ADRC: My Experience by Ivor Turner

“I have just recently completed a refresher IAM course that is offered via the IAM website at a reasonable £99 for 3–4 lessons through your local IAM group. Based in Lincoln,
I was lucky that my local group is based in Lincoln, which worked out well for the Observer with regards not having to waste valuable travelling time for lessons.

“I was spurred into undertaking the ADRC as it was some 15 years ago since I passed my original advance driving course, and basically wanted to know that I was still at the standard and skill of driving as set out by the IAM, and for the price, this is little to know that you are a competent driver on todays roads, which today bring many hazards and risks.

“I first took my advance driving test to know that I had skill to negotiate the ever changing road networks in the UK – I was not undertaking this to prove that I am a better driver than anyone else, but have the necessary skills to deal with any scenario on the road that one minute might be safe, to the next to where potential disaster may strike.

“Signing up to the course was an easy process on the IAM website, they then advised that I would be contacted by my local group, which was done within the first few day of signing up for the course, I was allocated an Observer, and our first meet was arranged.

“I was a bit unsure as to what to expect or what the course would exactly entail, but when I turned up for our first meet with my Observer, Geoff, he quickly put me at ease, and explained the course in more detail, and said that the course was really about me, and what I wanted to gain from the course.

“We went out on our first drive, and Geoff made some notes, and at the end of the drive had a chat, and discussed areas in which I could do with some further work. We met for a further three drives, with Geoff using competency sheets to mark my level of competency within certain areas of driving, which I was able to take away at the end of each drive, so I knew what areas I have to work on for the next drive.

“Geoff really made a big difference to the process, his style and approach to the process was very relaxed and professional, and generally you know when you are allocated an observer with the IAM that theses guys know their stuff, they are more than competent, highly skilled, professional, and doing this voluntarily my hat goes off to these guys, the information you get from them is second to none.

“Would I recommend this course to anyone, for the little price that it costs, and the value that you get back from the course? Yes, I would more than highly recommend this course.

“The fact that we all just do an initial driving test once in our lives, and never do any further re training, is to me ludicrous, would we get away without retraining in our jobs? HSE etc… I don’t think so. I really don’t think the ordinary driving test by far prepares anyone for todays roads, I think further re-train/refresh is a must. Look at professional drivers – bus/lorry, 35 hours every 5 years, at a desk, or computer screen, and not on the road, can driving be taught this way?

“The one thing about the IAM training and refresher is that its REAL ON ROAD training.”

Ivor Turner