Advanced Driving Course

[Barry123]

Sure I've asked this before but I was wondering if anyone has done it?

My sister has started it and says that a lot of the things I do now are part of the Adv. course, so I think it would be nice to do.

Anyone have any tips n shit?

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[AdamW]

Is this the test that police and ambulance drivers have to take? Or am I waaaay off?

[Barry123]

Is this the test that police and ambulance drivers have to take? Or am I waaaay off?

think you're right man, the sister of Sayer said she has to be examined by the police at the end of it - interpret that how you see fit.

[kristel10589]

do you mean pass plus?

[AdamW]

I think you have to talk while your driving on what your actually doing...i.e. "Im taking this slow right hand bend at 90mph and exiting on to straight and reducing my speed for junction ahead".......serious

[GrantW]

^^ Yeah you've got to commentate on everything you're doing, think its a 90 minute test and its the same as the police drivers have to do.

[Quick]

http://www.rospa.com/drivertraining/courses/advanced_tests/car.htm

[AdamW]

Have to take test every 3 years.......wowzers....

[Raz]

id be interested in doing the advance driver training...if it helps me more...

[James205rallye]

If she is doing an advanced driving course, it will probably be through IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) or RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents). The RoSPA one is a lot better in my opinion.

With the ROSPA one, you take a test at the end of it, hopefully getting gold, silver or bronze standard, with a full written report of every aspect of your driving to follow it up. This is valid for 3 years and you are required to retake after 3 years in order to keep the status.

With IAM, you get people who did the test once, 30 years ago, and for the rest of their lives called themselves an advanced driver even though they are getting old and dangerous.

You will learn so many useful things. Stuff which will be obvious to your passengers and stuff which you will end up doing to improve safety that your passengers will not even know you are doing.

Have a look at the book called "Roadcraft". It's what the police use, and what you will end up using too.

I could rant on all day about it, but don't want to bore you! I am happy to answer any questions about it.

[BenSilverSaxo]

If she is doing an advanced driving course, it will probably be through IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) or RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents). The RoSPA one is a lot better in my opinion.

With the ROSPA one, you take a test at the end of it, hopefully getting gold, silver or bronze standard, with a full written report of every aspect of your driving to follow it up. This is valid for 3 years and you are required to retake after 3 years in order to keep the status.

With IAM, you get people who did the test once, 30 years ago, and for the rest of their lives called themselves an advanced driver even though they are getting old and dangerous.

You will learn so many useful things. Stuff which will be obvious to your passengers and stuff which you will end up doing to improve safety that your passengers will not even know you are doing.

Have a look at the book called "Roadcraft". It's what the police use, and what you will end up using too.

I could rant on all day about it, but don't want to bore you! I am happy to answer any questions about it.

Good info there matey, BTW what the hell are you doing on here?

[Barry123]

yeah agreed. Cheers James... great info.

Not sure which course the sister is doing but I'll see about going on the ROSPA one.

[saxyVTRsaxo]

My dad passed his a few years ago and said its quite tiering as you really need to concentrate, but it is miles of a Police Class 1 driving test. The advanced driving test is at the lower end of the scale where as the Police Class 1 is the top of the scale.

[Mugello]

my brother did pass plus and basicly he said they make you drive a bit faster eg 70mph on motorways not crusing at 60mph they put the radio on and talk to you. he went and drove for 3 hours with them, but took £300 of his insurance.

not sure you mean pass plus tho.

mugello

[platty06]

Is this the test that police and ambulance drivers have to take? Or am I waaaay off?

The test for police drivers to respond to incidents is called "response training" basically you have a two week pass/fail course that raises the bar slightly in all aspects of driving from reversing to skid control on a skid pan and speed increases.

This allows police drivers to respond to incidents in the "usual astra or focus pandas" and when required to use the blues and sirens.

The advanced driving course is the next level up from this and is usually more powerfull cars I.E mondeo 220's etc The corse is 4 weeks and requires a big increase in all areas the most noticaeable difference is the requirement to commentate on the road and traffic ahead to show you have anticipated the road/traffic ahead.

[James205rallye]

Lol hi Ben, I'm on here cos I've got half a saxo under the bonnet of the 205! It's a good place for advice and help on the engine, which , being French....well....you get the idea!

For my advanced test I did a full commentary. It isn't necessary to do one throughout the whole drive, but I chose to do so. Allows the examiner (I had the chief examiner, Bob Smalley!) to know exactly what you are anticipating, what you are/are not seeing, and why you are doing whatever it is you are.

A lot of the things in the roadcraft manual are different to what you are taught in order to pass a normal driving test. For example

Approaching a roundabout:

Normal test:
Braking and changing down through the gears, 5, 4, 3 2, 1. Pointless. Waste of time, energy and concentration.

Roadcraft:
Brake to the speed that you know you will require to negotiate the roundabout. Might be braking to walking pace or perhaps just a kiss of the brakes to slow you slightly. Once you are at the speed you want, select the suitable gear for that speed. Brake once, change once!

Indicating:
Normal test:
Indicate whenever you change direction, regardless of who else is about.

Roadcraft:
Look and see if anyone will benefit from an indication. Indicate if needs be. By doing this, it stops the driver from indicating without looking properly (fire and forget)


I could go on forever, but don't want to patronise or write a whole essay! Hope this info is of interest to people.