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  Jason Holdcroft

Advanced Driving

This page is a collection of links and resources for advanced driving.

 Rospa Advanced Drivers                         Institute of Advanced Motorists

          

'Advanced driving' refers to improving your driving skills beyond the standard DSA test to become a more skilful and progressive driver.  There are two major organisations offering free help in preparing for an advanced driving test, which leads to substantial* insurance savings, in the UK.  The Institute of Advanced Motorists is the best known of these and provides free coaching for its advanced driving test.  Rospa Advanced Drivers and Riders (RoADAR) tends to be somewhat more elitist (not necessarily a criticism!) and has a graded test with bronze, silver and gold passes which are retested every three years.

Advanced driving is based on the principles of the "system of car control" used by police drivers and detailed in the 'bible' of advanced driving, Roadcraft.

The key aspects of advanced driving are a high level of observation and anticipation coupled with improved car control skills.  You will learn concepts such as the limit point, avoiding brake/gear overlap and the importance of pre-drive checks.  I could ramble on here, but the way to find out about advanced driving is to go to the bible, Roadcraft, and to find your local IAM or RoADAR group and get started.  It's free to learn, makes driving a great deal more fun and makes you so much safer that insurers will give you a much better deal. 

*my insurance halved as soon as I passed the IAM test.

Below are links to various useful resources including useful videos.

As well as the Roadcraft book I'd also recommend the DVD.

The Ultimate Driving Craft DVDs by former police advanced driving instructor Chris Gilbert are also excellent.  They not only demonstrate many of the key techniques and skills with the aid of high quality video, but also show how to give a decent commentary.

Videos 

There is a comprehensive list of online videos at http://tinbox.org.uk/advanced-driving-videos.html 

Kent Police motorcycle riding plans

From the 1980s but still some of the best available videos highlighting aspects of observation and planning which are important to car drivers as well as motorcyclists.

 

 

Demonstration of commentary driving

 

 

Hazard perception/commentary demonstration by Nik Sargent

 

More on developing driving to Roadcraft with commentary by another YouTube user.

 

Other

 

Everything you need to know about advanced driving, the
Institute of Advanced Motorists and RoSPA, RoADA on one
website.

Fantastic forum with many knowledgeable contributors willing to answer any question, however simple.

 

 

The Department for Transport's road safety site with information and interactive resources on their campaigns.

 

 


When deceit is universal, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.  (George Orwell)