Thank you, Horse, for your reponse. I spent quite a while yesterday morning on a protracted post and it vanished when I thought I'd hit "Submit". Frustrating, isn't it?
Horse wrote:StuBeeDoo wrote: Am I a smoother driver? Probably not.
Could you expand on this?
What I meant by that comment is that I don't feel my driving post-IAM is any smoother than it was pre-. Without wishing to blow my own trumpet, that aspect of my driving has never been a problem (that I'm aware of).
Horse wrote:......or there's a big, multi-Observer, disconnect
TBH, In my case - upon reflection - I don't think it was a "multi-Observer disconnect", more that my main observer was, as someone posted earlier in the thread, too laid-back - in comparison to the second Observer and Examiner.
Horse wrote:But perhaps there's an even bigger disconnect: that between what the public want and what IAM offer?
I've just re-visited IAM's website, and the overview of the course includes the following....
"So what can you expect from our advanced driver course? Sign up and you’ll receive a welcome pack and course manual, followed by an introduction to your nearest local IAM RoadSmart group of volunteers. Our skilled experts, all Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) qualified, will take you through a number of observed drives in your own car.
Each session with your expert lasts a couple of hours and you’ll focus on specific skills to develop across a wide range of competencies, where you’ll need to demonstrate your newly acquired advanced driving skills such as, control, observation, timing, optimum road positioning, ability to deal with unpredictable roads and other road users’ behaviour. When you’re ready, you’ll take the advanced driving test."
To be fair, that was pretty-much what my main Observer went through with me. As (I think..) I posted before, I only had one run with a second Observer and that was the pre-test. It was during that run that my lack of "progress" was first mentioned. A few days later I again went out with the main Observer, starting with a de-brief of the pre-test. When I mentioned that my lack of "progress" had been noted, along with my commentary not being up to scratch, I was told "Oh, I think he's being picky. You'll be fine". Even without that comment,
I thought I'd be fine too - but I'm not the "expert" here.
Horse wrote:Is it reasonably to think that within a generation, the IAM (and probably RoSPA) will be facing a severe volunteer staff shortage?
I've heard (although possibly
not from any reliable source) that IAM could be struggling in some areas already. Maybe that's a problem in my locality.
Horse wrote:OP has taken the time and trouble to register here and explain his circumstances. I wonder what message he will give if asked "Oh, IAM, was it worth it?" . . . I doubt it would be ringing endorsement, ever again.
As I posted earlier in the thread, I have no gripe with any of the IAM people that I have had contact with. I wouldn't be so harsh as to put anyone off taking the course. In fact, having had the experience, I feel I can now give a better insight than IAM's internet "blurb" does.
Horse wrote:I think that I'd rather be driven by someone who recognises their limits and keeps within them, than someone deliberately licking the flap of their performance envelope.
Horse wrote:There's no denying that anyone driving up to their own limits and/or the road's is pushing their luck. No-one is perfect, we all make mistakes.
You know what?........... Those ^^^ 2 comments have made me feel a whole lot better about being a fully-fledged Advanced Driver! Thank you.
As I alluded to previously, my preconception and the feedback from my Observer was that the Advanced Driver Course was biased more toward safety than "progress". When I read the information pack, I saw that there was the option to progress (there's that word again, but in a different context) to Masters level.
That was the section of the information where I first read about " Assessing, planning and executing safe overtaking manoeuvres", "Recognising opportunities to make safe progress (within the speed limits)", etc, etc.
So I would venture to suggest that if there's a real disconnect it's between what IAM
appears to offer and what their Examiners expect to see Associates demonstrate on their test. Again with hindsight, had I been made aware that I was expected to drive the test as if I were a Police driver on a "shout" I'd have given it a go - but I thought that was for Masters candidates
not Mr.Average-Advanced-Driver.