I remember a quote from an advanced driving instructor some years back. They indicated the candidate they dread the most are members of the constabulary as they just don't listen and think they know best.

On the M25 a few months back a traffic car flew onto the motorway from the hard shoulder across two lanes in heavy traffic to have a look at who was driving my car. Whilst I appreciate their concern the approach could have been somewhat more diligent!!

This IAM business interests me from the PoV of the drivers on here. Whilst it is clear we all adopt bad habits you do have to question some of the guidance. That said, we have to remember that the S has more grunt than many cars so our driving technique alters (rightly or wrongly) to suit the car.
For those who have recently driven a sloth of a vehicle will know what I mean (i.e courtesy cars).

As for the slip road - as long as people are not driving nose to tail in the slow lane I don't see the issue. If they are then there is probably slow moving traffic in which case you are not going far anyway. Shimples

 

Hammy, I don't understand why plod would choose to take an IAM course ?

From what I can gather (and I have no knowledge of IAM courses), they are more a "supervised drive", with tips and hints being provided by an "instructor". There is no "tuition" or any real "instruction". The course will provide somewhere in the region of 8 hours "supervision" or "development".

Police courses offer weeks of instruction, even a standard course will be 3 weeks (120 hours)

An Advanced Course is 4 weeks (160 hours)

I can't see the benefit of (any) police driver taking an IAM course.

PS. it's not just police who take the police course, it can also be military and government security services

 

It was in reference to Chip's comment about general Roadcraft GREGSTERWIZ - not aimed at the IAM.

 

I don't know any police driver who has done or would do IAM ... for the simple reason that membership of IAM is given when you pass a police driving course at either response or advanced level ... i.e. the courses as has been said where you are actually trained.

IAM represents a basic level of Roadcraft instruction.

 

Really ? I wasn't aware of that

How do I get my "I Am Marvellous" badge ?

 

It still costs ... they are not that generous - but you just need to ring them and ask for the right form ... they need a copy of the certificate from your course saying you passed ... and a cheque / credit card details, etc.

 

Yeah, well, b@llOcks to that then

I think I'll get by without IAM membership

 

I got it as I was under the misguided belief I could save a bit of money on insurance with it - how wrong I was !

As an aside I have a good picture of an IAM badge on an overturned VW Golf I dealt with on the A3 ... caused the A3 to be shut for quite a while in the middle lane until we dragged it away on it's roof. It was proudly displaying it's IAM badge in the rear window

The driver and IAM member did a late off ... a bit too late ... and the start of the crash barrier between the slip and main carraigeway acted as a take off ramp ... depositing them in the middle of the underpass in lane 2 about 100m past the off slip

They were OK I should add ... well, eventually ... and a bit shaken

 

^^^ I AM............learning to fly

I think the IAM is a marvellous instition, anything that promotes and encourages road safety is only to be applauded

Did you get a beard sent to you when you joined ?

Seriously though, it's probably worth doing a course; it couldn't hurt and I have no doubt it will improve candidates driving

I should point out though that THE INSTRUCTOR on my advanced course (not IAM) wrote off the car; (too fast through some S bends in the wet, trying to be a smart arse)

So, sh1t happens, no matter how qualified the driver is

Blaming "the county dog" doesn't always work

 

Well they do say that flying is the safest form of transport.