above were rigidly adhered to

The Police examiner awarded a pass but commented on my entry speed to a particular corner.
I told him I could safely take that corner 20mph faster at 60mph and keep my road positioning for the next bend.
We agreed that I drive the West Lothian test route again using my rules..............
He almost soiled himself at the first couple of corners then settled down when he realised he wasn't going into the fields.
I stopped midway and let him drive back................He'd never been in a 4X4 or driven a UR Quattro and was astonished at the grip levels

[Daveb]

Id like to do this sometime - however I would be very dubious of police type driving considering they are the worst on the road with a very high crash rate.

Also not sure if this creates snobby drivers - I am an advanced motorist you know - I can do no wrong. *Crash*

[campbell]

He almost soiled himself at the first couple of corners then settled down when he realised he wasn't going into the fields.
I stopped midway and let him drive back................He'd never been in a 4X4 or driven a UR Quattro and was astonished at the grip levels

Absolutely priceless.

I never gave my Observer or my Examiner the opportunity to "see what the Elise could do", but they were sufficiently tickled to have spent time in one and both marvelled at how comfortable a place it actually was to spend time.

[campbell]

Graeme's point about freeing brain capacity really is the key. A point very well made despite additional in depth justification of several IAM principles

I'm not sure that I'd ever rate pull-push steering for track use but we could always ask Walshy the next time we see him...shall we tape record his answer?!

[campbell]

Id like to do this sometime - however I would be very dubious of police type driving considering they are the worst on the road with a very high crash rate.

Also not sure if this creates snobby drivers - I am an advanced motorist you know - I can do no wrong. *Crash*

Strictly speaking, it's not "police type driving". Yes the Roadcraft manual is the source of a lot of the principles, but police crash rates are under a specific set of unusual circumstances (mostly) and in many cases quite extreme ones. I'd like to see many a driver get through a lot of what they successfully tackle day to day...

As Graeme points out, IAM principles simply put the next level of rigour into your driving tools. They are not intended to give everyone police pursuit skills, nor are they designed to develop track driving or even "fast road" skills as such. Simply to give time to react...and also to enable you to make good progress

I expect one of the biggest dangers of IAM membership is exactly your second point - "I've passed this, so I must now be invincible". In many ways, as I pointed out above, I feel more self-aware, and actually much less invincible than before. It's what you choose to make it, really.

[j2 lot]

however I would be very dubious of police type driving considering they are the worst on the road with a very high crash rate.

( hope your joking )