Associates' Comments

The skills for life package from the IAM provides all the materials needed to get you started on the road to being a better driver. Putting this material into practice was made possible by the Guildford IAM group and its observers who offered encouragement, advice, hints and tips to becoming an advanced thinking driver. Why don't more drivers become thinking drivers? (Steve/Camberley)

Constantly trying to drive to the IAM standard has brought a huge amount of the pleasure back into my driving experience. And I feel a lot safer. (Martin/Leatherhead)

All the Observers are friendly volunteers driven by the passion of driving. Their comments are positive and helpful. Their aim is the same as yours. (John/Woking)

I got intelligent and helpful comments, that gave practical help improving my driving skills, rather than insistence on slavishly following silly rules (Robert/Farnham)

I certainly remember my first Observed run. It's nerve racking having somebody scrutinising your driving, especially as I passed my test some 40 years ago ! However my Observer was excellent and made the whole experience enjoyable and informative. Each of my subsequent Observers in their own way passed on their knowledge and experience which contributed to me passing my Advanced Driving Test. (Rick/Ottershaw)

You think you're a good driver?

After 50 years of driving without an accident, I felt sure I was – this advanced driving lark would be a breeze … after a few short outings they would tell me, straight away, that I had nothing to learn and that I'd pass the test without fail.

Errrrrr – it didn't happen like that.

First of all we had a demonstration by an experienced observer. Mmmmm, he did appear to see things I hadn't noticed, the drive was as smooth as silk, his comments on other drivers (and what they planned to do – how did he know?) were illuminating. But – hey – I could do that, couldn't I?

No, I couldn't.

Observed run after observed run, via gentle and courteous comments, I learnt that I drove too fast, apparently with my eyes shut, and with far too much reliance on other drivers seeing my manoeuvres and taking action accordingly. I took unnecessary risks and was generally happy-go-lucky, whizzing along without a care in the world. 50 years of driving without an accident? I'd been incredibly lucky.

Slowly, after months of observed runs, lots of reading and lots of practising, I learned to be a safer driver, a more courteous driver, a more economical driver and, finally, a more confident driver.

You think you're a good driver?

Take the Advanced Driving course with your local group and LEARN. Believe me, you will not regret it for a moment and at the end of it, you WILL be a good driver. (Gill/Surrey)